Muslim Problem, Hindu Solutions: Sid Harth

[bademiyansubhanallah]

January 31, 2010

Hamid Karzai fails Taliban who gave up arms
The Taliban are losing leaders but many more continue to fight

Marie Colvin in Pul-i-Alam, Logar province

THE room the Taliban commander Mullah Mohammad now calls home, after
bringing his 21 fighters to join the Afghan government’s reintegration
programme earlier this month, is barely more comfortable than the
mountain redoubt he left.

He sits on a thin mat and leans against the wall, his skin dark and
weathered, facing the battered Kalashnikovs and a vintage Russian
mortar launcher he surrendered in return for promises of money, jobs
and land for him and his men.

Instead, the peace and reconciliation commission (known as PTS, its
acronym in Dari), set up by the president, Hamid Karzai, in 2005,
handed them letters guaranteeing free passage. And nothing else.
Mohammad, 48, is stunned and speaks slowly.

“We were fighting all day, and we had nothing to show for it,” he
said. “I began thinking, ‘Why are we killing our Afghan brothers?’”

Like many mid-level Taliban commanders, he is a conservative tribal
Pashtun, not an extremist ideologue. He is the perfect candidate for
the government’s reintegration programme, which will be absorbed into
the bigger and better-funded reintegration council announced by Karzai
at last week’s London conference. Donors there pledged $140m (£90m)
towards a $500m fund to pay the Taliban to lay down their arms.

“They [the PTS] told us they’ll protect us, and that we would have the
chance to have jobs. Now we have nothing,” Mohammad says.

The drive to Pul-i-Alam, the capital of Logar province, most of which
is controlled by the Taliban, was fraught.

The former Taliban commanders I went to meet there had fought in the
Haqqani organisation, led by Jalaluddin Haqqani, a 60-year-old warlord
who battled the Soviets.

He is said to be ailing and has ceded control of his military wing to
his son Sirajuddin Haqqani, a militant in his early forties
responsible for a deadly escalation in the Afghan war.

Haqqani is based in north Waziristan, just across the Pakistani
border, but most of his attacks are inside Afghanistan.He has boasted
that he sent down this same highway the suicide bombers and gunmen who
attacked Kabul ministries, shops and a hotel earlier this month, on
the day Karzai swore in his new cabinet.

His other great coup was to prime a Jordanian double agent to kill
seven CIA agents inside an American base last month.

Last year, Haqqani set up flying checkpoints on this highway to Logar,
which is hated by American troops because the Taliban constantly seed
the route with improvised explosive devices.

Huddled in the back seat of a car, I was swathed in a brown wool
blanket, and instructed to pretend I was asleep if we were stopped at
a checkpoint. I was happy it was snowing and the windows were steamed
up. Nobody could see inside.

An hour outside town, I called the PTS and it sent an armed escort.
Several of its officials have been killed on this road. In Pul-i-Alam,
I was bundled into its compound by armed men, keen that nobody should
see a foreigner.

The Taliban commanders in Logar gave an insight into the gulf between
the promises at last week’s conference and the harsh reality on the
ground.

Few in London appeared to recall that Karzai set up the PTS five years
ago, although it has been poorly funded so far.

Two former Taliban commanders joined Mullah Mohammad. Moulana Saheb
Said Ajan, a senior Taliban figure, was angry. “I brought 40 fighters
to the PTS,” he said. “I told my men: ‘Other countries are making
planes and computers. Why are we freezing in the mountains? We should
be building our country.’”

Ajan changed sides after falling out with Haqqani’s “Pakistan
Taliban”, so called because they allegedly receive money from
Pakistan’s intelligence service, the ISI. He said many more would join
if the money was there and they felt safe.

As a commander, Ajan was not paid a salary, although foot soldiers are
paid about $200 a month, considerably more than the Afghan police.

“I told the leaders what I needed, and they sent it,” Ajan said. “They
always paid immediately.” He said he received 200,000-500,000
Pakistani rupees (£1,500-£3,700) every month, either smuggled from
Dubai, or in bags of cash that would fill the back of pick-up trucks
from Pakistan. Ajan decided to take the PTS offer after he was ordered
to carry out a raid he disagreed with. “We were on top of the mountain
and Haqqani’s people ordered us to the district office here in Pul-i-
Alam, to destroy a United Nations vehicle to make them leave,” he
said. “I’m 28 years old. I just didn’t want to do this any more.”

He sent tribal elders to check out the PTS and they came back with
assurances of money, jobs and security for his family and fighters.
“I’m now living on the floor of this office,” Ajan said dejectedly.
“The Taliban are now dropping letters through our doors, saying if we
don’t return they’ll kill us.”

The success of the reintegration programme is crucial to any
transition to Afghan rule. It would take hardened fighters off the
battlefield and into the army and police force, which Nato wants to
increase to 400,000 men by 2015. But for the system to work, the money
must reach the fighters and not be siphoned off.

Ajan’s story also illustrates the differences between commanders on
the ground and the Taliban leadership, which will have to be part of a
political solution if there is to be any lasting peace. “I strongly
believe we need to reach the Taliban leaders,” said Najibullah
Mojadidi, the elder son of the PTS chairman and a member of Karzai’s
national security committee.

“As long as they’re not convinced, they’ll always have people in
Afghanistan prepared to continue the fighting.”

• Two American soldiers were shot dead by a disgruntled Afghan
interpreter, who was then killed himself, at a base in Wardak province
yesterday. Hours later, four Afghan soldiers were killed when a US
airstrike hit their base nearby.

Additional reporting: Miles Amoore

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/afghanistan/article7009683.ece

Pierre's Middle East Issues Blog
By Pierre Tristam, About.com Guide to Middle East Issues

The Taliban's Burqa Victory in France
Saturday January 30, 2010

One of the 1,900: A Muslim women in Bordeaux. (© Igor Smirnoff /
igorsmirnoff.com)

I can't take full credit for that headline. It's rather cribbed from
The Times' editorial a few days ago ("The Taliban Would Applaud")
justifiably condemning France's latest slide toward selective
authoritarianism.

On Tuesday, a French parliamentary report called Muslim women's burqa
or niqab face-covering "unacceptable," and concluded, in a French
typical of a nation that considers itself the mother of the Catholic
Church, "We must condemn this excess."

Actually, condemning it wouldn't be so bad if that's ll it was. Let's
by all means condemn it. But the parliamentary report wants to do more
than condemn. It wants to ban. Ban the wearing of full-face coverings
from public places such as banks, post offices, schools, buses, subway
and other trains. Ban it from streets, too? The 12-member panel was
split 6-6 on that one, so it didn't make it into the recommendations
to Parliament.
As the L.A. Times reported, "Andre Gerin, a member of the Communist
Party and president of the committee, cautioned that the report should
not 'lead to a debate about religion' but instead should focus
discussion on the 'scandalous practices' of terrorism and extremism
that 'hide behind the full veil.'" Strange. I haven't heard of a
single veil-covered woman ever, ever blowing herself up anywhere in
France, or in Europe for that matter, or anywhere not Iraq or
Palestine/Israel. Gerin, like most Islamophobes, is projecting his
fears and prejudices more than speaking evidence, as a commission
chair should. The same commission found that all of 1,900 women in
France (we assume, perhaps with slight prejudice, that they're all
women) wear a full-face covering. That's out of some 6 million Muslims
in France, which works out to 0.03% of the Muslim population, and
0.003% of the population of France. Some problem.

But that's what you get when you have a president who wants to be the
new savior of secular France while managing to sound more like
secularism's Mussolini. As The Times put it in its editorial, "With
regional elections scheduled for March, Mr. Sarkozy and his allies are
desperately looking for ways to deflect public anger over high
unemployment. It is hard to produce jobs and far too easy to fan anti-
Muslim prejudices."

Anthony Sweeney wrote an interesting though richly flawed letter to
The Times saying that Chinese women used to have their feet bound,
some Indian women set themselves afire, and genital cutting is still
common in North Africa. "Should we accept these acts," Sweeney asks,
"all of which are designed to demean women?" Of course not, but in
every case those are irrevocable physical assaults on women, not
impositions of dress--a pretty staggering difference. A woman can
always unveil. She can't get her clitoris back once it's been
mutilated.

Sweeney's defense of the French slouch toward a burqa ban is made more
sinister by his next suggestion: "In Western society, covering a face
is deemed to be sinister. Bank robbers and the Ku Klux Klan come to
mind." Is he serious? Comparing Muslim women to bank robbers and
members of the KKK? How KKK of him.

And then there was this: "If a vote were held in the United States to
bar women from wearing the burqa and the niqab in public, or to bar
minarets, like the recent one in Switzerland, what do you think the
results would be?" Maybe the vote would mirror France's and
Switzerland's homophobia. But Sweeney forgets that voters don't have
the final word until they overwhelmingly vote to change the
Constitution. And for now few judges in America (one has to account
for the Alito-sis type appointed during the Reagan-Bush-Bush regimes)
would not immediately quash any ballot measure or law that would ban
the wearing of a burqa, a veil or any other kind of religious dress in
public, let alone the erection of minarets anywhere zoning laws permit
them.

As I said earlier: the Taliban doesn't have to blow things up or even
preach in the West to win converts to Salafism. France's move toward a
ban, which appears to be mirrored by Italy's, will ensure that more
than 1,900 Muslims out of France's 6 million will start wearing the
things. As they're arrested, possibly fined and jailed for their acts,
even more will follow, including, I have no doubt, some non-Muslims
looking to show them solidarity. It would no longer be a religious
issue. It would be a civil rights issue. For all the demeaning nature
of a burqa or a chador or any kind of face-covering (and demeaning
they are), I would have no problem putting one on myself in
solidarity. Individual rights trump a state's presumptions every time.

The veil should be history. It should be trashed. It should be
eliminated from every woman's wardrobe. But banning with such
unenlightened boorishness it isn't the way. More enlightenment is.

http://middleeast.about.com/b/2010/01/30/the-talibans-burqa-victory-in-france.htm

Taliban spokesperson Muslim Khan declared ‘proclaimed offender’ by
NWFP ATC
Sunday, January 31, 2010, 6:32

Islamabad, Jan.31 (ANI): A Malakand Division Anti-Terrorism Court
(ATC) has declared Swat Taliban spokesman Muslim Khan a proclaimed
offender and has issued his arrest warrant.

The court has directed Khan to appear before it failing which would
result in severe action against him, The Daily Times reports.

Muslim Khan and another senior Taliban commander, Mehmood, were nabbed
by security forces in September last year during a raid carried out in
outskirts of Mingora, the headquarters of Swat district.

Both Khan and Mehmood carried a reward of 10 million rupees each on
their head.

Born in 1954, in Swat’s Kuza Banda tehsil, Muslim Khan matriculated in
humanities group from Jehanzeb College, Swat. It was there that he
joined the People’s Students Federation, student wing of the Pakistan
People’s Party, during the early 1970s.

He joined the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation as a seaman, but
left two years later to go to Kuwait to work in a transport company.
He returned home when Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1990 and set up a medical
store.

Muslim Khan went to the United States in 1999 where he worked as a
house painter. He is fluent in English, Arabic, Persian and Urdu,
besides mother tongue Pashto, and has travelled to 15 countries in
Europe and the Middle East. (ANI)

http://buzz7.com/world/taliban-spokesperson-muslim-khan-declared-%E2%80%98proclaimed-offender%E2%80%99-by-nwfp-atc.html

Ankara deflects PKK-Taliban comparison 30.1.2010
January 30, 2010

ANKARA, — Ankara deflected criticism for backing a measure to include
moderate Taliban in the Afghan plan while cracking down on pro-Kurdish
groups on its soil.

The international community backed a measure to include Taliban
moderates in the Afghan reconciliation effort, a plan mentioned by
Afghan President Hamid Karzai during a visit to Istanbul before the
Thursday conference in London.

Political leaders, including Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu,
came forward Friday with statements of praise for Taliban integration.

Davutoglu, however, faced criticism for Ankara's support for the
Afghan initiative while taking a harsh stance on pro-Kurdish groups
and the outlawed Turkey Kurdistan Workers' Party or
PKK,www.ekurd.netTurkey's English-language daily Hurriyet reports.

"Such comparisons are not accurate," he said, adding Turkey has not
been embroiled in conflict for the past 30 years like Afghanistan.

Ankara in 2009 launched an effort to find a political solution to
lingering issues with the Kurdish minority through a series of
cultural considerations and amnesty offers.

Davutoglu said that what sets Ankara apart is its embrace of democracy
as a reconciliation tool.

"Turkey's biggest power that distinguishes it from other countries in
the region is its democracy," he said. "There should be no hesitation
on that."

Pro-Kurdish groups, however, counter that a court decision to ban a
pro-Kurdish party from politics in December puts the democratic
initiative in doubt.

Since 1984 PKK took up arms for self-rule in the mainly Kurdish
southeast of Turkey (Turkey-Kurdistan) which has claimed around 45,000
lives of Turkish soldiers and Kurdish PKK guerrillas. A large Turkey's
Kurdish community openly sympathise with the Kurdish PKK rebels.

The PKK is considered a 'terrorist' organization by Ankara, U.S., the
PKK continues to be on the blacklist list in EU despite court ruling
which overturned a decision to place the Kurdish rebel group PKK and
its political wing on the European Union's terror list.

The PKK demanded Turkey's recognition of the Kurds' identity in its
constitution and of their language as a native language along with
Turkish in the country's Kurdish areas,www.ekurd.net the party also
demanded an end to ethnic discrimination in Turkish laws and
constitution against Kurds, ranting them full political freedoms.

Turkey refuses to recognize its Kurdish population as a distinct
minority. It has allowed some cultural rights such as limited
broadcasts in the Kurdish language and private Kurdish language
courses with the prodding of the European Union, but Kurdish
politicians say the measures fall short of their expectations.

In August, the government announced plans to expand Kurdish freedoms
in a bid to erode popular support for the PKK and end the insurgency.

http://ekurd.net/mismas/articles/misc2010/1/turkeykurdistan2502.htm

...and I am Sid Harth

[bademiyansubhanallah]

January 30, 2010
Making room for the Taliban
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2010/01/20101288945976804.html

By Robert Grenier

On September 20, 2001, just nine days after the devastating attacks by
al-Qaeda, George Bush, then US president, stood before both houses of
the US congress, with Tony Blair, then British prime minister, to
deliver an address to the American people and to the world.

That America would react in some way to the attacks was already clear.
It was Bush's task to explain the principles which would guide those
actions, and to rally international support for them.

With all that has happened since, it may be difficult to remember the
emotional tenor of that moment. In the wake of the attacks, there had
been a great international outpouring of support for the US.

It appeared that this was a moment of great international solidarity,
and that out of this shock great and new things might be possible.

We remember the essence of what Bush said on that occasion, even if we
no longer recall the words he used: that henceforth, there could be no
middle ground between the terrorists and those who opposed them; that
the US would no longer make any distinction between terrorists and
those who sheltered them; and that the latter, if they refused to join
with the "civilised" world, would share the fate of the former.

New beginning possible

Bush had some hard words for the Taliban in that address. And yet,
beneath the surface of those words, there lurked the possibility of a
new and different relationship with the Taliban.

Implicit in Bush's words was the promise of a new beginning for any
government, including the Taliban's, if they would join the
international coalition against "terrorism" and shift their policies
accordingly.

This was the implicit bargain in my own discussions with senior
Taliban leaders in those days. And yet, even then, there was a clear
ambivalence in the US attitude.
Immediately after the president's September 20 address, Colin Powell,
the former secretary of state, was careful to make clear that the US
held out hope, however slim, for a new relationship with the Taliban.

At the same time, however, Condoleezza Rice, the former national
security adviser, was reflecting much more closely the prevailing
political attitude within the US.

Rice was making it clear that she could not foresee US support for a
repressive Taliban government which imposed, among other perceived
abuses, drastic social restraints on women.

The limits of US political acceptance of the Taliban were never tested
at that time, as of course Mullah Omar and the rest of the Taliban
leadership refused to turn over Osama Bin Laden, the al-Qaeda leader,
or denounce the group.

Popular western revulsion at the Taliban, however, had long made any
positive political dealings with the Taliban - beyond the issuance of
ultimatums regarding bin Laden - virtually impossible, even before the
9/11 attacks. I know, because I advocated for such engagement, to no
avail.

Later, after the apparent defeat of the Taliban in 2001, there was
even less room within the US government for positive dealings with
even relative Taliban moderates.

Minister arrested

When Wakil Ahmed Muttawakil, the former Taliban foreign minister,
attempted to play an intermediary role between the US and Taliban
elements in 2002, he was arrested and imprisoned for his pains.

The author says the Taliban has been closely integrated with al-Qaeda
after 9/11 [AFP]

It required many months of cajoling to induce the US department of
defence to agree to Muttawakil's release as an encouragement to
others, despite the Afghan government's stated interest in reaching
out to such moderates.
Today, with the fortunes of the government of Hamid Karzai, the Afghan
president, and its Western allies at a much more difficult pass, and
with the Taliban resurgent in much of the South and East, talk of
political engagement with the Taliban is rife.

There are reported meetings between intermediaries and representatives
of Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, the leader of Hezb-e-Islami, and discussion of
means to reach out to the Taliban is a major feature of the
international conference on Afghanistan in London.

Even US military leaders who are working assiduously to attack and
"degrade" the Taliban admit that the movement is part of the Pashtun
social fabric, and will have to be politically dealt with in some way.

It seems to me, nonetheless, that any sort of meaningful political
engagement with senior leaders of the Taliban remains a long way off.

The clear thrust of current Western efforts to reach out to the
Taliban is in the context of "reintegration", through which simple
fighters and low-level commanders are induced to return to their
communities in return for some form of government assistance.

'Reconciliation necessary'

The difficulties in this approach are manifest, relying as it must on
the involvement of Kabul-appointed government structures, largely seen
as corrupt and inept, to mediate and implement such programs.

In view of these difficulties, observers such as Muttawakil argue that
a more formal political "reconciliation" with the Taliban leadership
will be necessary. Yet it is hard to see how such a political process
could be viable.

Relatively low-level discussions including marginal representation
from the Karzai government notwithstanding, it seems clear that
Taliban leaders, very much to include Mullah Omar, have little
interest in negotiating with the Kabul regime, which they see
essentially as a puppet.

"It seems clear that Taliban leaders have little interest in
negotiating with the Kabul regime, which they see essentially as a
puppet."

Given their growing strength and confidence, they are far more
interested in dealing directly with the US to negotiate the terms of a
US/Nato/Coalition withdrawal. This hardly suggests a desire on the
part of the core Taliban to enter the Afghan political process.
Indeed, can one really imagine the Taliban leadership standing for
election in Pashtun-dominated districts, or serving in parliament?
They have made clear their religious opposition to such elections.

Instead, reconciliation with the Taliban would amount to acquiescence
in the Taliban's political ascendancy and control in the areas where
they are currently active. It is hard to imagine this as anything
other than stage-setting for a renewed civil war with the Tajiks and
other non-Pushtun minorities.

It is clear that in view of the growing costs, both human and
monetary, of the US involvement in Afghanistan, US aspirations there
have grown far more modest.

This was the clear thrust of the speech Barack Obama, the US
president, gave at the West Point military academy on December 1,
2009.

Repressive policies

The atrophy of US policy goals in Afghanistan would seem to make
political acceptance of the Taliban's socially repressive policies -
which appear to be moderating in any case - more viable.

Nonetheless, denial of Afghanistan as a future safe haven for al-Qaeda
and others intent on employing terrorist techniques internationally
remains a core US objective.

While much is made of the relative moderation of Mullah Omar's recent
statements in favour of a political focus on Afghanistan at the
expense of global jihad, it is hard to see these statements - even if
taken at face value - as representing anything other than a statement
of tactical necessity, rather than of strategic orientation.

It makes all the sense in the world for the Taliban to focus now on
its national goals in Afghanistan, and to seek peaceful relations with
its neighbours.

The human and monetary cost for the war in Afghanistan is growing
[AFP]
But once having achieved a measure of uncontested political space in
Afghanistan, even if the movement eschews the global jihad for its own
account, it is hard to imagine the Taliban coldly refusing all aid to
those whom it regards as good Muslims, who are themselves under threat
from what it regards as impious regimes backed by foreigners.
Moreover, the current dynamic within the Taliban must be seen in the
context of an ever-growing alignment between the Taliban and al-Qaeda,
forged under the constant pressure being exerted against them and
other like-minded groups in South Asia.

The Taliban has adopted the tactics of al-Qaeda and is far more
closely integrated - operationally, ideologically and otherwise - with
the Arab-dominated organisation than was ever the case before 9/11.

No political or religious organisation remains static, particularly
under the pressure of turbulent events, and the Taliban is no
exception.

Its leaders should be watched for signs of willingness to find genuine
accommodation, both with other elements and communities in Afghanistan
and with outside powers having serious interests at stake in the
country.

As of now, however, the relative optimism of those who see the
prospect of true political accommodation with the Taliban appears to
me to be misplaced.

Robert Grenier was the CIA's chief of station in Islamabad, Pakistan,
between 1999–2002. He was also the director of CIA’s counterterrorism
centre.

The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not
necessarily reflect Al Jazeera's editorial policy.
Posted by Naxal Watch at 8:41 PM

http://intellibriefs.blogspot.com/2010/01/making-room-for-taliban.html

US invite to Taliban leaves out Pak proxies

WASHINGTON: The Hamid Karzai-led and US-blessed peace initiative in
Afghanistan does not involve talks with the "really bad guys"
including the Pakistani proxy, Taliban chief Mullah Omar, clarified US
secretary of state Hillary Clinton.

In remarks that brought some perspective and clarity to the fluid but
evolving situation in Afghanistan, Hillary on Friday drew the line in
the sand about engaging the Taliban, saying in a radio interview,
"We're not going to talk to the really bad guys because the really bad
guys are not ever going to renounce al-Qaida and renounce violence and
agree to re-enter society."

Hillary made it clear that Washington does not regard the Pakistan-
based and –backed Mullah Omar and his Quetta shura to be in that
category. "That (talks) is not going to happen with Mullah Omar and
the like," she said, without naming his Pakistani hosts. "But there
are so many fighters in the Taliban that are there, frankly, because
it's a way to make a living in a country where the Taliban pay them
more than they can make as a farmer or in some other line of work out
in the countryside."

Hillary left little doubt that Washington was aiming to split the
Taliban, telling the National Public Radio in London that "everyone
has realized, as we did in Iraq, that you have to begin to go right at
the insurgents and peel those off who are willing to renounce
violence, renounce al-Qaida, agree to live by the laws and
constitution of Afghanistan and re-enter society".

http://www.defence.pk/forums/u-s-foreign-affairs/45920-us-invite-taliban-leaves-out-pak-proxies.html

Pakistani army investigates reported death of Pakistani Taliban leader
By: ASIF SHAHZAD
Associated Press
01/31/10 2:26 AM PST

ISLAMABAD — The Pakistani army said Sunday that it was investigating
reports that Pakistani Taliban leader Hakimullah Mehsud died from
injuries sustained in a U.S. drone missile strike in mid-January.

The army's announcement came shortly after Pakistani state television
reported that Mehsud died in Orakzai, an area in Pakistan's northwest
tribal region where he was reportedly being treated for his injuries.

"We have these reports coming to us," army spokesman Gen. Athar Abbas
told The Associated Press. "We are investigating whether it is true or
wrong."

A tribal elder told the AP that he attended Mehsud's funeral in the
Mamuzai area of Orakzai on Thursday. He spoke on condition of
anonymity for fear of retribution from the Taliban.

Pakistani intelligence officials have said that Mehsud was targeted in
a U.S. drone strike in South Waziristan on Jan. 14, triggering rumors
that he had been injured or killed. The strike targeted a meeting of
militant commanders in the Shaktoi area of South Waziristan.

Mehsud issued two audio tapes after the strike denying the rumors. But
Pakistani intelligence officials told the AP on Sunday that they have
confirmation that the Taliban chief's legs and abdomen were wounded in
the strike.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not
authorized to talk to the media.

Associated Press writer Hussain Afzal contributed to this report from
Parachinar.

While Mullah Omar too has dismissed prospects of talks with the US or
President Karzai pending his own laundry list of demands particularly
exit of foreign forces from Afghanistan, his Pakistani handlers,
including ISI frontman Col Imam, have presented the one-eyed
illiterate mullah as the man to engage, as Islamabad fights to stay
relevant in Afghanistan.

"If a sincere message comes from the Americans, these people (the
Taliban) are very big-hearted. They will listen. But if you try to
divide the Taliban, you'll fail. Anyone who leaves Mullah Omar is no
more Taliban. Such people are just trying to deceive," Imam, whose
real name is Brigadier ("retd") Sultan Amir Tarar, said recently,
batting for the Pakistani military's proxies.

http://www.sfexaminer.com/world/83190942.html

...and I am Sid Harth

[bademiyansubhanallah]

Afghan leader appeals to Taliban to lay down guns
The Associated Press
Sunday, January 31, 2010; 5:18 AM

KABUL -- Afghanistan's president appealed to Taliban fighters Sunday
to put down their weapons and accept Afghan laws as the government and
its international allies push a program to entice militants away from
the insurgency.

President Hamid Karzai spoke three days after he and Western backers
agreed at a conference in London to create a more comprehensive
program to bring Taliban insurgents over to the government's side in
order to reduce violence that has raged in recent years.

Incentives have existed for years for the Taliban to lay down their
weapons, but these have generally been ineffective, attracting only
the lowest-level fighters with no guarantees they wouldn't return to
the insurgency.

Karzai stressed he plans to reconcile with Taliban leaders as much as
they are willing, but he made clear his offer of reconciliation did
not extend to anyone in al-Qaida, saying there was no room in
Afghanistan for terrorists.

"We are trying our best to reach as high as possible to bring peace
and security," Karzai said in his first news conference since
returning from London.

Karzai has said previously he is willing to talk to Taliban leader
Mullah Omar and welcome back any militants who are willing to
recognize the Afghan constitution. However, the Taliban has always set
the withdrawal of international troops as a precondition for any
negotiations.

Karzai called that unrealistic, saying the NATO coalition should be
expected to stay until they achieve their goal of removing al-Qaida
and other terrorist threats.

Afghanistan's international backers agreed in London to provide
funding for a renewed effort to woo Taliban away from al-Qaida and the
insurgency, given the commitment of the Afghan government to institute
a more comprehensive and thorough program, including jobs and
education.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/31/AR2010013100392.html

Pak to try to bring Taliban to negotiation table: Qureshi Sunday,
January 31, 2010,5:32 [IST]

London, Jan.31 (ANI): Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi
has said Islamabad would use its influence to bring the Afghan Taliban
leadership to the negotiation table, and also play its role in helping
allied forces led by the US to pull out of Afghanistan.

Qureshi said Pakistan is ready to provide training facilities to the
Afghan Army and police force.

He said a majority of Taliban commanders were ready for peace talks.

"There are only a few people from Taliban leadership who have not
undergone a change in their thinking so far, whereas a majority of
them have changed their views and are now prepared to make peace with
the government," The Nation quoted Qureshi, as saying.

Qureshi said developing good relations with Afghanistan was the only
way to defuse Indian influence in the war tattered country.

He said the Afghan leadership understands that time is ripe for Kabul
to distance itself from New Delhi and draw near to Islamabad.

"The Afghan President (Hamid Karzai) did not say a word against
Pakistan in London conference which point to the change in thinking,"
Qureshi said.

Replying to a question, Qureshi rebuked the notion about Pakistan that
it had initiated military operations in the tribal regions on
America's dictation, saying there were a number of people in those
areas who had harmed the country. (ANI)

http://news.oneindia.in/2010/01/31/pakto-try-to-bring-taliban-to-negotiation-table-qureshi.html

Page last updated at 09:29 GMT, Sunday, 31 January 2010

Taliban chief Mehsud 'buried' - Pakistan state TV

Hakimullah Mehsud's predecessor was killed by a drone last year
Pakistan's state TV says Taliban leader Hakimullah Mehsud has been
buried, contradicting earlier militant denials he died in a drone
attack this month.

The state broadcaster - without giving any sources - said Mehsud had
been buried in the village of Mamozai in the North Waziristan region.

Reports of his death surfaced after a missile strike in South
Waziristan on 14 January killed at least 10 people.

But the Taliban insisted Mehsud had left the area before the attack.

The latest reports of his death could not be verified independently.

A Pakistani army spokesman, Gen Athar Abbas, told the Associated Press
news agency that army agents in the north-west were investigating.

The army launched an offensive against militants in South Waziristan
in October and is under US pressure to do the same in North
Waziristan.

US drones have mounted numerous missile strikes in recent years, and
killed the Taliban's former leader, Baitullah Mehsud, last August.

North and South Waziristan - where the Mehsud tribe comes from - are
major sanctuaries for militants.

'Completely safe'

Hours after the 14 January attack in the Shaktoi area, a Taliban
spokesman confirmed that Hakimullah Mehsud had recently been there.

"But he had left the place already when the drone attack took place,"
said spokesman Azam Tariq.

"He is alive and completely safe."

At least two missiles were fired by the drone into the sprawling
compound which was used as a religious school in the past, officials
said.

Hakimullah Mehsud recently appeared in a video alongside a Jordanian
man alleged to have killed seven CIA agents in a suicide bombing in
Afghanistan.

He has led the Pakistani Taliban since Baitullah Mehsud's death last
summer.

It took the Taliban a number of weeks to admit that its previous
leader had been hit in a missile strike.

Pakistan has publicly criticised drone attacks, saying they fuel
support for the militants. But observers say in private the
authorities have given the go-ahead for the strikes.

The US military does not routinely confirm such attacks, but analysts
say the US armed forces and CIA in Afghanistan are the only forces
capable of deploying drones in the region.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8489787.stm

Pakistani Taliban chief Hakimullah Mehsud, left, is seen with CIA
homicide bomber Humam Khalil Abu-Mulal Al-Balawi in a video released
Jan. 9.

The head of the Taliban in Pakistan, Hakimullah Mehsud, was killed in
a U.S. drone attack, Pakistan state television reported Sunday.

The report stated Mehsud had been injured in a drone attack in the
Shaktoi area January 14 and died three days later. He reportedly was
buried in the village of Mamuzai in the North Waziristan region.

The Pakistani army said Sunday that it was investigating the reports.

The militant leader's death would be an important success for both
Pakistan, which has been battling the Pakistani Taliban, and the U.S.,
which blames Mehsud for a recent deadly bombing against the CIA in
Afghanistan.

The army's announcement came shortly after Pakistani state television,
citing unnamed "official sources," reported that Mehsud died in
Orakzai, an area in Pakistan's northwest tribal region where he was
reportedly being treated for his injuries.

"We have these reports coming to us," army spokesman Gen. Athar Abbas
told The Associated Press. "We are investigating whether it is true or
wrong."

A tribal elder told the AP that he attended Mehsud's funeral in the
Mamuzai area of Orakzai on Thursday. He said Mehsud was buried in
Mamuzai graveyard after he died at his in-laws' home. The elder spoke
on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution from the Taliban.

Pakistani intelligence officials have said that Mehsud was targeted in
a U.S. drone strike in South Waziristan on Jan. 14, triggering rumors
that he had been injured or killed. The strike targeted a meeting of
militant commanders in the Shaktoi area of South Waziristan.

Mehsud issued two audio tapes after the strike denying the rumors. But
Pakistani intelligence officials told the AP on Sunday that they have
confirmation that the Taliban chief's legs and abdomen were wounded in
the strike.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not
authorized to talk to the media.

Pakistani Taliban officials were not immediately available for
comment, but low-level fighters have dismissed rumors of Mehsud's
death in recent days as propaganda.

The drone strike that targeted Mehsud came about two weeks after a
deadly suicide bombing he helped orchestrate killed seven CIA
employees at a remote base across the border in Afghanistan. Mehsud
appeared in a video issued after the bombing sitting beside the
Jordanian man who carried out the attack.

The bomber, Humam Khalil Abu-Mulal al-Balawi, said he carried out the
attack in retribution for the death of former Pakistani Taliban leader
Baitullah Mehsud — Hakimullah Mehsud's predecessor — in a U.S. drone
strike last August.

The U.S. refuses to talk about the covert CIA-run drone program in
Pakistan but officials have said privately that the strikes have
killed several senior Taliban and Al Qaeda leaders.

Pakistani officials publicly protest the strikes as violations of the
country's sovereignty, but U.S. officials say privately they support
the program, especially when it targets militants like Mehsud who the
government believes is a threat to the state.

Mehsud, who has the reputation as a particularly ruthless militant,
took over leadership of the Pakistani Taliban soon after Baitullah
Mehsud's death.

The 28 year-old militant leader has focused most of his attacks
against targets inside Pakistan, but his men have also been blamed for
attacking U.S. and NATO supply convoys traveling through the country
en route to Afghanistan.

Hakimullah Mehsud first appeared in public to journalists in November
2008, when he offered to take reporters in Orakzai on a ride in a U.S.
Humvee taken from a supply truck headed to Afghanistan. He was the
Pakistani Taliban's regional commander in the Orakzai, Khyber and
Mohmand tribal areas before taking over the organization.

He has taken responsibility for a wave of brazen strikes inside
Pakistan, including the bombing of the Pearl Continental hotel in the
northwestern city of Peshawar last June and the attack on the Sri
Lankan cricket team in Lahore earlier that year.

The group stepped up its attacks after the Pakistani army invaded its
stronghold of South Waziristan in mid-October. More than 600 people
have been killed in attacks throughout the country since the ground
offensive was launched.

Authorities have said Mehsud has been behind threats to foreign
embassies in Islamabad, and there is a $120,000 bounty on his head.

The Associated Press contributed to this report

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,584402,00.html

Bomb kills 2 soldiers in NW Pakistan: paramilitary
(AFP) – 3 hours ago

PESHAWAR, Pakistan — A roadside bomb killed two Pakistani soldiers on
Sunday and wounded two others in a northwest tribal region hit by a
fresh wave of Islamist unrest, a paramilitary spokesman said.

The device exploded in Safi town in Mohmand tribal district, which
borders Bajaur district, where a suicide bomber blew himself up at a
military checkpoint on Saturday, killing 16 people, including two
soldiers.

"The remote-controlled bomb was buried in Safi town -- two security
men were martyred and two injured in this incident," Major Fazal-ur-
Rehman, spokesman for the paramilitary Frontier Corps, said of
Sunday's bombing.

Residents in the area told AFP the soldiers were in a water tanker,
which was also badly damaged when it struck the improvised explosive
device.

Bajaur and Mohmand sit at the northern tip of Pakistan's semi-
autonomous tribal belt running along the Afghan border, and have seen
increasing unrest in recent weeks as security forces try to dismantle
Taliban sanctuaries.

The military first launched operations against Islamist fighters in
Mohmand and Bajaur in August 2008 and have claimed several times to
have quashed the militant threat, but clashes and attacks continue.

Pakistan's northwest tribal belt has become a stronghold for both
homegrown Islamist militant groups and hundreds of extremists who fled
Afghanistan after the US-led invasion toppled the hardline Taliban
regime in late 2001.

Pakistan's military last year embarked on multiple new assaults into
Taliban strongholds in the northwest, and helicopter gunships last
week launched a fierce assault on suspected military hideouts in
Bajaur.

Also Sunday, militants blew up a government-run girls' primary school
on the outskirts of northwest garrison town Bannu.

"The school is almost completely destroyed," said Mohammad Hussain
Khan, a local police official in the area. "They planted explosives
around the walls and then dynamited the building."

Islamist militants opposed to co-education have destroyed hundreds of
schools, mostly for girls, in the northwest of the country in recent
years as they wage a fierce insurgency to enforce sharia law.

Copyright © 2010 AFP. All rights reserved.

Pakistan's military last year embarked on multiple new assaults into
Taliban strongholds in the northwest

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jR0DL7PO8MgiQA4ys0bHuK9KLXAg

Pakistani army investigates reported death of Pakistani Taliban leader
Updated 06:35 PM Jan 31, 2010

ISLAMABAD (AP) - The Pakistani army said Sunday that it was
investigating reports that Pakistani Taliban leader Hakimullah Mehsud
died from injuries sustained in a U.S. drone missile strike in mid-
January.

The militant leader's death would be an important success for both
Pakistan, which has been battling the Pakistani Taliban, and the U.S.,
which blames Mehsud for a deadly bombing against the CIA in
Afghanistan.

The army's announcement came shortly after Pakistani state television
reported that Mehsud died in Orakzai, an area in Pakistan's northwest
tribal region where he was reportedly being treated for his injuries.

"We have these reports coming to us," army spokesman Gen. Athar Abbas
told The Associated Press. "We are investigating whether it is true or
wrong."

- AP

http://www.todayonline.com/BreakingNews/EDC100131-0000063/Pakistan--Mule-steps-on-a-land-mine-in-NW,-killing-2-paramilitary-troops

...and I am Sid Harth

[chhotemianinshallah]

January 31, 2010...12:31 am
Is Article 227 indispensable?

By Naeem Sadiq The News, January 28, 2010

If the Taliban were to come to power in Pakistan (which is what their
struggle is all about), what would they do to the Constitution? The
answer is: they would retain Article 227 and discard the rest of the
Constitution. This single article of the Constitution would be
sufficient for them to run the country. Their interpretation of this
Article would be: “All laws to be brought in conformity with the
injunctions of Islam – as perceived by the Taliban.”

They could arguably use the article to make laws to kill a barber for
a haircut, bomb a school if it was attended by females, gouge the eyes
of those who watched television, lash people for wearing shorts and
cut off hands for theft, and to slaughter those who differed with the
Taliban’s brand of religion – all in the name of Islam. Thanks to
Article 227, all this would be well within the ambit of law and the
constitution. The Taliban could not have conceived a better, simpler
and more accurate one-liner constitution.

From types of governance to the nature of personal laws, nations,
groups and individuals differ widely on what they consider to be in
conformity with the injunctions of Islam. The constitution of Saudi
Arabia (for some a role model for an Islamic state) calls for a
monarchical system of government. It further requires that the
monarchy be passed on to the sons of the founding king, Abd al-Aziz
bin Abd al-Rahman al-Faysal al Sa’ud, and to their children’s
children. Many scholars do not consider this prescription to be a
recommended Islamic practice. Others will not agree with the
constitution of Iran, another great Islamic country, that declares (in
Article 12) Islam in accordance with the Jafariya school to be the
official faith.

On the other hand, Muslim Bangladesh on becoming an independent
country in 1971 chose a secular constitution, and more recently has
banned all religion-based parties from politicking on religious
grounds.

In the case of Article 227, Pakistan’s experience with it has added to
the strife and polarisation of its citizens and society, rather than
providing any benefits. It has been used by both civilian and military
rulers to maintain their hold on power through appeasement of
religious groups. In a fit of religious fervour, ours became the only
parliament in the world to acquire the divine right to declare which
Pakistani citizens were Muslim or otherwise. We must now nervously
look to our parliament (often a gathering of people renowned for their
questionable integrity) in case it decides which one of us is next to
be removed from the pale of Islam.

Gen Zia’s Zakat Ordinance deserves special mention here, as it is an
object lesson in why not to engage in religious lawmaking. The 1980
ordinance was strongly resented by members of the Fiqh-e-Jafariya, who
felt it was not in accordance with their own beliefs. Forced to
concede, but also not wishing to lose face, the government responded
in a grossly unethical manner. On the one hand, the Zakat Ordinance
was amended to include a provision that enabled all recognised sects
to seek exemption from compulsory deduction of Zakat. On the other,
confidential administrative instructions were issued that declarations
filed by Shia Muslims were to be accepted while similar declarations
filed by Sunni Muslims were to be rejected. (Paragraph 11 of PLD 1991,
Karachi 335, Sindh High Court.)

There was hardly an individual who did not wish to seek exemption from
compulsory Zakat deduction. Between 1980 and 1999 (when the Supreme
Court upheld the Sindh High Court decision), millions of Muslims kept
on providing fake affidavits of belonging to Fiqh-e-Jafariya, or
simply withdrawing their money a day before the announced date for
deduction of Zakat.

Unfortunately, the cumbersome bureaucratic practices of the Zakat
Ordinance continued to hassle and inconvenience ordinary citizens, who
must fill the CZ50 Zakat affidavit and have it signed by a notary
public and two witnesses. No one ever questions the science by which a
witness verifies the sect of a person. Today, one must prove one’s
faith by real or fake affidavits in order to prevent the government
from making financial deductions in the name of religion.

Zakat, like prayers, is a personal obligation. Turning it into a
public law makes it come into direct conflict with Article 20 of the
Constitution that provides every citizen the right to practice his or
her own religion. It also violates Article 8 of the Constitution that
declares any law to be void if it is inconsistent with fundamental
rights.

Why did Pakistan need to include Article 227 in its Constitution? Have
the actions taken under the umbrella of Article 227 made Pakistani
society better or worse? How well have we performed on matters of
human rights, equality of citizens, security of individuals, violence
against women or dignity of people? Are all these guarantees not
already provided for by Articles 8 to 28 of the Constitution?

How is it that scores of nations with no 227-like articles in their
constitutions have done far better than Pakistan on the counts of
human rights, equality and justice? Pakistan, on the other hand, has
fallen prey to deep societal divisions and become vulnerable to the
forces of extremism. In its effort to compete on the ideology market,
Pakistan has to constantly (and unnecessarily) keep pace with the
unmatchable standards of the clerics of Lal Masjid, the Fazlullahs of
Imam Dheri and the Baitullahs of Waziristan.

It is time for the state to formally and firmly give up provisions
that empower it to legislate (almost always wrongly and in
discriminatory manner) matters that are exclusive between an
individual and the Lord. The ordinary people of Pakistan will continue
to be just as good Muslims as they have always been. Do they really
need to be further divided or exploited by Article 227 being invoked?

http://pakteahouse.wordpress.com/2010/01/31/is-article-227-indispensable/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+teahouse+%28Pak+Tea+House%29

Memorial in Islamabad, Pakistan
LIVE BLOG

Posted by Aisha Sarwari and Yasser Hamdani at 08:23 0 comments
6/12/09
Chickens coming home to roost

Dr. Sarfraz Naeemi- the head honcho over there at Jamia Naeemia- has
been killed in a suicide attack on the mosque. He had given a fatwa
against the Taliban recently... and called them enemies of Islam and
Pakistan. He was absolutely right and he paid with his life.

However a few years ago... Sarfraz Naeemi had given this Khutba:
"The suicide attacks are not haram [forbidden in Islam] but are the
supreme form of jihad."

Now therefore we must learn a lesson from this. Sarfraz Naeemi
succumbed to the so called "supreme form of Jihad". While we mourn his
passing, we must realize that this was the logical extension of the
argument our Islamic scholars have been spinning for years.

We must make a break from such violent interpretations of Islam now...
lest we don't have a country or a religion any more.

Posted by Aisha Sarwari and Yasser Hamdani at 11:21

a Sarwari and Yasser Hamdani at 11:21

8 comments:

Agha H Amin said...
the mis-use of religion started right from 1858 with syed ahmad khan
and continued with jinnah.since the religious slogan gained momentum
after 1940 , slowly but effectively it became more and more effective.

three periods were significant:--

1-the muslim separatism of syed ahmad,mohammad hayat and agha khan to
please the brits and gain political advantage.

2-use of islam as a slogan between 1940 and 1947.

3-use of religion in afghan war and its continual by political
governments like the PPP supporting the taliban and till 2001 by all
governments.

particularly the pashtuns were worst manipulated starting from kashmir
war till 2001.

now the situatio is out of control.

a bloody civil war is on and will be fought to a bitter end.

July 3, 2009 5:42 AM
Anonymous said...
Agha sb,

You of all people should have a more nuanced understanding of this
issue.

Sir Syed Ahmad Khan and Jinnah were about group rights... they did not
misuse religion per se. Jinnah especially only came to the issue of
Muslim separatism after having exhausted other options.

Religion was misused by Gandhi in form of the Khilafat movement and
the formation of JUH etc. It was mass mobilization in form of religion
that was bound to create division and cleavage.

July 3, 2009 10:26 AM
Yasser Latif Hamdani9 said...
I agree with that assessment by anonymous. I think of all the people
concerned Jinnah was the only one who did not sing the Quran and use
religious argument. Infact he made it quite clear that he was fighting
for the political rights of Muslims... this is not to say that League
in Punjab used Barelvi Mullahs against Unionists ... as Unionists did
against the League.. and Congress used the uber-Islamist deobandis
against the Muslim League and the Pakistan Movement.

If the current crisis is what we talk about we must also factor in
Mullah Pawinda and Fakir of Ipi... both anti-British "freedom
fighters" ... and Fakir of Ipi's struggle against Pakistan government
which was aided and abetted by the Frontier Congress.

Just like Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, Aga Khan and Jinnah (the latter
ofcourse was not the loyalist that the first two were) had nothing to
do with Mullah Pawinda and Fakir of Ipi...

The so called "Civil War" is simply a twice a century affair... and I
am afraid that is not the analysis I expected from Pavo.

July 3, 2009 10:37 AM
Yasser Latif Hamdani said...
PS: Achyuth Patwardhan, one of the Socialist stalwarts in the
Congress, has given a remarkably candid and self critical analysis of
the Congress Party vis-a-vis Khilafat: 'It is, however, useful
torecognise our share of this error of misdirection. To begin with, I
am convinced that looking back upon the course of development of the
freedom movement, THE 'HIMALAYAN ERROR' of Gandhiji's leadership was
the support he extended on behalf of the Congress and the Indian
people to the Khilafat Movement at the end of the World War I. This
has proved to be a disastrous error which has brought in its wake a
series of harmful consequences. On merits, it was a thoroughly
reactionary step. The Khilafat was totally unworthy of support of the
Progressive Muslims. Kemel Pasha established this solid fact by
abolition of the Khilafat. The abolition of the Khilafat was widely
welcomed by enlightened Muslim opinion the world over and Kemel was an
undoubted hero of all young Muslims straining against Imperialist
domination. But apart from the fact that Khilafat was an unworthy
reactionary cause, Mahatma Gandhi had to align himself with a
sectarian revivalist Muslim Leadership of clerics and maulvis. He was
thus unwittingly responsible for jettisoning sane, secular, modernist
leadership among the Muslims of India and foisting upon the Indian
Muslims a theocratic orthodoxy of the Maulvis. Maulana Mohammed Ali's
speeches read today appear strangely incoherent and out of tune
withthe spirit of secular political freedom. The Congress Movement
which released the forces of religious liberalism and reform among the
Hindus, and evoked a rational scientific outlook, placed the Muslims
of India under the spell of orthodoxy and religious superstition by
their support to the Khilafat leadership. Rationalist leaders like
Jinnah were rebuffed by this attitude of Congress and Gandhi. This is
the background of the psychological rift between Congress and the
Muslim League'

July 3, 2009 10:46 AM
YLH said...
This post has been removed by a blog administrator.
July 7, 2009 8:19 AM
aasman said...
This post has been removed by a blog administrator.
July 7, 2009 11:40 PM
aasman said...
This post has been removed by a blog administrator.
July 7, 2009 11:44 PM
Anonymous said...
Dear Aasman (the spammer from India)

Thank you for your concern for my life in general and PTH in
particular.

You may contact Raza Rumi with your concerns. However my guess is that
he will tell you that ever since I joined the PTH Editorial board, the
readership has tripled and the one month I was away on vacation, the
readership fell by about 45%.

July 8, 2009 4:50 AM

DAWN REPORT: Villagers in Upper Dir take up arms against Taliban

PROVINCES
Villagers angered by mosque blast attack Taliban

By Our Correspondent

Monday, 08 Jun, 2009 | 03:33 AM PST |

UPPER DIR: Two Taliban commanders and their four fighters were killed
in an armed action taken by a tribal Lashkar in the Doog Darra area of
Upper Dir district on Sunday.

(According to AP news agency 11 militants were killed in the attack.)

The Lashkar was formed in Hayagay Sharqi, and was supported by people
of Hayagay Gharbi, Doon, Kilot and Miana Doog villages, after the
suicide attack on a local mosque during Friday prayers that killed
over 30 people, including several children.

The Lashkar stormed Taliban bunkers in Doog Darra, Salam Bekay,
Ghazigay, Shatkas, Panaghar and Maluk Khwar and torched about 20
houses of people who harboured militants.

People from several other villages joined the Lashkar to expel Taliban
from their area.

According to local people, both sides were using heavy weapons in
fierce clashes between the Lashkar and the Taliban.

Sources said the village force was attacking Taliban positions in
Shatkas, Miana and Doog Bala.

Meanwhile, people of Maluk Khwar and Panaghar villages, who were
active supporters

of the militants, also parted ways with them after the mosque blast
and announced support for the tribal Lashkar and vowed to evict
militants from the area.

Doog Darra area, it may be mentioned, was attacked by planes in the
third week of May.

Two men of the Lashkar identified as Shah Khalid and Mohammad Ayaz
were injured in Sunday’s clash.

The militants, holed up in their stronghold of Shatkas and Gazigay,
were putting up stiff resistance, the sources said.

Agencies add: The incident underscored a swing in the national mood
towards a more anti-Taliban stance, a shift that comes as suicide
attacks have surged and the military wages an offensive in the Swat
valley.

DCO Atif-ur-Rehman said some 400 villagers formed a Lashkar and
attacked five villages in Doog Darra area.

The militia has occupied three of the villages since Saturday and is
trying to push the Taliban out of the other two.

The government has encouraged local people to set up militias to oust
Taliban fighters.

‘It is something very positive that tribesmen are standing against the
militants. It will discourage the miscreants,’ Mr Rehman said.

He said around 200 militants were putting up stiff resistance in their
strongholds surrounded by the villagers.

‘We will send security forces, maybe artillery too, if the villagers
ask for reinforcement,’ he said.

http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/provinces/12-tribesmen-avenge-mosque-blast-attack-taliban--bi-01

Posted by Aisha Sarwari and Yasser Hamdani at 20:05

6/5/09
Obama's landmark speech... in the wrong city
By Yasser Latif Hamdani

President Obama’s landmark speech was extraordinary and unprecedented.
It marks a paradigm shift in US’ relationship with the Muslim world
and is a recognition that our common earth needs to be saved from
destruction and mindless violence. President Obama is proving himself
to be the change that he promised. Yet as a Pakistani I feel that the
speech was delivered at the wrong forum in the wrong city.

Let us forget and forgive the president for his glaring omission of
Kashmir which he had rightly identified as a major flashpoint on the
world map during his campaign. Even without Kashmir, the speech would
still have a far greater impact had it been delivered in Islamabad
instead of Cairo. Unlike Cairo where you have an unpopular but
entrenched despot, Islamabad has an embattled democratic government
which is fighting perhaps the most important civil war in world
history since the American civil war itself. Infact its significance
might be greater for it will determine the future of the entire
Islamic civilization. Obama’s presence in Islamabad would have
bolstered that effort greatly.

And unlike Cairo, Islamabad is the capital of the second largest
Muslim country and population after Indonesia with 165 million Muslims
within Pakistani borders. Indeed most of the world’s Muslims live
outside the Arab world. Indonesia has more than 200 million, Pakistan
165 million, India has 145 million, Bangladesh has 140 million. Three
of the major core Muslim majority countries are non-Arab- Turkey, Iran
and Pakistan. Considering this, Islamabad should have been the logical
choice of this address.

Obama spoke of the diversity of the Muslim world and of women’s
rights. Unlike Cairo which is dominated by Sunni Islam and is
ethnically homogenously Arab, Islamabad is the capital of a state
which is far more reflective of the diversity, both ethnic and
sectarian. Consider for example the fact that Pakistan has both the
second largest Sunni (after Indonesia) and the second largest Shia
populations (after Iran) of the world. It is a land where many
languages are spoken and many ethnicities live and its history is
older than that of Egypt. As for women’s rights, it is Pakistan which
as Obama himself pointed out elected a woman prime minister twice.
Islamabad and the rest of Pakistan was the scene of the lawyers’
movement, a thoroughly secular movement for constitutionalism and
fundamental rights- much of what Obama himself claims to uphold. All
this would have helped Obama underscore his message of common bonds
with Islam much more than his performance in Egypt.

Still a very important opportunity has been extended to us and we must
clutch it with both hands. Our common humanity dictates us to do so.
Posted by Aisha Sarwari and Yasser Hamdani at 01:14

5/22/09
Principles for the New Pakistan Left
Seven Principles on which the left should seek to reinvent itself in
Pakistan:

1. Faithful allegiance to Jinnah's conception of Pakistan as an
egalitarian, cosmopolitan and democratic social welfare state based on
rule of law and equality of opportunity.
2. Immediate, unconditional and effective land reforms.
3. Provincial autonomy through residual powers lying with provinces
4. Affirmative action for religious minorities, women, depressed
classes and linguistic minorities.
5. Education reform and access to all citizens of Pakistan
6. Provision of health care should be state responsibility.
7. Foreign policy based on rational self interest within reason and in
consonance with international law

Posted by Aisha Sarwari and Yasser Hamdani at 13:06

5/13/09
Rebuttal to Ishtiaq Ahmed's article "fundamentalist dimension of the
Pakistan Movement" that Mullah types and Indians love to quote:
What Ishtiaq says is basically two fold… that in 1946 elections Punjab
Muslim League used Islam through “Barelvi Pirs” against Unionist party
(what he forgets is that Unionist Party as well as Congress also used
Islam against the Muslim League) and that people like Raja of
Mahmudabad promised Quran and Islamic state….

Ishtiaq Ahmed's omissions are also two-fold:

1. If Raja of Mahmudabad did promise “dictatorship of the Quran” which
he did, Jinnah expelled him from the Muslim League. This is well
known.
2. Barelvi Pirs etc constitute the “low church of Islam” not the “high
church”. Muslim League’s use of Barelvis … only as late as 1946 …. was
in response to the use by the Congress and then the Unionist Party of
the “high church” i.e. Deobandi Islam.

Ishtiaq Ahmed also makes horrendous factual errors in the said
article:

1. He claimed that Jamaat Ahmaddiya was ambivalent to the Pakistan
Movement till Zafrullah Khan was won over… this is an absolute lie.
First of all Zafrullah Khan vetted the Lahore Resolution which is
considered the starting point of the Pakistan Movement. Secondly
Jinnah’s famous visit to the London Ahmaddiya Mosque in 1933 was where
the Imam of the mosque, Ibrahim Dard, had persuaded him to go to India
and re-organize the Muslim League .. and Jinnah had promised to
consider it. Jamaat Ahmaddiya had in the mid-1940s engaged the famous
geographer George Spate to carry out a “Pakistan Survey” in aid of the
Muslim League. A detailed report was issued which was reprinted by the
Dawn a few years ago.
2. He claimed that Shias remained ambivalent. Muslim League leadership
was mostly Shia. Ironically the Raja of Mahmudabad that Ishtiaq Ahmed
quotes was also staunchly and fanatically Shia.

The facts are:

1. Almost every Islamist Mullah organization Jamiat-e-Ulema-Hind
(apart from the small breakaway Usmani faction), Majlis-e-Ahrar,
Khaksar Tehreek , Jamaat-e-Islami etc opposed the Pakistan Movement.

2. That it was Gandhi who through his Khilafat movement brought these
Mullahs into politics.The roots of this dischord were found in the
Khilafat movement… Achyuth Patwardhan, one of the Socialist stalwarts
in the Congress, has given a remarkably candid and self critical
analysis of the Congress Party vis-a-vis Khilafat:

‘It is, however, useful to recognise our share of this error of
misdirection. To begin with, I am convinced that looking back upon the
course of development of the freedom movement, THE ‘HIMALAYAN ERROR’
of Gandhiji’s leadership was the support he extended on behalf of the
Congress and the Indian people to the Khilafat Movement at the end of
the World War I. This has proved to be a disastrous error which has
brought in its wake a series of harmful consequences. On merits, it
was a thoroughly reactionary step. The Khilafat was totally unworthy
of support of the Progressive Muslims. Kemel Pasha established this
solid fact by abolition of the Khilafat. The abolition of the Khilafat
was widely welcomed by enlightened Muslim opinion the world over and
Kemel was an undoubted hero of all young Muslims straining against
Imperialist domination. But apart from the fact that Khilafat was an
unworthy reactionary cause, Mahatma Gandhi had to align himself with a
sectarian revivalist Muslim Leadership of clerics and maulvis. He was
thus unwittingly responsible for jettisoning sane, secular, modernist
leadership among the Muslims of India and foisting upon the Indian
Muslims a theocratic orthodoxy of the Maulvis. Maulana Mohammed Ali’s
speeches read today appear strangely incoherent and out of tune with
the spirit of secular political freedom. The Congress Movement which
released the forces of religious liberalism and reform among the
Hindus, and evoked a rational scientific outlook, placed the Muslims
of India under the spell of orthodoxy and religious superstition by
their support to the Khilafat leadership. Rationalist leaders like
Jinnah were rebuffed by this attitude of Congress and Gandhi. This is
the background of the psychological rift between Congress and the
Muslim League’

Pakistan was a movement led by middle class largely westernized
Muslims who had no truck with religious dogma.

Posted by Aisha Sarwari and Yasser Hamdani at 09:32

2 comments:

Rahul said...
Well, the Muslim clergy was against Jinnah as well as Iqbal. Maududi
baba and his gang was, however, quick to step in, once Mr Jinnah had
given up his ghost. A while after it was understood well that Pakistan
no longer had a leader of the dead-duo's character or even stature,
forget poets like Faiz or Jalib, they were set for a tragic fate, the
beard brigade stepped in to fight the battles for 'Islam', retrogrades
such as the Wahhabbi Sauds of Arabia and Deobandis at home made common
cause. Uncle Sam, of course, came in handy with its own generous
contributions.

In hindsight, tragic as it may appear, Pakistan was made for the
fanatics, I hope India's not, at least this is what I hope in the wake
of BJP's fall in the recent elections.

May 17, 2009 2:46 PM
Aisha Sarwari and Yasser Hamdani said...
No Rahul. Pakistan was not made for fanatics.

The logic of a nation state run by constitution and tempered by
fundamental rights is not to the liking of fanatics.

May 22, 2009 1:11 PM

Copyright © 2009 - Dawn Media Group

Aisha Sarwari and Yasser Hamdani
Location: Islamabad : Pakistan

About Me
She a new media professional, a modern Pakistani woman who hates to
cook.

He a secular lawyer who derives mephistophilian pleasure out of
disturbing the comfortable and rarely comforting the disturbed. They
have nothing in common except their children and Hotel Mohenjodaro.

http://hotelmohenjodaro.blogspot.com/

...and I am Sid Harth

[chhotemianinshallah]

ESSAY

MYTHS AND REALITY
A.G. NOORANI

In 2010, “independence” for Kashmir need not spell secession. But self-
rule within India must be genuine.

NISSAR AHMAD

A SILENT PROTEST against "human rights violations", in Srinagar on
January 18.

MYTHS are fostered with a purpose. Even when Sheikh Abdullah was Prime
Minister of Jammu and Kashmir (1947-1953), the myth was sedulously
spread that he wanted a Sheikdom when all he sought was respect for
the State’s autonomy. He had cast in his lot with the Congress in
1939. Criticising the Muslim League, on April 14, 1939, he asked, “How
can we tie ourselves to you?... While we were in greater stress the
Congress came to our rescue… will anybody tell me how I am wrong,
representing a majority community as I do, in trying to win the
confidence of the minority community which happens to be the Hindus,
the Sikhs and others in Kashmir?” (Freedom Movement in Kashmir by
Ghulam Hassan Khan; Light & Life Publishers; page 371.)

But M.A. Jinnah’s eyes were set on Hyderabad. On April 1, 1939, he
said at Aligarh, while praising the Sheikh’s sacrifices, “I can say
with certainty that he is in the wrong… got himself ensnared by the
Congress…” (ibid.; page 372).

Chitralekha Zutshi records that in 1946, when the British Cabinet
Mission arrived in India, Sheikh Saheb said, “The right of self-
determination to all the Nationalities inhabiting India will eliminate
the possibility of a constitutional solution on communal
lines” (Languages of Belonging; Permanent Black; page 301). This was
the Adhikari Thesis of the Communist Party of India (CPI), to which
many of his colleagues were close.

On May 5, 1946, he said that it was entirely for the people to decide
on accession. “They may either choose to remain absolutely independent
or join Pakistan” or “ask for a corridor in order to join the
Government of Hindustan” (ibid.; page 302). The partiality for India
was not concealed. The Radcliffe Award gave India “the corridor”
through Gurdaspur.

Divisions were not sharp. There were some in the Muslim Conference,
like Chaudhuri Hamidullah, who urged Maharaja Hari Singh “to declare
Kashmir an independent State”, not join Pakistan. Only last month, the
memoirs of Moti Lal Sagi, Shehej Wath (in Kashmiri), were published,
nine years after his death: “I personally favour an independent
Kashmir. Kashmiri Pandits were the first proponents of this idea.” The
Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Ram Chandra Kak, certainly was.

Sheikh Abdullah knew that he ran against the tide of opinion in
Kashmir. But he was repelled by the two-nation theory. He demanded
first “freedom before accession”. Significantly, on October 22, 1947,
he proposed that India and Pakistan “try to evolve a common centre
with defence, communication and foreign affairs” – a vain hope.

His dilemma was resolved by Pakistan’s tribal raid. Chitralekha
Zutshi, herself an ardent Kashmiri, prizes the integrity of a scholar
above the spurious claims of “patriotism”. Abdullah was made Head of
the Emergency Administration on October 30 and Prime Minister on March
5, 1948. Chitralekha Zutshi writes that “the National Conference
regime was, without doubt, an installation of the Indian government, a
fact made apparent by the presence of a vast number of Indian troops
in the State. Not only had the National Conference lost its popular
mandate with the Kashmiris – both Muslims and Hindus – but, as
significantly, it had never commanded the support of Muslims, Hindus
and Sikhs of the Jammu region, a region that now effectively came
under its control. The regime was caught between preserving its own
power in the face of multifarious challenges to its authority,
pressure from the Indian government to maintain the security of the
newly-founded Indian State by suppressing dissident elements within
the territory, and its own ideological platform that had promised far-
reaching reforms in the political and economic structures of the
State.

“Ironically, and perhaps predictably, the organisation that had first
demanded political and social rights on behalf of Kashmiris became
their greatest repressor. The National Conference regime
systematically suppressed papers and periodicals that did not agree
with Sheikh Abdullah, particularly in the matter of Kashmir’s
accession to India” (page 313). He used the Enemy Agents Ordinance to
throw dissidents across the ceasefire line.

Wiser after his dismissal from office and imprisonment for 11 years,
the Sheikh’s reply to a question put to him on January 6 and 14, 1968,
reveals a lot. To the question “Would you like to become Chief
Minister of Kashmir again?” he replied: “No, because only that person
who enjoys the confidence of the Government of India can be the Chief
Minister of Kashmir. I am not in favour of complete independence for
Kashmir either, because Kashmir cannot defend itself.” In February
1975, however, he became Chief Minister under a deal with Indira
Gandhi, whose party, the Congress, commanded a majority in the
Assembly. This grim reality of dependence on the Centre has been noted
by Kashmiris across the divide. (The conversation was part of an
interview to Shabistan Urdu Digest, translated and published as The
Testament of Sheikh Abdullah with a monograph by Y.D. Gundevia, former
Foreign Secretary; Palit & Palit, New Delhi; page 88).

Evidently, soon after Kashmir’s accession to India, Sheikh Abdullah
found that in the India of Gandhi and Nehru, to which he had
enthusiastically pledged his loyalty, there resided also at the very
apex of power men who did not share their ideology of secularism and
disliked him and supported the Maharaja. The Sheikh’s close friends
came from the Left. The CPI backed him. He could not, would not, join
Pakistan. Popular feelings, as Indira Gandhi discovered in May 1948,
ran in Pakistan’s favour. He struggled to ease India’s tight embrace,
please popular opinion and acquire considerable freedom by an accord
with both the states.

Idea of independence

Despite its accession to India, the idea of independence for Kashmir
was freely aired by Mountbatten, Jawaharlal Nehru, N. Gopalaswamy
Ayyangar, and others, as noted earlier (Frontline, January 29, 2010).
The Sheikh could not have been unaware of this and made his own moves
as a member of the Indian delegation to the Security Council, whose
leader, Gopalaswamy Ayyangar, had publicly recognised the possibility
of independence.

On January 28, 1948, in New York, Abdullah met the United States
representative to the United Nations, Warren Austin. “His whole
attitude and approach being obviously to seek U.S. support for Indian
viewpoint,” Austin reported, adding: “It is possible that principal
purpose of Abdullah’s visit was to make clear to U.S. that there is a
third alternative, namely, independence. He seemed overly anxious to
get this point across, and made quite a long and impassioned statement
on subject. He said in effect that whether Kashmir went to Pakistan or
India the other Dominion would always be against solution. Kashmir
would thus be a bone of contention. It is a rich country. He did not
want his people torn by dissension between Pakistan and India. It
would be much better if Kashmir were independent and could seek
American and British aid for development of country. I, of course,
gave Abdullah no encouragement on this line and I am confident when he
left he understood very well where we stand on this whole matter.”
However, the leader of the so-called “Azad Kashmir” government, Sardar
Ibrahim, “emphatically said Kashmir could not remain
independent” (Foreign Relations of the United States: South Asia,
1948, Volume 5; pages 292-293).

In New Delhi on February 21, 1948, the United Kingdom’s Secretary of
State for Commonwealth Relations, Patrick Gordon-Walker, had extensive
talks with Nehru as well as the Sheikh. The record bears quotation in
extenso: “7. At this point Nehru fetched in Sheikh Abdullah and said
he would leave us to this together. Just before Nehru left Sheikh
Abdullah said he thought the solution was that Kashmir should accede
to both Dominions. I had not time to get him to develop this idea
before Nehru left the room, but questioned him afterwards. He said
Kashmir’s trade was with India, that India was progressive and that
Nehru was an Indian. On the other hand Kashmir’s trade passed through
Pakistan and a hostile Pakistan would be a constant danger. The
solution therefore was that Kashmir should have its autonomy jointly
guaranteed by India and Pakistan and it would delegate its foreign
policy and defence in them both jointly but would look after its own
internal affairs. The two Dominions share a common interest in Kashmir
and it would agree to unite and link them.

“I asked whether Nehru would agree to this solution and he said he
thought so. He did discuss it with him. I will ask Nehru about this,
this morning, when I see him and shall hope to add a paragraph to the
end of this telegram. Sheikh Abdullah had no idea whether Pakistan
would agree to this solution, but he said it would avoid a plebiscite
which he did not really want. He thought India would win but the vote
would be close, perhaps 60 to 40, and either way the minority would be
so large that it would never really accept the verdict. If Pakistan
lost, there would be constant trouble and no peace for Kashmir. The
Muslim Conference would accept a joint accession and he could carry
his own party.

“8. He also said that the problem of the insurgents would solve itself
when the raiders withdrew and that his own policy was to create four
or five regions with full local autonomy. 9. I then worked back to the
idea of a joint guarantee and asked why this was not publicly put
forward. He said it must be put forward by the U.K. backed by the U.S.
This was an essential and we must tell Pakistan we thought it the only
proper solution….

“10. Since drafting the above I have seen Nehru again with reference
to paragraph 7 above. He says that he would be prepared to accept a
solution broadly on the lines of that proposed by Sheikh
Abdullah” (emphasis added throughout). Nehru himself had aired the
idea only a day earlier in a letter to Krishna Menon on the
proceedings in the Security Council. “Two other points might
subsequently arise. One is the possibility of Kashmir being considered
more or less independent and guaranteed as such by India, Pakistan and
possibly the U.K. The other is the possibility of some kind of
partition either by previous agreement or as a result of the vote. I
do not fancy either of these; but I do not wish to rule them out
altogether. We are not going to put either of these forward unless
circumstances more or less compel us.

“The British attitude, to begin with, that is six months ago, was
definitely in favour of Kashmir going to Pakistan. Subsequently they
have talked of partition, meaning thereby that Jammu should come to
India and Kashmir Valley and the rest should go to Pakistan. This is
totally unacceptable to us. The real bone of contention is the Kashmir
Valley. Even Mountbatten has at various times hinted at partition.
Recent suggestions referred to the Poonch-Mirpur area being added on
to Pakistan while Kashmir Valley, Jammu etc., might remain with
India” (Selected Works of Jawaharlal Nehru, Volume 5; page 222).

At a meeting with Nehru, Vallabhbhai Patel, Gopalaswamy Ayyangar and
Gordon-Walker on February 26, 1948, Mountbatten “suggested that a vote
for independence should be included in the plebiscite”. Gopalaswamy
Ayyangar elaborated on the idea (ibid.; page 232).

Independence was not taboo. V.P. Menon told officials of the British
High Commission in New Delhi on February 16, 1948, when one of them
“suggested to Menon that India might now propose an independent
Kashmir jointly guaranteed by the two Dominions as an alternative to
their former attitude”, that he felt that tactically this could be a
good move on India’s part as it would be taken as a gesture of
compromise and would shift the onus on to Pakistan. Menon felt that
India might well have suggested such a solution earlier in the case
debated but he was very doubtful of Pakistan accepting it now”.

John D. Kearney, Canada’s High Commissioner in India, proposed an
independent Kashmir in talks with Girja Shankar Bajpai, Secretary
General of the Ministry of External Affairs, and Nehru. The U.S.
Ambassador to India, Henry F. Grady, reported on March 1: “Kearney
asked Bajpai if GOI would consider an alternative which would be
agreement two dominions for plebiscite solely on question of Kashmir
independence, and second plebiscite on preference accession, if vote
was against independence. Bajpai expressed interest and said he would
discuss matter with Nehru. Kearney saw Nehru last night and has just
talked with me. Nehru said he favoured plebiscite for independence
based on joint guarantee both dominions maintenance independence of
Kashmir. Nehru stated he preferred what we may call plan two
(plebiscite on independence) as against plan one (my telegram 148
February 21) because it would take the heat out of the situation and
form a basis cooperation two dominions” (Foreign Relations of the
United States, 1948, Volume 5; page 310. Plan One was for elections to
an Assembly followed by plebiscite; page 302).

The U.K.’s High Commissioner to India reported to his counterpart in
Pakistan: “Kearney had then put forward his plan for a plebiscite to
be confined to the question of independence for Kashmir or not with a
joint guarantee by both Dominions of an independent Kashmir. Nehru had
said that the idea was a possible solution and although it would not
be liked in India he thought he could put it across. He had agreed
that such a plebiscite would remove a great deal of the controversial
matters arising from a plebiscite on accessions and he also hoped that
a police guarantee would bring India and Pakistan into close harmony
in other fields” (Selected Works of Jawaharlal Nehru, Volume 5; page
254).

It is a remarkably consistent record of independence being accepted at
the highest level in New Delhi from the time of Kashmir’s accession to
India in October 1947 until February 1948. All hell broke loose,
however, at the report of Sheikh Abdullah’s interview to Michael
Davidson of The Statesman published on April 14, 1949: “Accession to
either side cannot bring peace,” he declared. “We want to live in
friendship with both Dominions. Perhaps a middle path between them,
with economic co-operation with each, will be the only way of doing
it. But an independent Kashmir must be guaranteed not only by India
and Pakistan but also by Britain, the United States and other members
of the United Nations…. Yes, independence – guaranteed by the United
Nations – may be the only solution. But why do you talk of
partition?....

“During the communal riots in the Punjab after Partition, we tried in
our humble way to stem the wave of fanaticism. That is why I urged we
should wait before deciding our affiliation. I pleaded with both
Dominions to help us first to win internal emancipation before asking
us to choose. India replied by refusing to make a standstill agreement
with the Maharaja; Pakistan did so. When during the crisis India
accepted the Maharaja’s accession Pandit Nehru insisted that it was
only provisional and that the people must decide later….”

Communalism factor

Two questions arise. Why did Sheikh Abdullah speak thus publicly in
1949 and not in 1947-48 when such a public stand would have altered
the course of history? And, what provoked him to speak thus? The
answer to both is the same. By 1949 he had been shown repeatedly an
aspect of India’s national life which he had dismissed earlier as
being of little account. He had seen rank communalism in the highest
circles; particularly in the Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister
Vallabhbhai Patel and the Director of the Intelligence Bureau, B.N.
Mullik. The consequences of Mullik’s baleful contribution to our China
policy are still with us. As early as on June 19, 1946, Patel wrote of
Kashmir: “The State being a Hindu State, situated in Muslim
surroundings, India itself is in a very delicate and difficult
position to take strong action against revolt or lawlessness, as such
action at once disturbs the communal atmosphere outside, apart from
its repercussions inside the State. The extreme poverty and illiteracy
of the masses present an unpleasant picture to a foreign visitor and
the State is generally represented outside as extremely irresponsible
and unprogressive.

“Sheikh Abdullah is supposed to be very popular and his association
with Pandit Nehru has been regarded as sufficient guarantee of his
being against any separate movement. Evidently, his present stand
appears to be capable of double interpretation and perhaps
inconsistent with the policy of the States Peoples’ Conference and
therefore contrary to Pandit Nehru’s views on this matter” (Sardar
Patel’s Correspondence edited by Durga Das; Volume 1, page 4).

On June 16, 1946, he wrote to Pandit Jiyalal Kaul Jalali about Nehru.
“After all, he is also a Hindu and that a Kashmiri Hindu, and he is
one of our foremost patriots and one of the greatest leaders of modern
India” (ibid.; page 3).

FAYAZ KABLI/REUTERS

THE BODY OF Riyaz Ahmad, the militant killed in an encounter with the
security forces in Abhama, 67 km south of Srinagar, on January 12
being carried by a crowd. The fury of militancy may have died down in
the Valley, but it continues to simmer.

There lies the difference. Nehru would have found the “compliment”
unacceptable, which explains why the Sangh Parivar denigrates him and
lauds Patel, who always thought in communal terms.

Pandit Prem Nath Bazaz notes that Abdullah was summoned to New Delhi,
where he withdrew his remarks at a press conference on May 18, 1949.
“Independence may be and is a charming idea, but is it practical
too?” (Struggle for Freedom in Kashmir; page 424).

The Intelligence Bureau’s Director, B.N. Mullik, played his sordid
role. The Sheikh had demanded withdrawal from Kashmir of two officials
of the I.B. Nehru agreed with Mullik about their innocence. “But, his
point was that we were in Kashmir because of the Sheikh, and if the
latter resiled, India’s position would be different” (My years with
Nehru: Kashmir; Allied Publishers; page 26). How very true, indeed.
Without his support, the Maharaja’s accession to India would have
triggered a revolt – led by the Sheikh. He wanted a place in India.
From 1939 until he died in 1982, he was against joining Pakistan.

The Jana Sangh leader Shyama Prasad Mookerji’s support to the Praja
Parishad’s agitation in Jammu made matters worse. Mullik writes, “The
Prime Minister was greatly distressed by these harmful developments.
He talked to me on the disastrous effects which the Jana Sangh-Praja
Parishad agitation was likely to produce on the Muslim mind in
Kashmir. He said that the Government of India agreed with the Jana
Sangh’s views that Jammu and Kashmir should be fully integrated with
India and was taking steps in that direction. But, there were other
forces like Pakistan and the Security Council which could not be
ignored and it was not in India’s power to do whatever she liked in
respect of this State. Referring to the Jana Sangh’s demand that at
least Jammu should be integrated, the Prime Minister said that this
would amount to subscribing to the two-nation theory and would destroy
the raison d’etre of India’s existence in the valley. He said that the
Jana Sangh agitation had given him a shock and for the first time in
five years he had started feeling doubtful about the future of
Kashmir” (ibid.; page 30). There were powerful figures in the Congress
who supported the Jana Sangh line. Nehru acted under their pressure.

Gundevia, who was personally devoted to Nehru, testified: “It was not
a volte-face on the part of Sheikh Abdullah. It was an about-face on
the part of the Government of India, with the Home Ministry winning
all along the line and Jawaharlal Nehru gradually succumbing to ‘right
wing pressures’…. The game began, it would seem, with an unobtrusive
junior intelligence officer being posted in Kashmir, nominally to
watch out for Pakistani activities in the State, but actually to spy
on Sheikh Abdullah.”

The Sheikh came to hear of the activities of this I.B. officer and
soon had him thrown out, with Nehru’s help.

“The Intelligence Bureau of the Home Ministry was not going to give up
the matter that easily. Their sole aim was to ensure that the various
reports from Kashmir discredited Sheikh in the eyes of the ruling
Congress and Nehru, and their second line of attack was to bring about
dissension among Abdullah’s followers. They gradually succeeded. On
the second occasion, when the Kashmir Constituent Assembly was very
much in session and the Sheikh had shown his hand, various reports on
the so-called developments in Kashmir found favour in Delhi (in
October 1952) and the Sheikh’s demand to remove two subordinate
intelligence officers from the scene was turned down by the Home
Ministry – and this time not seriously resisted by Nehru.” (Testament;
pages 110-111.)

The Sheikh’s position

Sheikh Abdullah continued to pursue his ideas in two talks with the
U.S. Ambassador to India, Loy Henderson, in September 1950. His report
to Secretary of State Dean Acheson must be read in full to appreciate
correctly the reasons underlying the Sheikh’s suggestions and, more
so, their nuances.

“In discussing future Kashmir, Abdullah was vigorous in restating that
in his opinion it should be independent; that overwhelming majority
population desired this independence; and that he had reason to
believe that some Azad Kashmir leaders desired independence and would
be willing to cooperate with leaders of National Confederation
[Conference] if there was reasonable chance such cooperation would
result in independence. Kashmir people could not understand why U.N.
consistently ignored independence as one of possible solutions for
Kashmir. It had held special assembly to deal with independence for
Palestine which was smaller in area and population and less
economically viable than Kashmir. Kashmir people had language and
cultural background of their own. Their Hindus by custom and tradition
widely differed from Hindus of India, and outlook and background;
their Muslims also quite different from Muslims of Pakistan. Fact was
that population of Kashmir homogeneous in spite of presence of Hindu
minority.

“When I asked Abdullah if he thought Kashmir could remain stable
independent country without friendly support of India and Pakistan he
replied in negative. In his opinion independent Kashmir could exist
only in case it had friendship both of India and Pakistan; in case
both these countries had friendly relations with each other; and in
case U.S. through U.N. or direct would enable it, by investments or
other economic assistance, to develop its magnificent resources.
Adherence of Kashmir to India would not lead in foreseeable future to
improving miserable economic lot of population. There were so many
areas of India in urgent need of economic development, he was
convinced Kashmir would get relatively little attention. Nevertheless,
it would be preferable for Kashmir to go to India than to Pakistan. It
would be disastrous for Kashmiris to be brought under control of
government with medieval Koranic outlook.

“Abdullah insisted that partition plus plebiscite formula (of Owen)
Dixon would be impractical. No method for partition could be devised
which would not sever close blood, cultural and economic ties and
which would not result in misery economically and otherwise and
lasting bitterness. He promised to supply me with map supporting his
statement, but floods prevented his seeing me again.

“Military observers and other foreigners in Kashmir with whom I talked
seemed almost unanimous in their belief that if Valley should be given
opportunity to vote freely it would prefer Pakistan to India. Most of
them were also of opinion that population in general would prefer
independence to any other solution” (Foreign Relations of the United
States, 1950, Volume V; pages 1,434-1,435.)

Nehru’s pressures to finalise the accession and integrate Jammu and
Kashmir fully with the Union prompted the Sheikh to set up a committee
of the National Conference to discuss the options. Little did he
realise that when Bakshi Ghulam Mohammed and G.M. Sadiq endorsed
plebiscite at the last meeting on June 9, 1953, they were leading him
up the garden path.

THE HINDU PHOTO ARCHIVES

DECEMBER 17, 1949: The Security Council meeting in New York where the
dispute between India and Pakistan over Kashmir was discussed. Sheikh
Mohammed Abdullah and Sir Girja Shankar Bajpai, Secretary General of
the Ministry of External Affairs, are seen in the photograph perusing
the details at the meeting.

With D.P. Dhar they had long been in touch with Nehru and Mullik and
played for time. They recanted their views in the first week of August
1953, days before his arrest on August 9, 1953.

Nehru’s orders to dismiss and imprison the Sheikh, and M.O. Mathai’s
note to Indira Gandhi published recently belie charges made against
them (“Brought to heel”, Frontline, September 12, 2008). A prosecution
was launched alleging that he wanted to accede to Pakistan. Its
object, as Mullik freely admitted, was to ensure that the Sheikh and
his colleagues “would be ruined for ever” (Mullik, page 104; Gundevia,
page 108).

On his release from prison on April 8, 1964, Sheikh Abdullah was
invited by Nehru to stay with him. His ideas were recorded by Gundevia
after a talk at the Prime Minister’s House on May 8, 1964. A solution
must meet three tests – promote India-Pakistan friendship; not “weaken
the secular ideal of the Indian Constitution”; nor weaken the position
of the minorities in both states. He had no particular solution in
mind but sought alternatives from India to offer to Ayub Khan, who had
invited him to visit Pakistan, for eventual parleys at a Nehru-Ayub
summit. “Acharya Vinobha Bhave had suggested a Confederation between
India, Pakistan and Kashmir, while Rajaji thought that this idea was
too ambitious for present implementation and, therefore, we should
think of a Codominion over Kashmir by India and Pakistan, Defence and
External Affairs being the joint responsibility of the two
governments.”

Gundevia and Nehru knew that neither idea was workable. Pakistan would
reject confederation. Abdullah also mooted plebiscite, with
independence as an option, to be guaranteed by both states and the
U.N. Gundevia’s ideas were close to Musharraf’s four points with
“joint bodies” to deal with a host of issues.

His letter to V.K.T. Chari, Advocate General of Madras and brother-in-
law of G. Parthasarathi, dated May 13, 1964, suggests that Nehru
wanted the legal aspect to be examined. “If there is to be a
Confederation and there can be a Confederation, we need not do
anything which would look like an annulment of the partition of India.
Pakistan and India must remain separate Sovereign States and Kashmir
must be brought into the Confederation. The question is: Must Kashmir
be by itself a separate sovereign entity. The Confederation,
ordinarily, would, probably, involve the Sovereign States of India and
Pakistan, having uniform laws and policies on certain subjects, e.g.
Defence, External Affairs and Communication, at least. The question
is: What other subjects can be brought into this? These might be –
control and movement of population and passport and visas: A customs
union with common trade policies: some attempt at financial
integration might also be necessary and worthwhile. Protection of
minorities would be a very important issue.” Nothing came of it,
predictably.

Sheikh Abdullah convened a Jammu and Kashmir Peoples’ convention at
Mujahid Manzil on October 12, 1968, and on June 8-13, 1970. Many a
paper read in these proceedings advocated independence. Those from
Azad Kashmir (Pakistan-occupied Kashmir) who sent papers advocating
independence were duly punished with imprisonment by Pakistan. Prof.
Manzoor Fazili’s compilation of the papers is very useful (Kashmir
Predilection; Gulshan Publishers, Srinagar, 1988). In 1989, militancy
erupted in the Valley with cries of azadi (independence). Its fury
subsided two decades later, but it continues to simmer.

Shujaat Bukhari reported in The Hindu of January 10, 2010, an
official’s lament that militants receive local support. “He cited the
spontaneous support two militants holed up in Punjab Hotel got when a
group of youth shouted ‘Mujahido aagey bado hum tumharey saath
hein’ [militants go ahead, we are with you]. Similarly, a strike was
observed in Sopore on Friday in protest against the killing of one of
the militants in the Lal Chowk encounter. The support, one top
security official said, was linked to the political problem in
Kashmir.”

We need not despair – provided we tackle this problem earnestly. The
lines between separatists and unionists have blurred. Proposals for
autonomy and self-rule can be meshed into the agreed India-Pakistan
Framework based on Musharraf’s four points.

To be real, self rule must (a) confer sufficient autonomy on Jammu and
Kashmir so that it steers its own course within the Union; (b) allow
Kashmir to elect its own head of State; (c) remove the deformities
since 1953; and (d) provide safeguards against a repetition of the
abuse of Article 370 of the Constitution. We must, however belatedly,
need Pandit Prem Nath Bazaz’s advice. “If Kashmir remains with India
against the will of the State’s people it will always find itself in
political turmoil. One puppet will succeed another but no government
will be stable. Finally there will be enough reason for the President
of India to use emergency powers, suspend the Constitution and install
his own rule in the State. Kashmir can never move towards freedom in
such circumstances.”

Azadi is rooted in the Kashmiri mind. In 2010, azadi, or independence,
need not spell secession.

But self-rule within India must be genuine.

Volume 27 - Issue 03 :: Jan. 30-Feb. 12, 2010
INDIA'S NATIONAL MAGAZINE
from the publishers of THE HINDU

http://www.frontlineonnet.com/stories/20100212270308900.htm

ESSAY

A cruel hoax

IN a constructive approach, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh convened
three Round Table Conferences on the Kashmir problem. At the second,
in Srinagar on May 24 and 25, 2006, five Working Groups were set up.
The Chairmen of four groups presented their Reports to the third RTC
in New Delhi on April 24, 2007 – N.C. Saxena on good governance; C.
Rangarajan on economic development; M.K. Rasgotra on strengthening
relations across the Line of Control (LoC); and Mohammad Hamid Ansari
on confidence-building measures (CBMs) across segments of society in
the State. All, particularly the last two, were able documents. It is
another matter that they were pigeonholed.

The report of the fifth group, headed by Justice (retd.) S. Saghir
Ahmad, former Chief Justice of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court and
judge of the Supreme Court, on Centre-State relations was the most
sensitive. If wisely written, the report could have served as a basis
for all-party dialogue and invested the RTCs with success. The Working
Group was formed to find a common ground on self-rule, autonomy and
regional aspirations. More than any other report, this was eagerly
awaited. The Group held five meetings between December 1, 2006, and
September 3, 2007, when Saghir Ahmad “assured the members of [sic]
convening its next, and apparently final, meeting soon. However, the
Group never met since then” (Zulfikar Majid; Greater Kashmir; October
24, 2009). No prizes are given for guessing how he came to submit the
report suddenly on December 18, 2009.

It is a cruel hoax on the people of Kashmir. In its studied and
cowardly evasion of the crucial issues, it would shame even a slippery
politician. The quality of its discourse on the Constitution would
disgrace an undergraduate in law. Saghir Ahmad’s report provides no
assistance to the political parties who cooperated with him and least
of all to those who entrusted so responsible a task to him.

The issues under the purview of the Working Group V were as follows:
Strengthening relations between the State and the Centre and to
deliberate on 1) matters relating to the special status of Jammu and
Kashmir within the Indian Union; 2) methods of strengthening
democracy, secularism and the rule of law in the State; 3) effective
devolution of powers among different regions to meet regional, sub-
regional and ethnic aspirations. The central issue was erosion of
Article 370, a fact admitted by Jawaharlal Nehru in the Lok Sabha on
November 27, 1963. More, “This process of gradual erosion of Art. 370
is going on…. We should allow it to go on.” Home Minister G.L. Nanda
said on December 4, 1964, that Article 370 could serve as a “tunnel in
the wall” between the Centre and Jammu and Kashmir to increase Central
power. A provision negotiated for five months (May-October 1949) to
guarantee Jammu and Kashmir’s autonomy was perverted to subvert it.
Hence the popular protests which the unionists shared.

Each of the three unionist parties presented its case with its ablest
advocate – the National Conference through Abdul Rahim Rather, Finance
Minister and the brain behind the State’s Autonomy Report (1990); the
People’s Democratic Party through Muzaffar Hussein Baig, former Deputy
Chief Minister; and the Congress through Prof. Saifuddin Soz, former
Union Minister. The State’s Autonomy Report, an excellently documented
expose of the Centre’s abuse of Article 370, omits the external
dimension. The PDP’s concept of “Self Rule” supplies this vital
component – the links between the two parts of Jammu and Kashmir. In
three places, the report complains that Baig had promised to present
“a comprehensive document” on self-rule, yet did not do so.

Saghir Ahmad records all the parties’ submissions, including those of
the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and hints at the outset that the job
is beyond him. “In order to find out an answer to these questions, it
would be necessary to delve into the archives of old records which
would reveal the historical and political background of Article 370 of
the Constitution of India.”

This is utter nonsense. The published material, including the debates
in the Constituent Assembly and the Nehru-Sheikh Abdullah
correspondence, which he ignores, provide material enough. In any
case, two years are more than enough for archival research.

Instead, he draws extensively on books on Jammu and Kashmir’s
Constitution by the former Chief Justice of India, A.S. Anand, and
former Judge R.P. Sethi, which are hostile to Kashmir’s autonomy.
Familiar documents like the Instrument of Accession and the ruler’s
collateral letter on ascertaining the people’s wishes are out.

The entire debate on the Article 370 in the Constituent Assembly on
October 17, 1949, and N. Gopalaswamy Ayyangar’s authoritative
exposition are completely omitted.

There are but two judgments of the Supreme Court on Article 370:
Premnath vs. State of J & K (AIR 1959 S.C. 749) and Sampat Prakash vs.
State of J & K. AIR 1970 1118, which, he rightly notes, took a
contrary view to the first case. Justice M. Hidayatullah was on both
Benches but did not refer to the earlier case. The first case ruled in
favour of autonomy; the second, against it. A former judge of the
Supreme Court charged with the task that he was, should have analysed
both. Both are dismissed in a single laconic paragraph.

In the same spirit, the Delhi Agreement of 1952 and the Indira Gandhi-
Sheikh Abdullah Accord of 1975 are also set out, so is a list of 43
orders under Article 370, after the major one of May 14, 1954, a list
of the Chief Ministers from 1952 to 2008; and the periods of
Governor’s and Central Rule. The purpose of the fatuous exercise
emerges on page 64 of the 101-page report: “Article 370 (1) (D) (11)
provides that an addition to the matters in the Union List and the
Concurrent List as set out in Clause 1 (b), the Right of Parliament to
make laws will also extend to such other matters in that list as with
the concurrence of the government of the State, the President may by
Order specify. The list of Chief Ministers given above indicates that
there was always a popular government in power and, therefore, the
Presidential Orders were apparently issued with the concurrence of
that government.”

This is false. He surely knows that the government’s power to accord
the concurrence was subject to ratification by the Constituent
Assembly of Jammu and Kashmir as Clause (2) of Article 370 makes clear
and both Gopalaswamy Ayyangar and Sheikh Abdullah emphasised. On page
16 he himself records A.R. Rather’s unanswerable argument that the
government’s power to accord concurrence ended once the State’s
Constituent Assembly met in 1951 and the Assembly’s ratificatory
authority ended on its dissolution in 1956.

Clearly, Saghir Ahmad is out to deny the erosion of Article 370 and
the State’s autonomy. The Explanation to Article 370 (1) defining the
government of the State does not and cannot override the explicit bar
in Clause (2) of Article 370. But read this gem: “Under Governor’s
Rule, there is, obviously, no council of Ministers and the Governor
acts on his own without any advice being tendered to him by the
Council of Ministers. If any entry in the Union List which did not
pertain to the three items, namely, Defence, External Affairs and
Communication was extended to the State of Jammu & Kashmir during
Governor’s Rule, can it be said that such entry was properly and
legally extended. This is a query which naturally arises in the mind
but it cannot be finally decided, as this question, as stated by the
present Law Secretary in his report quoted earlier, a Writ Petition
Dr. Mohd. Amin Andrabai and another (Rakesh Kumar) v. Union of India
and two others, namely, State of J&K, and Mr. Jagmohan, Governor is
pending in the Delhi High Court since 1988.” A case pending for over
20 years cannot debar a body like Group V or, for that matter, anybody
from expressing an opinion on the law. Banality keeps pace with
evasiveness. “There is a positive distribution of legislative and
administrative powers between the Union and the State. This has been
provided with the obvious object of maintaining harmonious relations
between the Centre and the State.” Ergo, all is well in Jammu and
Kashmir.

But where he does opine, it is in favour of New Delhi, not Srinagar.
“It is clear that legislative fields had already been indicated
between the Centre and the State in the Document of Accession which
was also incorporated in the Indian Constitution in the form of
Article 370 and, therefore, the Parliament, to begin with, could make
laws for the State of Jammu and Kashmir only on the topics indicated
in the Schedule attached with the document of Accession but also on
the topics subsequently applied to the State of J&K.”

On page 86, he mentions Kashmir’s Constituent Assembly and Rather’s
argument based on it, but quotes Sethi’s predictable disagreement from
it, which Saghir Ahmad, doubtless, shares (Sethi’s language gives him
away – “patronages of the autonomy for the State”; “bad law and bad
English make bad companions”). Anand’s outlook is no different from
Sethi’s or Saghir Ahmad’s who quotes both at length approvingly. The
1975 Accord was a political one based on wrong legal advice by a
bureaucrat. It was torn up in 1977 when the Congress withdrew support
to the Sheikh’s government. Saghir Ahmad’s praise of Indira Gandhi
(page 98) is odd. So is the reference to the Gajendragadkar
Commission. Its remit is not Article 370 but regional disparities.

He concludes: “The question of Autonomy and its demand can be examined
in the light of the Kashmir Account or in some other manner or on the
basis of some other formula as the present Prime Minister may deem fit
and appropriate so as to restore the Autonomy to the extent possible.
This is also a long pending demand which requires to be settled once
for all to usher in a brighter relationship between the Centre and the
State. The question of appointment of the Governor and dismissal of
the popular Government by the Governor may be considered and
resolved.”

Did he need two years to write this? What help does such a report
render to a government that seeks sincerely to resolve the problem?
What help this counsel?: “A period of about 60 years is a long period
and the Working Group recommends that the question of Article 370
should be settled once for all and the state of uncertainty in respect
of this Article should be given a final shape.”

Evasiveness permeates the report interspersed with support to the
Centre’s old and discredited stand. Even Jagmohan’s destruction of the
State’s residuary powers evokes no censure.

Saghir Ahmad has played safe; but in doing so, he has betrayed the
trust reposed in him. The separatists must be laughing in their
sleeves. Was this the purpose of Group V in the RTC? Surely not.

A.G. Noorani

Volume 27 - Issue 03 :: Jan. 30-Feb. 12, 2010
INDIA'S NATIONAL MAGAZINE
from the publishers of THE HINDU

http://www.frontlineonnet.com/stories/20100212270309200.htm

[chhotemianinshallah]

COVER STORY

Machinations in Kashmir

Despite President Pervez Musharraf's professed seriousness about
de-escalating the levels of violence, the ground realities in terror-
torn Jammu and Kashmir seem hardly likely to change.

PRAVEEN SWAMI

THE young Jammu and Kashmir police officer just could not believe it.
On the evening of January 25, he had sat down at his typewriter to
prepare the usual list of the day's violent incidents to be faxed to
his headquarters in Jammu. But the voice on the telephone line was
telling him there were no killings, no shootouts, not even a bomb
blast. Nothing at all. "Are you sure," the officer asked
incredulously, "absolutely sure?"

RAJEEV BHATT
On January 23, the bodies of two civilians who were killed in an Army
encounter with militants at Manjarkot block in Rajouri district.

What police officials call no-incident days are not really an index of
the impact of Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf's January 12 speech.
But in a State desperately short of good news, it is easy to find
people who have willed themselves to believe that Musharraf is serious
about de-escalating levels of violence. In the Kashmir region, that
claim is borne out by figures. The Valley saw 106 terrorism-related
violence incidents up to January 24, down from 193 during the whole
month in 2001. The levels of violence from January 13 to 24, too, were
lower than in the previous 12 days. In the Jammu region, too, the
period after Musharraf's speech has seen a slight decline in terrorist
violence compared to the first 12 days of the month, although it
remains higher than the figures for the corresponding period in 2001.

Such statistics, however, are less important than the actual form
Pakistan's military campaign in Jammu and Kashmir will now take. At
least some disturbing signs are evident. For one, the Prime Minister
of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, Sikandar Hayat Khan, has made it clear
that members of groups such as the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and the Jaish-
e-Mohammad (JeM) are free to operate from the region. "If members
belonging to these groups live peacefully and don't indulge in
criminal activities," he told Associated Press on January 21, "we
won't take any action against them." "We do not recognise the Line of
Control," he added emphatically, "and no one can block Kashmiris from
crossing it." While the LeT and the JeM have faced state actions,
groups such as the Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen and the Harkat-ul-Mujahideen
continue to have offices running in Islamabad and Lahore. Most
important, training camps along the LoC have not been closed, though
signboards and glow-signs have been removed.

Clearly, Musharraf intends to give terrorist groups in Jammu and
Kashmir a presentable ethnic-Kashmiri face. The Hizbul Mujahideen, and
the other 14 constituents of the still active United Jihad Council
would, most likely, be at the cutting edge of such an enterprise. The
council was set up after a February 5, 2000, speech by Musharraf
calling on disparate groups to unite. Many analysts believe that
Pakistan's intelligence establishment could seek to funnel much of the
LeT and JeM cadre into the Hizbul Mujahideen, as well as other near-
defunct organisations in the council, such as the Tehreek-ul-
Mujahideen and Mushtaq Ahmad Zargar's al-Umar. The proposition
receives at least some credibility from Musharraf's energetic efforts
to market the Hizb as an exclusively ethnic-Kashmiri group. The
assertion is fiction, at least in part. The Hizb's military second-in-
command in Jammu and Kashmir, Saif-ur-Rahman Bajwa, is, for one, from
the Pakistan province of Punjab.

But an enterprise to place the Hizb at the head of armed conflict in
Jammu and Kashmir could prove difficult to execute. Bar the district
command of Kupwara, and deputy commanders Bajwa and Umar Javed, most
of the Hizb's field leaders are sympathetic to their sacked head,
Abdul Majid Dar, who favours initiating a dialogue with the Indian
government. The authority of the new Hizb chief, Inamullah Khan, has
also been undermined by a series of successful Indian intelligence
operations targeting his flow of funds, the most recent being the
arrest of Sopore-based Tariq Antoo with a large sum of money on
January 24. New Delhi-based All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC)
representative G.M. Bhat, who Indian intelligence officials say was a
key conduit in reaching funds from the Pakistan High Commission in New
Delhi to terrorist cadre in Srinagar, has also been arrested.

WITH the Assembly elections scheduled to be held before September,
Pakistan has been seeking to put a fresh political offensive in place.
The official National Kashmir Committee led by Sardar Abdul Qayoom has
announced that it shall seek to visit India, to speak to politicians
in both New Delhi and Srinagar. While India is quite likely to grant
permission for such a visit, the committee will doubtless advertise
the denial as an example of Indian "intransigence". Musharraf himself
has been seeking to step up the pressure, saying he is even willing to
consider independence for all of Jammu and Kashmir if India recognises
the right of people on its side of the LoC to determine their own
political future. Secure in the knowledge that India will not do so,
the General hopes to show the world just how "unreasonable" it is.

Another key component of Pakistan's strategy is to revitalise the
moribund APHC. In early January, Pakistan ensured that hardline Jamaat-
e-Islami leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, who had been boycotting
meetings of the APHC executive since November, participated in a three-
member committee set up to meet the heads of foreign missions in New
Delhi. The mechanics of this unity move were conveyed to Geelani by
Bhat during his December 26 visit to Srinagar, which ended with his
arrest two days later. Bhat, sources said, made two major points.
First, he said, an APHC divided was an APHC discredited. Second, a
united APHC had to push its cause to Western nations if it was to hope
to have any role in future India-Pakistan dialogue. Without such a
role, the APHC would find itself marginalised in any future peace
initiative.

Geelani left for New Delhi on December 13 along with his most bitter
detractors within the APHC, Yasin Malik and Abdul Ghani Lone. In the
event, however, their appointments with the heads of the British High
Commission and the United States Embassy were turned down. This,
informed sources told Frontline, was largely the result of lobbying by
the Ministry of External Affairs. All that the APHC could secure was a
meeting with a First Secretary from the United States Embassy, who
insisted on visiting them at the Kashmir Awareness Bureau office in
New Delhi rather than inviting them to the mission. Deeply
embarrassed, the APHC leadership issued a fresh press release, saying
it was aborting its diplomatic foray because of the arrests of 50 of
its cadre in Srinagar.

Just five APHC leaders had in fact been arrested, and more
embarrassment was to follow. The press release was signed by G.M.
Gulfam, who turned out to be a driver employed by the Kashmir
Awareness Bureau. His signature, it turned out, was put on the press
release because Bhat's second-in-command in New Delhi, Abdul Majid
Bandey, was too scared by his boss' arrest to put pen to paper. The
APHC delegation chose to stay on in New Delhi until January 18, rather
than return sooner and face derision. Since then, figures such as Lone
have talked in private of calling for a comprehensive ceasefire in
Jammu and Kashmir. Terrorist groups, however, are unlikely to heed
such a call. More important, an APHC call for a ceasefire would have
little legitimacy, since it rejected New Delhi's termination of
offensive operations from November 2000 to May 2001. Lone had backed
the ceasefire, arguing that "the biggest danger now is from the
(Islamic) extremists" who would "make serious efforts to undermine the
ceasefire". He was, however, marginalised by Geelani, and other far-
Right members of the APHC executive.

Lone and other centrists in the APHC seem to be considering the
prospect of abandoning their irreparably leaky ship. Both he and
Maulvi Abbas Ansari have, in recent weeks, issued statements that they
might be willing to participate in the Assembly elections. Lone, party
sources told Frontline, had two major preconditions for this. The
first was that the Indian government would have to concede that the
elections were being held not just to determine who would govern Jammu
and Kashmir, but who represented its people. New Delhi has
consistently disputed the APHC's claim to speak for the people of the
State, and demanded that it put its claims to the test. The second
condition was the Union government guarantee that it would engage the
new government in a dialogue on the future status of Jammu and
Kashmir.

Hurriyat leaders Ali Shah Geelani and Abdul Ghani Lone.

Despite months of effort by the Prime Minister's Office top gun
Brajesh Mishra, and former Research and Analysis Wing chief Amarjit
Singh Dulat, Lone has shown no signs of backing down on his demands.
But Pakistan, understandably, is responding by not taking the risk of
putting all its political eggs in the APHC basket. On January 24,
Democratic Freedom Party chief Shabbir Shah announced that he had won
Sikandar Hayat Khan's support for the creation of a new party, by
merging separate APHC constituents. "All the parties and groups
joining the new alliance," he told journalists, "will cease to be
individual entities and will operate under one banner, one flag and
one leader." Shah had earlier been engaged in dialogue with the Mishra-
Dulat team on possible participation in the elections, but his latest
announcement suggests that their negotiations have collapsed.

Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah has reason to be delighted with this
impasse. Without the threat of having to face an opposition platform
made up of mainstream organisations such as the People's Democratic
Party and APHC centrists, his National Conference is guaranteed a near-
complete sweep of the Kashmir region in the elections. Party insiders
are also hoping for gains in the Jammu region, which the results of
the February byelection to the Jammu Lok Sabha seat could signal. Many
Hindu voters are fed up with the Bharatiya Janata Party's failure to
deliver on its promises to bring peace to the State, and the Union
government's imposition of the Disturbed Areas Act has also caused
considerable damage to the key pilgrim tourism business. A divided
Hindu vote could allow the National Conference to make significant
gains in Assembly segments it otherwise had little hope of taking.

When the passes to Pakistan open again this summer, the question of
just how serious Musharraf is about de-escalating levels of violence
in Jammu and Kashmir will be answered. Optimism on this account rests
largely on the assumption that the U.S. reversed a decade-old foreign
policy orientation and is now committed against the Islamic Right.

Those who think this is the case would do well to contemplate the
contents of an interview Afghanistan's new U.S.-installed Chief
Justice, Fazal Hadi Shinwari, gave the Afghan Islamic press on January
12. "A thief's hand will be cut off,' Shinwari made clear, "and
alcoholics and others would be punished under Islamic laws. Adulterers
would be stoned to death when either of them or both are married. A
murderer would have to pay blood money or be executed in the manner in
which the murder victim was killed." "Afghanistan," he concluded
simply, 'is an Islamic country."

For all its hatred of Al Qaeda and the Taliban, the U.S. needs
alliances with the Islamic Right for its core objectives: (the same
reasons for which it backed the Taliban) control of the Central Asian
oil pipelines, and the projection of its power through the region. And
while Musharraf may want to rid Pakistan of the demons he and his
predecessors unleashed, he needs the same forces to ensure that India
is kept under pressure on Jammu and Kashmir. The first summer of a
world supposedly transfigured by the events of September 11, might yet
turn out to be very similar to the one before it.

Volume 19 - Issue 03, Feb. 02 - 15, 2002
India's National Magazine
from the publishers of THE HINDU

http://www.flonnet.com/fl1903/19030170.htm

COVER STORY

WAR AND GAMES

India and Pakistan maintain their military build-up and political
postures even as international pressure grows to de-escalate the
situation. A look at the strategies and scenarios.

PRAVEEN SWAMI
in New Delhi

THE 800,000 troops massed on India's western frontier could break out
across the Cholistan desert, and seek to cut the Pakistan province of
Sind into two.

RAJEEV BHATT
Indian troops on alert along the Line of Control at Mandi in Poonch
district.

They might place Lahore under siege, and then demand in return that
Pakistan surrender the part of Jammu and Kashmir that it now
controls.

Helicopter-borne special forces from the Army could attack the 50 to
60 major terrorist training camps in Pakistan-held Jammu and Kashmir,
backed by Mirage 2000 and MiG-27 combat aircraft.

Or, troops might engage in a series of punitive raids across the Line
of Control (LoC), harrying Pakistan's regular forces and imposing
costs that would make it impossible for that country to sustain the
low-level war in Jammu and Kashmir.

Or, again, they might do nothing, and just sit on the frontier hoping
that sooner or later Pakistan will begin to feel the pinch of the
financial burden.

Or, yet again, with the Uttar Pradesh elections out of the way, they
might be ordered back to their bases.

No one other than the key members of the Cabinet Committee of Security
is supposed to know the answers. But, if truth be told, it seems as if
none of them knows either.

Six weeks have passed since the government ordered perhaps the largest
post-Second World War military build-up, sending some three-quarters
of India's 1.2 million soldiers on to offensive positions on the
border. Leaving aside the very significant risk of any war leading to
catastrophic nuclear exchanges, and the considerable international
pressure on India to de-escalate, it is clear that the chances of any
sharp, short offensive have declined.

The reason is simple. Both armies by now know the locations of their
enemies' strike formations, and have built up defences in response.
Neither side is in a position to wage a long-drawn-out campaign, or
start a war which will not end in an unequivocal victory.

YOUSUF NAGORI/ AFP
Pakistani soldiers fix an anti-aircraft gun in Hyderabad in Sind.

Pakistan is not taking chances, and has moved 10, 11 and 12 Corps from
their Afghan frontier locations near Rawalpindi, Peshawar and Quetta
to its eastern frontier. But ordinary people on the Indian side of the
border seem to have sensed the impasse. People who had evacuated their
homes in the border district of Poonch told Frontline last fortnight
that their central fear was of a terrorist attack, not a full-blown
war. Fishing boats have been seen again in the waters of the
Hussainiwala barrage reservoir in Punjab, even though its banks are
heavily mined. People in the State have started returning home where
their fields have not been mined. And while soldiers on the ground say
they are prepared for battle, there is evident resentment directed at
the politicians of the National Democratic Alliance for having dragged
them forward to wage a war that most believe will now not be fought.

Another major sign of India's unwillingness to take the build-up to
its logical conclusion was the removal of Lt-Gen. Kapil Vij from his
command of 2 Corps, now located in Rajasthan. 2 Corps, headquartered
at Ambala in peacetime, is the most important of the Indian Army's
three armour-intensive strike formations, and its task in case of a
war would be to cut across the Cholistan desert towards Jacobabad,
cutting Pakistan in two. Vij's mistake, sources told Frontline, was to
take his war mandate seriously. His armour was pushed close to the
border, and the soldier protested instructions from Western Army
Commander Lt-Gen. Surjit Singh Sangra to pull back. The decision to
pull back was possibly the consequence of pressure from the United
States, which has personnel stationed at the strategically-important
airbase at Jacobabad. Sangra, interestingly, is in line to become the
Chief of the Army Staff if General S. Padmanabhan is appointed the
Chief of Defence Staff in the coming months.

Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee with the three service chiefs, Air Chief
Marshal S. Krishnaswamy, Admiral Madhavendra Singh, and General S.
Padmanabhan.

"NO ONE," Defence Minister George Fernandes proclaimed in New York on
January 20, "has the right to ask India to pull back." Whether he is
right or otherwise, the fact is that the Vij episode illustrates just
how willing Fernandes and his Bharatiya Janata Party allies are to do
as they are told. Pressure from the U.S., however, is not the only
reason for India's unwillingness to play the card it held out in the
wake of the December 13 attack on Parliament. For all the gung-ho
posturing in General Padmanabhan's January 11 speech, there is some
doubt about just how decisive India's conventional superiority over
Pakistan in fact is. On paper, India's 33 military divisions neatly
outnumber Pakistan's 24, but those figures, dissenters within the
defence establishment say, are misleading.

For one, as defence commentator Rahul Bedi has repeatedly pointed out,
the Indian Army is curiously "Mughal" in character. The ratio of
personnel in non-combat supporting roles to those who would actually
fight is exceptionally high. By some estimates, India's real advantage
over Pakistan in actual military terms is as low as 1.25 to 1, and
perhaps even worse. Pakistan's single-point military control gives it
greater flexibility of action than the Indian Army, and some Western
expert accounts suggest that its modernisation programme has been more
effective than that of India's. For example, Pakistan has already
taken delivery of 320 Ukraine-manufactured T-80 UD main battle tanks,
with orders for 250 more, while just 10 of India's new-generation T-90
tanks have arrived. The T-80 UD tanks have now been deployed in Sind,
to counter a strike corps built around India's numerically superior,
but technologically inferior, T-72 armour.

General Padmanabhan's speech contained a perhaps-inadvertent admission
of this near-parity, when he spoke of a war as a fight between two
wild bulls. The fact that three Indian divisions have been moved from
the China border to the west affirms the proposition further.

None of this is to suggest, of course, that Pakistan does not have its
own serious problems. Its Air Force, now conducting exercises to
prepare for wartime destruction of landing strips, has been crippled
by sanctions imposed by the U.S. after the Chagai nuclear tests. But
the fact remains that a decisive Indian victory, even leaving out the
prospect of a nuclear showdown, is in at least some doubt. Although
both India and Pakistan claim to have war-wastage reserves of around
45 days, and say that stocking is complete, few people believe that
any conflict would last a full week. The main reason for this would be
pressure from the international community to avert a nuclear calamity,
and the fragile economies of both countries.

Even where India does have a decisive advantage, events have made its
ability to exercise this edge complicated. Three-dimensional battle
groups, made up of frigates, destroyers and submarines from both the
Western and Eastern fleets, are now deployed off the Pakistan coast,
within a few minutes' striking distance of Karachi. Vertical take-off
aircraft that have been positioned to take off from the newly-refitted
INS Viraat could devastate the port, which handles over 90 per cent of
Pakistan's oil supplies. Such attacks would strangle Pakistan's
military capabilities. With 43 surface warships, 17 submarines and an
aircraft carrier, the Indian Navy has a massive advantage over its
counterpart, which has just six frigates, two destroyers and seven
submarines. But with U.S. carrier groups strung out across the Arabian
Sea, India's ability to take an aggressive posture on the oceans has
been severely limited. How these carrier groups would respond in the
event of a war is anybody's guess.

PAKISTAN MINISTRY OF DEFENCE/ AP
President Pervez Musharraf with his troops at an undisclosed location
in Pakistan near the forward lines on January 21.

And then there is the biggest guess of all: just if, and when,
Pakistan might choose to exercise its nuclear deterrent. Journalists
in Chandigarh still recall with glee the story of the Western Command
public relations officer who was asked about Brahmastra, the exercises
carried out in the summer of 2000 to game Pakistan's responses in the
event of an Indian offensive. Asked whether the exercise would address
a possible nuclear attack, he responded with a flat denial. When he
was told that this seemed to be criminally irresponsible, he hung up.
For the past three years, the defence establishment has been working
on an offensive military doctrine, built around discarding five
decades of defensive posture. But on just how this new doctrine will
work, and what its consequences might be, India's Generals remain as
confused as anyone else.

Brahmastra was built around a simple scenario, not dissimilar to that
which has come about after December 13. If Pakistan raised terrorist
violence beyond a certain threshold, India would respond with a
limited military attack. That, in turn, would provoke Pakistan to
initiate a much larger attack with its strike formations towards
India's relatively weak defences in Akhnoor, Chhamb and even Poonch.
Then, India would use its superior strike forces to cut through the
Sind, splitting Pakistan in two and threatening its most important
cities. The results, Army insiders say, pleased the Generals at least
in theory. Since then, however, there has been little progress in
realising one of the key premises of an Indian offensive posture, an
effective joint service strategy. The Air Force, for example, insists
that at least a week of intensive bombing is needed before ground
troops can cross the border. The Army insists that no war will last
long enough for such an extravagance to be useful. The sole joint
service command in India, located at Port Blair, has been bogged down
by Army-Air Force feuds, some as trivial over what share each should
pay for the maintenance of the administrative headquarters.

Most important, the exercise threw up no definitive answers on how
Pakistan would respond to a threat to its existence as a country.
Sadly, as General Padmanabhan's speech suggested, much of the senior
Army brass seems to cling to the facile assumption that Pakistan would
simply not go nuclear because of the threat of a superior Indian
retaliation. But Pakistan seems to be preparing for such an
eventuality. U.S. intelligence has reported that at least five new
launch sites for nuclear-capable mobile missile launchers have been
built in eastern Pakistan. A convoy of some 95 trucks was reportedly
spotted leaving Pakistan's key nuclear facility at Sarghoda, and M-11
missiles are believed to have been shifted to operational locations.
India has also moved nuclear-tipped missiles to deter the use of these
weapons, but the premise on which planners are working seems to
represent far too large a gamble.

OFFICIAL Pakistan is clear just what would happen in the event of a
full-scale war. "The military imbalance between India and Pakistan
raised the prospect of reliance on nuclear deterrence by Pakistan,"
wrote Husain Haqqani, a former advisor to Prime Ministers Benazir
Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif. In a recent article in The Washington Post,
Sam Gardiner, a retired U.S. Air Force officer and a Visiting
Professor at the Air War College and the National Defence University,
Washington, outlined the results of war games conducted with his
students. "I've seen Pakistani commanders turn to nuclear weapons to
fend off advancing Indian divisions," he wrote of the results. "I've
seen New Delhi - a city of more than 11 million - destroyed and
hundreds of thousands of its residents killed in a flash." Gardiner
continued: "If Pakistan drops a relatively primitive nuclear weapon of
20 kilotons, 50 per cent of the people living within a one-mile radius
of the blast would die immediately. Fires would ignite as far away as
two miles, and blast damage would extend to buildings three miles from
the point of impact. People 3.5 miles away would suffer skin burns and
radiation could extend hundreds of miles, depending on the weather."

RAJEEV BHATT
Army truck movement along the border at Mandi.

Indian military planners have their own war-game outcomes, some not
dissimilar to those Sam Gardiner has described. Some of them yield
very different outcomes. The issue, however, is not the games, but
their sheer unreliability. For years, Indian strategists comforted
themselves with the thought that in the event of a war, the 40,000-
strong Rashtriya Rifles would protect their lines of communication and
supplies from terrorist attacks in Jammu and Kashmir. Made up of
troops posted on deputation from the Army, the Rashtriya Rifles was
meant to ensure that India's LoC divisions could do their job,
engaging Pakistan, unhindered by guerilla action. But during the
Kargil War India was forced to pull out the overwhelming bulk of its
counter-insurgency forces, and even bring in 6 Corps from Bareilly,
the reserve corps intended for use in only the direst of emergencies.
Jammu and Kashmir was left open to terrorists and the costs had to be
paid the next year with troops' lives. Now, 12 more Rashtriya Rifles
battalions are being raised. Meanwhile, much of the Jammu region has
been left unsecured again.

Those who advocate war have a simple line of argument: India cannot
indefinitely tolerate a war of attrition in Jammu and Kashmir, which
claims thousands of lives, civilian and military, each year. They are
right, but their answers are not. For years, Indian intelligence
experts, and the more perceptive members of the military
establishment, have advocated the creation of an offensive covert
capability, which would inflict real punitive costs on Pakistan
without provoking a war. The problem is that a covert capability must
be exactly that. It cannot win elections. And so, troops continue to
be massed on the border, not to fight a war but to pretend that the
BJP and its allies have answers to the challenges that Pakistan is
posing.

Volume 19 - Issue 03, Feb. 02 - 15, 2002
India's National Magazine
from the publishers of THE HINDU

http://www.flonnet.com/fl1903/19030040.htm


FROM THE FRONT

A report on the mood and movement along a stretch of the Line of
Control in the strategic heights of the Jammu region.

PRAVEEN SWAMI
in Poonch

AHEAD of the border village of Mandi, the Line of Control (LoC) is an
endless, unbroken wall of white. Soldiers perched on the mountains are
just too busy fighting the bitter cold to fight each other. The latest
exchange of fire here took place on January 12, when Pakistan targeted
Indian forward posts with 120 mm mortar around a peak marked Point
9029 feet.

RAJEEV BHATT
Troop movement near the Line of Control.

Three days later, snow up to four metres thick cut off forward posts
on either side of the LoC, putting an end to the violent mortar and
small-arms skirmishes. To the north, in Tangdhar, Karnah and Keran, at
least 14 soldiers and high-altitude porters have died since then in
avalanches. Talk of war might seem insane under the circumstances.

Four weeks into the massive military build-up along the LoC, no one
seems clear about what might happen next - and when. Mortar and
artillery exchanges have de-escalated, bar occasional exchanges in
Lam, Mendhar and the international border in Jammu, but troops remain
in place. In military terms, the northern LoC is a defensive sector
for Indian troops, whose principal lines of assault would be towards
Lahore and into Sind. But international pressure, and the real threat
that such an offensive might snowball into a nightmarish nuclear
confrontation, would seem to render the prospect of such a full-blown
war unlikely.

Alternative scenarios exist. Last year, for example, 14 Corps
Commander Lt-Gen Arjun Ray suggested a doctrine of short assaults on
Pakistan's forward positions on the LoC. The idea was to inflict
punitive costs on the Pakistan Army for its support of terrorist
groups.

Most of the troops in upfront positions do not seem overly concerned
about the consequences of a full-scale war. Having faced a decade of
attrition in the course of Pakistan's war in Jammu and Kashmir, calls
for retaliation, whatever the cost, seem to have struck a responsive
chord among ordinary soldiers.

RAJEEV BHATT
At the Poonch police station on January 22, screening candidates as
part of a recruitment drive for the police force.

In practice, the build-up has started to turn into an elaborate - and
potentially calamitous - game of poker, built as much on bluff as on
the cards India actually possesses.

A FEW kilometres inside the LoC, the real costs of the poker game
become only too evident. Counter-terrorist operations in much of the
Jammu region have come to a near-standstill because of the forward
movement of troops a week after the December 13 attack on Parliament.
At Thanamandi, for example, the 163 Brigade has been pulled out and
replaced by two battalions and a company of the Rashtriya Rifles and a
single company from the 1 Para Regiment. The 120 Brigade at Bimbar
Gali and the garrison at Rajouri have been shifted to the LoC. Key
areas of Rajouri and Poonch, such as Loran, Kandi, Buddhal, Darhal and
Thanamandi, are now almost without cover. Some troops have been moved
in to replace the seven battalions withdrawn from counter-terrorist
duties in Poonch, but they are mostly committed to keeping the roads
open for Army traffic.

Unsurprisingly, the killings in the districts have assumed a communal
colour. On New Year's eve, the Lashkar-e-Toiba executed six Hindu
villagers at Mangnar, a half-hour drive from Poonch. The victims were
members of the family of former soldier Baldev Singh, and included six-
year-old Kuldeep Kumar and five-month-old Sunil Kumar. Baldev Singh
had refused to join the Village Defence Committee (VDC), counting
instead on troops posted nearby to protect his home. Those troops
were, however, committed to the LoC, opening the way for the
killings.

Rajouri has also seen a welter of killings. Madan Lal, Moti Lal and
his wife Lachmi Devi were shot dead at Sadda on the night of December
29, while two more Hindus, one of them over 70 years old, were
executed at Sehr Nain on January 1.

Muslims perceived as backing Indian interests have also been hit hard,
although their stories have largely passed unreported. On January 6
Nazir Hussain was killed in his house at Kakora village on January 6
for having rented it out to the troops, while Bagh Hussain was
executed along with him because he had served as a soldier. A
photograph of Hussain in uniform was found on the body of Jaish-e-
Mohammad (JeM) commander Siraj Talibani who was killed a few days
later along with his associate Yasir Ahmad. At least five persons were
branded informers and executed. Of them, two, Mohammad Hussain and
Abdul Rashid, were killed on December 27, Mohammad Shabbir on January
1 and Mohammad Shafi and Mohammad Bashir at Darhal on January 19. In a
dramatic raid on December 23, terrorists stole 14 weapons from guards
at the village home of the National Conference candidate for the Jammu
Lok Sabha byelection, Choudhari Talib Hussain.

RAJEEV BHATT
A Jaish-e-Mohammad pamphlet distributed in Rajouri warns that "the
blood of the mujahideen will prove difficult to digest" and threatens
to execute those who cooperate with the security forces.

No one in the mountains of Jammu has missed the message of the
killings: the Indian state cannot look after its own. JeM cadre,
Frontline found, had distributed leaflets in dozens of villages
calling on Special Police Officers (SPOs) and policemen in the Special
Operations Group to resign their jobs. Other leaflets warned villagers
not to attend the funerals of Muslims executed by the JeM. Homes and
schools used by Army posts at Manjakote, Buddhal and Thanamandi were
torched after troops left for forward positions. If it was not for the
presence of VDCs, things might have been worse. Terrorists attacked
Daggal Allal, Nerojal and Kheri villages in Rajouri, killing one
village resident in each assault, but withdrew after the return of
fire inflicted losses on their group.

The strengthening of the Islamic Right in Jammu has a significance
that transcends such killings. On January 21, former SPO Nazim
Mohammad Sharif, along with three friends, walked into the home of
schoolmaster Zakir Sher Mohammad. He then shot dead the schoolmaster
and 11 of his family members one by one, with a .32 handgun. Those
killed included one-year-old Mohammad Ikhlaq, four-year-olds Robina
Kausar and Rabia, six-year-olds Abad Hussain and Mohammad Ishaq, eight-
year-old Mohammad Yasser and 10-year-old Mohammad Mahfooz.
Investigators found that the killers had sought to avenge a family
feud that began with Zakir Sher Mohammad abandoning his wife, who was
Sharif's aunt. After his term as an SPO he ran enough errands for the
Harkat-ul-Mujahideen to obtain the gun, which he used with tragic
effect.

That guns have started to become a medium of conflict resolution in
rural Jammu points to what may lie ahead. In another two months the
snow along the LoC will melt and routes across the Pir Panjal from
Jammu to Kashmir will lie open again. There is little doubt that
infiltration levels have declined in the wake of Musharraf's January
12 speech, but this seems less the consequence of policy than a
combination of bad weather and the massive presence on troops along
the LoC. No group, for example, has been able to cross through the
Sawjian area, the entry point to the funnel through Mandi and Loran
over the Pir Panjal, since January 5. But where there is no snow on
the LoC, such infiltration continues. One group is known to have
crossed through the Jhalas area, half an hour's drive from Poonch, on
January 17. Intelligence officials in Rajouri reported four possible
crossings, through Keri and Gambhir Mughlan.

RAJEEV BHATT
At a refugee camp.

BY April, if troops continue to be tied down to the LoC, terrorist
groups strengthened by fresh cadre would be in a position not just to
hit civilians, but inflict serious military harm. Last summer, troops
in Poonch discovered that terrorists had used the Ramzan ceasefire
period to build fortified concrete defences in the Hill Kaka area of
Surankote. If similar events take place over the next few months,
terrorists could well bring military convoy movements and
installations under pressure. Over the last three years, terrorist
groups are known to have strengthened their arsenal, bringing in
mortar and heavy machine guns. Such weapons are clearly designed for a
conventional guerilla role in support of a regular Army. So far the
opportunity for their use has not arisen, but the dislocation of
counter-terrorist forces could provide just such an opening. "Pakistan
inflicted a Kargil upon us," says a senior Army officer wryly, "and
now we're going to inflict one on ourselves."

From their homes in Jhalas, villagers could look out at the LoC, a few
hundred metres away. Now just three of the village's 10,000 residents
remain. On January 11, almost 200 rounds of mortar fire landed around
their homes and in their fields. Now, the residents of Jhalas have
joined the estimated 30,000 refugees who have left their border
villages fearing imminent war. Some 252 of them are huddled into 11
rooms at the Industrial Training Institute in Poonch, forced to live
off rotting wheat and rice handed out by the government. Despite the
hardship, Jhalas' residents say they will not return to their
villages. "Our village lies on an infiltration route," says local
resident Surjit Singh, "so we always have a war there. I stayed on
during the war of 1971, but the last few years have been far worse.
Last Deepavali, the firing raised so much dust you couldn't see five
feet ahead of you."

Volume 19 - Issue 03, Feb. 02 - 15, 2002
India's National Magazine
from the publishers of THE HINDU

http://www.flonnet.com/fl1903/19030080.htm

COVER STORY

Working for a thaw

The intense diplomatic efforts are yet to bring about a real reduction
in the tension on the border, though an element of moderation is
evident in the rhetoric from both sides.

SUKUMAR MURALIDHARAN
in New Delhi

CLOSE to a fortnight after U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell
visited both countries on a mediatory mission, India and Pakistan
remained locked in a confrontation along their tense frontier in the
last week of January. An element of moderation was evident in the
verbal rhetoric, but the artillery duels were continuing at the front
lines. There was, indeed, no retreat from India's stated position that
the forward military deployments would only be pulled back if Pakistan
acceded to the demand for the extradition of 20 named terrorists.

RAJEEV BHATT
Army mobilisation in Poonch.

Pakistan threatened initially to reduce this demand to triviality by
retorting with a list of wanted terrorists of its own. This was a
flippancy that the Markaz Dawa wa'al Irshad, the parent body of the
Lashkar-e-Toiba, had floated immediately after President Pervez
Musharraf signalled a radical change of course for Pakistan in his
January 12 speech. Musharraf's decision to crack down on the Islamic
right-wing in Pakistan, it said, placed the onus on India to
reciprocate through the incarceration of L.K. Advani and Bal
Thackeray, known extremists of a Hindutva persuasion.

To much official consternation in India, this demand was later
dignified with an explicit endorsement by Javed Jabbar, Federal
Minister in the Pakistan government. Pakistan's Foreign Minister Abdul
Sattar sought shortly afterwards to restore to the matter an element
of seriousness, though he still clung to the insistence that a list of
terrorist suspects would be handed over to India for extradition at an
early date. A certain facetiousness was evident in his assertion that
the list would be handed over in "due course" so that the exchange of
criminal elements could be "done on reciprocal basis".

India's External Affairs Minister moved swiftly to deflate this
balloon of petulant tit-for-tat diplomacy. "Were any list to be
provided by Pakistan of any Pakistani criminals sheltering illegally
in India... I'll immediately return them to Pakistan," he said at a
news conference the following day. "There is no question of India
providing any legal shelter" and there would be no "legal quibbling".
He was prepared, in fact, to receive Pakistan's list of wanted
terrorists through any channel, including the "open fax" at his
office.

Musharraf, meanwhile, was expressing his cautious hope that the
tensions would abate as a consequence of some degree of diplomatic
persistence. His military assessment had told him that the Indian Air
Force had moved back one notch from its alert status. Also, he
believed, certain Indian Army deployments indicating an advanced state
of war-preparedness had not taken place. In an interview with a
prominent U.S. news magazine, though, he did leave open the
possibility that some "mad action" on either side could spiral into
full-scale hostilities. Pakistan's President also reaffirmed that he
had been using every available channel of communication, including the
mission of Colin Powell, to argue the case for reconciliation with
India. This involved dialogue and a spirit of accommodation on the
"core issue" of Kashmir, he said.

As if to underline the message of sobriety that was being relentlessly
broadcast from across the border, the Indian Army soon afterwards
pulled a senior commander out of his command post and sent him on
leave. The fact that Lieutenant-General Kapil Vij was the commanding
officer of the Ambala-based 2 Corps, an elite strike formation bearing
much of the onus for the show of force on the border, made his removal
at a sensitive military juncture rather curious. There were reports
that the General had shown an excess of ardour in pressing his
aggressive intent, prompting the U.S. to demand his removal as a
gesture of reassurance to Pakistan. There were also suggestions that
Vij was being held responsible for a devastating blast that had
reduced 80 army trucks to burnt out hulks while troop movements were
under way in the Bikaner sector. Rather implausibly, Army Headquarters
put out the story that the General's removal was little else than a
routine rotation of command responsibilities.

AN armed attack on a U.S. government facility in Kolkata, which
claimed the lives of five security personnel, served as signal -
brutally unambiguous - of the new phase of superpower engagement in
the region. While dilating on the prospects for a rapprochement with
the western neighbour at a conclave of global movers-and-shakers in
Delhi, Home Minister Advani almost reflexively held Pakistan
responsible for the attack. The U.S., meanwhile, was showing a curious
reticence about classifying the attack as a terrorist act.

Investigations have pointed to the possible involvement of Syed Ahmed
Umar Sheikh, one of three militants sprung from captivity in Indian
prisons in December 1999 after the IC-814 hijack. It is believed that
Sheikh, whose British nationality and London School of Economics
pedigree make him a valuable asset for the global jehad project, is
currently living in Islamabad under the protection of Pakistan's Inter-
Services Intelligence (ISI). Operational inputs for the attack were
allegedly supplied by erstwhile underworld elements from Kolkata now
living in safe havens in the Gulf countries.

India's diplomatic task is rendered more complicated by the growing
territorial spread of the jehad network. There is little likelihood of
even a moderate success in bringing the various elements of the
network to account, without the diplomatic sustenance of the U.S. In
this respect, India would have to confront the hard reality that the
U.S. is still to overcome its ambivalence about the jehadi elements.
U.S. thinking is still animated by a notion of the good and bad
jehadi. And in all instances, the decisive criterion is the utility to
U.S. military and strategic objectives of the state sheltering the
jehadi elements.

BIKAS DAS/ AP
An armed policeman outside the American Centre in Kolkata.

Perhaps irrefutably, the investigative journalist Seymour Hersh has
now established that the airlift of Pakistani intelligence and
military personnel that took place from the besieged Afghan town of
Kunduz last November, was of a much larger scale than India had
suspected. Intelligence inputs from the Northern Alliance had alerted
India to the evacuation of Pakistani Taliban fighters just when the
town seemed on the verge of falling. But Indian protests with the U.S.
elicited little response, and at a press briefing U.S. Defence
Secretary Donald Rumsfeld denied any knowledge of the operation. It
appears now that the U.S. had connived or possibly even assisted in
the airlift, in response to desperate pleas from Musharraf. Then at
its most tenuous, the Pakistan regime's political and logistical
support for the war in Afghanistan would have been irretrievably
damaged, had body bags begun arriving back in large numbers from
Kunduz. And so poor was Pakistan's image with the Northern Alliance
that bloody reprisals against its military and intelligence personnel
were considered almost axiomatic if Kunduz were to fall.

Facilitating the escape of a few lower order Pakistani jehadis was for
the U.S. a minor concession to safeguard the larger mission of
vanquishing the Taliban. But this indulgence rankled deeply within
India. Brajesh Mishra, India's National Security Adviser, is known to
have lodged a protest with the U.S. over the solicitous concern it was
showing towards Pakistan. But he did not quite succeed in his mission
of persuasion.

Colin Powell, on his visit to the region, was anxious to maintain an
attitude of scrupulous fairness and equidistance between the two
bitter neighbours vying for U.S. attention. And as has happened at
least twice in the last three years, a visit by a high U.S. official
was followed immediately by speculation about possible high-level
contact between India and Pakistan.

All the diplomatic speculation now is about a rather modest objective.
On the sidelines of an international security conference scheduled for
early-February in Munich, it is expected that Mishra could meet
Pakistan Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar. There has been no confirmation
from either side, but it is conceded unofficially that there may be a
sequel in Munich to the brief but highly publicised meeting between
the two at the recent South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation
summit in Kathmandu. Mishra in Kathmandu had been seen exchanging
words with Pakistan's Foreign Minister and then consulting with
Jaswant Singh, before handing over a note to Sattar. Although the
contents of the note have not been made public, it is believed that
these could be the agreed summary of discussions held between Jaswant
Singh and Sattar on the sidelines of the summit.

It is perhaps another indication of a new situation in the region that
India's Republic Day, for the first time in over a decade, passed
without incident in Jammu and Kashmir. The All-Parties Hurriyat
Conference (APHC), a Pakistan sponsored conglomerate of secessionist
parties in Kashmir, called a general strike whose impact in the valley
was almost total. But the absence of any violent incident could be a
propitious signal for a phase of diplomatic engagement between India
and Pakistan.

On the eve of Republic Day, however, India test-fired the short-range
variant of its Agni missile, which from all its technical parameters
seems a weapons system designed for use against Pakistan. The global
reaction was uniformly adverse, with most Western nations accusing
India of recklessly endangering the prospects for peace and stability
in the region. Pakistan too reacted with extreme vehemence, though an
element of sobriety returned within a day when it made clear its
determination to exercise restraint and not be led into a retaliatory
test-firing of an equivalent missile system.

IN the months ahead, a curious coincidence of events could possibly
exert its influence over relations between India and Pakistan.
Musharraf is obliged to hold general elections and transfer power to a
civilian administration before October. This is a requirement he has
to fulfil in accordance with a judicial verdict on the provisional
legitimacy of the military coup that brought him to power. The
preliminary moves are under way. An expanded legislative assembly has
been decreed, with assured representation for women. The system of
separate electorates for the religious minorities has been dispensed
with. And more controversially, a minimum educational threshold has
been mandated for elected representatives.

With its unique six-year tenure for an elected State legislature,
Jammu and Kashmir will also - concurrent with the elections in
Pakistan - be entering into the electoral process. Chief Minister
Farooq Abdullah and his National Conference - Delhi's trusted warriors
in the political landscape of Jammu and Kashmir - could face a loss of
patronage given the new international salience of the Kashmir issue.
The portents have recently been evident in certain remarks by Prime
Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee about his intention to ensure that the
next elections in the State are free and fair, unlike some such
exercises in the past.

With Pakistan's generous backing, the APHC is known to have made a
case for itself with the U.S. Partly under external tutelage and
partly on their own initiative, some of Vajpayee's close advisers have
also made overtures to secure APHC participation in the State
legislature elections. The involvement of this conglomerate of parties
- most of which were beginning a process of electoral engagement until
the rigged elections of 1987 - could transform the politics of Jammu
and Kashmir.

India's case would, however, suffer enormously, if it is unable to
rein in the Hindutva hotheads who have come out in full force as a
prelude to their mobilisation for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly
elections. In the days prior to the Agra Summit with Pakistan, Jaswant
Singh had made much of the centrality of Kashmir to Indian
nationalism. Being wedded to a civic, rather than a denominational
variant of nationalism, he said, India could not accept Pakistan's
assertion that Kashmir was a "core dispute".

It was a little incongruous in itself for a politician from the
Bharatiya Janata Party, one committed to a notion of "cultural
nationalism", to espouse these values. Civic nationalism implies a
respect for civic institutions and a commitment to hold the scales
even between different denominations in the administration of civic
life. As the BJP discovers its commitment to this notion, it is also
under pressure from its affiliates in the Hindutva fraternity to make
a decisive statement in favour of the majoritarian consensus. Between
attending to international concerns over Jammu and Kashmir, the
Vajpayee government in its political self-interest is also seeking
avidly to cultivate the favour of the Hindutva lobby on the Ayodhya
issue. Since its cultural roots are firmly implanted in the terrain of
Hindutva, the BJP cannot quite pass the test of commitment to civic
nationalism. But if the coalition government it leads also fails the
test, that would seriously compromise India's credibility as a polity
governed by the rule of law. And with that, the effort to bring to
account outlaw elements who are sheltering in foreign lands would be
wrecked.

Volume 19 - Issue 03, Feb. 02 - 15, 2002
India's National Magazine
from the publishers of THE HINDU

http://www.flonnet.com/fl1903/19030110.htm

COVER STORY

A change in the mood

There are clear signs that a large section of Pakistani



society wants an end to the conflict and a new beginning in the
country's relations with India.

B. MURALIDHAR REDDY
in Islamabad

FOR some weeks now, every night at 9-45, the state-controlled Pakistan
Television (PTV) airs a current affairs programme titled "News Night".
A post-September 11 phenomenon, it has become popular among diplomatic
circles in Islamabad in short period.

MIAN KHURSHEED/ REUTERS
U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan with Pakistan Foreign Minister Abdul
Sattar in Islamabad.

The slick programme features some of the most articulate persons in
Pakistan's civil society. It offers interesting insights into the
thinking of the elite. Presumably a reflection of the 'liberal and
tolerant' position of the military regime, the discussion does provide
a forum to express a variety of views. For instance, it was
unthinkable that someone would have had the gumption to argue the case
of a "broad-based and representative" government in Pakistan when the
Musharraf administration was harping on the theme in the context of
Afghanistan in October and November. Similarly, earlier no one had
dared to question the direction of and philosophy behind the country's
Kashmir policy.

For people who have watched the programme every night after December
13, there have been enough signals that the rulers and the elite of
Pakistan are fervently in favour of an end to the ongoing
confrontation with India. "Enough is enough. Let us make a new
beginning," was the refrain of a number of people who appeared in the
programme.

However, there is one aspect that should be of concern to India's
civil society, if not the ruling National Democratic Alliance. Thanks
to the unabated rhetoric of NDA leaders which is matched by actions on
the ground, Pakistan's civil society has begun to wonder whether New
Delhi is genuinely interested in the resolution of its differences
with its neighbour.

Even Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf could not resist the
temptation of 'thinking loudly' in the course of an interview to a
Western television network if the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections
were the real reason for the bellicosity of the Indian leaders. Union
Minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader M. Venkaiah Naidu
promptly denied the charge and accused Musharraf of interfering in the
internal affairs of India.

However, such an impression persists in Pakistan - and perhaps with
some logic. The haste with which Union Home Minister L.K. Advani saw
the hand of the all-pervasive Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in the
shoot-out before the American Centre in Kolkata only helped reinforce
it.

As if the charges and counter-charges with regard to the Kolkata
incident were not enough to add to the already volatile situation on
the border, New Delhi went ahead with the Agni missile test. Islamabad
viewed it as an "intimidating tactic" and denounced it as a move with
grave implications for stability and peace in the region.

If Pakistan Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar is to be believed, Islamabad
only chose to refrain from going ahead with its own Shaheen missile
test. Sattar told a foreign television network that Pakistan deferred
its missile test as such a move could have only contributed to the
escalation of tensions in the subcontinent.

There is little doubt, after listening to the views of the
participants in the PTV programme, that Pakistan has begun to
experience the economic pinch in the wake of the military build-up by
India. Estimates abound about the costs incurred by both sides in
bringing the forces to the front lines. Pakistan is faced with a
serious economic crunch - despite the liberal bail-out packages
offered by a host of Western allies of the U.S. after it decided to
cooperate with them in the war in Afghanistan - and there is growing
frustration over what is perceived as India's 'stubborn' attitude.
Pakistanis wonder what India wants now, especially after the January
12 speech of Musharraf, in which he outlined several measures to
address India's concerns.

To the Indian contention that it would like to judge the Musharraf
government in terms of deeds rather than words, Pakistan's reply is
that the rhetoric and the military build-up would only add to the
burden of Musharraf who is trying to implement his 'new policy' on
extremism. Sattar is partly responsible for the mess, especially on
the list of 20 fugitives New Delhi wants Islamabad to hand over. At a
news conference, Sattar declared that Pakistan had its own list of
people to be extradited and will soon hand it over to India. Sattar's
statement appears to have clearly put the establishment in a bind,
particularly after his Indian counterpart Jaswant Singh declared that
India would work overtime to extradite any Pakistani fugitives based
in India.

The Pakistan Foreign Office tried to wriggle out of the controversy by
urging New Delhi to come to the negotiating table to discuss the
sensitive 'legal and political' issues related to extradition.
However, the damage had been done and the rescue efforts proved to be
insufficient. At this juncture came the Kolkata incident and Advani's
charge. Islamabad saw it as yet another example of how India was hell-
bent on defaming Pakistan.

The trading of charges goes on amidst serious efforts by several
influential players, such as the U.S., to defuse the tension and
persuade both sides to pull back their armies from the border. U.S.
Secretary of State Colin Powell flew down from Washington to discuss
the situation with the Musharraf government and later with India.
Another important visitor to Islamabad and New Delhi was the Canadian
Deputy Prime Minister John Manley. What is important is that he deemed
it necessary to return to Pakistan for a second round of discussions
with Sattar. The Foreign Minister announced after the second meeting
that Pakistan was willing to consider seriously some of the 'concrete
ideas' spelt out by Manley. It is evident that there is no dearth of
diplomatic activity, behind the scenes and in public, and yet there is
little change in the ground situation.

Pakistan wants the international community in general and the U.S. in
particular to play a role in the resolution of the Kashmir dispute.
But India is unwilling to play ball: it is opposed to any third-party
role, including that of the United Nations. Aware of the sensitivities
of New Delhi on the subject, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan was
cautious while offering his good offices to solve the problem. Annan,
who dropped his plan to visit India as his 'calendar did not match
with that of New Delhi', had a tough time in Islamabad. Having taken
earlier the position that the U.N. Resolutions on Kashmir were not
automatically enforceable, he was under pressure from Pakistan to say
something in its favour. As a result, his visit proved to be a futile
one.

Observers in Pakistan believe that Washington must resist the
temptation to mediate on Kashmir as India and Pakistan have the
capacity to resolve this dispute by addressing the basic issues one by
one. They think that U.S. diplomacy should focus on convincing the two
countries to undertake direct negotiations on security issues,
including on arms control.

How long the stand-off will continue is anybody's guess. The earlier
it is defused, the better. Musharraf is scheduled to visit the U.S. in
the second week of February on a special invitation from President
George W. Bush. He is pinning his hopes on the visit but the
invitation is not expected to be anything more than a symbolic
gesture. Perhaps it is an expression of gratitude by Bush for
everything that the General has done in the last few months in
response to demands from the international community.

Volume 19 - Issue 03, Feb. 02 - 15, 2002
India's National Magazine
from the publishers of THE HINDU

http://www.flonnet.com/fl1903/19030130.htm

COVER STORY

When the mullahs fell silent

SADAQAT JAN
in Islamabad

WHEN representatives of the international media camped in Islamabad
for a ring-side view of the developments in Afghanistan in the wake of
the September 11 attacks in the United States, for a time they were
kept busy by radical Islamic groups in Pakistan. Can the mullahs
(Islamic clerics) turn the tide against Pakistan President Pervez
Musharraf who had pledged support to the U.S., they wanted to know.
After all, the mullahs had vowed to resist him. Musharraf was
condemned and, unlike any other military ruler, riled on the streets.
The supporters of the Taliban also took on the U.S. - albeit only
verbally - for targeting the Taliban.

From Peshawar in the northwest to Karachi, to Quetta in the southwest,
and the stretch of country in between, radical Islamists, militants
and others took to the streets to condemn and warn Musharraf. Venomous
anti-U.S. speeches became the norm. Burning of effigies of President
George W. Bush went with them. Pledges to fight and die for the
Taliban were aplenty. In some instances, people were so moved by the
clerics' Islamic rhetoric that they donated money and even jewellery
for the Taliban's cause; no one then knew they would lose so easily,
rather melt away. The climax came when two Islamic radicals were
killed in the southern Pakistani town of Sukker in an exchange of fire
with the security forces. The security forces had tried to stop the
radicals from laying siege to an air base that had been handed over to
the U.S. military for operations in Afghanistan. Images of fire-
spitting mullahs jostled with Musharraf in the international media.

The mullahs' hullabaloo is now being seen as a case of the monster
baying at its own creator (Pakistani intelligence establishment). More
so after Musharraf's January 12 speech in which he vowed, "we have to
check extremism, militancy, violence and fundamentalism." This line of
argument originates from the intriguing silence by the groups
Musharraf has banned and the religious parties in general, who have
kept mum.

The religious groups could have agitated on the issue of having to
seek permission to set up a new mosque or madrassa (Islamic seminary),
restrictions Musharraf imposed in his speech. They could have labelled
his pronouncements as interference and taken to the streets to make a
show of it. That did not happen.

Going by their history, the religious groups are known to have a knack
of creating issues out of non-issues. Musharraf, too, experienced
this. In the initial days of his rule, he amended the procedure for
filing a blasphemy case with the police, making a senior district
administration official oversee the process. This was done in an
attempt to clear up perceptions that the law had been misused,
particularly against the country's minuscule Christian community. The
mullahs raised a cacophony until Musharraf withdrew the modifications.
His "extremists" were quiet.

Surprisingly, the mullahs were not infuriated by Musharraf's January
12 speech that was dubbed "historic", lending another aspect to the
situation. Was the Pakistani establishment using them all along to
create the impression, especially among a Western audience, that it
would face resistance by the religious Far Right if it pressed too
hard on issues such as Kashmir?

Explaining why there was no reaction by the Islamic groups that
Musharraf banned, the chairman of the independently-run Human Rights
Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), Afrasiab Khattak, said that when "state
patronage" was withdrawn "they (these Islamic groups) collapsed like a
house of cards".

As for the Sunni and Shia Muslim sectarian groups that Musharraf
banned, Khattak said they were supported by "petro-dollars" flowing in
from the Gulf Arab countries in case of the Sunni groups and Iran for
the Shiite outfits. "Those funds are drying up," the HRCP head
believed. His organisation issues a yearly report on the state of
human rights in Pakistan, which often draws sulky comments from the
government of the day.

Khattak said that with the crackdown on those groups "a peculiar
economy of gun-running and madrassas" had ended. "It will have a
positive impact only when there is pluralism, a participatory process
and democracy," the human rights activist said. But will Pakistan
acquire these features in the near future?

ANOTHER line of argument in Pakistan, based on what is almost a
truism, is that the rise of Islamic extremism is not endemic to
Pakistan. The so-called jehad the country fought in Afghanistan under
the stewardship of the late military ruler General Zia-ul Haq, and
patronised by the West, injected it into the society.

This is a point free thinkers like Khattak too fall for. "The West is
not as innocent as they would like us to believe," he said, in an
argument that is repeated ad nauseam in Pakistan's intellectual
circles.

But Pakistani newspaper columnist Ayaz Amir described Musharraf's
treatment of the mullahs and his American nexus vis-a-vis Afghanistan
as efforts by the General in "excelling at the art of the strategic U-
turn". Amir wrote in his weekly column in the Dawn newspaper on
January 18: "With greater grit on our side we could have said that we
were already dismantling the politics of jehad, that we would move at
our own pace and would not be pushed around. But we succumbed to the
pressure and started preparing for another historic about-face."

The religious groups were more of paper-tigers than real power-
wielders, believed Dr. A.H. Nayyar, a Physics Professor at the Quaid-e-
Azam University in Islamabad and a peace activist. "The U.S. action
against the Taliban was so decisive that it completely demoralised
them (the religious groups)," Nayyar said, explaining why they could
not resist the government. But Uzma T. Haroon, a social analyst
working for a United Nations agency, argued that a lack of political
process in the country prevented a backlash against the government
decision.

At least two of the five groups Musharraf banned claimed to be
fighting the Indian Army in Kashmir. With the ban, Nayyar said,
"Kashmiris may have heaved a sigh of relief."

http://www.flonnet.com/fl1903/19030140.htm

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Table of Contents COVER STORY

The terror trail in Kolkata

KALYAN CHAUDHURI
in Kolkata

PRAVEEN SWAMI
in New Delhi

KOLKATA was enveloped in thick fog when four gunmen on two motorcycles
appeared at the gate of the American Centre on January 22. Clad in
Army fatigues, their assault rifles hidden under black shawls, the
terrorists killed four policemen and wounded 20 persons before
disappearing into the morning mist. Of the injured, one was a passer-
by, one a private security guard hired by the American Information
Resource Centre (formerly the United States Information Service) and
the rest policemen who were assigned to guard the Centre.

The three-dozen policemen posted outside the American Centre were too
stunned to respond. The terrorists fired 54 rounds, leaving a small
number of rounds in each of their assault rifle magazines as reserve.
"We were so surprised that we could not react," said Roshan Chettri.
At the time of the attack, some policemen were just arriving to join
duty and those on the night shift were preparing to leave. Kolkata
police Commissioner Sujay Chakravarty explained that policemen unload
their .303 rifles before handing over the charge to the next shift and
those who join duty load the rifles afresh after taking charge. These
drills are generally dispensed with in terrorism-affected areas, but
the Kolkata police had just not expected this kind of offensive.

After the terrorist attacks of September 11 in the U.S., security had
been stepped up at the American Centre and the U.S. Consulate in the
same area. American Centre director Rex Moser said that the attack was
apparently carried out to create panic as there was no attempt to blow
up the building. It is not as if the city has never seen terrorist
activity before. Kolkata was targeted along with Mumbai for bombings
in March 1993.

Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee conceded that there had been a
security failure. "You may say it was an intelligence failure," he
said. "I and my administration could not even anticipate that such a
dangerous attack might take place in the city. Security arrangements
have been made at the American Centre considering the usual programmes
of demonstration. But we should have anticipated that such an incident
may occur there." Bhattacharjee later discussed investigation-related
issues with Union Home Minister L.K. Advani. U.S. Consul-General
Christopher J. Sandrolini also held a meeting with the Chief
Minister.

Who carried out the attack, and why? Several newspaper offices and
private television channels received phone calls from people who
identified themselves as leaders of the Asif Reza Commando Force, a
wing of the Pakistan-based terrorist group, Harkat-ul-Jehad-i-Islami,
or HuJI. HuJI was a name used by the predecessor organisations of the
Jaish-e-Mohammad and the Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, which now seem to have
been recycled after the ban on the JeM. A person claiming to be top
Dubai-based mafioso Aftab Ansari called a senior Criminal
investigation Department officer in Kolkata and said the attack was
launched to avenge the killing of their operative Asif Raza Khan on
December 7 by the Gujarat Police in Rajkot. The call was traced to
Dubai, and matched the number of the caller who had made ransom calls
after the kidnapping of Kolkata businessman Partho Roy Burman.

Raza Khan, a Kolkata resident, joined HuJI following the demolition of
the Babri Masjid. In early 1993, intelligence officials say, he
attended a Harkat training camp in Pakistan. In 1994, however, he was
arrested and served a five-year sentence in Delhi's Tihar Jail. There
he met Aftab Ansari and top JeM leader Syed Ahmad Umar Sheikh, who was
released in the Indian Airlines IC-814 hostages-for-prisoners deal on
December 1999.

On January 23, the West Bengal Police recovered a motorcycle they
believe may have been used in the attack, and arrested its owner,
Korban Ali, one of five religious figures arrested since the attack.
The arrests were made at Basirhat, close to the India-Bangladesh
border. Five other Bangladeshis have been arrested in West Bengal, and
some 50 held for questioning.

Perhaps the strangest part of the Kolkata attack is the U.S.' refusal
to accept that its facility was the intended target. Speaking to
journalists on January 23, U.S. State Department spokesperson Richard
Boucher said his government had "seen reports that a phone call to
police and newspapers claims the attack targeted the West Bengal
Police in retaliation for police actions against a group active on the
India-Bangladesh border."

The fact is that the U.S. has for long chosen to ignore evidence that
terrorists operating on Indian soil have sought to target its
interests. On August 14, 2001, the Delhi Police filed charges against
four persons who are believed to have planned to blow up the U.S.
Embassy in New Delhi. Udaipur-based Abdul Raouf Hawas, a doctoral
student from Sudan who had spent over a decade in India, is believed
to have organised the bomb plot, along with Patna resident and small-
time mystic preacher Mohammad Shamim Sarwar. Sarwar put two of his
followers, Abbas Husain Sheikh and Mohammad Arshad, at work on its
logistics. Hawas in turn reported to Osama bin Laden's lieutenant
Abdul Rahman al-Safani, a Yemen national believed to have been
involved in the 1998 bombings of the U.S. embassies in Kenya and
Tanzania (Frontline, September 11, 1998).

U.S. officials were dismissive of the arrests, saying that India's
claims were "overblown". That, however, did not stop its Embassy from
writing to Delhi Police Commissioner Ajai Raj Sharma, asking for
increased security. Similar two-faced behaviour was evident in January
1999, when the Delhi Police arrested Bangladesh-based Lashkar-e-Toiba
activist Syed Abdul Nasir. At first, the U.S. let it be known that it
did not believe official claims that Nasir had been tasked to blow up
U.S. facilities in Chennai and Kolkata. However, Federal Bureau of
Investigation (FBI) psychologist Frederick Gonnel carried out three
rounds of lie-detector tests on Nasir, which led him to conclude that
Nasir was indeed involved in a plot to blow up the facilities.

U.S. intelligence officials have, indeed, been less blase than their
political masters about terrorist groups in India. In October, for
example, FBI investigators were in Kolkata to meet Nasir Khan,
arrested again on charges of targeting the U.S. Consulate. All charges
were dropped and Khan was released shortly after the meeting, leading
many people to believe that the operative had struck a deal to provide
information on his ISI handlers in Pakistan. While the U.S.
intelligence is pressuring the ISI to put its house in order,
politicians there are just not willing to endorse evidence which leads
straight to the door of their favoured ally in South Asia, General
Pervez Musharraf.

Volume 19 - Issue 03, Feb. 02 - 15, 2002
India's National Magazine
from the publishers of THE HINDU

http://www.flonnet.com/fl1903/19030160.htm

...and I am Sid Harth

[chhotemianinshallah]

COVER STORY

The jehadi connection

PRAVEEN SWAMI


THE jehad is going truly global. When the Border Security Force (BSF)
shot dead two Dutch nationals in Srinagar on January 13, it faced
howls of outrage. The Jammu and Kashmir Human Rights Front described
the killings as "a naked act of terrorism", while the State's Minister
of State for Home, Khalid Suhrawardy, condemned the killings and
promised an inquiry. But now, it is becoming clear that Ahmad el
Bakinoli and Khalid el Hossnoni were not innocent tourists: they had
come to kill.

Few people believed the story of the BSF patrol which engaged the two
Dutch visitors in Srinagar's Dalgate area. The patrol, its troopers
said, was passing by just after 7 a.m. on January 13, when the two men
attacked them with 35-cm fruit carving knives. Constables Shiv Sagar
Yadav and Y.P. Tiwari were stabbed on the neck, upper arm and palms
before a colleague, Constable Mohammad Sadiq, could fire back. Sadiq's
weapon jammed twice before he could open fire.

Since there was no evident reason why two tourists would attack a BSF
patrol in such a bizarre manner, this account was greeted with
disbelief. But when police investigators started sifting through their
belongings, some of the evidence found was a little odd. For one,
Bakinoli and Hossnoni had not acted as most tourists do. After
arriving in New Delhi via Amman on December 26, they purchased a
second class railway ticket to the small Punjab town of Hoshiarpur.
Just why they went there is unclear since Hoshiarpur is not known for
its tourist sights. From there, investigators believe, they would have
travelled by bus to Jammu, and from there on to Srinagar.

Nor did the duo appear to have the kind of money, cash or traveller's
cheques, even low-budget tourists would need for a holiday. The only
record of their having changed money was of $200 at the Jammu and
Kashmir Bank's foreign exchange counter in Srinagar. Just one wallet,
with Rs.1,080 in cash, was found on their person. Bakinoli and
Hossnoni had registered themselves with the authorities in Srinagar,
but while doing so had stated that they would leave the city on
January 12. They had, however, neither bought return tickets nor told
the owner of the Happy New Year houseboat about any intention to
leave.

Still, authorities in Srinagar were on the back foot: their story was
not being bought. Until, that is, a Mumbai-based U.S. journalist
produced copies of newspaper reports from Holland. Bakinoli and
Hossnoni, the Dutch media reported, had far-Right Islamic leanings,
and regularly posted on a local website their desire to join the
jehad. Both had left their homes without telling their parents where
they were going, having made clear to their political associates that
they intended to join the struggle against India in Jammu and Kashmir.
Strangely, the Ministry of External Affairs had not seen it fit to
send the same newspaper stories to officials in Srinagar.

Armed with the Dutch stories, officials in Srinagar have been able to
undo some of the damage caused by the incident. But just what happened
on the morning of January 13 is still unclear. One possibility is that
the already ideologically motivated men had some kind of brawl with
the BSF troopers, and then chose to settle the issue with knives.
Another possibility, some people suspect, is that a binge on the
houseboat the previous night led them into the hare-brained attack.
Investigators say they also have no idea who the men may have sought
to meet in Hoshiarpur, and who, if anybody, they tried to contact
after arriving in Srinagar.

Fundamentalist causes in South Asia - Hindu, Sikh or Muslim - have
always found recruits from among alienated, rootless second-generation
immigrants to the West, as the arrests in Afghanistan of United
States, United Kingdom and Australian nationals show. Jammu and
Kashmir has seen other immigrants to the West join the fight on its
soil before, notably Jaish-e-Mohammad operative Syed Ahmad Umar
Sheikh, one of the terrorists released from Tihar jail in exchange for
the Indian Airlines IC-814 hostages. Disturbingly, it would seem that
events after September 11 have done little to halt the momentum.

Volume 19 - Issue 03, Feb. 02 - 15, 2002
India's National Magazine
from the publishers of THE HINDU

http://www.flonnet.com/fl1903/19030200.htm

COVER STORY

Visitors and messages

The visits of senior Bush administration officials to New Delhi help
bring down the tension on the border, but the moves of the U.S. are
also seen as part of a long-term plan to entrench itself in the
subcontinent on the pretext of combating terrorism.


JOHN CHERIAN

NEW DELHI witnessed a flurry of high-level visits in mid-January,
mostly from Washington. Secretary of State Colin Powell was the most
prominent among the U.S. visitors. U.S. diplomatic hyperactivity vis-a-
vis the region was evident from the list of other senior U.S.
officials who came to New Delhi in quick succession. The most recent
visitors among them were Ambassador on counter-terrorism Francis X.
Taylor, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) chief Robert S. Mueller
and Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) chief Thomas Wilson.

AJIT KUMAR/AP
Francis X. Taylor, U.S. State Department Ambassador for counter-
terrorism.

Interestingly, it was during the DIA chief's visit that Lt. Gen. Kapil
Vij, the commander of 2 Corps, was summarily transferred from his
post. Reports in the media said that it was U.S. pressure on the
Indian government that got the officer, who commanded around 60,000
troops on the western border, shunted out. The report that the General
had moved his troops and armoured corps dangerously close to Pakistani
formations, has not been denied. Neither has been the story that
satellite imagery of the troop positions was provided by the U.S.

Military and diplomatic circles are surprised that the Indian
government did not object to the U.S. taking such keen interest in the
Indian Army's forward deployment at a critical time. The U.S. is
reportedly making available satellite imagery to both India and
Pakistan, in its efforts to prevent a war. The government has said
that Lt. Gen. Vij's transfer was a routine one and that it was not
effected at the behest of Washington. U.S. Ambassador to India Robert
Blackwill refuted suggestions about U.S. involvement in the transfer.
But it is no secret that the U.S. has been urging caution on both
sides. Blackwill said that the Bush administration's involvement in
South Asia was not going to be an "episodic" one, as was the case
earlier. He said that the high-level visits by U.S. officials were
indicative of the transformation in Indo-U.S. relations.

However, indications are that Washington continues to give greater
importance to its ally of long standing in the region, Pakistan, as it
remains crucial to the U.S. gameplan for Central Asia and West Asia.
Blackwill made it a point to laud President Pervez Musharraf's speech
of January 12 to the Pakistani people. He termed it "historical", and
added that it transcended the internal disputes in his country and
went beyond the issues that divided India and Pakistan. Similar views
were echoed by the U.S. Secretary of State and other visiting U.S.
dignitaries.

Colin Powell, speaking to the media in New Delhi, praised the steps
taken by Musharraf against terrorist organisations and individuals in
Pakistan. He urged New Delhi and Islamabad to resume the dialogue
process on the basis of Musharraf's speech and actions taken
subsequently by Pakistan to combat terrorism. However, Powell was
diplomatic enough to suggest that it was up to the Indian government
to judge whether the steps constituted the basis for a resumption of
bilateral dialogue. For the record, Powell also stated in New Delhi
that the U.S. did not wish to mediate in the dispute.

But the facts on the ground tell a different story. Since the Kargil
War, New Delhi has been dependent to a large extent on U.S. help to
get out of political and military quagmires. The Bush administration
is urging New Delhi to defuse the tense situation along the western
borders. The Bharatiya Janata Party-led government does not seem to be
averse to U.S. mediation to sort out its problems with Islamabad. At
the same time, it wants to keep organisations such as the United
Nations at arms' length.

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan had wanted to visit New Delhi in
late January, in order to help speed up the efforts to normalise the
situation in the subcontinent. New Delhi gave him the cold shoulder,
politely telling him that the timing was not appropriate. Annan,
however went ahead with his visits to Pakistan and Afghanistan. The
impression that has been created is that New Delhi would prefer to
depend on Washington rather than on the U.N. for help to defuse the
tension in the region. In Islamabad, Annan urged both India and
Pakistan to withdraw troops immediately from the front and resolve
differences, including the Kashmir issue, through peaceful means.

Blackwill is of the view that the Powell visit helped lower the
temperature in the region. He was recently in Kashmir along with the
DIA chief. Both were briefed by the 15 and 16 Indian Army Corps
Commander on the situation along the Line of Control (LoC). After the
visit Blackwill said that he got the impression that though the
situation along the LoC was "still dangerous", the level of
infiltration may be slowing down. But he hastened to add that it would
take some more time to come to a definite conclusion on the matter. He
said that infiltration could have reduced as winter had set in.

External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh told the media during the
Powell visit that India would resume talks with Pakistan only after
Islamabad translated its assertions on countering cross-border
terrorism into action on the ground. India wants Pakistan to extradite
promptly the 14 Indian nationals on the list of 20 it gave Pakistan in
the first week of January. Pakistani officials told this correspondent
that according to their information, underworld don Dawood Ibrahim and
his friends were in the United Arab Emirates (story on page 30).
According to them, the wanted Khalistanis were in a West European
country.

TARIQ AZIZ/AP
Robert S. Mueller, chief of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Defence Minister George Fernandes said in the last week of January
that Indian forces would pull back only after the government was
convinced that Pakistan was serious about curbing infiltration and
stopped providing logistical support to militants operating in Jammu
and Kashmir. Fernandes, on his return to New Delhi after his six-day
visit to the U.S., emphasised that defence relations with Washington
had been further strengthened. In this context, he mentioned the
signing of the bilateral General Security of Military Information
Agreement (GSOMIA), under which both countries will share information
relating to security and terrorism. In a statement issued after the
Joint Working Group (JWG) meeting, the two sides emphasised that
international cooperation and national commitment were necessary to
defeat terrorism.

When Fernandes was in the U.S., the State Department's Ambassador on
Counter-Terrorism Francis X. Taylor was in New Delhi with a 13-member
delegation to take part in a JWG meeting with India on counter-
terrorism. The JWG discussed various ways of carrying out joint
investigations and sharing intelligence. These include the sharing of
radio intercepts and improving border management. Providing satellite
pictures may be part of the understanding, but considerable importance
is placed by the Indian side on U.S. expertise to improve India's
"border management". The External Affairs Ministry has said that the
two countries will launch a "pilot project for improving border
management".

Taylor said that this exercise would help India maintain border
security. According to him, this constituted a key part of the
campaign against terrorism. Taylor told mediapersons that issues
relating to "domestic terrorism" had come up for discussion with
Indian officials. There will be a high-level meeting involving the two
countries in February to discuss cyber-terrorism. Taylor said that one
of the goals of the Bush administration was to encourage India and
Pakistan to exchange evidence relating to terrorism. He was of the
view that it would take three to four years to stamp out the Al Qaeda
network, which has established cells in more than 60 countries. This
is yet another indication that the Bush administration plans to stay
on in the region under the pretext of combating terrorism.

Mueller, the FBI chief, was in the Indian capital when the terrorist
attack on the American Centre in Kolkata took place. Although Home
Minister L.K. Advani was quick to put the blame on the Inter-Services
Intelligence (ISI) and the Dubai mafia, Mueller refused to rush to a
judgment. He said that he would prefer to wait for the facts to
emerge. However, he was happy to provide "any assistance in the probe
of the incident to the Indian investigating agencies". West Bengal
Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, however, said that he was
against the involvement of the FBI in the investigations.

Advani has also clarified that the FBI will not be directly involved
in the case. However, the agency is said to be very active in the
country since it was allowed by the BJP-led government last year to
set up shop in the capital. "There is very close cooperation between
our agencies and Indian agencies. They are working in the most
intimate way," Blackwill said. He went on to add that "all aspects
have changed in Indo-U.S. relations". Both India and Pakistan are now
viewed by the Bush administration as close and integral allies in the
so-called fight against terrorism.

THE U.S response to the launch of the short-range version of the Agni
was muted in comparison with that of the other Western countries.
Colin Powell said that he did not think that the missile test would
"inflame the situation particularly". He, however, said that he wished
that India had not performed the tests "at this time of high tension".
Only Russia has come out with a friendly statement after the test.

India's Foreign Office spokesperson Nirupama Rao said that the launch
was part of India's efforts to indigenise and "guarantee credible
nuclear deterrence". She clarified that the test was not intended to
be a warning against any specific country. She emphasised that the
timing of the test was dictated solely by technical factors. Pakistan
has characterised the test as an act of "serious provocation".

Volume 19 - Issue 03, Feb. 02 - 15, 2002
India's National Magazine
from the publishers of THE HINDU

http://www.flonnet.com/fl1903/19030210.htm


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Volume 19 - Issue 03, Feb. 02 - 15, 2002
India's National Magazine
from the publishers of THE HINDU

COVER STORY

Of war-mongering and accountability

By moving to take on the government of Pakistan, the BJP-led regime is
pursuing a policy based on the BJP's agenda rather than one in the
national interests, even at the risk of war.

A.G. NOORANI


WHEN Parliament meets on February 25, the Opposition should demand
answers of the government to the questions which people have been
asking. Was it necessary for it to bring the country to the brink of
war? What national interest was served by running such high risks, not
excluding the risk of a nuclear war? For all the risks incurred, the
enormous sums of money spent and the tensions generated, what has the
government to show to the people by way of the results? And such as
they are, do they bear any proportion to the risks, the expense and
the tensions? And, how long will the confrontation last? Home Minister
L.K. Advani said on January 25 that he would "need a couple of months
to judge if there has been... any diminution of cross-border
terrorism".

KAMAL NARANG
U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell in a meeting with Prime Minister
A.B. Vajpayee, External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh, National
Security Adviser Brajesh Mishra and Foreign Secretary Chokila Iyer in
New Delhi.

The author of the policy of brinkmanship, John Foster Dulles, was not
unwilling to gamble with human lives when he said, "If you are scared
to go to the brink, you are lost" (Life, January 16, 1956). This very
course was adopted by the Indian government when it massed 500,000
troops along the international border with Pakistan and along the Line
of Control (LoC). The people were indignant over the attack on
Parliament House on December 13, 2001. No country, no government can
fail to respond to such an outrage which bore every sign of aid and
inspiration from a source in Pakistan, the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM). It
was as clear to any person in his right mind that the Government of
Pakistan could not, would not have mounted the attack. It had not
taken leave of its senses to take on New Delhi in New Delhi itself.

But, the Bharatiya Janata Party regime decided to take on the
Government of Pakistan. Its objectives became evident as the events
unfolded. One names the BJP advisedly, for two reasons. First, nothing
much is left of the ramshackle coalition which the National Democratic
Front (NDA) once was. Secondly, the regime in power was not pursuing a
policy based on the national consensus and in the national interest.
It was pursing a BJP agenda even at the risk of war and damage to the
national interest. That interest was served pre-eminently by the
demarche to Pakistan made on the morrow of the attack. It was limited
to redress of a grave wrong.

The demarche, read out by Foreign Secretary Chokila Iyer to Pakistan's
High Commissioner Ashraf Jehangir Qazi, was pre-eminently reasonable -
no self-respecting country would have asked for less - Pakistan should
stop all the activities of the JeM and the Laskhar-e-Toiba (LeT);
arrest the "well-known" leaders of the two groups; freeze their
financial assets and seal their offices. There was no demand that the
leaders be handed over to India.

Despite Pakistan's preposterous initial responses - to call for joint
investigation and hints of conspiracy by Indian agencies - the
demarche did not warrant mobilisation of troops for its satisfaction.
That could have been accomplished without taking the country to the
brink of war. Pakistan's President, General Pervez Musharraf, had
nailed his colours to the mast by his famous speech at the Seerat
Conference on June 5, 2001. At a meeting on December 3, over which he
presided, it was decided to close down the madrassas (seminaries)
involved in terrorist activities under the patronage of "two main
sectarian groups", The News reported (December 14). "Sources said that
full-fledged decisions to this effect would be taken in the last week
of this month when the President would again preside over a high-level
follow-up meeting on the issue of registration of madrassas and
framing of regulations to monitor their activities" - the steps
announced in his speech on January 12, 2002. Diplomatic pressure would
have sufficed to secure acceleration of the process. Failing redress,
recourse to the U.N. Security Council, limited explicitly to this
issue, would have put Pakistan in the dock.

The bible of diplomats, Ernest Satow's hoary work A Guide to
Diplomatic Practice, defines demarche as something "what in English
might be described as an offer, a suggestion, an advance, a demand, an
attempt, a proposal, a protestation, a remonstrance, a request, an
overture, a warning, a threat, a step, a measure - according to the
circumstances"; adding, "and unless the translator happens to know
what the circumstances were under which the demarche was made he will
be at a loss for precise English equivalent". The representation
acquires its meaning from the context. In the instant case, it was to
serve as an ultimatum. A deadline was set only later and the objective
was defined beyond redress of a wrong.

Home Minister L.K. Advani.

New Delhi did not implicate Islamabad explicitly. On December 13, the
Union Cabinet resolved: "We will liquidate the terrorists and their
sponsors, wherever they are; whoever they are." The Home Minister was
asked pointedly whether a "surgical strike" across the LoC was
contemplated. He replied: "The resolution was clear enough." The
question would not have been asked but for the fact that an ambience
of retaliation was being fostered.

The Minister for External Affairs, Jaswant Singh, was circumspect if
not accurate when he said on December 14 that "the attack was the
handiwork of a terrorist organisation based in Pakistan, that is the
LeT". Parliament's resolution adopted on that day said: "The cult of
violence and hatred promoted by senseless element (sic) having no
faith in democratic institutions has claimed seven innocent lives."
This dignified formulation did not allege official complicity. That
was left to George Fernandes, now relieved that the coffin scandal was
behind him. On December 15, in Patna, he accused the Inter-Services
Intelligence (ISI) and said that evidence of its involvement would be
provided whenever it was deemed necessary.

No such charge was made by the Delhi Police on December 16 when it
announced the results of its investigation - the attack was mainly
planned and executed by the JeM, aided by the LeT. The former's
commander Ghazi Baba was the main culprit. The Cabinet Committee on
Security met on December 17 "to discuss options, including retaliatory
strikes at targets across the LoC" which Advani and Fernandes
advocated (The Indian Express, December 18). Advani told the press
meaningfully: "The whole nation should be prepared... it (the
response) will be a joint decision by the government and the
military." One would think that such a decision, which is necessarily
political, is one for the government alone to make. Only when it
decides to strike does it consult the military on the feasibility of
the move.

In his statement in Parliament the next day (December 18), Advani
said: "It is now evident that the terrorist assault on the Parliament
House was executed jointly by Pakistan-based and supported terrorist
outfits, namely, Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad. These two
organisations are known to derive their support and patronage from
Pakistan's ISI. The investigation so far carried out by the police
shows that all the five terrorists who formed the suicide squad were
Pakistani nationals.... The incident once again establishes that
terrorism in India is the handiwork of Pakistan-based terrorist
outfits known to derive their support and sustenance from Pakistan's
ISI... The Pakistan High Commissioner in India was summoned to the
Ministry of External Affairs and issued a verbal demarche demanding
that Islamabad take action against the terrorist outfits involved in
the attack on the Parliament House." The ISI was not accused of actual
complicity in the incident itself.

Nor did he, in this prepared statement, demand that Dawood Ibrahim be
handed over. He did so only in his replies to the debates in both
Houses of Parliament the next day (December 19).

The debates did not provide a mandate for war. Former Prime Minister
Chandra Shekhar roundly denounced warmongers. Somnath Chatterjee of
the Communist Party of India (Marxist) asked uncomfortable questions
and advised the government against hasty action, even as he supported
the fight against terrorism. He complained that the Opposition had not
been consulted, and criticised BJP members' bid to portray themselves
as the only patriotic party in the country. S. Ramachandran Pillai of
the CPI(M) warned that action across the LoC could lead to a full-
scale war with Pakistan.

The Congress' response was muted lest it played into the BJP's hands
in the Uttar Pradesh elections. Its spokesman, S. Jaipal Reddy, said
that it would support any "well-considered decision." In Parliament
Dr. Manmohan Singh and Pranab Mukherjee warned against "loose talk".
Arjun Singh criticised the government's "rhetoric", especially the cry
that it would be an ''aar par ki ladai'' (decisive battle).

Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee conceded that "no single party can
take a decision on such matters. Everybody will be taken into
confidence." He added: "We are presently exploring all the diplomatic
avenues, but other options are not closed." His demands were strictly
in line with the demarche : "It is for the Pakistan government to take
action against the organisations responsible for the attack since it
is aware of their activities." The all-party meeting on December 30
gave Vajpayee no mandate for war, either.

Two American pronouncements around this time deserve note. On December
19 the State Department's spokesman Richard Boucher said: "We have
said and we continue to believe that India needs to investigate
thoroughly. They need to reach firm conclusions on this," adding any
evidence that India can provide to us or to others to establish that
case (re: JeM and LeT) would provide an even better basis for going
after the terrorists and provide an even better basis for the
Government of Pakistan to go after these terrorists which it has said
it would do."

On December 21, President George W. Bush blocked the assets of the
LeT. He said: "LeT is a stateless sponsor of terrorism, and it hopes
to destroy relations between Pakistan and India and to undermine
Pakistan's President Musharraf. To achieve its purpose, LeT has
committed acts of terrorism inside both India and Pakistan."

Each of the three points was well taken. The Director-General of the
Border Security Force (BSF), E.N. Rammohan, an officer of high
integrity, told a TV channel, on August 9, 1990, that Pakistan had
"not much control" over the JeM and the LeT. Their agenda was not
confined to Srinagar. It covered Islamabad. Khaled Ahmed described in
The Friday Times (December 7) the environment in which they
functioned. "The clergy, aligned with Talibanisation, thought they
could remove Gen. Musharraf and take over the country."

For over a week preceding Bush's pronouncement, the LeT's official
website carried messages such as these: "Wake up Pak Army and stop
Idiot Musharraf! He is a failure and many failings await him. He is an
absolute fiasco and flopped ruler in the history of Pakistan" (The
Indian Express, December 22).

However, on December 21 New Delhi recalled its High Commissioner Vijay
Nambiar from Islamabad; announced the "termination" of the 25-year-old
Samjhauta Express train service and the two-year-old Lahore-Delhi bus
service from January 1. Air links were snapped from December 27. This
was not in response to public opinion. On the contrary, there was a
"manufacture of consent" by means of official pronouncements, leaks,
and inspired comment. Advani, riled by Bush's exoneration of the
government of Pakistan, remarked (December 21), "I have always said
that we have to fight terrorism alone. Nobody will help us. The kind
of evidence we have on Pakistan's role is clinching. Even if after
this... they have to include Pakistan, as a major Islamic state, in
the war against terror, our people cannot be expected to understand."

This was a marked shift from his statement only three days earlier.
Evidently, the simmering resentment reached the brim when the U.S.
took Pakistan's support after September 11. The demarche of December
14 was only a preliminary move, soon to be overtaken by the list of 20
"most wanted" men from Pakistan which was handed over to its Deputy
High Commissioner in New Delhi, Jaleel Abbas Jeelani, on December 31.
To the specific demands of December 14 were added a new demand which
the list represented. India wanted to see, as the articulate official
spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, Nirupama Rao, put
it, "the beginning of a new approach" by Pakistan. Indeed, as was
reported, "sources here emphasised that India's concerns went far
beyond the arrest and repatriation of these individuals. India's prime
objective was to see permanent eradication of cross-border terrorism
from Pakistan's soil" (The Hindu, January 1, 2001).

As late as on January 18, when U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell
came to New Delhi, the government was adamant on both points as pre-
conditions for the pullback of troops. "Distinct movement will be made
(with Islamabad) if there is action with regard to the 20 most wanted
terrorists and criminals," Jaswant Singh stipulated, along with "the
earliest restoration of mutual confidence between the two countries."

IN order to appreciate the significance of this extension of the goal
post, beyond its sight on December 14, and what it presages, one must
look closely into the events in the last days of December.

Once Parliament adjourned on December 19, the government went public
with leaked warnings. "Pakistan has time till Christmas Day to comply
with India's request to hand over Jaish-e-Mohammad leader Masood Azhar
and crack down on his outfit as well as the Lashkar-e-Toiba. If
President Pervez Musharraf refuses to take action, India feels that it
has no choice but to 'take matters into its own hands to protect its
national interest'. The mood in the Indian establishment signalled
that the government is prepared for war, if Pakistan remains adamant.
India, which feels that the U.S. has the maximum leverage over
Musharraf, is banking on Washington to force his hand...

"In the next few days, New Delhi is likely to ask Pakistan to stop
flights over Indian air space, downsize India's mission in Islamabad,
strip Pakistan's most favoured nation status and revoke the Indus
water treaty of 1960. The treaty had survived the wars of 1965 and
1971... The U.S. administration was politely reminded how American
citizens clamoured for tough retaliatory action after the September 11
strikes.

"The Foreign Ministry was privately furious over President George W.
Bush's remarks yesterday. New Delhi's irritation was conveyed to the
President, who late last night issued an amended statement and asked
Pakistan to crack down on the outfits... (The Telegraph, December
23).

The targets were no longer the LeT and the JeM. The target was the
Government of Pakistan, despite the fact that not one country
implicated it in the incident of December 13. Bush spoke, as he did on
December 21, on the basis of intelligence gathered by his agencies.
That day (December 21) one of the key suspects, Mohammad Afzal, told
Asian Age that the LeT "is not involved in the attack". India Today
reproduced (December 11) a statement he made six days after the attack
implicating the LeT as well as the JeM and asserting, for good
measure, "Pakistan is very much behind the December 13 attack on
Parliament". The weekly's correspondent later reported (January 7):
"Indian intelligence agencies are still searching for concrete
evidence that directly links the Pakistan establishment to the
attack." Washington Post's correspondents Rajiv Chandra-sekaran and
Rama Lakshmi reported on December 28: "Despite rampant speculation by
some politicians and media outlets here, Indian investigators said
they have not uncovered any evidence directly linking Pakistan's
military or its intelligence service to the attack. 'It's very diffi-
cult to prove' said an intelligence official. 'There's no smoking
gun'."

This hardly provided any warrant for the massing of troops on the
borders, cries of war and talk of "surgical strikes". Unless, of
course, the real objective went beyond redress for the outrage of
December 13. A report in The Hindu (January 11) exposed that
objective. "India is unlikely to pull back its forces from the
International Border and the Line of Control soon. According to highly-
placed government sources, New Delhi, after the attack on Parliament,
is determined to deal with terrorism decisively. For that, it aims to
create a suitable political environment in the region that will
eventually enable it to make a deal with Pakistan. The mobilisation of
ground troops along the borders is central to the strategy that will
strengthen India's hands during future negotiations, they observed. As
of now, India has positioned its forces all along the borders in
Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir. All its three strike
corps, that can spearhead a military campaign, have been mobilised."

Those who hail this as "coercive diplomacy" do not know what they are
talking about. The essence for coercive diplomacy is the use or threat
of force in aid of diplomacy, not as a means of duress whether to
buttress a status quo based on force or establish one to accord with
the interests of a powerful state. Coercive diplomacy, as the title of
the classic on the subject describes it, is "forceful persuasion." Its
subtitle states the corollary: "Coercive diplomacy as an alternative
to war." The work written by political scientist Alexander I. George,
an Emeritus Professor of Stanford, was published by the U.S. Institute
of Peace in 1991. It is based on seven case studies.

In coercive diplomacy proper, not only are the channels of
communication left open but they are actively used; for the object is
to persuade and to avert war. The BJP regime deliberately clogged
those channels and rejected dialogue from Day One. None of the
measures which Pakistan began taking from December 24 onwards every
day, made any impression - freezing the assets of the LeT and the Umma
Tammere-Nau; the arrest of Masood Azhar and a series of arrests of
extremists totalling 2,000.

A senior Western diplomat in Islamabad told B. Muralidhar Reddy that
Musharraf "cannot be seen as acting on the specific demands of the
Indian government. The containment of the jehadi forces would have to
be a gradual process and any harsh measures could endanger the very
stability of his regime" (The Hindu, December 26). But, he had missed
the whole point. New Delhi's aim, as some Indian analysts noted, was
that Islamabad should be "seen" by the world at large and by this
region particularly, to be climbing down, softened for the eventual
diktat. The New York Times noted (December 23) that India saw "a rare
opportunity to accomplish what perhaps half a million Indian troops
and police failed to achieve" in Kashmir during the 12-year-old
militancy. Pakistan, it later noted, had to find a way to "avoid war
without humiliation".

When on January 20 Advani addressing a Shiv Sena rally in Mumbai
deplored the Simla pact, as a failed opportunity, and said "we will
solve the Jammu and Kashmir issue once and for all", he did not have a
compromise in mind, surely. He added, shockingly, "Pakistan is not a
trustworthy nation".

Alexander I. George's comment is as relevant as it is perceptive:
"Both the objective of coercive diplomacy and the means employed on
its behalf are likely to be sensitive to the type of relationship the
coercing power hopes to have with the opponent after the crisis is
over. Both Kennedy and Khrushchev hoped to move toward an improvement
in U.S.-Soviet relations after reaching a mutually acceptable way of
resolving the missile crisis. The contrast with the way the U.S.-led
coalition viewed the post-crisis relationship with Saddam Hussein's
regime could not be more pronounced." New Delhi's object is dissimilar
to the Kennedy-Khrushchev model. They averted the immediate crisis and
went on to negotiate wider accords based on commonality of interest.
New Delhi aspires to "make a deal" through the massing of troops.

George writes: "Coercive diplomacy does indeed offer an alternative to
reliance on military action. It seeks to persuade an opponent to cease
his aggression rather than bludgeon him into stopping. In contrast to
the blunt use of force to repel an adversary, coercive diplomacy
emphasises the use of threats to punish the adversary if he does not
comply with what is demanded of him."

COERCIVE diplomacy is an attractive strategy insofar as it offers the
possibility of achieving one's objective in a crisis economically,
with little or no bloodshed, fewer political and psychological costs,
and often with less risk of unwanted escalation than does traditional
military strategy. But for this very reason coercive diplomacy can be
a beguiling strategy. "Particularly leaders of militarily powerful
countries may be tempted sometimes to believe that they can, with
little risk, intimidate weaker opponents to give up their gains and
their objectives. But, of course, the militarily weaker side may be
strongly motivated by what is at stake and refuse to back down, in
effect calling the bluff of the coercing power". Hence, the risk of
war.

Kennedy made considerable use of persuasion. He employed a variety of
diplomatic and open channel to clarify, explain, and justify to his
adversary as well as to others why the demand he was making was truly
important to the United States and why he was strongly resolved to
achieve it. "Cognizant of the principles of crisis management, Kennedy
deliberately slowed down the momentum of events, particularly during
the Cuban missile crisis, in order to give diplomatic processes and
communication an opportunity to work toward a peaceful resolution."

Neither Kennedy nor Khrushchev viewed the particular conflict of
interests in the dispute or their overall relationship as
approximating a zero-sum conflict. Each side was careful not to impose
humiliation on the other.

But, of course, the Bharatiya Janata Party regime knew it could not go
to war. There was massive U.S. presence in the region on the land, in
the sea and in the air not far from the scene of potential conflict.
Satellite surveillance ensured monitorship in a real sense as the
removal of Lt. Gen. Kapil Vij as Corps Commander showed. Vij was
commanding 2 Corps, which was part of the Western Command, and its
movement was detected by the Pentagon through satellites and reported
to both India and Pakistan (The Hindu, January 21). Reliance on the
U.S. to pressure Pakistan was central to the Government of India's
strategy. Mobilisation of troops was aimed as much at securing
American intercession on its behalf as ensuring Pakistan's compliance.
The level of American presence in South Asia today is far greater than
at any time in the last half century; far greater than it was in
1962-63, for instance. Advani told a U.S. audience on January 9:
"These days, whenever pressure has been put on Pakistan by Washington,
it has responded, even in the case of the two organisations which have
been responsible for the attack on the Indian Parliament."

Having felt that it had been left high and dry by the U.S. in the wake
of September 11, New Delhi used December 13 to accomplish its own,
rather than a national agenda. If that strategy succeeds, it hopes to
emerge a winner not only in the U.P. elections but also in the Lok
Sabha elections due a mere two years from now. The Lok Sabha can be
dissolved earlier - and the allies discarded thereafter.

One astute politician, Pranab Mukherjee, keenly sensed the danger of
war and the game the BJP was playing. His outburst is significant and
is likely to set the pace for debates in Parliament. Earlier, as The
Telegraph reported (December 19): "Many aspects of the investigation
and handling of the issue have irked several parties, but no one is
willing to risk being dubbed anti-national. This is one reason why
every speaker in the Lok Sabha today made it a point to extend all co-
operation to the Government in fighting terrorism...

"What came across from Advani's statement was that the government did
not have more evidence against Pakistan. If it did, this would have
been the best opportunity to place it before the nation and get
support for any action necessary. The Home Minister was careful not to
blame the Pakistan government directly.

"Though in public Ministers and officials speak of an 'iron-clad case'
against Pakistan, doubts are being raised privately. There are murmurs
within the government about the botching of what was an ideal
opportunity to revive the BJP's sagging political fortunes.

"'There is too much of posturing by government leaders, which raises
doubts. If the ISI is really involved, it may have been wiser to work
quietly towards nailing them through careful investigation. There is
posturing only when there is not enough proof', said a recently
retired government official."

Where, incidentally, is Advani's White Paper on the ISI which he
promises repeatedly since 1998 (vide the writer's "The Tale of a White
Paper"; Frontline, November 24, 2000).

PRANAB MUKHERJEE explained the Congress' support to the government
while expressing his doubts and even "anger". It's strong national
interest, nothing else. At this time, we do not want to create the
impression that there is a divergence of views in the political
establishment... Certain questions do come to mind. One is whether it
was necessary to build up this type of hype, this war psychosis. Was
it mean to draw international attention to the type of terrorist
threat we are facing? Or was it meant to influence the local
elections? Or was it meant to counter pressure from the inner layers
of the Sangh Parivar?

"Another question constantly haunts me. If our demand is that Pakistan
must stop supporting terrorism and it's only then are we prepared to
talk, what does this mean? No country will say it is supporting
terrorism, so how can it say it has stopped supporting terrorism?...

"Surely the problem cannot be resolved by launching a war against the
country which is harbouring the terrorists. It is just not possible.
We have to fight it within our borders; see that terrorists don't
infiltrate into our country. This is how we have been doing it for the
last 10-20 years. We are not in 1914, when an Austrian prince was
killed and Europe fought World War I. If you are the U.S., maybe you
can think of doing that. When you are not, you are not... They
shouldn't have created this war hysteria. Both India and Pakistan are
nuclear weapon states. Surely they are aware that the United Nations
Security Council empowers the five permanent members with special
powers to intervene in a conflict between two nuclear states?" (The
Indian Express, January 13, 2002).

An exercise in "coercive diplomacy" by Jawaharlal Nehru, exactly 50
years ago, provides an instructive contrast. Pranab Mukherjee is
right. Such crises had occurred before. Nehru did not tackle them in
the BJP style. On May 1, 1951, a Proclamation was issued in Srinagar
for convening a Constituent Assembly to frame a Constitution for
Kashmir. Pakistan was afraid that it would be used to foreclose a
plebiscite by securing through it a ratification of the State's
accession to India. S. Gopal records its threats of war. "It seemed
possible that Pakistan might attempt to occupy the valley by a swift
military action. Troops were concentrated on the Kashmir border, new
divisions raised, reserves called up, leave cancelled and raids and
sabotage in Kashmir stepped up. Nehru decided that the best way to
prevent escalation was to take countermeasures and let it be known
that this was being done. The armoured division was moved upto the
Punjab border and no great secrecy was maintained about the fact.

That was on July 11, 1951. Four days later, Liaquat Ali Khan cabled to
Nehru protesting against the Indian move." (Jawaharlal Nehru, Vol. 2;
p.115). He wrote: "In addition to movement of infantry divisions, your
one armoured division and independent armoured brigade have been moved
forward from Meerut and Nabha to the vicinity of Amritsar."

Nehru's reply of July 17 did not contest the movement of troops but
assured him that "there is no intention whatever for any aggressive
action on our part." The crisis petered out. The entire correspondence
was published by the MEA in a 24-page White Paper on "Indo-Pakistan
Relations". Why not publish the text of the demarche of December 14,
2001? The contrast between the crises of 1951 and 2001 is stark and
instructive. Nehru's was a defensive move on Indian soil, intended
entirely to deter an attack. No demarche, ultimatum or threat was
delivered. Far from ruling out talks, Nehru invited Pakistan's Prime
Minister to New Delhi for talks to "discuss every matter of concern to
us without any conditions attached". While asserting that "it is not
for India or Pakistan, whatever our wishes, to decide the future of
Kashmir. Kashmir and the people of Kashmir are not commodities for
barter or for bargain. It is their inherent right to determine their
own future" (White Paper; pp. 13-14). It was Pakistan which stipulated
preconditions.

Nehru was candid. The BJP regime denied massing of troops even as the
print and electronic media reported it. Meetings between the Foreign
Ministers of the two countries in Kathmandu were first denied and
later played down ("no separate and substantive" talks were held). The
BJP regime has been systematically deceiving public opinion. For, its
denials were addressed to the people of India. Foreign media reported
what they saw. Thus was a war hysteria built up and maintained. The
government knew it would not and could not go to war for four reasons.
First, the P-5 of the Security Council, who had united in 1998 on
Pokhran II, would have acted in greater concert now, under U.S.
leadership. Secondly, Pakistan, though far weaker in armed strength,
has a fair ratio for defence as a deterrent. Thirdly, there is no
casus belli to flaunt. Neither the demarche of December 14, nor the
list of December 31 nor the demand for end to "cross-border
terrorism". Lastly, the Opposition was beginning to see through the
game after its initial acquiescence on the plea of "national
interest". Witness, Pranab Mukherjee's comments. The people of India
are prepared to shed their blood in the country's defence. They would
have recoiled from a war in circumstances such as these, a war which
exposed them to costs and hazards that bore not the remotest relation
to the provocation.

THIS brings us to the nuclear factor. On January 18, 2002 in
Washington, Defence Minister George Fernandes woke up to the truth
that no "mature person would talk about a nuclear conflict". Earlier,
in an interview in India he had said, "We could take a (nuclear)
strike and then hit back. Pakistan would be finished" (The Hindustan
Times, December 30, 2001). When on January 2 in Lucknow Vajpayee said
that "no weapon would be spared in self-defence; whatever weapon was
available would be used no matter how it wounded the enemy", he could
not have been referring to the Bofors gun. This nuclear sabre-rattling
at the height of the tensions has escaped censure. This was well
before Chief of the Army Staff Gen. S. Padmanabhan's famous remarks at
his press conference on January 11 which prompted Fernandes to issue
the instant and unctuous disclaimer. "I wish everyone gives up this
talk of nuclear weapons being brought into play." Neither need have
spoken on this subject at all. At a press briefing in the Foreign
Office on December 27, Major-General Rashid Qureshi, the President's
spokesperson, had said: "Pakistan and India are responsible nations
and we cannot think of using nuclear weapons. These are deterrents and
not meant to be more than that. The use of nuclear weapons is
something one should not even consider."

THIS was a remarkable declaration from a country which had declined to
endorse the "no-first-use" doctrine and flaunted its nuclear weapon
status as ample compensation for its inferiority in conventional
warfare. To what did Gen. Qureshi owe the confidence which now
prompted him to rule out the use of weapons? Was it U.S. assurance of
India's intentions not to go to war and of its own support if it did?

He was clearly trying to assure the U.S. and at the same time enlist
its sympathies. A remark which he made on this occasion, at the height
of the tensions, took not a few people by surprise: "The Indian
government is putting itself into a corner where it would be difficult
for them to now back off." Evidently, he felt sure that attack it
would not.

Concern in Islamabad was palpable, though; lest any incident drive the
two countries to a war neither wanted. And for good reason. What Zafar
Abbas of The Herald, who reports also for the BBC, revealed in detail
in its issue of January 2002 should prod serious reflection: "It was
late at night on December 21 when President Pervez Musharraf was
approached by the country's intelligence supremo who wished to discuss
a matter of grave urgency. Pakistani intelligence had picked up
credible signals from across the border that the Indian Air Force was
planning a major strike, possibly in Azad Kashmir (Pakistan Occupied
Kashmir) in the name of hot pursuit. Pakistan was in touch with
Washington minutes later and what followed was a flurry of night-long
diplomatic activity that ultimately convinced India to back off...

"But the threat did not dissipate entirely, top security officials
say. The following night, significant movements of the Indian Air
Force were reported not only in the Kashmir region but also in the
jurisdiction of its Western Air Command. Washington again came into
the picture and another diplomatic exercise ensued, during which the
Indian side once more denied any aggressive intent. The air strikes
were ultimately averted but the movements on the Indian side on
December 21 and 22 strongly suggested that Delhi was seriously
considering the war option, a top-ranking security official told The
Herald: 'In fact we were convinced that war was imminent'.

"From that point onwards, Pakistan's armed forces were put on full
alert, leaves were cancelled, and a major troop deployment was ordered
along the borders. Pakistan too was now prepared for war. ....Senior
Pakistani security officials say their assessment of a possible war
had assumed concrete form by December 27. By this time, the
concentration of Indian forces along the border was such that Delhi's
intentions were clear not just to Islamabad but also to Washington...
According to a highly placed official in Islamabad, a critical phase
in this war of nerves came on December 29 when President Musharraf
spoke on the phone with the U.S. Secretary of State. By then India had
relocated its forces in Assam to the Pakistani border. Musharraf told
Powell that India had made this move only twice before, in 1965 and
1971, adding this was a clear sign that Delhi was preparing to strike.
Within no time President Bush was on the phone with the Pakistani
leader, asking Musharraf to show restraint and also promising that the
White House would contact the leadership in New Delhi to ask them to
back off. Later Colin Powell called the Pakistani President, informing
him that India may not go for the war option. At the same time,
however, he asked Islamabad to do something about the 'foreign
militants' allegedly operating in Kashmir. Even though the U.S.
administration was still pleased with Pakistan's role in the Afghan
war and was more than willing to keep the relationship going,
Washington had also decided to up the ante. To appease Delhi the
emphasis now was on taking action against organisations such as Jaish-
e-Mohammad and Lashkar-e-Toiba, groups that the U.S. State Department
had already placed on its list of 'foreign terrorist organisations'."

Read this along with John F. Burns' report in The New York Times of
January 8 and the picture is complete. "Pakistan's President, Gen.
Pervez Musharraf, became so concerned last week that tensions over
Kashmir would spill into war with India that he telephoned the
American Ambassador in Islamabad, Wendy J. Chamberlin, to ask where
Washington intended to draw the line in supporting India.

"'What General Musharraf wanted to know was how Washington could
guarantee that India wouldn't wait for some new incident to occur,
then claim that it was backed by Pakistan and use it as a pretext to
go to war', an aide to the General said, insisting on anonymity. The
General's reasoning was: 'What if some outraged Kashmiri takes a
Kalashnikov and shoots an Indian politician or puts a bomb in a
parking lot? Is Pakistan going to be held accountable everytime
anybody picks up a weapon? Is Washington saying that all freedom
struggles, everywhere, can be suppressed under the guise of the war on
terrorism?"'

Instances there are aplenty of the Irish Republican Army (IRA), and
later its defector the "real IRA", striking whenever peace talks made
any progress. In 1984 a bomb exploded in a Brighton hotel where
members of the British government were staying during the annual
Conservative Party conference. It killed five people. In 1991 an IRA
mortar attack was aimed at 10 Downing Street while the Cabinet was in
session.

The list of 20 "wanted" persons given to Pakistan on December 31 at
the height of the confrontation, which step, in turn, exacerbated it,
included, incredibly, the name of Syed Salahuddin, supremo of the
Hizbul Mujahideen, with which New Delhi parleyed after the ceasefire
in July 2000 and praised its sagacity.

In his speech of January 12, Musharraf announced a ban on extremist
bodies as also the LeT and the JeM, besides several measures against
religious extremists. India welcomed that. On the list he said: "There
is no question of handing over any Pakistani." Given the evidence,
they would be prosecuted. The non-Pakistanis "will be proceeded
against whenever one is found". On January 19 he told the CNN: "As far
as Pakistanis on the list are concerned, we are not going to hand them
over... about non-Pakistanis, we do not have them here."

The deadlock is complete, apparently. Jaswant Singh had insisted a day
earlier on "action" on the list if "distinct movement" is to be made.

Fernandes told The New York Times on January 2: "If they should fail
(to comply) then we are left with only the option that the U.S.
exercised to deal with terrorism." Asked if it meant the military
option, he said "That's right." On January 14 he amplified: "Any
effort at de-escalation can come only, and I repeat only, if and when
cross-border terrorism is effectively stopped."

This ran counter to Jaswant Singh's response on January 13 to
Musharraf's speech and his statements since, which were in a
conciliatory vein. His emphasis was on "cross-border terrorism", not
the list. Secretary of State Colin Powell has urged talks and desisted
from insisting on a pull-back of the forces. India's demarche of
December 14 has been all but complied with. It is the list of 20 and
the demand for end to "cross-border terrorism" which are the sticking
points. Musharraf has pledged that Pakistan's territory would not be
allowed to be used for terrorist activities.

NEITHER the hype nor the confrontation along the borders can last long
in this ambience of de-escalation of rhetoric. Designed to make
Pakistan lose face, the crisis is petering out with the BJP regime
struggling to save its face since the two issues involved do not
warrant a confrontation, let alone war. How the impasse is resolved
remains to be seen.

Pakistan has paid for the sins of its past rulers, including Benazir
Bhutto. India has paid a high price for the BJP regime. Verily, as
Talleyrand exclaimed, "Nations would have been horrified if they knew
what petty people rule them."

That Jaswant Singh should call him "the Harkat activist" tells us more
about Jaswant than about Syed Salahuddin (The Asian Age, January 22).

http://www.flonnet.com/fl1903/19030220.htm

...and I am Sid Harth

[chhotemianinshallah]

Let's talk, India tells Pakistan
Seema Guha / DNA
Friday, February 5, 2010 0:38 IST

New Delhi: India wants to restart talks with Pakistan and has formally
asked Islamabad to arrange a meeting between foreign secretaries of
the two nations.

Thursday his high commission in Delhi had been asked to talk to
external affairs ministry officials and decide on the time and venue
for the ice-breaker.

Quereshi told an Indian television channel, “This is a good
development and we are willing to talk about everything from water,
Kashmir, terrorism and anything else on the table.’’ Though Pakistan
will insist on reviving the composite dialogue, it is likely that
prime minister Manmohan Singh will take a more measured approach since
public outrage against the Sharm-el-Sheikh joint statement.

Fourteen months after the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai, the UPA
government has made a ‘cost-benefit review’ of its policy of not
talking to Pakistan and realised there is nothing to be gained by not
engaging with its archrival.

The government believes a gradual calibrated engagement is the best
option. The meeting of the foreign secretaries may work towards a
bilateral meeting at the highest political level between Singh and
Yousuf Raza Gilani during the Saarc summit in Bhutan in April.

India regards Pakistan’s decision to use terrorist Ajmal Kasab’s
confessional statement as evidence to prosecute planners of the Mumbai
attacks and other evidence with respect to boats used to ferry
attackers from Karachi as constructive signals.

“It is good India is making a move towards talks,’’ said former
diplomat Arundhati Ghosh. “While the rest of the world understands
India’s problems, I find more and more people questioning our policy
in the region. International opinion is for constructive engagement,’’
she explained.

Top officials say the government has been working on reviving talks
behind closed doors for many months. National security adviser Shiv
Shankar Menon’s induction into the prime minister’s office was an
indication that talks with Pakistan would be top of the agenda. Menon
was India’s high commissioner to Pakistan and knows the country and
its politics well. However, home minister P Chidambaram’s talks with
his counterpart Rehman Mallik at the Saarc meeting in Islamabad later
this month will give an indication of Islamabad’s seriousness in
getting justice for 26/11 victims.

Delhi is being nudged by the US and Nato powers to mend fences with
Pakistan, and ensure its military can focus on the fight with al-
Qaeda, Taliban and other jihadi elements at the Afghanistan border.

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_let-s-talk-india-tells-pakistan_1343479

BJP disapproves of UPA decision to resume talks with Pakistan
PTI Thursday, February 4, 2010 23:07 IST

New Delhi: Expressing disapproval of India's decision to resume
dialogue with Pakistan, BJP today alleged was in violation of the
assurance given by the prime minister and fruitful talks can be held
with the neighbouring country only after it stops supporting terror.

"BJP disapproves of this premature dialogue with Pakistan at the level
of foreign secretaries. This real stumbling block between India and
Pakistan is the wall of terror and Pakistan's sponsorship of
terrorism," BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said.

He accused prime minister Manmohan Singh of reneging on his promise to
the main opposition that no dialogue would be held with Pakistan until
it stopped supporting terrorism.

"After the 26/11 attacks, the PM had assured the country inside and
outside Parliament that there would be no dialogue with Pakistan till
all the terror infrastructure in that country was demolished. Why this
sudden change?" Prasad asked.

He said Manmohan Singh had given the same assurance to senior BJP
leaders L K Advani, Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley.

"A week ago, home minister P Chidambaram had said that Pakistan was
not taking any action though India had given ample evidence against
Hafiz Saeed and others," he said.

The Rajya Sabha MP asked how could talks be held in such a scenario.

Hinting at international pressure to begin dialogue, Prasad said, "BJP
suspects there is some pressure from somewhere."

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_bjp-disapproves-of-upa-decision-to-resume-talks-with-pakistan_1343412

Integrated check post to be built along Indo-Pak border
PTI Thursday, February 4, 2010 19:38 IST

Attari (Amritsar): An integrated check post (ICP) with state-of-the-
art facilities will be set up at Attari on the Indo-Pak border at a
cost of Rs150 crore by April next year.

The Union home ministry has finalised the plan to set up the ICP under
the aegis of Land Port Authority of India which has been tasked to set
up 13 such posts along international borders.

"Attari shall be the first Land Port to be commissioned," Amritsar
deputy commissioner Kahan Singh Pannu said after a meeting with joint
secretary ministry of home affairs (border management) Sada Kant in
Attari today.

The post will be built on an area of 131 acres and have various
machineries including high level scanners worth Rs30 crore to
facilitate the Customs and Immigration clearance of passengers and
goods.

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_integrated-check-post-to-be-built-along-indo-pak-border_1343313

12 Taliban militants killed: Pakistani army
PTI Thursday, February 4, 2010 19:24 IST

Peshawar: Pakistani security forces gunned down 12 militants as they
consolidated their positions in the restive Bajaur tribal region
during operations over the past 24 hours, an official spokesman said
today.

Security forces consolidated their positions in Sewai, Damadola and
Pasht areas of Bajaur Agency, where an operation against the Taliban
has been underway for the past few weeks.

Besides killing a dozen militants, troops captured six suspects and
seized a cache of arms and ammunition, a Frontier Corps spokesman
said.

In the Khyber tribal region, two soldiers were hurt when an improvised
explosive device went off in Nallah area. Security forces arrested
eight suspected militants, including a commander, during a search
operation in the same area.

Troops also nabbed two militants from Hangu district bordering the
Kurram tribal region and repulsed an attack by militants on a check
post. Meanwhile, a tribal 'jirga' or council in the lawless Mohmand
tribal region sought five days' time from authorities to arrange the
surrender of wanted tribesmen, the Frontier Corps spokesman.

The political administration of the semi-autonomous Mohmand Agency has
persuaded the jirga of the Halimzai tribe to hand over the wanted men.
The jirga attended by about 60 elders of the Halimzai tribe sought
five days to arrange their surrender.

http://www.dnaindia.com/world/report_12-taliban-militants-killed-pakistani-army_1343299

Taliban commander Haqqani escaped heaviest US drone strikes in Pak:
Report
PTI Thursday, February 4, 2010 18:47 IST

NEW YORK: Top Afghan Taliban commander Sirajuddin Haqqani was the
target of the heaviest US drone strikes in Pakistan's lawless region,
but may just have escaped the assault, as American officials for the
first time said that Hakimullah Mehsud was dead.

A commander of the Haqqani group told CNN that "Siraj was in the area
but had left moments before the strike."

The TV network said the reported strike on Tuesday night were unusual
for the relatively high number of missiles fired — at least 19 — and
for the high death toll.

The CNN quoting US counter-terrorism officials said they believed that
Pakistani Taliban chief Hakimullah is dead, in strongest signal
Washington has said about his fate.

At least eight drones took part in the coordinated attack hitting
houses, cars and bunkers in multiple target raids in which 31
militants were killed including two top Pakistani Taliban commanders
and six foreign militants.

The missiles hit four villages of Daigan, Muhammad Khel, Pai Khel and
Toor Narai all said to be strongholds of the Haqqani network.

Sirajuddin Haqqani or Siraj is a senior Taliban and leader of the
Haqqani network, founded by his father Jalaluddin Haqqani, and is long
time ally of al-Qaeda. The group operates on both side of Afghan
Pakistan border and is well-known to the US, CNN said.

Haqqani has been parts of most of the attacks against US forces and
Nato forces and has claimed he planned assassination attempt on Afghan
president Hamid Karzai and assault on Serena Hotel in Kabul.

The US intelligence believed he masterminded the bombings on the CIA
base in Khost and on Indian Embassy in Kabul.

For the first time the CNN said US drones had been monitoring and
targeting the Haqqani clan, whose fighters numbering over 12,000
dominate Khost, Paktya, Paktiar and other Pashtun dominated areas of
eastern Afghanistan.

The TV network said a US missile strike on the Haqqani compound in
2008 had killed large number of Haqqani members including wives and
children.

http://www.dnaindia.com/world/report_taliban-commander-haqqani-escaped-heaviest-us-drone-strikes-in-pak-report_1343260

US fighting 'psychological war' in Gulf: Iran
Reuters Thursday, February 4, 2010 20:25 IST

Tehran: Iran accused the United States on Thursday of launching a
"psychological war" in the Gulf region by presenting Tehran as a
threat to Gulf Arab states to convince them they needed US protection.

US officials said on Sunday the United States had expanded land-and
sea-based missile defence systems in and around the Gulf — a waterway
crucial for global oil supplies — to counter what it sees as Iran's
growing missile threat.

The US deployments include expanded land-based Patriot defensive
missile installations in Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and
Bahrain.

"They don't want to see good and growing relations between Iran and
its neighbours in the Persian Gulf and thus started a psychological
war," Major General Hassan Firouzabadi, the chief of staff of Iran's
armed forces, was quoted as saying on semi-official news agency ILNA.

Iran's top military official also played down the threat to the
Islamic republic from Patriot missiles.

"It is not new for us ... we were informed when they were installed,
including about their exact locations ... Patriot missile could be
easily deactivated by using simple tactics."

A foreign ministry official said earlier this week Washington was
trying to stoke "Iran phobia" in the Middle East and said Tehran
enjoyed friendly ties with neighbouring states.

The United States is making the deployments at a time of tension in a
long-running international row over Iran's nuclear energy programme,
with Western powers calling for a fourth round of UN sanctions against
Tehran for refusing to halt uranium enrichment.

Analysts speculate that the United States or its ally Israel, could
stage an attack on nuclear facilities they think could allow Tehran to
acquire nuclear weapons. Iran says it is only interested in generating
electricity.

Gulf countries, which have extensive cooperation with the US military,
could be targets for reprisals if their territories were perceived as
involved in operations.

http://www.dnaindia.com/world/report_us-fighting-psychological-war-in-gulf-iran_1343355

Taliban who abjure violence can be brought in mainstream: Krishna
PTI Thursday, February 4, 2010 19:40 IST

On board a Special Aircraft: In a shift of stand, India today said
Taliban elements who abjure violence and follow the Afghan
constitution can be brought into the mainstream of the political
process.

Speaking to reporters on board a special aircraft on his way back from
Kuwait, external affairs minister SM Krishna said the political
process in Afghanistan has to be Afghan-led.

This Afghan-driven political process will necessarily have to deal
with the Taliban, he added.

"India feels so long as Taliban dissociates itself from other
terrorist organisations and abjures violence and subscribes to the
Afghan constitution and those (elements) who go along with the
democratic process under president Karzai's leadership...perhaps they
can be brought into the mainstream of the Afghan political process,"
he said.

Pointing out that Afghanistan was going through a very difficult
process, the minister said the political process in that country has
to be carried forward.Earlier, India's stand was that there is no good
or bad Taliban and this should not confuse the issues of terror.

Krishna said Afghan president Karzai feels that the international
opinion has found expression at the recent London conference on
Afghanistan and "the political process must continue as no military
solution is in sight".

On Sri Lanka, he said India sincerely hopes that president Mahinda
Rajapakse will utilise the mandate given in his favour to bring about
a settlement with all ethnic minorities in that country.

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_taliban-who-abjure-violence-can-be-brought-in-mainstream-krishna_1343314

...and I am Sid Harth

[bademiyansubhanallah]

Even Where Pakistani Law Exists, Taliban Find a Porous Border

Matiullah Achakzai/European Pressphoto Agency
A recent traffic jam in Pakistan between the border town of Chaman and
Quetta. Lax security at the border allows Taliban fighters to slip
back and forth.

By SOUAD MEKHENNET and RICHARD A. OPPEL Jr.
Published: February 4, 2010

CHAMAN, Pakistan — The thick brown sack that a man named Abdulmalek
carried over his shoulder on a recent afternoon might have contained
anything: weapons, drugs or explosives. But crossing back and forth
between Afghanistan and Pakistan was no problem, he said.

Enlarge This Image

Imran Mukhtar for The New York Times

The Friendship Gate at the Chaman crossing between Afghanistan and
Pakistan draws heavy traffic.
Afghan border guards never search him, even though he passes through
this bustling crossing four or five times a week. “What searching?”
said Mr. Abdulmalek, a 34-year-old clothing store owner who like many
Afghans has only one name. “There is no searching.”

Other Afghans say they can easily enter Pakistan by bribing guards on
either side of the border with the equivalent of less than a dollar,
or by paying taxi drivers a similarly token amount to drive them
across. The guards do not ask those in the taxi for identification or
search the trunk.

The way the Taliban use Pakistan’s tribal areas to launch cross-border
attacks inside Afghanistan is perhaps the most contentious issue
between Pakistan and the United States. But the problem is hardly
contained to Pakistan’s lawless tribal areas.

Gaping holes in security checks along the border also remain at
heavily trafficked crossings, like this one, in Baluchistan Province,
where, American officials say, the Taliban’s leaders have taken
refuge, out of reach of American and NATO forces.

The Chaman crossing — marked on the Pakistani side by the three-story
Friendship Gate — should presumably be among the most secure in the
country: it is the sole crossing between Kandahar, the birthplace of
the Afghan Taliban, and Baluchistan, which is, according to American
officials, home to Taliban commanders who control many Afghan
fighters.

But Taliban fighters — anyone, really — can cross and smuggle weapons
and drugs, underscoring the challenge to the American war effort in
Afghanistan, for which the border presents a much firmer barrier, as
Pakistan does not allow NATO or American military forces to cross.

The result is that Taliban fighters and smugglers control much of the
rugged 1,500-mile frontier between Afghanistan and Pakistan, creating
a fluid battle space for the insurgents as the Taliban conduct an
increasingly coordinated fight in both countries.

Pakistani and Afghan officials blame one another for the lack of
border security and the threats it poses, typical of the distrust and
lack of coordination between the governments.

American and NATO forces are faulted as well. “The Afghans are indeed
of no real help there, but neither are the NATO or U.S. troops,” a
senior Western intelligence official said.

Pakistani commanders complain that the United States and other NATO
governments have given them almost none of the equipment needed to
improve security or prevent Taliban fighters from crossing easily.

“They may be crossing through Chaman, all right,” said Maj. Gen. Salim
Nawaz, the commander of the Pakistani Frontier Corps, the paramilitary
force responsible for securing the border here, referring to the
Taliban. He said Pakistani forces had arrested militants elsewhere in
the province, but he added, “They don’t cross with weapons, so how
will you separate them from ordinary people?”

A senior American military official who tracks border issues did not
dispute the Pakistanis’ impression of border problems and said more
equipment would be sent. But the official added that there were
shortcomings on the Pakistani side as well.

“There are probably enough problems to go around on both sides,” the
official said.

The situation is even more stark along more rural stretches of the 700-
mile border between Afghanistan and Baluchistan, which has 276 posts
on the Pakistani side. At one post near the city of Nushki, a
Pakistani border commander, Col. Javed Nasir, admitted that trucks
full of hashish, opium and heroin regularly eluded border security
officials and entered Pakistan. Many shipments are later sold for
millions of dollars that end up paying for Taliban weapons and
salaries.

“There is a lot of narcotics smuggling going on,” Colonel Nasir said.
“But our biggest concern are the weapons that are coming in from
Afghanistan.”

During his yearlong assignment at the border, Colonel Nasir said, he
has never seen an American or NATO soldier on the other side. Peering
across the border at an Afghan outpost — one of only two Afghan posts,
he said, for one 120-mile stretch of border — he said that the handful
of Afghan soldiers on the other side showed little interest in
patrolling.

Meanwhile, for the Americans, the border crossing poses another
problem: with the pending arrival of 30,000 more troops in southern
Afghanistan as part of President Obama’s military buildup, American
commanders want to increase the traffic of supplies through Chaman by
30 percent. On a typical day, 60 to 100 NATO and American supply
trucks pass through the crossing.

But that effort has been seriously hampered by a detour that has
shifted vehicle traffic to a one-lane dirt road across the border that
can handle only one truck at a time, in either direction. The main
gate has been closed to vehicles — but not pedestrians — because of
problems with the infrastructure.

American officials want to improve the bypass, but those efforts have
suffered delays. Military officials also fear having supply trucks
backed up at the crossing, leaving them vulnerable to an attack.

“My worry is that we have a four-lane highway that ends up leading to
a dirt road,” the senior American military official said, noting that
the crossing needed improvements on both sides.

The problems are further complicated by the commander on the Afghan
side, Col. Abdul Raziq, according to Pakistani and Western officials.
They say that Colonel Raziq, who is politically close to the
government of President Hamid Karzai, uses his control of the border
region around the city of Spinbaldak to reap millions of dollars from
smuggling.

In exchange for securing the road from Spinbaldak to Kandahar and
keeping the Taliban at bay, Pakistani officials say, Colonel Raziq is
allowed to operate with impunity and can manipulate the border to
benefit his smuggling interests. He sometimes shuts the border, they
say, charging smugglers to cross.

Colonel Raziq sharply disputed the allegations, saying that his men
vigorously searched people coming through the border. He also blamed a
land dispute with Pakistan for the delay in improving the border
crossing.

“I have never closed the border, nor will I,” he said. “I am very
strict with smugglers.”

Souad Mekhennet reported from Chaman, and Richard A. Oppel Jr. from
Islamabad, Pakistan.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/05/world/asia/05baluch.html

Security forces kill 12 Taliban in Bajaur offensive

* FC says troops advancing, consolidating territorial gains
* Two Taliban arrested from Hangu, eight held in Khyber Agency

KHAR: Security forces killed 12 Taliban – including four foreigners –
during the ongoing military operation in Bajaur Agency, while 16
terrorists were apprehended from different areas on Thursday.

According to a Frontier Corps (FC) statement, the security forces were
advancing and consolidating territorial gains in Sewai, Damadola and
Pasht areas of Bajaur. The forces also recovered a huge cache of arms
and ammunitions from the area.

Apprehended: The statement said that two Taliban were apprehended from
Hangu, while eight suspects were arrested in Khyber Agency during a
search operation. The search operation was launched after an
improvised explosive device (IED) attack on a security convoy that
injured two soldiers in Nala area of Bara tehsil.

Fighter jets and helicopter gunships bombarded Taliban hideouts in
Kharkai, Gutki, Damadola, and Spray areas of Mamond tehsil, destroying
several Taliban hideouts. Four foreign terrorists were killed during
clashes in the mountainous Spray area. Jet fighters also targeted an
underground Taliban bunker where a large number of terrorists were
present during the bombardment.

According to security officials, in the wake of the security forces’
infiltration of Taliban strongholds, the Taliban were fleeing to the
mountainous region. The security forces also took control of Sultan
Bagh area, near Damadola, killing 11 Taliban during the search
operation. staff report/app

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2010%5C02%5C05%5Cstory_5-2-2010_pg7_3

...and I am Sid Harth

[chhotemianinshallah]

Pak army-Taliban nexus will harm India

Balbir K Punj
First Published : 05 Feb 2010 12:13:00 AM IST
Last Updated : 05 Feb 2010 01:30:09 AM IST

A combination of events and signals in the Afghan-Pakistan situation
constitute a warning to us to depend increasingly on our own resources
to counter the Islamist threat against India. However much we may like
to avoid giving this threat a religious label, it is increasingly
becoming difficult in the face of brutal evidence.

Let us consider the evidence first. According to The New York Times
senior American military officers are frustrated over Pakistan Army’s
announcement last week that it will not launch any new attack in
Waziristan, the Taliban-infested tribal belt on its border with
Afghanistan. It is this belt that is a sanctuary for Afghanistan’s
Taliban and al-Qaeda.

The second is the rising thinking within the Western allies seeking to
reverse Taliban surge in Afghanistan that this is futile game and it
is better to come to terms with Islamic extremism and get out of the
cul-de-sac that the Afghan campaign has proved to be. NYT also reports
that the top UN representative in Kabul ‘has called on Afghan
officials to seek the removal of some senior Taliban leaders from the
United Nations’ list of terrorists, as a first step toward opening
direct negotiations with the insurgent group’.

Kai Eide, the UN special representative in Kabul now wants to have
face-to-face talks between Afghan officials and Taliban leaders ‘many
of whom are hiding in Pakistan’. As Pakistan would be holding the
remote control on this Afghan Taliban, once they are back to power in
Kabul or at least share power there, Islamabad has a strategic edge
right away. Its strategy is to regain full control in Afghanistan as
an expanded area of action and get Indian influence out of that
country. This would virtually bring things back to the pre-2001
position.

American and NATO leaders who are promoting negotiations with Afghan
Taliban believe that once you offer jobs and money to the foot
soldiers of the extremists, they would gradually be weaned out of
extremist leaders. Such fond dreams ignore the basic nature of Islamic
extremism that rejects any modern concept of progress. These policy
alternatives also overlook the brutal fact that the leading
perpetrators of terror are not poor Muslims who are attracted by
promises of money — they are usually from well-to-do families and are
well ‘educated’ themselves like the recent ‘underwear bomber’ of
Nigeria. The UN special representative is quoted saying “I don’t
believe that it’s as simple as saying that these are people who are
unemployed, and if we find them employment they will go our way.
Reintegration by itself is not enough.”

So there lies the American Af-Pak policy in tatters. The early promise
of Pakistan Army’s offensive against Pak-Taliban has gone up in smoke.
The other day Pakistan Prime Minister Gilani responded to the Union
home minister’s warning that any further 26/11 style attack mounted
from Pakistan soil would have serious consequences, by pointing out
that “we ourselves are targets of attack by extremism. If we cannot
protect our own people, how could we prevent attacks on India?”

Six months ago the Americans were pushing Pakistan to eliminate the
Taliban base in Waziristan and convey to the Pakistan Army that
economic and military aid to the country would depend upon the army
shifting away from its anti-India stand and concentrating on
eradicating extremism and terrorism. The Pakistan Army instead of
falling in line, has provoked reaction against the conditions placed
by the US for extending a financial package of $7.5 billion over five
years and military aid in addition.

This has placed the US in a tough situation where it depends on
Pakistan army’s for eliminating the Taliban so that the Karzai regime
in Kabul has breathing time to consolidate its development efforts.
The army, however, is refusing to respond. Obviously such refusal is
part of the Pakistan army’s strategy — the more frustrated the US gets
over the Afghanistan situation, the greater would be the pressure on
the US president to call it a day and abandon the present Kabul
regime.

Such a situation suits both the Pakistani extremist organisations and
the army. Besides it fits in with the global aim of jihadi Islam.
Recently Pakistan advised the separatist movement in Kashmir, the
Hurriyat not to accept New Delhi’s invitation for a negotiation on the
state’s political set-up. And even the moderate faction of Hurriyat
has succumbed to this advice, exposing who its real masters are.

The UPA government is seen as so ineffective that even Nepal has not
so far responded to its request to allow air marshals to board Indian
flights originating from Nepal to prevent hijacking. Meanwhile a
clutch of intelligence inputs continues to reveal jihadi attempts to
mount several attacks on India keeping Indian authorities on
tenterhooks.

Either the Pakistan PM was exposing his helplessness or he was only
shoring up his defence probably knowing that Lashker-e-Toiba and Jaish-
e-Mohammad are all part of Pakistan military’s strategic assets and
that the army still thinks its raison d’etre is India’s might. The
latest we have in a series of intelligence inputs is that the Pakistan
based extremists are planning massive attacks against India and that
they have shopped for gliders in European markets

With the distinct possibility of America throwing in the towel in
Afghanistan, New Delhi would have to have a rethink on its strategy.
Noted American journalist Steve Coll who has written two important
books on Af-Pak situation, the Ghost Wars and The Bin Ladens has
rightly revealed: “India’s security problems are graver than America’s
in relation to jihadi terrorism”. For us this terrorism is immediate
and present and we are most vulnerable to the appeal of jihadi
triumphalism. Either we understand this ugly reality and act, or face
the prospects of perishing of our pluralistic polity.

***@gmail.com

http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=Pak+army-Taliban+nexus+will+harm+India&artid=cPrlegpwY4I=&SectionID=XVSZ2Fy6Gzo=&MainSectionID=XVSZ2Fy6Gzo=&SEO=Afghan-Pakistan,New+York+Times,Waziristan&SectionName=m3GntEw72ik=

Afghanistan war: US tries to undercut Taliban at tribal level

US and Afghan officials try to persuade some of the 350 tribal leaders
in Afghanistan to cooperate against the Taliban. It's not an easy
task.

US soldiers walk near FOB Shamulzai in Zabul province, southern
Afghanistan, Thursday.

Baz Ratner / Reuters

By Thomas L. Day McClatchy Newspapers / February 4, 2010

Paktia Province, Afghanistan

US officials put a lot of hope last year in Haji Rashid, an up-and-
coming community leader in the Zormat district of Afghanistan's Paktia
province. They considered Rashid a unifying figure who was capable of
bringing together about a dozen tribes in the area to work in support
of the American-backed Afghan government.

Military officials aren't sure who killed Rashid, but their suspicions
point to the Taliban. "It's to their benefit to have instability,"
said Lt. Col. Matthew Smith, a Georgia Army National Guard officer and
the commander of about 1,000 U.S. troops in Paktia province.

Rashid's murder illustrates one of the obstacles that American
officials and military commanders face as they try to persuade tribal
leaders to cooperate with U.S. troops and with one another against the
Taliban. Afghanistan's historically weak central governments have
shared power with the country's five so-called "super tribes" and the
tribes that compose them, with 350 or so sub-tribes and with local
clans, and most of the country's would-be conquerors — including the
British and the Soviets — have employed their own tribal strategies.

Now American officials are attending tribal meetings, staying in close
touch with tribal leaders and trying to determine which leaders are
friendly and which aren't.

In Zormat, U.S. and Afghan officials have turned to tribal leaders as
a channel of communication with several small Taliban networks in the
region, networks they think could be persuaded to join a peaceful
political process. American commanders declined to identify the
Taliban commanders with whom they've been communicating.

Navigating tribal rivalries

Those efforts, however, risk feeding traditional tribal rivalries, to
the detriment of any plan to undercut the Taliban.

"If you are seen as favoring one tribe over another, you are seen as
an enemy to them," said 1st Sgt. Troy Arrowsmith of Odgen, Utah, the
top enlisted soldier on the Paktia Provisional Reconstruction Team, a
cooperative of about 100 troops and civilians from multiple US
agencies.

Unhappy tribes don't have to look far to find outside support.

"In Zormat, the tribes are fractured, and the Taliban are a part of
those tribes," Arrowsmith said. "They live with them. They have
families there."

American commanders in Paktia keep maps of the province, closely
demarcating the tribal areas.

Rivalries among tribes, sub-tribes and families aren't confined to
Zormat.

In Paktia's northeast, there's a long-standing animus between the
Turi, a Shiite Muslim tribe that extends into Pakistan, and the
Bushara, a Sunni Muslim tribe. US officials think the tribes have been
at odds over territorial boundaries for about 60 years.

The Bushara "claim that they won't allow them to move freely; the Turi
claim that they get threatened when go to Gardez," said Genevieve
Libonati, a State Department official who's assigned to Paktia.

The chaotic nature of tribal relations was on display on a recent
Sunday, when a panoply of American military, diplomatic and Department
of Agriculture officials joined about 100 government and tribal
leaders from the region for a "shura," or meeting, near the Pakistani
border.

After introductions, no U.S. officials spoke during the shura. They
only listened.

What they heard was a cacophony of complaints. As emotions rose, any
formalities guiding the shura were quickly abandoned. The only common
issue among the tribal leaders involved the failings of the American
occupiers.

"I'm glad the PRT commander is here," one Afghan participant told the
other tribal leaders, referring to Lt. Col. Carlos Halcomb. "They were
going to build a hospital in our district, and it hasn't been provided
yet."

The comment brought an uproar of support and dissent.

"If we don't have good security in the area, we're not going to be
able to finish the projects," retorted Abdul Rahman Mangal, the deputy
governor of Paktia.

For several hours, tribal leaders shouted their concerns, with no one
attempting to regulate who had the floor. One continued a harangue
even after he'd left the lectern, directly in front of the provincial
deputy governor and the US officials seated in the back of the room.

Finally, the local director of the Afghan Intelligence Service
approached the lectern and calmly delivered a clear message to the
tribal chiefs: "Don't assist (the Taliban). Don't let them stay in
your home overnight. Don't give them food. Just tell them to leave."

Turning away the Taliban isn't easy, though, particularly in areas
that Taliban fighters call home. American officials think the Taliban
even have infiltrated some local political meetings — denouncing the
U.S. occupation — and threatened other tribal leaders who attend these
shuras.

"Have I been to a shura where there was Taliban infiltration? I'm
pretty sure I have," said 1st Lt. Luis Alberto Moreno, a US civil
affairs officer who specializes in tribal relations in the border
region.

(Thomsas L. Day reports for The Telegraph in Macon, Ga.)

ON THE WEB

"A Tribal Strategy for Afghanistan," from the Council on Foreign
Relations

"One Tribe at a Time: A Strategy for Success in Afghanistan"

MORE FROM MCCLATCHY

New Afghan initiative: Convince insurgents to switch sides

U.S. turns to Afghan farmers to uproot insurgency

U.S. troops rely on Afghan police while trying to train them

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/2010/0204/Afghanistan-war-US-tries-to-undercut-Taliban-at-tribal-level

...and I am Sid Harth

[chhotemianinshallah]

Pak media welcomes India's proposal to resume talks
February 06, 2010 16:52 IST

India's [ Images ] proposal to resume talks with Pakistan has been
welcomed by the Pakistani media, with leading dailies saying the move
amounted to a realistic understanding of regional ground realities and
would come as a "slap" to terrorists opposed to peace between the two
nations.

India recently proposed talks at the level of the foreign secretaries,
following which Pakistan sought a clarification on the agenda of the
parleys.

India put the composite dialogue on hold in the wake of the 2008
Mumbai terror attacks [ Images ].

The Daily Times newspaper, in its editorial 'Time to move forward',
said that by not resuming the composite dialogue, India had played
into the hands of elements responsible for the Mumbai attacks.

Calling on both countries to realise "that the nexus of terrorists is
no respecter of borders", the daily said, "The revival of dialogue
will be a slap in their faces."

Terrorists are the "common enemy" of India and Pakistan, which have to
stand together to fight them.

"Opting for a freeze in the dialogue is exactly what the terrorists
aimed for," the editorial said.

It added that "the most important thing is that sense has finally
prevailed and both sides have realised that it is time to move
forward".

The Nation daily, which is extremely critical of New Delhi's
[ Images ] policies, said in its editorial 'Back to dialogue' that the
call for talks are reflective of India's gradual move towards a more
realistic understanding of regional ground realities.

"Foremost among these realities is the fact that there is no way out
of the bilateral dialogue with nuclear Pakistan. The alternative of
warmongering threats and brinkmanship strategic doctrines simply will
not work as India has found out when none of these tactics worked
against Pakistan," it said.

The Daily Times also noted that Indian Home Minister P Chidambaram
[ Images ] had said in a recent interview that someone living in India
or an Indian himself could have provided help during the Mumbai
attacks.

"Putting all the blame on Pakistan while turning a blind eye to the
insider factor was wrong, but India's finally admitting the
possibility of this aspect bodes well for both countries," it said.

The News too hailed India's move to hold talks, calling it a "welcome"
development.

"After remaining reluctant to have anything but the most limited
contact with Islamabad [ Images ] for over a year, New Delhi has
changed its tone. The offer of foreign-secretary level talks marks an
important step forward," an editorial in the newspaper said.

"The development though is a hugely welcome one. It marks a key step
forward for the two neighbours who have been caught up in the
hostilities that followed the 2008 Mumbai attacks. Perhaps New Delhi
has realised that the only way to prevent further attacks of a similar
nature is through cooperation with Pakistan," the News said.

It also said terrorism "should indeed be a part of any dialogue.
However, the talks must go beyond this; and in indicating that it is
ready to resume the disrupted process of prisoner exchange, India
seems willing to move in this direction."

However, The Nation cautioned that "unless India is actually intent on
a serious and meaningful dialogue on all conflictual issues, merely
resuming the dialogue to fool powerful allies, will achieve little in
terms of peace and stability".

"The other ground reality is that Kashmir [ Images ] holds the key to
regional peace and it is high time India honoured its commitment to
the UN and the Security Council resolutions calling for a plebiscite
in Kashmir," it added.

© Copyright 2010 PTI.

Discussion Board

Showing 1-10 of total 16 messages

GUYS LETS MAKE SRK A FLOP ACTOR..
by P Srinivas on Feb 06, 2010 09:22 PM

GUYS LETS MAKE SRK A FLOP ACTOR..

SRK is showing FAKE sympathy for Pakistani cricketers "while deciding
to not take any" for his own Team KKR

This is just to get free publicity for his films

...and by showing his love for pOrkis ,He is just giving a wrong
mesasage

that Indian muslims care more for the porkis then Indians ..

Shame on him.

He keeps mum on so many national issues like Kashmir and uses
'Inshallah" deliberately all the time in interviews.

His loud mouth arrogance on the stage and egoism and his dirty
politics is undigestable.

Enough is enough. We should teach SRK a lesson for forgetting Kargil
war...for forgetting Mumbai attack and make this zero actor a jobless
actor in India.

we should boycott his movies ,I will never pay to watch a movie of
this ungratefull traitor again

Guys are you ready? We can do it.

and must discuss on
by samir khan on Feb 06, 2010 09:22 PM

Right to Education: Still 50% of our country remains illiterate. Every
educated citizen should be drafted to educate the rest of the country.
Just like many countries have compulsory military service why not we
have compulsory teacher service.

Decline of key professions: While in school, I was told to tell the
truth to ones teacher, lawyer and doctor. My general experience with
all 3 of them has been notorious in the last 3 years. There are some
exceptions, but you have to be lucky to meet them. Teachers hired by
the government don’t do their work, those in private become
inaccessible to the common man. The same applies to doctors and
lawyers also.

There are many other issues, but if we start addressing the above with
a 25 year plan and mission where a billion people participate. The
world will notice us not because of the number, we are, but the large
number focused on doing the right thing, that will be ideal momentum.

Re: and must discuss on
by samir khan on Feb 06, 2010 09:23 PM
must move for solution of jk otherwise much more incident will happen
in future so like mumbai attack.

no talks
by warrsan on Feb 06, 2010 08:53 PM

if kashmiris hav prob of indian constitution, then it is up to indian
govt to talk to the kashmiris. can any one say as to why the porkis r
interested in kashmir...

Re: no talks
by proud indian on Feb 06, 2010 09:02 PM
Porkis have already destroyed their country. They look for a chance to
do same to India. That is why they r interested in kashmir

Is SRK hand in gloves with Shiv Sena to promote his movie?
by FAKINGNEWS dotcom on Feb 06, 2010 08:49 PM

Is SRK hand in gloves with Shiv Sena to promote his movie?
just google the above sentence and you'd know the truth. do it right
now!

Re: Is SRK hand in gloves with Shiv Sena to promote his movie?
by gurpreet on Feb 06, 2010 09:15 PM
nice way to promote ur site but it won't work here

INDIA IS OEN DEMOCRATIC COUNTRY AND CONDUCTED ELECTION TO KASHMIR
by MUSLIM BHAGAWAT on Feb 06, 2010 08:24 PM

INDIA HAS CONDUCTED ELECTION TO KASHMIR ASSEMBY AND LOKASABHA SEVERAL
TIMES SINCE 1947.THE PAKISTAN HAS NO RIGHT TO INTERFERE IN THE
INTERNAL MATTER OF INDIA.WE HAVE SHOWN TO WORLD THAT KASHMIR IS OUR
INTEGRAL PART.WHAT THE UN AND SECURITY COUNCIL SAID IS THAT THE LINE
OF ACTUAL CONTROL SHOULD BE MAINTAINED.THE MAJRITY OF PEOPLE OF
KASHMIR DONOT WANT TO GO TO PAKISTAN.SOME TERRORISTS HAVE TERRORISED
TEH PEOLE BY GUN AND HELD THEM RANSOM.THEY WANT TO KIDNAP KASHMIR BY
FORCE AND HAND IT OVER TO PAKISTAN.IT IS QUITE IMPOSSIBLE AND NOT
NEGOTIABLE.

Message awaiting moderator review. Show message

Call: 1-800-ALL-TALK
by Confused Mind on Feb 06, 2010 08:08 PM

Call Center of the terrorists, dedicated
for the terrorists, operated by the terrorists.
We offer peace talks and meetings at top hotels.
Our gray cells may have died because of long
periods of inactivity & use and we have become
animalistic! We Pakis Are Talibs & are never Down.

India
by Trend setter on Feb 06, 2010 07:49 PM

The peace iniitative unveiled by the UPA govt under the leadership os
Soniaji is a tight slap on the face of hindoo fanatics who are opposed
to any sort of dialogue with pakistan.

Re: India
by KS Powar on Feb 06, 2010 08:09 PM
I know you as a pak sympathiser or a paki. Who ever you are, and who
ever you think gets the slap on the face, its not going to solve the
problem of terrorism in India, because it is officially sponsered by
pakistan.

Peace talk is only a LOLLY POP India is putting into pakistans mouth
so that it stops its harping of india not being serious about peace.

Re: Re: India
by S M on Feb 06, 2010 08:43 PM
He is a Paki, Anyone with a name like Trend Shitter can only be a
Paki

Message awaiting moderator review. | Show message

Re: Re: India
by aproudmuslim on Feb 06, 2010 08:12 PM | Hide message
You know nothing about diplomacy...do you?

Re: Re: Re: India
by KS Powar on Feb 06, 2010 08:14 PM
No, I am not a diplomat, however, I am getting to understand the
pakistani diplomacy of talking of peace on one hand and sending fake
currency and terrorists on the other hand.

Re: Re: Re: Re: India
by aproudmuslim on Feb 06, 2010 08:19 PM
Pakistan has some funny policies. They certainly are not interested in
out prosperity. But not talking is not the solution. Only by talking
can you expose them and/or make them commit.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: India
by PAKICRAP on Feb 06, 2010 09:02 PM
It has funny policies because it is a funny nation ruled by a party
whose policies are dictated by the Mullahs&Jihadis like Trendsetter.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: India
by KS Powar on Feb 06, 2010 08:24 PM
I am not against peace talk, I have favoured the initiative taken by
Atal Bihari, however, I am against anyone making a political capital
out of it

Re: Re: Re: Re: India
by aproudmuslim on Feb 06, 2010 08:21 PM
and why is someone reporting me for abuse?

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: India
by S M on Feb 06, 2010 08:42 PM
it must be Mr Trend Shitter

Message awaiting moderator review. | Show message

Re: India
by aproudmuslim on Feb 06, 2010 07:58 PM | Hide message
I second that!

Re: India
by PAKICRAP on Feb 06, 2010 08:59 PM
It is a tight slap on the face of the Pakistani Beggar Trendsetter who
is opposed to his failed nation Pakistan having talks with a powerful
India. Scared that his failed state Pak will disintegrate and vanish
from the planet soon taking him with it.

Re: India
by S M on Feb 06, 2010 08:40 PM
hahahahahah The Paki mullahs like trend setter are so happy that
someone is finally talking to them. Bloody beggars

Re: Re: India
by PAKICRAP on Feb 06, 2010 09:01 PM
The BeggarMullahs have run out of money, that is why they are coming
for talks.....hahahahaha..

India and Pakistan
by ramesh m on Feb 06, 2010 07:36 PM

Better talk of peace india and Pakistan, Lets admin them separately.
Wasting money from the both the countries, do other good improvement
works, employment of people. lets people of indians and pakistans live
peacefully, thats i want.

Resume talk between indian and pakistan
by ramesh m on Feb 06, 2010 07:30 PM

Nothing will be happened by SM Krishna/Sonia Gandhi, Only for media/5
years rule purpose ok. Specially by congress never solve this problem.
It is my challenge. For Example 1. removed by people of india 3
persons Vilasrao Deshmukh, Shivraj pateil and RR Patil. But again came
with prestige post of indian Govt. Why? . 2. 35 crores spent on kasab
of indian public money after confirmed also, not yet hanged{if UAE
same day hanged/shoot out order will be made}. 3. Abzal Guru who is
still alive. Its all happens in congress only. But Manmohan singh
personally is good Admin person, I like it, But these are importants
for normal citizen of india. Indians still sleeping, rising below
poverty critaria.

The problem is
by subramanyasastry hoskote on Feb 06, 2010 06:57 PM

not the MINORITIES, not even the J0h0dis, nor even the converters who
are spreading venom in the ignorant and socially & economically
backward indians. The Problem is the P_Sec v1rus of the conparty which
is currently led by a non-indian by birth and by heart.

Re: The problem is
by True Hindustani on Feb 06, 2010 06:59 PM
How can anitalybarladyattender be a goodfor our beloved country

Re: Re: The problem is
by aproudmuslim on Feb 06, 2010 08:00 PM
Has India progressed in the last 6 years or so? Just answer the
question yourself and you have the answer. I know some communal
zealots will ignore the question and insist that India declined under
Cong rule in the past 5 years. There is no solution for such
blindness.

Re: Re: Re: The problem is
by S M on Feb 06, 2010 08:47 PM
India has progressed DESPITE the congress. The progress started much
before MMS came into power. Inspite of the congress the inertia is
taking India forward. The only things that have increased are
terrorist attacks and essential commodity prices

Showing 11-16 of total 16 messages

Call: 1-800-ALL-TALK
by Mind Clear on Feb 06, 2010 06:39 PM

Call Center of the terrorists, dedicated for the terrorists,
operated by the terrorists. We offer peace talks and
meetings at top hotels. Our gray Cells may have died because
of long periods of inactivity & use and we have become animalistic!

slap on the butt?
by rk singh on Feb 06, 2010 06:37 PM

like in foreplay?

Forget Kashmir for meaningful peace
by venu sense on Feb 06, 2010 06:27 PM

Pakistanis should realise not with standing UN resolutions and local
opinion of kashmiris India will never part with Kashmir. So all this
wishful thinking of so called meaningful talks as defined by
pakistanis is nonsense. Why the tibetians also dont want to be in
china. Should there be a plebsite of local tibetians;tibet will come
out of china. Try giving plebicite to baluchis so will they come out
of pakistan. So instean of talking impractical nonsense freeze the
existing boundries and talk progressive things. Do not open the
kashmir pandoras box.
In fact when the partition was done it was deceided all muslims will
be in pakistan and all other relegions in india. However we have 140
million muslims in our country.So how much land will pakistan give to
India. It will amount to half of todays pakistan. So forget
kashmir,stop instigating kashmiri populace with political/military
support. Talk genuine peace and trade with India.

When Pak (Media) appreciates India
by Hago Kiruttinan on Feb 06, 2010 06:12 PM

... it means that the egg is rotten. Even the elections are not around
the corner.

Re: When Pak (Media) appreciates India
by subramanyasastry hoskote on Feb 06, 2010 06:47 PM
I think our PM is trying his level best to fulfill the dream that
nehru could not accomplish - get a porki-e-nishan award.

Re: When Pak (Media) appreciates India
by subramanyasastry hoskote on Feb 06, 2010 06:47 PM
I think our PM is trying his level best to fulfill the dream that
nehru could not accomplish - get a porki-e-nishan award.

Message awaiting moderator review

DOn't worry.....
by Pat Thakur on Feb 06, 2010 05:40 PM

Very soon, there's going to be a major disruption activity by the
Terrorists to disrupt the talks (as is the tradition.)

Re: DOn't worry.....
by Ravi Chandran on Feb 06, 2010 05:48 PM
we will continue to talk.
pak will continue to attack.

http://news.rediff.com/report/2010/feb/06/indias-proposal-a-slap-to-terrorists-pak-media.htm

...and I am Sid Harth

[chhotemianinshallah]

Another peace initiative
Pakistan must respond in earnest

India has once again traversed the extra mile in its relations with
Pakistan. Since the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, its stand had been
that it would not hold dialogue with Islamabad until the neighbouring
nation brought to justice the perpetrators of the heinous attack. Yet,
it has made a major departure from this policy, formally proposing
Foreign Secretary level talks to Pakistan. This has happened despite
Pakistan not taking any serious step in the right direction.
Obviously, India is looking beyond bilateral relations and wants to
establish peace in the entire region, even if it entails downplaying
the concerns about Pakistan’s sincerity within the country. Not only
has New Delhi not put any conditions for the talks, it has also kept
them open-ended by saying that “let us not pre-judge the outcome of
the meeting”. That means that all outstanding issues affecting peace
and security, including counter-terrorism could be discussed when
Foreign Secretaries meet.

India has deliberately chosen to bypass the pointless debate whether
the composite dialogue which is on hold since November 2008 would be
resumed or not. Apparently, it is willing to go way beyond what was
discussed when the Foreign Secretaries met last time in New York in
September 2009. This gesture is one of a piece with a similar one made
in November last when the Ministry of External Affairs suggested a
meeting between its Joint secretary dealing with Pakistan and the
Pakistani Foreign Ministry Director-General dealing with India. The
meeting never took place.

The present offer was reportedly made by Foreign Secretary Nirupama
Rao to her counterpart, Salman Bashir, in a telephone call two weeks
ago. The Pakistani side is yet to respond, except for Foreign Minister
Shah Mehmood Qureshi “welcoming” India’s proposal. What Islamabad must
realise is that Delhi is not making the latest peace overture as a
desperate measure. It is doing so only because of the considered
policy that there is no alternative to talks. Instead of aiding and
abetting terrorism, Pakistan must realise that the monster, untamed,
poses a big threat to itself also. Talking terrorism will facilitate
the peace process.

Politics of hate
The Thackerays must be brought to book

The divisive politics of the Shiv Sena and its breakaway group the
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) seeking to drive a wedge between
Mumbai’s Marathis and immigrants from U.P. and Bihar deserves to be
countered by all right-thinking people. It is regrettable that while
both these parties are getting emboldened with each passing day with
their agenda of hate, precious little is being done to hold them
accountable for spreading disaffection between religions and between
communities. Between them the Thackerays — Shiv Sena supremo Bal, his
son Uddhav and MNS chief Raj — have besmirched Mumbai’s fair name as
an epitome of cosmopolitanism. Their espousal of the ‘Marathi manoos’
card has provoked young men and women to look upon ‘outsiders’ as the
cause of all their economic and social ills. In the bargain, these
harbingers of hate may have won some votes but they have done
irreparable damage to the spirit of the Constitution which guarantees
every citizen the right to live and work in any part of the country.

A series of chauvinistic reactions to innocuous statements in recent
days have vitiated the atmosphere as never before. When cricketing
icon Sachin Tendulkar remarked that Mumbai belonged to all Indians and
not to anyone in particular, and that while he was a Maharashtrian, he
was an Indian first, he was stating the obvious. But he was admonished
by Bal Thackeray for “hurting the feelings” of Marathi manoos.
Likewise, when matinee idol Shah Rukh Khan criticised the sponsors of
IPL for keeping Pakistani players out of the tourney, Bal Thackeray
mockingly suggested to him that he choose the 26/11 Mumbai attacks
terrorist Mohammad Ajmal Kasab to lead the team of which he was the
franchisee. When Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi stated at a
public interaction that every part of India belonged to every Indian,
the Thackerays were quick to pour scorn and ridicule.

Enough is enough! It is time the Maharashtra government picks up
courage and tackles those who are spreading the virus of hatred and
defying the Constitution in the process. Bal Thackeray and his nephew
Raj must be brought to book at all costs so that a deterrent is
established for others of their ilk.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2010/20100206/edit.htm#1

...and I am Sid Harth

[chhotemianinshallah]

Inside Pakistan

A policy of ‘strategic death’?
by Syed Nooruzzaman

Islamabad’s policy of seeking “strategic depth” in Afghanistan has
very few takers in Pakistan itself. Certain sections in the Pakistan
media want the dangerous policy to be buried forever to prevent it
from leading to Islamabad’s “strategic death”. The most interesting
comment was carried in Daily Times on February 3, referring to Army
Chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani’s rare Press briefing this week.

The paper quotes the General as saying, “We want a strategic depth in
Afghanistan, but do not want to control it.” Then it chastises the
policy makers in Islamabad as well as those at GHQ, Rawalpindi, “These
words (of General Kayani) underlie the fact that the Pakistan Army has
still not given up on the idea of ‘strategic depth’ in Afghanistan – a
policy that has proved to be disastrous for Pakistan in the past few
decades. If one reads between the lines, General Kayani’s statement is
also indicative that though Pakistan may not want to control
Afghanistan, it wants a government of its own choice in place to
control the war-torn country.”

This shows why Pakistan continues to clandestinely back the Taliban
groups in Afghanistan. Islamabad hopes to be able to realise its dream
of “strategic depth” once there is a Taliban regime in Kabul again.
But that is not as simple as it appears.

“What if the Afghan Taliban, after coming to power in Kabul, supports
the Pakistani Taliban? After all, nuclear-armed Pakistan is a bigger
prize than Afghanistan. GHQ should revisit the infection in the armed
services of jihadi sympathisers. A nightmarish scenario is looming …”
for Pakistan, as Daily Times warns. The idea of “strategic depth” may
“turn out to be strategic death” if Islamabad refuses to see the
writing on the wall.

“Pakistan is hugely disliked by the non-Taliban, non-Pakhtun forces in
Afghanistan, while its ability to influence the Taliban and the
broader Pakhtun community may be in question. What, then, are
Pakistan’s options?” asks Dawn (Feb 3).

Expanding peace constituency

The success of the civil society movement led by lawyers in getting
Pakistan’s sacked judges reinstated seems to have ignited a feeling
that the peace constituency too can become a major force to change the
negative mindset in the country controlled by the military. Of course,
bringing about a mindset transformation is as difficult as was the
task of ensuring the restoration of the pre-November 2007 status of
the Pakistani judiciary.

A well-argued article in The News (Feb 4) by a senior editor of the
paper, Muhammad Umer, says that there are “two big challenges that
must be met” for the success of any India-Pakistan peace initiative.
However, before looking at the challenges he points out, it must be
stated that Umer’s article is one of the many such pieces carried in
The News in support of the Aman ki Asha peace drive jointly launched
by the Jang newspaper group and The Times of India.

In the writer’s opinion, “The first key challenge is to change the
public mindset that has been so firmly moulded in insecurity that
altering it could require dogged perseverance... The second big
challenge the joint peace initiative is going to face will come from
their (Indian and Pakistani) establishments’ security paradigms.”
Umer’s accusations against India have, however, been proved hollow
with New Delhi’s latest proposal for Foreign Secretary-level talks
with Islamabad.Talking of Pakistan’s security establishment, he makes
an interesting observation: “The Pakistani military alone decides the
country’s foreign policy, particularly on matters of defence and
relations with India.” How to change the military’s mindset is,
therefore, the real challenge.

The Aafia Siddiqui case

For some time Pakistani newspapers have been carrying articles and
reports about a woman neuroscientist in US custody on charges of links
with terrorist outfits. On Thursday, as reported in The Nation, a
large number of people held protests in major cities of Pakistan
following a US jury’s verdict against her.

The 37-year-old scientist is accused of shooting at US interrogators
at a prison in Afghanistan, where she was lodged after her arrest in
Karachi some time ago. According to prosecution, she grabbed a US
warrant officer’s riffle while she was detained for questioning about
her terrorist links in July 2008 at a police station in Ghazni,
Afghanistan, and fired at the FBI agents and military personnel
present there. She was charged with attempted murder and assault and
other crimes and faces 20 years in prison if convincted.

The protesters, mainly from political and human rights organisations,
demanded release of the US-educated scientist soon.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2010/20100206/edit.htm#1

...and I am Sid Harth

[chhotemianinshallah]

Taliban, Qaida, LeT: One for all, all for one
TOI Crest, 6 February 2010, 01:00pm IST

Ilyas Kashmiri is a wanted man. He is wanted as the head of the 313
Brigade which is part of the Harkat-uljehad-al-Islami (HUJI) of Qari
Saifullah Hakeemullah Mehsud

Akhtar, a man who has repeatedly attacked India in Jammu & Kashmir ,
and orchestrated the beheading of an Indian army officer. After 2006,
Kashmiri, at the behest of Syed Salahuddin of the Hizbul Mujahideen,
moved with his brigade to Waziristan and launched his campaigns from
there, along with the Pakistan Taliban, against the Pakistani state.
By 2008, Kashmiri was reported to have directed Chicago LeT (Lashkar-e-
Taiba ) man David Headley in his planning missions for the Mumbai
attacks in 2009. So, that linked him with Pakistan's biggest terror
group, LeT.

Then, on December 30, 2009, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and
al Qaida got a Jordanian double agent to kill eight CIA offers in
Khost, Afghanistan. The US says Kashmiri was behind the bombing. But
is he targeting India, Pakistan or the US?

Kashmiri, in many ways, symbolizes the myriad connections between
terror groups inside Pakistan and Afghanistan, and the fact that
distinctions between them have blurred significantly over the years.
This is certainly going to complicate the entire US-backed
'reconciliation' process with the Taliban. Ultimately, who do you
reward and who do you kill?

US strategists divide the Afghan Taliban into three groups: The first,
based in Afghanistan under leaders like Jalaluddin Haqqani - who's had
close links with the Pak establishment since the days of the Soviet
occupation of Afghanistan - are responsible for a lot of the violence
in Afghanistan. The second group's based in Pakistan, also has
connections with the ISI, and is tied up with fellow Pashtun jihadists
in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and North West
Frontier Provinces (NWFP) of Pakistan. The third is led by Mullah Omar
of the Quetta Shura (aka Kandahari Clique) and forms the core of the
Afghan Taliban. It's widely regarded as the original Taliban and
operates from the populated areas of Baluchistan's Quetta.

Helping Omar are key associates Qari Yusuf Ahmadi and Zabiullah
Mujahid. In his recent book, My Life With The Taliban, former Taliban
ambassador to Pakistan Abdul Salam Zaeef said he, like everybody else,
took an oath of loyalty to Mullah Omar when he joined up and that oath
remains in place. This is the reason, concludes Ahmed Rashid, an
authority on the Taliban, why their commanders have never betrayed
Omar to the Americans. Omar's group is most active in Helmand, Uruzgan
and Kandahar in Afghanistan.

Gulbuddin Hekmatyar (Hizb-e-Islami ) heads another powerful group, but
he's generally believed to be available for purchase. He used to be a
US fellow traveller in the days of the Soviet invasion. His area of
operation is said to be Kunar and Nuristan.

The faction most in the news now is the Haqqani group led by
Jalaluddin Haqqani and his son Sirajuddin. Linked closely to the ISI,
they are the prime perpetrators of attacks against Indian interests in
Afghanistan.

Inside Pakistan, the ISI collected a veritable alphabet soup of terror
groups for different targets - Shias, Soviets, Indians. India, of
course, got maximum attention with the creation of the LeT, Harkat-ul-
Mujahideen , Hizbul, Harkat-ul-Ansar , Jaish-e-Mohammed , etc. But in
recent years, all of them have combined forces with the Taliban and al
Qaida. Interestingly, LeT now is regarded as a global jihad group as
big, sometimes bigger, than the al Qaida. A significant number of al
Qaida leaders, like Abu Zubaydah, have been found from LeT safe-houses
while reports say over six Guantanamo Bay detainees are either LeT
operatives or trained in LeT camps. Top intelligence officials in
India say their information shows LeT and al Qaida share "cadres,
ammunition and funds."

The TTP of Baitullah Mehsud, meanwhile, was created in early December
2007, in the aftermath of the Lal Masjid raids. Their biggest
subversive act so far has been the killing of Benazir Bhutto. Mehsud
and his successor Hakeemullah have both been killed by US predator
drones. But the group's aim remains an amalgamation of the Pakistan
and Afghan Taliban and establishment of a Taliban state in Pakistan,
just as Mullah Omar wants to do in Afghanistan.

No discussion on the Taliban, however, is complete without a short
recap of how they housed, supported, and then stubbornly refused to
give up Osama bin Laden and the al Qaida. Rahimullah Yusufzai,
Peshawar editor of The News International, says, "Osama bin Laden was
given refuge by the Jalalabad shura of the Mujahideen. The Taliban
inherited them (bin Laden and his fighters). They were initially
suspicious of each other... (But) the Taliban's links with al Qaida
have grown over the years since they have been fighting together for
long. They have fought a common enemy in a common trench, given blood
to each other; so now the bonds are much stronger."

Bill Roggio, editor, The Long War Journal, says, "There isn't much
logic distinguishing between Pakistan Taliban and Afghanistan Taliban
at this point in time. 'Pakistani Taliban' like Mullah Nazir and Hafiz
Gul Bahadar are based in Pakistan but send fighters to Afghanistan and
recognise Mullah Omar as the Leader of the Faithful. The Haqqanis are
based on both sides of the border. The Movement of the Taliban in
Pakistan, Hakeemullah Mehsud's outfit, also supports the jihad in
Afghanistan and (sometime back) sent a suicide bomber into Afghanistan
to kill CIA operatives while, at the same time, waging a terror
campaign in Pakistan. All of the groups are allied with al Qaeda. The
Afghan Taliban support the Pakistani Taliban…It is important to
understand where the Taliban originated from and where they are based
- and terms like Afghan Taliban and Pakistani Taliban help distinguish
that - but the groups' tactics, operations and ideology point to a
greater movement that transcends borders."

Indian terrorism analysts, though, are clear - having lived with these
jihadis next door for years - that all these terror groups spring from
the same well of fundamentalism.

TERROR INC

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/south-asia/Taliban-Qaida-LeT-One-for-all-all-for-one-/articleshow/5542181.cms

...and I am Sid Harth

[chhotemianinshallah]

India offers to resume Pakistan talks, stalled since 2008 Mumbai
terror attacks
India offers to resume stalled talks with Pakistan
By TIM SULLIVAN | Associated Press | Feb 4, 10 2:43 PM CST

India, which blamed the 2008 attacks on Pakistan-based militants, made
the offer despite the country's continued insistence that Pakistan has
not done enough to rein in Muslim extremists operating in its
territory.

Pakistan has been seeking a resumption of the talks for months, but
stopped short of accepting the offer.

Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi called it a "positive
step." He noted the talks should resume from where they had been put
on hold by India after the Mumbai attacks _ a clear reference that
Pakistan wants a return to the wide-ranging dialogue the two nations
had been holding.

It remained unclear, though, if India would go that far. That
dialogue, which covers a broad range of issues and had been intended
to lead toward a full normalization of relations, remains a sensitive
issue in New Delhi because of continuing suspicions about Islamabad's
resolve against terror groups.

However, a serious thaw in India-Pakistan relations could send
strategic ripples across the troubled region, with Islamabad shifting
its attention away from the border with India and instead focusing _
as Washington wants _ on its increasingly bloody war with Taliban
militants.

P.J. Crowley, spokesman for the State Department, said the U.S. is
encouraging dialogue among India, Pakistan and Afghanistan as way to
achieve stability.

"We certainly have been encouraging steps that both Pakistan and India
could take....," he said, adding the goal was "a more stable region
that is focused on both interests that they share and threats that
they share."

Pakistan has been escalating its fight with the Taliban in recent
months. Pakistan's tribal regions, along the rugged, mountainous
border with Afghanistan, are believed to be the main strongholds of
both the Taliban and al-Qaida and are thought to be used as staging
grounds for attacks against U.S. forces inside Afghanistan. American
officials have been pressing Pakistan for months to intensify its
attacks against the militants.

Easing tensions with India would allow Pakistan to free up troops from
India's border _ which has been a traditional flashpoint _ and move
them to the Afghan border.

Three U.S. soldiers training Pakistani soldiers were killed Wednesday
as they traveled along the volatile border region.

On Thursday, other than confirming the offer had been made, India gave
few indications about the scale of the proposed discussions.

"The issue of counterterrorism will be raised, as well as other issues
to contribute to creating an atmosphere of peace and security," the
official said on condition of anonymity, because of the sensitivity of
the matter. The talks would be held between foreign secretaries, he
said, but did not indicate when the meeting could take place.

In India, analysts said they did not expect a quick resumption of full-
fledged talks.

"We cannot live with frozen relations forever," said former Foreign
Secretary Lalit Mansingh, adding: "I believe terrorism will be the
most important issue to be discussed, and not the composite dialogue
that was on the table earlier."

India believes that Pakistan remains, at the very least, a haven for
anti-India militants. Some Indian officials also say Pakistani
military and intelligence officials offer training and weaponry to
terror groups _ and might even have helped plan the Mumbai attacks,
which left 166 people dead.

Certainly, most Indian officials see Pakistan as unwilling to deal
with its own militant issues.

"Pakistani authorities are in denial," said Mansingh.

The Indian offer, though, comes as Pakistan has charged seven suspects
with planning and helping execute the Mumbai rampage. The trial has
yet to fully begin, with defense lawyers arguing over a series of
legal points, including the admissibility of evidence. All but one of
the suspects are accused of being members of Lashkar-e-Taiba, the
Pakistan-based group that India says was behind the attack.

India is currently trying the only gunman who survived the siege.

The first signs of a thaw in India-Pakistan relations became evident
Wednesday when New Delhi announced that India's minister for internal
security, Palaniappan Chidambaram, would attend a regional meeting in
Islamabad later this month.

Chidambaram would be the first high-level official to visit Pakistan
since the Mumbai attack, although the two countries' prime ministers
have met on the sidelines of international conferences.

The disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir, which is split between India
and Pakistan and claimed by both, is at the heart of decades of
bitterness between the two countries.

They have fought two wars over control of Kashmir and a dozen
insurgent groups, which seek either independence or merger with
Pakistan, have been fighting Indian rule there since 1989.

Associated Press writer Nirmala George contributed to this report.

http://www.newser.com/article/d9dlj2ro0/india-offers-to-resume-pakistan-talks-stalled-since-2008-mumbai-terror-attacks.html

...and I am Sid Harth

[chhotemianinshallah]

COLUMN

Glimpses of the past

K. NATWAR SINGH

H.V.R. IYENGAR was among the exceptional members of the Indian Civil
Service (ICS). The tribe as a whole was not an inspiring lot. His
daughter, Indira Patel has produced an attractive memorial volume for
his centenary, which fell in 2002. The book is lavishly illustrated.
More important, it carries a number of articles that H.V.R. Iyengar
wrote after his retirement in 1962. Several deal with Pandit
Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Patel and throw new light on their
relationship - its ups and downs and on the critical stage it reached
a few days before Gandhiji's assassination. The differences became so
acute that Nehru seriously considered resigning as Prime Minister. The
crisis was caused by HVR (as he was popularly known), who was deputed
by Nehru to visit Ajmer to inquire into some mishap there. Sardar
Patel took strong exception to this. HVR was then Secretary to the
Constituent Assembly and also working with the Prime Minister. But
Ajmer was the responsibility of Sardar Patel. The correspondence
between the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister has been
published but it is now good to have Iyengar's version, which I have
not seen earlier. He concludes that Sardar Patel was right and that he
should have been kept informed by Iyengar.

Writing about Gandhiji's assassination, Iyengar mentions his
conversation with Nehru two days later. The Cabinet had met and
decided that a Gazette Extraordinary paying tribute to Gandhiji be
issued. Nehru asked: "Who is going to prepare the draft?" Everyone
suggested that the Prime Minister should do it since no one else could
write better. Nehru said he could not do it. Coming out of the
meeting, he said to Iyengar: "HVR, I can't do it, I really can't. How
can I say in cold print what I think about him. I have now and then
told you what he has meant to me. Today I feel numb and speechless.
You had better let me have a draft."

Iyengar writes:

And I prepared a draft - the best I could do but a rather sorry affair
altogether because after he played with it, it became transformed. But
I had never seen him so humble about a draft. "Don't you think it
might be better to put it in this way?" he would ask, he, a master
craftsman, of one who was no more than a pedestrian workman. Something
deep inside him, some vital faith, some overpowering sense of
attachment, seemed to have given place momentarily to utter emptiness.
And as I watched him toil with the draft, I went on recollecting the
occasions when he had talked about Gandhiji.

This book is not available in the market, which is a pity. But those
who can get hold of it will benefit from reading it. I am personally
grateful to Indira Patel for sending me a copy on the prodding of my
young friend Jairam Ramesh. Incidentally, her brother was my
contemporary at St. Stephens College more than 50 years ago.

THINGS are moving at a breathtaking speed on the India-Pakistan front.
Each day, both sides announce new moves. The government gave its
agreement in one day to the appointment of the new High Commissioner
of Pakistan to India. Diplomacy should never be overzealous. There is
something unnatural and unhealthy about dramatic turnarounds when
devilishly complex issues are involved. The India-Pakistan past is
littered with the debris of failed attempts to find a solution to this
problem. We must hasten slowly and weigh the pros and cons.

The Prime Minister has made his hand of friendship offer a very
personal matter. This is unfortunate. What is even more reprehensible
is his making different statements every other day. While in Germany,
he declared that if his third attempt to find a solution failed, he
would resign. This is amazing. India-Pakistan relations are no one's
private enterprise. The Prime Minister making such an extraordinary
statement on German soil appears strange. If he wants to resign, that
is up to him and if he wants to stake his political future on his
initiative, that is his problem. But to link his personal preference
to a public issue of the highest importance is something I find very
difficult to accept.

There was another statement in Germany in which he said that in order
to find a solution to the Kashmir problem, "compromises" will have to
be made. What kind of compromises? Who has authorised him to make
compromises? Such momentous decisions should not be announced on
foreign soil. The Prime Minister must make such pronouncements in
Parliament or in a meeting of leaders of political parties. Surely he
is aware of the unanimous resolution passed by Parliament in 1994
declaring that the whole of Jammu and Kashmir was an integral part of
India. Unless this resolution is rescinded by Parliament, I do not
think a Prime Minister, heading a coalition government, can make any
compromises. It is inevitable that his off-the-cuff observations will
figure prominently in both Houses of Parliament.

This is not to suggest that we should not take a fresh look at the
Jammu and Kashmir situation or try to find a solution within the
framework of the Simla Agreement. Everyone is aware that 56 years is a
long long time and that the present unhappy situation is detrimental
to all concerned. But for any fundamental change in our policy on
Kashmir, not only Parliament but the country will have to be taken
into confidence.

Before a summit meeting takes place, it would be necessary for us to
be clear in our minds about one major factor. Zafarullah Khan Jamali
is not an executive Prime Minister while Vajpayee is. Jamali is not
answerable to the National Assembly of Pakistan but to General
Musharraf. The Prime Minister of India is answerable to Parliament.
Jamali can be dismissed by Musharraf. The Indian Prime Minister must
lose a vote of confidence in the Lok Sabha to be removed. It might,
therefore, be appropriate to somehow make this clear. Vajpayee should
talk to Musharraf. I had raised this question in the Rajya Sabha and
said that it would have been better if Musharraf, and not Prime
Minister Jamali, had telephoned Vajpayee. I mean no disrespect to
Jamali but political reality cannot and should not be ignored.

http://www.flonnet.com/fl2012/stories/20030620002109000.htm

...and I am Sid Harth

[chhotemianinshallah]

COLUMN

Whither Al Qaeda?

R.K. RAGHAVAN

The battle against the Al Qaeda's religion-driven terrorism is one
fraught with many challenges; the existence of unpopular and ruthless
regimes, especially in West Asia and South-East Asia, makes the task
even tougher.

MEHDI FEDOUACH/AFP

The Jewish Centre, wrecked by a bomb blast, in Casablanca, Morocco, on
May 16.

TWO recent incidents - in Riyadh and Casablanca - in quick succession
have sent a chill down the spine of policy-makers in the White House.
The euphoria that was more than apparent after Saddam Hussein's fall
has now given way to concern that all is not well in the fight against
terrorism. The attacks in, both Riyadh and Casablanca, are attributed
to the Al Qaeda. An orange-level alert issued a few weeks ago in the
U.S. was based on intelligence reports that the Al Qaeda was planning
major assaults on important targets in the U.S. itself. The official
assessment now seems to be that the dreaded outfit cannot yet be
written off and that there is a need to be on guard against its
machinations. While the U.S. anxiety arises from the Al Qaeda's track
record of springing surprises, there is also the other school of
thought that views the U.S reaction as something that borders on
paranoia. In support of its stand, this section points out that, in
the recent past, the Al Qaeda has not succeeded in striking at any
major government facility. Only soft targets such as restaurants and
private residential complexes have been attacked and it has suffered
considerable casualties. In the operations that inflicted 25
casualties in Riyadh and 29 in Casablanca, those who perpetrated the
unpardonable violence lost 9 and 10 of their own men respectively.

K.P.S. Gill would refer to this as "very poor economies of scales".
(Incidentally, Gill maintains a very successful portal for his
Institute of Conflict Management in New Delhi that has attracted
international attention because it is rich in information and
analysis. Readers may like to visit the site at www.satp.org for
further information.) There is also the feeling that crying wolf is a
favourite pastime of intelligence agencies all over the world, and
that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the Federal Bureau of
Investigation (FBI) are no exceptions - in predicting an Al Qaeda
strike from time to time. I, however, feel that this is too simplistic
a way of looking at a grave situation. Nor does it do justice to the
two premier organisations the achievements of which, their many
failures and occasional excesses notwithstanding, merit a more
charitable appraisal.

The question is how to tackle terrorism of the type unleashed by the
Al Qaeda. The task confounds the best experts in the field. Here again
one encounters a sharp division of opinion. Writing under the title
`Al Qaeda's fantasy ideology' for Policy Review (August 2002), Lee
Harris lambasts those who argue that terrorism cannot be handled
except by striking at the root causes, that is, poverty, illiteracy
and totalitarianism. He also discounts the theory that the U.S. has
invited upon itself the hatred of various Islamic groups by its
unabashed pro-Israeli policies. Harris, instead focusses attention on
the staple diet of religion-driven madness which goes by the
expression "fantasy".

Osama bin Laden and his followers strongly believe that they are
fighting the Satan, and that the Almighty would aid them in finishing
off Satan. As Harris says, according to this fantasy, it was the
Almighty that brought down the Twin Towers, and the 19 suicides in the
attack were not a means but an end. The elation that was evident in
Osama bin Laden's taped conversation after September 11, and the
absence of even an iota of contrition are evidence of this fantasy.

This aspect makes the Al Qaeda deadly and totally unpredictable. It
will act wherever it wants and at a time of its choice. I concede that
this assessment does not help those charged with the task of
liquidating the outfit. This generic statement could also invite the
charge of exaggerating the might of an organisation that is on the run
in most of the countries. Nevertheless, the assessment helps to keep
policy-makers and law enforcement agencies on their toes.

Many observers are intrigued by the Al Qaeda taking the battle right
into the Islamic heartland. There are many theories: By all accounts,
the Saudi rulers are not exactly popular with the common man in their
country. The chasm between the ruling oligarchy and the ruled is
becoming wider by the day. Relations with the Americans are also under
greater scrutiny in the context of Iraq. The act of hunting with the
hounds and running with the hare has gone far too long to go
unnoticed. The Riyadh explosion, while causing Western casualties, is
intended to embarrass the Saudi government, a task that has undeniably
been achieved.

For all their protestations and threats against terrorists, the Saudi
rulers can hardly queer the pitch against Osama bin Laden and his
followers, many of whom are Saudis themselves, and are not averse to
inciting feelings against the caucus that rules the country. This is
especially so when it is widely known that the King and his family
have shown little sympathy for the majority of the populace who are
weighed down by economic problems. A broadcast in February (by a voice
claiming to be that of Osama bin Laden) called upon "honest Muslims"
to "liberate themselves from those unjust and renegade regimes that
are enslaved by the U.S."

While Saudi Arabia and Morocco possibly qualified themselves eminently
for the attack, it is hard to speculate as to which other countries
are in the line. The point that deserves attention here is that
assaults like those in Riyadh and Casablanca are not difficult to
stage. Only a few "sleepers" are enough to strike when the vigil is
relaxed slightly. As is well known, the greatest advantage of a
terrorist is the element of surprise that he packs in his armoury.

THE situations in Iraq and Afghanistan are a cause for worry. There
have been reports of skirmishes between the local people and the U.S.
soldiers in Iraq. These are inevitable whenever there is foreign
occupation. But, in the light of a generally disturbed situation in
the whole region, and the U.S. charge that Iran is harbouring elements
loyal to Osama bin Laden, the hostility against the U.S. troops in
Iraq cannot be ignored. The once talked about uneasy relationship
between Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden notwithstanding, emergence
of an axis between disgruntled elements in Iraq, pro-Saddam Hussein
and others, and the Al Qaeda, which has shown itself pragmatic in its
recruitment, cannot be ruled out. The rise of the Shiites in the post-
Saddam Hussein Iraq may not portend immediate problems. But in a
scenario marked by Islamic solidarity against a U.S. presence and its
attendant tensions, one cannot safely assert that the Al Qaeda will
not fish in troubled waters. Any repression against the latter is
bound to invite spectacular actions against the establishment and its
cronies. This is an opportunity that Osama bin Laden will hardly
miss.

Afghanistan does not excite positive feelings either. There is a
strong impression that the government's writ does not run beyond
Kabul. Basic services are still unsatisfactory. A recent television
documentary was galling, with children complaining that there were
hardly any schools to go to. With the Taliban gone, these children
hoped that its anti-education campaign regime will yield place to a
resurgence of learning. Sadly, this optimism has proved ill-founded.
The scene, therefore, beckons the Taliban and the Al Qaeda to
indoctrinate people and promote violence. One, therefore, should not
be surprised if the clock is turned back by a few years. It has been
established that the Al Qaeda does not need large amounts of money or
weaponry. It needs pliable minds, and Afghanistan will offer many if
the present conditions remain.

The U.S., rightly or wrongly, is convinced that it has won the battle
in West Asia and within its territory as well. No doubt many key
associates of Osama bin Laden have been arrested. The U.S has also
built a solid anti-Al Qaeda consensus and effective international
cooperation, especially in Europe and in West Asia, which has ensured
the free flow of actionable intelligence. As a result many terrorist
attacks have been pre-empted. All this is impressive. But the worrying
development is the worsening of the situation in South-East Asia. Bali
offered strong evidence of the nexus between the Al Qaeda and militant
Islamic groups, some with criminal records in the area. Both
Indonesia, with a Muslim-majority population, and the Philippines,
which has a substantial number of Muslims, offer fertile grounds for
militancy. The periodic arrests of people with suspected links with
the Al Qaeda are a constant reminder that the region could become
another theatre of action against the U.S and its allies. Thanks to
the enormous pressure exerted by the U.S., governments in the region
have responded to the demand for stepping up the anti-terrorist
offensive. There are, however, different perceptions on the issue of
what the U.S. should do to prevent the growth of the Al Qaeda in the
region.

Last August, John Gershman writing in Foreign Affairs was critical of
the myopic vision of U.S. policy-makers. In his view, any solely
militaristic strategy that is based on pouring in U.S. forces to
buttress the anti-insurgency operations of local governments will not
keep the terrorists at bay. He wants the U.S. to understand that the
problem lies with the political and administrative corruption that has
contributed to weak governance, the abysmal poverty that afflicts
major segments of society and the authoritarian style of the regimes
in the region. This situation is compounded by the free rein enjoyed
by criminal elements masquerading as paramilitary groups who support
the government's battle against insurgents. Gershman would, therefore,
commend U.S. initiatives to strengthen the local government machinery
and offer economic aid focussed on poverty reduction. Gershman sounds
utterly pragmatic. He is not saying anything new. The traditional
prescription against crime and violence has been to increase the
stakes, for those violating the law, in civilised living and obedience
to constitutional government. Massive programmes aimed at spreading
literacy and creating meaningful employment opportunities are one sure
way of creating such stakes. Whether the U.S. is willing to do so is
an entirely different question. With a trouble-prone Iraq on its
hands, how far is the U.S in a position to take on an additional
burden to shepherd South-East Asia is a matter for debate.

In sum, the Al Qaeda has tremendous potential for mischief. This is
especially in the context of reports that Osama bin Laden is still
alive. The organisation does not need enormous resources to strike. It
requires only a handful of people who believe that they can attain
martyrdom through violence against Americans. They do not ask
questions because they are convinced that the Almighty has brought
them on earth for this specific mission. Confronted with this
insanity, one often wonders whether we can do enough to protect
ourselves.

Volume 20 - Issue 12, June 07 - 20, 2003
India's National Magazine
from the publishers of THE HINDU

http://www.flonnet.com/fl2012/stories/20030620006012100.htm

...and I am Sid Harth

[chhotemianinshallah]

WORLD AFFAIRS

A trap set for India

SUKUMAR MURALIDHARAN

AJIT KUMAR/AP

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage with Prime Minister
Atal Behari Vajpayee in New Delhi on May 10.

NATIONAL Security Adviser Brajesh Mishra rounded off a tour of key
world capitals with a visit to Washington in early May. A meeting with
United States President George W. Bush topped off a series of
confabulations with his U.S. counterpart, Condoleeza Rice. Back in New
Delhi, he allowed himself a rare public moment of candour about the
drift of his discussions in Washington. He said: "The U.S. naturally,
as a power with global interests, has much more to ask of us than we
have to give. But that does not mean that we are becoming a client
state." Warming to his theme, Mishra continued: "Take the case of
Iraq... We expressed our disagreements early on. It was fairly well
understood. Even now we are telling them (the U.S.) that we need a
U.N. cover to be part of the Iraq enterprise."

It was significant that Mishra spoke in terms of a "cover" from the
U.N. - presumably serving the same function as a fig-leaf - rather
than a mandate. Broadly coinciding with his visit to the U.S., reports
appeared in the media indicating that the Indian government was
preparing to send troops to Iraq to assist in the tasks of occupation
and administration. U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage,
who had met with Mishra in London as he transited east for a visit to
India and other countries in the region, reportedly brought up the
matter during discussions with top Indian officials. Informed
commentators were convinced that relations with Pakistan were a mere
camouflage for the basic agenda behind Armitage's visit, which was
India's recruitment to the cause of the occupation of Iraq.

A chorus of concord soon rose from the chambers of commerce, which
sensed that the business opportunities in Iraqi reconstruction would
be reserved for countries that were military collaborators in the
occupation. But this was one occasion when the chambers were not going
to run away with the foreign policy ball. Braving accusations of
romanticism and primitive thinking, most major parties stood their
ground. The Congress(I) and the Left parties in particular drew
attention to the fundamentals of the situation. Both Houses of
Parliament had unanimously adopted a resolution deploring (or
"condemning", depending upon linguistic preference and translator's
bias) the war against Iraq and calling for the immediate withdrawal of
the invading forces. The U.S., which was then in the process of
finalising a draft resolution for U.N. approval, had made it clear
that the occupying powers in Iraq would remain paramount, with the
U.N. only coming in - if at all - in a subordinate role. On neither
count could India conceivably justify a decision to send its soldiers
to keep the peace in Iraq.

Expectedly, the U.N. Security Council on May 22 provided India with
the "cover" that it sought. But dissent remained strong across the
political spectrum. A meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security on
May 26 failed to arrive at a decision. Some of the senior Ministers
were known to be deeply apprehensive about sending Indian troops
abroad to function under the flags of the U.S. and the United Kingdom.
Others were concerned that the political repercussions could be
serious, especially with four State elections due later this year and
national elections being not far.

The zealots for a new strategic partnership with the U.S. were keen to
arm Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee with a decision when he left
for a tour of three European countries on May 27. They foresaw,
accurately, that with India being one among 12 countries invited in a
consultative role to the G-8 summit in Evian, France, it was likely to
come under renewed pressure from the U.S. But for most political
parties, there is little ambiguity about the need for India to stand
firm in opposing the U.S. agenda of conquest and exploitation in
Iraq.

With armed resistance in Iraq hardening, the U.S. has made a decision
to maintain force levels in Iraq, rather than cut back rapidly as U.S.
Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld would like. The hawkish and abrasive
Rumsfeld is under domestic pressure because his forecasts of a swift
and relatively painless military engagement have been shattered. This
coincides with a high-level inquiry into the intelligence inputs -
long known to be concoctions, but now proven to be so - that went into
the decision to go to war. Rumsfeld's role in this too is believed to
be under scrutiny.

With the consensus forged in the moment of illusory triumph now
clearly fraying, the U.S. is keen to minimise the exposure of its own
forces in Iraq. Yet, no country of any significant military competence
has stepped forward to relieve the U.S. of the burden of occupation.
Poland has announced its contribution of 1,500 soldiers, but declared
that it would not be in a position to pay the costs. Hungary, the
Philippines and the Czech Republic could send small numbers of troops
to assist in specialised functions. But all this does not quite
provide the required degree of comfort. The U.S. and the U.K. together
have 160,000 military personnel in Iraq. With the logistical and
supply contingents based in Kuwait thrown in, the total Western troop
presence in the region is of the order of about 250,000. This has
proved grossly inadequate for the task of bringing some semblance of
order to Iraq. If India were to step into the trap being baited by the
U.S., then the force commitment it would need to think of would be in
tens of thousands. It would be well advised to keep out of the U.S.'
malevolent efforts to redraw the map of an area that India has vital
stakes in.

Volume 20 - Issue 12, June 07 - 20, 2003
India's National Magazine
from the publishers of THE HINDU

http://www.flonnet.com/fl2012/stories/20030620001705200.htm

...and I am Sid Harth

[Sid Harth]

Indian Mujahideen had plans to attack IIT, BJP, Cong HQs

7 Feb 2010, 2212 hrs IST, PTI

NEW DELHI: The Lashkar-e-Taiba aided terror outfit Indian Mujahideen
had plans to attack the headquarters of Congress and BJP as well as
the IIT Delhi soon after the serial blasts in September 2008, police
sources said today.

Sources said that the Indian Mujahideen's plans came to light during
the interrogation of Shahzad who was arrested while in hiding in UP's
Azamgarh.

The Indian Mujahideen had plans to target prominent buildings like the
headquarters of parties like Congress and BJP and the IIT campus in
the capital, the sources said.

Delhi Police yesterday claimed that Shahzad was in contact with four
members of the terror module over internet after he fled from Batla
House here following the encounter.

Investigators also claimed that Shahzad has confessed to firing at
late Inspector M C Sharma during the encounter at Batla House on
September 19, 2008, a week after the Delhi serial blasts which killed
26 people.

According to sources, during interrogation, Shahzad told police that
after fleeing from Batla House, he first went to a the Shaheenbagh
house of a UP politician believed to be a former MLA. He allegedly
took some money from him.

From Shaheenbagh, he and Junaid, another person whom police claimed to
have fled from Batla House, went to Aligarh from where they went to
Bulandshahr.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/Indian-Mujahideen-had-plans-to-attack-IIT-BJP-Cong-HQs-/articleshow/5546049.cms

Terror threats to be overcome at all costs: Govt

7 Feb 2010, 2140 hrs IST, PTI

NEW DELHI: Branding terror groups operating in Pakistan as "dark
forces", Government today vowed to overcome their threats to this
country "at all costs" and got full backing of the Chief Ministers who
were on the "same page" in the fight against terrorism.

Expressing concern over increase in infiltration attempts from across
the border, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said the Centre and the
states should launch coordinated efforts to tackle internal security
threats.

Addressing the Chief Ministers' Conference on Internal Security, the
Prime Minister identified left-wing extremism, cross-border terrorism
and insurgency, besides attempts to flare up communal tension as
challenges for internal security which he described as a "critical"
issue.

He said hostile groups and elements operate from across the border to
perpetrate terrorism and Jammu and Kashmi faces the brunt of this.

Union Home Minister P Chidambaram, in his opening remarks, referred to
the meeting of terror groups like Lashker-e-Taiba and Hizbul
Mujahideen in Muzzafarabad in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir on February
four and called them as "dark forces" which are "implacably" opposed
to the country. He asserted that they would be defeated whenever
confronted.

Later talking to reporters, Chidambaram said all state governments and
UT administrations, irrespective of political parties, were on the
"same page."

"There is not a single discordant note today in the conference. That
itself is an achievement. It means that the whole nation and
especially those incharge of the governance are responsible are
responding in the only manner, the way they should respond, namely in
a spirit of unity.

"That itself, I think is a big message to all those who challenge
India's internal security," he said.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/Politics/Nation/Terror-threats-to-be-overcome-at-all-costs-Govt/articleshow/5545961.cms

...and I am Sid Harth

[Sid Harth]

Frederick Engels

Afghanistan [40]

Source: MECW Volume 18, p. 40;
Written: in July and the first 10 days of August 1857;
First published: in The New American Cyclopaedia, Vol. I, 1858;
Transcribed: Andy Blunden, 2001;
Proofread: and corrected by Andy Blunden in February 2005.

Review of J W Kaye’s The Afghan War, by Engels

Afghanistan, an extensive country of Asia, north-west of India. It
lies between Persia and the Indies, and in the other direction between
the Hindu Kush and the Indian Ocean. It formerly included the Persian
provinces of Khorassan and Kohistan, together with Herat, Beluchistan,
Cashmere, and Sinde, and a considerable part of the Punjab. In its
present limits there are probably not more than 4,000,000 inhabitants.
The surface of Afghanistan is very irregular, – lofty table lands,
vast mountains, deep valleys, and ravines. Like all mountainous
tropical countries it presents every variety of climate. In the Hindu
Kush, the snow lies all the year on the lofty summits, while in the
valleys the thermometer ranges up to 130°. The heat is greater in the
eastern than in the western parts, but the climate is generally cooler
than that of India; and although the alternations of temperature
between summer and winter, or day and night, are very great, the
country is generally healthy. The principal diseases are fevers,
catarrhs, and ophthalmia. Occasionally the small-pox is destructive.
The soil is of exuberant fertility. Date palms flourish in the oases
of the sandy wastes; the sugar cane and cotton in the warm valleys;
and European fruits and vegetables grow luxuriantly on the hill-side
terraces up to a level of 6,000 or 7,000 feet. The mountains are
clothed with noble forests, which are frequented by bears, wolves, and
foxes, while the lion, the leopard, and the tiger, are found in
districts congenial to their habits. The animals useful to mankind are
not wanting. There is a fine variety of sheep of the Persian or large-
tailed breed. The horses are of good size and blood. The camel and ass
are used as beasts of burden, and goats, dogs, and cats, are to be
found in great numbers. Beside the Hindu Kush, which is a continuation
of the Himalayas, there is a mountain chain called the Solyman
mountain, on the south-west; and between Afghanistan and Balkh, there
is a chain known as the Paropamisan range, very little information
concerning which has, however, reached Europe. The rivers are few in
number; the Helmund and the Kabul are the most important. These take
their rise in the Hindu Kush, the Kabul flowing cast and falling into
the Indus near Attock; the Helmund flowing west through the district
of Seiestan and falling into the lake of Zurrah. The Helmund has the
peculiarity of overflowing its banks annually like the Nile, bringing
fertility to the soil, which, beyond the limit of the inundation, is
sandy desert. The principal cities of Afghanistan are Kabul, the
capital, Ghuznee, Peshawer, and Kandahar. Kabul is a fine town, lat.
34° 10' N. long. 60° 43' E., on the river of the same name. The
buildings are of wood, neat and commodious, and the town being
surrounded with fine gardens, has a very pleasing aspect. It is
environed with villages, and is in the midst of a large plain
encircled with low hills. The tomb of the emperor Baber is its chief
monument. Peshawer is a large city, with a population estimated at
100,000. Ghuznee, a city of ancient renown, once the capital of the
great sultan Mahmoud, has fallen from its great estate and is now a
poor place. Near it is Mahmoud’s tomb. Kandahar was founded as
recently as 1754. It is on the site of an ancient city. It was for a
few years the capital; but in 1774 the seat of government was removed
to Kabul. It is believed to contain 100,000 inhabitants. Near the city
is the tomb of Shah Ahmed, the founder of the city, an asylum so
sacred that even the king may not remove a criminal who has taken
refuge within its walls.

The geographical position of Afghanistan, and the peculiar character
of the people, invest the country with a political importance that can
scarcely be over-estimated in the affairs of Central Asia. The
government is a monarchy, but the king’s authority over his high-
spirited and turbulent subjects, is personal and very uncertain. The
kingdom is divided into provinces, each superintended by a
representative of the sovereign, who collects the revenue and remits
it to the capital.

The Afghans are a brave, hardy, and independent race; they follow
pastoral or agricultural occupations only, eschewing trade and
commerce, which they contemptuously resign to Hindus, and to other
inhabitants of towns. With them, war is an excitement and relief from
the monotonous occupation of industrial pursuits.

The Afghans are divided into clans[41], over which the various chiefs
exercise a sort of feudal supremacy. Their indomitable hatred of rule,
and their love of individual independence, alone prevents their
becoming a powerful nation; but this very irregularity and uncertainty
of action makes them dangerous neighbours, liable to be blown about by
the wind of caprice, or to be stirred up by political intriguers, who
artfully excite their passions. The two principal tribes are the
Dooranees and Ghilgies, who are always at feud with each other. The
Dooranee is the more powerful; and in virtue of their supremacy their
ameer or khan made himself king of Afghanistan. He has a revenue of
about £10,000,000. His authority is supreme only in his tribe. The
military contingents are chiefly furnished by the Dooranees; the rest
of the army is supplied either by the other clans, or by military
adventurers who enlist into the service in hopes of pay or plunder.
Justice in the towns is administered by cadis, but the Afghans rarely
resort to law. Their khans have the right of punishment even to the
extent of life or death. Avenging of blood is a family duty;
nevertheless, they are said to be a liberal and generous people when
unprovoked, and the rights of hospitality are so sacred that a deadly
enemy who eats bread and salt, obtained even by stratagem, is sacred
from revenge, and may even claim the protection of his host against
all other danger. In religion they are Mohammedans, and of the Soonee
sect; but they are not bigoted, and alliances between Sheeahs and
Soonees[42] are by no means uncommon.

Afghanistan has been subjected alternately to Mogul[43] and Persian
dominion. Previous to the advent of the British on the shores of India
the foreign invasions which swept the plains of Hindostan always
proceeded from Afghanistan. Sultan Mahmoud the Great, Genghis Khan,
Tameriane, and Nadir Shah, all took this road. In 1747 after the death
of Nadir, Shah Ahmed, who had learned the art of war under that
military adventurer, determined to shake off the Persian yoke. Under
him Afghanistan reached its highest point of greatness and prosperity
in modern times. He belonged to the family of the Suddosis, and his
first act was to seize upon the booty which his late chief had
gathered in India. In 1748 he succeeded in expelling the Mogul
governor from Kabul and Peshawer, and crossing the Indus he rapidly
overran the Punjab. His kingdom extended from Khorassan to Delhi, and
he even measured swords with the Mahratta powers.[44] These great
enterprises did not, however, prevent him from cultivating some of the
arts of peace, and he was favourably known as a poet and historian. He
died in 1772, and left his crown to his son Timour, who, however, was
unequal to the weighty charge. He abandoned the city of Kandahar,
which had been founded by his father, and had, in a few years, become
a wealthy and populous town, and removed the seat of government back
to Kabul. During his reign the internal dissensions of the tribes,
which had been repressed by the firm hand of Shah Ahmed, were revived.
In 1793 Timour died, and Siman succeeded him. This prince conceived
the idea of consolidating the Mohammedan power of India, and this
plan, which might have seriously endangered the British possessions,
was thought so important that Sir John Malcolm was sent to the
frontier to keep the Afghans in check, in case of their making any
movement, and at the same time negotiations were opened with Persia,
by whose assistance the Afghans might be placed between two fires.
These precautions were, however, unnecessary; Siman Shah was more than
sufficiently occupied by conspiracies, and disturbances at home, and
his great plans were nipped in the bud. The king’s brother, Mahmud,
threw himself into Herat with the design of erecting an independent
principality, but failing in his attempt he fled into Persia. Siman
Shah had been assisted in attaining the throne by the Bairukshee
family, at the head of which was Sheir Afras Khan. Siman’s appointment
of an unpopular vizier excited the hatred of his old supporters, who
organized a conspiracy which was discovered, and Sheir Afras was put
to death. Mahmud was now recalled by the conspirators, Siman was taken
prisoner and his eyes put out. In opposition to Mahmud, who was
supported by the Dooranees, Shah Soojah was put forward by the
Ghilgies, and held the throne for some time; but he was at last
defeated, chiefly through the treachery of his own supporters, and was
forced to take refuge amongst the Sikhs. [45]

In 1809 Napoleon had sent Gen. Gardane to Persia in the hope of
inducing the shah [Fath Ali] to invade India, and the Indian
government sent a representative [Mountstuart Elphinstone] to the
court of Shah Soojah to create an opposition to Persia. At this epoch,
Runjeet Singh rose into power and fame. He was a Sikh chieftain, and
by his genius made his country independent of the Afghans, and erected
a kingdom in the Punjab, earning for himself the title of Maharajah
(chief rajah), and the respect of the Anglo-Indian government. The
usurper Mahmud was, however, not destined to enjoy his triumph long.
Futteh Khan, his vizier, who had alternately fluctuated between Mahmud
and Shah Soojah, as ambition or temporary interest prompted, was
seized by the king’s son Kamran, his eyes put out, and afterward
cruelly put to death. The powerful family of the murdered vizier swore
to avenge his death. The puppet Shah Soojah was again brought forward
and Mahmud expelled. Shah Soojah having given offence, however, was
presently deposed, and another brother crowned in his stead. Mahmud
fled to Herat, of which he continued in possession, and in 1829 on his
death his son Kamran succeeded him in the government of that district.
The Bairukshee family, having now attained chief power, divided the
territory among themselves, but following the national usage
quarrelled, and were only united in presence of a common enemy. One of
the brothers, Mohammed Khan, held the city of Peshawer, for which he
paid tribute to Runjeet Singh; another held Ghuznee; a third Kandahar;
while in Kabul, Dost Mohammed, the most powerful of the family, held
sway.

To this prince, Capt. Alexander Burnes was sent as ambassador in 1835,
when Russia and England were intriguing against each other in Persia
and Central Asia. He offered an alliance which the Dost was but too
eager to accept; but the Anglo-Indian government demanded every thing
from him, while it offered absolutely nothing in return. In the mean
time, in 1838, the Persians, with Russian aid and advice, laid siege
to Herat, the key of Afghanistan and India[46]; a Persian and a
Russian agent arrived at Kabul, and the Dost, by the constant refusal
of any positive engagement on the part of the British, was, at last,
actually compelled to receive overtures from the other parties. Burnes
left, and Lord Auckland, then governor-general of India, influenced by
his secretary W. McNaghten, determined to punish Dost Mohammed, for
what he himself had compelled him to do. He resolved to dethrone him,
and to set up Shah Soojah, now a pensioner of the Indian government. A
treaty was concluded with Shah Soojah, and with the Sikhs; the shah
began collecting an army, paid and officered by the British, and an
Anglo-Indian force was concentrated on the Sutlej. McNaghten, seconded
by Burnes, was to accompany the expedition in the quality of envoy in
Afghanistan. In the mean time the Persians had raised the siege of
Herat, and thus the only valid reason for interference in Afghanistan
was removed, but, nevertheless, in December 1838, the army marched
toward Sinde, which country was coerced into submission, and the
payment of a contribution for the benefit of the Sikhs and Shah Soojah.
[47] Feb. 20, 1839, the British army passed the Indus. It consisted of
about 12,000 men, with above 40,000 camp-followers, beside the new
levies of the shah. The Bolan Pass was traversed in March; want of
provisions and forage began to be felt; the camels dropped by
hundreds, and a great part of the baggage was lost. April 7, the army
entered the Khojak Pass, traversed it without resistance, and on April
25 entered Kandahar, which the Afghan princes, brothers of Dost
Mohammed, had abandoned. After a rest of two months, Sir John Keane,
the commander, advanced with the main body of the army toward the
north, leaving a brigade, under Nott, in Kandahar. Ghuznee, the
impregnable stronghold of Afghanistan, was taken, July 22, a deserter
having brought information that the Kabul gate was the only one which
had not been walled up; it was accordingly blown down, and the place
was then stormed. After this disaster, the army which Dost Mohammed
had collected, at once disbanded, and Kabul too opened its gates, Aug.
6. Shah Soojah was installed in due form, but the real direction of
government remained in the hands of McNaghten, who also paid all Shah
Soojah’s expenses out of the Indian treasury.

The conquest of Afghanistan seemed accomplished, and a considerable
portion of the troops was sent back. But the Afghans were noways
content to be ruled by the Feringhee Kaffirs (European infidels), and
during the whole of 1840 and ’41, insurrection followed on
insurrection in every part of the country. The Anglo-Indian troops had
to be constantly on the move. Yet, McNaghten declared this to be the
normal state of Afghan society, and wrote home that every thing went
on well, and Shah Soojah’s power was taking root. In vain were the
warnings of the military officers and the other political agents. Dost
Mohammed had surrendered to the British in October, 1840, and was sent
to India; every insurrection during the summer of ’41 was successfully
repressed, and toward October, McNaghten, nominated governor of
Bombay, intended leaving with another body of troops for India. But
then the storm broke out. The occupation of Afghanistan cost the
Indian treasury £1,250,000 per annum: 16,000 troops, Anglo-Indian, and
Shah Soojah’s, had to be paid in Afghanistan; 3,000 more lay in Sinde,
and the Bolan Pass; Shah Soojah’s regal splendours, the salaries of
his functionaries, and all expenses of his court and government, were
paid by the Indian treasury, and finally, the Afghan chiefs were
subsidized, or rather bribed, from the same source, in order to keep
them out of mischief. McNaghten was informed of the impossibility of
going on at this rate of spending money. He attempted retrenchment,
but the only possible way to enforce it was to cut down the allowances
of the chiefs. The very day he attempted this, the chiefs formed a
conspiracy for the extermination of the British, and thus McNaghten
himself was the means of bringing about the concentration of those
insurrectionary forces, which hitherto had struggled against the
invaders singly, and without unity or concert; though it is certain,
too, that by this time the hatred of British dominion among the
Afghans had reached the highest point.

The English in Kabul were commanded by Gen. Elphinstone, a gouty,
irresolute, completely helpless old man, whose orders constantly
contradicted each other. The troops occupied a sort of fortified camp,
which was so extensive that the garrison was scarcely sufficient to
man the ramparts, much less to detach bodies to act in the field. The
works were so imperfect that ditch and parapet could be ridden over on
horseback. As if this was not enough, the camp was commanded almost
within musket range by the neighbouring heights, and to crown the
absurdity of the arrangements, all provisions, and medical stores,
were in two detached forts at some distance from camp, separated from
it, moreover, by walled gardens and another small fort not occupied by
the English. The citadel or Bala Hissar of Kabul would have offered
strong and splendid winter quarters for the whole army, but to please
Shah Soojah, it was not occupied. Nov. 2, 1841, the insurrection broke
out. The house of Alexander Burnes, in the city, was attacked and he
himself murdered. The British general did nothing, and the
insurrection grew strong by impunity. Elphinstone, utterly helpless,
at the mercy of all sorts of contradictory advice, very soon got every
thing into that confusion which Napoleon [Bonaparte] described by the
three words, ordre, contre-ordre, disordre . The Bala Hissar was, even
now, not occupied. A few companies were sent against the thousands of
insurgents, and of course were beaten. This still more emboldened the
Afghans. Nov. 3, the forts close to the camp were occupied. On the
9th, the commissariat fort (garrisoned by only 80 men) was taken by
the Afghans, and the British were thus reduced to starvation. On the
5th, Elphinstone already talked of buying a free passage out of the
country. In fact, by the middle of November, his irresolution and
incapacity had so demoralised the troops that neither Europeans nor
Sepoys[48] were any longer fit to meet the Afghans in the open field.
Then the negotiations began. During these, McNaghten was murdered in a
conference with Afghan chiefs. Snow began to cover the ground,
provisions were scarce. At last, Jan. 1, a capitulation was concluded.
All the money, £190,000, was to be handed over to the Afghans, and
bills signed for £140,000 more. All the artillery and ammunition,
except 6 six-pounders and 3 mountain guns, were to remain. All
Afghanistan was to be evacuated. The chiefs, on the other hand,
promised a safe conduct, provisions, and baggage cattle.

Jan. 5, the British marched out, 4,500 combatants and 12,000 camp-
followers. One march sufficed to dissolve the last remnant of order,
and to mix up soldiers and camp-followers in one hopeless confusion,
rendering all resistance impossible. The cold and snow and the want of
provisions acted as in Napoleon’s retreat from Moscow [in 1812]. But
instead of Cossacks keeping a respectful distance, the British were
harassed by infuriated Afghan marksmen, armed with long-range
matchlocks, occupying every height. The chiefs who signed the
capitulation neither could nor would restrain the mountain tribes. The
Koord-Kabul Pass became the grave of nearly all the army, and the
small remnant, less than 200 Europeans, fell at the entrance of the
Jugduluk Pass. Only one man, Dr. Brydon, reached Jelalabad to tell the
tale. Many officers, however, had been seized by the Afghans, and kept
in captivity, Jelalabad was held by Sale’s brigade. Capitulation was
demanded of him, but he refused to evacuate the town, so did Nott at
Kandahar. Ghuznee had fallen; there was not a single man in the place
that understood any thing about artillery, and the Sepoys of the
garrison had succumbed to the climate.

In the mean time, the British authorities on the frontier at the first
news of the disaster of Kabul, had concentrated at Peshawer the troops
destined for the relief of the regiments in Afghanistan. But
transportation was wanting and the Sepoys fell sick in great numbers.
Gen. Pollock, in February, took the command, and by the end of March,
1842, received further reinforcements. He then forced the Khyber Pass,
and advanced to the relief of Sale at Jelalabad; here Sale had a few
days before completely defeated the investing Afghan army. Lord
Ellenborough, now governor-general of India, ordered the troops to
fall back; but both Nott and Pollock found a welcome excuse in the
want of transportation. At last, by the beginning of July, public
opinion in India forced Lord Ellenborough to do something for the
recovery of the national honour and the prestige of the British army;
accordingly, he authorised an advance on Kabul, both from Kandahar and
Jelalabad. By the middle of August, Pollock and Nott had come to an
understanding respecting their movements, and Aug. 20, Pollock moved
towards Kabul, reached Gundamuck, and beat a body of Afghans on the
23rd, carried the Jugduluk Pass Sept. 8, defeated the assembled
strength of the enemy on the 13th at Tezeen, and encamped on the 15th
under the walls of Kabul. Nott, in the mean time, had, Aug. 7,
evacuated Kandahar, and marched with all his forces toward Ghuznee.
After some minor engagements, he defeated a large body of Afghans,
Aug. 30, took possession of Ghuznee, which had been abandoned by the
enemy, Sept. 6, destroyed the works and town, again defeated the
Afghans in the strong position of Alydan, and, Sept. 17, arrived near
Kabul, where Pollock at once established his communication with him.
Shah Soojah had, long before, been murdered by some of the chiefs, and
since then no regular government had existed in Afghanistan;
nominally, Futteh Jung, his son, was king. Pollock despatched a body
of cavalry after the Kabul prisoners, but these had succeeded in
bribing their guard, and met him on the road. As a mark of vengeance,
the bazaar of Kabul was destroyed, on which occasion the soldiers
plundered part of the town and massacred many inhabitants. Oct. 12,
the British left Kabul and marched by Jelalabad and Peshawer to India.
Futteh Jung, despairing of his position, followed them. Dost Mohammed
was now dismissed from captivity, and returned to his kingdom. Thus
ended the attempt of the British to set up a prince of their own
making in Afghanistan.

Footnotes

40. That Engels wanted to write an article on Afghanistan (with
emphasis on the Anglo-Afghan war of 1838-42) is evident from the fact
that he included this topic in the provisional list of articles for
The New American Cyclopaedia in his letter to Marx of May 28, 1857. On
July 11, 1857, however, Engels informed Marx that the article would
not be ready by July 14, as agreed. The work on it apparently took
longer than expected. Marx had received it by August 11 and, as can be
seen from the entry in his notebook for this date, sent it off to New
York, In a letter to Marx of September 2, 1857 Charles Dana
acknowledged receipt of “Invasion of Afghanistan”.

When working on this article Engels used J. W. Kaye’s History of the
War in Afghanistan Vols. I-II, London, 1851 (see this volume, pp.
379-90).

41. Engels uses the term “clan”, widespread in Western Europe, to
designate heli (tribal groups) into which Afghan tribes were divided.

42. Soonees (Sunnites) and Sheeahs (Shiites) – members of the two main
Mohammedan sects which appeared in the seventh century as the result
of conflicts between the successors of Mohammed, founder of Islam.

43. The Moguls – invaders of Turkish descent, who came to India from
the cast of Central Asia in the early sixteenth century and in 1526
founded the Empire of the Great Moguls (named after the ruling dynasty
of the Empire) in Northern India. Contemporaries regarded them as the
direct descendants of the Mongol warriors of Genghis Khan, hence the
name “Moguls”. In the mid-seventeenth century the Mogul Empire
included most of India and part of Afghanistan. Later on, however, the
Empire began to decline due to peasant rebellions, the growing
resistance of the Indian people to the Mohammedan conquerors, and
increasing separatist tendencies. In the early half of the eighteenth
century the Empire of the Great Moguls virtually ceased to exist.

44. The Mahrattas (Marathas) – an ethnic group who lived in
Northwestern Deccan. In the mid-seventeenth century they began an
armed struggle against the Empire of the Great Moguls, thus
contributing to its decline. In the course of the struggle the
Mahrattas formed an independent state of their own, whose rulers soon
embarked on wars of conquest. At the close of the seventeenth century
their state was weakened by internal feudal strife, but early in the
eighteenth century a powerful confederation of Mahratta principalities
was formed under a supreme governor, the Peshwa. In 1761 they suffered
a crushing defeat at the hands of the Afghans in the struggle for
supremacy in India. Weakened by this struggle and internal feudal
strife, the Mabratta principalities fell a prey to the East India
Company and were subjugated by it as a result of the Anglo-Mahratta
war of 1803-05.

45. The Sikhs – a religious sect which appeared in the Punjab
(Northwestern India) in the sixteenth century. Their belief in
equality became the ideology of the peasants and lower urban strata in
their struggle against the Empire of the Great Moguls and the Afghan
invaders at the end of the seventeenth century. Subsequently a local
aristocracy emerged among the Sikhs and its representatives headed the
Sikh principalities. In the early nineteenth century these
principalities united under Ranjit Singh whose Sikh state included the
Punjab and some neighbouring regions. The British authorities in India
provoked an armed conflict with the Sikhs in 1845 and in 1846
succeeded in turning the Sikh state into a vassal. The Sikhs revolted
in 1848, but were subjugated in 1849.

46. The siege of Herat by the Persians lasted from November 1837 to
August 1838. Intent on increasing Britain’s influence in Afghanistan
and weakening Russia’s in Persia, the British Government declared the
Shah’s actions to be hostile to Britain and demanded that he should
lift the siege. Threatening him with war, it sent a squadron into the
Persian Gulf in 1838. The Shah was forced to submit and to agree to a
one-sided trade treaty with Britain. Marx described the siege of Herat
in his article “The War against Persia.”

47. During the Anglo-Afghan war the East India Company resorted to
threats and violence to obtain the consent of the feudal rulers of
Sind, a region in the northwest of India (now in Pakistan) bordering
on Afghanistan, to the passage of British troops across their
territory. Taking advantage of this, the British demanded in 1843 that
the local feudal princes proclaim themselves vassals of the Company.
After crushing the rebel Baluchi tribes (natives of Sind), they
declared the annexation of the entire region to British India.

48. Sepoys – mercenary troops in the British-Indian army recruited
from the Indian population and serving under British officers. They
were used by the British to subjugate India and to fight the wars of
conquest against Afghanistan, Burma and other neighbouring states.
However, the Sepoys shared the general discontent of the Indian people
with the colonial regime and took part in the national liberation
insurrection in India in 1857-59.

http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1857/afghanistan/index.htm

...and I am Sid Harth

[bademiyansubhanallah]

HYDERABAD, February 8, 2010
A.P. quota for sections of Muslims quashed
Legal Correspondent

All-India MIM cadres attempt to storm into the State Secretariat in
Hyderabad on Monday to protest the Andhra Pradesh High Court's order
on reservation to Muslims. Photo: P.V. Sivakumar

In a significant judgment having national ramifications, the Andhra
Pradesh High Court on Monday struck down the 4 per cent reservation
provided by the State government to selected sections of Muslims in
education and public employment.

These sections were categorised as additional “E” group and included
in the existing Backward Classes enjoying reservation, first through
an ordinance and then legislation. Five judges on the Bench allowed
the writ petitions challenging this Act 26 of 2007, while two differed
with this view. The report of the A.P. Commission for Backward
Classes, which was relied upon by the government for extending the
reservation, came in for severe criticism by the judges.

Declaring the A.P. Reservation in favour of Socially Educationally
Backward Classes of Muslims Act, 2007 “unsustainable,” the five judges
opined that the Act “is religion-specific and potentially encourages
religious conversions.” The majority judgment pronounced by Chief
Justice A.R. Dave said the government’s action was based solely upon
the findings and recommendations of the report of the Commission, and
the procedural error committed by the Commission was fatal to its
report and its consequent recommendations.

Chief Minister K. Rosaiah directed Advocate-General D.V. Seetharama
Murthy to immediately take action for filing a Special Leave Petition
in the Supreme Court against the judgment. He reiterated the
government’s commitment to providing 4 per cent reservation to the
Backward Class Muslims. Barring the BJP, all political parties
expressed concern at the judgment and wanted the government to take
steps to restore the quota.

This is the third time the government is facing an embarrassment over
the quota for Muslims. To keep its election promise, the government
had issued an administrative order in 2004 providing 5 per cent
reservation for all Muslims, relying on a report by the A.P.
Minorities Finance Corporation. This was struck down by the High
Court. The government then constituted a BC commission and, based on
its report, brought about the enactment in 2005, which was again
rejected by the court.

In the latest judgment on Monday, the court said that it was
deplorable that the BC Commission was not even aware of the total
population of the groups of Muslims selected for inclusion in the E
category among the Backward Classes. It found the sample survey faulty
and the quick survey in the name and style of fast track method was
termed “hit and run method.”

The court said the BC Commission failed to formulate the criteria for
identifying the backward classes among the Muslims and simply
conducted a household survey in places close to its hand.

The 137-page judgment was given by Chief Justice Dave on behalf of
himself, Justice A. Gopala Reddy, Justice V. Eswariah and Justice Goda
Raguram. Justice T. Meena Kumari gave a separate judgment running to
77 pages allowing the writ petitions, but giving different reasons.
Justice B. Prakasha Rao and Justice D.S.R. Varma differed with the
findings of the five judges.

http://beta.thehindu.com/news/states/andhra-pradesh/article102733.ece?homepage=true

Hyderabad, February 8, 2010
BJP hails quashing of minorities quota
PTI

The Bharatiya Janata Party has welcomed the judgement of the Andhra
Pradesh High Court quashing State legislation on reservations for
minorities.

Party spokesperson Prakash Javadekar blamed the Congress for making
false promises to Muslims knowing fully well that any attempt to give
reservations to minorities would be unconstitutional and liable to be
struck down by courts.

Mr. Jawadekar said he hoped the ruling party would stop attempts to
bring reservations for minorities when the Constitution forbids
reservations for religious groups.

The BJP had consistently opposed these reservations pointing out those
certain backward castes among Muslims and other religious
denominations were covered by backward caste reservations. It has also
opposed reservations for Dalit Muslims and Dalit Christians on the
plea that castes were not recognised by those religions while
disregarding the fact that such groups continue to face social
discrimination.

http://beta.thehindu.com/news/national/article102960.ece

February 7, 2010
Pakistan: vindication on Afghanistan, assertive with India
Nirupama Subramanian

AP A Pakistani paramilitary soldier monitors from a hilltop post near
Shahi Koto in Lower Dir. Photo: AP
There is confidence in Islamabad that its new importance to
international interests in the region can be leveraged to secure its
own interests vis-a-vis India.

As New Delhi prepares to put the Mumbai attacks behind for a re-
engagement with Pakistan, there is confidence in Islamabad that its
new importance to international interests in the region can be
leveraged to secure its own interests vis-a-vis India.

After years of being seen as part of the problem in Afghanistan,
Pakistan is savouring what it calls a vindication of its position on
how to end the conflict in that country, and is confident it holds the
key to the proposed new plan of “reconciliation” with the Taliban.

As evident from two sets of remarks by the Pakistan Army chief last
week about what it seeks in Afghanistan and how its perceives India,
New Delhi will need to factor in a resurgent Pakistani military,
assertive about its concerns and self-assured of the resonance these
carry in the halls of power in the U.S. and Europe.

From Pakistan’s point of view, the flurry of recent diplomatic moves
on the Afghan conflict, culminating in the London Conference, was
definitely the game-changer. Certainly, the new international mood
seems to have played some role in drawing India back to the
negotiating table.

London Conference

The details of the new approach in Afghanistan formalised at the 60-
nation conference are still hazy. A cash-for-peace plan aimed at
weaning away non-ideological and “moderate” Taliban fighters is one
part of it, but the broad consensus emerging from the conference was
that there is no way forward in Afghanistan without engaging the
Taliban in dialogue, perhaps towards its eventual participation in the
governance of that country.

“The outcome of the London Conference has been overall positive. It is
a vindication of Pakistan’s position that we need to focus on all
aspects of the strategy of the three D’s [dialogue, development and
deterrence],” Abdul Basit, spokesman of Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, told The Hindu. “The international community now realises
that without moving forward on the reconciliation aspect, it is not
possible to achieve peace in Afghanistan.”

The decisions at the London Conference were not a total surprise.
There were plenty of signals that the U.S. and its NATO allies in
Europe no longer believed in the possibility a military victory over
the Taliban, and were looking for a dignified exit. Except that the
military operations in Afghanistan will now be aimed at persuading the
Taliban to negotiation, the next steps in the new roadmap for
“reconciliation” and “reintegration” of the Taliban are still hazy.
The main actors themselves seem unclear about many things.

Is dialogue to take place with only “moderate” sections of the
Taliban? How far have talks, already reported to have begun,
progressed? What will be offered to the Taliban? Will there be other
parties on the table?

The U.S. remains apprehensive about the idea of talking to the top
Taliban leadership. In any case, the big question for any such effort
is whether the Taliban can cut off their links with Al Qaeda, give up
their extremist views and reconcile with the political and social
values of a democratic set-up.

Still, it is hoped that by mid-2011, when U.S. troops will begin
withdrawing, enough reconciliation would have taken place for Afghans
to run their country themselves.

Two countries are thought to have sufficient influence on the Taliban
to be able to deliver on the London Conference decisions. Saudi
Arabia, one of only three countries that recognised the Taliban-run
Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan from 1996 until 9/11 — the other two
were Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates — has already been asked by
President Karzai to act as a mediator. The kingdom, which has no love
lost for Osama bin Laden, has set the pre-condition that the Taliban
must renounce Osama bin Laden and the Al Qaeda.

Pakistan still carries considerable clout with sections of the Afghan
Taliban, some of whom were given safe haven on Pakistani soil when the
U.S. started the war in Afghanistan after 9/11, and continue to remain
in sanctuaries in the north-western frontier regions.

“Gatekeepers” to the Taliban

Described as the “gatekeepers” to the Taliban, Pakistan would have a
crucial role in delivering the Taliban to the table, either through
coercion or persuasion. But it is being careful not to be seen as
muscling in to impose its own agenda in Afghanistan. The mantra in
Islamabad is that the process should be “Afghan-led”.

“Pakistan is perhaps better placed than any other country in the world
to support Afghan reintegration and reconciliation. Why? We speak the
same language, we have common tribes, a common religion, we have a
commonality of history, culture and tradition” Foreign Minister Shah
Mahmood Qureshi told the Guardian. “But it [Pakistani mediation]
depends on whether we are asked to do so. If asked, the government of
Pakistan would be happy to facilitate.”

But suspicious of its intentions, President Karzai has not been keen
to involve Pakistan as a mediator, while the rest of the international
community too is aware that while Islamabad could play a positive
role, it could also use its influence over the Taliban to play
“spoiler.” But, most observers say, no country except Pakistan can
guarantee an end to the conflict in Afghanistan.

“If any country other than Afghanistan has any role, it is Pakistan.
It may not be explicit right now, but it is implicit and goes without
stating. Whether it is maintaining peace, security and stability of
Afghanistan,” said Mushahid Hussain Sayed, secretary-general of the
Pakistan Muslim League (Q), “or providing a face-saving exit for
American forces, it has to be Pakistan.”

A constructive role by Pakistan is likely to come attached with the
demand that the international community address its “legitimate”
concerns and issues in the region.

Some of those concerns were articulated by the Pakistan Army chief,
Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani when, in two meetings with journalists this
week, he said India remains the primary threat to Pakistan and the
focus of the Pakistani military. He spoke of the peace, security and
stability of Afghanistan as the main element of Pakistan’s “strategic
depth”, and said Pakistan had a more “legitimate” expectation in the
matter of training the Afghan security forces than India.

A Foreign Ministry official, who wished not to be identified, was
blunter: “We do not really see India playing any role in Afghanistan.
Any role for India in Afghanistan can only be problematic”. On the
other hand, he said, Pakistan could not be wished away from
Afghanistan, and had “a more natural role” in Afghanistan, given the
shared border and other links.

Also, U.S. demands to “do more” against the Afghan Taliban holed up in
Pakistani territory no more hold any logic, said Imitiaz Gul, author
of a book on Al Qaeda and head of the Islamabad-based Centre for
Research: “These demands have to a back seat. If we have to talk to
them, why antagonise them?”

The Pakistan military said last month it would not launch new
offensives against militants for six months to a year as it was
overstretched. The declaration was evidently meant to pre-empt any
demand during the recent visit by the U.S. Defence Secretary Robert
Gates for military operations in North Waziristan. Now, said Mr. Gul,
the Pakistan Army would want to wait to see how the situation unfolds
in Afghanistan.

As Pakistani observers see it, their country has never been better
positioned in recent times. At a recent seminar in Lahore’s Punjab
University, Mr. Sayed spoke of how the Obama Administration is
dependent on Pakistan for its Afghanistan strategy, and on China, a
close ally of Pakistan, to maintain regional stability, while India
has been downgraded a couple of notches by the Obama Administration
from its status during the Bush years..

“The regional situation is moving towards Pakistan’s advantage. We
have a strategic opening and we should use it to our advantage,” Mr.
Sayed told The Hindu. This, he said, should include reining in India
from using Afghanistan for what he alleged were its covert activities
in Pakistan, and pushing for a solution on the Kashmir issue.

So is Afghanistan going to turn into a battleground for the competing
interests of India and Pakistan? Not necessarily, said Mr. Sayed.

“In my view, Pakistan and India do not have to compete in
Afghanistan,” he said, suggesting that the two countries hold
bilateral talks on Afghanistan, and “see how we can co-operate instead
of compete” in that country.

At the moment, as India and Pakistan do a tug-of-war over what their
renewed engagement should be called, that seems easier said than
done.

Comments:

The only best way for India to move forward is to let Kashmiris decide
their fate. Action of India has made Pakistan a thermonuclear power,
and now impossible to contain, even when India has far superior
conventionl strength. If India had let 'Kashmiris' decide their fate
63 yrs ago, Pakistan would have never gone nuclear. However, if India
continues its stubbornness then I see trouble for the region.

from: agthagola
Posted on: Feb 8, 2010 at 06:10 IST
A very well articulated post giving a perfect bird's view of the Indo-
Pak-Afghan trilateral security issues. There is more scope for
dialogue and negotiation. Let's hope all things proceed that way....

from: Karthick Hariharan
Posted on: Feb 8, 2010 at 08:50 IST
This is another instance of failure of Indian foreign policies.
Obviously, the foreign policies are framed by totally incompetent
bureaucrats, politicians and are heavily influenced by the so-called
''intellectuals''. The so-called intellectuals who were ranting to
start talking with Pakistan don't realise where Indian interests are.
For them, talking fancy and projecting them as so-called 'liberal'
people is more important. I think there is no need to talk about our
politicians. It is a pity that we are ruled by people who cannot
protect Indian interests anywhere.

from: Naveen Kumar
Posted on: Feb 8, 2010 at 12:35 IST
@agthagola

You should take some classes in physics in order to understand the
meaning of 'thermonuclear power' before uttering this word.

from: Naveen Kumar
Posted on: Feb 8, 2010 at 16:28 IST
It looks like Pakistan's focus is more on Kashmir than Afghanistan in
the context of Taliban. It must realise it is high time it took
positive steps to save lives of its own people and others.

from: Ashok
Posted on: Feb 8, 2010 at 18:47 IST
India should continue to engage more in regional and international
diplomacy and Afghanistan is the key for India to extend its role. I
think it's high time Pakistan stopped its anti-India stands. This is
21st century and if we base our ideas and values on 15th century we go
backwards and lose stability.

from: Franklin
Posted on: Feb 8, 2010 at 19:27 IST

http://beta.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/article102550.ece?homepage=true

February 7, 2010
Facing up to Gaza truths

On February 2, Ehud Barak, Israel’s Defence Minister and a former
Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) chief of staff, stated that unless Israel
made peace with the Palestinians, it would lose its Jewish majority or
become an apartheid state. The context is the increasing domestic and
international pressure on its government to hold a public inquiry into
Operation Cast Lead. The three-week war, waged in 2008-2009 against
Hamas forces in Gaza following a clear Israeli breach of a ceasefire,
resulted in the death of 1,400 Palestinians and 13 Israelis. To start
with, Israeli soldiers have told the country’s biggest-selling
newspaper, Yedioth Ahronot, that the IDF rewrote the rules of
engagement in Cast Lead. This was to protect Israeli soldiers at the
expense of Palestinian civilians; and the targeted killing of
‘identified terrorists’ was turned into a shoot-first, ask-later
policy. Secondly, an international mines action team, followed by
United Nations technical staff, has confirmed finding part of an air-
dropped 113 kg Mk 82 bomb in the ruins of the sole functioning flour
mill in Gaza. Judge Richard Goldstone’s report to the United Nation
concludes that the mill attack was intended to deny sustenance to the
civilian population; it was potentially a war crime, and negates
Israeli claims to have observed international law during Cast Lead.
Thirdly, Israel denies disciplining two senior officers for using
white phosphorus munitions in Gaza, though it does not deny using the
chemical. Finally, in an attack on a civilian-occupied U.N. compound
on January 6, 2010, the IDF massacred 40 Palestinians despite knowing
that its troops had not been fired on from within the compound.

Mr. Barak’s warning is, however, at best partial. Since winning the
1967 war with Egypt, Israel has had a population of over 1.5 million
Palestinians, whom it intends neither to expel nor to absorb as
citizens with full rights. A viable Palestinian state would presumably
relieve Israel of the charge of apartheid. Secondly, Mr. Barak has
mentioned neither the 500,000 illegal Israeli occupants of the West
Bank nor a halt to further construction there. The historian, Avi
Shlaim calls this a dispute over a pizza in which one person continues
to ‘gobble up’ the pizza during the discussions. Furthermore, Mr.
Barak’s own government has rejected all calls for a freeze on further
West Bank settlement; this means that a major precondition for a peace
agreement will not be met. Can there be the slightest doubt that
Israel is simply not up to reaching a just and equitable agreement
with the Palestinians?

Correction

The last sentence in “Facing up to Gaza truths” (Editorial, February
8, 2010) was “Finally, in an attack on a civilian occupied U.N.
compound on January 6, 2010, the IDF massacred 40 Palestinians ….” The
year should have been 2009.

http://beta.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/article102549.ece

...and I am Sid Harth

[bademiyansubhanallah]

February 5, 2010
No end to Iraq’s instability

On February 1, repeating a pattern of attacks carried out a year
previously, a woman suicide bomber wearing an abaya or burqa blew
herself up among Shia pilgrims passing through Shaab on their way to
the holy city of Kerbala in southern Iraq. According to official
figures, 54 were killed, including women and children, and 117
wounded. Fears have been raised of more attacks as the Kerbala
pilgrimage proceeds to its culmination on Arbaeen (on February 5).
Some 14 million people made the pilgrimage in 2009, and even more are
expected this time. The physical difficulties of protecting them are
obvious; most make the pilgrimage on foot, and many come from the
Iraqi province of Diyala, which is known to be a centre for the
recruitment and training of female suicide bombers. Iraq apparently
does not have enough policewomen to search women at checkpoints. One
Iraqi official body has maintained that the explosion occurred near a
point where women were undergoing searches, but according to a
survivor there were no searches. The use of sniffer dogs is often
restricted by local and regional cultural sensitivities. Foreign
equipment sold to Iraq has often turned out to be defective, and a
British manufacturer of a non-functioning detector of explosives is to
face fraud charges in the United Kingdom.

The political significance of the bombing is considerable. No group
has yet claimed responsibility for it, though the pattern is
consistent with previous Sunni-extremist attacks (including the
bombing of candidates’ cars) aimed at discrediting the largely Shia
government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and destabilising the run-
up to the parliamentary elections scheduled for March. The latest
attack has further exposed the civic void caused by the destruction of
Iraq’s political and administrative infrastructure after the U.S.-led
invasion in March 2003. In addition, such attacks show that their
planners can easily outmanoeuvre the Iraqi government and forces,
despite the deployment of 50,000 security personnel in Kerbala and
Najaf. That in turn reveals the political power vacuum in Iraq seven
years after the invasion and the overthrow of Saddam Hussein. It is
common knowledge that the invasion leaders, the U.S. and the U.K., had
no plans for the post-invasion period. Now there is no foreseeable
prospect of an end to Iraq’s political instability.

Comments:

You are right to make a mention that the invasion leaders[Bush and
Blair] caused the present political power vacuum due to their lack of
plan for the post-invasion Iraq and can be held responsible for the
suffering of the common humans of that embattled nation. In this
context if one views the defiant note of defence by Tony Blair when he
appeared before the Iraq Inquiry commission, along with his averment
that Iran also warrants an Iraqi style invasion, one is tempted to
call for a total revamping of global forums like UNO, giving equitable
importance in decision making on international affairs. Leaving the
developed western powers to impose their political idealogy without
minding the welfare of the common human of the third world countries
will eventually make them lose faith in world forums like UNO. It is
high time the leaders responsible for the suffering of common people
were brought to book so that justice and human dignity could be upheld
propelling the world towards stability and progress in the post
national 21st century.

from: Dr.Swami D.Francis
Posted on: Feb 5, 2010 at 14:24 IST
Ethnic diversity, as is widely known, is the main feature of the Iraqi
population. Now add to this the division of its Islamic population
into different sects. Then factor in the vacuumm created by the
disappearance of the one man who managed to hold the country together
even though using methods of governance which the civilized world did
not approve. Then what we are seeing in that country today will not
surprise anyone. The Bush-Blair onslaught on Iraq did manage to
release Iraqis from the clutches of a brutal dictator, but has in the
process pushed that unfortunate country into even more trouble.

from: K.Vijayakumar
Posted on: Feb 5, 2010 at 14:30 IST
World power should take on political instability in Iraq with greater
attention. Their job doesn't end just by eliminating an autocrat. The
real challenge lies ahead in rehabilitating and reconstructing the
economic and political infrastructure.

from: karandeep
Posted on: Feb 5, 2010 at 14:57 IST

Opinion » Editorial

http://beta.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/article100925.ece

Opinion » Editorial
February 2, 2010
Money down the drain

There is nothing surprising about the Anglo-American decision to spend
their way out of a hopeless war in Afghanistan by creating a fund to
compensate defectors from the Taliban. In counter-insurgency, context
is everything. Had the Taliban been on the verge of defeat on the
battlefield, a few million dollars could well hasten the
disintegration of its fighting formations. But given the nature of the
conflict, the historical background, and the appalling scale of
civilian casualties inflicted by the occupation, it is the Taliban who
have been growing in strength, capability, and initiative. It is the
U.S.-led coalition that is looking for a quick way out of a calamitous
misadventure. Today, the binding constraint in the war against the
Taliban is not the number of American troops or the lethality of their
firepower but the capacity of the Afghan National Army and the
willingness of Pakistan to tamp down and eliminate its ties with the
extremist militias. The cash solution pushed through at the recent
London conference on Afghanistan addresses neither of these
constraints. Islamabad is likely to see the plan as another sign of
Anglo-American desperation and as vindication of its strategy of
keeping alive ‘assets’ like the Quetta shura of the Talibani and the
Haqqani network leadership.

As for the Afghan National Army, its ranks already suffer from
problems of low pay and morale. If extremists are now to be bought
over with cash, the message it will send to army soldiers is that they
chose the wrong side. This is not to say creative solutions are not
needed to bring an end to the war. Dialogue and reconciliation are
needed, although it is clear the Taliban leadership (and the al-Qaida
elements, to the extent they are active on the ground in Afghanistan)
is not interested in either. Rank-and-file fighters and even
commanders are another kettle of fish but the danger is that the cash
being ponied up to engineer defections might end up in the hands of
the Taliban themselves. The equation would have been different had the
offer of rehabilitation been made from a position of strength. There
should of course be no illusion about the character of the Taliban:
they remain as fundamentalist, as reactionary, and as brutal as they
ever were. But as long as the U.S. and its allies wage and lead the
war in Afghanistan, civilians will continue to be killed in large
numbers and the Taliban support base will not erode. The occupation
must end and, when that happens, there will be major consequences for
the government and people of Afghanistan. But that scenario is
unavoidable and must be faced sooner than later.

Comments:

Encouraging defactions from the Taliban offering the lure of money is
sure to backfire as its a trade off between money and life. Anyone who
opts to change sides will have to live the rest of their lives in the
perpetual fear of being killed by the Taliban. Moreover, what is
required is a wilful change of mind and not for the lure of money. If
the support of Al-Qaeda is available to Taliban, then they too can
spend money to retain their members.

The money so proposed to be spent should be used to increase the
morale of the soldiers fighting the Taliban. As long as Taliban
doesn't understand the meaning of words like peace, freedom, democracy
etc. any money spend on luring their members out of the outfit is not
going to deliver long term results.

from: Sajith Kumar S
Posted on: Feb 2, 2010 at 08:51 IST
Excellent & useful

from: N.T.S.Ramesh
Posted on: Feb 2, 2010 at 09:12 IST

Nowhere in the history a victorious party has shown white flag and
called the vanquished for dialogue. It is the vanquished who is in a
hurry to patch up and somehow escape the ignominy of being a loser. US
is testing the water through Karzai. It is going to fail as it is not
that easy to induce Taliban foot-soldiers. They will be very much
afraid of the retaliation. The money they can get is not worth. In
cases of some mafia squeakers and all US gives sufficient money and
duplicate passport and such that the informer can dissappear
completely. Here it is not the case. They have to live very much there
itself and no man with an iota of brain will imagine that the Karzai
regime will protect them.

The idea of softening the Taliban with the additional surge is also
equally fruitless. With all the troops it had neither NATO or US could
not do anything at all so far. This is not a conventional war and no
troop increase is going to help.

In two years time when US and NATO leave the arena it will be once
again the Taliban rule. But how long they can rule is to be seen. That
area has never been a cohesive unit. It was and still is comprised of
various tribes and clans and war lords who all are ready to fight for
their fiefdom as soon as the things become normal. It is bound to
split at least into two--Norhtern Afghanistan and Southern
Pashtunistan.
In all probability Pakistan also will disentigrate like Yugoslavia
after Marshal Tito's death. The dollars US is giving will dry up as
soon as US's interest in the area wanes. It will be a chaotic
situation in Pakistan and all the Pashtun dominated areas will go to
Afghan Pashtun. A new Durand line will be drawn. Balochistan will also
go away. Then only Punjab and Sind will remain in Pakistan.

from: Guptan Veemboor
Posted on: Feb 2, 2010 at 14:25 IST
The prospect of United States and the United Kingdom trying to buy
their way out of the Afghan quagmire is a matter of grave concern. US
and its allies learnt that quelling armed rebellion of Taliban and
similar militia in Afghan is not an easy task. They have tried many
tactics and found none to be effective.

from: Sreeraj Menon
Posted on: Feb 2, 2010 at 20:16 IST
The present situation is the result of war-mongers Bush-Blair and Co.
Why is it that countries like India silent on this matter? When Iraq
invaded Kuwait on whimsical grounds, US took upon itself to bring
justice, and now when US followed the Iraq's footstep, no country is
accusing the allies and fighting them is altogether un-imaginable.
Can't we atleast diplomatically 'scold' these allies? From lanes to
streets to cities to states to countries to continents, now one thing
is very clear: the rule of the stronger is law and the weak has to
suffer!

from: siraj
Posted on: Feb 5, 2010 at 00:16 IST
A scenario where Taliban is left uncontrolled (at least to some
extent), is least welcome, not just for the U.S and U.K but for many
others including India. In addition to money and gun-power, the
Taliban would enjoy the luxury of political power too. Its influence
would get stronger and the regression in the attitude against it is
again going to lead to a situation when there would be a greater need
to revert to the present or even to an unprecedented level of
confrontation, which only increases the cost. So what should be done
should be done now. Either the world countries should fight or give up
and try to persuade the Taliban to talk.

from: Konchada Swagat
Posted on: Feb 5, 2010 at 00:27 IST

http://beta.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/article98781.ece

OPINon » Editorial
January 20, 2010
The Afghan quandary

Monday’s brazen attack by the Taliban in the heart of Kabul and the
manner in which they were repulsed underline two contradictory aspects
of the present state of affairs in Afghanistan. First, Islamist
extremists maintain the capacity to mount major operations against the
Hamid Karzai government not just in outlying areas of the country but
in the capital city too. Second, the Afghan security forces are more
than capable of defending themselves against the Taliban provided they
have the necessary training, equipment and leadership. While
supporting the U.S.-led military intervention in Afghanistan, India
has always held that the only force capable of stabilising the
situation and maintaining peace and stability over the long haul is
the Afghan National Army (ANA) and police. The Indian government is
one of the largest providers of civilian assistance to Afghanistan and
is also involved in training the Afghan police. A limited number of
ANA officers have come to India for training but the United States has
baulked at New Delhi doing more with the Afghan army for fear of
inviting a Pakistani backlash. Yet, the U.S. and its allies have done
little so far to bring the ANA up to the level required to deal with
the challenge posed by the Taliban, and the bulk of combat operations
is left to the western coalition.

In the run-up to next week’s Afghanistan conference in London, there
has been a lot of discussion on what the beleaguered nation’s
neighbours can do to help. A few days ago, the foreign ministers of
Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan met to try and forge a common position.
India, too, has been in consultation with all players, including the
U.S., whose AfPak envoy, Richard Holbrooke, met with External Affairs
minister S.M. Krishna on Monday. Barring Pakistan, virtually everyone
believes Islamabad’s twin-track policy towards terrorism is at least
partly to blame for the deteriorating security situation in
Afghanistan. The U.S. is acutely aware of the subterranean links of
the Pakistani military with the Afghan Taliban, the Hizb-e-Islami and
the Haqqani network but seems unwilling to do anything about this. To
the extent to which Islamabad is motivated by strategic competition
with India over Afghanistan, the Indian leadership should make it
clear that it seeks nothing but peace and tranquillity across the
Durand Line. India’s interests are three-fold: trade, transit, and
security. Afghan territory should never again become a safe haven for
anti-India elements. None of these concerns is incompatible with
Pakistan’s legitimate interests, which India recognises. In London,
the international community should tell Pakistan to stop looking at
Afghanistan as a zero-sum game with India.

http://beta.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/article82778.ece

...and I am Sid Harth

[bademiyansubhanallah]

KABUL, February 8, 2010
Senior Afghan official accused of militant links
AP

A district administrator in northwestern Afghanistan has been accused
of militant links and corruption charges, officials said on Monday,
the second senior Afghan official to be arrested in the past week.

The allegations come amid fears of infiltration and pressure on
President Hamid Karzai to crack down on corruption in the ranks.

The chief administrator in Bala Murghab, a heavily Taliban influenced
area, was detained late Thursday but officials did not disclose the
news until after his interrogation.

Aminullah, who like many Afghans only goes by one name, was accused of
passing sensitive military and intelligence information to militants
through a man who worked in his office, according to the chief
prosecutor assigned to the case.

He also faced corruption charges for allegedly selling government
property and cooking oil meant for poor people for personal gain,
prosecutor Mohammad Nahim Naziry said.

Mr. Naziry said Aminullah’s brother also was the leader of a militant
cell that attacked Afghan and foreign forces in Bala Murghab.

He said Aminullah was arrested by NATO-backed Afghan troops. NATO said
it was looking into the report.

The case was sensitive and delegations from the governor’s office,
police and intelligence services were expected to travel to Bala
Murghab to participate in the investigation.

Deputy provincial governor Abdul Ghani Sabery confirmed the corruption
charges but said he had no information that Aminullah was helping
militants.

A deputy provincial police chief in Kapisa province, Attaullah Wahab,
was arrested on Friday and accused of involvement in a roadside bomb
network as well as corruption charges.

U.S.-led forces are increasing efforts to train Afghan police and
soldiers and overcome concerns about infiltration by Taliban militants
and corruption so the international force can eventually withdraw.

A bomb killed two British soldiers Sunday near Sangin in Helmand
province, Britain’s Defence Ministry said.

Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth has warned Britons to expect
casualties as U.S, British and Afghan troops launch an operation soon
to clear Taliban insurgents from the area.

Commanders have been careful not to release a start date for the
offensive, and the ministry said the two deaths were not part of it.

Sweden’s military also said a gunman who killed two Swedish officers
and their local interpreter Sunday in northern Afghanistan was wearing
a police uniform.

The shooting occurred while the Swedish patrol was visiting a police
station near the village of Gurgi Tappeh, but military spokesman
Gustaf Wallerfeldt said it was unclear if the gunman - who also was
killed - was a policeman or an impostor.

Heavy rain caused a minibus to crash on a mountain pass near Kandahar,
killing 16 people Sunday night, provincial government spokesman Zalmay
Ayubi said.

http://beta.thehindu.com/news/international/article103086.ece

BASE TOMBSTONE, Afghanistan, February 8, 2010
Wild West motif lightens US mood at Afghan base
AP

A U.S. soldier enters a room with a sign that refers to Big Nose Kate,
a Wild West figure, at Tombstone base in Helmand province, Southern
Afghanistan, on Sunday. Photo: AP.
Welcome to the O.K. Corral.

Past the concrete slabs and guards in heavy combat gear, a wooden
board at the entrance to an allied military base in Afghanistan shows
an image of Wyatt Earp, the legendary lawman of the American Wild
West. His features are stern and angular. He wears a cowboy hat and a
drooping mustache, and a black-gloved hand holds a long-barrelled
revolver across his chest.

The lore of the Wild West and the hard reality of southern
Afghanistan, the key battleground of the war between NATO forces and
Taliban insurgents, share a few things: danger, men with guns and
desert wilderness. At Tombstone, an allied base deep in the Taliban
stronghold of Helmand province, signs and images recalling the 1881
shootout in Tombstone, Arizona give the place a gunslinger motif.

The edgy, theme park touch suits the American soldiers.

“It’s a little more entertaining,” said Sgt. Maj. Robert Haemmerle,
who is attached to the 4th Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment of Task
Force Stryker. “It’s got a little pizazz.”

Many U.S. military installations in Afghanistan are named after
soldiers slain in combat, or units that first deployed at a particular
site. It’s unusual to see base features that lighten the mood in a
region where the threat of death is a part of life.

British and Danish soldiers share the grounds with the Americans, but
don’t have Wild West logos among their tents and vehicles. On the U.S.
side, an “O.K. Corral” sign has been hoisted in the parking area of
the Strykers, U.S. armoured vehicles that carry infantry.

The gunfight in Tombstone happened near the O.K. Corral in Tombstone.
Earp and his two brothers, along with dentist and gambler John H.
“Doc” Holliday, were looking to disarm and arrest the Clanton and the
McLaury brothers for violating a town gun ordinance. Frank and Tom
McLaury and Billy Clanton were killed in one of the most famous
shootouts in U.S. history.

The Tombstone base is near the Afghan town of Lashkar Gah, where
insurgents are active. It’s adjacent to the far bigger Camp
Leatherneck, a U.S. Marine base, and close to the British Camp
Bastion. The Wild West theme seems to fit its small size.

“Out here is the John Wayne outpost, surrounded,” said Daniel Smith of
Mount Holly, N.J., a civilian who supervises the dining hall and other
services for the American troops. “It gives a little home feeling, a
home away from home.”

Civilian contractors say they have added the Wild West decorations
since last year. Door signs say Long Horn Saloon and Big Nose Kate’s,
a reference to Holliday’s companion, “Big Nose Kate” Elder. A gazebo
where soldiers chat and smoke is named after Tombstone’s Crystal
Palace Saloon. On the dining hall walls, there are copies of old
“Wanted, Dead or Alive” posters and reward notices for the likes of
the Sundance Kid, Butch Cassidy and Jesse James.

One Las Vegas notice hints at a lynching:

“Notice! To Thieves, Thugs, Fakirs, and Bunko-Steerers ... If found
within the limits of this City after TEN O’CLOCK p.m., this night, you
will be invited to attend a GRAND NECK—TIE PARTY, the expense of which
will be borne by 100 Substantial Citizens.”

Tech. Sgt. Efren Lopez, a military photographer from Phoenix, Arizona,
knows the original Tombstone and plans to compile a display
contrasting images of the base in Afghanistan with photographs of the
place back home. For example, he’ll set photos of the hulking Stryker
vehicles alongside shots of stagecoaches.

“This reminds you a lot of the (American) West because of the desert,”
Lopez said of southern Afghanistan.

There is a sombre scene in the British area at Tombstone, where a
plaque on a Yorkshire Regiment memorial lists about 30 names of
soldiers who died. It tells the reader:

“When you go home, tell them of us, and say: For your tomorrow, we
gave our today.”

http://beta.thehindu.com/news/international/article102967.ece

KANDAHAR, February 6, 2010
Afghan police patrol kills seven civilians
AP

Afghan border police mistook a group of villagers gathering wood near
the Pakistan border as insurgents and opened fire, killing seven
civilians, a police official said on Saturday.

All six officers involved in Friday’s pre-dawn shooting have been
arrested and the incident is under investigation, said Gen. Abdul
Raziq, the commander of the border police of southern Afghanistan.

The Afghan-Pakistan border area is a common transit route for both
Taliban militants and smugglers, and border police regularly are
attacked in the area.

The officers were driving through Kandahar province’s Shorabak
district before sunrise on Friday when they spotted the group of seven
men and thought they were about to be ambushed, Gen. Raziq said. They
started shooting from about 400 yards (meters) away and only
discovered when they went to recover the bodies that none were armed,
he said.

The officers then confirmed with local residents that the dead were
not militants, he added.

http://beta.thehindu.com/news/international/article102042.ece

Munich, February 6, 2010
Mottaki: Afghan extremism will spread to India, Arab states

Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki. File photo: AP. Related

Taliban-linked extremism in Afghanistan is blossoming because of the
Western intervention there and is set to spread to India, Central Asia
and Arab states, Iran’s foreign minister warned on Saturday.

Iran is deeply concerned to prevent the spread of the drugs trade and
extremism from Afghanistan, but is also bitterly critical of the NATO-
led and UN-sanctioned mission in the country.

“The policies imposed in recent years ... in security, fighting
against extremism and drug traffic — the policies in this respect are
all defeated and failed,” Mr. Mottaki told a midnight session of the
prestigious Munich Security Conference.

Taliban-linked extremism “can be divided into two (regional) branches:
one is going to spread to the Arab countries, the other to India and
Central Asia,” Mr. Mottaki warned.

And Iran has already had some 3,000 soldiers and police killed by drug
traffickers moving from Afghanistan across Iran, he said.

After years of conflict in Afghanistan, the West is growing concerned
that Islamist terrorist groups are looking to set up new bases in
areas such as Yemen and Somalia.

Russia, meanwhile, warns that terrorists are launching new campaigns
in the states of the NorthCaucasus.

The Munich Security Conference brings together top defence experts
from around the world.

The weekend meeting was set to debate issues including the NATO
mission in Afghanistan, in the presence of Afghan President Hamid
Karzai and NATO Secretary GeneralAnders Fogh Rasmussen.

http://beta.thehindu.com/news/international/article102017.ece

...and I am Sid Harth

[bademiyansubhanallah]

KABUL, February 5, 2010
Afghanistan: Blast at dog fight kills 3, wounds 26
AP

Police say an explosion outside a dog fight in southern Afghanistan
has killed at least three people and wounded 26.

Deputy provincial police chief Kamal Uddin says the explosives-packed
motorcycle was parked near a crowd gathered to watch the dog fight on
the southern outskirts of Lashar Gah.

Health Department director Dr. Inayat Ullah Ghafari says seven
children were among the wounded.

Lashkar Gah is the capital of Helmand province, a Taliban stronghold
that is the target of a planned joint offensive by U.S. Marines and
Afghan forces. No date has been set for the offensive to start.

http://beta.thehindu.com/news/international/article101232.ece

ON BOARD A SPECIAL FLIGHT, February 4, 2010
Krishna: solution to Afghan crisis must be found under Karzai rule
Sandeep Dikshit

PTI 'With a military solution in Afghanisthan not in sight, the focus
must be on the political process": S. M. Krishna. File photo Related

India made it clear that any solution to the Afghanistan problem would
have to take place under the leadership of its President Hamid Karzai.
A settlement with Taliban would be possible only if it abjured
violence and accepted the Afghan Constitution, External Affairs
Minister S. M. Krishna told newspersons while returning to the country
after his maiden visit to the Gulf region.

India, said Mr. Krishna, was conscious that the Taliban is part of the
terrorist structure in Afghanistan. But with a military solution not
in sight, the focus must be on the political process which “will have
to be Afghan driven and Afghanistan led.”

Mr. Krishna, who represented India at the international conference on
Afghanistan held in London last week, said the political process will
have to deal with the Taliban and other terrorist organisations. Both
India and Mr. Karzai, as also most participants at the London meeting,
felt that any rapprochement will be possible if these groups gave up
violence and accepted the Afghan Constitution.

India also believes that these forces would have to go along with the
democratic forces under the leadership of Mr. Karzai. “Then perhaps
Afghanistan can deal with these elements and they can be brought into
the mainstream of Afghan political process,’’ he added.

Giving Australia a 'reasonable try'

On Australia, the Minister felt the problems facing Indians were
surmountable and could be tackled. He urged the high level committee
set up by Australia to be given a “reasonable try” to address concerns
about violence against Indians studying and living there.

Importance of ethnic minorities

Congratulating the people of Sri Lanka on the country's 62nd
Independence Day, Mr. Krishna hoped its President Mahinda Rajapaksa
would utilise the mandate in his favour to bring about a settlement
with all ethnic minorities.

Mr. Krishna pointed out that India had very friendly ties with Sri
Lanka even during its worst crises when the fight was on between the
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the “lawfully established
Government of Sri Lanka’’. He drew attention to the congratulatory
messages sent by the President and Prime Minister following Mr.
Rajapaksa’s victory to underline India’s constructive approach.

“We sincerely hope that Mr. Rajapaksa will utilise the mandate to
bring abut a settlement with all ethnic minorities so that a new
beginning and a new hope can be initiated in Sri Lanka. India conveys
its good wishes to Sri Lanka,’’ he added.

http://beta.thehindu.com/news/national/article100849.ece

Kandahar, February 4, 2010
Govt. spokesman says Afghan, NATO forces kill 32 Taliban
DPA

A government spokesman in southern Afghanistan said on Thursday that
Afghan and NATO forces killed 32 Taliban fighters in a fire-fight in
which three Afghan soldiers also died.

During the operation on Wednesday night, Afghan and NATO troops
engaged Taliban forces in the Khoshal Kali area of Nad Ali district,
Daoud Ahmadi, spokesman for the provincial governor, said.

The five-hour gun battle left “32 Taliban fighters dead,” Mr. Ahmadi
said, adding that three soldiers from the Afghan national army were
also killed. A NATO soldier and three other Afghan troops were
wounded.

Taliban spokesman Qari Mohammad Yousif Ahmadi, rejected the government
spokesman’s statement, saying only one Taliban fighter was wounded.

The Taliban fighters attacked the combined forces as they were
descending from helicopters in the Sayed Abad area of the district,
the Taliban spokesman said, adding that their fighters killed eleven
NATO troops.

Due to security constraints it was difficult to verify independently
the authenticity of the contradictory claims.

The fire-fight took place on the same day as Afghan and NATO military
spokesmen in Kabul announced that a major anti-Taliban offensive was
imminent, targeting the insurgents in the central part of Helmand,
which they have turned into their main hub in the region.

The operation that would be conducted by thousands of Afghan, US and
British troops in Helmand’s Marjah district would be the biggest
assault against the Taliban since the start of the war some eight
years ago. The operation is aimed at striking at the heart of the
Taliban’s territory before the onset of spring, a traditional fighting
season for the militants.

There are more than 110,000 US-led troops currently in Afghanistan.
The US and NATO plan to send 37,000 additional soldiers by summer,
with the bulk of them to be deployed to the southern region in a bid
to turn the tide in the war.

http://beta.thehindu.com/news/international/article100831.ece

OPNIOn » Lead
February 4, 2010
The audacity of Afghan peace hopes
M. K. Bhadrakumar

AP AFGHAN AND WORLD:

The decisions of the London conference not only constitute a 5-year
road map for conflict resolution in Afghanistan but are destined to
impact on regional security and stability for a long time to come.
The London conference on the Afghan problem certainly gives grounds
for optimism.

Last Thursday the region took a ride in the raft of optimism to peace.
The London conference on the Afghan problem certainly gives grounds
for optimism. From the Indian perspective, however, what matters most
is to be able to behold just in time that, as the Old Testament says,
“there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man’s hand.” The
little cloud is destined to rise higher and higher and become larger
and larger with astonishing celerity and will burst in a deluge of
rain on the parched earth. And like Elijah hastening Ahab home, India
needs to head for the chariot and “get thee down that the rain stop
thee not.” For, once the river Kishon gets swollen from the deep layer
of dust in the arid plain being turned into thick mud that impedes the
wheels, it becomes impassable.

The fact of the matter is that the decisions of the London conference
not only constitute a 5-year road map for conflict resolution in
Afghanistan but are destined to impact on regional security and
stability for a long time to come. The decisions run on four different
but inter-connected templates. First and foremost, what seemed to some
a heretic idea until recently has come to habitate the centerpiece of
the political agenda, namely, that the war needs to be brought to an
end by “reintegrating” and “reconciling” the Taliban in the Afghan
national mainstream. Second, whatever residual war effort remains will
focus on persuading or coercing the Taliban to negotiate. Third, the
so-called “Afghanisation” process will be speeded up so that by July
next year the drawdown of American forces in Afghanistan can commence.
Fourth, enduring peace in the Hindu Kush can be attained only in a
regional environment in which Afghanistan’s neighbours cooperate by
setting aside their competing rivalries and by resolving their
outstanding disputes.

Clearly, to use the U.S. Defence Secretary’s words, the Taliban now
form part of Afghanistan’s “political fabric”. On the eve of the
London conference, the United Nations Security Council removed the
names of five Taliban leaders from the “black list” of 144 dangerous
terrorists figuring in the sanctions regime under Resolution 1267
dating back to the immediate aftermath of the September 11, 2001
attacks on New York and Washington. Admittedly, the wheel has come
full circle. As the U.N. envoy to Afghanistan put it, “If you want
results, then you have to talk to the relevant person in authority. I
think the time has come to do it.”

For the Pakistan-hating, China-bashing veterans of our strategic
community, all this must have come as a stunning bolt from the blue.
But they are only at fault. The Indian strategic thinkers should not
have been such incorrigible fundamentalists to fail to appreciate the
shades of political Islam or discern the western propaganda about the
Taliban. Mixing up the Taliban completely with the adversarial mindset
of the Pakistani security agencies was equally wrong. Overlooking the
indigenous roots of a homegrown movement was always injudicious. The
triumphalism over Taliban’s ouster in 2001 was unwarranted, as it was
never in doubt that such a grassroots movement cannot be expected to
simply fade away in the Afghan-Pakistani political landscape; a return
of the native was inevitable. Lastly, the U.S. intervention in 2001
was quintessentially a contrived revenge act on the part of the George
W. Bush administration precipitated by a cataclysmic backdrop
unparalleled in America’s history; to be sure, the world community
condoned it but as time passed, it lost its “raison d’etre” and became
hard to justify.

The Indian foreign and security policy establishment too owes an
explanation why Prime Minister was misled to make such extremist
viewpoints regarding the Afghanistan situation during his November
visit to the U.S. Despite our claim to be “natural allies” of the
U.S., we were either not taken into full confidence by Washington, or
we couldn’t read Barack Obama’s mind. Worse still, we couldn’t fathom
the enormity of the drain of U.S. global influence.

Where did the establishment go wrong? First, our flawed Afghan policy
stands exposed. It has a thirteen-year old history. It was circa
1997-98 that Delhi probably began sliding into a strategic mistake by
regarding Afghanistan as a theatre of India-Pakistan rivalry. That was
a reversal of the Indian policy, which was best evident during the
1992-95 period when despite overtures from the Mujahideen, the
Narasimha Rao government stubbornly refused to get involved in any
form in Afghanistan’s fratricidal strife — although the temptation to
pay Pakistan back in the same coin for the low-intensity war in J&K
(and the Valley was witnessing incessant bloodshed at that time) was
always lurking in the shadows. The level-headed estimation in South
Block was that India-Pakistan differences were already far too vexed
and blood-soaked to add yet another dimension to them.

Pakistan has special interests in Afghanistan — just as India would
have in Nepal or Sri Lanka — with which it shares a 2,500-kilometre-
long border with sub-nationalities straddling the border regions
inextricably tied by bonds of culture, religion and social kinship.
Forever will the Pakistani ties remain the number one foreign policy
priority for any government in Kabul. Yet India got so entangled in
the Hindu Kush that Pentagon spokesman last week openly demanded
“transparency” regarding Delhi’s intentions. We overreached. A good
beginning lies in the government picking up the threads of the
discussions in Sharm Al-Sheikh and transparently addressing Pakistani
concerns regarding Baluchistan. The cornerstones of India’s Afghan
policy are unshakeable. The issue at the moment is to introspect
whether we unwittingly came to erect a grotesque structure during the
past decade.

Secondly, the impasse of India’s current near-total isolation as the
international community surges ahead with the engagement of the
Taliban exposes a few highly disturbing salients regarding our recent
foreign policy postulates. One, contrary to our claim, Pakistan’s
geopolitical positioning is superb, as testified by the star
participants at the regional conference hosted by Turkey on January 26
from which India was pointedly excluded at Islamabad’s instance —
Afghanistan, Russia, China, Iran, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Saudi
Arabia, United Arab Emirates and the U.S. and Britain. The London
conference underscored that the prospects of the reconciliation with
the Taliban critically depended on Pakistan’s cooperation. It couldn’t
have been otherwise.

Two, Delhi is paying a price for putting all eggs in the American
basket. The U.S. is entitled to look after its national interests. The
spectre that is haunting Washington today cannot be overstated: a
prolonged war in Afghanistan is unsustainable financially, materially
and politically; the NATO allies lack faith in the U.S.’s war
strategy; domestic public opposition to the war is cascading in the
western countries; the war has become an Albatross’ cross hindering
the optimal pursuit of U.S. global strategies in a highly volatile
international situation posing multiple challenges; the war
radicalises the Muslim opinion worldwide and pits America against
Islam. India could have anticipated that the U.S. was reaching the end
of the tether and was pondering what lay ahead.

What lies ahead? Make no mistake that the Taliban are returning to
Afghanistan’s power structure — quite plausibly, under Mullah Omar’s
leadership. The U.S. expectation to “split” the Taliban will likely
prove misplaced. As months ebb away, fighting intensifies and Omar in
no particular hurry, Washington’s pleas to Islamabad will become more
and more insistent to bring the so-called Quetta Shura to the
negotiating table. Pakistan (or, more appropriately, Pakistani
military) will have the option to cooperate or lapse into sophistry
and claim helplessness. How the Pakistani military chooses to play
will almost entirely depend on the pound of flesh it can extract from
the U.S. At a minimum, there will be an India-dimension to it — thanks
to our flawed Afghan policy and our failure to develop diversified
consultations with like-minded countries such as China, Iran and
Russia that have high stakes in regional security and stability. The
silver lining is that once in power, the “Afghan-ness” of the Taliban
is bound to surface.

Finally, it all boils down to one single core issue. There is no
alternative to the “Sharm Al-Sheikh approach” to address the India-
Pakistan relationship. The government got unduly fazed by the charge
of the Indian light brigade and valuable time was lost. When it is
clear that jingoism is a road to nowhere, the leadership should have
drawn the line. The London conference underlined that international
opinion is heavily weighed against waging wars — leave alone
simultaneous wars on two fronts. India can learn lessons from the
annals of modern diplomacy: how adversaries incrementally became joint
stakeholders in cooperation by pursuing creative ideas and
initiatives. France and Germany; Germany and Russia; Turkey and Greece
— they were locked in deathly embraces one way or another in modern
history. The best way ahead for India is to emulate their example,
which is that when erstwhile adversaries become stakeholders in shared
enterprise, it renders obsolete their historical antipathies and
autarchic mentalities.

(The writer is a former diplomat.)

http://beta.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/article100379.ece

...and I am Sid Harth

[bademiyansubhanallah]

Business » Economy
New Delhi, February 8, 2010
India aims to double trade with Arab world
Special Correspondent

Commerce Minister Anand Sharma (L) with Minister of State for External
Affairs Shashi Tharoor during the India-Arab Investment Projects
Conclave in New Delhi on Monday. Photo:S. Subramanium

Asserting that India and the countries of the Arab region enjoyed a
special relationship, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Anand
Sharma on Monday said that India intended to double bilateral trade
with the Arab world from the present $114 billion by 2014.

“We look at doubling India and Arab region bilateral trade by 2014. We
can do it. Set your goals for investments in India,” Mr. Sharma said
while inaugurating the second India-Arab Investment Projects Conclave
organised by Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry
(FICCI) here.

Cooperation

Mr. Sharma also sought investments from the Arab countries in sectors
such as ship building, infrastructure, pharmaceutical, IT, agro-
processing and energy. He said returns from investments in India were
huge and assured.

Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Secretary General of League of Arab
States, Ahmed Benhelli, said that there were huge opportunities in the
region for investments and both regions should cooperate each other in
enhancing economic ties. “We can cooperate in the areas like
infrastructure, human resource development, health and tourism,” he
added.

The Arab League has 22 members, including Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi
Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Palestine, Qatar and Algeria.

Speaking at the meeting, Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi
Tharoor said that the market opening pact between India and the Gulf
Cooperation Council should be concluded at the earliest to further
strengthen trade ties between the regions. He called for putting in
place a framework for cooperation between India and the Arab states,
which he said was constantly deepening and widening.

http://beta.thehindu.com/business/Economy/article103096.ece?homepage=true

DUBAI, February 6, 2010
China for diplomacy over Iran
Atul Aneja

AP Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi with the Afghan President
Hamid Karzai prior the annual Munich Security Conference in Munich on
Friday. Photo: AP

China has reinforced its call for diplomacy to ease tensions over
Iran’s nuclear programme amid reiteration by Tehran that a deal over
enriched uranium for its research reactor engaged in producing medical
isotopes was now within grasp.

Speaking on Friday at a security conference in Munich, Chinese Foreign
Minister Yang Jiechi said the issue had “entered a crucial stage”.

“The parties concerned should, with the overall and long-term
interests in mind, step up diplomatic efforts, stay patient and adopt
a more flexible, pragmatic and proactive policy,” Xinhua quoted Mr.
Yang as saying.

“The purpose is to seek a comprehensive, long-term and proper solution
through dialogue and negotiations and uphold the international nuclear
non-proliferation regime and peace and stability in the Middle East
[West Asia].” The Chinese position contrasted strongly with the stance
adopted by some of the leading Western countries. For instance,
General James Jones, U.S. National Security Adviser, has called for
stringent sanctions and the need for deeper international isolation of
Iran.

Mr. Yang’s observations coincided with remarks at the conference by
Iranian Foreign Minister Manoucher Mottaki that a “final” settlement
of the nuclear fuel exchange deal with the International Atomic Energy
Agency (IAEA) is not far away.

“The declaration of Iranian President [Mahmoud] Ahmadinejad shows that
the Islamic Republic is eager to talk about it,” Iran’s state run
broadcaster Press TV quoted Mr. Mottaki as saying. On Tuesday, Mr.
Ahmadinejad had said Iran had “no problem” in shipping abroad its low-
enriched uranium in return, several months later, of nuclear fuel rods
for the Tehran reactor. However, Mr. Mottaki said Tehran would not
accept a year-long timeline to receive nuclear, after it had
transferred abroad its low-enriched uranium stocks. On Saturday, Mr.
Mottaki met Yukiya Amano, new IAEA chief, to work out a compromise.

Referring to Iran’s position, Mr. Yang said it would be wrong to talk
about imposing more sanctions on Iran because Tehran appears open to
dialogue.

“We believe that Iran has not totally shut the door” on the IAEA
proposal on nuclear fuel supply, he said.

In Munich, Mr. Mottaki also held talks with Russian Foreign Minister
Sergei Lavrov. “I hope that after today’s talk there is a chance that
we will find a scheme of reloading of the research reactor in Tehran,
and it will be implemented”, Mr. Lavrov told RIA Novosti.

http://beta.thehindu.com/news/international/article102176.ece

JERUSALEM, February 6, 2010
Two children hurt by land mine in Golan Heights
AP

Metal cut-out statues of soldiers are seen in the Golan Heights, which
Israel captured from Syria in 1967 on Thursday. Photo: AP.
Israel’s national rescue service says two children are being treated
for serious injuries after accidentally entering a minefield in the
Golan Heights.

Spokesman Yerucham Mendola says an 11-year-old boy sustained severe
leg wounds and his 12-year-old sister had shrapnel wounds to the face.
The two were injured while hiking with their family on Saturday.

Israel captured the Golan Heights from Syria in the 1967 Middle East
war. There are still a few minefields in the area which are fenced off
with barbed wire. Reports of people being injured after straying into
the zones are rare.

The Israeli military said the minefield was clearly marked with
warning signs.

http://beta.thehindu.com/news/international/article102154.ece

Opinion » Op-Ed
February 5, 2010
Lessons of Iraq ignored. The target is now Iran
Seumas Milne

AP NOT A DICTATORSHIP IN THE SADDAM HUSSEIN MOULD: For all Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad’s inflammatory rhetoric, it is the nuclear-armed U.S. and
Israel that maintain the option of an attack on Iran, not the other
way round. Related

The U.S. military build-up in the Gulf and Tony Blair’s promotion of
war against Tehran are a warning of yet another catastrophe.

We were supposed to have learned the lessons of the Iraq war. That’s
what Britain’s Chilcot inquiry is meant to be all about. But the signs
from the Middle East are that it could be happening all over again.
The U.S. is escalating the military build-up in the Gulf, officials
revealed this week, boosting its naval presence and supplying tens of
billions of dollars’ worth of new weapons systems to allied Arab
states.

The target is of course Iran. Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar
and Bahrain are all taking deliveries of Patriot missile batteries. In
Saudi Arabia, Washington is sponsoring a 30,000-strong force to
protect oil installations and ports. The UAE alone has bought 80 F16
fighters, and General Petraeus, the U.S. commander, claims it could
now “take out the entire Iranian airforce.”

The U.S. insists the growing militarisation is defensive, aimed at
deterring Iran, calming Israel and reassuring its allies. But the
shift of policy is clear enough. Last week Barack Obama warned that
Iran would face “growing consequences” for failing to halt its nuclear
programme, while linking it with North Korea — as George Bush did, in
his “axis of evil” speech in 2002.

When Iran’s president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, this week renewed Iran’s
earlier agreement to ship most of its enriched uranium abroad to be
reprocessed, the U.S. was dismissive. Mr. Obama’s “outstretched hand,”
always combined with the threat of sanctions or worse, appears to have
been all but withdrawn.

The U.S. Vice-President, Joe Biden, underlined that by insisting
Iran’s leaders were “sowing the seeds of their own destruction.” And
in Israel, which has vowed to take whatever action is necessary to
prevent Iran acquiring nuclear weapons, threats of war against its
allies, Lebanon’s Hezbollah and the Palestinian Hamas, are growing.
“We must recruit the whole world to fight Ahmadinejad,” Israeli
president Shimon Peres declared on Tuesday.

The echoes of the run-up to the invasion of Iraq are unmistakable.
Just as in 2002-3, we are told that a dictatorial Middle Eastern state
is secretly developing weapons of mass destruction, defying U.N.
resolutions, obstructing inspections, threatening its neighbours and
supporting terrorism.

No evidence produced

As in the case of Iraq, no evidence has been produced to back up the
WMD claims, though bogus leaks about secret programmes are regularly
reproduced in the mainstream press. Most recently, a former CIA
official reported that U.S. intelligence believed documents, published
in the London Times, purporting to show Iran planning to experiment on
a “neutron initiator” for an atomic weapon, had been forged. Shades of
Iraq’s non-existent attempts to buy uranium in Niger.

In case anyone missed the parallels, Tony Blair hammered them home at
the British government’s Iraq inquiry last Friday. Far from showing
remorse about the bloodshed he helped unleash on the Iraqi people, the
former prime minister was allowed to turn what was supposed to be a
grilling into a platform for war against Iran.

In a timely demonstration that neoconservatism is alive and well and
living in London, Blair attempted to use the fact that Iraq had no WMD
as part of a case for taking the same approach against Iran. Perceived
intention and potential capability were enough to justify war, it
turned out. Mentioning Iran 58 times, he explained that the need to
“deal” with Iran raised “very similar issues to the ones we are
discussing.”

You might think that the views of a man that 37 per cent of British
people now believe should be put on trial for war crimes would be
treated with contempt. But Blair remains the Middle East envoy of the
Quartet — the U.S., U.N., EU and Russia — even as he pockets £1m a
year from a UAE investment fund currently negotiating a slice of the
profits from the exploitation of Iraqi oil reserves. Nor is he alone
in pressing the case for war on Iran. Another neocon outrider from the
Bush era, Daniel Pipes, wrote this week that the only way for Obama to
save his presidency was to “bomb Iran” and destroy the country’s
“nuclear-weapon capacity,” entailing few politically troublesome U.S.
“boots on the ground” or casualties.

The reality is that such an attack would be potentially even more
devastating than the aggression against Iraq. Iran has the ability to
deliver armed retaliation, both directly and through its allies, which
would not only engulf the region but block the 20 per cent of global
oil supplies shipped through the straits of Hormuz. It would also
certainly set back the cause of progressive change in Iran.

Iran is a divided authoritarian state, now cracking down harshly on
the opposition. But it is not a dictatorship in the Saddam Hussein
mould. Unlike Iraq, Israel, the U.S. and Britain, Iran has not invaded
and occupied anybody’s territory, but has the troops of two hostile,
nuclear-armed powers on its borders. And for all Ahmadinejad’s
inflammatory rhetoric, it is the nuclear-armed U.S. and Israel that
maintain the option of an attack on Iran, not the other way round.

Nor has the U.N. nuclear agency, the IAEA, found any evidence that
Iran is trying to acquire nuclear weapons, while the U.S.’s own
national intelligence estimate found that suspected work on a weapons
programme had stopped in 2003, though that may now be adjusted in the
new climate. Iran’s leadership has long insisted it does not want
nuclear weapons, even while many suspect it may be trying to become a
threshold nuclear power, able to produce weapons if threatened. Given
the recent history of the region, that would hardly be surprising.

Real problem

For the U.S. government, as during the Bush administration, the real
problem is Iran’s independent power in the most sensitive region in
the world — heightened by the Iraq war. The signals coming out of
Washington are mixed. The head of U.S. National Intelligence implied
on Tuesday there was nothing the U.S. could do to stop Iran from
developing nuclear weapons if it chose to do so. Perhaps the military
build-up in the Gulf is just sabre rattling. The preference is clearly
for regime change rather than war.

But Israel is most unlikely to roll over if that option fails, and the
risks of the U.S. and its allies, including Britain, being drawn into
the fallout from any attack would be high. As was discovered in the
case of Iraq, the views of outriders like Blair and Pipes can quickly
become mainstream. If we are to avoid a replay of that catastrophe,
pressure to prevent war with Iran will have to start now.

— © Guardian Newspapers Limited, 2010.

http://beta.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/article100976.ece

...and I am Sid Harth

[bademiyansubhanallah]

Tel Aviv, February 4, 2010
Israeli foreign minister threatens Syrian regime
DPA

Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman. File photo: AP.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad should know that if he attacked
Israel, the Israelis would not only defeat him, but also topple his
regime, Israel’s ultra-right foreign minister warned on Thursday.

“This is the message that should go out to the ruler of Syria from
Israel,” Avigdor Lieberman said in remarks at Bar Ilan University,
near Tel Aviv, broadcast on Israel Radio.

“Assad should know that if he attacks, he will not only lose the war.
Neither he nor his family will remain in power,” said Mr. Lieberman,
of the ultra-nationalist Israel Beitenu, the largest coalition partner
of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party.

That “correlation” between war and regime had not been made before,
said the foreign minister.

“Our message should be that if Assad’s father lost a war but remained
in power, the son should know that an attack will cost him his
regime.” Mr. Lieberman was reacting to remarks by Mr. Assad on
Wednesday, in which he had reportedly charged that Israel was driving
the Middle East towards a new war and was “not serious” about wanting
peace.

Mr. Netanyahu’s office expressed “regret” at Mr. Assad’s remarks,
which it said ran counter to reality.

The prime minister has declared many times that he would be willing to
go anywhere to negotiate with Damascus without preconditions, a
spokesman told the radio station.

A commentator on Israel Radio said Mr. Lieberman had meant his threat
as a “deterrent.”

http://beta.thehindu.com/news/international/article100554.ece

KUWAIT, February 4, 2010
Krishna to seek closer ties with Kuwait
Sandeep Dikshit

PTI External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna

External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna arrived here on Wednesday on
his first stand-alone visit to a Gulf country to give an impetus to
energy ties, foster closer relationship with this important Gulf
Cooperation Council country and tap its surplus funds for India’s
infrastructure sector.

With India sourcing over 11 per cent of its energy needs from Kuwait,
Mr. Krishna held talks with the entire top leadership to further
enhance ties and venture into areas such as joint production of
fertilisers.

“This is an important visit for India and is the Minister’s first to
the Gulf region. The intention is to intensify ties in the energy,
culture, human resource and people-to-people contacts,” said Secretary
(East) in the MEA, Latha Reddy.

Mr. Krishna also discussed the regional scenario including the
situation in Pakistan and Afghanistan besides developments in Iraq,
Iran and the Middle East peace process. In his talks with Amir of
Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Kaber Al-Sabah, Prime Minister Sheikh
Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah and Deputy Prime Minister &
Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, Mr. Krishna
also raised the issue of reforms in the United Nations Security
Council with the Kuwaiti leadership responding by envisaging a greater
role for India in the international arena.

Both sides agreed on the need to jointly combat terrorism and
discussed the need to exchange more information, especially among
intelligence agencies on the manner, in which terrorists operate. “The
leaders also discussed the nexus between terrorists operating in
different parts of the world and how to curb their activities at the
global level,” said Ms. Reddy.

In response to questions, Indian ambassador in Kuwait, Ajai Malhotra,
said the Foreign Office was aware of the problems faced by the six
lakh-strong expatriate population and exploring ways to address them.
On alleged ill-treatment of domestic servants here, Mr. Malhotra said
India had raised the issue in separate confabulations.

http://beta.thehindu.com/news/international/article100370.ece

DUBAI, February 3, 2010
Real estate firm sees few signs of Dubai rebound
AP

AP/NASA This image photographed by an Expedition 22 crew member on the
International Space Station on January 13, 2010 shows man-made
archipelagos near Dubai. The Middle East commercial hub’s once hot
property market faces an uncertain future even as new properties
continue to open their doors.
Dubai’s battered real estate market got more bad news on Wednesday
when a leading property company said it saw little hope soon of a
rebound after office leasing rates plunged more than half in a year.

The bleak assessment by CB Richard Ellis is the latest indication that
the Middle East commercial hub’s once hot property market faces an
uncertain future even as new properties such as the more than half-
mile-high Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest tower, continue to open
their doors.

Figures released by the Los Angeles-based commercial property giant
show that office space filling Dubai’s numerous high rises and purpose-
built business parks has been hit especially hard by the emirate’s
property slump. The firm said in its quarterly report that the Dubai
market remained sluggish in the last three months of 2009 and shows
“few signs to suggest any imminent upturn in fortunes.”

Office leasing rates tumbled 57 per cent in the fourth quarter from
their level the previous year, according to the property company. It
estimates some brand new office buildings stand more than 30 per cent
empty.

“There was a correction due because prices had become unsustainable,”
Nicholas Maclean, CB Richard Ellis managing director for the Middle
East, said in an interview. “The speed has been the thing that caught
people out, principally because of the Dubai market’s dependence on
international tenants.”

To cope with the glut, landlords have begun offering tenants rent-free
periods and more flexible payment terms, among other perks.

The situation is likely to get worse before it improves as more
buildings open up, said J.P. Grobbelaar, director of research and
advisory for real estate consultancy Colliers International in Dubai.
He said the supply of office space is expected to double over the next
two to three years.

“These are buildings that are currently under construction. We’re
talking about buildings coming out of the ground,” he said. “We just
don’t see where the demand for that sort of supply is going to come
from, not unless the economy grows hugely.”

As recently as the second half of 2008, prime office space in Dubai
was packed nearly to capacity, Mr. Grobbelaar said.

Foreign companies poured into the city to take advantage of its growth
as the financial and logistics centre of the booming oil-rich Persian
Gulf. Now those companies are cutting back on staff or going out of
business because of the economic downturn.

“There’s just not enough people to occupy the space,” he said.

Compounding the problem is that many new buildings in Dubai are owned
by multiple investors rather than a single owner, making upkeep of
communal facilities like elevators and air conditioning a far greater
challenge, Mr. Maclean said.

He said the property company has received “zero demand” from
prospective tenants for those type of buildings, which comprise the
bulk of the new space expected to come on the market in the coming
years. Unless local laws are changed to force owners to pool their
resources, those towers will remain mostly empty, he predicted.

CB Richard Ellis’ figures show residential property prices also fell
sharply, with rental rates down about 40 per cent over the previous
year.

That largely matches findings released by Colliers last month. It said
home prices in the city-state edged up 1 per cent over the previous
quarter, but remained 42 per cent below their level a year earlier.
That puts prices at roughly their same level as they were at the
middle of 2007.

http://beta.thehindu.com/business/Economy/article100249.ece

Dubai, February 3, 2010
Shah Rukh’s ‘My Name Is Khan’ to premiere in Abu Dhabi
PTI

PTI Actors Shahrukh Khan and Kajol during the unveiling of the first
look of their film `My Name Is Khan' in Mumbai. Photo:PTI

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan’s much-awaited film ‘My Name Is
Khan’ will see its world premiere in Abu Dhabi next week.

The film, which marks the return of the famous onscreen pair Shah Rukh
and Kajol after a gap of eight years, is a love-story in the backdrop
of post 9/11 America.

Directed by Karan Johar and co-produced by Khan, the film will
premiere in Abu Dhabi on February 10 followed by an European premiere
in Berlin two days later.

Thousands of fans are expected to descend on the Emirates Palace hotel
in the capital to catch a glimpse of the 44-year-old star, who has a
huge fan following in the country.

In the movie, Khan plays Rizwan, a man suffering from Asperger’s
syndrome (a form of autism), who embarks on an extraordinary journey
across America to win back the love of his life, Mandira (Kajol).

’My Name Is Khan’ is one of the first Bollywood films to be
distributed by Fox Searchlight Pictures in the US.

Imagenation Abu Dhabi is in a partnership with Fox Star studios to
distribute the film in the Middle East.

The film will see its worldwide release on February 12.

http://beta.thehindu.com/arts/movies/article99680.ece

TEHRAN, February 2, 2010
US missile system meant to sow division in Gulf region, says Iran
AP

Iran said on Tuesday that the strengthening of U.S. missile defence
systems in Gulf Arab countries is aimed at sowing regional divisions
and that Tehran’s neighbours should not be drawn into believing the
country poses a threat.

U.S. military officials said over the weekend that the systems -
involving upgraded Patriot missiles on land and more U.S. Navy ships
capable of destroying missiles in flight - is intended to counter a
potential Iranian missile strike.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad met on Tuesday with the crown
prince of Qatar, one of four Arab nations where the U.S. has based
Patriot missile systems, and told him the West was seeking to divide
them.

“Westerners do not want friendly relations between countries in the
region. Their life is dependent on rifts and insecurity,” the
president told the visiting crown prince, Sheik Tamim bin Hamad Al-
Thani.

“The enemies intend to extend the fire of war in the entire region to
solve their own political and economic problems,” state TV quoted
Ahmadinejad as saying in their meeting.

Mr. Ahmadinejad said Iran and Qatar should build closer links and
develop a common understanding of what he called plots by enemies.

The predominantly Sunni Arab Middle East - and Gulf nations in
particular - have been wary of the growing influence of Shiite Iran,
especially because of international suspicions that its nuclear
program has a military dimension.

Iran insists its nuclear work only has peaceful aims like energy
production, but the U.S. and its allies in Europe are considering new
sanctions to pressure Iran to make concessions meant to ease their
concerns.

Iran’s missile programme has also generated worries. Iran has missiles
with ranges of more than 1,250 miles (2,000 kilometers) that are
capable of hitting Israel and U.S. bases in the region, as well as
parts of southeastern and eastern Europe.

The U.S. Patriot missile systems, which originally were deployed in
the region to shoot down aircraft have now been upgraded to hit
missiles in flight.

In a January speech, David Petraeus, the U.S. Central Command chief
who is responsible for military operations across the Middle East,
said the U.S. now has eight Patriot missile batteries stationed in the
Gulf region - two each in four countries. He did not name the
countries.

A military official said over the weekend, however, that the countries
are Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Qatar. The official
spoke on condition of anonymity because some aspects of the defensive
strategy are classified.

In another speech, Gen. Petraeus said Aegis ballistic missile cruisers
are now in the Gulf at all times.

Iran’s parliament speaker, Ali Larijani, warned nations in the region
not to be “deceived by U.S. anti-Iran policies” and talk of a growing
Iranian threat.

“When in the past 31 years has Iran attacked any of its neighbouring
states or any other countries in the region?” Mr. Larijani said,
referring to the length of time that the country’s Islamic leadership
has been in power.

Emphasizing the point, he noted that the 1980-88 war with Iraq was in
defence against an attack launched by Saddam Hussein.

Mr. Larijani said the strengthening of the missile defence system
would only bring more trouble for U.S. forces.

“Regional countries should know that this puppet show by the U.S.,
while claiming to create security in the region, is nothing except a
new political ploy to increase the (American) military presence at the
expense of others,” Mr. Larijani said in a parliament session.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast told reporters that Iran
believes the U.S. missile systems to be “ineffective,” though he did
not elaborate.

At his weekly news conference, Mr. Mehmanparast also denied claims by
Thailand that a planeload of North Korean weapons seized there in
December was headed to Iran.

“There is no link between the aircraft and our country,” Mr.
Mehmanparast said.

He said Iran had no need to import such arms due to its own weapons
production, which includes rockets, tanks, jet fighters, light
submarines and missiles.

Thailand said on Monday that the aircraft, which was seized on a
refuelling stop, was heading to Iran, though it did not know the
ultimate destination of the 35 tons of weaponry.

The shipment, which violated U.N. sanctions against North Korea,
reportedly included light battlefield arms such as grenades - hardly
the ones Iran’s sophisticated military would need.

From the start there has been speculation that the weapons were to be
shipped on to some of the radical Middle Eastern groups supported by
Tehran.

The plane’s chief pilot, among five crewmen detained in Thailand,
maintains that the aircraft was headed for Kiev, Ukraine.

http://beta.thehindu.com/news/international/article99329.ece

...and I am Sid Harth

[bademiyansubhanallah]

Batla defence counsel R K Naseem succumbs to head injuries
Submitted by mumtaz on 9 February 2010 - 9:42am.

By TCN News,

New Delhi: Noted criminal lawyer R.K. Naseem, who was the main defence
counsel for Batla House encounter and Delhi blasts accused, succumbed
to head injuries on February 7 at a private hospital here after
battling for life for about two weeks. On January 24, his close
relative and ex-BJP legislator Vinod Sharma had brutally beaten him
while the Delhi police allegedly remained mute spectator.

Naseem sustained severe head injuries after he was hit by Sharma with
a stick on the head in Dabri area of Delhi reportedly over a property
dispute. He was admitted to Mata Channan Devi Hospital in Delhi's
Janakpuri area in a critical condition. The former BJP MLA was
arrested on January 29 by the Delhi Police's Crime Branch.

Apart from Batla case, Naseem was defence counsel in important cases
like the Jessica Lal murder case and the Priyadarshini Mattoo rape and
murder case.

As soon as the news of his death spread yesterday, lawyers in Delhi's
lower courts went on strike for the rest of the day.

http://twocircles.net/2010feb08/batla_defence_counsel_r_k_naseem_succumbs_head_injuries.html

Sans secularism, India will be divided into 20 states: Ex-UP DGP
Submitted by admin4 on 7 February 2010 - 11:25am.

By Mumtaz Alam Falahi, TwoCircles.net,

New Delhi: India today is united because it has, to large extent,
maintained its secularism. The day it became communal or religious
state it will be divided into 20 while the communal Pakistan got
divided into two, so vast are the diversities in India, said V N Rai,
former DGP, Uttar Pradesh.
Though secular ethos were not maintained properly – textbooks were
filled with communal elements; official programs were opened with
Hindu rituals – the nation as a whole remained secular defeating the
attempts of the communal forces to turn it into a Hindu Rashtra. There
are so many diversities that only secularism can keep it united, said
Rai.

Currently Vice-Chancellor of Mahatma Gandhi Antrashtriya
Vishwavidyalaya, Wardha, Nagpur, the ex-IPS was delivering a lecture
on Women and Communal Riots: Role of State, organized by Sarojini
Naidu Centre for Women’s Studies of Jamia Millia Islamia in New Delhi
on Wednesday.

V N Rai, former DGP, Uttar Pradesh

Post-Independence India has witnessed communal riots at regular
interval barring the first 14 years wherein no big communal clashes
took place in the country. But after 1961 various major communal riots
killing thousands have taken place in different parts of the country.
About three-fourth of the sufferers were Muslims in these riots, with
women most affected. These riots were the result of the failure of
state. The state failed because its face Police had got communalized
as secular ethos of the constitution and the nation were not
maintained properly, said Rai.

Elaborating on the issue he said: the early leaders of free India were
freedom fighters; they were visionary having high dreams of the nation
in their eyes. The communal forces, though existed since the
beginning, could not influence these leaders, and so their dream to
turn the country into a Hindu Rashtra remained just dream. But the
same communal forces got active in some other spheres and communalized
the new mind.

Comment

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on 8 February 2010 - 8:06pm.
The Indian's comment on the superb address of Mr. V.N.Rai appears as
anticlimax!
For the first time in history a Hindu and ex-DGP has so boldly spoken
about communal riots in India and enlisted the causative factors.

India has been a home of many races, religions, languages and cultures
from time immemorial!Then, how this communal clashes erupted on its
sacred soil?
Let me fill the blanks:

Learning a bitter experiencfom India's war of Independence in 1857,
the Britsh Raj carved out a policy of "divide the two major
communities and rule over India!"First, they dumped the MUslims and
wooed the Hindus.Hindus took advantage of English educationand secured
govt. posts. Benares Hindu University was established.Medieval History
of India was rewritten to put Muslim rulers in poor light and Hindus
to hate them!In the railway stations built by them , there were Hindu
Refreshmenr Rooms and Muslim RRs.Then one brought and served
passengers with "Hindu paani" and another with Muslim Paani!'This
honeymooning lasted for seventy years! Then the nationalists' demands
pushed them to a corner. TO salvage their position, they wooed muslims
with communal G.Os. and reservations.Then came the Aligarh Muslim
University .
Thus the rivalry between Hindus and Muslims was turned into enmity by
the Hindu and Muslim organisations. Svarkar of Hindu Maha sabha used
to sing :"Hindustan hai Hindu ka nahee kisike baap ka!" He, only,
advocated the Two nation Theory" and Jinnah exploited it to his
advantage.The uncontrollable "communal Clashes" only ushered the
partition of the country.
The immigration of Hindus and Sikhs from East Bengal and the present
day Pakistan and their woeful tales addedf uel to the fire of hatred
among Hindus. They started talking that Muslims have not gonee to
Pakistan and are affecting the rights of Hindus., This led to frequent
post-independance riots.

Dear A Pakistani
Submitted by Ranger (not verified) on 8 February 2010 - 7:56pm.
Thats what you should call yourself. " A Pakistani". Your hatred for
hindus is disgusting. Is it just you or all 'Indian' muslims are like
you ?

Dear A.... Response to Ranger
Submitted by An Indian (not verified) on 9 February 2010 - 5:42am.
Thank you "Ranger" for your comment - 8 February 2010 - 7:56pm.

But I am still "An Indian", and one among the "one-billion" plus
population of India.

Majority of "one-billion" plus population HAS BEEN / AND STILL BEING
discriminated under: caste, creed, racial, social, educational, sex,
or religious BIAS, for centuries.

As someone rightly said earlier: THERE IS NO SMOKE, WITHOUT FIRE.

Thank you, once again for showing your JUSTIFIED or UNJUSTIFIED
hatred, hidden under BIAS.

An Indian

Congratulations Mr V. N. Rai
Submitted by iqbalmiran (not verified) on 8 February 2010 - 12:31pm.
It is a highly commendable deliberation by a top ranking retired IPS
Officer ( V. N. Rai ) India is still shining and Hindus and Muslims co-
exist peacefully only because of objective, secular minded and self-
less intellectuals like Mr Rai. May God Almighty Give him better
health and happiness to serve India for a longer period.

Pakistan and Iran may say Islam is their state religion and seem to
practise policies of discrimination against other minorities. Sri
Lanka Sinhala- centric policies have generated gross discrimination
against its Tamil citizens. Numerous Muslim states such as Afghanistan
and Saudi Arabia follow unjust policies towards minorities of all
kinds that are affront to civilized values everywhere. India is seen
as an example of a much more tolerant secular state.

But the same India deployed army to flush out Sikh insurgents from
their Golden Temple and to flush out Muslim rebels from Charari
Sharif. But the same Indian army could not or did not want to protect
Babri Masjid from the jack hammers of the fanatical Hindu mobs in 1992
Was it because Narasimha Rao had a secular mask but inside a harsh
communalist?

In 1947, when Kashmir ( Muslim populated but Hindu ruled) was annexed
the predominantly Hindu army of Kashmir was absorbed in the national
army, where as when Hyderabad( a majority Hindu populated but Muslim
ruled) was annexed, the largely Muslim army was disbanded, rendering
nearly 20,000 jobless.

The Indian army’s infantry regiments are still based on religion such
as Sikh Regiment, Gorkha Regiment, Garhwal Regiment( caste based).
This goes against the strict secular principles. Muslims are also
discriminated in serving in the Indian armed forces. The percentage of
Muslim representation is less than 2. Why?

A bearded Sikh may become Chief of the army staff (Gen. J. J. Singh)
but a Muslim army guy may not sport beard- as he looks a jihadi. A
Hanuman Temple greets visitors upon entering virtually every
cantonement in India. Does it mean that non-Hindus do not belong
there? Generals like B.C. Joshi and Shankar Roy Chowdhury are hard
core Hindu zealots in secular Indian army.

No one denies the fact that India is a hundred times better than the
Afghan tribal law, but still it is a long way to go to accept cultural
pluralism of the west.

It is wrong on the part of our intellectuals to point out Afghanistan
when deciding what is right and wrong in the case of Indian perception
and decide the fate of indian Muslims based on the behaviour of Al-
Qaeda. Two wrongs do not make a wrong right.

Sans secularims, India will be divided..............
Submitted by An Indian (not verified) on 8 February 2010 - 12:47am.
Thank you Mr. V.N. Rai for conveying your analysis, about the future
of Indian Republic, if it continued it's WRONG PATH of COMMUNAL WRATH.

Show me one religion which existed, and is existing "on the face of
this earth" from "Baba Adam" to SHASTRA-DHARM, to SANATHAN-DHARM, to
HINDU-DHARM, to BUDH-DHARM, or from VEDAS and PURANAS, or whatever you
may call it - which TEACH, PREACH, PRACTICE, OR JUSTIFIES:

a) burning HUMANS (don't forget train bogie at Godhra was burnt from
inside)

b) killing HUMANS (women and children)

c) making HOMEOWNERS as HOMELESS REFUGEES

d) destroying / desecrating PLACES OF WORSHIP

e) creating DIVISIONS among INDIANS

f) sowing SEEDS OF HATRED

g) instigating VIOLENCE / HOOLIGANISM / GOONDAISM

h) imparting INJUSTICE

i) abusing MEDIA / POWER

Show me any of the above, being taught by any religious belief / faith
- and I WILL SHOW YOU MANGO growing ON APPLE TREES.

Don't tell me that Islam / Muslims preach OR practice. If few Muslims
do, you cannot mix a "pinch of salt" and turn the "whole pot of flour"
into salt. No-Muslim justifies their actions.

Reading above article, in which a future vision of India is depicted,
reminds me of a "parodial version" of our national anthem:

JANA GANA MANA ANDHEY NAAIKON KO LAAYA HAI, BHAJPA BHAAG-KAY JAATA

PUNJAAB, SINDHU, GUJARAATA, MARATHA - YEH SAB GAANTH (knot) SEY TOOTH
JAATA

VINDHYA, HIMAACHALA, YAMUNA, GANGA - YEH SAB POLUTE HO JAATA

TOUBA TOUBA WO NAHI KARENGAY, LEKIN TOUBA TOUBA AAKHRI MEIN KARENGAY

GAAYEY JALA-DHI TARANGAA

JANA GANA MANA ANDHEY NAAIKON KO LAAYA HAI, BHAJPA BHAAG-KAY JAATA

JAYA HAI (Jayalalitha), JAYA HAI, MAAYA (money) HAI, JAYA JAYA JAYA,
MAAYA (Mayawati) HAI.

Jai Hind !!!

An Indian

Re: India will be divided
Submitted by Giri (not verified) on 8 February 2010 - 11:35pm.
@Indian,
The points you mentioned have never been known to mankind until the
advent of Salafism/Wahabism and is now fully promoted everywhere by
their preachers based in Wazirstan and KSA and now popularily promoted
by local Mullahs.

Re: India will be divided.... Response to Giri
Submitted by An Indian (not verified) on 9 February 2010 - 5:18am.
I'm sure "Mr. Giri", your concerns about Salafism / Wahabism was
AMICABLY CLEARED EARLIER by S.M. Pasha OR M Naqqad, or by some other
learned commentator, on TCN platform.

Anyhow, to reinforce their (and Indian Muslims') views about
Salafism / Wahabism - I believe you DID NOT get in your "dumb-head"
about miniscule percentage of Muslims (throughout the world),
believing / practicing in "that school of thought".

I am NOT CONCERNED "a bit", as I DO NOT believe in that "school of
thought", which YOU are WRONGLY trying to PUBLICIZE.

I would sincerely request you delve in "your own arm-pit", and look
HOW Hinduism has been hijacked by Saffronites / Sangh Parivar, and mis-
used - tainting Hindus.

Instead of trying to PICK "others hair", it would be advisable to PICK
"your own hair", and see what's going around in India, under cover of
Hindu Rashtra.

Thank you, and Good Luck

An Indian

P.S.:
-----
Do try to read, understand, and comprehend the meaning of "parodial
version" in Bengali-cum-Hindi Language, in my previous comment.

Shall I also give you a "Sanskrit" version of above, if you can
understand??? I pretty well understand, read, AND write Sanskrit - for
your information.

http://twocircles.net/2010feb06/sans_secularism_india_will_be_divided_20_states_ex_dgp.html

Muslims to get 10% quota in OBC: West Bengal cabinet
Submitted by admin4 on 8 February 2010 - 3:55pm.

By Manzar Bilal, TwoCircles.net,

Kolkata: Yielding to the pressure by the Muslim community in the
state, the West Bengal Government today decided to reserve 10% quota
for socially, educationally and economically backward Muslims under
OBC category. The state cabinet took the decision today in Kolkata.

Jamiat Ulama-I-Hind had launched a state-wide campaign demanding 20%
reservation for the Muslim community in the state. Muslims constitute
30% of the state population. Rather than giving reservation to entire
community, the state government decided to give 10% of OBC quota. The
government has already decided to include more Muslim groups in the
OBC category. Muslims have only 2% share of reservation under the OBC
in West Bengal while half of the Hindus, who are the 71% of the state
population, are enjoying reservation as SC/ST.

Avoiding the constitutional bar which is against religion-based
reservations state government had made up mind to bring as many Muslim
castes in the OBC category as possible. Currently, only 12 Muslim
castes are under the OBC. Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee has
reportedly asked West Bengal Backward Classes Commission to identify
another 28 Muslim castes to include them in OBC list. If it will be
implemented nearly 10% reservation will be available for Muslims in
the state.

According to Sayed Masudal Hussain, member of West Bengal Backward
Classes Commission presently Muslim castes like Ansaris (weavers),
Qureshis (butchers) are among the 12 Muslim castes under OBC
reservation. But now castes of Muslims like Beldar (grave diggers),
Abdal (sweepers), Mahaldar (fishermen), Kahar (palanquin bearers) and
many others will be able to get reservation through the OBC quota. The
work in this regard is going on.

Siddiqullah Chaudhary, who is on a three-day campaign in the state for
Muslim reservation, has expressed his happiness at the decision. He,
however, said that until the government issued notification their
movement will continue. He reiterated his demand that the Muslim
community should be given 20% reservation.

As soon as the news about the cabinet decision spread Chaudhary’s
phone didn’t stop ringing. People and villagers were congratulating
him for the success.

However, the state government decision is seen as part of vote bank
politics as the Left Front government is facing fast erosion in
minority vote. The move is to catch the erosion. The ruling alliance
was humiliated in the Lok Sabha elections and some assembly by-polls.

Comment

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on 9 February 2010 - 11:20am.
This Buddha (alias Buddhu)is a complete nuisance. Soon we shall
observe Gujrat scenario here. Let people move to High Court against
this insane decision.

Mamata also wants to sing the same bustard song of Buddhu.

No, vote for them in the coming elections!

All praise to the Lord...
Submitted by Anish Ahamed M (not verified) on 9 February 2010 -
10:40am.
Assalamu Alaikum...

Allah he is with us..

So its time to get Reservation at National Level..

Reservation is Birth rights of Indians..

Every one should get his share

Give me Quota Too...
Submitted by ane (not verified) on 8 February 2010 - 4:59pm.
He is one of the biggest Idiots i have ever seen.Buddha dev is
"Budha".He has no mind.he is idiot.
How one can give quota on religion basis.
I am also jain and belong to minority ...now i also need the "QUOTA".

Jains do not form a vote bank. So no QUOTA
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on 9 February 2010 - 6:46am.
Muslims form a vote bank and the "SECULAR"- CPM fearing defeat by
MAMATA is promising reservation to Muslims. If anyone were to call on
the HINDUS of Bengal to vote en-bloc and defeat the CPM for offering
RELIGIOUS BASED reservation, they will promptly be branded communal by
the very CPM itself. JAINS do not deserve reservation because they do
not form a vote bank.

Sorry, you don't have reservation
Submitted by Giri (not verified) on 9 February 2010 - 12:15am.
You are a Jain and you cannot be provided any reservation as you have
the capability and capacity to use your brain. People with reservation
(hindus or muslims) have stopped using their brains or too lazy to
work and they need reservation for their entire generations.

Ypu are a Jain you must be
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on 8 February 2010 - 11:32pm.
Ypu are a Jain you must be making millions, now why do u need quota
now!!

http://twocircles.net/2010feb08/muslims_get_10_quota_obc_west_bengal_cabinet.html

Preparation in full swing for national meet on Muslim reservation
Submitted by admin4 on 8 February 2010 - 3:09pm.

By TCN News,

New Delhi: Preparations are in full swing for the February 10 national
meet on Muslim reservation to be held here in the national capital at
the active efforts of Joint Committee of Muslim Organisations for
Empowerment and National Movement For Muslim Reservation, both headed
by ex-MP Syed Shahabuddin.

It is expected that nearly 500 activists from all over the country
shall participate in the Meet. The Organizing Committee has invited
Mr. Saiyid Hamid, Chancellor, Jamia Hamdard, to inaugurate the Meet.
He has kindly consented. The session I of the Meet shall be chaired by
eminent economist, Dr. Abusaleh Shariff, former Member-Secretary of
Justice Sachar Committee. The Session II shall be chaired by Mr. Zafar
Saifullah, IAS (Retired), Former Cabinet Secretary to the Govt. of
India

The Organizing Committee has received the intimations from groups of
activists arriving from all parts of the country, from Gujarat to
Assam and from North to South. The Meet shall be attended by delegates
from all known Muslim organization like JIH, JUH, JAH, AIMC, AISC. The
Popular front of India based in Karnataka the Tamil Nadu Muslim
Munnetra Khazagam, All India Federation of Muslim Backward Classes in
Mumbai, the Muslim Reservation Movement in UP the Milli Muttaheda
Mahaz, Bihar, will participate in the Meet apart from some Muslim MPs
and Muslim political leaders who belong to different political
parties

The objective of the Meet is to build up Muslim unity & coordination
of all marginalized groups which would contribute towards
crystallization of political support for implementation of the Mishra
Report. The Report is likely to come for discussion in the Parliament
in the Budget Session.

The second important purpose of the Meet is to mobilize public opinion
by responding to the criticism of the report as divisive, as
encouragement for conversion of Hindu SC’s to Islam and Christianity,
and paving the way for another division of the country. All those come
from the communal forces which intuitively reject any proposal from
any quarter which may benefit the Muslims.

The Meet has therefore to formulate its strategy as well as to chalk
out a democratic and peaceful Programme of Action in order to press
the government & political parties to consider the Report seriously &
to convince them that the masses are basically secular and believe
inequality and justice for all and that Muslim Reservation has today
become the litmus test for secularism.

Many Muslim organizations have been active in the field for the last
one year some have launched state-wise or nation-wide yatras to
propagate the message of the Mishra Report. The Meet shall press the
government to act on the promises and repeated proclamations of
inclusive development, partnership in governance and social justice in
distribution of assets and fruits of progress.

The National Commission on Religious and Linguistic Minorities with
Justice Ranganath Mishra, former Chief Justice of India, as the
Chairman was notified in October, 20004 and submitted this Report in
May 2007. For reasons best known to itself the Government took two and
a half years to table it in the Parliament and that too, without any
Action Taken Report or even Comments on the Recommendation of the
Commission. The Recommendation, unique and unprecedented since
Independence has therefore been received with enthusiasm & hope by the
Muslim community. In the past, the draft constitution was charged at
the last stage to deprive Muslims of reservation. Neither the Mandal
Commission nor the Gopal Singh Panel Report nor the Prime Minister’s
15 Point Programme, in several incarnations, have made much difference
to the social, educational & economic situation of the Community.

The great contribution of the Mishra Commission is that while
successive government have recognized the fact of relative
backwardness of the Muslim Community, as did the Mandal Commission the
Sachar Report, and promised ‘due’ or ‘reasonable’ or ‘possible’ share
in government jobs to the Muslims or to show special consideration’ to
them in the field of public recruitment & education, Mishra Commission
has for the first time quantified the Muslim quota in term of 15 % for
all minorities, of which 10 % exclusively for the Muslims.

The second great breakthrough by the Commission is the Recommendation
that the Constitution (Schedule Caste) Order, 1950, which the
Commission has found anti-secular and unconstitutional be amended
Clause 3, which originally confined Schedule Caste status to Hindus,
be deleted. The Commission has recommended that there should be no
religious discrimination in the provision of reservation to those who
come from the same stock and have occupational parity & Muslim &
Christian Dalits should be included in the SC Lists.

The third break-through of the Commission is that it has not only
proposed reservation for religious minorities under Article 15 (4) but
going beyond it to Article 16(4) for reservation in public employment
without subjecting backwardness to any qualification.

Fourthly, it has allowed reservation for the minorities as one of the
‘weaker section’ under Article 46 of the Constitution.

The Commission has proposed other important legal and administrative
modalities for uplifting the minorities. It has proposed that
reservation should not be ad-hoc and that the relative level of
backwardness of all groups should be determined through development-
oriented Census, based on socio-economic parameters and that Supreme
Court lay the guideline for all groups and sub-groups. Reservation
quota would thus not be an exercise in official charity but the
performance of a constitutional duty.

The Commission has also questioned the correctness of the Supreme
Court in laying down a Ceiling of 50 % on total reservation on ground
of so-called merit and efficiency and indicated that a uniform ceiling
for a country in which there a vast differences in the number of
backward-classes and their levels of backwardness from state to state
is not correct.

The Mishra Commission recommendation has the Muslim community and
several Muslim organizations and groups have launched campaigns for
the Muslim reservation. Around this time, Popular Front of India has
launched two-month long National campaign for Muslim reservation on
1st February in Pune. PFI will hold programs in more than two dozen
cities covering all regions having considerable Muslim population.

On the other hand, Jamiat Ulama-I-Hind is also running a campaign in
West Bengal demanding the state government for 20% reservation to the
community that constitutes 30% of the state population.

Comment
viewing options

Submitted by Anish Ahamed M (not verified) on 9 February 2010 -
10:34am.
Great Effort from the deprived society..

United we stand ,Divided we fall..

We are having the heritage history in freedom struggle of our Mother
India...

So Already we faced many hindrance from british and Sangh..

So its time to awake and arise..

Allah Akbar < = > "God is Great"

http://twocircles.net/2010feb08/preparation_full_swing_national_meet_muslim_reservation.html

...and I am Sid Harth

[Sid Harth]

Cong trying to fool Muslims on reservation: BJP
Tuesday, February 9, 2010,11:15 [IST]

Editor's pick
BJP slams Congress, Left for reservation to Muslims
Yahoo, 09 Feb 2010

Hyderabad, Feb 9: Even as the quashing of state government proposed
minority quota reservation by the Andhra Pradesh High Court continues
to draw mixed reaction, the BJP has come up in support of the
decision.

Buzz up!"BJP welcomes the High Court decision. The act of the Andhra
Pradesh government was against the Constitution and politically
motivated.The Congress government in the state has breached the
sanctity of the Constitution," party spokesperson Prakash Javadekar
said.

Javadekar said that being aware that it was unconstitutional to seek
reservation in the name of religion, Congress should avoid fooling the
Muslims.

"We hope Muslims will also understand how Congress tries to fool
them," he said.

Citing that the Constitution forbids reservations for religious
groups, Javadekar said that he hoped that the party would stop in
their attempts to bring in minority reservation.

BJP had always vehemently protested reservations for minorities,
saying that the backward caste reservation covers up the backward
classes in Muslims and other religious denominations.

Reservations for Dalit Muslims and Dalit Christians were also by BJP
on the grounds that those religions do not acknowledge those caste.

OneIndia News

http://news.oneindia.in/2010/02/09/cong-trying-to-fool-muslims-on-reservation-bjp.html

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, February 9, 2010
Govt. enacting drama over encroachments: BJP
Roy Mathew

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) demanded here on Tuesday that the
government should be taking legal steps to resume encroached
government lands instead of merely putting up boards declaring
government ownership of the land.

Addressing a press conference here, the BJP spokesperson George Kurien
said that more government land had been encroached upon during the
past three years than the land resumed by the government. Action
against the Kannan Devan Hills Plantation Company would be possible
only if the Congress and communists parties evicted their leaders from
the quarters and bungalows provided by the company. The CPI(M) member
of the Assembly S. Rajendran was refusing to vacate the house provided
by the company despite a party directive.

The spokesman said the BJP would decide its agitational programme over
the Munnar issue at the meeting of the State level office bearers of
the party to be held on February 13. The party wanted the government
to release the report on the satellite survey conducted on land in the
Kannan Devan Hills. The government was making a lot of noise over the
check dam constructed by the KDHP Company instead of taking over land
belonging to the government.

Mr. Kurien said the CPI(M) and the government were enacting a drama in
Wayanad over the encroachment of land by M.V. Sreyams Kumar, MLA.
There was no point in merely putting up boards declaring that his land
belonged to the government, instead of taking legal steps to resume
the land. Both the UDF and the LDF had been using the tribals for
political purposes. None had granted them any land so far.

He said the verdict of the High Court of Andhra Pradesh against
reservation for Muslims on religious basis vindicated the stand of the
BJP. Ironically, the West Bengal government had declared reservation
for the Muslims on the same day with an eye on the Muslim vote bank.

http://beta.thehindu.com/news/states/kerala/article103707.ece

Snake charmers to ensure safety of BJP meeting
STAFF WRITER 16:44 HRS IST

Indore, Feb 9 (PTI) Worried over surfacing of serpents at the venue of
the party's upcoming national council meeting, the BJP has decided to
depute two snake charmers to ensure the safety of its delegates during
the event.

"We have decided to depute two snake charmers at the three-day
national council meeting venue," Madhya Pradesh Industries and
Commerce Minister Kailash Vijaywargiya told PTI here today.

The township, where the meeting is being organised in tents, is far
off from the city and was close to forest area.

"We don't want to take chances and that is why we have decided to
depute two snake charmers round the clock during the meeting," a BJP
leader, assigned with the arrangements, remarked.

http://www.ptinews.com/news/508725_Snake-charmers-to-ensure-safety-of-BJP-meeting

...and I am Sid Harth

[bademiyansubhanallah]

Pakistan officials '100 percent' certain Taliban's Mehsud is dead

FILE - In this Oct. 4, 2009 file photo, Pakistani Taliban chief
Hakimullah Mehsud arrives to meet with media in Sararogha of
Pakistan's tribal area of South Waziristan along the Afghanistan
border. Mehsud has died, the country's top civilian security official
told The Associated Press Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2010, giving the
government's first categorical confirmation of the death of the feared
militant leader.

(AP Photo/Ishtiaq Mehsud, File) (Ishtiaq Mehsud - AP)

By Karin Brulliard and Haq Nawaz Khan
Washington Post Foreign Service
Wednesday, February 10, 2010; 2:08 PM

ISLAMABAD -- After weeks of speculation, Pakistani officials asserted
definitively Wednesday that the leader of the Pakistani Taliban had
been killed.

A military intelligence official, speaking on condition of anonymity,
said rumors of Hakimullah Mehsud's death were "100 percent" true. That
echoed a comment made by Interior Minister Rehman Malik to the
Associated Press. The government had not previously corroborated
reports of the militant chief's death.

U.S. and Pakistani officials believe Mehsud was wounded Jan. 14 by a
U.S. missile strike in North Waziristan, a section of the remote
mountain area bordering Afghanistan. Conjecture about his fate
deepened this week, as some Taliban fighters told Pakistani media that
Mehsud had been killed and a Taliban spokesman continued to deny it.

Analysts disagree about whether Mehsud's death would cripple the
Taliban, which has carried out increasingly bloody attacks inside
Pakistan. But Pakistani intelligence officials said this week that
Mehsud's successor -- who has not yet been named -- would likely
continue in the same vein.

"It doesn't matter. Whoever it would be would try to prove himself
more ruthless, more vicious, and will try to exact revenge," the
intelligence official said, adding that security officials were
bracing for a new round of attacks.

Mehsud assumed leadership of the Pakistani Taliban after his
predecessor was killed by a U.S. drone strike in August. A lull in
violence followed, but the militants regrouped in October to launch a
string of spectacular assaults on civilians and Pakistan's powerful
security agencies.

The pace of attacks, while slower this year, has kept up. On
Wednesday, a suicide bomber targeting a tribal police force in Khyber
Agency, part of the tribal areas, killed at least 17 people.

The Pakistani officials offered no details about Mehsud's death, and
analysts cautioned that proof would come only from the Taliban itself.
One Taliban commander in North Waziristan said in an interview that
Mehsud was in good health but remaining under the radar because he
knows he is being "closely monitored" by Pakistani and American
intelligence.

No matter Mehsud's condition, the mixed messages from the Taliban
seemed to demonstrate rifts within an insurgent coalition that,
although concentrated in the tribal areas near Afghanistan, spans
tribes and militant groups.

Pressure from U.S. drone attacks and Pakistan's military has isolated
militant factions from one another, one Taliban member said in an
interview. The Pakistani army invaded the Taliban's base of South
Waziristan in October, scattering fighters, and is battling insurgents
in other parts of the tribal areas.

"Taliban fighters are desperate, and now it is very hard for us to
communicate," the militant, who lives in the Orakzai Agency of the
tribal areas, said in a telephone interview. "Some of our friends have
already distanced themselves from the mainstream organization."

That division has led to a power struggle, the Taliban member said.
Among those in contention for Mehsud's position, according to close
observers of the group, are Wali-ur-Rehman, a top South Waziristan
commander, and Qari Hussain, a suicide bombing expert with ties to al-
Qaeda. There is speculation, however, that Hussain was killed by the
same missile that struck Mehsud in January.

Special correspondent Khan reported from Peshawar.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/10/AR2010021000425.html?hpid=moreheadlines

February 10, 2010 1:12 PM
Pakistan Offers to Mediate U.S.-Taliban Talks

(AP/Inter Services Public Relations)

Pakistan has offered to mediate talks between U.S. officials and
members of Afghanistan's Taliban movement aimed at ending the conflict
in the central Asian country, a senior Pakistani government official
told CBS News' Farhan Bokhari Wednesday.

Commenting on a report published earlier today in The New York Times,
the Pakistani official confirmed the offer made by General Ashfaq
Parvez Kiyani (Pakistan's army chief of staff) during a visit last
month to NATO headquarters in Belgium.

(Left: Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kiyani presides at a meeting of top military
commanders in Rawalpindi, Pakistan in this October 2009 file photo.)

"Pakistan is best-placed to be a facilitator of a conciliatory move,"
said the official, who spoke to CBS News on condition of anonymity.
"That is what we have now told our American friends.

"Pakistan has the clout to try to bring some otherwise irreconcilable
elements to the table," the official added.

Last week, General Kiyani met with journalists from a few selected
Western news organizations (including CBS News) for his first-ever on
the record press briefing at the Pakistan army's heavily-fortified
headquarters in Rawalpindi, just outside Islamabad.

The high point of General Kiyani's briefing was a signal to the U.S.
and its NATO allies, offering a role for Pakistan in training recruits
to a newly-planned national army and national police force for
Afghanistan.

Following General Kiyani's briefing, Pakistani officials said that
country's role was likely to be significant, as it had established
close links in the past with Islamic militants, including the Taliban
during their rule of Afghanistan. (Pakistan was one of just three
countries which recognized the Taliban regime — the others being Saudi
Arabia and the United Arab Emirates — and maintained an embassy in
Kabul.)

Following the 9/11 terror attacks, Pakistan's former military ruler,
General Pervez Musharraf, abandoned his country's closely-built ties
with the Taliban movement.

Responding to news of Pakistan's offer to the U.S., Western diplomats
in Pakistan expressed mixed reaction. Some warned that the offer of
support to the U.S. was unlikely to gain much momentum, given
Washington's suspicions over the Pakistani security establishment's
continued links with Taliban militants.

For months, Western officials have privately complained about an
inadequate push by Islamabad against members of the network of
notorious Afghan warlord Sirajuddin Haqqani. Known to some as the
"Haqqani network," this group (which is allied with the Taliban) is
thought to have carried out a number of attacks on Western troops in
Afghanistan during the past year.

But others said the U.S. cannot afford to lock itself in an open-ended
conflict in Afghanistan, and needs to bring Pakistan on board in order
to guarantee security mechanisms remain in place once U.S. troops have
left.

"I know there are many who will criticize reliance on Pakistan given
Pakistan's own history," said a senior Western diplomat in Islamabad
who spoke to on condition of anonymity. "But the U.S. needs an ally
who is able and willing to hold the security apparatus together. In
this case, Pakistan is not one such ally; in fact, it's the only U.S.
ally."

The diplomat characterized General Kiyani's offer as "a serious new
beginning."

By CBS News' Farhan Bokhari reporting from Islamabad

http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2010/02/10/world/worldwatch/entry6194409.shtml

Opium and Price Elasticity
by Joshua Foust on 2/10/2010

Perhaps because of the appalling rhetoric of counternarcotics in this
country it can be difficult to bring the discussion of drugs into a
more empirical discussion. In Afghanistan in particular, we have the
pervasive meme that opium=Taliban, with entire books written about the
topic, despite copious data to the contrary. So even though opium
provides at best 25-30% of the Taliban’s overall income (which is
another way of saying they tax all agriculture but opium generates the
most money), our leaders still labor under the belief that destroying
opium will destroy the Taliban.

When we factor in the outsized role opium plays in driving the rural
economy, the discussion of opium only in terms of how it relates to
the insurgency makes even less sense. That is because, despite some
intimidation in some areas, most farmers grow opium as a last resort
(pdf). It is literally the only way they can make money, establish
credit, and sell their products. As a result, aggressive, rapid
counternarcotics policies actually have devastating effects on local
communities.

For decades, Nangarhar has been one of the dominant sources of opium
poppy. But over the past two years, as a result of governor Gul Agha
Shirzai’s suppression efforts—including bans on cultivation, forced
eradication, imprisonment of violators and claims that NATO would bomb
the houses of those who cultivate poppy or keep opium—cultivation
declined to very low numbers. This has been hailed as a major success
to be emulated throughout Afghanistan.

In fact, the economic and security consequences were highly
undesirable. The ban greatly impoverished many, causing household
incomes to fall 90% for many and driving many into debt. As legal
economic alternatives failed to materialize, many coped by resorting
to crime, such as kidnapping and robberies. Others sought employment
in the poppy fields of Helmand, yet others migrated to Pakistan where
they frequently ended up recruited by the Taliban. The population
became deeply alienated from the government, resorting to strikes and
attacks on government forces. Districts that were economically hit
especially severely, such as Khogiani, Achin and Shinwar, have become
no-go zones for the Afghan government and NGOs. Although those tribal
areas have historically been opposed to the Taliban, the Taliban
mobilization there has taken off to an unprecedented degree. The
populations began allowing the Taliban to cross over from Pakistan,
and U.S. military personnel operating in that region indicate that
intelligence provision to Afghan forces and NATO has almost dried up.
Tribal elders who supported the ban became discredited, and the
collapse of their legitimacy is providing an opportunity for the
Taliban to insert itself into the decision-making structures of those
areas. And all such previous bans in the province, including in 2005,
turned out to be unsustainable in the absence of legal economic
alternatives. Thus, after the 2005 ban, for example, poppy cultivation
inevitably swung back.

In this context, it makes sense that when farmers over-produce opium
and other food crop prices spike, they switch from growing opium to
growing other things, like wheat. From the available surveys out
there, few farmers actually prefer or enjoy growing opium, they just
don’t have viable alternatives (and USAID, in particular, has been
criminally negligent in not providing these alternatives in any
sustainable way). And the data have backed this up: the last two years
have seen significant reductions in overall opium production in
Afghanistan, as a crashing opium price and a spiking wheat price have
combined to make it a less attractive crop to grow. (It should also be
noted that when a community switched to growing food instead of poppy,
the Taliban still taxed its exports, because there is nothing unique
to opium that makes the Taliban single it out for revenue save its
ubiquity in places like Helmand.)

In other words, opium behaves like any other agricultural commodity:
responsive to demand and supply, with a fairly normal price elasticity
and a fairly normal elasticity of demand. Yet, neither the UNODC nor
most Western governments seem willing to discuss this in any great
detail. Well, maybe now?

After a major drop over the past two years, Afghanistan’s opium
cultivation is unlikely to rise or fall dramatically in 2010, a U.N.
report said Wednesday…

The report, which surveyed 536 Afghan villages, found that 35 percent
said they had planted opium poppy for the 2010 cultivation season and
that higher sales prices compared to other crops was the predominant
reason for doing so.

While the price of dry opium has fallen 6 percent compared to a year
ago, the price of wheat has decreased by 43 percent, the report
showed. The price of maize dropped by 38 percent over the past year.
In contrast, the cost of fresh opium dipped 13 percent.

Why, that almost sounds like opium follows typical and universal price
behaviors. It’s almost like we could maybe think about that before
blindly flailing about trying to kill all the poppies. Oh well.

http://www.registan.net/index.php/2010/02/10/opium-and-price-elasticity/

Russian pilots prisoners of the Taliban: the movie

permalinke-mail story to a friendprint version
Published 10 February, 2010, 06:38

Edited 10 February, 2010, 22:44

With Afghanistan occupying global headlines, a new film about the war
torn country is taking the Russian box office by storm.

Propeller Based on true events, it chronicles the story of a Russian
cargo plane crew captured by Afghan’s Taliban, who were a little-known
militant group at the time and held prisoner for over a year.

For 378 days they were tortured, starved and subjected to constant
attempts to convert them to Islam. Now their saga has been turned into
a major motion picture.

“In this situation when you, a peaceful person, are imprisoned, at
this moment all the best and worst features of the human character are
revealed,” said actor Vladimir Mashkov, who played the co-pilot in the
movie. “For them it was the hardest test to pass: 378 days of
uncertainty. I would never wish anyone to go through that.”

To understand their plight one has to go back to the chaotic
Afghanistan of 1995.

Burhanuddin Rabbani is nominally president, but the country is in a
civil war and the Taliban are on the rise.

Into the maelstrom flies Vladimir Sharpatov and his crew in their
cargo plane. The Taliban was fighting against the government and it
found out about the flight carrying ammunition and was waiting to
intercept it.

Kandahar poster

“We flew in taking shells for the Rabbani government but were
intercepted,” remembered Vladimir Sharpatov, the original pilot-
captain of the unfortunate plane. “So the Taliban took these shells.
But they also had another agenda – to show that Russia was still
involved in Afghanistan. The Taliban wanted to provoke Russia to see
what actions it would take.”

Once captured they were kept in a small, walled compound. All the
anger of the Afghans over the war with the Soviet Union was directed
against them.

“For them we were pagans, the untouchables,” explained pilot Vladimir
Sharpatov. “They would just bring in groups and show us off like
animals in a zoo. They showed us their wounds and stumps, saying –
this is what your soldiers have done. So we represented the whole of
Russia and were to blame for everything.”

They were bundled off as government forces attacked Kandahar and
brought back again when the attack failed. Their spirits sank. But
just as all seemed lost a medical team from the Russian government was
allowed to visit them, bringing supplies and news from their families.

“We had a very productive stay. Four of the crew, if I am not
mistaken, had developed hepatitis and we left them the necessary
medication. Sadly, the food they were given was very poor but we gave
them as much support as we could,” recalled a rescue coordinator
Sergey Kudinov who visited captured pilots.

As the months dragged on and negotiations bogged down it became clear
to the men they would have to try and escape.

They chose their moment carefully, recaptured their plane and flew
home. The rest is history… and film.

“We tried to tell this story as much as we understand it. But I don't
think we’ve understood more than 10%,” confessed the director of the
movie, Andrey Kavun, “And nobody would have understood. You can only
understand it when you’ve been through it.”

He also told RT: “The most interesting aspect of the story is the
human’s side – what happened within the crew, their relationships.”

Watch interview with Andrey Kavun

downloadembed <object width='280' height='225'><param name='movie'
value='http://rt.com/s/swf/player.swf?
The film Kandahar tries to portray the ordeal these men went through,
as it was their counterparts in real life who escaped their captors
and were greeted as heroes on their return to Russia in 1996.

And today, with the Taliban's power apparently growing in Afghanistan
once again, perhaps its time to remember the perseverance and
resourcefulness of Vladimir Sharpatov and his crew.

http://rt.com/Top_News/2010-02-10/kandahar-movie-taliban-afghanistan.html

...and I am Sid Harth

[bademiyansubhanallah]

Pakistan bomber kills 18, Taliban deny leader dead
By Lehaz Ali (AFP) – 9 hours ago

PESHAWAR, Pakistan — Pakistan's Taliban Wednesday lashed out at the
government for referring to reports from "credible sources" that their
leader died after a US missile attack, as a suicide bomber killed 18
people in a restive tribal area.

The blast tore through a vehicle in the Wazirdand area of Khyber, the
infamous mountain district that straddles a major supply line for NATO
troops in Afghanistan and is a hotbed of Taliban-linked militants.

Three other vehicles were heavily damaged by shrapnel. The shoes and
slippers of victims lay scattered across the blood-spattered road, an
AFP reporter witnessed.

"The death toll has risen to 18. Eleven are tribal policemen and seven
are civilians," Shafeerullah Wazir, the administration chief of
Khyber, told AFP.

Rehan Gul Khattak, a local official, also gave a death toll of 18.

Wazirdand is a small town located near Pakistan's northwestern city of
Peshawar on the edge of the tribal belt, which lies outside direct
government control and has been branded by US officials the
"headquarters" of Al-Qaeda.

Tribal police, more lightly equipped than army soldiers, are
frequently targetted by Taliban militants while travelling in exposed
vehicles.

Separately, a Pakistani military helicopter crashed in Khyber while
operating against militants, officials said.

The fate of the two people on board was not immediately clear.

"It was a Cobra helicopter. It crashed during an operation against
suspected militant hideouts in the area," Wazir told AFP by telephone.

"We are trying to get details about the cause of the accident and fate
of the pilots," military spokesman Major General Athar Abbas said.

Security officials said that a senior army official leading a rescue
team to the helicopter crash site had been killed when a group of
Taliban militants fired at them.

"A brigadier was martyred and two other officers were wounded in
firing by militants during the rescue effort," a senior security
official told AFP.

Separately, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), an umbrella group for
the Taliban in Pakistan, continued to deny the death of leader
Hakimullah Mehsud, but held off releasing another message proving he
was alive, after an audio recording last month.

US officials increasingly believe Mehsud died after a US missile
attack last month, part of a covert American drone campaign against
Taliban and Al-Qaeda leaders in the Pakistan-Afghanistan border area.

"Hakimullah Mehsud is safe and alive. The government and our enemies
are waging a propaganda campaign," TTP spokesman Azam Tariq told AFP
by telephone from an undisclosed location.

"Our shura (leadership) has decided not to release his video
immediately. They don't want the government to locate his whereabouts.
We want to keep his presence a secret. We will release a video when we
consider it necessary."

Interior Minister Rehman Malik, who has been criticised for making
incorrect statements about the Taliban in the past, again confirmed
the existence of reports that Mehsud and the TTP's chief trainer of
suicide bombers was dead.

"Hakimullah Mehsud has met his fate. There are similar reports about
Qari Hussain also. Our agencies are investigating," Malik told
reporters in Peshawar, reiterating long-held Pakistani positions.

"There are reports from credible sources, but I cannot confirm," the
minister added.

The TTP has been behind a dramatic increase in bloodshed since
Hakimullah Mehsud assumed the leadership after founder Baitullah
Mehsud was killed in a US missile attack last August.

Killing Hakimullah Mehsud would be a coup for the United States, which
stepped up its drone campaign after the warlord appeared in a video
last month with an Al-Qaeda operative.

Analysts have warned that even if Mehsud's death is confirmed, his
demise could magnify the dangers should Al-Qaeda try to exploit a
leadership vacuum.

Copyright © 2010 AFP. All rights reserved.

The blast tore through a vehicle in the Wazirdand area of Khyber

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gx8FYRcXMhJ2XBhcOT-_2fUeNSuA

Retaking the Initiative in Afghanistan, Sort Of
Judah Grunstein | Bio | 10 Feb 2010

I don't want to make too much of Pakistan's offer to facilitate
negotiations with the Taliban, because there are still a lot of
directions it can take, and many of them are probably bad. But it
bears noting that the shift responds to Islamabad's concerns over
securing its influence in a post-American Afghanistan, and was
triggered by the July 2011 timeframe that President Barack Obama set
for beginning an American drawdown.

That suggests two things. First, the regional actors are taking that
timeframe a lot more seriously than most American observers, something
that was already apparent in the immediate reaction to Obama's West
Point speech.

Second, the application of a time-bounded surge did not create stasis
on the ground as many feared. To the contrary, both in terms of
military action on the ground and diplomatic action in the background,
the U.S. seems to have retaken the initiative in terms of driving
developments. In war, as in politics, that's a significant advantage.

That doesn't mean we have gotten -- or will get -- what we want.
Pakistan, after all, refused to expand its military action in the
FATA, despite significant U.S. pressure to do so.

It could also be that Pakistan cannot deliver "its" Taliban on terms
acceptable to the U.S., or at all. For instance, the article mentioned
safe passage for al-Qaida as one possible way to split the Haqqani
network from the group. That's clearly anathema to a U.S. strategy
that is -- in theory, anyway -- based on eliminating al-Qaida as a
security threat.

The Times quotes Daniel Markey, of the CFR, as saying, "The United
States side is pretty worried about seeing a deal emerge that suits
everyone other than us." But that, as much as the very significant
challenges the war itself presents, is probably why Afghanistan will
prove to be such political kryptonite for the Obama administration.

Because success in Afghanistan -- as opposed to against al-Qaida --
might very well depend on that kind of outcome. And even though
successfully drawing down our commitments in Afghanistan is at this
point a more urgent national security priority than "defeating" al-
Qaida, it will be very hard for Obama to absorb the domestic political
cost of admitting that.

http://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/blog/show/5103

Letter from America

By RICHARD BERNSTEIN
Published: February 10, 2010

NEW YORK — Now that the Obama administration is considering the idea,
emanating from Kabul, that it might be worth talking to Taliban
leaders, it seems worth remembering that in October 2001, as the
United States was preparing to bomb Afghanistan and, presumably,
capture Osama bin Laden, the Taliban themselves had offered to
negotiate.

Mr. bin Laden could be sent to some neutral third country, the Taliban
said through emissaries in Pakistan, if the United States proved that
he was guilty of the Sept. 11 attack, and if it would call off its air
war in Afghanistan.

President George W. Bush’s response was quick and unambiguous: “All
they’ve got to do is turn him over, and his colleagues, and the thugs
he hides.... But there’s no negotiation, period.”

So why should negotiations with the Taliban have been rejected then
and considered now? In some ways the situations are similar. In 2001
the Taliban were the government of Afghanistan; now they are an
insurgent group that has been gaining strength even as the United
States has sought to destroy it. Was the decision to reject talks nine
years ago more emotional than rational? Should the United States be
talking to Mullah Muhammad Omar now?

To talk or to fight? There’s probably no tougher decision, though a
book that came out just this week might help. It’s “Bargaining With
the Devil: When to Negotiate, When to Fight,” by Robert H. Mnookin, a
professor at Harvard University and chairman of the Program on
Negotiation at the Harvard Law School.

To a considerable extent, Mr. Mnookin, who is both a leading scholar
and a practitioner of negotiation, offers a sort of pragmatist’s
manifesto. His thesis is grounded in the belief that practical
outcomes, especially those that can avert war, are usually to be
preferred even when bad has been done and fighting might seem both a
more emotionally satisfying and a more principled choice.

“Should you bargain with the Devil?” Mr. Mnookin asks rhetorically.
His one-sentence answer: “Not always, but more often than you feel
like it.”

“If you want to resolve the conflict and move forward,” he writes,
“you may have to give the Devil something you feel he doesn’t deserve.
This is a bitter pill to swallow.”

Lest that sound like an appeaser’s manifesto, Mr. Mnookin makes very
clear, particularly in a collection of case studies that are the heart
of his book, that talking shouldn’t always take priority over
fighting, and, he believes, the question of negotiations with the
Taliban presents just such a case.

Indeed, in October 2001, when the Taliban offer to negotiate was in
the news, Mr. Mnookin argued in public debates at Harvard against
accepting it, again for reasons of pragmatism. The chances that the
Taliban leader Mullah Omar would turn Mr. bin Laden over and shut down
the terrorist camps in Afghanistan were “slim to none,” he writes,
while even agreeing to talk would “severely undermine our
credibility.”

So how do you know when to talk and when to fight? Mr. Mnookin offers
five basic questions that ought to be asked in any situation, namely:

What are the interests at stake?

What are the alternatives to negotiation?

Are there potential negotiated outcomes that would meet the interests
of both parties?

What are the costs of negotiating?

Is the recourse to something besides negotiating, like military force,
legitimate and morally justified?

What interests Mr. Mnookin here are not so much cases where there is a
moral balance between adversaries, but cases in which one side has
behaved badly and the other side has to figure out whether to settle
with it or not. One of the studies has to do with the few days in May
1940 when Winston Churchill rejected negotiations with the Nazis, even
though, at the time, France was on its knees, Hitler seemed
indomitable, and there was no assurance that Britain could survive if
it faced German might alone.

Now of course Churchill’s rejection of talks with Hitler is seen as
both brave and visionary, though other writers in addition to Mr.
Mnookin have showed that things weren’t nearly so clear at the time.
Churchill’s own foreign secretary, Lord Halifax, was strenuously
arguing the wisdom and honor of ascertaining if a negotiated
settlement with Hitler could be achieved before going to war, while
Churchill’s arguments often seemed emotional and even reckless.

“When I actually went through the minutes of the War Cabinet
meetings,” Mr. Mnookin said in a phone conversation this week, “what
struck me was how many of Churchill’s arguments weren’t very good.”

But in the end, pushed to defend his position, Churchill came up with
his clincher argument — that a willingness to negotiate would signal
weakness and so undermine British morale that it would be difficult to
wage the war the country would face in the likely event that a
negotiation failed.

In other words, to the question “Are there potential negotiated
outcomes that would meet the interests of both parties?” the answer
was “no.” To the question “What are the costs of negotiating?” the
answer was “too high.”

So what, I asked Mr. Mnookin, do his general rules tell the United
States to do in current-day situations: whether to deal with the
Taliban leaders it refused to talk to nine years ago and whether to
negotiate with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran?

On Iran, Mr. Mnookin’s mode of analysis leads to the conclusion that
no military solution is feasible, leaving some sort of negotiation as
the only workable option — “even though American vital interests are
at stake and Iran perpetrates evil deeds every day.”

As for the Taliban, Mr. Mnookin continues to believe that it would
have been a mistake to negotiate nine years ago, and, while he would
be all for luring some Taliban factions away from the insurgency, he
believes that talks with Mullah Omar and his lieutenants would be a
mistake now, too.

“The only basis for negotiation would be power sharing that would give
them some form of regional control and risk eventually giving them
national power,” he said. “With control, I have no doubt they would
shut down schools for girls and do lots of things that would be
disastrous.”

“Even if you decide to make a deal with the Devil,” he said, “you have
to be sure it can be implemented.”

E-mail: ***@iht.com.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/11/us/11iht-letter.html?pagewanted=2

The Good and Bad News about Afghan Opium
Author: George Gavrilis

February 10, 2010

Some rare good news is coming out of Afghanistan these days.
Internationally led counternarcotics efforts have gained momentum,
opium cultivation is decreasing, and more provinces have gone "poppy
free," a term developed by the United Nations Office on Drugs and
Crime (UNODC) that indicates provinces where opium growing has ceased
or reached negligible levels.

But the bad news is that many of Afghanistan's poppy-free provinces
remain critical enablers of Afghanistan's opium economy. Though poppy
growing may be eliminated, criminal networks in a number of provinces
now focus on refining, stockpiling, and transporting opium. A broad
range of authoritative international sources indicates these networks
are at times aided by Afghan government officials who are little
bothered by the Western-led counternarcotics efforts that seek to
eradicate opium crops and chase down Taliban smugglers.

As a result, Afghanistan's drug industry remains intact and very
likely to undermine new anticorruption efforts by international donors
and agencies. If international policymakers are to secure greater
advances against opium, they must adopt efforts that will prod Afghan
officials to take the lead in confronting internal smuggling routes,
processing havens, and protection rackets in poppy-free provinces.

International Counternarcotics Efforts

Opium has been an enduring feature of Afghanistan's political economy.
As Afghanistan experts like Barnett Rubin and Jonathan Goodhand have
shown, a variety of warlords, local chiefs, insurgents, and government
elites played their part in taxing, trading, and protecting the
country's vast opium industry long before the U.S.-led intervention in
2001. Even the Taliban took a strategic view of opium as they rose to
power in the 1990s, at times taxing it for revenue and other times
doling out concessions in the opium economy to win over local
warlords. By 1999, eighteen provinces in Taliban-led Afghanistan were
producing an estimated 75% of the world's illicit opium until an
unexpected and brutally enforced ban in 2000 led to a 98% drop in
poppy production.

After the Taliban were driven out of power in 2001, opium made an
astonishing comeback in the impoverished Afghan countryside. By 2006,
twenty-one of Afghanistan's thirty-four provinces were producing 94
percent of the world's supply--estimated at a pre-export value of $4
billion and equivalent to nearly 50 percent of the country's GDP.

Afghanistan had no capacity to prevent the export of opium and the
country's scant border police were ill-equipped and living in mud
huts, conditions that left some susceptible to bribes and others
helpless against well-armed traffickers. Officials from neighboring
Iran, coping with a full-fledged addiction problem fed by cheap
imported opiates, desperately offered to donate saffron seeds to lure
Afghan farmers away from poppies.

By 2008, the UNODC, Britain, and the United States--lead forces in
Afghanistan's anti-drug initiatives--deepened efforts through
coordinated development, education, alternative crops, and eradication
strategies. International donors disbursed up to $2 million in
development funds to governors in provinces that went poppy-free, and
the British supplemented their efforts with a PR campaign in the
Afghan countryside that portrayed drugs as counter to the teachings of
Islam.

If international policymakers are to secure greater advances against
opium, they must adopt efforts that will prod Afghan officials to take
the lead in confronting internal smuggling routes, processing havens,
and protection rackets in poppy-free provinces.

Eradication was difficult and controversial. It first required
dedicated work by UNODC field surveyors who collect data on opium
planting and harvesting. Next, international officials had to ensure
that target districts were eligible for alternative livelihood
programs. Then, internationally led and Afghan-government-led
eradication teams were put together under severe constraints; Afghan
security forces were ill-prepared, and many ISAF member states excused
their soldiers from counternarcotics operations. In the field, teams
faced hostile farmers, corrupt district chiefs, and well-armed local
militias intent on protecting poppy fields.

Nonetheless, the renewed efforts bred modest successes. By 2009, UNODC
registered a 22 percent drop in cultivation (PDF), twenty provinces
reached poppy-free status, and three others came close. Policymakers
are now gearing up for the 2010 growing and harvesting season and will
likely focus on Afghanistan's fourteen remaining poppy-growing
provinces, many of which host insurgent pockets.

The Taliban Link

Afghan drugs provide a deadly subsidy for insurgent field commanders
who buy arms, explosives, vehicles, and foot soldiers, and so it is
understandable that international military officials pursue
traffickers and drug laboratories when intelligence indicates an
insurgent link. But the size of subsidy remains unclear.

NATO officials say that insurgents get 40 to 60 percent of their
income from drugs, though some of this may come from Pakistan's opium
fields. The State Department estimates the Taliban annually reaps $400
million, while British officials in Kabul say the number is somewhere
between $100 and $450 million per year.

In arms-buying power, any of the above estimates are alarming. But in
relative terms, they indicate the Taliban to be a small stakeholder,
in control of a fraction of Afghanistan's $3 to $4 billion opium
economy.

A Drugged state

As experts have noted previously, much of Afghanistan's drug problem
lies in Kabul and the poppy-free provinces, well beyond the poppy
fields of insurgent-littered districts. To understand why this is so,
it is necessary to revisit events of the past few years.

While UNODC raised the alarm over Afghanistan's bumper crop of poppies
in 2006, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA)
reported that President Hamid Karzai had failed to remove officials
accused of being leading drug traffickers from government positions in
the south. To justify his inaction, Karzai cited the officials as
loyal Pashtun bulwarks in the fight against insurgents. At the same
time, Karzai and his allies in key ministries began reshuffling
officials in the highway police, border police, and district offices
in northern provinces. These appointments enhanced Karzai's political
hand but decreased the prospect of counterdrug efforts.

In 2007, some officials from poppy-growing provinces were transferred
by Karzai to districts in the north and northeast that were
transitioning quickly toward poppy-free status. Of five major police
appointments in Takhar and Badakhshan provinces that year, three had a
history of trafficking. Alarmed international officials warned that
the ministry of interior was renting positions at internal smuggling
routes and border crossings for immense sums.

Provincial and district officials collude with criminal networks and
other government officials to protect, profit, and even provide public
services by virtue of the opium trade.

By 2008, as more areas in the north and northeast went poppy-free, the
northern drug route into Central Asia appears to have become more
important. Tajikistan's authorities seized record volumes of heroin;
Turkmenistan experienced unprecedented drug-related violence in the
capital; and at a high-level ministerial conference on Afghanistan
that December, the Uzbek foreign minister blasted Afghan authorities
for cross-border "narco-aggression." By this point, international
officials and political officers in Afghanistan were reporting that
the northeast border provinces of Kunduz, Baglan, and Takhar were
crisscrossed with drug- and weapon-smuggling routes and that in newly
poppy-free Badakhshan, local commanders and centrally appointed
officials allegedly reached power-sharing agreements over drug routes.

Today, even as fewer provinces cultivate opium and licit GDP
increases, much of the Afghan state remains politically and
economically reliant on drugs. As it has in the past, opium continues
to monetize the Afghan economy, as earnings from drug cultivation,
processing, and smuggling inject cash into Afghanistan's agricultural,
consumer, labor, and construction markets. Despite measured
international confidence in Afghanistan's current minister of
interior, a growing number of international bodies active in
Afghanistan confidentially indicate that provincial and district
officials continue to collude with criminal networks and central
government officials to protect, profit, and even provide public
services by virtue of the opium trade. Given this, it's easy to
understand why Afghanistan today produces much of the world's opium
supply but only seizes 2 percent.

Last Chance, Sisyphus

As they gear up for the 2010 growing season, UNODC, U.S., and British
authorities will push ahead with policies designed to eradicate the
vast poppy carpets in the south and chase after suspected Taliban
traffickers. Their success will depend on a number of factors that
counternarcotics officials and research institutions in Afghanistan
have become better at anticipating: climate conditions, viable crop
alternatives, market prices for opium, security conditions, and
impediments and obfuscation by officials and locals opposed to
eradication. But a long-term decline will require major changes in the
politics and economy of Afghanistan's drug industry.

A counternarcotics strategy that targets transiting and cultivating
provinces alike is in order. This strategy can be encouraged by the
international community but ultimately must be Afghan-led. Such a
strategy can begin with the formation of a task force composed of the
UNODC, UNAMA, and ISAF, as well as Afghan, U.S., British, and Russian
representatives. Russia is an underutilized stakeholder in Afghanistan
and a major destination country for Afghan heroin via northern
smuggling routes. The task force can devise a broader strategy that
will implement the following measures:

•Retool and expand the Counter Narcotics Trust Fund to give rewards
that better reflect a province's advances against narcotics. Current
sums are woefully inadequate. Giving Afghan governors $2 million for
development if their province goes poppy-free is no incentive at all
if a province generates $100 million in drug revenue. More
importantly, the trust fund should create a new reward category that
doles out development funds to provinces that show substantiated
declines in trafficking, not just cultivation. This will encourage
Afghan district and provincial-level officials to suppress smuggling
and processing of opium and discourage official collusion in the opium
economy.

•Create a trafficking-free province program to map internal smuggling
routes and compile data on local and district-level officials
suspected of trafficking, processing, and stockpiling opium,
precursors, and heroin. While the UNODC compiles and publishes
outstanding district and province-level statistics to monitor poppy
cultivation, there is no equivalent mechanism to map trafficking
networks and gauge how a province helps process, transport, and export
opium. The field offices of international organizations (such as
UNAMA) and Provincial Reconstruction Teams located across Afghanistan
produce frequent and highly detailed reports that can be mined and
aggregated to create updated trafficking maps, which could be used as
intelligence tools to help suppress internal smuggling routes,
interdict opium supplies, and shame drug-tainted officials.
Weigh in on this issue by emailing CFR.org.

http://www.cfr.org/publication/21372/good_and_bad_news_about_afghan_opium.html

...and I am Sid Harth

[bademiyansubhanallah]

Afghanistan Opium Survey, 2009
Published February 2010

This annual UN Office on Drugs and Crime report was released in
February, 2010. (The summary findings were presented in September,
2009). The preface states, "The Afghanistan Opium Survey 2009 confirms
that market forces are moving against the Afghan drugs trade as
prices, revenues and excess production have put a damper on supply. As
reported in September in the Summary Findings of this Survey, in 2009
opium cultivation in Afghanistan decreased by 22%, and production fell
by 10% (to 6,900 tons). The number of people involved in opium
cultivation (1.6 million) has dropped by one third, and the number of
poppy-free provinces is up from 18 to 20.

The Afghanistan Opium Survey 2009 goes into considerably more detail
than the Summary
Findings. It especially provides methodological evidence about how the
information was derived. Furthermore, it introduces new information.
Most importantly, it shows that the potential gross export value of
Afghanistan’s opiates is down 18%, from $3.4 billion in 2008 to $2.8
billion in 2009. This is equivalent to around a quarter of GDP, down
from a third last year. This can be attributed to lower cultivation,
lower production, lower prices, and higher GDP."

Essential Documents Afghanistan Opium Survey, Summary Findings, 2009
Published September 2009

The 2009 edition of this yearly UN Office on Drugs and Crime report
states,

"The total opium poppy cultivation estimated for Afghanistan in 2009
was 123,000
hectares (ha), a 22% reduction compared to the level in 2008. Ninety
nine per cent of the
total cultivation took place in seven provinces in the Southern and
Western regions6,
including the most insecure provinces in the country. This further
substantiates the link
between insecurity and opium cultivation observed since 2007.

Total opium production in 2009 was estimated at 6,900 metric tons
(mt), a 10% decrease
from 2008. Virtually all the production (99%) took place in the same
provinces where
cultivation is concentrated. The other provinces produced only 1% of
the country’s total
opium in 2009.

The seven main opium cultivating and producing provinces were Hilmand,
Kandahar,
Uruzgan, Day Kundi, Zabul, Farah and Badghis. The province of Nimroz
is not on this
list because its main opium cultivating area, located in Khash Rod
district, was
administratively re-defined as part of Farah province. The Northern
region was poppy
free for the first time in a decade.

Among the 34 provinces in the country, 20 were poppy free in 2009,
compared to 18 in
2008. With the exception of Nangarhar, all provinces that were poppy
free in 2008
remained so in 2009. The new poppy free provinces are Kapisa, Baghlan
and Faryab.
The total estimated farm-gate income of opium growing farmers amounted
to US$ 438
million. This is a significant decrease from 2008, when farm-gate
income for opium was
estimated at US$ 730 million."

http://www.cfr.org/publication/20150/afghanistan_opium_survey_summary_findings_2009.html

Books Published by CFR:

December 2008

Restoring the Balance

Author: Richard N. Haass, Martin Indyk, Stephen Biddle, Michael E.
O’Hanlon, Kenneth M. Pollack, Suzanne Maloney, Ray Takeyh, Bruce
Riedel, Gary Samore, Steven A. Cook, Shibley Telhami, Isobel Coleman,
Tamara Cofman Wittes, Daniel Byman, Steven Simon

In Restoring the Balance: A Middle East Strategy for the Next
President, experts from the Council on Foreign Relations and the Saban
Center at the Brookings Institution propose a new, nonpartisan Middle
East strategy drawing on the lessons of past failures to address both
the short-term and long-term challenges to U.S. interests.

March 2009

Power Rules
Author: Leslie H. Gelb, President Emeritus and Board Senior Fellow,
Council on Foreign Relations

In this book, inspired by Machiavelli’s classic The Prince, Leslie H.
Gelb offers illuminating guidelines on how American power actually
works and should be wielded in today’s tumultuous world, writing with
the perspective of four decades of extraordinary access and influence
in government, think tanks, and journalism.

May 2009

Guardians of the Revolution
Author: Ray Takeyh, Senior Fellow for Middle Eastern Studies

For over a quarter-century, Iran has been one of America's chief
nemeses. But as Ray Takeyh shows in this accessible and authoritative
history of Iran's relations with the world since the revolution,
behind the famous personalities and extremist slogans is a nation that
is far more pragmatic—and complex—than many in the West have been led
to believe.

May 2009

War of Necessity, War of Choice
Author: Richard N. Haass, President, Council on Foreign Relations

In this compelling book, Richard N. Haass contrasts the decisions that
shaped the conduct of two wars between the United States and Iraq
involving the two presidents Bush and Saddam Hussein, and writes an
authoritative, personal account of how U.S. foreign policy is made,
what it should seek, and how it should be pursued.

September 2009

Forces of Fortune
Author: Vali R. Nasr, Adjunct Senior Fellow for Middle Eastern
Studies

In Forces of Fortune, Vali Nasr presents a paradigm-changing
revelation that will transform the understanding of the Muslim world
at large. He reveals that there is a vital but unseen rising force in
the Islamic world—a new business-minded middle class—that is building
a vibrant new Muslim world economy and that holds the key to winning
the cold war against Iran and extremists.

November 2009

Start-Up Nation
Authors: Daniel Senor, Adjunct Senior Fellow for Middle Eastern
Studies
Saul Singer, Columnist, Jerusalem Post

Start-Up Nation addresses the trillion-dollar question: How is it that
Israel—a country of 7.1 million, only sixty years old, surrounded by
enemies—produces more start-up companies than large, peaceful, and
stable nations like Japan, China, India, Korea, Canada, and the UK?
With the insights of geopolitical experts and investors, the authors
examine this nation’s adversity-driven culture to answer this question
and offer prescriptions for a global economy on the rebound.

March 2010

How Enemies Become Friends
Author: Charles A. Kupchan, Senior Fellow for Europe Studies

Through compelling analysis and rich historical examples that span the
globe and range from the thirteenth century through the present, How
Enemies Become Friends explores how adversaries can transform enmity
into amity, and exposes prevalent myths about the causes of peace.

April 2008

The Fall and Rise of the Islamic State
Author: Noah Feldman, Adjunct Senior Fellow

In this penetrating book, Noah Feldman tells the story behind the
increasingly popular call for the establishment of the sharia—the law
of the traditional Islamic state—in the modern Muslim world.

May 2007

Ruling But Not Governing
Author: Steven A. Cook, Hasib J. Sabbagh Senior Fellow for Middle
Eastern Studies

This book critically examines how the legacies of military control in
Egypt, Algeria, and Turkey affect political development in these
countries, highlighting the often-overlooked difficulties of promoting
democratic change in military- dominated political systems. Using
Turkey's recent reforms as a point of departure, Steven Cook offers
novel policy prescriptions for encouraging political change in Egypt
and Algeria.

October 2006

Hidden Iran
Author: Ray Takeyh, Senior Fellow for Middle Eastern Studies

A groundbreaking book that reveals how the underappreciated domestic
political rivalries within Iran serve to explain the country’s
behavior on the world stage. A leading expert explains why we fail to
understand Iran and offers a new strategy for redefining this crucial
relationship.

August 2006

The Shia Revival
Author: Vali R. Nasr, Adjunct Senior Fellow for Middle Eastern
Studies

As nations around the world struggle with the threat of militant
Islam, Vali Nasr, one of the leading scholars on the Middle East,
provides us with the rare opportunity to understand the political and
theological antagonisms within Islam itself.

May 2006

Thicker Than Oil
Author: Rachel Bronson, Former Adjunct Senior Fellow for Middle East
Studies

The first full history of the U.S. relationship with Saudi Arabia,
revealing why the alliance was formed and what we stand to lose if it
collapses.

http://www.cfr.org/publication/by_type/book.html

http://www.cfr.org/publication/publication_list.html?type=book&page=2

...and I am Sid Harth

[bademiyansubhanallah]

UPI Newsletter Iran opposes Taliban reintegration
Published: Feb. 10, 2010 at 12:30 PM

NEW DELHI, Feb. 10 (UPI) -- Tehran rejected plans to make peace with
moderate Taliban members as part of a broad reconciliation effort
unveiled by Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

Karzai in the wake of a January conference on Afghanistan said he
would call for a loya jirga to discuss ways to bring certain elements
of the Taliban into the political process. The effort is modeled after
the counterinsurgency strategy in Iraq that U.S. military planners
credit with bringing the country back from the brink of civil war.

Syed Mehdi Nabizadeh, the Iranian envoy to New Delhi, complained
Tehran did not want to see extremists in charge in Afghanistan, the
Times of India reports.

"We don't believe in good or bad Taliban," he said.

U.S. military personnel on the ground in Afghanistan said Iran is
supplying the Taliban with weapons. Tehran, however, has often sided
with Western interests in Afghanistan, formally denouncing the Taliban
in 1996.

Nabizadeh went on to complain that U.S.-backed efforts in Afghanistan
have done little to stop the flow of narcotics, curb terrorism and
bring security to the region.

Iran blames the conflict in Afghanistan for border instability in its
southern provinces. Iranian police, meanwhile, regularly scuffle with
narcotics traffickers trying to stream across the border.

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/Special/2010/02/10/Iran-opposes-Taliban-reintegration/UPI-98001265823038/

Military hospitals 'close to breaking point' as British troops prepare
for Taliban offensive
By Jason Groves

Last updated at 10:11 AM on 10th February 2010

Casualties from fighting in Afghanistan are pushing military hospitals
to breaking point, the National Audit Office warned yesterday.

While most badly wounded personnel receive good medical treatment,
military hospitals in Helmand and the UK are pushed 'close to
capacity', the spending watchdog said.

Its report on military healthcare said the Afghanistan field hospital
and Birmingham's Selly Oak Hospital, where wounded soldiers are
repatriated, has seen a surge in demand in the past year.

Full: Birmingham's Selly Oak hospital where wounded soldiers are
treated

At times, Selly Oak has had to transfer civilian patients to private
hospitals to make room for returning casualties.

The NAO warned that if casualty levels continue to rise, patients
might be sent to hospitals with less specialist care.

It urged the Ministry of Defence and Department of Health to
accelerate talks on putting better contingency plans in place for
another surge in casualties.

I'm a Marine, get me out of here! Military men take part in extreme
jungle survival training
How army recruited amputees to make Afghanistan training exercise as
realistic as possible

Last year's fighting saw more than 100 British troops killed in
Afghanistan and hundreds wounded.
In October, Helmand's operating theatres were in use for 16 hours a
day on five days.

At the same time, the ratio of medical staff to troops has fallen from
ten per 1,000 in 2006 to just four per 1,000 last year.

The report also urged defence chiefs do more to tackle a sharp rise in
the number of British troops in Afghanistan suffering from illness and
minor injuries.

Unrest: US Marines seize a market and major junction on the outskirts
of Marjah, Afghanistan, yesterday
Rates of minor injury and illness among troops deployed to Afghanistan
nearly doubled between 2006 and 2009, increasing from four per cent to
seven per cent of the total.

The NAO said 'basic' living conditions at some British bases could be
partly to blame.

Defence minister Kevan Jones welcomed the report and insisted the MoD
was prepared for any increase in casualties.

He said: 'We proved we have the capacity to cope with an increase in
casualty numbers in our response to the Panther's Claw operation last
summer and we have contingency plans in place to deal with the
unexpected.'
Meanwhile, a Commons defence committee report warned that operations
in Afghanistan had had a damaging impact on military training.

Military readiness for handling another conflict were 'low', the
report said.

The committee heard evidence that Harrier pilots have had so little
recent training that they would struggle to operate from an aircraft
carrier at night.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1249828/Military-hospitals-close-breaking-point-British-troops-prepare-Taliban-offensive.html

Special Forces Assassins Infiltrate Taliban Stronghold in Afghanistan
Sunday, February 07, 2010

Feb. 7: U.S. soldiers of the 4th Battalion, 23th Infantry Regiment,
5th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division train in Helmand province,
Afghanistan.

American and British forces poised to assault the Taliban stronghold
of Marjah, in Afghanistan's southern Helmand province, have begun
targeting insurgent leaders for assassination, The Sunday Times
reported.

Special forces have been infiltrating the town on "kinetic" missions —
jargon for armed attacks.

"Special forces guys have been going in on assassination missions with
the aim of decapitating the Taliban force," a military source told the
Sunday Times.

At U.S. Marine base Camp Leatherneck and the adjoining British base of
Camp Bastion, troops and munitions have been airlifted in by night to
avoid enemy rockets. In a break from traditional military secrecy,
American, British and Afghan commanders have revealed that Marjah, the
last town in Helmand under Taliban control, will in fact be the site
of fighting in the near future.

Though Operation Moshtarak —Operation Together — has been widely
publicized by top military leaders, the timeline for the offensive has
not been revealed.

The success of the planned campaign depends on how quickly troops and
civilian development workers can get public services up and running
once the Taliban have been driven away, the top U.S. and NATO
commander said Sunday.

The military has widely publicized the upcoming offensive in Marjah —
the biggest Taliban-held community in the south — although the precise
date for the attack in Helmand province remains classified.

Gen. Stanley McChrystal said the element of surprise is not as
important as letting Marjah's estimated 80,000 residents know that an
Afghan government is on its way to replace Taliban overlords and drug
traffickers.

"We're trying to create a situation where we communicate to them that
when the government re-establishes security, they'll have choices,"
McChrystal said.

Establishing functioning government has been messy even in the
relatively safe parts of Afghanistan. NATO forces and international
diplomats have to balance the need to increase security with the
desire to build up Afghan institutions that have too-often been
corrupt or ineffective.

Click here for more from the Sunday Times.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,585035,00.html

Marines, Afghan army plan massive assault on Taliban
The attack will be aimed at Marja, the last community held by the
militia in Helmand province.
February 03, 2010|By Tony Perry

Reporting from Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan — The U.S. Marines and
Afghan army plan a massive assault on Taliban fighters in Marja, the
last community under Taliban control in a sprawling, lawless region
once dominated by the insurgency, a top Marine said Wednesday.

"We are going to gain control," Col. George "Slam" Amland told
reporters. "We are going to alter the ecosystem considerably."

Amland, deputy commander of Marine forces in southern Afghanistan,
would not discuss the timing of the assault or how many thousands of
troops would be involved.

Amland said the assault would involve Marine units that are part of a
troop buildup authorized by President Obama in December. The assault
will also show how the Afghan army is growing in numbers and
competency, he predicted.

"This is a big leap for the government of Afghanistan," he said.

Marine and NATO leaders want Helmand province to be a showpiece of the
"clear, hold, build and transition" counterinsurgency strategy, in
which Taliban fighters are forced out of a region and then a "civilian
surge" begins to rebuild war-ravaged communities and bolster
confidence of Afghan villagers in their provincial and national
governments.

Where once the Taliban controlled nearly all communities of the
Helmand River valley, Amland said, by summer there will be no place
for Taliban to hide except in mountainous regions with sparse
populations.

While the military part of the operation is the most dramatic, the
actions of U.S. civilian employees, including from the U.S. Agency for
International Development and Agriculture Department, will be even
more significant, he said. The Afghan government is ready to install
local officials to begin reopening schools and clinics and polling
residents about what they want their government to do.

The goal, Amland said, is to spread to Marja the "kinds of success"
seen in other communities once the Taliban were ousted. In the Nawa
district of the province, for example, the marketplace reopened,
irrigation canal clearing projects started, and a local community
council was established once the Taliban fled.

Starting in June, battalions of Marines swept into Helmand, pushing
Taliban fighters away from other communities. Hundreds, maybe
thousands, fled to Marja, which the Marines opted not to enter. Last
year the Afghan army's presence was limited and its effectiveness
doubtful.

Marja, with a population estimated at 85,000, has been a "sore"
hampering U.S. and Afghan efforts in the province, Amland said. From
Marja, Taliban have built roadside bombs, plotted assassinations and
controlled the illicit poppy crop, which provides 60% of the world's
heroin and funnels profits into the Taliban insurgency.

By ousting Taliban from control of Marja, U.S. , NATO and Afghan
officials hope to persuade rank-and-file, non-jihadist fighters --
what Amland called "lunch-bucket $5 a-day Taliban" -- to quit fighting
and decide to see if the Afghan government can provide a better life
for its citizens.

In the interim, the U.S. plans a "cash for work" plan to give jobs to
the unemployed of Helmand province, including young men who may have
joined the Taliban as an economic necessity.

While the assault well be sizable in scale, Amland said, it is the
kind of mission for which Marines continuously train.

"It's nothing we haven't done before; it's nothing we won't do again
in the future," he said.

***@latimes.com

http://articles.latimes.com/2010/feb/03/world/la-fg-afghanistan-assault3-2010feb03

Taliban digs in, awaits U.S. assault in Marjah

By Alfred de Montesquiou and Robert H. Reid - The Associated Press
Posted : Wednesday Feb 10, 2010 10:33:14 EST

NEAR MARJAH, Afghanistan — U.S. and Afghan forces pushed Tuesday to
the edge of the southern Afghan town of Marjah, poised to seize the
major Taliban supply and drug-smuggling stronghold in hopes of
building public support by providing aid and services once the
insurgents are gone.

Instead of keeping the offensive secret, Americans have been talking
about it for weeks, expecting the Taliban would flee. But the
militants appear to be digging in, apparently believing that even a
losing fight would rally supporters and sabotage U.S. plans if the
battle proves destructive.

No date for the main attack has been announced but all signs indicate
it will come soon. It will be the first major offensive since
President Obama announced last December that he was sending 30,000
reinforcements to Afghanistan, and will serve as a significant test of
the new U.S. strategy for turning back the Taliban.

About 400 U.S. troops from the Army’s 5th Stryker Brigade and about
250 Afghan soldiers moved into positions northeast of Marjah before
dawn Tuesday as U.S. Marines pushed to the outskirts of the town.

Automatic rifle fire rattled in the distance as the Marines dug in for
the night with temperatures below freezing. The occasional thud of
mortar shells and the sharp blast of rocket-propelled grenades fired
by the Taliban pierced the air.

“They’re trying to bait us, don’t get sucked in,” yelled a Marine
sergeant, warning his troops not to venture closer to the town. In the
distance, Marines could see farmers and nomads gathering their
livestock at sunset, seemingly indifferent to the firing.

The U.S. goal is to take control quickly of the farming community,
located in a vast, irrigated swath of land in Helmand province 380
miles southwest of Kabul. That would enable the Afghan government to
re-establish a presence, bringing security, electricity, clean water
and other public services to the estimated 80,000 inhabitants.

Over time, American commanders believe such services will undermine
the appeal of the Taliban among their fellow Pashtuns, the largest
ethnic group in the country and the base of the insurgents’ support.

“The military operation is phase one,” Helmand Gov. Gulab Mangal told
reporters Tuesday in Kabul. “In addition to that, we will have
development in place, justice, good governance, bringing job
opportunities to the people.”

Marjah will serve as the first trial for the new strategy implemented
last year by the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, Gen. Stanley
McChrystal. He maintains that success in the eight-year conflict
cannot be achieved by killing Taliban fighters, but rather by
protecting civilians and winning over their support.

Many Afghan Pashtuns are believed to have turned to the Taliban, who
were driven from power in the U.S.-led invasion of 2001, because of
disgust over the ineffectual and corrupt government of President Hamid
Karzai.

“The success of the operation will not be in the military phase,”
NATO’s civilian chief in Afghanistan, Mark Sedwill, told reporters
Tuesday. “It will be over the next weeks and months as the people ...
feel the benefits of better governance, of economic opportunities and
of operating under the legitimate authorities of Afghanistan.”

To accomplish that, NATO needs to take the town without causing
significant damage or civilian casualties. That would risk a public
backlash among residents, many of whose sons and brothers are probably
among the estimated 400 to 1,000 Taliban defenders. U.S. aircraft have
been dropping leaflets over the town, urging militants not to resist
and warning civilians to remain indoors.

Provincial officials believe about 164 families — or about 980 people
— have left the town in recent weeks, although the real figure could
be higher because many of them moved in with relatives and never
registered with authorities.

Residents contacted by telephone in Marjah said the Taliban were
preventing civilians from leaving, warning them they have placed bombs
along the roads to stop the American attack. The militants may believe
the Americans will restrain their fire if they know civilians are at
risk.

Mohammad Hakim said he waited until the last minute to leave Marjah
with his wife, nine sons, four daughters and grandchildren because he
was worried about abandoning his cotton fields in a village on the
edge of town. He decided to leave Tuesday, but Taliban fighters turned
him back because they said the road was mined.

“All of the people are very scared,” Hakim said by telephone. “Our
village is like a ghost town. The people are staying in their homes.”

Sedwill said NATO hopes that when Marjah has fallen, many Taliban
militants could be persuaded to join a government-promoted
reintegration process.

“The message to them is accept it,” he said. “The message to the
people of the area is, of course, keep your heads down, stay inside
when the operation is going ahead.”

Mangal, the governor, said authorities believe some local Taliban are
ready to renounce al-Qaida and give the government a chance.

“I’m confident that there are a number of Taliban members who will
reconcile with us and who will be under the sovereignty of the Afghan
government,” he said.

Ali Ahmad Jalali, a former Afghan interior minister who lectures at
the National Defense University in Washington, said the U.S. had
little choice but to publicize the offensive so civilians could leave
and minimize casualties. He said it would have been impossible to
achieve complete surprise because “an operation of this scale cannot
be kept secret.”

But Jalali added that publicizing the operation may have encouraged
hard-core Taliban to stand and fight to show their supporters and the
international community that they will not be easily swayed by
promises of amnesty and reintegration.

“Normally the Taliban would leave. They would not normally decisively
engage in this kind of pitched battle. They would leave and come back
because they have the time to come back,” Jalali told The Associated
Press.

“If there’s stiff resistance in Marjah, this could increase the
recruiting power of the Taliban or at least retain what they have in
that area,” he said. “It’s become the symbol of Taliban resistance. So
I would suspect it’s possible there would be stiff rearguard
resistance. If it becomes bloody, it would affect opinion in Europe
and the U.S.”

Jalali also said that success would depend on whether the Afghan
government can make good on its promise of services once the battle is
over.

“If the coalition can stabilize Marjah, rebuild it and install good
governance, that can be an example for other places,” he said. “If
not, it would be another problem.”

Echoing this theory, McChrystal told reporters at a defense conference
in Turkey last weekend that it was necessary to tell Afghans that the
attack on Marjah was coming so they would know “that when the
government re-establishes security, they’ll have choices.”

Reid reported from Kabul. Associated Press Writers Christopher Torchia
in Helmand province, Noor Khan in Kandahar and Tini Tran, Kim Gamel
and Amir Shah in Kabul also contributed to this report.

http://www.armytimes.com/news/2010/02/ap_afghanistan_marjah_020910/

...and I am Sid Harth

[chhotemianinshallah]

Mumbai, February 11, 2010
Mumbai theatres under security blanket
PTI

PTI A police officer patrols outside a movie hall in Mumbai. Related

Heavy security arrangements have been made at city cinema theatres
ahead of Friday’s release of Shah Rukh Khan starrer My Name Is Khan
which is facing the Shiv Sena’s ire.

Over 1,600 Sena activists, including functionaries, have been arrested
in the last two days to thwart protests by the Sena, who has been
demanding that Mr. Khan apologise for his remarks favouring Pakistani
players in IPL-3.

“Elaborate security measures have been adopted to ensure no untoward
incident happens (before and after the release of the movie). Nobody
would be spared for taking law into their hands,” said Maharashtra
Home Minister R.R. Patil.

The theatre owners have been asked to install night vision cameras
that would enable police to identify troublemakers in case of any
untoward incident. They have also been advised to keep the first three
rows vacant and deploy at least two security guards inside the hall so
that incidents such as ripping off screens with sharp instruments by
troublemakers can be averted.

Notices warning Sena party leaders not to create law and order
problems have been issued by the police. Police Commissioner D.
Sivanandan has issued guidelines to all the police stations regarding
security arrangements.

Constables stationed at halls have been told to frisk ticket-holders
and check their bags. However, it is not must for cine-goers to show
identity cards.

Each single-screen cinema hall will be manned by a sub-inspector,
three constables, two of them women, and five plainclothes policemen.
In the wake of the Sena intensifying protests, leaves of the policemen
have been cancelled to ensure their full presence.

To further strengthen the security, personnel from State Reserve
Police Force and Home Guards will be deployed at the theatres across
the metropolis.

Meanwhile, Mr. Khan, along with co-actor Kajol and the film’s director
Karan Johar, left for Abu Dhabi on Wednesday to attend a special
premiere of the movie.

On Tuesday, Mr. Johar, who is also co-producer of the film, met Mr.
Sivanandhan to discuss security issues ahead of the movie’s release.

http://beta.thehindu.com/news/states/other-states/article104833.ece?homepage=true

Mumbai, February 10, 2010
‘My Name is Khan’ perfect title: Karan Johar
PTI

Director Karan Johar comes out after meeting Police Commissioner D
Sivanandan in Mumbai on Tuesday to discuss security issues ahead of
the release of his movie. Photo: PTI Related

His film My Name is Khan has been in the line of fire for various
reasons, with the title creating ripples, but filmmaker Karan Johar
says that there could have been no name better suited to his “ground
breaking” pet project.

The much hyped film which marks the re-union of Bollywood’s most
beloved onscreen couple, Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol, has been dogged by
controversy since the beginning, be it the actor’s U.S. airport
detention or the Shiv Sena threat closer home.

“I don’t over calculate any strategy. While deciding upon the title, I
just went by my gut and decided on something which brings to fore the
spirit of the film and the story that I wanted to tell. Everything was
decided in true earnest. The right title of the film was and stays on
as ‘My Name Is Khan’,” Mr. Johar told PTI.

The film sees Mr. Khan play a man suffering from Asperger Syndrome,
who is mistaken for a terrorist post 9/11 and undertakes a long
journey across the US to prove his innocence to the love of his life,
played by Ms. Kajol.

The 37-year-old director is confident that with the film, he explores
a new side of his own self as a film maker. “I felt that as a film
maker, if I could express my thoughts on this subject in a cinematic
narrative, that would be the best,” said Mr. Johar adding that he, Mr.
Khan and Ms. Kajol all got out of their comfort zones for the film.

“The fact is that all of us are in a very happy safety zone. In a
mainstream film, we can get a song which is entertaining, a scene that
is funny and emotions that are easily lapped up by millions. Such
prerequisites really make us very comfortable. But then now is the
time to break new ground,” said Mr. Johar.

When dealing with an issue like terrorism, why did Mr. Johar choose to
depict his central protagonist as someone who is suffering from
Asperger Syndrome? The answer is simple, says he.

“It was important for him not to be neurotypical because otherwise, he
wouldn’t have embarked on a mission like this. Rizwan Khan is
aspirational and knows only good and bad people. He sees things in
black and white. Anyone else in his place would have had so many
different point of views but his mission is very simple.

“The beauty of his mission though is that even he doesn’t realise the
potential of the change that he manages to bring in with the world
rooting for him,” says Mr. Johar.

The film faced a threat from Shiv Sena after the party took objection
to Mr. Khan’s comments supporting the inclusion of Pakistani players
in IPL and Shiv Sainiks continued to protest against it’s planned
release on February 12.

http://beta.thehindu.com/arts/movies/article104372.ece

Mumbai, February 10, 2010
Police crack down on Sainiks, tighten security in theatres
Staff Reporter

PTI Policemen stand guard outside a Mumbai theatre in the wake of Shiv
Sena's protest against Shah Rukh Khan movie “My Name Is Khan”.

In the aftermath of vandalism in theatres that are to screen Shah Rukh
Khan-starrer My Name Is Khan on Friday, the police are cracking down
on the cadres of the Shiv Sena. By Wednesday evening, 59 Sainiks were
arrested for substantive offences and 1,600 taken into preventive
custody. Heavy security continued to be in place in theatres across
the metropolis.

“The arrests are still going on,” Himanshu Roy, Joint Commissioner of
Police, Law and Order, said. The police have issued an advisory to all
the 63 theatres screening the movie in a bid to prevent attacks inside
the hall. They have been asked to leave the first three rows empty,
post two security guards near the screens and install CCTV cameras.

The day opened with theatres and multiplexes closing the bookings for
the film. Cinemax also suspended online bookings. However, bookings
resumed in some theatres after a meeting of film distributors.

Tension prevailed in the Lalbaug area after the arrest of prominent
Sena leader and former MLA Dagdu Sakpal. Ship-owners briefly downed
the shutters, resulting in a bandh-like situation. Mr. Sakpal,
however, was later released on bail. An incident of stone throwing was
reported from Kandivili but, by and large, the day passed off
peacefully.

Home Minister R R Patil told The Hindu: “There was some tension in
Lalbaug, but the situation is normal everywhere. If someone rips a
poster, you cannot call that an andolan. We are providing
protection.”

Withdraw threat: FISA

PTI reports from Melbourne:

The Federation of Indian Students’ Association (FISA) has urged the
Shiv Sena to withdraw its threat to prevent Australian cricketers from
playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL) tournament in Mumbai,
arguing that this is not the right way of protesting attacks on
Indians in Australia.

Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Shashank
Manohar met the right-wing party’s chief Bal Thackeray on the issue.

The FISA said the Shiv Sena’s approach was not correct, and Aussie
players should not be targeted. “We will ask them [the Shiv Sena] to
withdraw sanctions and, indeed, welcome them as partners of all
Indians in Australia,” spokesman Gautam Gupta said at a press
conference here on Wednesday.

http://beta.thehindu.com/news/national/article104522.ece

February 9, 2010
Khan ka Kamaal
JESHI K.

AP SRK UNLIMITED: Shah Rukh Khan rocked Dare 10 in IIPM, Bangalore.
Photo: AP

As the countdown began, all eyes were glued to the stage. Lights went
dim, there was silence and the star descended in true Bollywood style
with music beats. He stood on a podium which moved up in the air, and
everyone in the audience got a glimpse of the star waving and smiling
to them. Decorative display of lights beamed on the stage, ‘King Khan'
flashed on the screen and the youngsters screamed “Shah Rukh Khan I
Love You”. To which the actor replied: “I love you too.”

“We'll have enough fun, music and entertainment,” the actor told the
packed audience at the Koramangala Indoor Stadium. He was in Bangalore
to host the Dare 10, the B-School Quiz organised by IIPM along with
4Ps Business and Marketing magazine. A total of six teams made it to
the finals after competing with teams from 150 countries.

Recalling his childhood memories in Bangalore (his grandparents lived
in Nandi Durga Street) he told them “Success cannot teach you any
wisdom. I came to Mumbai, started doing roles and I became successful.
Sometimes, you don't even know how it happens.”

SRK says failure is an amazing teacher. “It teaches you to be
pragmatic, who your real friends are, and it leads to exhaustion and
you start working harder.”

It is the fear of failure that drove the actor to make it big. “My
parents were not successful, I have seen poverty and I am scared of
begin poor. This fear makes me work hard. Be organised, disciplined
and continue working hard,” he told the youngsters and delivered the
popular “kkkiran” dialogue from “Darr” and “Harne wale ko Baazigar
kehte hain…” from “Baazigar”.

“Find out what is the music you want to dance to. Respect life with
all its failures and problems, accept them and overcome. It will be
easier to lead life,” he told the youth.

After a brief introduction of the teams – IMT, Ghaziabad, Kenan-Flager
from North Carolina, ITM, Mumbai, Booth School of Business from
Chicago, IMNU and IPE, Hyderabad –E , it was back to business with
‘Rip-U-Apart', the first round of quiz. One member of every team wore
a special jacket which the actor tore after they gave the answers.
They chose questions from categories such as movies, fashion, gizmos,
auto and media. He joked with the participants, gave them his own
names, accepted kisses from a participant (whose wife wanted him to
kiss SRK on her behalf), punished the teams that didn't do well with
gifts, “to make up for the sadness” and even taught them how to shake
a leg by dancing to the beats of “Chaiyya Chaiyya”.

In the audience round, he went on the knees to seek permission from a
parent to let her daughter (who was on the dais with him) to watch his
movie “My Name is Khan”.

The People round was dedicated to Khan and the actor appeared on the
stage wearing a suit with six pockets. One of the members from every
team had to frisk the actor, ‘touch and feel' the pocket and choose
the question.

It brought to light some of the lesser known facts about the actor (he
also has a wax statue with six packs at Musee Grevin museum in Paris)
and also about the ‘Road Block' advertising strategy used to promote
“My Name is Khan” and his upcoming 10-part series on Discovery Travel
and Living.

The Product round (seeing is believing) had clippings from popular
movies such as name of phone brand in “Oceans 13” (Samsung), name of
the airlines in “Rain Man” ( Qantas, Queensland Northern Territorial
Aerial Services) and the car model in “Twilight” (Volvo's C30).

The Promotion - Right Foot Forward round was fun-filled as the actor
made the participants dance to his popular numbers such as “It's The
Time to Disco” and “Dard-e-disco”. He also shared an anecdote from
“Kabhie Haan Kabhie Na”. “There is a long scene with an ice cream,
which we shot with shaving foam. I had to eat three times,” he joked.

“Always remember to thank God. Luck also plays a big role in life,” he
told the students.

http://beta.thehindu.com/arts/movies/article103539.ece

New Delhi, February 8, 2010
SRK fed up of IPL controversy
IANS

The Hindu Shah Rukh Khan

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan is tired of being under the Shiv
Sena scanner for his stand on Pakistani players in the Indian Premier
League (IPL), and says now he is hoping that all ends well.

“(I) hope all turns out well. Hate altercations and misunderstandings
— tired of interpretations of this whole undesired and sad affair,”
Shah Rukh posted on Twitter.

Shah Rukh, who owns IPL team Kolkata Knight Riders, had been facing
the ire of the Shiv Sena for his comments favouring the inclusion of
Pakistani players in the third season of the IPL.

The Shiv Sena sought a public apology from the star and threatened to
ban his films in Mumbai, starting with the much-awaited My Name Is
Khan slated to release on Friday.

But the issue sorted out when Sena leaders unofficially retracted from
having issued any such diktat to ban the movie and it is expected that
it may be released without any problems now.

Shah Rukh said he had been “misunderstood” on that issue.

“I don’t think I have ever said anything anti-national or non-Indian.
I need not explain my Indianness to anybody. I have only said what
every Indian should. I stand by what I have said. I think there’s a
bit of agenda and politics in all this,” Shah Rukh had told
reporters.

Comments:

Yes,I think Mr.Khan is right. No need to explain our Indianness to
anybody. Best of luck Mr.Khan for your coming movie MNIK.

from: Mansoor Ali
Posted on: Feb 8, 2010 at 15:54 IST
Shah Rukh, we are with you over the matter. And I appreciate your
stand.

from: Rahul Shankar
Posted on: Feb 10, 2010 at 11:53 IST
Not every Indian wishes Pak. players to play in IPL. It's only Shah
Rukh's personal opinion as a business man. Mumbai attack is very fresh
in people's mind. Nobody can forget that gruesome act.

from: Kiran Vanguri
Posted on: Feb 10, 2010 at 13:46 IST
Mr. Khan, a nation maimed and bled by Pakistan for decades simply
cannot develop selective amnesia and play with its players on the
cricket field.

from: ananthsagar
Posted on: Feb 10, 2010 at 13:51 IST
SRK is absolutely right.There is no need to prove that we are Indians.
SRK best of luck for your new movie.

from: Tanveer Naik Doda
Posted on: Feb 10, 2010 at 14:23 IST
So the movie has got enough publicity now he wants to forget about
it.
At the end SRK achieved what he wanted, it's only the public who are
made fools by the media giving such an importance to this issue.
If he can make such a remark for Pakistan players why didn't he go
bidding for any of them for his KKR?

from: Suresh
Posted on: Feb 10, 2010 at 16:11 IST
Well, Shah Rukh wanted Pakistani players included in IPL. They were
available at auction. Being the owner of an IPL team, why did he not
bid on a Pakistani player?

from: Bharti
Posted on: Feb 10, 2010 at 19:31 IST

http://beta.thehindu.com/arts/movies/article102866.ece

Mumbai, February 10, 2010
Chavan advises Sena, SRK to resolve row by ‘mutual understanding’
PTI

PTI Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan has said that the Sena-
Shah Rukh controversy should be resolved by “mutual understanding.”

After threatening to withdraw Shiv Sena executive president Uddhav
Thackeray’s security, Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan on
Wednesday said the Sena-Shah Rukh Khan controversy should be resolved
by “mutual understanding.”

Talking to reporters here, Mr. Chavan said “The row should be resolved
by mutual understanding.”

He said though the law and order is primarily the State government’s
responsibility, other political parties should also think over it.

On reports that the advance booking for My Name is Khan being closed
apparently due to Sena threats, Mr. Chavan said police are taking care
of security.

“Police are taking care of the security issue to ensure that no
untoward incident takes place,” he said.

Mr. Khan is in the line of fire from Shiv Sena for favouring the
inclusion of Pakistani players in the upcoming season of the Indian
Premier League. His movie is scheduled for release on February 12.

http://beta.thehindu.com/news/national/article104442.ece

Mumbai, February 10, 2010
MNIK protest: Over 1000 Shiv Sainiks detained
PTI

A policeman is stationed outside a Mumbai theatre, which is scheduled
to screen 'My Name is Khan', in the wake of protests by Shiv Sena
activists. Photo: Vivek Bendre

In a crackdown against Shiv Sena, over 1000 of its activists have been
detained ahead of the release of Shah Rukh Khan starrer ‘My Name is
Khan’ after the party stepped up its protest against the film over the
actor’s remarks favouring inclusion of Pakistani cricketers in IPL.

“In the last 24 hours, a total of 1,023 Sainiks have been arrested.
While 955 were picked up under the preventive action, the rest were
put behind bars for different cases, including for protesting outside
the theatre, vandalising screens among others,” police said.

Tight security has been provided to 63 theatres across the city where
the movie is scheduled to be released on February 12, they said.

Guidelines have also been issued to all police stations by the city
police chief regarding security arrangements.

The Sena has renewed its threat not to allow the release of “My
Name...” unless the Bollywood star retracts his statement favouring
inclusion of Pakistani players in IPL—3.

“We will not allow the movie to be released. Shah Rukh should first
apologise to Balasaheb (Thackeray) and then only we can talk with
him,” Sena leader Manohar Joshi said yesterday.

In wake of the Sena intensifying protests against Khan, leaves of the
city policemen have been cancelled to ensure their full presence.

To further strengthen security, personnel from State Reserve Police
Force and Home Guards will be deployed at the 63 theatres that will
screen the film here.

Karan Johar, director and co-producer of the film, on Tuesday met
Police Commissioner D. Sivanandhan to discuss security issues ahead of
the movie’s release.

http://beta.thehindu.com/news/states/other-states/article104102.ece

...and I am Sid Harth

[chhotemianinshallah]

New Delhi, February 11, 2010
Kashmiris wanting to return from PoK welcome: Govt.
PTI

The Hindu Paramilitary troops patrol blast site where militants lobbed
a grenade on security forces in Srinagar in January 2009. Thousands of
Kashmiri youths had crossed over to PoK from 1989 to join militant
ranks. Photo: Nissar Ahmad

In a significant gesture, the government on Thursday said it was ready
to “welcome” Kashmiris who had gone to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK)
if they were ready to return after giving up militancy.

“The idea that any Indian who had crossed over to PoK and wishes to
return India is certainly welcome,” Home Minister P. Chidambaram told
reporters backing the proposal mooted by Jammu and Kashmir Chief
Minister Omar Abdullah.

“The idea is accepted... This idea must now be translated into a
scheme,” the Home Minister said, adding it was one of the
recommendations of one of the Working Groups appointed by Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh for recommending measures to address problems
of Jammu and Kashmir.

Replying to questions at a briefing after meetings of the Cabinet and
Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, Mr. Chidambaram said the return
could be facilitated through a scheme which will entail
identification, screening, travel, debriefing, rehabilitation and
reintegration.

Noting that “PoK is actually an Indian territory”, he said the
government “should facilitate the return” of those who had gone across
the Line of Control for “some reasons“.

Significantly, his statement counters the view of his Cabinet
colleague and former State Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad who has
questioned the idea of allowing the return as he apprehended that they
could come here to “create trouble“.

Thousands of Kashmiri youths had crossed over to PoK from 1989 to join
militant ranks. While many of them infiltrated back, a large number
has not returned. Around 800 of them are understood to have conveyed
their desire, through various channels, to return home.

“We will consult all sections of opinion in Jammu and Kashmir,” Mr.
Chidambaram said noting that there were two parties, National
Conference and Congress, in the ruling coalition in the state. The
Leader of Opposition in Jammu and Kashmir would also be consulted on
this issue, he said, adding “Then we will formulate a scheme. It will
take time.”

Mr. Chidambaram said this when asked to comment on Mr. Abdullah’s
proposal that a surrender and rehabilitation policy should be
formulated to allow Kashmiris to return from PoK. Mr. Abdullah had
said at the Chief Ministers’ conference on internal security here last
Sunday, “To encourage more militants to return to the state and manage
their transition to civilian life, a new surrender and rehabilitation
policy of militants is under active consideration of my government“.

However, Mr. Azad questioned the idea, apprehending it could be used
as a cover by Pakistan to push foreign militants into India. “Who will
take guarantee of these youth willing to return? How can you prove
that these are the same youth who had gone to that side for arms
training and are now willing to come back on their own choice? Some
foreign terrorists can take advantage of this move,” said the Union
Health Minister and senior Congress leader from the state on Tuesday.

“Pakistan has not handed over the accused involved in the Mumbai
terror attacks so far. Who can trust them in this case? There are
chances of adopting a strategy to push militants (into India) taking
cover of this surrender policy,” he said.

The issue of return of Kashmiri youth from PoK shot to prominence in
2006 when a delegation of leaders from Jammu and Kashmir, including
Mr. Abdullah and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, went to Pakistan. Several
Kashmiris bottled up in PoK met them and pleaded to facilitate their
return, saying they were “homesick“.

The issue later had its echo in the State Assembly but the government
stated that there was no proposal to facilitate the return of these
renegade militants. Transport Minister Ram Sharma, however, said the
matter would be taken up at appropriate time.

http://beta.thehindu.com/news/national/article104853.ece?homepage=true

NEW DELHI, February 8, 2010
Centre to formulate surrender plan for J&K youth in PoK terror camps
Vinay Kumar

For the first time, the Centre has agreed to formulate a general
amnesty plan for the Kashmiri youth undergoing training in terrorist
camps in Pak-occupied Kashmir (POK). The broader contours of the
package to facilitate their return to their homes would be worked out
in consultation with Jammu and Kashmir Government, highly placed
government sources said here on Monday. .

Also, it formed part of a recommendation made by one of the five
working groups, set up by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to address
various dimensions of Kashmir problem. One of the groups, asked to
suggest internal confidence building measures, had recommended safe
passage for Kashmiri youth based in PoK.

The Centre’s move came in response to a demand raised by the State
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday while speaking at the Chief
Ministers’ conference on Internal Security here. ``We have agreed in
principle to facilitate the return of youth desirous to come back and
lead a normal life,’’ Home Secretary G. K. Pillai said.

While speaking at the conference on Sunday, the Chief Minister had
sought the Centre’s help in formulating a new surrender policy for
youths in PoK who were willing to return to the mainstream but do not
want to come back with weapons. Mr. Abdullah said to ``encourage more
militants to return to the State and manage their transition to
civilian life, a new surrender and rehabilitation policy of militants
is under active consideration of my government.’’

Successive governments in Jammu and Kashmir have been urging the
Centre to take such an initiative. The Congress-PDP government, headed
by former Union Home Minister Mufti Mohammed Saeed, had strongly
favoured giving a safe passage to the ``misguided’’ youth to return to
their homes but had failed to convince the Centre.

Highly placed sources in the Home Ministry said the process to frame
guidelines has already been started. The answer to some of the
contentious issues such as how to differentiate between those having
committed heinous crimes and the ones with clean record would be
worked out in consultations with the State Government and the security
agencies, the sources said.

Significantly, the Centre is looking at the issue as an ``important
political demand’’ raised by Omar Abdullah that could have far
reaching impact on the psyche of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
``Certainly, it is a political demand and if the persons holed up in
training camps wish to come back, they can be permitted,’’ the sources
added.

It is likely that the Centre would work out comprehensive package for
those choosing to return to their homeland. Apart from providing safe
package, it is also likely to include incentives for their
rehabilitation. ``All these aspects will be properly addressed in a
wholesome manner,’’ the sources said.

About four years ago, the Army had taken a piece-meal initiative and
till June 2007, nearly 170 had surrendered on the Line of Control
before this scheme had to be abandoned. One of the surrendered
militant was found to be involved in an alleged assassination attempt
on the then Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad following which the Home
Ministry ordered a halt to the Army’s initiative.

According to official estimates there are about 800 Kashmiri natives
holed up in PoK training camps whereas the unofficial figures put the
number anywhere between 1500 and 2000. Apart from those having gone
there for armed training, there are hundreds of persons who had
crossed the LOC for economic and social reasons. These categories are
also likely to figure while dealing with the general amnesty issue,
the source said.

http://beta.thehindu.com/news/national/article103146.ece

New Delhi, February 11, 2010
Pakistan’s relative inaction on terror won’t affect talks: Antony
PTI

The Hindu Even though we are not fully satisfied by the action taken
by Pakistan, we feel they have taken some action as per our wish:
Defence Minister A.K. Antony

India said its Foreign Secretary-level talks with Pakistan will “not
be affected” despite increased infiltration by militants from across
the border and the neighbouring nation failing to dismantle terror
groups operating from its soil.

Defence Minister A.K. Antony, however, said Pakistan had taken “some
action” against the terrorists responsible for the 26/11 Mumbai
attacks as per India’s wishes, and that was why India had taken a
conscious decision to go ahead with the dialogue.

“It (infiltration and failure to dismantle terror groups) won’t affect
our dialogue or the scheduled meeting at the Foreign Secretary level,”
Antony told reporters here on the sidelines of an Institute of Defence
Studies and Analyses (IDSA) Conference on Asian Security.

“It is not sudden talks. We have been watching what action Pakistan
has been taking (against terror groups responsible for Mumbai
attacks). Even though we are not fully satisfied on the action taken
by Pakistan, we feel they have taken some action as per our wish. So
it is a positive development. So we decided to initiate talks,” he
said.

He was responding to queries if the composite dialogue would be
affected due to infiltration and terror groups still operating from
Pakistani soil, and if there was any pressure on India to hold the
talks.

“India has taken a conscious decision after seeing some signs from
Pakistan to take action (against terrorists).

That’s why the talks were initiated by our side,” he added.

Antony said infiltration by militants into Jammu and Kashmir had seen
an increase this year compared to last year, and there was “a
calculated” plan behind the spurt “because in the last few years,
especially last year, the law and order situation in the state has
improved and violence levels had come down.”

Noting that it was “a happy” situation for peace-loving people both
within India and outside, he said there were forces bent upon creating
“chaos and trouble”. They were “disturbed and perturbed that the
situation is going in a different direction.”

The Defence Minister said there was “a conscious attempt from them” to
create trouble in Jammu and Kashmir, but refused to name the forces he
was referring to.

Maintaining that 42 terrorist outfits operating from across the border
were still intact, he said, “There is no attempt by the government of
Pakistan to dismantle these terror outfits. It is a matter of concern
for us.”

Earlier, addressing the IDSA conference, Antony said the terror
infrastructure continued to thrive on Pakistani soil and that India
continued to be firm with its demand that Pakistan must put an end to
terror activities emanating from its soil.

Pointing out that the Indo-Pak relations always had a huge bearing on
regional peace and security, he said India’s willingness to resume
negotiations with Pakistan must be seen against this backdrop.

http://beta.thehindu.com/news/article104990.ece?homepage=true

Islamabad, February 11, 2010
Pak wants composite dialogue covering Kashmir issue
PTI

AP TALKS TO TREAT TENSION: A Pakistani woman attends an anti-India
rally with her daughter on February 5, 2010 in Islamabad. India and
Pakistan are willing to resume talks that was halted after 26/11.

Pakistan has indicated its readiness for Foreign Secretary-level talks
on February 25, saying the two sides need to “move forward” but
insisted on resumption of composite dialogue covering Kashmir and
other outstanding issues that is “meaningful and result-oriented”.

Responding to the two sets of dates proposed by India for the talks,
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said February 25 is “not a bad
date” for talks.

Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao had proposed February 18 and 25 as
dates for talks with her Pakistan counterpart Salman Bashir. The
composite dialogue between the two sides was suspended in the wake of
the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.

“I believe we should move forward. Common sense states that talks
should be held as soon as possible,” Mr. Qureshi said. “What is
important is that we start talking. Of course we feel that these talks
should be the restart of the composite dialogue and take it up from
where we left off. After all, all the issues that both sides want to
raise are included in the composite dialogue,” he said in separate
interviews to Geo news channel and the News daily.

Kashmir, water sharing

“We have many outstanding issues on our agenda, like the Kashmir issue
that India recognises. There is the waters issue on which there should
be talks,” he said.

“If you do not hold talks on these issues, the talks will not be
beneficial. Do you want progress or just talks? We want progress and
not talks for the sake of talks. We want meaningful and result-
oriented talks,” he said. Mr. Qureshi was replying to a question on
whether India would be willing to include issues like Kashmir in the
upcoming parleys.

It was “really not that important” where the parleys are held, he
said, adding Pakistan would approach the talks with an open mind.

Referring to Kashmir, Mr. Qureshi pointed out that even India had
started “quiet diplomacy with the Kashmiris“.

At the same time, he said, the sharing of river waters is important
because Pakistan “is an agriculture-based country and 90 per cent of
our water is needed for agriculture“.

Pakistan will also raise the issue of “strategic balance” in the
upcoming talks, he said.

Following India’s recent offer for holding talks, Mr. Qureshi chaired
an inter-ministerial meeting on Wednesday to assess the proposal and
to formulate Pakistan’s response. A statement issued by the Foreign
Office after the meeting made it clear that Pakistan favoured the
resumption of the stalled composite dialogue to resolve all
outstanding issues.

Terrorism, Mumbai attacks

Asked if India wanted the upcoming talks to focus solely on terrorism,
Mr. Qureshi replied that Ms. Rao had told Pakistan’s High Commissioner
to India Shahid Malik that “all issues can be put forward and
discussed“. “They can raise whatever issue they want and we will do
the same. If we are to have a meaningful engagement, there should not
be conditions. There will be no benefits if conditionalities are
imposed. Conditions will prevent the dialogue from moving forward,” he
said.

In reply to a question on whether Pakistan would seek an assurance
from India that it would not break off the talks if there was another
Mumbai-like terrorist attack, Mr. Qureshi did not give a direct answer
but said: “The terrorist incident in Mumbai caused a setback in ties.
Such incidents are occurring in Pakistan almost every day and
nationals of many countries are involved in attacks that kill innocent
people. Have we snapped ties with these countries and stopped talking
to them? We have not broken off ties with governments. Should we
tackle this problem jointly or break off ties and strengthen the hands
of forces who want just that to happen?” he added.

The objective of Wednesday’s inter—ministerial meet was to consult all
stakeholders and discuss India’s offer in the backdrop of the meeting
between High Commissioner Malik and Foreign Secretary Rao.

Mr. Qureshi said he would share the outcome of the meeting with the
political leadership and “then we will chart a way forward“.

Pakistan has no concerns about the dates suggested by India — February
18 or 25 — and the talks could be held in such a manner that they did
not clash with other programmes of the Pakistani Foreign Secretary, he
said.

Asked about the progress made in the four rounds of the composite
dialogue that began in 2004, Mr. Qureshi said: “It would not be
correct to say there was only nominal progress or that the four rounds
were not beneficial. I believe there was incremental progress and
confidence—building measures were adopted on peace and security and
Kashmir.”

http://beta.thehindu.com/news/national/article104850.ece

February 11, 2010
Building schools to fight terrorism
Thomas L. Friedman

I took part in a “ qat chew” the other day at the home of a Yemeni
official. Never done that before. Qat is the mildly hallucinogenic
leaf drug that Yemeni men stuff in their cheek after work — and
sometimes during. My hosts insisted that qat actually makes your
senses sharper and that you could chew and chisel the top of a mosque
minaret at the same time. I quit after 15 minutes, but the Yemeni
officials, lawmakers and businessmen I was with chewed on for three
hours — and they made a lot of sense along the way.

Most had been educated in America or had children studying there, and
they were all bemoaning how the decline of the Yemeni education
system, the proliferation of exclusively religious schools here and
the falloff in scholarships for Yemeni children to study in America
were producing a very different Yemeni generation than their own.

So here is my new rule of thumb: For every Predator missile the U.S.
fires at an al-Qaeda target here, it should help Yemen build 50 new
modern schools that teach science and math and critical thinking — for
boys and girls.

If we stick to something close to that ratio of targeted killings to
targeted kindergartens, we have a chance to prevent Yemen from
becoming an al-Qaeda breeding ground. Because right now there are some
300,000 college-educated Yemenis out of work — partly because of poor
training and partly because there are no jobs — 15,000 schoolchildren
not attending any classes, 65 per cent of teachers with only high
school degrees and thousands of children learning little more than
religious doctrines.

And no wonder. Beginning in the 1970s, the trend in Yemen, Morocco,
Egypt and the Persian Gulf “was to Islamicise education as a way to
fight the left and pro-communists — with the blessing of the U.S.”,
explained Lahcen Haddad, a professor at the University of Rabat in
Morocco and an expert on governance with Management Systems
International, a U.S. development contractor.

Then, in 1979, after the Saudi Arabian ruling family was shaken by an
attack in Mecca from its own Wahabi fundamentalists, the Saudi Arabian
regime, to fend off the anger of its Wahabis, “gave them free rein to
Islamicise education and social life in Saudi Arabia and neighbouring
states.”

“Missions — cultural and religious, semi-official and private — roamed
Islamic countries to spread the word,” said Mr. Haddad. “Cheap books
followed, and students were brought to Saudi to learn from Wahabi
preachers and teachers in the different religious universities that
mushroomed in the eighties.”

Small, economically deprived Yemen was an easy target. Uncritically
accepting of the “truths” of Wahabism became the core curriculum in
many Yemeni schools, Mr. Haddad added, and “it destroyed the
opportunity to build the basic skills necessary to train the right
labour force — skills like problem-solving, communication, critical
thinking, debate, organisation and teamwork.”

America’s last great ideological foe, Soviet Marxism, produced its
share of violent radicals, but it also produced Andrei Sakharov and
Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn — because it believed in science, physics, math
and the classics of literature. Islamism is not producing any
Sakharovs.

May Yamani, the author and daughter of the former Saudi Arabian Oil
Minister, Ahmad Zaki Yamani, minced no words, writing in The Beirut
Daily Star: “Saudi Arabia exported both its Wahabism and al-Qaeda to
Yemen by funding thousands of madrassas, where fanaticism is taught.”

Ahmed Sofan, a Yemeni parliamentarian, told me that back in the 1970s
if you visited a village in his rural constituency, most of the women
would be unveiled and working alongside the men. No more, he said,
“because we now have this Wahabi sense of religious conservatism where
women are supposed to be inside and be veiled.”

Added Abdul Karim al-Iryani, a former Prime Minister: Growing up, “we
studied Darwinism in my high school without challenge”. Not anymore.
“The East Asian miracle,” he added, “wasn’t possible without women. In
the Arab world, if half our society is excluded, how will we ever
catch up with those new tigers?”

The Yemeni journalist Mohammed al-Qadhi reported in The National
newspaper that there may be 10,000 religious-based schools educating
Yemeni youth today. He quoted a top Yemeni education official as
saying, “We are now obliging these schools to teach moderation to
protect our students against extremism.”

In other words, we are now fighting for the West Asia of the 2020s and
2030s. Huge chunks of this generation are lost. When I went to seen
Yemen’s President Ali Abdullah Saleh at his Sana’a palace, he was in a
reflective mood: “I would wish that this arms race could end and
instead we could have a race for development.”

It is the only way, Yemen will have a future. So, yes, fire those
Predators where we must, but help build schools and fund scholarships
to America wherever we can. — © 2010 The New York Times News Service

http://beta.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/article104582.ece

...and I am Sid Harth

[chhotemianinshallah]

Opinion » Op-Ed

February 11, 2010
Palestinians must test Netanyahu’s peace claims
Jonathan Freedland

Tired of the jokes about his wife, perhaps, Northern Ireland’s First
Minister Peter Robinson last week cracked a gag of his own. Marking an
end to more than 100 hours of talks, he said that the province would
be lobbying for the inclusion of negotiating as an Olympic sport in
time for the London games of 2012 — and that Northern Ireland would
win the gold medal.

Not so fast. There could be stiff competition, at least in the
endurance event. One hundred hours might seem like a marathon to Mr.
Robinson, as must the long Good Friday process that preceded it. But
for Palestinians and Israelis, that is little more than a warm-up.
They have been involved in peace talks, one way or the other, since
the Oslo accords of 1993. And while the people of Northern Ireland
have a prize to show for all that effort — namely, peace — the
negotiators of West Asia are still, 17 years on, empty-handed. If Mr.
Robinson and Martin McGuinness have earned their gold, the Israelis
and Palestinians surely deserve a medal for fruitless stamina.

And now they are poised to submit themselves to another round, with
February 20 pencilled in the diary. This time, just as beach
volleyball made its debut at the Atlanta Olympics, the organisers are
introducing a new format. The two sides will not sit across a table,
but rather in two separate rooms. The referee — the role taken by that
hero of Good Friday 1998, the former U.S. Senator and now West Asia
envoy, George Mitchell — will shuttle between the two. If the Israelis
say “no”, Mr. Mitchell will knock on the Palestinian door and say that
they said “maybe”. If the Palestinians say that the Israelis can go to
hell, the perennially patient Mr. Mitchell will relay the message as:
“They’ve asked for more detail.” Think of a couple who refuse to speak
to each other, communicating instead through their children. “Tell
her, I need to use the car tonight.” You might call it infantile. In
international diplomacy, they call it proximity talks.

After 17 years of disappointment, it makes sense to approach this
latest effort with our expectations somewhere below the sub-basement.
It is not certain the talks will begin at all: Palestinian President
Mahmoud Abbas is currently consulting Arab and other foreign leaders
on whether he should drop his insistence that there should be no talks
until Israel agrees to freeze all settlement-building in the occupied
West Bank. The message he is getting is that he should accept Israel’s
partial and temporary moratorium on building, and talk.

At the heart of Mr. Abbas’s dilemma is a judgment on his Israeli
counterpart. Is Binyamin Netanyahu serious about peace, or is he doing
the bare minimum to keep Washington off his back? One nugget of
conventional wisdom holds that while the Palestinians want a deal but
not negotiations, the Israelis want negotiations but not a deal. In
this view, Mr. Netanyahu is happy to go through the motions of talks —
so that he can boast to world opinion that he is doing the right thing
— just so long as he does not have to do anything difficult. That way
he can preserve his rightwing coalition, which would surely unravel at
the first whiff of compromise. Others say that Bibi is sincere, even
impatient for an agreement. Which view is right? Even those who work
for the Israeli Prime Minister are not sure. One official tells me he
does not yet know if his boss is Yitzhak Shamir — the former Likud
Prime Minister and human roadblock who made a career out of saying no
— or Ariel Sharon, the Likud leader who eventually seemed determined
to resolve the conflict until he was fatefully struck down by a
stroke.

In the Shamir column stands Mr. Netanyahu’s entire past record as a
hawk who has repeatedly opposed peace efforts. His rhetoric does not
suggest he has undergone the profound, internal shift that seemed to
have moved Mr. Sharon or, more visibly, Bibi’s immediate predecessor,
Ehud Olmert. Indeed, at the recent Herzliya security conference, Mr.
Netanyahu pointedly contrasted himself with Mr. Sharon, who had used
that same forum to announce his Gaza withdrawal plan, pledging his
loyalty instead to “the land of our forefathers”. The message seemed
clear: Mr. Sharon gave up land, I will keep hold of it.

Sure, he has agreed a freeze on some construction, but there are
plenty of holes in that ice: East Jerusalem is not included, nor are
non-residential buildings, nor is construction already under way. And
even this limited “moratorium” expires in September, with Bibi giving
no hint that it will be extended. Meanwhile, at his side remains a
Foreign minister, Avigdor Lieberman, who not only continues to make
thuggish threats to Israel’s neighbours but recently declared that “if
a Palestinian state is established, there will be no Israel”. None of
this will encourage the Palestinians that, when they sit down for
talks, in the room next door will be a man ready to make peace.

And yet, just on Tuesday Mr. Netanyahu said at a lunch for European
ambassadors, “Test me.” I am told the Americans have been saying the
same thing to Mr. Abbas and his team: you’ll be surprised how far Bibi
is prepared to go.

This “Sharon” view of Mr. Netanyahu notes his belated endorsement of
the two-state solution. Belated, yes; begrudging, most certainly; but
it still came at a political cost, antagonising his rightwing base.
They make similar noises about the settlement moratorium: for all its
limitations, Hillary Clinton was right to say that it was
“unprecedented”. No Israeli leader had done anything like it before.
For those who doubt its reality, talk to the Palestinian construction
workers who, in a bitter paradox, are angry that they can no longer
get work building homes for Jewish settlers. As for that Herzliya
speech, other observers spotted that when Bibi listed those places
that constituted Israel’s true “heritage”, he named none in occupied
territory.

But surely the fact that late last year Israel announced further
building in East Jerusalem undermines any claim that Mr. Netanyahu is
serious about peace? Not so, say his defenders. It merely showed that
Bibi is now drawing a distinction between those lands he intends to
keep and those he is ready to give up, an implicit end to the dream of
Greater Israel, in which Israel would keep the lot.

The Prime Minister’s allies say that in person he is a different man
from the brash, wheeler-dealer of his first, 1990s term. They describe
a thoughtful person, always reading, determined to do more than merely
keep “the seat warm”. They say he now wants to do what eluded his
predecessors and come to an agreement.

It all sounds wonderful. The trouble is, as even his advocates
confess, there is only the slimmest evidence for it: lots of warm
words, very few concrete deeds. Which leaves the Palestinians with a
choice. They can heed Mr. Mitchell when he says “Trust me” — and turn
up at the proximity talks, waiting to hear what Bibi comes up with.
Or, better, they can take Mr. Netanyahu at his word when he says “Test
me” — and do more than wait. They should devise a strategy that will
push the Israeli Prime Minister, forcing him to make good on all the
talk. It will mean taking him by surprise with a move that requires a
serious response. But do it: call his bluff.

One Palestinian insider says they are about to enter “a grey zone”,
full of uncertainty. But the alternative is no talks at all. And, even
after 17 years of frustration, that would be a disaster.

— © Guardian Newspapers Limited, 2010

http://beta.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/article104589.ece

Opinion » Columns » Hasan Suroor

February 9, 2010
Faith lobby and secular laws
Hasan Suroor

Can religious bodies claim a privileged status and demand exemption
from secular laws, especially those intended to prevent
discrimination?

While across the Channel in France secularists are on the march and
busy banning any hint of religiosity in public, in Britain the wind
appears to blowing in exactly the opposite direction with the
religious establishment setting the agenda. Its latest triumph is
winning an extraordinary exemption from a new equality law which would
make it illegal for employers to discriminate on the basis of people’s
sexuality.

The exemption means that religious bodies would be able to refuse —
with impunity — to hire gays even for jobs which have no bearing on
religion thus closing a whole range of employment opportunities for
them. It will also allow foster care homes run by religious charities
to decline to place children with same-sex couples.

As commentators have pointed out the bill was never designed to
impinge on the right of religious groups to apply faith criteria to
religious jobs such as priests, imams or pundits but simply to clarify
which jobs should be open to all irrespective of their beliefs, gender
or sexuality.

The government was forced to retreat after a revolt by bishops in the
House of Lords and a strong public protest from the Pope who denounced
Britain’s equality laws as a threat to religious freedom.

In a speech, announcing his visit to Britain in the autumn, he accused
his prospective hosts of violating “natural law” and imposing “unjust
limitations on the freedom of religious communities to act in
accordance with their beliefs.” He urged a group of visiting Catholic
bishops from England and Wales to stand firm in defence of their
religious beliefs that, he suggested, were under threat in Britain.

The Pope’s intervention, which emboldened the Church of England and
other faith groups to step up their opposition to the bill , surprised
observers. One newspaper noted that it was “highly unusual” for a
foreign head of state to intervene so directly in the legislative
process of another country.

But there’s a more fundamental issue at the heart of this debate: can
religious bodies claim (and be granted as has happened in this case) a
privileged status and demand exemption from secular laws, especially
those intended to prevent discrimination on grounds of religious or
other prejudices?

Government’s “surrender”

“The question the Pope seems to skate over is whether religious
communities can legitimately choose for themselves their own
constitutional arrangements. The Pope’s view is a misunderstanding of
that principle..... Laws that subject religion to the same
responsibilities on discrimination as civil society are not a
violation of religious liberty because they do not penalise religion,”
wrote The Times’ commentator on religious affairs Ruth Gledhill.

Liberal opinion across the religious divide is incensed over what it
sees as the government’s “surrender” to the faith lobby to win its
support in the coming general elections. There is a substantial
Catholic vote (almost five million) and which way it goes could
influence the outcome.

Allegations of political opportunism apart, the exemption, it seems,
could be in breach of the European Union’s employment directive.
According to the National Secular Society, the original bill was
designed to bring the U.K. law in line with the EU directive and by
agreeing to the changes forced by faith groups the government has put
itself on a “collision course” with the EU.

“This could lead to the Government facing prosecution by the European
Court of Justice,” warned the Society’s Executive Director Keith
Porteous Wood announcing the launch of an online public petition
against the changes and the Pope’s planned visit.

Ironically, while church attendance across Britain is reported to be
in free-fall (the Church of England feels specially neglected by its
flock) religious groups and individuals have become increasingly vocal
in recent years in opposing laws that they see as being inconsistent
with their own beliefs.

Two years ago, Britain’s Catholic church nearly derailed a landmark
legislation allowing scientists to create hybrid embryos in order to
find cure for diseases like Alzheimer’s and multiple sclerosis. It
portrayed the legislation as a “monstrous attack” on Catholic beliefs
and urged Catholic MPs and ministers to “act according to their
Catholic convictions” when voting on it.

Invoking their “religious conscience,” three senior cabinet ministers
threatened to resign if they were forced to support it plunging the
government into a crisis. And, in the end, they had their way as the
government was compelled to allow a free vote on several key clauses.

Meanwhile, state-funded faith schools that are effectively licensed to
discriminate against the children of taxpayers of other faiths are
proliferating in the name of multiculturalism with Christians, Jews,
Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs all drawing on public money to run
denominational institutions.

As we go to press, there are reports that a judge is to be
investigated by the Judicial Complaints Office for giving a lenient
sentence to an accused because he was a “religious” man!

Suspending his jail sentence, the judge told him: “I am going to
suspend this sentence for the period of two years based on the fact
that you are a religious person.... and you know this is not
acceptable behaviour.”

The judge in question is former Prime Minister Tony Blair’s wife
Cherie, a practising Catholic who apparently had a huge influence on
her husband’s decision to convert to Catholic faith.

Ironically, the accused committed the offence (he punched another man
in the face) as he came out of a mosque after offering namaaz!

Comments:

Surprised to read that leaders of Christians in UK and also the Pope
could influence the outcome of an Act meant for the citizens of UK.
How can UK claim to be secular if it buckles under the pressure of
religious leaders? The Christians in India find themselves lorded by
the clergy from birth till death. The clergy in India govern the
believers as India has yet to usher in an Act to regulate the control
of the temporal wealth of all denominations of Christians. The
temporal wealth of other major religions in India are administered by
Acts passed by Parliament.

from: P H Hormis Tharakan
Posted on: Feb 10, 2010 at 18:58 IST
Religion is like the DNA of a society, while it powers evolution and
creativity, it also seems fixed at a level.

from: S.Sistla
Posted on: Feb 11, 2010 at 09:34 IST

http://beta.thehindu.com/opinion/columns/Hasan_Suroor/article103858.ece

Opinion » Op-Ed

February 4, 2010
When the media set the agenda
Hasan Suroor

The obsession of the Indian media with Pakistan in their pursuit of
easy headlines turned the London meet on Afghanistan into a sideshow.

A lot of Indian television viewers and newspaper readers could be
forgiven if they thought that last week’s conference of world leaders
in London was about India and Pakistan’s running feud over the 26/11
attacks rather than Afghanistan, and that the whole thing ended up in
a “war of words” between External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna and
his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi.

For this was how it was treated by a section of the Indian media,
especially TV channels, with their breathless reporting of Krishna-
Qureshi exchanges giving the impression that this sideshow (how it was
contrived, we will come to that in a bit) was the real thing.

But banish the visions of an India-Pakistan riot at Lancaster House.
The fact is that despite their differences — including over
Afghanistan — the two countries were at their civilised best
throughout the conference and, in the end, helped produce an important
agreement with both expressing satisfaction with the outcome.

The entire controversy around the Krishna-Qureshi row was instigated
by TV channels to spice-up what otherwise would have made for dull
television. What? An international conference with India and Pakistan
in starring roles and no fireworks? What an awful waste of precious
footage that would have been!

No wonder, they showed little interest in the conference except to use
it as a “peg” for the sexier India-Pakistan story.

It is important to stress that on the eve of the conference there was
no hint of the “storm” to follow. Both Mr. Krishna and Mr. Qureshi had
only friendly words for each other. For example, when it was reported
that Mr. Qureshi wished to have bilateral discussions with his Indian
peer on the sidelines of the conference, Mr. Krishna responded warmly
that he would be only too happy to meet him. And when they met in the
course of the summit they were courteous to each other, if not exactly
ecstatic. According to Mr. Qureshi, they shook hands and said “hello”.

Within hours, however, their tone had hardened with Mr. Qureshi
accusing India of “sulking” over the Mumbai attacks and “shying away”
from a dialogue — and Mr. Krishna returning the compliment with a
sharp jibe about Pakistan’s terror links. “People who are sitting in
the epicentre of terror, I think they should look inwards and they
should introspect,” he said curtly, reacting to Mr. Qureshi’s remark
that the Indian “polity” was “divided” over resuming the dialogue with
Pakistan.

So what changed?

On the face of it, nothing happened at the conference that can be said
to have provoked the row that followed. But, yes, something did happen
outside the conference hall; and it was this: a well-known TV
journalist from New Delhi appeared on the scene and effectively
hijacked the agenda as far as the Indian media coverage of the summit
was concerned by focussing on India-Pakistan tensions in interviews
with Mr. Qureshi and Mr. Krishna.

Neither said anything new or particularly provocative. With a few new
adjectives thrown in, Mr. Qureshi basically repeated the old line
accusing India of petulance and insisting that Pakistan was doing its
best to deal with New Delhi’s grievances while Mr. Krishna reiterated
the well-known Indian official position. But in TV terms anything said
“live” on camera and with an “exclusive” tag attached to it (not to
mention the backdrop of an international summit, and in a major
western capital to boot) is presented — and perceived — as big news.

And once it is on TV, others find it hard to ignore; especially if it
purports to be a public spat between India and Pakistan at the highest
level: Foreign Ministers feuding in London on the margins of a world
meet!

No prizes are offered for guessing what is more likely to make the
headlines: A “stabilisation” plan for Afghanistan? Or Qureshi “slams”
India ; and Krishna, Qureshi “spar” over Mumbai attacks? Naturally a
lot of the Indian media plumped for the latter.

The fact, though, remains that it was a spurious controversy tailored
to the demands of 24/7 rolling TV news without regard for the
consequences. If as a result of this row India-Pakistan relations get
worse, then for once it would be hard to disagree with those who may
blame it on the media.

No doubt, it has become fashionable to dismiss every controversy as a
“media creation” and often there is not enough appreciation of the
pressures on TV journalists to produce headlines (that is the nature
of the beast they must feed to remain in business) but there are times
when, as a viewer, if one knew how a story was created and packaged,
one would feel cheated. And this was one of those occasions.

The episode also underlined Indian media’s obsession with Pakistan in
their pursuit of easy headlines which in the case of TV channels, of
course, translate into ratings. Yes, yes, the hacks across the border
are similarly obsessed with India (if anything, even more) but I am
talking about us.

Comments:

Very well said, at times media is to blame for not allowing the
normalisation of relations between India and Pakistan.

from: Rahul
Posted on: Feb 6, 2010 at 21:25 IST

http://beta.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/article100367.ece

Opinion » Op-Ed

January 29, 2010
The strange case of Frances Inglis
Hasan Suroor

Should a devoted mother who kills her own son because she can’t bear
his pain be lauded for her courage or be condemned as a monster?
Should she be judged by conventional moral and legal standards or does
her action, borne out of her compassion for her son, elevate her to an
altogether higher realm where normal rules don’t apply?

That’s the debate (“A cold-blooded killer or a loving mum” as one
newspaper asked) triggered by the story of a British working class
mother who killed her 22-year-old son by giving him a lethal heroin to
end his “living hell” after an accident left him brain-damaged and in
a vegetative state with little hope of recovery.

The story of 57-yearold Frances Inglis, a trainee nurse, and her son,
Tom, has dominated headlines in recent weeks. When she was jailed for
life last week, it sparked a wave of sympathy for her and revived
calls for a review of Britain’s current laws which ban assisted
suicide or “mercy killing.”

The jury was heckled for rejecting her defence that she acted out of
love for her son and simply did what he would have liked her to do if
he were in a position to speak. The verdict was greeted with cries of
“shame, shame” from Ms Inglis’s family members and, on the net,
bloggers called for the concerned judges to be “sacked.”

Family support

While she herself showed no emotions except to insist that she was
“not a murderer” and did “not regret” her action, her family —
including her estranged husband and Tom’s girlfriend — hailed her as
the “brave one,” and said they supported her “100%.”

“All those who loved and were close to Tom have never seen this as
murder, but as a loving and courageous act,” her oldest son, Alex,
said calling for a complete rethink of existing laws that affect
people like Tom.

Questioning the life sentence handed down to Ms Inglis, one critic
asked: “How is it in the public interest for Frances Inglis, by common
agreement a devoted mother, to be punished in this way? She has not
been proved evil and she is not a danger to society.”

Her friends, describing her as a “pillar of the community” who was
always willing to help others, argued that she could not be treated as
a common criminal.

“It has been said that she was obsessive and wouldn’t listen to
anyone. But I defy anyone to see their child like that and not want to
do the same. She took his hell,” Tom’s aunt Jean Bruin told a
newspaper.

During her trial, which gripped the nation for weeks, Ms Inglis often
came across as a figure from a Greek tragedy torn between her love for
her son and the “society’s conventions,” as the judge, passing the
sentence, noted.

“We can all understand the emotion and the unhappiness that you were
experiencing. The fact is that you knew that you intended to do a
terrible thing. You knew you were breaking society’s conventions, you
knew you were breaking the law, and you knew the consequences,” Judge
Brian Barker told her.

The court heard how this frail woman pursued with single-minded
determination her resolve to put an end to her son’s suffering. After
she failed in her first attempt to kill him in September 2007, she was
arrested and barred from having any contact with him. But a year
later, she struck again and this time succeeded in administering a
fatal dose to Tom.

In the court, Ms Inglis sobbed uncontrollably as she recalled her
despair at the “horror, pain and tragedy” of her son’s helpless
condition.

“For Tom to live that living hell — I couldn’t leave my child like
that,” she said denying that what did amounted to murder.

“I don’t see it as killing or murder. The definition of murder is to
take someone’s life with malice in your heart. I did it with love in
my heart, for Tom, so I don’t see it as murder….I believed it would
have been Tom’s choice to have been allowed to die rather than have
the intervention to keep him alive,” she said.

Victim of a system

Many see her as a victim of a system that while outlawing assisted
suicide allows for the family of a coma patient to apply to the court
to withhold his/her food and water — and if the court permits doctors
can starve the patient to death by withdrawing the sustenance. When
doctors told her that the only way for her son to be allowed to die
legally was for her to go to court, she said she couldn’t “bear the
thought of Tom dying of thirst or hunger.”

It is the latest in a series of cases where parents have secretly
helped their terminally-ill relatives, including children, die. Last
year, in a widely reported case parents of a young British rugby
player Daniel James, paralysed after a training accident, agreed to
take him to a suicide clinic in Switzerland to die in order to fulfil
his desire.

Indeed, because of Britain’s stringent anti-euthanasia regime, it has
become routine for terminally-ill Britons to travel abroad to die.
While assisted suicide still remains illegal in Britain, under new
guidelines relatives of patients who help them kill themselves would
not face prosecution so long as they do not “maliciously” encourage
them and are simply fulfilling someone’s “clear, settled and informed
wish” to die.

A loving mum or a cold-blooded killer?

Comments:

Mr. Suroor, each time an article in the Hindu catches my eye and
compels me to read it completely and prompts me to look at the
author's name, I discover its been authored by you. In other words, I
compliment your subjects and style of writing.

Being a lawyer who has worked on medico-ethical issues for the past 7
years and having addressed the issue of euthanasia several times, I do
appreciate the complexity of the issue. We still await a test that may
be applied widely for selective sanction of such cases.

I wonder if you may like to refer to my article on the 'Law of
Abortion in India' that was published by Indian Express as a blog
dated 04-12-2008. It also discusses euthanasia.

All the best,
Panchajanya Batra Singh
(Author of 'Story of a Young Lawyer')

from: Panchajanya
Posted on: Jan 29, 2010 at 12:19 IST
Ms.Inglish deserves all the love, compassion and sympathy and
definitely not , I repeat definetely not, the punishment.

from: Guptan Veemboor
Posted on: Jan 29, 2010 at 12:59 IST
Story makes for painful reading. This is one issue where it is
difficult to take sides. Making someone suffer till he/she dies, is
unacceptable when euthanasia as a solution exists. But , considering
the scale of abuse of criminal law by vested interests, legalising
euthanasia can lead to a catastrophe. One can only hope jurists can
come up with a solution that will address the concern on both sides.
The article is timely and instead of waiting for a controversy,
Government of India must think of a plan as early as possible which
can be implemented in India.

from: Sreeraj Menon
Posted on: Jan 29, 2010 at 13:26 IST

http://beta.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/article96478.ece

Opinion » Columns » Hasan Suroor

January 21, 2010
Of Jinnah, BJP and “turban diplomacy”
Hasan Suroor

“All political parties have a penumbra and if they lose that they lose
their justification.” Photo: K. Bhagya Prakash



For Jaswant Singh, the success of his latest book is hardly a
compensation for the loss of a successful political career.

“With friends like these, who needs enemies?”

That appeared to be the message Jaswant Singh wanted to give to the
BJP when, last week, he spoke at some length about the runaway success
of his book on Jinnah (Jinnah: India-Partition-Independence) which
caused his expulsion from the party five months ago.

In retrospect, the BJP might be regretting kicking up a needless
controversy over a book (a rambling 600-page tome with no significant
new insight to offer) that may have struggled to sell had it been
simply ignored. Instead, as a beaming Mr. Jaswant Singh pointed out,
the book is already into its 23rd reprint and an international edition
from Oxford University Press will be launched in London in March.

“I am told that Karachi was flush with pirated copies,” he gushed,
speaking to a group of British Asian MPs and South Asian journalists.

The book's success, though, is hardly a compensation for the loss of a
successful political career, not to mention the public humiliation of
being expelled from a party that had been home to him for more than 40
years. And that is what makes him angry.

“They [the BJP leadership] knew that I was writing about Jinnah. It
was no secret,” he said, clearly sounding hurt that even close
colleagues whom he had expected to stand up for him left him hanging
out to dry.

Mr. Jaswant Singh pointedly recalled how he “fought” for L.K. Advani
when he got into trouble with the party over his own remarks about
Jinnah. “I fought for Advaniji. I told them I would resign if action
was taken against him,” he said.

While the former Foreign Minister is still struggling to come to terms
with the way he was treated, he believes that the BJP acted the way it
did because it would lose its ideological raison d'etre if it were to
stop “demonising” Jinnah.

“All political parties have a penumbra and if they lose that they lose
their justification,” he said adding that in the case of the BJP that
“penumbra” is Jinnah.

Calling for an end to Jinnah-bashing, he said that Indians who treated
Pakistan's founder as a “demon” were as wrong as the Pakistanis who
demonised Gandhi. Jinnah was a “very straight” and “determined” man
and had he lived to realise his vision of Pakistan it would have been
a very different country today.

“I have no doubt about that Jinnah died before he was able to realise
his vision,” he told a Pakistani reporter.

It was interesting to see how Pakistani journalists suddenly warmed up
to Mr. Jaswant Singh when he praised Jinnah but sat back in sullen
silence when he criticised Pakistan for its shock invasion of Kargil
so soon after Atal Behari Vajpayee's historic bus ride to Lahore.

I remember being at the Wagah border on that balmy February afternoon
in 1999 when Sada-e-Sarhad (as the bus was named) crossed into
Pakistan amid a wave of euphoria on both sides of the border. Few
would have imagined at the time that barely months later the two
countries would be at war with each other.

Mr. Jaswant Singh shakes his head in disbelief at the turn of events.
The Pakistani action caused him deep personal hurt because, he claims,
the bus ride was his idea.

“Prime ministers don't ordinarily travel by bus. I suggested to Prime
Minster Vajpayee - and it was in New York that this suggestion was
made - that 'why not travel to Lahore by bus',” he claimed.

Mr. Vajpayee was so taken up by the idea that he declared: “Yeh lohe
ya ispaat ki bus nahin hai, yeh jazbaat ki bus hai.” (This is not just
a bus made of iron or steel; it is a bus of emotions)

Back in Pakistan though, planning for the Kargil adventure had already
begun. Whether Nawaz Sharif, who co-hosted the Lahore summit as Prime
Minister of Pakistan, knew about it is not clear (Pervez Musharraf
insists that he did; he denies it) but Mr. Jaswant Singh has rather
fond memories of his meeting with “Mian sahib”.

That Mr. Sharif has a taste in sharp suits and designer salwar-
kameezes is well-known, but it seems he cannot resist a good
Rajasthani “pagri” (turban) when he sees one, as Mr Jaswant Singh
discovered.

“I wore a turban to visit a gurdwara in Lahore. He said: 'I like your
pagri very much'. So, I told him: 'now that you have said this I must
gift it to you' I then sent him 11 turbans,” Mr. Jaswant Singh
recalled counting his fingers, though he did not quite explain the
significance of 11. Why not 10? Or 12?

But then Kargil happened, putting an end to his quiet “turban
diplomacy”. Indeed, one wonders if Mr. Sharif ever got to wear any of
the turbans before he was sent packing by General Musharraf after
staging a coup later that year.

So, what next for Mr. Jaswant Singh? Did he plan to form a political
party?

“No, no, there are enough political parties,” he protested saying that
he wanted to work for peace in South Asia which was going through its
“most perilous” phase in 62 years.

“I want to work for peace in Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh
- and I want to expand the constituency of peace in our land,” he
declared.

Unless, of course, he is rehabilitated by the new BJP management.
Never rule out anything in politics!

Comments:

Well written article.

Wonder what he will do for peace in South Asia.

from: Nikhil
Posted on: Jan 22, 2010 at 12:35 IST
The expulsion of Jaswant Singh is deeply saddening and reflective of
the lack of tolernce in a political party that he had served with so
much distinction for nearly 40 years. He was the most acceptable
moderate face of the Vajpayee government, leading the secular rhetoric
in international fora along with tremendous success in stabilizing the
economy and putting it on a growth path. Yet falls come swiftly and
suddenly for politicians and Jaswant singh is no exception, expelled
for all the wrong reasons, yes, but it is not the first time that it
has happened and neither will it be the last time.

from: P Sathyasree
Posted on: Jan 25, 2010 at 07:35 IST
Mr Jaswant Singh had been with BJP for almost 3 decades. Can he not
anticipate the consequences of praising Jinnah staying in BJP ? I
strongly believe that a political party especially BJP has people
having similar ideologies.Whether the ideology is correct or not is
not the question here. But a senior leader like Jaswant Singh
shouldn't have ditched the party especially when it is in trouble.

from: Sravan Pradjumna T
Posted on: Jan 25, 2010 at 14:49 IST

http://beta.thehindu.com/opinion/columns/Hasan_Suroor/article83404.ece

Opinion » Columns » Hasan Suroor

January 5, 2010
Radicalisation of U.K. campuses
Hasan Suroor

AFP/U.S. MARSHALS SERVICE WRONG EDUCATION: Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab

Abdulmutallab’s London connection has strengthened the Right wing’s
call for a crackdown on campus radicalism.

What is it about London and Muslim extremists? It is perhaps the only
major western capital which finds itself so frequently linked to
Islamist radicals. No matter where in the world — from Mumbai to
Detroit — a terror attack takes place or a terror suspect is caught,
more often than not it turns up a London “connection”.

Indeed, Britain has become so notorious for its reputation as a safe
haven for the radical flotsam and jetsam of the world that whenever a
plot is uncovered intelligence agencies instinctively look for a link
with London, dubbed “Londonistan” to rhyme with such hotbeds of
extremism as Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The revelation that Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the Nigerian youth who
attempted to blow up an American airliner over Detroit on Christmas
Day, spent three years at a London university where he allegedly
dabbled in extremist propaganda has reignited the row over the so-
called “Islamisation” of British campuses with the government being
accused of not doing enough to tackle the problem.

It has emerged that during his time at the University College London,
Abdulmutallab was president of the Islamic Society whose branches in
various institutions are often controlled by radical groups, notably
Hizb-ut-Tahrir (HuT) that calls for the establishment of a worldwide
Islamic state and some of whose ex-members are said to have gone on to
become militant jihadis. It has been claimed that he is the fourth
president of a university Islamic Society to face terror charges.

Lately, a number of former HuT activists — now supposedly “reformed” —
have come in from the cold to give an “insider’s” account of outfit’s
activities and presence on British campuses. They include Ed Husain
who has written a best-selling book, The Islamist, on the subject and
now heads a high-profile think-tank that advises the government on “de-
radicalisation” strategies.

Radicalisation of British universities has become a major political
issue in recent years. Three months after the July 2005 London
bombings, Professor Anthony Glees, a Right-wing academic, published a
rather alarmist report sensationally titled When Students Turn to
Terror in which he named more than 30 universities where, he claimed,
“extremist and/or terror groups” operated. Within months, the
government issued guidelines to universities advising them to “vet”
students for extremist tendencies, identify potential jihadis and
report them to security agencies. However, it was forced to tone down
the advice after academics protested that it amounted to asking them
to “spy” on their own students.

The Right has seized the botched Detroit plot to demand that the old
guidelines be revived and strictly implemented, and to attack
universities which accept funding from “Arabic and Islamic
sources” (as one self-styled “Islamic specialist” put it) for setting
up centres of Islamic studies. “Reformed” radicals, fired by the zeal
of a “new mullah”, have joined calls for strict “policing” of campuses
and warned that otherwise “we will see more Umar Farouk
Abdulmutallabs.”

Writing in this week’s Observer, a former senior member of HuT, Rashad
Ali, painted an alarming picture of how extremist groups have
penetrated universities through organisations like the Islamic
Society.

“When I was involved with Hizb, we controlled the Islamic Society of
Sheffield Hallam University for several years, as well as running the
society in Bradford University and Birmingham University. We were full-
time activists dedicated to fomenting dissent, anti-western feelings
and nurturing those who we believed could help to advance our cause,”
he wrote accusing universities of being in denial about the “level of
radicalisation” taking place on campuses.

Post-Detroit, there have been renewed calls for a ban on HuT and other
similar organisations. But there are those who sensibly argue that
banning religious or cultural groups, no matter how toxic their views,
goes against the very idea of free debate associated with campus
tradition. Besides, a ban would simply drive such groups underground
and make it more difficult to monitor them.

Outlawing a group simply because of its views is seen as the first
step towards a slippery slope that can only lead to turning
universities into cantonments. Historically, universities have been
battlegrounds for competing ideas and worldviews; and, occasionally,
things may have gone wrong but as John Sutherland, Emeritus Professor
of Modern English Literature at University College London (yes, the
same college that Abdulmutallab attended) says, British universities
have “usually got it right.” Important campaigns against fascism and
war, for example, have come out of the tradition of free speech on
university campuses.

In an article in The Times, Prof. Sutherland argued that universities
had to take “risks” and tolerate “radical and dissident elements” in
their midst. He warned against knee-jerk reactions and urged
university administrators to “keep a cool head” when faced with
demands for “drastic” measures.

The question they must ask themselves, he said, was: “At what point
must institutional tolerance give way to heavy-handed control? And if
you ban the Islamic Society, do you also ban the Jewish Society, or
the female students’ consciousness-raising groups? At what point does
militancy — never in itself a bad thing in a young student — become
signing up to terrorism?”

Increasingly, however, sane voices such as those of Prof. Sutherland’s
are being drowned by shrill calls for a “crackdown” and there is a
real danger that campuses could soon turn into “cantonments.” All it
will take is one more HuT/al-Qaeda-inspired atrocity with a London
connection.

http://beta.thehindu.com/opinion/columns/Hasan_Suroor/article75624.ece

...and I am Sid Harth

[chhotemianinshallah]

SRK won't apologise, can meet Thackeray after film is released to say
thank you
TNN, 11 February 2010, 01:40am IST

NEW DELHI: While Shiv Sena leaders sought to put Maharashtra chief
minister Ashok Chavan on the defensive by "returning" their security
escorts, efforts to reach a compromise over the release of Shahrukh
Khan starrer `My Name Is Khan' in Mumbai were yet to bear fruit with
the actor refusing to bow.

The confrontation between SRK, the film's producer-director Karan
Johar and Sena chief Bal Thackeray persisted with the actor ruling out
an apology for his remarks that he would have liked Pakistani players
to have been part of IPL-3. "I have said nothing wrong," the actor is
understood to have told associates.

Khan, who left for Dubai and has plans to travel on to Berlin, is
reportedly ready to meet Thackeray after the film's release. "SRK
feels that the film should be released and he would have no problems
meeting Balasaheb to thank the leader. But he does not see why he
should first apologise," said sources close to the developments.

Opinion is divided over whether Chavan offered the Sena an opening by
threatening to withdraw security of its executive president Uddhav
Thackeray if opposition to the film was not withdrawn. There is a view
that this has made the debate more personalised and the CM should have
focused on the main issue -- that of Sena wanting to "punish" SRK for
offering what was only a point of view.

Sena MPs in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha wrote to the presiding officers
claiming that they have given up their security details. Congress
sources maintained that this was largely a show put up for public
consumption as the security cover had not been altered for MPs who
were on the protected list. But there was some speculation due to
reports that three local Sena leaders who had criticised Rahul
Gandhi's Mumbai visit had been stripped of police escort.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/SRK-wont-apologise-can-meet-Thackeray-after-film-is-released-to-say-thank-you/articleshow/5557543.cms

Maharashtra steps up heat on Sena, Uddhav defiant
TNN, 11 February 2010, 12:56am IST

MUMBAI: The political battle in Mumbai over mega Bollywood release 'My
Name Is Khan' shows no sign of abating. Faced with potential violence
and protests during Friday's release of the Shah Rukh Khan starrer,
the Congress-NCP government is pulling out all stops to ensure that
the Shiv Sena is blocked.

The police on Wednesday rounded up over 1,600 Sainiks and arrested
another 59 and charged them with violence and vandalism in Mumbai.
Most of these 59 leaders have been remanded in custody till Monday.

Notices were also sent to 50 other middle-level Sena functionaries
warning against joining protests.

Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray remained defiant and vowed to stop the
film's release and implement his father and party chief Bal
Thackeray's diktat against SRK, who angered the saffron, sectarian
party by batting for Pakistani players in the Indian Premier League.

Maharashtra leaders and top cops promised to ensure a smooth release
but these obviously failed to inspire confidence. Despite the state
machinery moving into top gear and reports of only scattered incidents
of violence and vandalism in the city during Wednesday, spooked
theatre owners refused to sell advance tickets for the movie. Over 60
of the 70-odd theatres, where MNIK is scheduled for release, refused
to open their box office windows.

The superstar at the centre of the controversy is in Dubai for the Rs
50 crore film's world premiere. "SRK feels that the film should be
released and he would have no problems meeting Bal Thackeray to thank
the leader. But he does not see why he should first apologise," said a
source close to the developments.

Meanwhile, distributors have dispatched prints across the country and
elsewhere - including Pakistani cities like Lahore, Karachi and
Rawalpindi - but are keeping their fingers crossed in Bollywood's
hometown. Mumbai alone is expected to contribute Rs 10-12 crore of the
film's opening at the box-office. "We are waiting to see what happens
on Thursday. There is heavy police bandobast around halls but nothing,
not even security, is foolproof," a theatre owner said.

Saying the agitation was spontaneous and that he could not control his
supporters, Uddhav Thackeray said, "We wanted to resolve the issue
amicably. However, the CM has exacerbated the crisis and in his
attempt to please his New Delhi bosses, he has thought it wise to
deploy hundreds of policemen at Mumbai's cinema halls. Why is the
government provoking the Sena?"

"It's my wish that this should be sorted out with mutual
understanding," Chavan said. "The common man should not be made to
suffer because of this ongoing controversy. The police department is
taking stock of the situation and adequate security arrangements will
be made for the release of film," he added.

State home minister R R Patil, too, assured film distributors of
adequate security cover. "Those who want to protest against the film
can do so but it should be done peacefully and not by disturbing law
and order," Patil said. "We will spare no one guilty of lawlessness,"
he added.

However, the CM's and the home minister's statements failed to evoke
much confidence. It wasn't that the state government and the police
machinery did not walk the talk. But an uneasy calm prevailed near
cinema halls and most theatres didn't sell a single ticket in the
city, Thane and Navi Mumbai.

A group of Shiv Sainiks came prepared to vandalise Kasturba theatre in
Malad on Wednesday afternoon.

"Twenty-five persons were nabbed before they could tear up posters or
smash glass panes. The accused included a vibhag pramukh, a shakha
pramukh and four women," an official said. Another group damaged some
hoardings on the Western Express Highway - away from any multiplex or
single-screen theatre - in Andheri and a band of around 10 Sainiks
landed up at Kulraj's Broadway multiplex in Borivli (E) though they
were picked up before they could resort to any vandalism.

The central and eastern suburbs, which saw heavy-duty protests on
Tuesday, did not see any violence at all on Wednesday. Much of the
activity on Mumbai's streets on Wednesday was actually courtesy
policemen.
More than 1,600 people were detained. The biggest names were those of
MLA Vinod Ghosalkar and former MLA Dagdu Sakpal but both were released
after some time. The others were taken into preventive custody
included corporator Aparna Narvekar, deputy shakha pramukhs Shaila
Gaikwad, Shyam Salvi, Jaywant More and Vinod Salvi, shakha pramukhs
Sunil Chavan and Hemangi Joshi and shakha sanghatak Amit More. Many of
them, however, got bail after court production.

Officials said around 3,000 cops would be deployed in and around halls
to prevent trouble the next couple of days. Police commissioner D
Sivanandhan has cancelled all casual leave and weekly offs of all
42,000 policemen of 85 police stations and other branches.

Top cops, too, echoed the chief minister and the home minister in
assuring exhibitors of security. "We have advised theatre owners to
keep the first three rows empty and post guards near the screen to
preempt mischief. They have also been asked to instal closed-circuit
television cameras with night-vision facility," joint commisioner (law
and order) Himanshu Roy said.

SECURITY AT MATOSHREE

Uddhav Thackeray played to the gallery, asking the senior inspector in
charge of his personal security to go. But the official refused to
budge, saying he could not leave his post without written
instruction.

Chief minister Ashok Chavan deftly parried questions about whether his
threat -- to remove the Thackerays' security -- added to the
controversy. "I do not add fuel to the fire nor do I add fire to the
fuel," he replied.

SECURITY AT MANNAT

Adequate security has been given to Shah Rukh Khan's Bandra bungalow.
Additional commissioner (west) Amitabh Gupta said, "We are continuing
the security deployment at Khan's residence."

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Maharashtra-steps-up-heat-on-Sena-Uddhav-defiant/articleshow/5558076.cms

Maharashtra govt didn't let SRK, Thackeray meet: Shiv Sena
PTI, 11 February 2010, 10:10am IST

MUMBAI: As the stand-off between Shiv Sena and Maharashtra government
continues ahead of tomorrow's release of Shah Rukh Khan-starrer 'My
Name is Khan', the Sena on Thursday claimed the state government
prevented a meeting between party chief Bal Thackeray and the actor.

"Khan had expressed willingness to meet Thackeray after his US trip to
resolve the issue. However, the ruling Congress-NCP combine foiled the
bid, saying the government was capable of tackling the Shiv Sainiks,"
Shiv Sena said in the party mouthpiece 'Saamna'.

"SRK has now declared in Abu Dhabi that he would be meeting Thackeray
to ensure smooth release of his film in Maharashtra," the newspaper
said.

Meanwhile, in an editorial titled 'My Name is Ashok Khan', Saamna
flayed Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan, saying he was siding
with Khan, "a Pakistan lover", to retain his chief ministerial chair.

"Produce a film 'My Name is Kasab' and hand over the nationalist youth
opposing it, to Pakistan. Ashok Khan, we are

Readers' Opinions

Comment

Geeta Tripathi,Delhi,says:Seems like some one has paid Shiv Sena to
create problem in Mumbai. What about Thackreys with Javed Miandad.
[11 Feb, 2010 1556hrs IST]

A K sharma,delhi,says:Media is also responsible for this.media should
not give any priority to these hooligans.They should not publish or
show any news of them.
[11 Feb, 2010 1556hrs IST]

Indian,Bangalore,says:TOI should be sued for carrying inflammatory
articles. Why do you carry news / articles on Bal T, UT and Raj T. TOI
and other media are promoting such communal ism because they lack the
news...and do not have much news to be printed / published.
[11 Feb, 2010 1554hrs IST]

nilesh gupta,mumbai,says:can we please stop all this going on.
[11 Feb, 2010 1552hrs IST]

Akbar,Chennai,says:Bal Thackeray is such an experience politican
should not give such a statement which he expects there divde between
the religion. But it not happen in India. We youth have only people
not religion in our heart.
[11 Feb, 2010 1551hrs IST]

ignatius Dias,Goa,says:Why we only talk about Shiv Sena. You think
there is law and order in North, especially Bihar and UP? These are
the states where congress ruled for ages. Would you term congress as a
terrorist group.
[11 Feb, 2010 1547hrs IST]

Leo John,Delhi,says:You all who belittle Shiv Sena have actually lost
your minds. It is a free country ok, but how would you treat a anti
national? SRK should try this gimmick in Pakistan (if he was a
Pakistani film star), and say there that he likes India. Ask him to to
that! Hiding behind his father's freedom fighter curtain he is nothing
but a businessman, lucky enough to live in a country like India.
[11 Feb, 2010 1545hrs IST]

Ahamad,Bangalore,says:Unless we over come racial differences, some
sena or some terrorist organization will take advantage and target
our(India’s) harmony, freedom and existence.
[11 Feb, 2010 1541hrs IST]

Indian,Bangalore,says:Raj and uddhav should be arrested at very moment
they pass such comments or give speech which is religion or regional
biased. These are trying to cut and divide India into pieces in the
name of religion or region. Who are they to tell any person to have
any particular view which they feel is right? I don’t believe
such person is still out of bars who is a danger for safety of not
only the poor fellow who has put forward his issue but for innocent
people who have no relation to this.Don’t one feel that it is
stupid to put high security in cinema theatres and letting that person
roam free who has actually responsible for all these problems. I have
one final question to ask ‘ ARE THESE GUYS ANYTIME BETTER THAN
kASAB’.
[11 Feb, 2010 1538hrs IST]

Vikram Gokhale,bangalore,says:Bal Thakare and his whole family gone ,
all of them has lost their mental balance , they do not have control
on their mind and their language, ..they are antisocial, antinational
and not less then any terrorist¦..they just try to in cash the achieve
of every Marathi on their name doing nothing for people
[11 Feb, 2010 1522hrs IST]

PQP,South Africa,says:Honestly, I personally believe the MEDIA SHOULD
NOW BAN, AND CENSOR ALL matters in their newspapers with regards to
this issue. What the media is actually doing is adding fuel to fire.
STOP PRINTING ALL RELATED ARTICLES AS A FORCE OF DEFIANCE TO
STUPIDITY, IGNORANCE, ABSURDNESS and all else one can think of. STOP
PRINTING ANY ISSUE WITH THIS REGARD FOR 7 FULL DAYS. All this
potboiling will stop immediately.
[11 Feb, 2010 1517hrs IST]

shadab,delhi,says:i think this is all issues going bcoz lack of
present government...if Government stop Shiv Sena then why not MNS
[11 Feb, 2010 1513hrs IST]

John Fernandes,Kuwait,says:TOI stop giving importance and news
coverage on Shiv Sena, these guys are just a bunch of attention
seekers, who are trying to resurect their incompetant party. Jai
Maharashtra.
[11 Feb, 2010 1459hrs IST]

pravin bandebuche,pune,says:indian constitution giving a right all the
indian talking a free about any legal topic
[11 Feb, 2010 1454hrs IST]

Prasad,Mumbai,says:We Indians are masters in wasting our time on
frivolous matters and on non-issues. Now ever since the SRK
controversy erupted, I doubt whether Maharashtra government is in
existence or not. Even if it may be in existence it may be only on
paper. With virtually majority of Mumbai police personnel on cinema
bandobust, only God can prevent terrorists sneaking into Mumbai and
creating havoc similar to the one witnessed on 26/11. Because we are
masters in making frivolous and trivial issues as big as a nation we
do not progress. Instead of debating on these non issues and mud
slinging at each other, how constructive it'd have been if we had a
national level debate (taking all communities into confidence)into the
ways and means to control the population explosion in our country
which will negate our growth even if we make giant strides in some
other aspects.
[11 Feb, 2010 1446hrs IST]

gotya2,mumbai,says:There are lots of muslims in India harbouring the
idea of ruling of muslims on Hindus just like in Mughal
period.Congress is not nationalist at all but ruling with help of like
Shahrukh.Dilipkumar also has shown { He belongs to Peshwar, Pakistan }
in 1960.RR PATIL was weakest home-minister in congress led govt.When
Sharad Pawar is his guru, then what can we expect ?This is tussle
between Deshpremi and Deshdrohi.Shahrukh and congress on one side and
Shivsena on other.
[11 Feb, 2010 1444hrs IST]

rahul,Delhi,says:thakrey is using marathi people as monkeys....
[11 Feb, 2010 1441hrs IST]

Kavita Shetty,Bombay,India,says:Handover Bombay to Army and they will
teach lessons to Shiv Sainiks, MNS and their Marathi rowdies and
separatists.
[11 Feb, 2010 1439hrs IST]

Shash,London,says:SRK is a good actor no doubt. But nowadays he thinks
he so big that he can get away with anything (money). In the last IPL
he amused SM Gavaskar. I support SS on this issue.
[11 Feb, 2010 1429hrs IST]

Anand,Logos,Nigeria,says:We have to send SRK to pakistan ! we should
proud to our land.. we r indians !who is SRK to supprot pakistan
players! he was telling in interview his family from pakistan.... we r
indians .... country is first .
[11 Feb, 2010 1427hrs IST]

aarti,Pune,says:Hiring pak people does not make anyone a terrorist or
a patriot. SRK is a bussiness man, he is profit motivated.Pak crickt
players have never been banned in India earlier. So why now. We are
against the Pak terrorist not their players.
[11 Feb, 2010 1425hrs IST]

Bhupesh,Mumbai,says:It's hard cash deal to revoke agitation, which is
been foiled by Maharashtra CM. It's playing around with people's
sentiment, it was same group of people, who said, we won't object
releasing of movie. Don't worry it will get settle down by evening
(remember hard cash).
[11 Feb, 2010 1422hrs IST]

rahul,nasik,says:just ignore thakrey... why media is giving so IMP to
thakery ?
[11 Feb, 2010 1417hrs IST]

Nishant,India,says:These Shiv Sainiks are nothing BUT a bunch of
hooligans who are hell bent on spoiling Mumbai's and India's name in
the world...They should be a banned organization similar to other
terrorist groups..Whats more irritating is that the media is giving
unnecessary importance to Uddhav and Raj Thackeray...Please let us
live in peace..
[11 Feb, 2010 1416hrs IST]

Nikita,Mumbai,says:I am concerned at the radicalisation of youth! They
start comparing every Pakistani with Kasab or terrorist because of
fundamentalist campaign by Shivsena. SRK has not told any thing away
from his constitutional right and nothing he told is anti-India or pro-
Pakistan. Shiv Sena or any one dose not have right to decide who is
patriot or who is not based on Film , statement, Velentine's Day
celeberation. They have right to protest and make awareness campaign -
voluntary within constitutional rights for political party. They force
their will and spread violence, vendalism which puts them nearer to
Maoist or terrorist organisations. It is difference of degree, others
kill where as Sena beat up or vendalise. This is not acceptable.
Either they should learn to do their political campaigns without hate
and within constituational norns or our goverment should ban them
[11 Feb, 2010 1415hrs IST]

Indian,Pune,says:I really don't understand why media and leading news
paper like TOI is giving so much importance to such news
constantly...I strongly feel that media just want some sensational
news rather than covering important news...TOI would you please stop
covering such news... It high time REALLY !!!
[11 Feb, 2010 1412hrs IST]

Aman,Punjab,says:It takes 2 to make 4, similarly, If we think at the
parity situation and not in anyone's favour, then the result will be
correct. here in this situation which arised due to comment of SRK. In
that comment, SRk expressed about Pak team players which is correct,
other side Mumbai Thankray considered it as SRK favouring Pak, which
reminded about Mumbai attacks. So ita all depend on one's perception
to understand. These are the two sides which are criticising others
and is what the public knows. There may be some other things which
political parties are doing on this issue and taking advantages. The
best way to avaoid these situations is communication that means let
them sit and discuss and that discussion should be in front of media
to telecast to public live means this will be in front only But who
knows what will be at back.
[11 Feb, 2010 1409hrs IST]

SAMIR RAJ,DUABI,says:UDHAV THACKERY has lost its balance.after
successful rahul gandhi visit to mumbai .thackery'e are frustated
[11 Feb, 2010 1407hrs IST]

Santosh,Nagpur,says:Waste to watch the movie MNIK.. its copy of Famous
English Flop Movie "RAIN MAN"
[11 Feb, 2010 1405hrs IST]

Mahesh Somani,Kolkata,says:The irony of the fact is that people in
Maharastra do not trust Thackerays any more. They feel insecure,
intimidated and embarrassed by the actions of these self-styled
opportunist politicians. Thackerays should try to rethink that their
policies are not in favour of Maharastrian people. They have brought
complete disrepute and disgrace to Marathi pride. Even if the Heaven
pardons them, ordinary peace-loving Marathi people can never forget
their atrocities and repeatedly erring attitude. Hope, wisdom dawns on
Thackerays and they work for the bettering the lives of the people
rather than battering them.
[11 Feb, 2010 1403hrs IST]

DANNY,UAE,says:WHATEVER THE HIDDEN AGENDA, SHIVA SENA SHOULD HAVE
BEHAVED MORE RESPONSIBLY ON THEIR OWN INTEREST.
[11 Feb, 2010 1401hrs IST]

sonia,mumbai,says:although i oppose the manner of protest but i just
want to ask the general public this - last year after the terror
attack no one wanted to see pakistani players play. what miracle has
pakistan done in 1 year that we re dying to welcome them back.
[11 Feb, 2010 1400hrs IST]

Dipayan Kar,Mumbai,says:Shiv Sena is an India breaker. Bal Thakrey and
Raj Thakrey are the biggest traitors.
[11 Feb, 2010 1355hrs IST]

Msj,Doha,says:Request to TOI. Please stop publishing articles from
SAAMNA Newspaper. Why TOI, a national newspaper is giving more
coverage to what is said in a local newspaper?? You have better things
to report and TOI should isolate SAAMNA newspaper from its coverage to
mantain its credibility from TOI followers...
[11 Feb, 2010 1352hrs IST]

Uday,Mumbai ,says:Support SS. Teach the Pakistani sympathizers a
lesson. Throw these traitors out of the country. God forbid if we are
having a war against Pakistan whom would SRK support, Pakistan or
India?
[11 Feb, 2010 1351hrs IST]

Anop ,Bangalore,says:Just a simple question to SRK fans, Why did SRK
have to comment on Pak players just before the release of his movie??
And if he feels so much for Pak players why didnt he signed them for
KKR??? Just a publicity stunt for SRK for which the producers of the
movie will pay a heavy price.... As for Shiv Sena - I being an Indian
agree that whoever supports Pakistan or any Pakistani for that matter
should not be able to make profit atleast not out of India.
[11 Feb, 2010 1350hrs IST]

msj,Qatar,says:I think Government is wasting hard earned public tax
money on the issues of security of a FILM which has resulted in to an
EGO clash of politicians and ministers. Bal Thackery should u/stand
that by vandalising the store and creating issues such as this, he is
only wasting marathi manoos revenue who pay tax to the GOVT. Please
use commonsense and do something really good for the Maharashtra and
India.
[11 Feb, 2010 1346hrs IST]

Sandeep,San Fransisco,says:Shiv Sena's comments against Pakistan
supporters is valid. He is doing like any other Indian do but I dont
agree with Shiv Sena on Mumbai belongs to only Maharastrians. Mumbai
is for all Indians. SRK support towards pakistani players is
ridiculous. He should be like an good actor and should not interfere
with peoples emotions. Every Indian does not like Pakistan from
Terrorism perspective so he should have kept quite instead showing
support in front of media and world. He is responsible for what ever
pain he is going through.
[11 Feb, 2010 1341hrs IST]

mjansari,Delhi,says:It looks like Govt. surrendered to Shiv Sena and
give them full advantage to do what they like. It happened earlier
also that several celebrities were taken into their knees for
unreasobable bits such as Amitabh Bacchan,Karan Johar etc. Better to
give possession of Maharastra to Shiv Sena if our Govt. does not have
gutts to handle the situation.
[11 Feb, 2010 1341hrs IST]

priya,bangalore,says:This is height from SS. Its hard to believe now
we r living in free India.
[11 Feb, 2010 1341hrs IST]

joe sat,Mumbai,says:First things First...Let all the Marathi people
first pay up for the losses or destruction caused by Sena...As Sena
says Maharashtrians first...then marathi people should should stand up
and cover all the losses.Let there be additional taxes put on Marathi
Manoos....Its Sad that thackreays are calling shots in Mumbai and
bringing bad nname to local marathi manoos...most maharashtrains too
dnt agree to his ideologies and laughable analogies.
[11 Feb, 2010 1340hrs IST]

Samson,IL,says:I am so fed up with these Bollywood stars under the
name of peace and harmony are trying to woo Pakistani Players and
public
[11 Feb, 2010 1338hrs IST]

Yugesh Shukla,Boston USA,says:THE GREAT DEMOCRATIC RAJWADI CIRCUS.
i.e. Mera Bharat Mahan.
[11 Feb, 2010 1337hrs IST]

Majid hussain,Dubai,says:Who is Thakeray? If there is an issue of
patriotism of any individual let the goverenmnet handle it. This so
called Thakeray is unpatriotic as he trying to project himself above
the constitution of India. Why should Shahrukh or any another person
meet him
[11 Feb, 2010 1337hrs IST]

Anand,India,says:Bal Thackeray do not have any right to say mumbai
does not belong to indians!! All should punish such anti Indian and
anti social elements like Shiv Sena. What Maharashtra CM is still
waiting for?? Send Bal Thackeray to Jail!!
[11 Feb, 2010 1335hrs IST]

Mohan Renu,Mumbai,says:To promote his film on muslim profiling after
9/11, actor Shahrukh Khan recently claimed on a British show with
Jonathan Ross that he got full body scanned at airport in England
recently and given printout of his scanned image to sign.
[11 Feb, 2010 1335hrs IST]

Ahmed Ali,UAE,says:Shiv Sena's approach was wrong.
[11 Feb, 2010 1334hrs IST]

Abid,Lahore,says:Im loving This :)
[11 Feb, 2010 1334hrs IST]

Allero,CA,says:BOMBAY..BOMBAY..BOMBAY....
[11 Feb, 2010 1333hrs IST]

Debasis Chakraborty,Kolkata,says:I don't find any clue, running behind
this issue, there are lots of things to do for/in INDIA rather than
giving attention to a film, which is not gone to give a single peny to
GDP. They will make money out of the film. Media, you please ask SRK
or anyone who is involved in the film, if at all they are concerned
about INDIA (how much). They would be having their places at dirrent
corner of the globe. They can stay anywhere they want with the money
they have earned from us(INDIAN PEOPLE).SRK was asked in a recent
interview, "where was he sleeping when INDIAN were beaten in
AUSTRALIA,where was he sleeping when taxi driver were beaten in
MUMBAI"
[11 Feb, 2010 1333hrs IST]

TJ,Mumbai,says:On behalf of all the Tax Payers I would like to Thank
the ShivSena MPs and Office bearers that they have themselves returned
the security cover given to them by the govt. After all according to
their own style of comparing every little thing to an extreme
scenario, the official security given by the govt to them seems like
tax payers money being used to provide security to Dawood Ibrahim.
Both the Shiv Sena and Dawood have a similar goal, to terrorize the
citizens for no fault of theirs and both dont have the guts to talk it
out with the concerned people in case of a disagreement, face-to-face,
man-to-man!
[11 Feb, 2010 1332hrs IST]

Ahmed,Mumbai,says:Does Bala and Company or Raj thackery had any right
to speak on Nationalism,every other day they had tried to tear the
unity and social/secular fabric of India.From 70s to 2010 they are
after each and every section of indian Society be it Gujrati for their
business or South Indian for their blue collar job,then it was the
turn of Muslims and now North Indians.They tried to destroy lives of
millions just for their political gains,Congress with Sharad Power in
power was a mute spectator to all that.
[11 Feb, 2010 1327hrs IST]

Proud to be a Indian,India,says:I think Shivsena is getting weak day
by day, thats the reason The old ass Bal is writing nonsense on his
news paper saamna on Sachin, Ambani, Amitab, and Shahrukh.
[11 Feb, 2010 1326hrs IST]

Kuldeep Patil --- Proud Marathi,kolhapur Pune India,says:Hummmm
looking at the comments I feel Most of you dont know the reality...
Its obivious that most affected people from Thakare gang[Raj/ Bal] are
Marathi people of Maharashtra only but why they will care??? they them
selves are not purely from Mahrashtra... There origin is from out
side... But Maharashtra love each and every Indian irrespective of his
origin but it never expected such deeds from this goons..
[11 Feb, 2010 1324hrs IST]

hassan aftab,mumbai,says:In stupidity and idiocity Bal Thakre is
similar to Pakistan.
[11 Feb, 2010 1324hrs IST]

Adel ,Kuwait,says:With the progressive decline of the United States,
China and India are being seen around the world as the next
superpower. While China’s pace of growth is far more
consistent, I believe its India that is more qualified and deserves to
be the next world leader. With its stable democratic institutions,
genuinely independent judiciary and media and a healthy civil society,
India is best prepared to take over the mantle of global leadership
from America.
[11 Feb, 2010 1322hrs IST]

anila,switzerland,says:safi u bttr stay put in russia , u dont knw the
prbms marathi manus facing in mumbai , streets r flooded wth biharis
bhaiyas all spitting per sec , thr is no place 2 walk , evrywhr dirty
crowd , still the influx continues n politicians n people like u
hating marathi manus r happy 2 blame municipality for not providind
facilities like water garbage disposal etc , abt this issue of MNIK ,u
prefer 2 show ur love rather loyelty 2 PAK than 2 oppose thm cmng 2
ind , u r a real petriot
[11 Feb, 2010 1320hrs IST]

umar,Amman,says:dirty politics.. Shame..
[11 Feb, 2010 1319hrs IST]

Raj Menon,Mumbai,says:This is more of a "Clash of the Titans"
[11 Feb, 2010 1313hrs IST]

shajee,Dadar,says:Salam Bombay.... Salam Mumbai...
[11 Feb, 2010 1311hrs IST]

moin sayed,mumbai,says:Why Shiv Sena doesn't have any issue with AMAN
Ki Asha.. with Pakistan
[11 Feb, 2010 1311hrs IST]

Shahzad Ali,Mumbai,says:I think we should go out and see the movie.
This way we will be able to give a clear verdict to the Sena, that we
do not believe in their hate politics. Their off shoot party (MNS)
leader has echoed this and correctly said, that Shiv Sena is trying to
gain nothing but free publicity by creating this ruckus
[11 Feb, 2010 1303hrs IST]

Maneesh,Chennai,says:Why did SRK had MNIK premier in Abu Dhabi, not in
India?
[11 Feb, 2010 1302hrs IST]

shajee, dadar,says:namaskar Mumbai.. Salam Bombay.... Salam Mumbai
[11 Feb, 2010 1302hrs IST]

Lalit Bhatt,Ahmedabad,says:Bal Thackeray is Hilter and his SS is
similar to Hitler's SS. This old want to impose his stupid ideas and
thoughts iron headed on us whichwe won't let him to do.
[11 Feb, 2010 1301hrs IST]

subro02,vasai,says:SRK deserves an appology to nation atleast for his
own interest.
[11 Feb, 2010 1300hrs IST]

India,kuwait,says:mumbai is pulled back to shivaji era, thakerey is
reborn shivaji and all muslims mughals , supporting pakistan. can
someone wake him up Please?
[11 Feb, 2010 1300hrs IST]

Nikhilesh,India,says:Terrorist Kasab should be selected play for SRK's
team if he loves cricket and pakistanis so much.
[11 Feb, 2010 1256hrs IST]

Kishor ,Mumbai,says:But i don't understand ..why everone blames only
shiv sena ...congress is in government ..they have power ..why don't
they use against them ....why don't they take actions..
[11 Feb, 2010 1256hrs IST]

D K Anand,NOIDA,says:An American visited India and went back to
America
[11 Feb, 2010 1252hrs IST]

Shashi,Mumbai,says:Freedom of speech doesn't mean mindlessnes. How can
they write anything...without any logic.........least the state and
central govt can do is to cancel Saamna's license
[11 Feb, 2010 1251hrs IST]

vaidy,hyderabad,says:The goons of Shiv Sena must be grateful to the
democratic process in India that permits them to instigate, write and
talk such venomous garbage. They deserve to be in China and only
Chinese treatment will teach them a lesson.
[11 Feb, 2010 1251hrs IST]

Dr Bhanu Pandey,Thane, Maharashtra,says:My name is Bal Thakre.SRK
should go and stoop in his feet like Amitabh Bachchan and pay part of
Royalty to BalThakre so that his goons could be fed.
[11 Feb, 2010 1250hrs IST]

SI,Secunderabad,says:Prepare a jail for around 10000 to 25000 and if
anybody vandalises public property will face strict 90 days
confinement
[11 Feb, 2010 1248hrs IST]

Soni Shailesh J,Mumbai,says:Government should do such thing and if
they have done this without any force we are proud of it. Politically
these thakerays are either already finished or are very closed to be
finished. The people of this country are not ready to be dictated like
this. Such petty, mindless, egoistic, selfish,mean politicians must be
discarded on urgent basis. We need to think how China would have taken
such issue on their soil if at all such issue would have arised
there.We should not ape them but they are our neighbour, not
changeable and therefore if we want to keep the pace with the country
like China we will have to have no-nonsence approach to many many
thing. It is good that Thakerays have returned the security. They
should never be given this again in future if they don't change their
way in future.If need be,National Security Act should be charged on
all including thakeray's and Joshi's who indulge or having any
intetion to indulge in any kind of violence and they all should be
sent to judicial custody in some distant states. Of course their
followers shall create trouble for sometimes but once they will come
to know the firmness of the Government about it things will be settled
down eventually. Government should show zero tolerence to any
unconstitutional authority especially self-proclaimed like Thakerays
in not only Mumbai but in all parts of this country.
[11 Feb, 2010 1247hrs IST]

Suresh,Mumbai,says:MNIK is getting all the publicity as Shiv Sena is
now involved into Protest. As Shahrukh said his comment was taken in
wrong sense which Shiv Sena also agrees, now Shiv Sena just want to
show their power in Maharashtra to get political attention for the
upcoming election in which they are competing with MNS for the Marathi
vote bank. Shiva Sena definitely going to lose as they are responsible
for spreading hatred among people.
[11 Feb, 2010 1243hrs IST]

Hirendra Chatterjee,Delhi,says:The SS has existed for all these
decades and it has always had its way. So why is the media and the
Congress posing as if this the first time SS is holding the city to
ransom? Why did the Congress and media look the other way when
students from Bihar and UP were beaten up mercilessly by MNS goons for
coming to Mumbai? Why was everyone silent when Jaya Bachhhan was
humilated by Raj Thackery and Amitabh had to apologise
unconditionally? The reason is simple. Sharukh Khan is close to Mrs.
Gandhi and the puppet CM of Maharashtra has been instructed to support
Sharukh Khan. So overnight the entire Mumbai police force is on the
streets trying to defend the screening of a film!
[11 Feb, 2010 1241hrs IST]

Shailesh,Singapore,says:I don't care about who said what and
when......if one thinks inviting Pak players was going to create war
in India, then they should be happy because it is going to happen
before that and without their involvment - thanks to Mr. Thackeray,
isn't that great?
[11 Feb, 2010 1238hrs IST]

Rahul Sahasrabuddhe,Thane,says:Does all opposing Shiv Sena on this
issue really feel that We must welcome pakistani cricket players along
side Kadab? If not then whey the hell u all speak against Shiv Sena.
The only party of Mard's in India. You all should better criticise
Congress for requesting Pakistan for Composite Dialogue, eventhough,
26/11 master mind is not even arrested. Has the ground reality chaged
to start any dialogue with Pakistsan. Shiv Sena is right in
politicising "My name is Khan"
[11 Feb, 2010 1238hrs IST]

raj,canada,says:Whys is people giving importance to such unetical
news. I believe it is media who is making huge tension. No body should
care such comments which has no value and no truth. This kind of
statements and act from INDIAN Parties has created all problems in
Australia! And now if Shiva sena continues we are all going to come
back shortly to INDIA.
[11 Feb, 2010 1234hrs IST]

suraj,chennai,says:Our politicians are the worst lot. They live in
safety and put others into trouble. Like Tackery who is creating
problems for Indians staying in Australia or Menaka Gandhi who is
causing problems for pedestirians with umpteen number of stray dogs
running on roads. GOD ALONE CAN SAVE INDIA.
[11 Feb, 2010 1234hrs IST]

Provansu Saha,Kolkata,says:The film is a direct lift from Forest Gump
with minority sentiments, used to get box office success. the film
will be definitely hit with global muslim community who'll try to
identify themselves as the sufferer post 9/11.
[11 Feb, 2010 1226hrs IST]

Arvind Krishnan,Mumbai,says:What a load bal T talks. There is nothing
wrong with what SRK said. Is it a crime to wish for peace and
prosperity between Ind and Pakistan. Its all politics. The government
is siding the correct side. I really hope the film does not
commercially fail because people of scared of the Shit Sainiks. What a
pathetic influence on such an amazing city.
[11 Feb, 2010 1224hrs IST]

vicky,delhi,says:these Shiv Sena is a Official Licensed India Mumbai
Based Terrorist or locally to call Underworld easily Operation behind
Saffron Flag,who spoil the Peace and harmony of India, Bal Thacray is
a Don who run this mafia. if they are real Indian Patriots they should
revolt against non indians like the Australians who are ill treating
the indians,then they can call themself Indian fighters ,where they r
not !!!!!!! so frequently they creat problem in all over india.
[11 Feb, 2010 1219hrs IST]

Ashish,Pune,says:I think Shiv Sena only create issue they doesn't want
to resolve any.
[11 Feb, 2010 1219hrs IST]

JNB,Singapore,says:Nowadays TOI and Saamna have become same!! Saamna's
headline is also TOI's headline. Ridiculous!!
[11 Feb, 2010 1217hrs IST]

Anish,Thrissur,says:I suspect that Sena has taken up the publicity
duties of the film. The film will make ten times profit from other
cities, than the loss it may incur in Bombay.
[11 Feb, 2010 1217hrs IST]

Mohan Bhargava,USA,says:It is time for every mumbai resident who has
ever supported Balasaheb Thakare (i repeat not shiv sena). It is time
to show that a guy from delhi no matter how big a star can defi
Balasaheb and that too in mumbai. And that too supporting Pakistan....
[11 Feb, 2010 1211hrs IST]

bhagi,bombay,says:it is white color crime boss when they oppose they
can demand more money from film producer and actor.
[11 Feb, 2010 1208hrs IST]

Maneesh Ahuja,Noida,says:i guess shiv sena people are very smart, what
shahrukh had said about pakistani player was also said by Mukesh
Ambani, P Chitambram, Lalit Modi and others, but they have not
targeted any one of them because they have found him (shahrukh) as
soft target. Also when times group are talking about 'Aman ki Asha'
they are also not saying even a single word about it, but they are
only criticizing shahrukh just to get themselves in the limelight.
[11 Feb, 2010 1208hrs IST]

Patriotic,Dubai,says:Hello !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!MNIK is the blockbuster of
the decade
[11 Feb, 2010 1207hrs IST]

shailendra ,chennai,says:To some extent I favour Shivsena on this
issue, Why should we feel pitty or sorry for not inviting Pakistani
players into IPL. U can not segregate the game from the tension
prevailing between the two countries. Just now the Pakitan PM has
stated that their intention of not having war with India can change,
How can you expect a true Indian of welcoming Pakistanis players when
their country is promoting terrorism in our country and even talking
of war. Sharukh has to remember that before an IPL franchisee firstly
he is an Indian. You can not seperate game from nationality, As an
Indian I really protest of inviting Pakistanis players to India as a
sign of my anger towards the foriegn policy of Pakistan govt towards
my country.
[11 Feb, 2010 1207hrs IST]

Malini,Gurgaon,says:C'mon Mumbaikars, this is your chance to stand up
to the politics of violence and hatred that is tearing your city
apart. All of us in India support you. Go and see MNIK and all cinema
houses should refuse to bow down to these kind of tactics. Lets show
the Shiv Sena that Mumbaikars are not fools who will let themselves be
used for scoring political points.
[11 Feb, 2010 1207hrs IST]

krishna,bangalore,says:Am glad that bcoz of Shivsena Pakistani Dawood
IBrahim has left Mumbai. bcoz of Shivsena the Mumbai business still
remain in india. If anybody understands pakistani well then it is
Balasahab. am proud of him bcoz he saved mumabi generations before
from clutches of Pakistanis.... today we all talk about shivsena as nu-
sense... but there is no doubt with out Shivsena Mumbai would have
never achived what it has done till now.
[11 Feb, 2010 1206hrs IST]

sneha,bharuch,says:shiv sena is too reduculous.they devide our contry
only for their bloody politics
[11 Feb, 2010 1205hrs IST]

Espi,Bangalore,says:It is amazing to spot the similarities between the
extreme right (Shiv Sena) and the extreme left (CPM) in ensuring that
their respective States drive out industry. The CPM ensured the
"deindustrialization"
[11 Feb, 2010 1203hrs IST]

Jasvir Singh,San Francisco USA,says:So who is legitimate head of
state, Ashok Chavan or Bal or Ballu Thakrya who thinks his goons will
bring govt to its knees by destruction both in terms of human life and
property. Mr. Thackeray why don't you understand your own part has
been brutally rejected by people of State-you and your ideology if you
have any idelogy at all is outdated and rejected by people of State.
Now your presence is meaningless-
[11 Feb, 2010 1202hrs IST]

Abbas,Dubai,says:You remember the adage, be in news to benefit. It
will be interesting to note what percentage of population approves the
nuisances of Shiv Saina.
[11 Feb, 2010 1158hrs IST]

Nikhil P. Ghag,Mumbai,says:There is no doubt that Congress is taking
the chance of MNIK to settle their personal vengences with SS for
protesting against their prince. I thought Vilasrao was the worst
thing to happen to Maharashtra. I did not know something even worse is
in waiting by name Ashok Chavan. It is these weak politicians that
cause these problem. Their only plan for success and sustanance is
"Please the High Command"
[11 Feb, 2010 1157hrs IST]

Manish,Hyderabad,says:Well , My opinion is defferent .It was all about
publicity , which SRK has got .His plan has become successful. He
knows how to use media and how to provoke the peaple like
shivsaniks.he's got popularity for his film.Now he can hope his movei
movie would be blockbuster.As far as PAk players cuncerns , If he was
so much interested in Pakis y dint he pick them.More ever what is the
necessecity of giveing this controverical statement where Shilpa ,
Preity , Ambani , Malya were mum abt this issue.
[11 Feb, 2010 1157hrs IST]

Victor,Vancouver,BC,says:It is not about all non-marathi speakers.It
is only against UP and BIhari's.There are cities where people from
these two provinces are not even welcome and have never been,but it
never makes headlines as they are not Metropolitan or as they say
"Dream Cities"
[11 Feb, 2010 1156hrs IST]

sumi,Pune,says:Thackreys are basically advocating - 'if u want
something, take the law in your hand' to many marathi speaking
youngsters
[11 Feb, 2010 1156hrs IST]

Sena Enemy,PL,says:Shiv Sena doesnt have anything else 2 do other than
putting their nose in others business, just taking the same topic of
Marathi Maanus and telling whatever they want. Thackeray or any of his
saffron clans dont have the guts to go out anywhere and prove
themselves right or for any1 else. whateva they do or ll do is not of
any betterment for any single individual other than themselves, just
to put some bull shit news in their bull shit saamna, they ll get a
topic about Malbaari or Bhaiya or any Muslim or person he takes side
for a muslim name.. stupid sena doesnt understand how long can they go
on with this...
[11 Feb, 2010 1155hrs IST]

Pradeep,Mumbai,says:Shiv sena has run out of political issues. So they
are getting into IPL and Bollywood. They should rather use there
influence (if it exists) to help 26/11 victims by asking the
government to put Kasab's case on fast track.
[11 Feb, 2010 1154hrs IST]

TC,Mumbai,says:What we need is a cleansing effort in our country.
Corruption is so acute in our country that its impossible to get any
thing done with the goverment machinery.The last from a series in my
experience recently a goverment official proudly said"Demanding money
runs in our blood go ahead and do what you want the ministry support
us"
[11 Feb, 2010 1152hrs IST]

Nirman,Bangalore,says:Mr Danav , Do you define marathi ppl based on
Shiv Sena, Does Shiv Sena represents Marathi manu , Jsut for your info
Shiv Sena has not come in power from last 3 elections, why as marathi
ppl feel they r not doing right? Please stop defining ppl based on
politician's comment /arguments.
[11 Feb, 2010 1152hrs IST]

Saf,Russia,says:What is difference between , talibaan in afghanistan
destabilising afghanistan... And sena in bombay distabiling bombay and
moving buisness to other states,i was born and brought in bombay and
always felt the violence by sena would kill anyone , its sad that
maharashtrian are so backward in thier thoughts that they come in
1000's to do violence on streerts killing inocent people.
[11 Feb, 2010 1151hrs IST]

Kevin,Melbourne,says:@Shachi,New Delhi and King, Pune- Look you can
have different view as this is democracy. But don't say against
Marathi or Maharashtrian. Specially you so called King, living in
Maharashtra.I don't agree with Shivsena on this issue but hay Shachi
don't think that you can beat Marathi and get away with that...
[11 Feb, 2010 1150hrs IST]

P.M.G,Pillai,Mannar,Allaopuzha,Kerala India,says:dear on line editor,
It is essential that state government put their foot fown on sectrian
demand of thelocal pootiocians who are parochial and sdo have a very
MARROW metal outlook.Udhav or any one must be told abut the
constitutiona safe guards and no state local population can claim a
monoploistic to have preferences for anything.People do habe one
nationality and one right through out the length anf breadth of this
nation.It is high time the chief election commission take note of this
anticonstitutinal preaching of political parties and warn them that
they arelikely to loose their registration if they insis on this local
labelling only dated February 11th 2010 Time 1147Hrs istAM
[11 Feb, 2010 1148hrs IST]

Prabhat Mitra,Singapore,says:History repeats itself....
[11 Feb, 2010 1148hrs IST]

BDJ,UAE,says:The Maharashtra Govt should act tough, had they taken
action on beating Bihari taxi drivers issue, then time again SS would
not create trouble. The film will be released, trouble makers have
lost again after Rahul won, arrested SS should be relased with fines
and warnings, hope Mumbai will have peace and harmony.
[11 Feb, 2010 1147hrs IST]

Sukesh,Mmbai,says:these politicans will make the living a hell :x
[11 Feb, 2010 1145hrs IST]

sarad Manglekar,Mahad Raigad,says:We Love To see the Film My name is
khan , Then Why Thacrey Doing This Politics Game In mumbai. he Told
About Ipl His Opinion Thats Not A matter . Wake up All The Guys And Do
something For This Mattar
[11 Feb, 2010 1145hrs IST]

vijay,mumbai,says:Why should we give importance to the editorials
which they write,
[11 Feb, 2010 1145hrs IST]

Harsh,Pune,says:Why they want to meet a person blamed to be supporting
Pakistan. If he meets now, his VIP status and security should be
removed and producer must recover all the financial losses from them.
[11 Feb, 2010 1141hrs IST]

Danav,Bombay, India,says:This is the fight between Marathis and Hindi
Speaking people. We all non-Marathis should get united.
[11 Feb, 2010 1141hrs IST]

Sanjay,Dehradun,says:I feel so sorry for Shiv Sena that they neither
they talk logic nor they ever talk something which will ever make any
sense in this dynamic world.
[11 Feb, 2010 1139hrs IST]

anil kumar,gaya,says:All thackerays are the biggest goons of country.
all of them should be murdered in public. sirf marathi ke naam par
logon ko gumrah kar rahein hai.in fact they are much more than the
terrorists. state govt aur central govt bhi silent hai i do not know
for what reasons.they are worse than talibanis.
[11 Feb, 2010 1139hrs IST]

SHOUKAT FIRFIRAY,KUWAIT,says:Even a layman will give his opinion that
mixing commercial matter with politics is not an appropriate way for
running the democratic government. I balme Siv Saina who are without
any solid justification in hand igniting to explode big valcano in
Maharashtra out of SRK film issue. Sometime Siv Saina is so rigid
acting worse than Australian racist without any head and tale of the
subject and get engaged in to play dirty just to currupt the public
minds in shallow peaceful water. First of all they haven't done any
progress for the maharashtrian public and just shaking the shallow
water for capturing the public attention against ruling govt. in the
state. Public have well understood the tactics of this tapori party
whose basket is without any vision and aspiration for the people of
maharashtra. I advise the wise people in Siv Saina to change their
mentality to the right time and move towards progressive path for the
best national interest and leave the saffron forever which will not
help to give any golden egg for personal gain or make any progress in
favour of maharashtrian.
[11 Feb, 2010 1137hrs IST]

Harsh,Pune,says:Why they want to meet a person blamed to be supporting
Pakistan. If he meets now, his VIP status and security should be
removed and producer must recover all the financial losses from them.
[11 Feb, 2010 1136hrs IST]


National,India,says:Reading all the comments looks like these are
posted by Congress and Shahruk chellas. Jai Hind.
[11 Feb, 2010 1136hrs IST]

Venkat, ,Pune,says:I feel sorry for Shah Rukh Khan.But I feel that the
time has come to call the Shiv Sena's ( and the MNS's) bluff.
Admittedly,MNIK is going to suffer losses on account of the treatment
it is getting in Mumbai. At the same time, one has to draw the line at
the extent of humiliation one must suffer at the hands of self-
anointed messiahs. Perhaps, this episode will goad filmmakers to
remodel their business strategies without depending on places like
Mumbai, Pune and such other places for their revenues. This should not
be too difficult
[11 Feb, 2010 1133hrs IST]

Shridhar Bantwal,mumbai,says:I amm little wonder why SRK has so
pleased with PAK Cricketers, SRK should concerntrate on his businees
not getting into controverisies... being a owner of KOLKATA KNIGHT
RIDER does not mean that you can say anything as other pranchise are
silient on this issue.
[11 Feb, 2010 1133hrs IST]

danish,mumbai,says:thakrey wants to divert the attention of the film
my name is khan..hez the big enemy of muslim.hez realy allegry of
hearing name khan.but thacrey is in trouble.now he is in the black
list ,hope he will have sum blast soon.
[11 Feb, 2010 1133hrs IST]

Shailesh,Singapore,says:Shiv Sena headed by Thackrey ..they are a
curse to India and they are the biggest terrorist outfit in India.
Godddd! Let them all rotttt in hellll.
[11 Feb, 2010 1130hrs IST]

shweta ghag,vikhroli, mumbai,says:i think the sena has gone beresk...
it is evident that they are deliberately trying to make an issue out
of this situation to gain political mileage..... bt we common people
clearly see this and wil not supoort sena in one of its cheapest trick
ever.... shah rukh khan and the whole team of my name is Khan has all
our support!!!!
[11 Feb, 2010 1127hrs IST]

shruti joshi ,mumbai,says:is there no end to bal thackeray's
NONSENSE?? how i wish i could pick up the newspaper one morning and
NOT read about this criminal. he and his entire sena should be locked
away. they are a MENACE to society. SHAME! SHAME!
[11 Feb, 2010 1125hrs IST]

Don,Dubai,says:congrats SS, SRK, Congress
[11 Feb, 2010 1123hrs IST]

Harsh,Pune,says:Why they want to meet a person blamed to be supporting
Pakistan. If he meets now, his VIP status and security should be
removed.
[11 Feb, 2010 1123hrs IST]

JaiprakashnJoshi,Mumbai,says:I think, storry of SRK's 'My Name is
Khan' is nothing but simple stunt and to cheep advertisement and
sympthy from public. If we go in past there are so many incidents like
this prior to release th Films. And altimeately nothing had happned.
So giveing more importance to such type of incidents if our people
work on possitive way to solve the problem of comman man will the
right choice of work.
[11 Feb, 2010 1122hrs IST]

Ganesh,Pune,says:In the news strips that run at the bottom of TV
screen on your channel, you mention the sena men on rampage as
"sainiks"
[11 Feb, 2010 1120hrs IST]

Mubeen ,Kuwait ,says:Salam .....to all who read ....my post ....
[11 Feb, 2010 1117hrs IST]

Dinesh,Dubai,says:Why is now suddenly SRK desiring to meet Sena.
[11 Feb, 2010 1116hrs IST]

Kamal Kant Sharma,Gwalior, M.P.,says:It's the right time ,when Shiv-
Sena must be told in no uncertain terms that nobody and nobody at
all ,is bigger than Indian constitution ,which distinctly provides the
fundamental right to all its citizens to live and earn their bread in
any part of India .Besides ,may be ,Thackeray are trying to gain some
political ground by resorting to such divisive and breaking tactics
but ,for millions ,they are the lost lot ,never emerging out of their
baseless and myopic views and belligerence .On the other
hand ,celebrities like S.R.Khan must also keep in mind the sensitivity
involving such matters .Though all cricket lovers regret the absence
of Pak players in IPL ,but there are other more demanding and acute
issues in the country on which ,if they will ,they can do a lot .Why
open mouth on a controversial issue in which you can hardly do
anything .
[11 Feb, 2010 1116hrs IST]

Balaji,R,says:The old man Thakrey has gone senile with age. These are
times for him to meditate and prepare for the onward journey. Shiv
sena as a whole is a violent intolerable militant outfit. Hinduism and
Hindu don't need such an outfit for protection. The govt should take
harsh steps to keep the sena in check else these very people will
hijack democracy.
[11 Feb, 2010 1116hrs IST]

Ak,kolkata,says:ohh my god..!! who cares about these stupid
things....god...!these ppl really have no ISSUES...wat a tamasha
yar ...
[11 Feb, 2010 1115hrs IST]

Subhash,Mumbai,says:In the end its a family dispute dragged into
society, a father promoting his son over a more capable nephew. Each
trying to upstage the another in a show of hooliganism.
[11 Feb, 2010 1114hrs IST]

Gopinath T.P.,Bahrain,says:India is a democratic country and SRK has
the right to make his own comments in connection with IPL. The Govt.
of Maharashtra should provide all supports for the smooth release of
My Name is Khan and teach a lesson to the radical Sena.
[11 Feb, 2010 1114hrs IST]

Gopinath T.P.,Bahrain,says:India is a democratic country and SRK has
the right to make his own comments in connection with IPL. The Govt.
of Maharashtra should provide all supports for the smooth release of
My Name is Khan and teach a lesson to the radical Sena.
[11 Feb, 2010 1113hrs IST]

Rajan ,Mumbai,says:State Government don't want the people in
Maharashtra to live peacefully. First they planned the Rahul Gandhi
roadshow and took the ordinary Mumbaikars to ransom and now the MNIK
issue. SRK tried to solve the issue but State Govt. prevented him by
assuring full security during any problem over release. SRK tried to
solve problem but Govt planned to give protection once the problem
starts. Cong NCP want to create the problem first and then find
solution on it.
[11 Feb, 2010 1111hrs IST]

shakil ahmed baliyavi,muscat oman,says:Sena is not able to digest it's
defeat in recent elections and trying to bubble out it's anger by
diverting the attention of maharashtrian people.Fortunately the
maharashtrian people are patriotic in nature and show the sena it's
real place.
[11 Feb, 2010 1109hrs IST]

shakil ahmed baliyavi,muscat oman,says:Sena is not able to digest it's
defeat in recent elections and trying to bubble out it's anger by
diverting the attention of maharashtrian people.Fortunately the
maharashtrian people are patriotic in nature and show the sena it's
real place.
[11 Feb, 2010 1108hrs IST]

PB,India,says:Shiv Sena and his team are "Jobless"
[11 Feb, 2010 1108hrs IST]

Rajan ,Mumbai,says:State Government don't want the people in
Maharashtra to live peacefully. First they planned the Rahul Gandhi
roadshow and took the ordinary Mumbaikars to ransom and now the MNIK
issue. SRK tried to solve the issue but State Govt. prevented him by
assuring full security during any problem over release. SRK tried to
solve problem but Govt planned to give protection once the problem
starts. Cong NCP want to create the problem first and then find
solution on it.
[11 Feb, 2010 1107hrs IST]

Rajan M,Mumbai,says:State Government don't want the people in
Maharashtra to live peacefully. First they planned the Rahul Gandhi
roadshow and took the ordinary Mumbaikars to ransom and now the MNIK
issue. SRK tried to solve the issue but State Govt. prevented him by
assuring full security during any problem over release. SRK tried to
solve problem but Govt planned to give protection once the problem
starts. Cong NCP want to create the problem first and then find
solution on it.
[11 Feb, 2010 1107hrs IST]

Benny George,Mumbai,says:Shiv Sena is a political virus in our state.
It is high time to develop an antivirus to this growing menace which
can eradicate and privent this dangerous virus.A political party life
this one is always a headache to a civilised socity and peaceloving
common man.
[11 Feb, 2010 1105hrs IST]

Shachi,New Delhi,says:Kya hai yeh! Why do we have to tolerate these
duffers! I really feel bad for Shahrukh and my respect for him has
trebled. He stood for what he said despite his film standing to lose
crores. I also feel sad for Mumbai. Kuch to guts dikhao. Same for hall
owners. You guys earn crores in a day and you cant bloody stand up for
your fraternity? But people, yahi samay hai. Stand up for right. Go
watch this film in hordes. Show these Thackerays, ki gundagardi nahin
chalegi. Lastly yeh government napunsak hai. what can a few thousand
of these goons do if the government and administration has the will.
Pack all the thackerays and shiv sainiks etc etc and itna maro ki
marathi bolna bhul jaye. The police can take the life out of the poor
chindi chor but cant stand against gundagardi.
[11 Feb, 2010 1104hrs IST]

Moh,Q,says:Dear Uddav Goebbals and Balasaheb Hitler,give us a break
please
[11 Feb, 2010 1104hrs IST]

Mohammed S. Majeed,Qatar,says:It is about time someone really took
hard decisions on the Sena menace. I believe that all parties should
join together to fight these goons. People of all forms, culture,
religion and occupation have maintained contact and spoken for and
against Pakistan after incidents incited by them have occured in
India. Shah Rukh Khan hasn't said anything that would in anyway dent
the security, political standing or economy of the country. On the
contrary, the acts of the Sena is not only taking away the gloss off
Bombay but inadverently leading to a situation where a communal riot
can be provoked.
[11 Feb, 2010 1102hrs IST]

king,pune,says:Bal thackery is a terrorist and Mahrastrian is a Idiot.
[11 Feb, 2010 1102hrs IST]

shakil ahmed baliyavi,muscat oman,says:Sena is not able to digest it's
defeat by it own maharashtrian people and trying to bubble our it's
anger and divert the attention of local people.But thanks to
maharashtrian people for they are very sensible adjustable and
parriotic by nature.Maharashtrian indian public will give fitting
reply to sena again.
[11 Feb, 2010 1059hrs IST]

james,melbourne,says:Hmmmm...This is all happening because the name of
the film is "My name is Khan"
[11 Feb, 2010 1059hrs IST]

Anthony,Mumbai,says:This is going bad to worse. Such a childish drama.
Meeting by SRK would only add legitimacy to Sena's stand and that the
Industry and society buckled to bow to the hooligans
[11 Feb, 2010 1058hrs IST]

Ziauddin Shafi,Jeddah,says:We have very serious problems confronting
the country - poverty, unemployment, high prices etc - and here are
these people fighting over the silliest of issues. Somebody has
remarked that now onwards in our country,
[11 Feb, 2010 1058hrs IST]

James,Mumbai,says:Actually Mr Thackeray and his followers are Pakistan-
lovers, since they are so much in love with violence. The Shiv Sena
should migrate en masse to Pakistan as that is the country meant for
trouble-makers and people who come in the way of progress.
[11 Feb, 2010 1056hrs IST]

Tara,Bombay, India,says:It is greatest irony that Marathis are
learning english but opposing hindi. Their pride and culture do not
get hurt when they learn english. It is high time that Marathi kids
thrown are out of English Medium School.
[11 Feb, 2010 1056hrs IST]

amol nikam,chiplun,says:ashok chavan has got more big ego than
shahrukh.both should b questionned for neglecting national interest
than their political and personal interest respectively.
[11 Feb, 2010 1053hrs IST]

says:Edwards has turned the head<a href="http://www.tbcgold.com"
[11 Feb, 2010 1053hrs IST]

Suvarna,Mumbai,says:This old man has really lost it, he talks all crap
to please his Daughter in Law, MAY BE.
[11 Feb, 2010 1049hrs IST]

Shitij,Delhi,says:Shiv Sena have gone crazy and they are now leaving
no stone unturned in insulting anybody and everybody who does not
share their opinion. I think they should simply mind their own
business and stop telling people to do what Shiv Sena wants. Is it
that the rest of the world is crazy and only the Sena people are sane?
[11 Feb, 2010 1047hrs IST]

acrobat,India,says:a little girl from pakisatn undergoes critical
heart surgery in india. she gets new life.
[11 Feb, 2010 1047hrs IST]

Manav,Jalandhar,says:i'm unable to understand as to why TOI give so
much importance in publishing "Thackeray's words"
[11 Feb, 2010 1046hrs IST]

Harry,Copenhagen, Denmark,says:What Sena and Saniks lol...They call
themselves saniks..hahaha wat a joke.
[11 Feb, 2010 1046hrs IST]

Ashish,Kolkata,says:Mr.Thackeray's views are so parochial. At one
level I think that the Shiv Sena, Bajrang Dal and Taliban are all the
same.
[11 Feb, 2010 1042hrs IST]

Shaikh,Oman,says:I think Shiv sena is trying to get the attention of
marathis by doing such awful act. It is their requirement as they have
a threat from MNS bec MNS has performed better than Shiv sena in last
election. They just want to show their presence
[11 Feb, 2010 1041hrs IST]

Ashish,Kolkata,says:Mr.Thackeray's views are so parochial. At one
level I think that the Shiv Sena, Bajrang Dal and Taliban are all the
same.
[11 Feb, 2010 1041hrs IST]

sandeep,india,says:http://thebharatrevolution.blogspot.com/2010/02/
sena-vs-srk.html
[11 Feb, 2010 1039hrs IST]

Naresh,Kolkata,says:the editorial should be 'My Name is Balasaheb(does
he really deserve Saheb?) Khan'
[11 Feb, 2010 1039hrs IST]

Sumitra Singh,Bombay, India,says:Arrest Raj and Uddhav Thackeray under
National Security Act and declare Bombay Union Territory to free it
from the clutches of Marathi fanatics and talibanis. Govt should issue
shoot at sight order at Marathi miscreants.
[11 Feb, 2010 1039hrs IST]

thockrey,usa,says:thackrey is unwell. Maaamu he needs jaadu ki jappi
and a pappi from raakhi sawant.
[11 Feb, 2010 1034hrs IST]

Indian,singapore,says:These people have really gone nuts. In India
everyone has the right for expression and speech.
[11 Feb, 2010 1034hrs IST]

Rupert,Canada,says:The 3 idiots, should be dumped into the Arabian
Sea, before they harm the country.
[11 Feb, 2010 1034hrs IST]

John,Mumbai,says:Those who are out to show their strength should
realise that Pakistan will be very happy to note Indians are damaging
property and fighting each other. They do not have to induce any war
as we insiders will generate one
[11 Feb, 2010 1033hrs IST]

Dinesh Kamath,Mumbai,says:Where are you Raj? Why are you keeping
quite? It is surely an indication that you are on the pay-roll of
Congress and NCP. Dont believe until denied, hahahah
[11 Feb, 2010 1031hrs IST]

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Maharashtra-govt-didnt-let-SRK-Thackeray-meet-Shiv-Sena/articleshow/5559120.cms

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Maharashtra-govt-didnt-let-SRK-Thackeray-meet-Shiv-Sena/articleshow/5559120.cms

...and I am Sid Harth

[Sid Harth]

India offers amnesty to Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir ultras
Anil Anand / DNA
Friday, February 12, 2010 0:38 IST Email

New Delhi: In a major confidence building measure for Jammu and
Kashmir, the Centre said on Thursday it will grant amnesty to Kashmiri
militants in PoK training camps who want to surrender and return
home.

Home minister P Chidambaram’s announcement is a snub to his cabinet
colleague Ghulam Nadi Azad, who had called the proposal “unworkable”
and dangerous. Azad was lambasted by Jammu and Kashmir chief minister
Omar Abdullah, who said such decisions were taken by the home
ministry, not the health ministry headed by
Azad.

“This idea [amnesty] must now translate into reality. Now, we’ll have
to discuss how to screen the boys, bring them home, debrief them,
rehabilitate and reintegrate them into the mainstream,” Chidambaram
said. The state government has created a set of guidelines for the
rehabilitation.

The J&K government has sent the Centre a preliminary draft of
guidelines. “We will consult all stakeholders and discuss the matter
with the leader of the opposition and two main opposition parties in
J&K — the PDP and the BJP,” Chidambaram said.

The guidelines framed by the state government are:

•Militants wanting to surrender will be accepted after a background
check by police
•Those who’ve married across the LoC will not be allowed to return
with wives unless Indian high commission in Islamabad permits it
•They will be quarantined for a month, interrogated and will have to
report to a police station every week
•Security forces will keep a list of surrendered militants and monitor
their activities
•No criminal case against them will be withdrawn
•They will not get a financial rehabilitation package, but can join
govt-sponsored vocational training courses
•Rehab package can be given if they behave well
•State police will be in the loop about every militant
•People who want their children to return will have to contact the
additional DIG of the J&K criminal investigation department
•Surrendered militants will have to take an oath before the
authorities to shun militancy
•The verification process will eliminate those who are not involved in
militancy but want the financial package
•Non-militants will have to approach diplomatic channels through home
and external affairs ministries. They can seek help from Indian
mission in Islamabad
•Cases filed for illegal border-crossing will continue

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_india-offers-amnesty-to-pakistan-occupied-kashmir-ultras_1346632

Omar welcomes amnesty for Kashmiri militants, BJP angry
February 11th, 2010 ians

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Thursday welcomed the
union government’s willingness to grant amnesty to Kashmiri militants
who want to return from Pakistan, saying it was a big gift for their
families.

But the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said the move amounted to a
reward for anti-national forces.

“It was needed. That’s why we had been asking for it,” Abdullah said
in his immediate reaction to Home Minister P. Chidambaram’s
announcement in New Delhi Thursday that the union government had
accepted the idea of granting amnesty to Kashmiri militants in
Pakistan administered Kashmir who want to return without weapons and
join the mainstream.

Chidambaram had spoken to Abdullah in the morning, but the latter
received news of the announcement while he was in a district
development board meeting at Kathua, 85 km from Jammu.

Abdullah told his colleagues and the members of the district board
that it was “good news” for the state, a source present at the meeting
quoted him as saying.

However, the sentiment in Jammu-centric parties was that of anger and
frustration.

“It’s a surrender to the militants. This would open the flood gates
for terrorists,” said Ashok Khajuria, a Bharatiya Janata Party
legislator.

“This is a reward for anti-national forces and a snub to nationalist
forces,” Khjauria said.

Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) president Rama Kant Dubey said: “He
(Chidambaram) is looking after the interests of terrorists, is he the
home minister of India?” He alleged that from day one the Abdullah
government had been predisposed to militants.

“The idea of granting amnesty to Kashmiri youth in PoK (Pakistan-
occupied Kashmir) has been accepted. The idea must be translated into
action,” Chidambaram told reporters in New Delhi. He said the process
of how to do it needed wider consultation. The home minister said the
government will hold consultation with various political parties about
the return of the militants.

http://www.thelatestnews.in/omar-welcomes-amnesty-for-kashmiri-militants-bjp-angry/31515.html

All isn’t well in Kashmir coalition, now Omar snubs Azad
February 10th, 2010 ians

A day after senior Congress leader and cabinet minister Ghulam Nabi
Azad censured Omar Abdullah’s call for amnesty and rehabilitation of
Kashmiri militants in Pakistan, the chief minister Wednesday shot back
saying the matter was beyond the health ministry.

Snubbing Azad, his predecessor, the chie minister said whether or not
to give amnesty and rehabilitate the youth returning from Pakistan was
for the central home ministry to decide.

“It’s a matter between us (the state government) and the union home
ministry and not the union health ministry,” Abdullah, who heads the
Congress-National Conference coalition government, told reporters
here.

“It’s for the union home ministry to speak on the subject,” he added.

Abdullah in Delhi last week proposed that a surrender and
rehabilitation policy may be framed for the youth who had gone to
Pakistan-administered Kashmir for militant training and were craving
to return home without weapons and join the mainstream.

But Azad, a former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister, during his visit
to Jammu Tuesday said the surrender of the militants on their return
from Pakistan could pose a serious danger to security in the state.

“Who will guarantee (that these youths will not engage in terrorist
activities)? Should we trust Pakistan?” Azad said. “Could it not be
another way of infiltrating armed youth inside?”

Hundreds of Kashmiri youth had crossed over to Pakistani Kashmir for
arms training in early 1990s. Fearing legal action, they have not
returned home while people who visit the area say they are living in a
pathetic state and are craving to return home if government gives them
amnesty.

The idea to rehabilitate them on humanitarian basis was first floated
in May 2006 when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh held the second
roundtable conference on Kashmir in Srinagar. Azad was then heading
the Congress-Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) coalition government in
the state.

Manmohan Singh had listed this issue as one of the subjects to be
looked into for addressing the internal dimension of the Kashmir
issue, and at his press conference May 25, 2006, he had stated that
talks would be held with Pakistan on this issue.

A working group headed by M. Hamid Ansari, now vice-president, had
recommended that the government should initiate talks with Pakistan to
rehabilitate these youth.

http://www.thelatestnews.in/all-isnt-well-in-kashmir-coalition-now-omar-snubs-azad/31393.html

Azad shoots down Omar’s proposed surrender policy
February 10th, 2010 ians

Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad Tuesday expressed fear that the
proposed surrender policy for Kashmiri youth who are in Pakistan and
want to return without weapons may turn out to be attempts at
infiltration.

“Who will guarantee (that these youths will not engage in terrorist
activities)? Should we trust Pakistan?” Azad said here when reporters
asked about the plan Chief Minister Omar Abdullah proposed at a
conference on internal security in Delhi.

“Could it not be another way of infiltrating armed youth inside?” the
former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister asked.

Abdullah had proposed that a surrender policy may be framed for the
youth who had gone to Pakistan-administered Kashmir for militant
training and were craving to return home and join the mainstream.

About resuming a composite dialogue with Pakistan, Azad said Islamabad
needed to dismantle terror camps on its soil and take strong measures
to curb infiltration.

“It is for Pakistan to make atmosphere conducive for talks. Some of
their ministers are making different statements that shows they are
not serious in talks with India,” he said.

“Dialogue process has been stalled with Pakistan since the Mumbai
attack. How is it possible unless Pakistan takes action against the
perpetrators of those involved in that attack?” Azad noted.

http://www.thelatestnews.in/azad-shoots-down-omars-proposed-surrender-policy/31273.html

Omar's surrender policy will promote gun culture in J&K: BJP
PTI Thursday, February 11, 2010 20:25 IST

Jammu: Criticising Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah's
surrender policy for militants held across the LoC, state BJP today
said the step will promote gun culture in the state.

"The state is already in the grip of militancy with both local and
foreign militants carrying out their subversive activities and
bringing militants from across the border under pretext of surrender
would prove counter productive for the security of the state and
nation," BJP president Shamsher Singh Manhas told reporters here.

He urged the chief minister to abandon the idea as it will prove
dangerous for the nation and also for J&K.

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_omar-s-surrender-policy-will-promote-gun-culture-in-j-and-k-bjp_1346559

...and I am Sid Harth

[chhotemianinshallah]

Proposal of return of PoK youth legitimises infiltration: BJP
PTI Friday, February 12, 2010 19:02 IST

New Delhi: In the light of home minister P Chidambaram's statement
welcoming the proposal of allowing return of Indians from Pakistan-
occupied Kashmir, BJP today said this was "downright legitimisation"
of infiltration and asked who would stand guarantee for their conduct
here.

"We condemn the statement of home minister of India P Chidambaram
welcoming the proposal of Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar
Abdullah that return of Indian youth in PoK should be facilitated. It
is nothing but downright legitimisation of infiltration," BJP
spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said.

BJP maintained that these young Indians are those who went to PoK for
arms and terrorist training and once they are back in the country they
would be "at the beck and call" of their Pakistani handlers.

"Who will stand guarantee for these young men who will come from PoK.
BJP is disturbed by this proposal. We are opposed to any scheme which
will increase infiltration," Prasad said.

The main opposition also tried to drive a wedge between health
minister Gulam Nabi Azad - who has opposed this proposal - and his
cabinet colleagues who differs with him.

"Was this issue discussed with Azad, who is a former J&K chief
minister and has taken a public stand against the idea which is
fraught with great risk," Prasad sought to know.

"We see Azad's statement as a great silver lining," he added.

Chidambaram and defence minister AK Antony have conceded

in the "last 10-15 days" that there has been an increase in
infiltration which was being encouraged by the handlers from across
the border, BJP alleged.

Questioning the timing of the PoK proposal and the unilateral decision
on starting talks with Pakistan, BJP said that the latter had come on
a day when terrorist organisations were holding an open discussion in
PoK along with some Pakistani authorities on launching Jehad and "made
a clarion call for ceding Jammu and Kashmir" from India.

Warning that the government should not "sacrifice India's interest",
Prasad alleged, "This is a case of openly playing with the security of
the country... ad hoc decisions are being taken without applying any
foresight."

He wondered if these decisions were being taken under international
pressure.

"There is a meeting of minds between Pakistan and these terrorists on
such issues," Prasad said.

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_proposal-of-return-of-pok-youth-legitimises-infiltration-bjp_1346968

BSF officer may have ordered firing on Kashmiri youth
PTI Friday, February 12, 2010 22:31 IST

Srinagar: A senior BSF officer may have ordered his junior constable
to fire on a teenaged boy whose killing had triggered widespread
street protests here, two days after the paramilitary force held the
constable "prima facie" responsible.

Official sources said constable Lakhvinder Kumar, accused of killing
16-year-old Zahid Farooq Shah on February 5 at Brain-Nishat here,
claimed before the police that he was forced by his senior to shot at
the teenager.

They said the claim made by the BSF jawan was being corroborated and
some of its officials, including Commandant, RK Birdi, may be
questioned.

BSF handed over Kumar to the police for further investigation alleging
he was "prima facie" involved in the killing.

Following his arrest, Kumar, a constable of 68th battalion, was placed
under suspension.

The family of the slain teenager has already accused the BSF of making
the constable a scapegoat to save a senior officer.

"We are not satisfied with the arrest of the constable as eye-
witnesses told us that an officer of the force actually shot Zahid in
the chest after snatching the rifle from one of the jawans," Farooq
Ahmad, father of the youth, had said.

The state government has already ordered a probe into the incident and
said stern action would be taken against the guilty.

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_bsf-officer-may-have-ordered-firing-on-kashmiri-youth_1347075

Sell-out crowds greet Shah Rukh's My Name Is Khan in West Bengal
PTI Friday, February 12, 2010 12:54 IST

Kolkata: A sell-out crowd greeted Shah Rukh Khan-starrer My Name Is
Khan in West Bengal which today released in 131 cinema halls across
the state without any trouble as cheering fans of the star filled the
halls for the first show.

Khan, who owns the IPL team Kolkata Knight Riders, came in for
controversy for favouring inclusion of Pakistani players in IPL, with
Shiv Sena demanding an apology from the film star for his remark.

Police sources here said that there was no untoward incident in any
cinema hall or multiplex as the film released at noon today.

"The only crowd that we can see is of cine-goers. There has been no
protest of any sort," an officer of Kolkata Police said.

"Security arrangements have, however, been beefed up at the halls and
multiplexes in view of the controversy," the officer said.

MNIK released at 22 cinema halls in the metropolis, apart from several
multiplexes of Inox and Fame across the city, said Debasish, head of
distributors Sri Venkatesh Films here.

"The film has got a marvellous reception. It is extraordinary that
MNIK has released to full houses in 131 theatres across the state for
the first day first show itself," he said.

http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report_sell-out-crowds-greet-shah-rukh-s-my-name-is-khan-in-west-bengal_1346744


SRK's wife defies Sena threat, watches MNIK in theatre
PTI Friday, February 12, 2010 19:49 IST

Mumbai: Shah Rukh Khan's wife Gauri defied the Shiv Sena threat and
stepped out to see Bollywood superstar's film My Name Is Khan at a
local theatre on the opening day of its release.

Gauri, 39, who broke her silence in the tense Shah Rukh-Shiv Sena
stand-off, said her husband is "very happy" with theinitial response
to the film after remaining "sad" yesterday following the controversy
over the release of the eagerly awaited picture.

A co-producer of the film herself, Gauri urged cinegoers to catch up
with the movie saying it is a "beautiful" picture.

"He (Shah Rukh) was very very sad yesterday but today he is very happy
that everybody in Mumbai and all over India has come to watch his
film. Karan (Johar) is with him by his side, supporting him. We are
very happy," Gauri said. Karan Johar is the director of the film.

"It is a beautiful film and everybody should watch it. At times like
these, peace is the most important thing," she added.

http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_srk-s-wife-defies-sena-threat-watches-mnik-in-theatre_1347001

Lawyer defending 26/11 accused shot dead in Mumbai office
Nikhil Dixit / DNA
Thursday, February 11, 2010 21:40 IST


Mumbai: Shahid Azmi, the defence lawyer for 26/11 accused Faheem
Ansari, was shot dead by three persons in his office at the Taximen’s
Colony in Kurla (West) on Thursday evening. According to the police,
Azmi was in his office with a peon when, at around 7.45pm, three
persons entered and shot five rounds at him from point-blank range.

Four bullets pierced the 32-year-old criminal lawyer’s chest and he
was killed instantly. According to the peon, who was present in the
office at the time of the incident, the assailants fled on foot after
the shooting. The police said that two imported weapons, a pistol and
a revolver were used in the firing, indicating that it was not the
handiwork of any local or small-time criminal. Azmi was rushed to the
Rajawadi hospital where he was declared dead before admission. The
post-mortem report was awaited at the time of going to the press.

Azmi, who rose to fame quickly as a criminal lawyer, had a disturbed
past. A victim of the December 1992 communal riots, he was barely 15
years old when he was picked up by the Govandi police for allegedly
indulging in violence a few days after the Babri Masjid was demolished
on December 6, 1992.

As a teenager he was arrested and convicted under the now-defunct
Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act and given a five-
year sentence in 1999. But he was acquitted by the Supreme Court later
in the year.

After clearing his name of terror-related charges, Azmi did his LL.B
from KC College and later completed his LL.M as well. He found it
difficult to enroll himself as a lawyer with the Bar Council, but
finally got registered after convincing the authorities that his gray
past was no reason to deny him the black gown.

http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_lawyer-defending-26-11-accused-shot-dead-in-mumbai-office_1346586

Dawood paying crores to ensure own protection
Nikhil S Dixit / DNA
Friday, February 12, 2010 1:00 IST

Mumbai: Dawood Ibrahim, the underworld don who used to extort crores
of rupees from businessmen, builders and filmstars as protection
money, is paying a similar amount for his own protection. Dawood has
started heavily funding fundamentalist religious groups in Pakistan
with a condition that in case the authorities decide to deport him to
India, the religious groups should ensure his safety.

Looking at the way fundamentalist Islamic religious groups protected
Hafiz Saeed, the alleged mastermind of the 26/11 Mumbai terror
attacks, Dawood too has decided to seek refuge with such groups in
Pakistan to ensure his safety.

This was revealed to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)
officials by Feroz Abdul Rashid Khan. An accused in the 1993 serial
bomb blasts in Mumbai, Khan was arrested by the crime branch earlier
this week and handed over to the CBI for further investigation.

“With international pressure mounting on Pakistan to accept that the
fugitive don is holed up on its soil, Dawood fears that soon the
Pakistan government will be forced to deport him,” said a CBI officer.
To pre-empt this, Dawood has started funding a lot of religious
organisations in Pakistan, added the officer. “According to
information available, Dawood has already given a huge amount of money
to these religious organisations,” the officer said.

According to Khan’s revelation, Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan, a Sunni
militant organisation, Jamaat-i-Islami and Jamaat-ud-Dawa are some of
the organisationsfunded by Dawood.

During interrogation, Khan has reportedly told the police that Dawood
regularly visits terror camps situated in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir
(PoK). “Khan’s statement also clearly indicates that Dawood is very
much in Pakistan, contradicting their claims,” the official said.

http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_dawood-paying-crores-to-ensure-own-protection_1346675

Shahid Azmi never tried to hide his past as Tada detainee
Nikhil Dixit / DNA
Friday, February 12, 2010 0:45 IST

Mumbai: Shahid Azmi often joked that he would be felled by bullets.
And death, ironically, came exactly the way he had predicted — while
sitting in the same chair where he often laughed off his premonition.
He would shrug, saying, "I've died a hundred times and if death did
come knocking, I would look it in the eye." As a Tada detainee, the
teenaged Shahid was lodged in two of India's biggest prisons and had
felt the hangman's noose around his neck several times, as a 'dummy'
before it was readied for those on death row.

A fearless lawyer, he refused to erase his past. For, it was
instrumental in shaping his life, step by step. Scarred by his past,
he decided to join the system to beat the system and reform it in his
own capacity.

One of the few lawyers who could empathise with the accused,
particularly, those labelled "anti-nationals", the soft-spoken Shahid
was often reluctant to charge legal fees. "They were all victims of
the system," he often reasoned.

A few years ago, a local newspaper carried Azmi's interview in which
he was described as a 'Reformed Radical'. This hit him hard, and a
terribly saddened Shahid had retorted, "I was never a radical, so
where is the question of reforming myself."

The first time I saw Shahid was when he entered a journalism class in
1999. Dressed in a blue jeans and white shirt, a haversack slung
around his shoulders, Shahid sat on the first bench in class.

The replies of the shy Shahid would often be in monosyllables,
sometimes stammered. But the anger never left him. And neither did his
past. Naturally, he was anti-establishment and could not stomach
anybody praising the system. Slowly, we got chatting in the canteen
and bonded over books. Soon after college, we got our first jobs
together. Eventually, he decided to pursue law, while I continued with
journalism. And life moved on.

Then one day in 2002, I chanced upon a news report immediately after
the Parliament attack, where Shahid was accused of having links with
terror groups. Needless to say, I was shocked.

Next, I bumped into him at the Sessions court in 2005, where he was
clad in a crisp black advocate's coat. He instantly knew he had to
tell his story. And, he said it all, freely, episode by episode. After
a couple hours, as he was pouring his heart out, I noticed the stammer
had gone...

Lawyerspeak: Many were unable to react. "I am shocked. He was my best
friend when we were studying LLM at University. I cannot believe it,"
said advocate Nilofer Saiyed.

Senior public prosecutor, Rohini Salian, who has appeared in cases
against Azmi, said, "This is very unfortunate. This reflects not only
on the security of defence counsels, but on everybody."
"Azmi used to appear with me in many cases. As an officer of the court
he was a thorough professional. He would meticulously prepare for
every case. Though he had a tendency to stammer a little, in court he
was very impressive. I was a year or two his senior, but there were
times when I learned from him," said advocate Mubin Solkar.

http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_shahid-azmi-never-tried-to-hide-his-past-as-tada-detainee_1346670

Let those who love Pak-lover SRK watch the film: Bal Thackeray
PTI Friday, February 12, 2010 21:51 IST

Mumbai: Virtually conceding that his party was whittling down its
agitation against Shah Rukh Khan and his latest film My Name is Khan,
Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray today said "those who want to see the
film could do so."

"Let cinema theatre owners who love Khan's love for Pakistan show the
film.... and let those who like pro-Pak elements (Khan), see the
film," Thackeray said in a statement here tonight.

He claimed the agitation against MNIK was successful, saying "whatever
Shiv sainiks had to do, they did".

"The Sena agitation was not against the film My Name is Khan but was
against the love for Pakistan which SRK showed and his insulting of
India," Thackeray said in an apparent reference rpt reference to the
actor's favouring inclusion of Pakistani cricketers in IPL
competition.

"We stood up against Khan because of patriotism. If patriotism is an
offence in this country, Shiv Sainiks will commit the offence again
and again," the Sena chief said after a meeting of top Sena leaders at
Matoshree, his house in suburban Bandra.

Accusing chief minister Ashok Chavan of siding with Khan during the
ongoing row, Thackeray said "the whole world saw how desperate and
hapless the CM has become for one Khan."

Thousands of Shiv sainiks were arrested during the agitation,
Thackeray said. "They were beaten up till they bled and locked up.
Cinema halls did not become housefull despite Congressmen buying
tickets but the jails were housefull with Shiv sainiks," he said.

http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_let-those-who-love-pak-lover-srk-watch-the-film-bal-thackeray_1347064

Sena attacks Shah Rukh Khan's production house in Mumbai
Friday, February 12, 2010 20:41 IST

The office of Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan's production house in
suburban Bandra was attacked today by Shiv Sainiks as part of their
protest against the release of his latest film My Name Is Khan.

"A group of Shiv Sainiks gathered outside the office of Red Chillies
Entertainment (the production house owned by Khan), protesting against
the actor and the movie," a senior police official said.

One of the protesters threw a bottle in the direction of the building,
he said.

"None was injured and no property damaged. The situation was soon
brought under control," the official said.

The Bal Thackeray-led party is demanding an apology from Khan for
favouring inclusion of Pakistani cricket players in the IPL III.

http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_sena-attacks-shah-rukh-khan-s-production-house-in-mumbai_1347045

Sena stages demo in front of multiplexes, My Name Is Khan not released
in Nashik
PTI Friday, February 12, 2010 20:09 IST

Nashik: Hundreds of Shiv Sena activists staged demonstrations in front
of four city-based multiplex theatres, where My Name Is Khan, Shah
Rukh Khan starred Hindi film was to be released today.


Shah Rukh KhanHowever, demonstrations passed off peacefully, police
said. The demonstration was led by Sena district chief Sunil Bagul,
other leaders - Datta Gaikwad, Arjun Tile and Sudhakar Badgujar.

Sena activists gathered before four different theatres in Nashik this
afternoon and staged demonstration in protest against Bollywood actor
Shah Rukh Khan's alleged statement favouring inclusion of Pakistani
cricket players in IPL matches.

Meanwhile, as a preventive measure, owners of multiplex cinema have
decided not to release the film till the dispute between Shiv Sena and
SRK ends, Nashik Cinema Owners Association sources said.

http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_sena-stages-demo-in-front-of-multiplexes-my-name-is-khan-not-released-in-nashik_1347015

Sharad Pawar slams Sena over protests against My Name Is Khan
PTI Friday, February 12, 2010 21:39 IST

New Delhi: Union minister Sharad Pawar, whose recent meeting with Shiv
Sena supremo Bal Thackeray left ally Congress fuming, today firmly
told his party not to impose its authority, as he hailed Mumbaikars
for defying Sena protests against the film My Name Is Khan.

Union minister Sharad Pawar

"There is an autonomous institution in this country which decides
which film to be screened for public viewing and with what cuts and in
such a situation no one should create his own authority for it", the
NCP supremo and agriculture minister said reacting to the rebuff to
the "so called agitation" by the Shiv Sena in Mumbai against the Shah
Rukh Khan starrer.

Asserting that any such attempts to play the role of such an authority
should be resisted, he said that the "failure" of the "so called
agitation" against the film showed that the citizens of Mumbai
including Marathi people neither participated in it, nor backed it.

Pawar, whose party is part of the Congress-led coalition government in
Maharashtra and in charge of home portfolio, also complimented the
owners of the cinema theatres screening the film.

Trying to put at rest speculation of him possibly warming up to Bal
Thackeray when he met the Sena chief on Sunday, Pawar said he had gone
there to persuade him against taking any step that would harm the
interest of cricket and cricket lovers in India.

"After the attack on the Sri Lankan players in Pakistan, the cause of
cricket in that country has suffered tremendously as no one from
outside now want to play there. I wanted to avert that situation in
India," Pawar said adding "there was no any other agenda and not at
all any politics behind it".

Pawar, whose meeting with Thackeray had raised a controversy in
political circles, said that though he was not an office-bearer of the
Indian Cricket Board, he had gone to meet the Sena chief on the
"request" of BCCI chief Shashank Manohar.

"Mumbai is cricket lovers' paradise. Thousands of youth there play
cricket regularly and in order to ensure that their future does not
get bleak...I went to persuade Thackeray, whose family is also
interested in the game," Pawar said.

http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report_sharad-pawar-slams-sena-over-protests-against-my-name-is-khan_1347060

BJP blames Maha govt for Shiv Sena's vandalism against MNIK
PTI Friday, February 12, 2010 21:45 IST

New Delhi: BJP today expressed its disapproval of the violence against
the movie My Name Is Khan by members of ally Shiv Sena but blamed the
Congress-led government in Maharashtra, alleging it had failed to
control the protesters.

NCP chief and agriculture minister Sharad Pawar has reportedly drawn
the ire of some of his cabinet colleagues when he argued recently that
the entire cabinet, and not he alone, were responsible for price rise.
His meeting with Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray soon thereafter led
to reports that the two had an understanding on protests against
Khan's movie.

The BJP criticised Shiv Sena's vandalism against the movie, saying
"our Constitution guarantees freedom of expression to all Indians
which includes creative expression".

"If they have no problems with the movie then why indulge in
violence," Prasad said.

He took a dig at Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan for "giving
strong bytes on TV" but not translating it into action on the ground.
"Law and order is a state subject," he said.

Defending BJP's ties with Shiv Sena, Prasad said the two parties have
a right to differ on issues.

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_bjp-blames-maha-govt-for-shiv-sena-s-vandalism-against-mnik_1347062

CM's tough stand has nothing to do with SRK's Rahul link: MPCC
PTI Friday, February 12, 2010 20:06 IST

Mumbai: The Maharashtra PCC today rubbished media reports that chief
minister Ashok Chavan went out of the way to provide protection for
safe release of Shah Rukh Khan starrer My Name is Khan due to the
actor's proximity to party general secretary, Rahul Gandhi.

Shah Rukh Khan

Two Shiv Sainiks arrested for attack on Congress workers in Uttar
Pradesh

"The issue here is of attitude and such high-handedness (of Shiv Sena)
should be dealt with sternly," MPCC spokesman Anant Gadgil said,
adding the matter did not involve protecting an actor or his
interests.

Gadgil said the Shiv Sena was "frustated" following its defeat in the
assembly elections and was attempting to "re-create an atmosphere of
fear"."It (SS) wanted another issue because the sons-of-the-soil
platform has been hijacked by the MNS," he said.

BJP spokesman Madhav Bhandari said there had been many instances of
high-handedness by parties like the MNS and Shiv Sena during Chavan's
tenure but "why was he silent then?"

Stating that SRK-Sena tiff had exposed the rift in the state cabinet,
Bhandari said, "allministers including those from the Congress are
quiet while the chief minister has sidelined the home minister and
taken charge of the police department." Despite this, the film could
not be released as planned, he said, adding that the Shiv Sena had
succeeded in galvanising its cadre.

Media reports over the past couple of days said that Chavan had acted
tough against the Sena because of Shah Rukh Khan's cordial relations
with Rahul and Priyanka Vadra.

http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_cm-s-tough-stand-has-nothing-to-do-with-srk-s-rahul-link-mpcc_1347013

Film review: My Name Is Khan remains on the fringes of great cinema
Aniruddha Guha
Friday, February 12, 2010 11:45 IST

Film: My Name Is Khan (U/A)
Director: Karan Johar
Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol, Zarina Wahab and others
Rating: ***

The other day, I managed to catch bits of Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna
(KANK) on TV – the first time since I saw the film when it released in
2006 – and remembered how disappointed I had been after watching it.
It’s not like it was a bad movie or anything but given its interesting
plot, it failed to rise above the multi-starrer entertainer it ended
up being.

Four years later, KANK director Karan Johar’s latest film, My Name Is
Khan (MNIK), suffers from a similar problem. It has everything a
director needs to execute a grand vision – an interesting plot
(Shibani Kashyap gets story/screenplay credit), good actors, excellent
production values (art direction, locations etc), and is technically
superior (Ravi K Chandran’s cinematography is a treat). And it’s
fairly entertaining too.

But sadly, MNIK ends up somewhere between a film with a larger
statement that strikes you with its honesty and a film with the
typical trappings you would find in, what is annoyingly referred to
as, a ‘Bollywood’ film. MNIK is quite good, but not the great piece of
cinema it could have been.

Rizvan ‘Shah Rukh’ Khan suffers from Asperger’s syndrome – a disorder
which makes it difficult for people to interact socially – and comes
to live with his younger brother (Jimmy Shergill) in the US after
their mother dies.

Here, he meets hair stylist Mandira (Kajol), a free-spirited woman who
lives with her six-year old son – Sam – from a failed marriage. While
Rizvan falls in love with Mandira, she too grows fond of the good-
natured Rizvan. An unlikely romance later, Mandira gets married to
Rizvan.

The perfect existence of the ‘Khans’ gets disrupted following the 9/11
Twin Tower attacks. Sam gets involved in a tussle with a few college
ruffians who beat him up because his second name is Khan. Sam succumbs
to his injuries and a shattered Mandira blames Rizvan for his death.

“He died only because his name was Khan,” yells Mandira and asks
Rizvan to leave her. Rizvan tries to assure Mandira that things would
get better, but she tells him that as long as he remained a ‘Khan’, he
would be looked upon as a terrorist, even if he convinced the US
president otherwise.

Rizvan sets on a journey that takes him from one US state to the
other, following the movements of President George Bush, who he has a
message for – “My name is Khan, and I’m not a terrorist.”

The film makes an important point – not all Muslims can be typecast as
jihadis – something which is not entirely novel, yet valid. A two hour
long, intense drama with well-crafted, emotional sequences (which MNIK
has aplenty) would have driven home the point.

Instead, the film combines elements of a love story with a message-
oriented theme, and ends up being what can now be referred to as a
‘Johar.’ At 2hrs 45minutes, it’s a bit long, and certain sequences in
the first half are welcome only because they give you opportunities
for quick toilet breaks.

The love story between Mandira and Rizvan, pre-interval, is likeable
at places but makes it that much longer for the film to settle into
its groove eventually. Once that happens, though, MNIK is a compelling
watch.

The scene showing Sam’s tussle with the bullies, and what follows,
grabs your attention and sets you up for a very dramatic second half.
Certain sequences tug at your heartstrings and the film leaves you
moved and satiated in the end.

What adds to the enjoyment is the performance of the real life Khan.
Shah Rukh, as someone suffering from a disorder, gets it just right
and is fab with his body language and expressions.

Some may find his way of talking monotonous, but Shah Rukh inculcates
that aspect in his character well enough for you to stop minding it
after a while.

No Karan Johar-directed film would be complete without a Shah Rukh
Khan monologue and be prepared to be bombarded with a few here too.
Thankfully, though, he nails it every single time.

Kajol is the perfect foil to Shah Rukh – as she’s always been – but
how you wish she wasn’t the bubbly, ‘cute’, loud woman she’s already
played in previous Johar films. In scenes requiring her to display
emotional and intense histrionics though, she’s at home.

Watching the two actors in their element together after a long time
will be cherished by fans of films the duo appeared in through the
90s.

With the two dominating the proceedings, the other actors – Shergill,
Sonia Jehan, Arjun Mathur, Parveen Dabbas and others – are left with
little to do. Zarina Wahab, in a cameo as Rizvan’s mother, is a
welcome addition to the long list of ‘mummies’ in our films, while the
child actor playing Sam is quite good.

Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy’s music is strictly functional, ‘Noor-e-Khuda’
being the only song that stays with you after.

For Karan Johar, the film is another step in the direction he’s been
charting since KANK and with his recent productions – one of giving
audiences their fill of escapism, but finding a way to experiment
within the minimum space his entertainers allow him.

He may not be there yet but in MNIK, Johar shows sparks of brilliance
he displayed with his first cinematic effort – Kuch Kuch Hota Hai –
which still remains a personal favourite from the director’s stable.

Hopefully, he’ll better even that soon. C’mon KJo, let’s have a sappy
romantic comedy – melodrama, music, family values et al – next. Others
can worry about social issues.

http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/review_film-review-my-name-is-khan-remains-on-the-fringes-of-great-cinema_1346705

Shiva helpless on Cupid ratri
Tuli Banerjee & Priya Adhyaru-Majithia / DNA
Friday, February 12, 2010 14:56 IST

Ahmedabad: In mythology, Shiva destroyed Kama Deva (Cupid) when the
latter 'struck the lord with love' to help goddess Parvati. However,
in 2010, the lord seems to be losing the battle to Cupid and the
devout can blame Kalyug.

For, this time the Shivratri celebrations seem to have few takers as
they come just two days before Valentine's Day. Many of those who
normally host bhang parties for Shivratri have called off their plans
and opted instead to celebrate Valentine's Eve — more so, because it
falls on Saturday this year.

Very few families it seems will bee keeping the Shiv shahtranaam
blivapatra pujas to celebrate Maha Shivratri in the city.

The festival is a hit with many people because of bhang, which is
offered as prasad. But this time, even the lure of bhang has failed to
encourage people to set up celebrations for the festival. Dr. Paras
Shah, a sexologist who has been celebrating Shivratri by hosting bhang
parties for the last 10 years, said, he has no plans for Shivratri
this year as it has come on a weekday."Instead, as Saturday is
Valentine's evening and a weekend too we are more inclined to partying
on Saturday,"said Shah.

Shital Savla, 31, an interior designer, whose son Arav was born on
Maha Shivratri too has similar plans."I hosted a party on Shivratri
last year, it being a holiday and my son's birthday as well. However,
this time I plan to host a theme party of Baby Valentines. I chose to
celebrate his birthday a day later because he and his friends would
enjoy the themed celebration more," said Savla.

Lots of regular party throwers in Ahmedabad have also planned to throw
parties on Saturday, a day before Valentine's Day. Many renowned DJs
and musicians have been invited to play host to farmhouse parties
being held in Ahmedabad. Jigar Shah, the host of one of such party
said he has planned a party on February 13 so that he can dance away
till the wee hours of February 14.

Although most of the party hoppers will be partying on Saturday night
instead of February 14, there are a few who plan to host a party on
Valentine's Day.

Aryaman, for instance, is throwing a party on Valentine's Day at a
discotheque in the city.One of the invitees to the party on condition
of anonymity said, "Any party that is held on a day other than
February 14 dilutes the zest of the celebration. So it does not matter
if V-day falls on a Sunday or Monday, it should be celebrated on the
day itself."

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_shiva-helpless-on-cupid-ratri_1346801

...and I am Sid Harth

[chhotemianinshallah]

Communal cauldron
R Jagannathan
Thursday, February 11, 2010 0:32 IST

Slowly and cynically our politicians have started laying the
groundwork for the next communal buildup. First, we had the Sachar
report, which has now become the basis for the Muslim community’s
claim to victimhood. Next, we have had state governments using quotas
to woo the Muslim voter. On the same day on which the Andhra Pradesh
high court struck down the state government’s orders on Muslim quotas,
the West Bengal
government rushed in to announce 10 per cent job reservations.

Meanwhile, Muslim leaders have begun the spadework to tell us that we
need an Islamic bank to serve their needs. No poor Muslim in
Bangladesh has accused Grameen Bank founder Mohammed Yunus of being a
kafir for lending with interest. But in secular India we need Islamic
banking or else Muslims will rot in poverty. Secular humbugs will
support this view on the plea that banking must be “inclusive” when
the reluctance of some Muslims to use banks is a case of self-
exclusion, not discrimination.

Islamic banking is a marketing tool, nothing more. When a bank says it
is selling Islamic financial products, it is essentially marketing
services to the religious-minded. But this does not make its products
significantly different from those offered by non-Islamic banks.

Banks usually do one of two things: they can borrow and lend by giving
or taking interest, or they can raise capital (short-term or long-
term) and ask investors to share in their gains or losses. Most banks
do both; Islamic banks claim to do only the latter, in line with the
Koranic ban on interest.

This is largely fiction because people come to banks for safety of
capital and steady returns. They don’t go there to take risks, where
returns depend on whether their money makes a profit or loss. If they
want to do the latter, they can invest in venture capital funds,
shares, mutual funds, or even directly in small-time businesses.
The issue is not whether there can be an entity called an Islamic bank
— there can be —but in a world where interest-based banking is the
norm, no bank can be truly be Islamic. Ask yourself: how will an
Islamic bank get deposits (or investment funds) when there is an
alternative? Let’s say State Bank offers 7 per cent on fixed deposits.
Even if an Islamic bank offers no guaranteed return, it has to find
ways to match the returns of State Bank to attract substantial funds.
If it does so consistently, it cannot be truly Islamic, since returns
in business are variable. If it doesn’t, it will attract only those
who can take risks — which means the rich. The poor can’t afford to
take risks — even if they happen to be good Muslims. The conclusion:
even though they don’t pay interest, Islamic banks try to mirror
interest rates in some way or the other.

Moreover, you can have interest-free banking even now. Banks can
invest in zero-coupon bonds, short-term treasury bills and corporate
bills — all of which are based on implied interest rates, but don’t
actually pay interest. Any bank can offer you a portfolio account
where your money is invested in non-interest-bearing securities. You
can call it an Islamic account if you like.

On the lending side, you can meet the Koranic norm by specifying your
return instead of calling it interest. How do you think Yunus and
various microfinance institutions lend to the poor? They don’t say we
will charge you 30 per cent interest. Rather, they will say here’s
Rs1,000 to buy dress material. When you manage to sell the stitched
garments you can return us Rs1,075 — say in three months. When
annualised, this is 30 per cent interest. For the poor, it’s an
enabling funding option. Simply put, a pre-indicated capital return
becomes interest only if you stop to calculate it!

If you are borrower — and want to buy a home — you can avoid paying
interest if you enter into a hire-purchase deal. The Reserve Bank
should encourage this form of housing finance by enabling more banks
and non-banks to do this.

Those who talk of Islamic banking are essentially seeking to give
Muslims another way to separate themselves from the mainstream. They
are not well-wishers of Muslims.

The same applies to quotas. Nobody is saying that Muslims don’t need
jobs, education and other support systems to develop. But what is the
need to help them as Muslims? When below-poverty-line (BPL) families
can be helped without communal identification and NREGA benefits can
be given on socio-economic grounds, Muslims can be helped the same
way.

It’s obvious why our politicians love quotas. When you give benefits
on the basis of caste or religion, it is useful for political
mobilisation. If you do it through socio-economic filters, there are
no quick political payoffs. Quotas, Islamic banking, and Sachar-
induced victimhood are all one of a piece: they promote communal
identity at the cost of true development.

http://www.dnaindia.com/opinion/column_communal-cauldron_1346180

Centre mulls changes in communal violence bill
Rakesh Bhatnagar / DNA
Friday, February 5, 2010 0:19 IST

New Delhi: The Centre is considering changes in the proposed communal
violence bill to bringthe political executive, such as a chief
minister, on a par with others directly or indirectly involved in
carnages, such as the Gujarat riots of 2002.

The main hurdle in bringing to book the key players in such carnages
is the requirement of sanction under CrPC section 197.

A team of concerned citizens comprising former SC judge PB Sawant and
social activist Teesta Setalvad, among others, met home minister P
Chidambaram and home secretary GK Pillai on Thursday. The team pointed
out loopholes in the bill.

It said special procedural rules which protect a person due to his
official capacity “shall not bar the court from exercising its
jurisdiction over him. No person shall be entitled to sovereign
immunity and privilege for offences committed under this Act”.

The concerned citizens had earlier deliberated on in a memorandum that
to obviate the apprehension that removal of the sanction provision
would lead to malicious and frivolous prosecutions of public servants,
CrPC be amended to vest the power of according sanction in the
district judge or the state legal services authority (not state
government).

They suggested a national authority to prevent sectarian violence and
punish its perpetrators. This authority could be NHRC. On being
informed about communal violence, this authority shall forthwith
declare the area internally disturbed and bring it under its control.
It shall order investigation, prosecution and monitor the trial by a
special court. Local and district administrations, including police,
shall aid the authority.

The proposed bill, however, vests the authority with the state
government, which, the citizens feel, “will defeat the very purpose of
such a law”.

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_centre-mulls-changes-in-communal-violence-bill_1343420

Communal violence breaks out near Shimla
PTI Friday, February 12, 2010 18:28 IST

Shimla: Communal violence and arson erupted in Nerwa block of rural
Shimla, today when a mob enraged over finding of the leg of a cow,
attacked two religious structures.

Superintendent of police RM Sharma told PTI from the spot that the leg
of a cow was found last evening from near a religious education centre
in Nerwa block under Chopal sub-division of Shimla district.

Resenting this, a group of people today attacked two religious
structures and tried to set it on fire, he said adding the two
buildings were partially burnt, police said adding three shops
belonging to people of a community were also damaged.

Six persons have been arrested so far in connection with the
incidents, the SP said.

The situation has been brought under control after talk between
elderly members of the two communities, the SP said.

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_communal-violence-breaks-out-near-shimla_1346950

Varun Gandhi refutes charge of making communal statement
PTI Tuesday, March 17, 2009 20:28 IST

New Delhi: With his alleged anti-Muslim comments drawing flak from
within and outside the party, an unapologetic Varun Gandhi refuted the
charge of making such statements and said he was strongly committed to
the ideals of secularism.

I strongly refute the charge of making any communal or divisive
statements as part of my election campaign. In this climate of
terrorism, I have spoken only about standing firm against the anti-
national and anti-social forces that threaten this nation," Gandhi
said in a statement.

"I categorically reiterate my family's and my own unwavering
commitment to the ideals of secularism," he said.

Gandhi invoked his family legacy to convey that he stands for service
and sacrifice for the nation and to work for a peaceful and prosperous
India.

Gandhi alleged it on his "frustrated electoral rivals" of making "a
crude and vicious attempt" to malign him by doctoring his speech.

"I unequivocally state that that (the speech CD) is neither my voice
nor my language. The tape in question appears to have been doctored,"
Gandhi said.

"These are purportedly two weeks old. None of what I have actually
said was either intended or taken to be communal which is testified to
by the fact that this intervening period there has been no communal
tension or untoward incident in the incident," he said.

"I express full confidence in the authorities to get to the bottom of
this conspiracy and severely punish those who malign and thwart a
young person willing and able to contribute to the process of building
a strong yet just, tolerant and inclusive society," Gandhi said.

As per the orders of the Election Commission, police filed a criminal
case against Gandhi for his alleged inflammatory speech with communal
overtones and served notice to the party seeking its explanation.

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_varun-gandhi-refutes-charge-of-making-communal-statement_1239978

1990 communal riot case: 34 acquitted due to police lapses
PTI Tuesday, January 27, 2009 19:29 IST

New Delhi: In a 19-year-old communal riot case, a Delhi court has
acquitted 34 people accused of resorting to violence, which left one
person dead, and pulled up the police for its sloppy probe.

"The quality of investigation carried out by the police in this case
is a tell-tale story of how a case can be spoilt. The entire
chargesheet is nothing but a saga of police apathy towards human
rights," additional sessions judge Surinder S Rathi said.

The court absolved 34 persons of the charges of rioting, murder and
attempt to murder, noting that three public witnesses including the
son of a deceased had turned hostile in the case.

It noted that the police simply picked up 28 people of one community
on November 15, 1990 on the day when people from two communities
indulged in rioting and stone-pelting in Sadar Bazar area here during
the curfew.

A day later, the police again apprehended 19 people from another
community just to solve the matter in which one Gayasuddin had
received gun-shot injuries and had succumbed to them on November 17.

"These arrests were made in pre-meditated and designed manner only
aimed at working out the case having scant regard for actual
culpability or involvement of either of arrestees," the court said.

"It is apparent that the police simply raided the locality and picked
up people of a particular community randomly on the whims and
fancies," ASJ Rathi noted.

The prosecution which produced as many as 12 witnesses suffered a
setback after none of them could refer to any specific offence of the
accused in the case.

The court pulled up the police for the whimsical manner in which it
probed the matter and during which neither case properties, including
allegedly seized acid bottles, could be preserved properly nor any
witness came forward to supportthe prosecution case.

"It is a remarkable example of a state's failure to safeguard the
fundamental rights of life and liberty of its citizens enshrined in
our Constitution," ASJ Rathi observed.

According to the prosecution, a procession was being carried out on
November 14, 1990 by an organisation 'All India Muslim Sikh Front'
from Sheeshganj Gurudwara to Idgah at Sadar Bazar locality when riots
started.

Curfew was clamped in the entire area but people indulged in stone-
pelting, forcing the police to lob tear-gas shells and open fire in
the air, they said, adding, three persons including Gayasuddin, who
had died at RML hospital, had received gun-shot injuries in the
incident.

The police claimed that they had arrested two persons carrying swords
during the riots, besides recovering buckets of acid bottles.

During the trial, the court, however, noted that the witnesses
Sirajuddin and Arifin, who were also injured during the firing, did
not identify any accused and turned hostile.

Both the witnesses had failed to tell the date, month and year of the
incident during which they received injuries. They also seemed unsure
on whether police had opend fire during the incident.

Salim, son of the deceased, also denied before the court of having
seen any accused.

"None of 12 witnesses examined by the prosecution have been able to
assign any specific role to either of accused so as to to show that
they were in any manner responsible for either causing death of
Gayasuddin or were responsible for injuring others," the court noted.

The acid bottles were also found to be empty while the witnesses could
not distinguish between the 'kirpan' and swords alleged to be
recovered by the police.

Besides 34 people, who were acquitted in the case, six persons had
died during the trial while six others had been declared proclaimed
offenders.

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_1990-communal-riot-case-34-acquitted-due-to-police-lapses_1225356

Three dead in Mysore communal violence
MK Madhusoodan / DNA
Friday, July 3, 2009 9:52 IST

Mysore: Attempts to construct a place of worship on a disputed land
led to a communal clash between two groups in Mysore's
Kyatamaranahalli area on Thursday. The flare-up claimed three lives,
including that of a 15-year-old boy.

Over adozen people were injured, six of them seriously, as the riot
spread to other parts of the area. Although the police managed to
bring the situation under control, tension was visible in Mysore,
especially in the communally-sensitive area of Udayagiri where it all
started.

According to eyewitnesses, trouble began after some worshippers saw an
animal carcass inside the place of worship, which was being
constructed early Thursday morning. As the news spread, people started
flocking the place and soon it turned ugly. A mob went on rampage
attacking houses and business establishments in Kyatamaranahalli.

http://www.dnaindia.com/bangalore/report_three-dead-in-mysore-communal-violence_1270640

Communal clashes in Dhule leave 3 dead
Vaishali Balajiwale
Monday, October 6, 2008 4:02 IST

Curfew imposed after day-long rioting

NASHIK: Three persons were killed and more than 70 injured in one of
the worst communal clashes in Dhule, near here, on Sunday. One person
died in police firing to quell the clashes that claimed two lives.
Trouble broke out after banners and posters put up for some programmes
by both Hindus and Muslims were found torn around mid-day.

Both sides claimed their posters were torn first and this triggered
stone pelting in the Manohar cinema area, which soon spread to other
parts of the town, where curfew has now been imposed.

There were pitched battles as rival mobs used swords, sticks and
stones against each other. Shops in the market were broken open and
looted. There were reports of damage to mandirs and masjids.

Anti-social elements had a free run as the police were caught unawares
and shorthanded.

Police finally opened fire to control the situation. Sheikh Imran
Sheikh Abu, 40, was killed in the firing.

Sixty-two persons have been admitted to Dhule civil hospital. The
additional collector MY Patel has been seriously injured.

Locals say Dhule has been simmering for some time now, with sporadic
incidents reported from time to time. Sunday's was the second major
flare-up in the city within a month. On the day of Ganapati
Pratisthapana, the Moglai area had witnessed an altercation.

Tempers were also running high after a Hindu boy eloped with a Muslim
girl in Nardana, 30 km away from Dhule. The blasts in nearby Malegaon
had heightened the tension.

In fact the shortage of police personnel is said to be because units
had been sent to Malegaon for stepped up patrolling.

On Sunday, the "Hindu Raksha Samiti" was to hold a meeting in the
evening and had put up banners decrying terrorism. In the morning, a
section of Muslims had organised a programme to felicitate a local
leader who had returned from Haj. So both sides were out on the
streets from morning. The altercations began around 11 am and soon
spun out of control. Inspector general of police SP Gupta said
security reinforcements had been rushed in and that the situation was
under control.

http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_communal-clashes-in-dhule-leave-3-dead_1195885

Rakhi strengthens communal ties
Misbah Nayeem Quadri / DNA
Wednesday, August 5, 2009 8:46 IST

Ahmedabad, Ahmedabad: Tradition has it that several centuries ago,
Queen Roopmati sent a rakhi to Emperor Humayun and sought his help as
a brother when her kingdom was besieged by enemy forces. And remaining
true to the tradition of raksha bandhan where a brother is committed
to helping his sister in any crisis, Humayun immediately left for
Chittor to help the Queen.

The roots of the festival of raksha bandhan go back to this incident
centuries back. But even today, in many cities across the country,
Hindu girls tie rakhi on the wrist of Muslim youths they consider
their brothers and Muslim girls, likewise, tie rakhi on the wrist of
Hindu boys.

This year, too, similar celebrations are planned in Ahmedabad. "I have
been tying rakhi on my Hindu brothers' wrists for the past several
years," said Nusrat Jaleel, a resident of Khanpur. "In fact, I do so
even before their own sisters get the chance to tie a rakhi around
their wrists. I will be doing it this year too on Wednesday."

On the initiative of the Ahmedabad-based NGO, Sprat-Society for
Promoting Rationality, Hindu and Muslim girls in many areas of the
city will be tying rakhi on the wrist of youths from each other's
religion. For the first, similar celebrations are planned in Vadodara,
too.

Girls from Muslim and Hindu-dominated localities of Tandalja area in
Vadodara will come together on Wednesday to tie rakhis on the hands of
boys from the other community. More than 50 girls and boys will
participate in the celebrations in a spirit of communal harmony.

Several Amdavadis want raksha bandhan to be declared as a national
festival. "I tie a rakhi on my neighbour's wrist every year," said
Jenny D'souza, a resident of Vastrapur.

"He is like a brother to me and I have been doing this for over a
decade now. The festival of rakhi helps us look beyond petty religious
differences, and respect and trust each another as human beings. Rakhi
should be declared a national festival."Hindus, Muslims and Christians
of Ahmedabad continue to celebrate festivals together, and have
remained true to the spirit of India.

"Raziaben, my Muslim sister, has never missed a single raksha
bandhan," said Shirish Vaghela, a resident of Jamalpur. "I do not have
a sister of my own but if I could have one, I would ask God for her.
She is truly my sister."

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_rakhi-strengthens-communal-ties_1279825

Days of communal politics are over
Javed Ansari
Monday, December 7, 2009 0:27 IST

It's that time of the year when political parties are struck by the
desperate urge to display concern for minorities. For the past several
years, December 6, the day Babri Masjid was demolished in Ayodhya 17
years ago, was marked by an almost ritualistic disruption of
parliament. Mercifully this year, it happened to be a Sunday and
parliament was spared the disruption.

The relief might, however, be short-lived given that parliament will
begin debating on Monday the report of the Liberhan Commission set up
in the aftermath of the demolition, and it will not surprise me if
some parties use the opportunity to reignite communal passions.

A brief trailer of what one can expect in the debate was witnessed in
Rajya Sabha after extracts of the report appeared in the media. For
the first time in many years slogans such as 'Ya Ali' and 'Jai Sri
Ram' were raised in the House. And the two indulging parties were the
SP and the BJP -- one a self-proclaimed champion and protector of
minorities and the other of the majority community.

It's no coincidence that both parties currently find that the ground
has slipped from under their feet and consequently, find them in the
political doghouse. At a time these slogans may have found a resonance
in both communities. Not anymore. Both parties gained immensely from
communal polarisation. The BJP registered a phenomenal growth.
Itsrepresentation in Lok Sabha went from two to 180, while the SP's
strength went up to 40.

But somewhere along the way, both parties lost touch with the ground
reality and failed to gauge the silent but significant shift of both
communities away from the politics of confrontation and polarisation.
They failed to understand that the country has moved on.

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/comment_days-of-communal-politics-are-over_1320878

Let's talk communal for a change
R Jagannathan
Wednesday, November 5, 2008 21:06 IST

Why does the emergence of terrorism in the Hindu fold come as no
surprise to anybody? My answer: every community in India, at some
level, has a sense of aversion or ambivalence towards the "other",
whether that "other" is defined in religious, caste, racial or
linguistic terms. We all know it, but pretend otherwise.

Raj Thackeray has Biharis, Hindus have Muslims or Christian as hate
objects, secularists have their Sangh Parivar, the Marxists have their
class enemies. Everyone has an "other" -- real or imaginary foe -- to
fight with. Once we are sure there is no "other" within earshot, our
true feelings emerge. Xenophobia, bigotry and insecurities emerge
centre-stage.

We cannot be truly secular unless the unstated fears and insecurities
of all our peoples are acknowledged and addressed. Once we let it all
hang out, we can learn to be less communal, less sectarian. Bigotry
thrives only when we fail to acknowledge our deepest worries and
concerns, however unreal they may be.

If Muslims fear that their identity is going to be overwhelmed in a
Hindu-majority India, let us acknowledge it. If Hindus are worried
about conversions, let them say so without fear of ridicule. We can
find ways to address these fears. Instead, what we have done is de-
legitimise these concerns by branding it all as communal. This leaves
the Sangh Parivar as the sole torch-bearer of Hindu concerns.

So how do we build a truly tolerant and secular society from here? I
have four broad suggestions.

First, we should never accept any justification for violence by
anybody. If Hindu extremists justify the Malegaon blasts as
retribution for earlier acts of terror by Muslims, the latter can
justify their handiwork as revenge for the post-Godhra massacres.
Hindus can then talk about the Godhra train fire. There is only one
way to end mindless violence -- and that is by ignoring all
rationalisations for it.

Second, we should abolish all politically-appointed commissions of
inquiry and replace them with a permanent Truth Commission manned by
people with impeccable personal credibility. Two enquiries were set up
to look into the Godhra fire -- one by Lalu Prasad and the other by
Narendra Modi. Both gave out findings convenient to their political
masters. If commissions have to have any credibility, they have to be
citizen-oriented and depoliticised. A permanent Truth Commission that
is charged with the responsibility of finding out the truth -- and
improving on it with more evidence -- would be able to do this much
better and with far less rancour.

Third, all histories must be recognised as partly true. Historians
tend to think of history as their property. This is not simply true.
Every history has a bias, and there are several ways of telling it. If
histories are not told openly, they will be told subversively --
feeding communalism. Just as there is a Marxist view of history, there
can be Hindu and Muslim views. There can be Dalit and OBC views. There
can be psychological and sociological renderings of history. In short,
all history is a work-in-progress. History gets communalised when
there is no space in it for alternative versions. The only way to
decommunalise it is by giving partial legitimacy to all versions.

Fourth, all communities must take responsibility for violent elements
in their midst. Hindus must deal with Hindu extremists and Muslims
with Muslim ones. To keep saying "no Hindu/Muslim can be a terrorist"
is a cop-out. It is also easy to take cover under motherhood
statements like "Islam is a religion of peace" or that "Hinduism is
the most tolerant" of faiths. There is no such thing as Islam or
Hinduism outside the minds of the faithful. A violent Hindu makes
Hinduism intolerant. Religions take on the hues of their believers. So
it is we who make Hinduism or Islam tolerant or peaceable, not the
religions themselves. No community can thus shirk its responsibility
for people from their own faiths who turn violent. In the end, terror
in the name of Hinduism can only be defeated by Hindus.

Email: ***@dnaindia.net

http://www.dnaindia.com/opinion/comment_let-s-talk-communal-for-a-change_1203808

...and I am Sid Harth

[chhotemianinshallah]

Threat to borders indicates India's weakness: Mohan Bhagwat
PTI Saturday, January 23, 2010 19:04 IST

Kolkata: Threat to borders and internal security besides attacks on
Indians indicated India's "weakness" to firmly tackle these problems,
RSS chief Mohanrao Bhagwat said today.

"For the last 60 years a small country like Pakistan has adopted a
hostile attitude towards India's desire for friendship. Despite 26/11,
we are talking of friendship with that country, the RSS chief told a
rally of RSS volunteers here.

"The Pakistani prime minister has stated that he cannot guarantee that
there will be no repeat of 26/11 in India. Pakistan should be taught a
lesson," he said.

Stating that Pakistan had its eye on Kashmir, Bhagwat said that three
lakh Kashmiris who were thrown out should be re-settled in the valley.

In an apparent reference to reported Chinese incursions in Ladakh, he
said, "what is happening on our northern border has not been stated
clearly."

Stating that the country's security should be kept above politics,
Bhagwat said infiltration from Bangladesh was continuing unabated
posing a threat to India's internal security, but the problem was not
being tackled due to "vote bank politics".

On racial attacks on Indians in Australia, he said "nobody will dare
to touch an Israeli".

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_threat-to-borders-indicates-india-s-weakness-mohan-bhagwat_1338438

RSS is for everybody, says Mohan Bhagwat
Paras K Jha / DNA
Monday, September 7, 2009 8:20 IST

Ahmedabad, Ahmedabad: In his speech at Dada Bhagwan Trimandir campus
in Adalaj on Sunday, Bhagwat said there is a tradition in the RSS that
the new Sarsanghchalak (chief) takes a tour of the country after his
appointment.

"After Chennai and Jammu, Ahmedabad is the third place I am visiting
according to my travel plans," he said. "I will also be visiting more
than 25 cities of the country."

He further said that if someone visits a place, it does not mean that
he is going there with a specific intention. "He can visit just to
meet people," he said "All speculation about my travelling is
baseless. It is part of the RSS tradition and I am following it."

Talking about the people's ignorance of the RSS and its activities,
Bhagwat said even RSS members had to work hard to understand the
organisation's work.

"Most people know of the RSS by its visible activities," he said.
"Some believe it is a paramilitary organisation, some think that it is
an all-India music school and some believe that it is a gymnastics
club. Actually, these are not the activities of the RSS but that of
its members. It is very difficult to explain what the nature of the
RSS is. One can understand it only by joining and working for it. It
is an experience. RSS is open to everybody."

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_rss-is-for-everybody-says-mohan-bhagwat_1288135

Scars of 1962 war should not be forgotten: Mohan Bhagwat
PTI Wednesday, October 28, 2009 22:11 IST

New Delhi: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat today said if India wished to carve
its own identity vis-a-vis China, it should not forget the scars of
the 1962 war even though the present situation was different.

RSS has been critical of India's stand against China during the past
few months which has witnessed increase in incursions by the
neighbouring country in Arunachal Pradesh and which had also raised
objections to prime minister Manmohan Singh's visit to the state.

"We (India) are in competition with them (China) ... scars should not
always be forgotten," Bhagwat said.

Giving an analogy in which a driver insists on driving after meeting
with an accident as he feels if he did not do so he would be afraid of
driving in future, Bhagwat said, "Though the 1962 days were different,
what has to be forgotten should be but what has to be remembered
(scars) should not be forgotten ... There is a clash between India and
China."

He said India should realise that after 1962 China had gained a lot in
the international fora through good relations. India too should master
the Chinese "Art of War" and gain power without going to war, he
suggested.

Bhagwat said India should strive to carve a separate identity for
itself instead of emulating China or US. "India should say it wants to
become India," he said.

Bhagwat invoked Swami Vivekanand's thoughts to say that India was a
power which could not keep itself aloof from international politics
and should play a vital role in it.

However, he said honest debate and "merciless introspection" was very
important for the country to progress.

He lamented that in India people debated for the sake of debating. The
exercise should lead to some solution, he added.

Bhagwat said he was not opposed to democracy or debates.

"While India had known social untouchability, an ideological
untouchability was now creeping in," he lamented.

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_scars-of-1962-war-should-not-be-forgotten-mohan-bhagwat_1304353

RSS not a political outfit: Mohan Bhagwat
PTI Sunday, November 8, 2009 19:57 IST

Shimla: The RSS is neither a political outfit nor a para-military
force, but is an organisation engaged in unifying society on the basis
of Hindutva, its chief Mohan Bhagwat said today.

"Though, we have our flag and some people from the RSS have joined
political organisations, the Sangh has nothing to do with politics,"
he said at a function here.

"The RSS is neither a political outfit nor a para-military force. Its
primary function is to unify society on the basis of Hindutva,"
Bhagwat told Sangh cadres.

The RSS Sarsanghchalak invited people from other religions to see
functioning of the Sangh from close range to know the truth.

Terming Hinduism as the "most tolerant religion", Bhagwat said only it
had the capability to hold society together.

He said the Union government should gear itself to meet any challenge
posed to the country by its "hostile neighbours" like Pakistan and
China.

On the leadership change in the BJP, Bhagwat said the Sangh had
nothing to do with it.

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_rss-not-a-political-outfit-mohan-bhagwat_1308953

Everyone in India is a Hindu, says RSS chief
Paras K Jha / DNA
Friday, September 18, 2009 8:21 IST

Protests against Muslims and Christians are not part of Hindutva,
which is non-violent, said Mohan Bhagwat, chief of the Rashtriya
Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) while delivering the concluding lecture of a
two-day seminar on 'Hindutva in the present context' organised by the
Bharatiya Vichar Manch at the Sardar Patel Institute of Public
Administration, on Thursday.

This was his second visit to Ahmedabad within a month. Dr Pravin
Togadiya, international general-secretary of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad
(VHP); former union minister Subramaniyam Swami; Ahmedabad mayor
Kanaji Thakor; state BJP unit president Purshottam Rupala; and
ministers of state Nitin Patel, Pradeepsinh Jadeja and Devang Nanavati
were present at the event.

"There is no need to define Hindutva as it can be described in
different ways. The exact definition may lead to confusion. In the
same way, the word 'Hindu' can have many workable definitions. While
it is a way of life, it is also a religion. Indians have not coined
the word 'Hindu'. There are no references to it in the scriptures.
People identified us as 'Hindus' and now the word has become our
identity," Bhagwat said.

The RSS chief said that the word 'Hindu' referred to anyone born in
India. "So, whether Muslim or Christian, we are all Hindus. Their
ancestors were Hindu, their blood is Hindu. They are all our brothers
and we are calling them to join us," he said.

Regarding the definition of Hindutva, Bhagwat said, "Hindutva cannot
be classified as Swami Vivekananda's Hindutva, RSS's Hindutva, VHP's
Hindutva. It is one and it is not anybody's brand or monopoly. The
continuous discovery of the truth is known as Hindutva."

He also emphasized the need for Hindus to become strong and powerful.
"The world respects the powerful and for that, Hindus will have to
become strong and powerful," he said. "Many people have a problem with
the word 'Hindu' and they often asked us to give up it. The word
'Hindu' is attacked. But we cannot give up this word as it describes
all that which cannot be described by any other word," Bhagwat said.

Bhagwat further said that spoke about the role of women in India. "We
worship women as goddesses in temples and in our scriptures. But, in
our families, the condition of women is not impressive. Keeping
politics aside, we need to correct our social structure, as politics
is only a part of society. We should focus on the family, which is a
unit of society.

Hindu families have values, traditions and ethics that are still
intact. When we make a family strong with values, society will
automatically become strong," he said.

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_everyone-in-india-is-a-hindu-says-rss-chief_1291206

Criticism from RSS unkindest cut of all for BJP
Rajesh Sinha / DNA
Thursday, November 12, 2009 2:05 IST

New Delhi: The BJP has taken criticism from its detractors in its
stride so far, but criticism from its parent organisation, the RSS, is
definitely proving to be the unkindest cut of all. Frequent advice
given publicly by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat is generating disquiet in
the party.

BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar issued a statement on Tuesday
denying there was any heartburn in the party over attempts by RSS to
micro-manage its affairs. But such sentiments have started being
voiced.

Even the RSS denies it controls the BJP, though formal statements like
"BJP will take its own decisions" are increasingly being overshadowed
by comments like "we expect the BJP to do this ... we expect the BJP
would do this before...".

The BJP leadership is not quite enthused. The mood in the party is to
resist this "interference" in the party. It is also not in keeping
with the RSS character, they point out.

As a BJP leader said, "No sarsanghchalak (RSS chief) has been so
proactive, given so many interviews and said so many things in such a
short time." Earlier, RSS chiefs would rarely make a public
appearance, and give one interview a year to a select journalist,
until Mohan Bhagwat took over as RSS chief in March.

Also, the RSS chief's wish was occasionally conveyed in the form of a
mild signal or suggestion and compliance was prompt. Nowadays, advice
and comments are becoming frequent. Perhaps the RSS feels the need to
do so considering the state of affairs in the BJP: trouble in the
central leadership and in state units as factions take their fight to
different parts of the country to make their clout felt.

If this shows an erosion of the BJP leadership's authority, the
reluctance by central leaders to follow the RSS "advise" shows a
loosening of RSS control over BJP. An open defiance of RSS, however,
is still far away and unthinkable to most in the BJP.

Prakash Javadekar said there was no anger in the party at Mohan
Bhagwat's statement in a recent interview that four central leaders
were ruled out for the post of party president and it would be
occupied by somebody from outside Delhi.

"There is no RSS interference in BJP affairs. It is media
interpretation. He said BJP will take its own decisions," Javadekar
said. The RSS and BJP were one ideological family the Sangh was a
"power house" that serves as the source of the ideology, he said.

Asked if there was any possibility of the BJP parting ways with the
RSS, he said, "Relations between two brothers or sisters never ends."

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_criticism-from-rss-unkindest-cut-of-all-for-bjp_1310458

Join us, RSS tells Muslims, Christians
Kiran Tare / DNA
Monday, September 21, 2009 12:45 IST

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday
appealed to all sections of society, including Muslims and Christians,
to join his organisation. "Come, test us, and decide whether you want
to continue," he said. "I am sure you will continue because our
intention is clear and our behaviour is good."

Bhagwat was speaking at the Dussehra rally of the RSS at the Somaiya
grounds near Sion. It was his first public rally after assuming charge
as sarsanghachalak in March. "All Muslims in India were Hindus in the
past," Bhagwat said.

"They have only changed their way of worship. If they accept this,
there will be no clashes. No community in the country is a minority.
They have to live and die here. They should accept that we all had the
same ancestors and our culture, too, was the same."

The RSS chief attacked Christians for 'forceful' conversions and
claimed the problem was growing. "No one can meet god by changing his
religion," he said. "Why, then, do they want to convert people?"

Bhagwat said the RSS will use its influence only for the country's
benefit. "We will not use our influence for any political party or
person," he said. "We are not with any party, but we are with the
policies of nationalism."

http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_join-us-rss-tells-muslims-christians_1291926

BJP dips into Bhagwat purana
D Vasudevan / DNA
Sunday, November 22, 2009 8:34 IST

Bangalore: The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) received a shot in
the arm on Saturday, as the arrival of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh
(RSS) sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat in the city injected a sense of
unity and direction in the feuding party.

The beleaguered chief minister, BS Yeddyurappa, rushed to the RSS
patron and was closeted with him for nearly 45 minutes.

Yeddyurappa is believed to have briefedBhagwat, who is believed to be
tightening the Sangh hold in the party, about the developments in the
state BJP after the Reddy brothers sparked off a rebellion and the
consequent patch-up.

Extending his full support to Yeddyurappa, Bhagwat is said to have
asked him to tone up the administration in the state and ensure that
the rural masses get the best of the services.

Bhagwat was very keen to know about the relief works being carried out
in the flood-ravaged North Karnataka. "I have grown in the RSS. I met
Bhagwat to seek his blessings," Yeddyurappa later said.

The chief minister's ally and rebels' bugbear, Shobha Karandlaje, also
called on Bhagwat. She apprised him of the developments leading to her
ouster from the ministry.

Shobha later told dna.sunday that Bhagwat had suggested that she take
up social service as an RSS activist and oversee flood relief works to
start with.

She said she was happy to be back in the RSS fold once again as an
active social worker and said she had no regrets about the past.

Party national general secretary HN Ananth Kumar also met Bhagwat and
discussed party affairs with him.

Bhagwat, who is on a three-day visit to the city, is staying atthe
residence of a close associate off JC Road.

The RSS boss also held several baithaks during the day, to review the
working of the various Sangh organs in the state.

According to Sangh sources, Bhagwat is in the city for the first time
after he took over at the helm of the organisation. He also met a
group of pontiffs/seers who are part of the Sangh activities.

http://www.dnaindia.com/bangalore/report_bjp-dips-into-bhagwat-purana_1314832

Saffron in turmoil
Arati Jerath
Saturday, November 7, 2009 23:48 IST

The BJP is not the only organisation in crisis. The patriarch of the
Sangh parivar, the RSS, is in turmoil too with pracharaks clamouring
for a transfer to the greener pastures of the BJP.

The change sweeping through the RSS surfaced at a recent meeting of
workers near Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh. During a discussion on the BJP,
a senior leader suddenly popped a poser. How many pracharaks want a
lateral shift to the BJP, he asked.

To everyone's surprise, the majority of those present raised their
hands. Infuriated that his pracharaks seemed to prefer working for the
political wing instead of the parent body, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat
upbraided the leader for posing the question.

What kind of a query was that, he barked. But Bhagwat may find that
he's fighting a losing battle. Politics and the material benefits it
brings are proving irresistible even for those sworn to selfless
social commitment. At this rate, the BJP could end up having the last
laugh in its ongoing tussle with the RSS for supremacy.

***
Oldtimers in the BJP are not quite sure what to make of RSS chief
Mohan Bhagwat. They are used to sarsanghchalaks who kept away from
public limelight and exercised control through the power of moral
authority. But Bhagwat is straining to be a creature of the 21st
century. He has already done two television interviews and regularly
gives soundbytes in front of cameras.

He is constantly on the move and seems to enjoy addressing public
gatherings. He has held three such meetings in Delhi alone since he
took over the reins of the RSS a few months ago. That's a record for
any sarsanghchalak. What's upsetting oldtimers is that all this
exposure is giving away a closely guarded secret, that the RSS is
losing its appeal. Bhagwat's most recent meeting in Delhi was attended
by less than 100 people.

***
Despite Bhagwat's fulminations against "Delhi-based'' leaders and his
announcement that the next BJP president will be chosen from outside
the "coterie"that rules in the Capital, the RSS can't seem to find a
candidate for the post.

The two state leaders approached so far, Madhya Pradesh chief minister
Shivraj Singh Chauhan and Manohar Parrikar from Goa, have declined the
offer. The latest name doing the rounds is that of Maharashtra BJP
president Nitin Gadkari. But even that is not final as the RSS is not
sure that Gadkari has the stature to become a national leader or that
he has the capacity to handle the cut and thrust of Delhi politics.

The way things are going, Rajnath Singh may get his heart's desire in
an ad hoc extension because of the TINA (there is no alternative)
factor. If Rajnath stays put, so will L K Advani as Leader of
Opposition. And the RSS will be back to square one in its bid to
overhaul the BJP.

* * *
TAILPIECE

While the Yeddyurappa government in Karnataka was gasping, the RSS
seemed to be blissfully unaware of the crisis. A senior RSS leader
telephoned Arun Jaitley as the latter was leaving for Bangalore to do
some firefighting. He wanted to know whether Jaitley was in Delhi.
When Jaitley replied that he was on his way to Bangalore, the RSS
leader nodded sagely. Ah, he said, must be for a political programme
and asked what it was. Jaitley had to explain that he was going for
something more serious than a mere ``karyakram''!

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/column_saffron-in-turmoil_1308649

...and I am Sid Harth

[bademiyansubhanallah]

India offers assistance in economic, social development of Palestine
Submitted by admin2
on 13 February 2010 - 8:19pm.

Muslim World News
By IRNA,

New Delhi:While offering all assistance in the economic and social
development of Palestine, India announced a grant of $ 10 million to
the country.

The grant was announced by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during his
meeting with President of the Palestinian National Authority Mahmoud
Abbas in New Delhi, Thursday evening, said a Ministry of External
Affairs statement.

Singh put emphasis on India's support for the Arab Peace Plan and
urged "concerted action for achieving a durable, just and
comprehensive settlement of the Middle East conflict".

President Abbas who arrived in New Delhi Thursday evening on a working
visit to India, is being accompanied by Foreign Minister Riyad Al-
Malki, other Ministers and senior officials, according to a
statement.

Abbas shared with the Prime Minister his views on recent developments
in the Peace Process in West Asia.

Singh said India is committed to the "Palestinian cause in line with
our support for United Nations Security Council Resolutions".

Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor will call on the
visiting dignitary Friday.

http://www.twocircles.net/2010feb13/india_offers_assistance_economic_social_development_palestine.html

People-to-people contact must for peace in South Asia
STAFF WRITER 0:46 HRS IST

Ludhiana, Feb 13 (PTI) A two-day international seminar on peace in
South Asia began here today with delegates putting emphasis on people-
to-people contact between India and Pakistan to promote peace in the
region.

The inaugural session of the seminar at the Punjab Agricultural
University had Abdul Qayyum Hafiz from University of Agriculture,
Faislabad as the Guest of Honour and the PAU Vice-Chancellor Dr Manjit
Singh Kang who presided overthe programme.

A host of delegates from the country and abroad are participating in
the event.

In his presidential remarks Kang said peace was vital for progress and
was needed within an individual, family and society at large.

http://www.ptinews.com/news/516275_People-to-people-contact-must-for-peace-in-South-Asia

MNIK screening passes off smoothly in Nashik
STAFF WRITER 23:53 HRS IST

Nashik, Feb 13 (PTI) The screening of Shah Rukh Khan-starer "My Name
Is Khan" (MINK) passed off smoothly here today amidst tight police
security outside the theatres and multiplexes.

Movie goers thronged cinema halls as the news of the film movie being
released today spread, managers of Cinemax Acharya told PTI.

Shiv Sena activists had yesterday staged demonstrations in front of
city theatres against Shah Rukh for his remarks over exclusion of
Pakistani cricket players from IPL season three, following which
cinema owners here had decided not to screen the film.

Meanwhile, a report from Jalgaon said that several Sainiks were
rounded up after they took out a protest march to Natraj theatre,
where NIMK was being screened, and pelted it with stones and tore
apart cinema screen to register their protest against the screening of
the movie, police said.

http://www.ptinews.com/news/516250_MNIK-screening-passes-off-smoothly-in-Nashik

File photo of Shiv Sena activists burn posters of Shahrukh Khan's
upcoming movie 'My Name is Khan' in Mumbai. PTI Photo Photograph (1)

14 Sena activists held for protesting against MNIK
STAFF WRITER 18:24 HRS IST

Khargone (MP), Feb 13 (PTI) Fourteen Shiv Sena activists were today
arrested for allegedly burning the effigy of Bollywood actor Shah Rukh
Khan and trying to halt the screening of his movie 'My Name Is
Khan' (MNIK), police said.

The Sainiks staged a protest in front of the Sri Krishna theatre here
and attempted to disturb the show of MNIK, they said.

Elaborate arrangements were made in the wake of the Sena protests
against the movie, police said, adding that the arrests were made as a
preventive measure.

Meanwhile, asserting that the arrests won't deter them from holding
protests, Shiv Sena district president Raju Sharma said they will
abide by the instructions passed to them from the higher-ups in their
party.

The release of the film was opposed by Shiv Sena following Shah Rukh's
comments favouring the inclusion of Pakistani players in IPL 3.

http://www.ptinews.com/news/515802_14-Sena-activists-held-for-protesting-against-MNIK

HM to chair Unified Command meet in JK on Feb 17
STAFF WRITER 18:22 HRS IST

Jammu, Feb 13 (PTI) Seeking to fast track the return of Kashmiris who
had crossed into Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir, Union Home Minister P
Chidambaram is scheduled to chair a high-evel meeting here on February
17 to review the security situation and discuss amnesty policy.

Chidambaram would be visiting Jammu on February 17 to review the
security situation, plans of modernisation of the police force and
surrender policy, senior police officials told PTI.

The Unified Command's meeting would discuss contours of the "cross-
border surrender policy" afte taking into consideration the militants
in PoK camps, latest intelligence inputs, screening setup and
modalities of surrender.

Police and other security agencies have geared up to prepare data and
other details concerning security, modernisation and data band of
militants across the border under the "cross-border" surrender policy.

http://www.ptinews.com/news/515800_HM-to-chair-Unified-Command-meet-in-JK-on-Feb-17

An unrelated photo of a child lighting a candle to mark the
anniversary of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks in Mumbai. PTI Photo
Photograph (1)

Mumbai attack case in Pak court adjourned for a week
STAFF WRITER 14:44 HRS IST
Rezaul H Laskar

Islamabad, Feb 13 (PTI) The hearing in the Mumbai attack case against
LeT's operations chief Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi and six other suspects was
adjourned for a week without any proceedings today as the judge was
busy with another official engagement.

"There were no proceedings today as judge (Malik Muhammad Akram) Awan
had to go for an engagement in the Supreme Court," Shahbaz Rajput, the
lawyer for some of the accused, told PTI.

Sources said the next hearing was scheduled for February 20. However
they said it was unlikely that there would be any proceedings on that
date too as Bar Council elections are scheduled for the same day.

It is expected the trial, which is being conducted within Adiala Jail
in Rawalpindi for security reasons, will resume only on February 27.

http://www.ptinews.com/news/515426_Mumbai-attack-case-in-Pak-court-adjourned-for-a-week

Pakistani militants bomb school in tribal area
STAFF WRITER 18:22 HRS IST

Peshawar, Feb 13 (PTI) Pro-Taliban militants bombed a state-run boys'
school in Pakistan?s lawless tribal belt bordering Afghanistan today
though there were no casualties, officials said.

Explosives planted at five spots destroyed nearly the whole school in
Qamardin village in the troubled Mohmand tribal region, said a senior
official of the local administration.

The school had 28 rooms and most of them were destroyed.

There were no casualties as the school was empty at the time of the
attack, the official said.

Pakistan's military is engaged in an offensive to flush out militants
in the North West Frontier Province and the adjoining tribal belt.

The militants, in turn, have launched a series of deadly attacks in
retaliation.

The militants, who are opposed to co-education, have destroyed
hundreds of government schools, mostly for girls, in northwest
Pakistan over the past three years.

http://www.ptinews.com/news/515801_Pakistani-militants-bomb-school-in-tribal-area

Zardari:Pak wants resumption of Composite Dialogue
STAFF WRITER 18:31 HRS IST
Rezaul H Laskar

Islamabad, Feb 13 (PTI) Ahead of the Indo-Pak Foreign Secretaries
meeting, President Asif Ali Zardari today said Pakistan wants
"meaningful and result-oriented" talks with India, including the
resumption of the stalled composite dialogue process.

Zardari made the remarks during a meeting with Pakistan's High
Commissioner to India Shahid Malik, who called on him at the
presidency and discussed matters related to bilateral relations,
including the Foreign Secretary-level talks to be held on February 25
in New Delhi.

Malik briefed the President in detail about the Indian offer for talks
and the bilateral dialogue process.

Zardari said good neighbourly relations are essential for the welfare
of the people of both countries and for fighting militancy.

Malik also met Interior Minister Rehman Malik separately and discussed
progress in Pakistan's investigation into the Mumbai terror attacks
efforts to prosecute perpetrators. .

http://www.ptinews.com/news/515811_Zardari-Pak-wants-resumption-of-Composite-Dialogue

File photo of Border Security Force (BSF) jawan along the Indo-Pak
border near Jammu. PTI Photo Photograph (1)

Pak troops violate ceasefire along border yet again
STAFF WRITER 21:4 HRS IST

Jammu, Feb 13 (PTI) In yet another ceasefire violation, Pakistani
troops tonight fired rockets on Indian posts along the Line of Control
in Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir, a senior army officer said.

Pakistani troops from a forward post fired several rockets on three
Indian posts along the LoC in Krishnaghati area of Poonch sector from
1815 hrs today, the officer told PTI.

The three posts targeted included Kranti, Kranti 1 and Kripan posts
along the LoC, he said, adding, the rocket attacks were followed by
heavy machine gun fire.

The rockets exploded away from the posts prompting Indian troops to
fire in retaliation which resulted in an exchange of fire that is
still on, the officer said.

This is a clear violation of the ceasefire as firing and rockets came
from the Pakistani posts, he said.

http://www.ptinews.com/news/516071_Pak-troops-violate-ceasefire-along-border-yet-again

Headley visited twice Koregaon Park area in 08-09
STAFF WRITER 21:36 HRS IST

New Delhi, Feb 13 (PTI) American terror suspect David Headley had in
2008-2009 twice visited the Osho Ashram located near the German Bakery
in Koregaon Park which witnessed a bomb blast today killing at least
eight and injuring over 30.

The area also houses a Jewish prayer house. According to the NIA
investigations, Headley had moved to Pune from Goa to recee the area
around Koregaon Park.

Though initially it was believed that he wanted to target the
foreigners coming to the Osho Ashram, later it was found that he had
scouted the area for targeting the Jewish prayer centre in the area.

Headley had later left from Pune to Mumbai where he went to the Cuffe
Prade area and apparently firmed up some loose ends in targeting the
Israel Airways office before flying to Pakistan from the Chatrapati
Shivaji airport.

http://www.ptinews.com/news/516128_Headley-visited-twice-Koregaon-Park-area-in-08-09

BJP holds protest rally against quota for Muslims
STAFF WRITER 18:52 HRS IST

Kolkata, Feb 13 (PTI) Over hundred BJP activists were today arrested
for holding a violent rally in the city in violation of prohibitory
orders while protesting against the ten per cent reservation in
government jobs for Muslims in West Bengal.

The agitators burnt the effigy of Trinamool Congress chief Mamata
Banerjee for her "tacit" support to the state government's move.

The saffron party workers also burnt effigies of Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh and Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee during the
rally at Rani Rashmoni road near Raj Bhavan.

The arrested included BJP's state party president Rahul Sinha.

It was for the first time that BJP workers burnt effigy of the TC
chief -- its one-time electoral ally which severed ties just before
the last Lok Sabha elections.

http://www.ptinews.com/news/515847_BJP-holds-protest-rally-against-quota-for-Muslims

Pak forces gun down six militants, arrest 19
STAFF WRITER 18:43 HRS IST

Peshawar, Feb 13 (PTI) Security forces gunned down at least six
militants, including a commander, and apprehended 19 rebels during
clearance and search operations in northwest Pakistan today, officials
said.

Militant commander Rahimuddin and five accomplices were killed in the
restive Darra Adam Khel region, best known for its illegal gun
manufacturing shops, during a gun battle with security forces, police
said.

Sixteen pro-Taliban militants were arrested in the Khyber tribal
region and Dir district during the past 24 hours, a Frontier Corps
spokesman said.

Eight militants were arrested with arms during search operations in
Spin Qabar and Shalobar areas of Khyber Agency, while another eight
were apprehended in Dir district.

Three alleged militants were arrested during a raid on a house in a
village on the Kohat-Bannu road.

Two grenades, two Kalashnikovs, a pistol and hundreds of bullets were
recovered from their possession, officials said.

http://www.ptinews.com/news/515835_Pak-forces-gun-down-six-militants--arrest-19

US, NATO forces storm into Marjah as Taliban flee
STAFF WRITER 16:48 HRS IST

Marjah (Afghanistan), Feb 13 (AP) Thousands of US Marines and Afghan
soldiers stormed the Taliban stronghold of Marjah before dawn today,
sweeping by air and ground against scattered resistance into the
biggest southern town under militant control.

The massive offensive was aimed at breaking the Taliban grip over a
wide area of their southern heartland.

Maj Gen Nick Carter, NATO commander of forces in southern Afghanistan,
said Afghan and coalition troops, aided by 60 helicopters, made a
"successful insertion' into Marjah in southern Helmand province
without incurring any casualties.

"The operation is going without a hitch, the general said as thousands
of British, US and Canadian troops swept into Taliban areas to the
north of Marjah.

There have been no coalition casualties reported, but NATO said three
US soldiers were killed today in a bombing elsewhere in southern
Afghanistan.

http://www.ptinews.com/news/515651_US--NATO-forces-storm-into-Marjah-as-Taliban-flee

Afghan President calls on Taliban to lay down arms
STAFF WRITER 15:48 HRS IST

Kabul, Feb 13 (AFP) Afghan President Hamid Karzai called on Taliban
fighters today to lay down their arms as a massive military operation
aimed at neutralising them in a major stronghold got underway.

As 15,000 US-led troops descended on the Marjah district of southern
Helmand province, controlled for years by Taliban militants, Karzai
issued a statement calling on the Islamists to rejoin mainstream
Afghan society.

"President Karzai calls upon all Afghan Taliban to use this as an
opportunity to renounce violence and re-integrate into civilian life
alongside other Afghans for the welfare of their country," said a
statement issued by his office.

Karzai has referred to Taliban fighters as his "disenchanted
brothers," believing that most are poor and unemployed men who fight
for cash rather than for Islamist ideology.

http://www.ptinews.com/news/515564_Afghan-President-calls-on-Taliban-to-lay-down-arms

Burns to visit Lebanon, Syria, Turkey and Azerbaijan
STAFF WRITER 14:44 HRS IST

Washington, Feb 13 (PTI) US Under Secretary of State for Political
Affairs Bill Burns will travel to Lebanon, Syria, Turkey and
Azerbaijan from February 16 to 19.

In Lebanon, Burns will meet with President Michel Sleiman, Prime
Minister Saad Hariri and other Lebanese leaders on February 16.

His visit to Lebanon demonstrates the US's continued support for a
sovereign and independent Lebanon, the State Department said.

During his February 17 visit to Syria, Burns will meet with President
Bashar al-Assad and Foreign Minister Walid Muallim.

"His trip to Syria reflects our continued interest in furthering
dialogue with the Syrian government on all aspects of our bilateral
relationship," the statement said.

Burns will travel to Turkey on February 18 for meetings with senior
officials pursuant to the 2006 Shared Vision framework for our
strategic partnership.

http://www.ptinews.com/news/515425_Burns-to-visit-Lebanon--Syria--Turkey-and-Azerbaijan

...and I am Sid Harth

[bademiyansubhanallah]

Indo-pak talks: A step in good faith?

14 Feb 2010, 0015 hrs IST, ET Bureau

In a pre-emptive move, India has offered to re-engage Pakistan in
talks. Flaunting its “strategic assets” in Afghanistan, Islamabad
managed to keep India out of the Turkey conference and muffled India’s
voice at the London meeting. And in the past few days, Gen Ashfaq
Kayani has been engaged in cutting a deal with the US to negotiate
with the “good” (never mind the oxymoron) Taliban.

India may have had little option but to open the window at least
partially. Reticence on India’s part would have helped Pakistan’s
project to keep India firmly out of the diplomatic frame in
Afghanistan and, by extension, the region.

For Pakistan, the foreign secretary-level engagement is a stepping
stone for the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow — the resumption
of the composite dialogue process. But the Manmohan Singh government,
for domestic reasons, cannot be seen to be rewarding Pakistan for what
is essentially stasis on the terror front.

Aware of the pitfalls in the engagement, the government here is moving
very cautiously and has pitched the talks as a change in tactics that
is aimed at pushing Pakistan to take action against terror. The future
of the dialogue would depend on how the foreign secretary level talks
go and on what assurances Islamabad gives New Delhi about preventing
terrorism emanating from Pakistani soil.

The Indian offer for talks was sweetened for Pakistan with the promise
that all issues “related to peace and stability” would be on the
negotiating table. Islamabad has already stated its intention of
raising all subjects covered under the composite umbrella on February
25. On the other hand, India is pitching terror as the core issue with
other issues in the peripheral. Keeping in mind Pakistan’s well-known
aversion to discussing the issue of terror beyond a point, where is
the meeting ground?

The ultra cautiousness against putting a label on the talks and the
cue to Islamabad to keep in mind “Indian sentitivities” stems from
Sharm-el Sheikh, something that has not yet faded from public memory.
The Sharm-el -Sheikh team armed with an Indo-Pak statement – which
delinked action on terror from the composite dialogue —- came home to
find that there was no political acceptability for the move.

The scepticism extended to the Congress party, finally forcing the
government to go back to the earlier position of talks only after
action on terror.

This time round, the government has undertaken some form of political
consultation within its own party impressing the need for dialogue and
to “enhance trust and confidence” before the relationship deteriorates
to a point of no return. Also the decision to start the engagement at
the diplomatic level is also aimed at gaining acceptability for
engaging Pakistan and ensuring that the focus remains on terror.

The Congress has cautiously supported the talks but kept the door ajar
for a quick exit in case things go wrong. “If the UPA government has
taken a certain view, there is a strong case to allow the process to
unfold itself,” Congress spokesman Manish Tewari has said at a press
briefing.

The run up to the dialogue has already attracted criticism from
various quarters accentuated by Pakistan trumpeting the Indian offer
for talks as a diplomatic victory. That view is shared by many
Pakistan watchers. “For them (Pakistan) this is a great climbdown by
India. This was a diplomatic coup,” said strategic analyst Brahma
Chellaney said.

The Pakistani media has also unanimously agreed that India’s offer for
talks was a win for Pakistan and that India was forced back to the
negotiating table. At this stage, any generosity towards Pakistan is
expected to instantly attract charges of capitulation.

“Diplomacy is about perception and if the perception is that India has
done it (offered talks) under a sense of weakness and under US
pressure it will go down badly with our population,” said former
foreign secretary Lalit Mansingh.

The BJP has also let loose criticism with BJP parliamentary party
chairman LK Advani wondering whether the offer for talks was made due
to pressure from the US. The BJP is expected to corner the government
in Parliament on the underlying compulsions behind the sudden U-turn.
The timing of the talks has continued to confound analysts and the
opposition.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/features/the-sunday-et/dateline-india/Indo-pak-talks-A-step-in-good-faith/articleshow/5570545.cms

Slow progress in U.S. surge against Taliban in Afghanistan

Working in partnership with Afghan soldiers, U.S. Marines are
undertaking a major operation to flush out insurgents and allow the
Afghan government to reassert control over an area in southern
Afghanistan called Marja.

» LAUNCH PHOTO GALLERY

By Rajiv Chandrasekaran
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, February 13, 2010; 2:25 PM

MARJA, AFGHANISTAN -- U.S. Marines and Afghan soldiers encountered
pockets of stiff resistance and extensive minefields as they sought to
press into this Taliban sanctuary in southern Afghanistan on
Saturday.

Numerous gunfights with insurgents and painstaking efforts to clear
roads of makeshift bombs slowed the advance of many coalition units
and delayed them from reaching some of their key destinations in this
farming area of 80,000 people. The operation was further complicated
by the challenge of fording irrigation canals that ring the area and
traversing a landscape covered in knee-deep mud.

"We've had some pretty tough fights," said Brig. Gen. Lawrence D.
Nicholson, commander of the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade. "It's
been a tough slog for some of our companies."

The effort to flush the Taliban out of Marja, which involves 5,000
Marines and Afghan security forces, is part of the largest coalition
operation since the start of the Afghan war to combat the insurgency
and exert government over lawless areas of the country. British and
Afghan troops are conducting a related military operation in an
adjacent Taliban stronghold 30 miles to the northeast.

One Marine from the brigade was killed Saturday and several suffered
injuries, most of them minor. It was not clear how many insurgents
were killed by Marine ground units and by a series of Hellfire missile
strikes from unmanned Predator and Reaper drones flying over the area
that commanders employed to pursue bands of fighters shooting at
coalition forces.

The danger and complexity of the mission became evident as soon as
Charlie Company of 1st Battalion of the 6th Marine Regiment approached
the southeastern border of Marja at sunrise. To clear a path from the
battalion command post to the outer canal, the Marines employed a tank
equipped with metal fangs and a plow -- it looked like something from
a post-apocalyptic science-fiction movie -- to lead the way.

The Marines also sought to detonate any bombs by firing rockets that
lay a ribbon of explosives ahead of them. But even with those
measures, they encountered 15 roadside bombs on a three-quarter-mile
route from the command post to the canal. Each had to be methodically
defused or destroyed.

"It's painstaking," said Lt. Col. Cal Worth, the battalion commander.

U.S. military officials deem Marja to be the most-mined part of
Afghanistan. Taliban operatives set up numerous laboratories in the
area over the past three years to manufacture homemade explosives,
which they have placed in plastic jugs -- to avoid U.S. metal
detection gear -- and buried underground. The bombs are equipped with
detonators that are set off in a variety of ways: simple pressure
plates, remote-control devices or wires connected to switches that are
triggered by insurgents lying in wait.

Once they reached the canal, the Marines had to wait until a massive
mobile bridge, which was carried atop a tank chassis, was extended and
placed over an irrigation trench. Even with the bridge, a wide band of
dense clay muck on both sides of the canal bogged down resupply trucks
and other logistics vehicles. And insurgents repeatedly targeted the
Marines with small-arms fire and mortars. As a consequence, the
company made less headway into Marja than it had hoped.

"It's going to be slow," Worth said. "We have to do this in a
deliberate way."

Even so, Worth said he aims to establish a "security bubble" over the
next few days that will allow Afghan government officials and U.S.
reconstruction personnel to operate in Marja.

Worth's other two companies -- Alpha and Bravo -- were inserted into
central Marja by helicopter early Saturday. Each company, which
consists of about 300 Marines and Afghan soldiers, proceeded slowly on
foot, seeking to confront insurgents and reassure civilians they had
come to restore security. They, too, came under regular fire from
Taliban fighters holed up in adobe housing compounds.

Worth's battalion has been designated as the "main effort" of the
operation. Another unit, the 3rd Battalion of the 6th Marine Regiment,
is operating in the northern part of the Marja area. Two other Marine
battalions and one battalion of U.S. Army Stryker vehicles are ringing
the area to prevent fighters from fleeing to neighboring communities.

"We have accomplished what we wanted to do today: Get the forces into
Marja," Nicholson said. "It went very well in terms of the complexity
of what we attempted to in an unknown environment. We'll attempt to
expand our positions tomorrow."

But he cautioned that the task ahead remains daunting. Taliban
fighters, he said, do not seem to have deserted the area in droves or
thrown down their weapons to blend in with the civilian population.

"There's still a lot of work to do," he said. "There are enormous
areas that haven't been cleared yet."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/13/AR2010021302089.html

US troops fight, then work to win hearts, minds
By CHRISTOPHER TORCHIA (AP) – 2 hours ago

BADULA QULP, Afghanistan — As U.S. Marines fought Taliban insurgents
down the road, Army 1st Lt. Daniel Hickok hunted Afghan men willing to
repair an irrigation canal for cash.

It's a tall order in a Taliban-controlled area where some villagers
are scared to take money from the Americans.

Yet in the revised U.S. war strategy, the fight against the insurgents
is as important as winning the allegiance and confidence of Afghan
citizens. For American soldiers here, their days are often a mix of
winning hearts and minds and fighting a determined enemy.

A rumble of explosions could be heard shortly before Hickok, of
Puyallup, Wash., and his soldiers from the 4th Battalion, 23rd
Infantry, left their Stryker armored vehicles Saturday and walked into
farm fields in search of laborers.

Repairing the irrigation canals is an important step toward reviving
agriculture in the area. And the Americans were offering hard cash for
anyone willing to work.

But conditions for sustained economy-building appeared a long way off.

"Once we're up here, just kind of spread out and try not to look
menacing," Hickok told his men as they approached a home near the
canal.

The area is about six miles (10 kilometers) from Marjah in Helmand
province where thousands of Marines and Afghan soldiers launched a
massive offensive on Saturday to break the insurgents' grip over a
wide swath of southern Afghanistan.

The conversation with a farmer seemed positive at first. But it was
ultimately inconclusive — an illustration, perhaps, of the difficulty
of winning over civilians who know the Taliban are a longterm
presence, and that the Americans will eventually leave.

Staff Sgt. Christopher Wootton of Richmond, Va., serving with the
422nd Civil Affairs Battalion, asked the farmer if he could fix a
stretch of canal road — a dirt, uneven, narrow track that became
unstable in recent rains and restricted movement of the heavy Stryker
infantry vehicles.

An Afghan interpreter, known colloquially by the Americans as a
"terp," translated into the local language, Pashto.

But the discussion progressed haltingly, with the "terp" seeming to
have trouble keeping up with the conversation.

"You might want to stick with shorter sentences," Hickok suggested to
Wootton.

Eventually, the farmer, whose construction skills seemed a big
question mark, agreed to travel to the provincial capital of Lashkar
Gah about 15 miles (24 kilometers) away to buy pipes and other
building materials for the road. Wootton gave him 7,500 Afghanis in
banknotes, or about $160, filled out a receipt and photographed the
man as he took it.

The farmer, however, wasn't sure whether American troops on the road
to Lashkar Gah would allow him to pass, and whether there were
roadside bombs, a lethal threat to American forces.

"He's going to have to do the best he can do to get down to Lashkar
Gah as safely as possible," Wootton said to the interpreter. He gave
the man an English-language note of safe passage, and warned him to
conceal it in case any Taliban found it and called him a collaborator.

In a parting gesture, Wootton cleaned and bandaged the injured finger
of an elderly man at the farmhouse. Later, he said the meeting was the
most positive in several days of interviewing villagers.

"A lot of guys are unwilling to do anything," he said. "They're
worried about the Taliban."

Hours later, soldiers from the same company got into a firefight
further up the road with insurgents who ducked in and out of
buildings, and moved around on motorcycles. Fragments of military
radio chatter played out the confrontation.

"Can you shoot him with a 50 cal?" someone asked, a reference to a 50-
caliber machine gun.

"I don't have a shot," came the reply.

Then news came that a suspected insurgent was down.

And the fight went on:

"There's a guy in the second-floor window who's playing peekaboo with
us."

Then came a report that a U.S. Army sniper was shot in the hand, and
that the bullet had apparently deflected into his shoulder. A chopper
was called in to evacuate him.

In this one village in southern Afghanistan, a day that began with a
peace gesture ended on a note of war.

Copyright © 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

U.S. Staff Sgt. Christopher Wootton, 25, from Richmond, Va., of the
422nd Civil Affairs Battalion, attached to the 4th Battalion, 23rd
Infantry Regiment, 5th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, left, gives
medical treatment to a villager in the Badula Qulp area, west of
Lashkar Gah in Helmand province, southern Afghanistan, Saturday, Feb.
13, 2010. This unit is operating in support of a U.S. Marine offensive
against the Taliban in Marjah area. (AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito)

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ibLSjY1pQ0T-n7t23PTSbU0mqVBwD9DRF8N81

Page last updated at 17:48 GMT, Saturday, 13 February 2010
Brown: Aim of Afghanistan mission is to 'break' Taliban

Gordon Brown has said that the aim of the ongoing Nato-led operation
in Afghanistan is "to break the Taliban, divide the Taliban, split the
Taliban".

His comments came hours after Coalition troops began their biggest
offensive in Afghanistan since the overthrow of the Taliban in 2001,

The prime minister also paid tribute to the first confirmed British
fatality in Operation Moshtarak, a soldier from the 1st Battalion
Grenadier Guards, saying he had made "the ultimate sacrifice".

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8514403.stm

Page last updated at 19:19 GMT, Saturday, 13 February 2010

Nato hails major Afghan operation

Nato forces in Afghanistan have hailed as a success the first phase of
a major operation to oust the Taliban from two key districts of
Helmand in the south.

More than 15,000 US, UK and Afghan troops swept into Marjah and Nad
Ali before dawn. The UK defence ministry said key objectives had been
met.

Two Nato deaths, including one Briton, have been confirmed. Afghan
forces said 20 militants had been killed.

Operation Moshtarak is the biggest attack since the Taliban fell in
2001.

'Minimal interference'

Moshtarak - which means "together" in the local Dari language - is
being led by 4,000 US Marines, supported by 4,000 British troops, with
Canadians, Danes and Estonians.

ANALYSIS

Frank Gardner,
BBC News, Kandahar

It was the largest helicopter-borne assault ever undertaken in
Afghanistan and it was almost unopposed. Sixty coalition helicopters
took off before dawn to insert thousands of US, British and Afghan
troops. But the real challenge is following this military manoeuvre
with lasting security for the residents of central Helmand.

The Taliban and other insurgents have kept a relatively low profile
during this offensive but intelligence officers here at operation
headquarters in Kandahar believe they are likely to try to exploit any
opportunity to reverse the gains made by Nato and the Afghan
government forces.

This operation is the first major test for President Obama's new
strategy in Afghanistan. Its success or failure depends on whether it
can be swiftly followed by security and good governance.

The offensive began with waves of helicopters ferrying US Marines into
Marjah.

British troops then flew into Nad Ali district, to the north, followed
by tanks and combat units.

More than 1,000 British troops took part in trying to secure the Chah-
e Anjir Triangle north-east of Marjah.

Maj-Gen Gordon Messenger told a briefing in London there had been
"sporadic fighting" and the Taliban were unable to "put up a coherent
response".

He said: "The key objectives have been secured and have been done so
with minimal interference."

However, one British soldier, from the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards,
was killed by an explosion in Nad Ali.

Gen Messenger said that "low numbers" of insurgents had been killed
during the attack.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown praised the UK forces for their action.

He said: "This day will be long remembered as the day when a new phase
of the campaign to win the support of the people of Afghanistan was
initiated. And I'm very proud of the exceptional role that British
forces have played in that."

An Reuters correspondent in Marjah said US Marines engaged militants
who were firing rockets and there was still a firefight in the area
after several hours.

MARJAH: 'TALIBAN STRONGHOLD'

Town and district about 40km (25 miles) south-west of Lashkar Gah
Lies in Helmand's 'Green Zone' - an irrigated area of lush vegetation
and farmland
Last remaining major Taliban stronghold in southern Helmand
Area considered a centre for assembling roadside bombs
Key supply centre for opium poppies - lucrative revenue source for
Taliban
Estimates of Taliban numbers range up to 1,000
Population of Marjah town put at 80,000 while the whole of Marjah
district is thought to have 125,000

Lt Col Brian Christmas told the Associated Press there were sustained
gun battles in four parts of Marjah.

AP reported Marjah residents as saying Taliban insurgents had fallen
back into the centre of the town.

A Taliban spokesman, Qari Yousef Ahmadi, spoke to a number of news
agencies, saying insurgents were still resisting in Marjah and were
engaged in hit-and-run tactics.

Another Taliban spokesman, Mullah Mohammed, had earlier told ABC News
that his men were pulling back to spare any civilian casualties.

Mohammad Zazai, commander of Afghan troops in the operation, said that
20 militants had been killed and 11 detained.

It was estimated there were between 400 and 1,000 militants based in
the region before Operation Moshtarak was launched.

Nato's aim is to secure Marjah - a town of 80,000 - and surrounding
areas as soon as possible and then bring in aid and public services.

'Civilian support'

In Kabul, Nato civilian representative Mark Sedwill said the news of
the Nato-led attack "appeared to be positive" although he stressed it
was still early.

He said it was vital to bring in "civilian support from the Afghan
government" as soon as possible.

HAVE YOUR SAY We have little choice. We pull out, Pakistan falls. This
is the era of the new domino theory.
David Cheshire, Dorset, UK

Afghan Defence Minister Gen Rahim Wardak also said it was important to
bring in local security forces quickly.

He said there had been "sporadic resistance" and there was a threat
from booby-traps left by the Taliban.

"The area has been heavily mined, that's why we are moving so slowly,"
he said in Kabul.

One canal bridge into Marjah was particularly heavily mined.

US Marine ordnance units advanced through the town exploding bombs
when located.

One other Nato fatality - from small-arms fire - in Operation
Moshtarak was confirmed on Saturday, although no other details were
given.

Three US soldiers were also killed by an improvised explosive device
in southern Afghanistan, Nato said, although was unclear if it was
related to Moshtarak.

Marjah has also long been regarded as a linchpin of the lucrative
network for smuggling opium - the raw ingredient used to make heroin -
harvested from Helmand's poppy fields.

Nato had distributed leaflets in the area warning of the planned
offensive in a bid to limit civilian casualties.

The operation is part of an effort to secure a 320-km (200-mile)
horseshoe-shaped string of towns that runs along the Helmand River,
through Kandahar and on to the Pakistani border.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8514397.stm

Page last updated at 13:00 GMT, Saturday, 13 February 2010
Afghanistan Nato offensive 'making good progress'

Watch Video

Nato-led forces say they are making good progress hours after
launching the biggest offensive in Afghanistan since the overthrow of
the Taliban in 2001.

Coalition forces in Afghanistan have been planning Operation Moshtarak
for months, co-ordinating between numerous organisations.

Frank Gardner reports from Kandahar.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8514047.stm

...and I am Sid Harth

[bademiyansubhanallah]

Terror and talks cannot co-exist: BJP
New Delhi, Feb 14

India should reconsider its Feb 25 talks with Pakistan, the opposition
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Sunday said, adding that "terror and
talks do not go together".

"When terror threatens India, then not talking is also a legitimate
diplomatic option," BJP spokesperson Arun Jaitley told reporters here.

Nine people were killed and 57 injured in a bomb blast in an eatery,
German Bakery, in Pune Saturday evening, the first significant terror
attack in India since 26/11.

India and Pakistan are to hold foreign secretary-level talks in Delhi
Feb 25.

"We ask the government of India to seriously reconsider its two
announcements, one for return of residents of Kashmir who had gone to
Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and other the offer of (bilateral) talks,"
he said.

Last updated on Feb 14th, 2010 at 13:09 pm IST--IANS

http://www.prokerala.com/news/articles/a114807.html

Congress warns against politicising terror strike (Lead)
New Delhi/Mumbai, Feb 14

The Congress Sunday warned against politicising and communalising the
terror strike in Pune.

"This is the time to wake up. Anybody who tries to politicise or
communalise the terror strike will be rejected (by the people),"
Congress spokesman Manish Tewari told a television news channel.

The Congress's reaction came in the wake of Shiv Sena executive
president Uddhav Thackeray saying that Maharashtra Chief Minister
Ashok Chavan's "immature politics" was "responsible for the Pune
terror attack".

A bomb ripped through the German Bakery in Pune's posh Koregaon Park
area Saturday evening, killing nine people and injuring nearly 60,
including several foreign nationals.

Reacting to the terror strike, Udhav said in a statement: "It is
because of the sins of the chief minister that nine innocent persons
have lost their lives in the attack."

Uddhav, who issued a brief statement from Badlapur in Thane, alleged
that in order to protect Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, a massive
chunk of the security force had been withdrawn from sensitive
locations and deployed on the roads last week.

"Instead, if that security had been appropriately deployed at the
requisite places, then the terror attack could have been prevented,"
Uddhav alleged.

Last updated on Feb 14th, 2010 at 12:19 pm IST--IANS

http://www.prokerala.com/news/articles/a114788.html

Higher compensation for Pune attack victims: Chavan
Mumbai, Feb 14

Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan Sunday announced a hike in the
compensation amount for the kin of those dead in the Pune terror
attack.

"The next of kin of the dead would be entitled to Rs.500,000 and the
treatment expenses of all the injured will be borne by the
government," Chavan said.

Chavan had Saturday night announced a compensation of Rs.100,000 for
the kin of the dead and Rs.50,000 for those injured.

Meanwhile, security has been tightened in Mumbai and other parts of
the state in the wake of the Pune terror attack.

"Security has been tightened at all important installations, including
the airport, railway stations and other places in Mumbai," said
Chavan.

The leave of all policemen across the state have been cancelled
following the attack which left nine dead, including one foreigner,
and 57 injured.

A team of the elite security outfit Force One left from Mumbai
Saturday night to assist the Mumbai and Pune Anti-Terrorist Squads,
National Investigation Agency (NIA), Central Bureau of Investigation
(CBI) and National Security Guard (NSG) teams.

A team of experts from the Pune cantonment of the Southern Army
command has also reached the site of the blast, the first major terror
blast in the country after Nov 26, 2008.

In Mumbai, security was tightened at the Chhatrapati Shivaji
International Airport, the Mumbai Port, the BARC, BSE, important
railway terminals and stations, luxury hotels, important government
buildings, VVIP areas of south Mumbai, and the beaches dotting the
city, among others.

Elsewhere in Maharashtra, security has been beefed up at the Sai Baba
Temple in Shirdi, the Pandharpur Temple and other major places of
historic, religious and tourism significance.

Last updated on Feb 14th, 2010 at 10:30 am IST

http://www.prokerala.com/news/articles/a114764.html

Uddhav Thackeray blames Ashok Chavan for Pune blast
Mumbai, Feb 14

Shiv Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray Sunday squarely blamed
Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan's immature politics as
"responsible for the Pune terror attack".

"It is because of the sins of the CM that nine innocent persons have
lost their lives in the attack," Uddhav said in a brief statement from
Badlapur in Thane.

Uddhav alleged that in order to protect (Shah Rukh) Khan, a massive
security force had been withdrawn from sensitive locations and
deployed on the roads last week.

"Instead, if that security had been appropriately deployed at the
requisite places, then the terror attack could have been prevented,"
Uddhav said.

A bomb ripped through the German Bakery in Pune's posh Koregaon Park
area Saturday evening, killing nine and injuring 57, including several
foreign nationals.

Last updated on Feb 14th, 2010 at 10:04 am IST--IANS

http://www.prokerala.com/news/articles/a114761.html

Hospital hails Pune residents
Pune, Feb 14

A leading private hospital which received the first victims of the
bomb attack thanked the people of Pune Sunday for rushing to donate
blood to the badly injured.

The Inlaks Budhrani Hospital expressed its gratitude to the people for
coming to the aid of the injured and to the police force for
maintaining law and order at a difficult time.

The hospital is located barely one kilometre from the German Bakery
where a powerful bomb concealed in a backpack exploded Saturday
evening, destroying the eatery popular with foreigners and young
Indians.

The hospital said in a statement that it began getting badly burnt and
injured victims within 10 minutes.

Simultaneously, it alerted all its senior surgeons, who rushed to the
hospital. Nurses and students of nursing living in the hospital
premises also poured into the casualty and general wards.

It said two people were brought dead while a third person succumbed to
injuries soon after admission.

The hospital expressed regret that despite its best efforts, it could
not save the lower limbs of three who were badly injured.

It said the dead and injured were mostly in the age group of 20 to 30
and had burns, shrapnel injuries and multiple fractures.

Last updated on Feb 14th, 2010 at 15:16 pm IST--IANS

http://www.prokerala.com/news/articles/a114842.html

Osho Ashram turns into a fortress
Pune, Feb 14

A day after a bomb ripped through an eatery killing nine people here,
Pune's best known landmark, the Osho Ashram, turned into a veritable
fortress.

Police commandos were deployed at the main gate of the sprawling
ashram, which is hugely popular with foreigners and came up in 1974.

The Osho International Meditation Centre, as it is officially known,
was founded by Osho Rajneesh. He taught at the centre until 1981 when
he moved to the US.

The two adjoining houses and six acres of land form the nucleus of the
present day Ashram that attracts a large number of foreigners every
year. Most of them come from the West.

Police say that David Headley, a Pakistan-born American Islamist now
in a Chicago prison, had visited the Osho Ashram in 2007-08 to see if
it could be a possible target for Pakistan's Lashkar-e-Taiba group.

The German Bakery, where a bomb concealed in a backpack went off
Saturday evening killing nine people and injuring 57, is located close
to the Osho Ashram. Many of its inmates regularly visit the eatery.

Amid fears that the Osho Ashram could also be bombed, police barred
visitors from entering the complex.

The bomb site was also sealed off by the local police, the Riot
Control Police and Maharashtra State Reserve Police.

No traffic was allowed on the road on which the German Bakery is
located.

Last updated on Feb 14th, 2010 at 15:35 pm IST--IANS

http://www.prokerala.com/news/articles/a114847.html

Will evaluate report on Pune blast: S.M. Krishna
Chennai, Feb 14

External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna said Sunday he will wait for a
report on the Pune bomb blast before taking a decision on future steps
on the India-Pakistan talks.

Speaking to reporters here, Krishna said: “Let me get the report...
then perhaps we will have to look into those reports and evaluate
them.”

He was answering a question on the status of the foreign secretary-
level talks between India and Pakistan scheduled to be held in Delhi
Feb 25.

India had stopped the composite dialogue with Pakistan after the
Mumbai terror attacks in 2008.

The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party has asked the government to
reconsider the scheduled talks in the wake of the latest terror
strike, stating that “terror and talks” cannot coexist.

The terror strike in German Bakery, a popular eatery in Pune, killed
nine people and left 57 injured.

Last updated on Feb 14th, 2010 at 15:07 pm IST--IANS

http://www.prokerala.com/news/articles/a114839.html

Two killed, 12 injured in Pakistan blast
Islamabad, Feb 14

At least 2 persons were killed and 12 injured Sunday as a powerful
blast ripped through a crowded market place in Pakistan's southern
Sindh province.

The blast occurred in a rickshaw in the Central Chowk area in Dadu
district, about 225 km from the provincial capital Karachi, Geo news
reported quoting police sources.

The blast also shattered the windowpanes of closely located shops and
buildings and standing vehicles, officials said.

Meanwhile, the local residents caught a suspected person from the
blast site and handed him over to police, eyewitnesses said.

Last updated on Feb 14th, 2010 at 14:20 pm IST--IANS

http://www.prokerala.com/news/articles/a114827.html

...and I am Sid Harth

[bademiyansubhanallah]

ne bomb was kept in backpack: Chidambaram
14 Feb 2010, 1046 hrs IST, IANS

PUNE: A powerful bomb that ripped through a popular bakery here
killing nine people was apparently left in a backpack, Home Minister P
Chidambaram said on Sunday.

After an early morning visit, Chidambaram told reporters that the
terrorist who brought the bomb to the German bakery Saturday evening
may have posed as a customer.

"The bomb was apparently planted in a backpack and left there. The
person apparently came there as a customer, unlike the usual gun-
wielding terror attacks," he said.

After the bag had been left there, the keeper melted in the crowd.
Nobody apparently bothered as everybody thought it belonged to the
next person. It was only after a waiter in the bakery-cum-restaurant
attempted to open the backpack that the bomb exploded.

The deafening blast also injured nearly 60 people, some of them
critically.

Chidambaram said despite the presence of security in the sensitive
zone, comprising a Jewish worship house and the Osho Ashram, the
German bakery became a "soft target".

Unless these soft targets also adopt strict security measures, it
would be difficult to detect things, he said.

He said whether the German bakery had put in place any such measures
would be probed.

The home minister said that the area was in a sensitive zone and the
local police were already sensitised about it.

"Police presence was there, it was patrolled as usual, there was no
diversion of police from this area. But this was not the usual gun-
weilding type of terror attack but an 'insidious" attack," he said.

It was the worst terror attack in India after November 2008 when a
group of Pakistani terrorists went on a killing spree in Mumbai
leaving 166 Indians and foreigners dead.

Chidambaram said the blast case will be cracked soon and investigators
were ruling out nothing.

"The investigators are on their job. We don't rule out anything, we
don't rule in anything. Until they are through, I will not speculate
on anything," he said.

Declining to identify specifically the group or individual who
perpertrated the attacks, Chidambaram said that "let the investigators
complete their investigations".

He said it was too early to speculate what were the motives behind the
attack or whether any particular group or nationality were targeted.

The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) will carry out
investigations into the blast and the conspiracy behind it.

Chidambaram said even the NIA has been summoned to study and get first-
hand experience of the terror attack.

Earlier, shortly after his arrival, Chidambaram surveyed the scene of
the blast accompanied by Chief Minister Ashok Chavan, Home Minister
R.R. Patil, Minister of State Home Ramesh Bagwe, Pune Police
Commissiner Satyapal Singh and other officials.

Later, he visited the injured undergoing treatment at various
hospitals and was full of praise for the efforts by the medical
authorities, especially at the Sassoon Hospital.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/Pune-bomb-was-kept-in-backpack-Chidambaram/articleshow/5571856.cms

PC denies intelligence failure, Maha ATS takes over blast probe
14 Feb 2010, 0954 hrs IST, PTI

PUNE: Dismissing "intelligence failure" in the Pune blast, Union Home
Minister P Chidambaram said the terrorists have hit a "soft target"
like the Terror strikes Pune German bakery which is frequented by
foreigners and Indians alike.

He maintained that the "hard targets" like the Osho Ashram and the
Jewish Chabad House located near the bakery had been surveyed by US
Lashker-e-Taiba suspect David Headley during his visit to India and
the area was "in the radar" of security agencies for some time.

"But apart from hard targets, there are soft targets... All these (the
German bakery where the blast took place yesterday and an Italian
restaurant nearby) are soft targets where foreigners and Indians
congregate especially during the peak hours," he told reporters here
after visiting local hospitals to meet the injured in the terror
attack.

The Home Minister said the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad has taken
over the case and constituted teams to investigate the blast.

He announced a compensation of Rs five lakh to the families of those
killed in the attack.

Terror struck Pune last night as a powerful bomb ripped apart a
popular bakery near the Chabad House, killing nine people, including
five women and a foreigner, and injuring 45 in the first major attack
since 26/11 carnage.

The improvised explosive device, kept in a packet outside the kitchen
of the German bakery, exploded at around 7.30 pm when a waiter
attempted to open it.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/Politics/Nation/PC-denies-intelligence-failure-Maha-ATS-takes-over-blast-probe/articleshow/5571732.cms

Terror strikes Pune; 9 killed, 45 injured
14 Feb 2010, 0040 hrs IST, PTI

PUNE: Terror struck Pune on Saturday night as a powerful bomb ripped
apart a popular bakery near a Jewish prayer house, killing nine
people, Terror strikes Pune including five women and a foreigner, and
injuring 45 in the first major attack since 26/11 carnage.

The improvised explosive device, kept in an unattended packet outside
the kitchen of the German bakery, exploded at around 7.30 pm when a
waiter attempted to open it.

"It is most probably a terror attack. Forensic experts of CBI and team
of National Investigation Agency (NIA) officials are being airlifted
to Pune to assist the state police in the investigations," Union Home
Secretary G K Pillai said.

The German bakery is a favourite food joint for foreigners, located
close to Osho Ashram which had been surveyed by Pakistani-origin
American David Coleman Headley, a Lashkar-e Taiba operative.

Pune's Police Commissioner Satyapal Singh nine people were killed in
the blast, five of them women, and 45 injured.

Quoting information from the state government, Pillai told
mediapersons in New Delhi that one each of the killed and the injured
are foreigners said but could not give the nationality.

The rest, he said, were believed to be Indians but the situation could
change.

U K Bansal, Special Secretary in Union Home Ministry, said four of the
injured were foreigners.

Asked whether Pakistani hand was suspected behind the attack, Pillai
said he could not say anything till forensic examination was over.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/Politics/Nation/Terror-strikes-Pune-9-killed-45-injured/articleshow/5570641.cms

Not alright to say entire Pune targeted, says Pawar
13 Feb 2010, 2259 hrs IST, PTI

MUMBAI: It is not alright to conclude after this evening's blast in
Pune that entire Pune city was targeted, Union Agriculture Minister
Sharad Pawar has said.

"It is not alright to arrive at a conclusion that the entire Pune city
has been targeted," Pawar said. The place where the blast took place
is an isolated area, he added.

"I have spoken to Home Minister RR Patil, district guardian minister
Ajit Pawar and district collector," Pawar said.

On the issue of American terror suspect David Headley's visits to the
Osho Ashram located near the German Bakery in Koregaon Park which
witnessed the bomb blast, Pawar said, "I have no information as yet to
reach this conclusion."

Expressing confidence that people of Pune will face the incident with
a brave face, Pawar said, "When I was Chief Minister, Mumbai saw 11
simultaneous blasts but everything returned to normal soon."

There is no need for Pune residents to panic, Pawar said.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/Not-alright-to-say-entire-Pune-targeted-says-Pawar/articleshow/5570346.cms

'Headley had surveyed area near Pune blast site'
13 Feb 2010, 2305 hrs IST, IANS

NEW DELHI: Home Secretary GK Pillai says suspected Lashkar-e-Toiba
(LeT) terrorist David Coleman Headley had surveyed the Osho ashram
area, which is 200 yards from the German Bakery where a blast killed
eight people and injured 32 on Saturday evening.

"Headley had surveyed the Osho ashram which is 200 yards from the
German Bakerye. We had informed the Maharashtra government on October
12, 2009," Pillai told reporters here after chairing a high-level
meeting in the wake of the Pune blast.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/Headley-had-surveyed-area-near-Pune-blast-site/articleshow/5570365.cms

...and I am Sid Harth

[bademiyansubhanallah]

TOI DEBATES/ DISCUSSIONS

Is the Pune blast an intelligence failure?
14 February 2010, 01:21pm IST

The attack on the popular German Bakery in Pune, frequented by Indians
and foreigners, has once again revealed huge chinks in the country's
anti-terror armour. Home minister Chidambaram says the attack is not
an intelligence failure and the strike on this 'soft target' was not
an overt strike by gunmen like the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai. But if the
United States of America can avoid a repeat of any sort of terrorist
strike on its soil post 9/11, why can't India prevent such attacks
from happening. Should the country focus more on its security set-up
and less on dialogue with Pakistan? Is the Pune blast an intelligence
failure?

yes80% Vote no20%

abj , bombay, 14 February 2010, 04:05pm IST
though every one knows there will be terror attacks what inteligence
doing

though every one knows there will be terror attacks what inteligence
doing Back..

Neil Fernandes, Goa, 14 February 2010, 03:56pm IST
This is a complete security failure !!!

This is a complete security failure !!! Back..

SK, Bangalore, 14 February 2010, 03:32pm IST
It is not the German Bakery but the whole of India which has become a
soft target,the govt. sleeps o More »

It is not the German Bakery but the whole of India which has become a
soft target,the govt. sleeps on punishing the accused of earlier
attacks,whether it was the parliament attack or the Mumbai attacks or
other blasts in Maharashtra and one day we hand them over in platter
to Pakistan as we did in Kandahar.We need to send a strong statement
to the world,rather then delve in petty politics. Back..

A S CHAUHAN, USA, 14 February 2010, 03:14pm IST
India is a vast country ,inhabited by 115 plus Crore people. The
number of police personnel, in ens More »

India is a vast country ,inhabited by 115 plus Crore people. The
number of police personnel, in ensuring 100 % Police Bandobast of the
nation, is hardly adequate : rather miserably insufficient to look
after the 'Elite'of the country ! The Govt does offer to provide Z
Plus ,Z et al category security covers at the cost of the security of
the man on the street ,without any hassles though ! Agreed that it is
humanly just not possible to provide security to any Tom ,Dick & Harry
sort of ! Then why on this good earth so many 'LADLAAS' are being
looked after in this country while the number of BPL is increasing
every minute : population explosion amongst the BPLs ! The Actors,Ex
Civil Servants(IPS/IAS/IFS etc), Former VVIPs/VIPs /Governors/ V Sr
Military Officers ,the Business magnates,their relations :their
Residences are safe enough because of the Govt Security is handy to
them .Every time our places are attacked blatantly by the terrorists &
alike( known /unknown) we are yet again assured doubly that the
security in & around has since been further TIGHTENED : why does it
get loosened then time & again with the passage of time ? Send our
officers /men to get such training to save the ordinary (AAM-AADAMI)
from the murderous onslaught of the poor & hapless . 'But When' ? The
safety of the people is the RESPONSIBILITY of the Govt in Power .
Back..

R NARAYANASWAMY, CHENNAI, 14 February 2010, 03:12pm IST
It is intelligence failure plus failure to punish perpetrators of
terrorist crimes.

It is intelligence failure plus failure to punish perpetrators of
terrorist crimes. Back..

R NARAYANASWAMY, CHENNAI, 14 February 2010, 03:12pm IST
It is intelligence failure plus failure to punish perpetrators of
terrorist crimes.

It is intelligence failure plus failure to punish perpetrators of
terrorist crimes. Back..

VIVEK KUNIYIL, MUMBAI, 14 February 2010, 03:10pm IST
Its sad that again it happend and chances are there to happen!!as
usual poor people to suffer. Shame More »

Its sad that again it happend and chances are there to happen!!as
usual poor people to suffer. Shame on our system and politics that the
trial may go next 10 years. Congress sheer shame on you even if
supreme court given the verdict YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO HANG AFSAL GURU.
SHAME CONGRESS.. LEARN FROM MISTAKE PLEASE Back..

b rajat, india, 14 February 2010, 03:07pm IST
the intelligence failure is the lack of intelligence in the press and
indian mentality . learn to th More »

the intelligence failure is the lack of intelligence in the press and
indian mentality . learn to think clearly and set goals which are kept
to instead of flip floping from taking a firm stance to being soft on
so called minorities. LAW AND ORDER ABOVE ALL ELSE>>> Back..

Girish Naik, Mumbai, 14 February 2010, 03:00pm IST
Yes, It is the intelligence failure of Govt. All the police force in
maharashtra was concentrating o More »

Yes, It is the intelligence failure of Govt. All the police force in
maharashtra was concentrating on giving protection to Shahrukh Khan
film and during this perion, hunderds of terrorist has transported
explosive material to safer places and I fear that more blast will
happen in maharashtra. Maharashtra Govt was indulging in politiks with
Shivsena which was not needed and terrorist has taken advantage of
this. Back..

R.Pinto, KSA, 14 February 2010, 02:59pm IST
If the intellince input already available clearly specifying the
target,it is an intelligence failur More »

If the intellince input already available clearly specifying the
target,it is an intelligence failure. The priority for the moment was
release of MNIK and the our system remains still reactive than
proactive. Back..

Dave, Delhi, 14 February 2010, 03:32pm IST
No it is not an intelligence failure. It is the failure of some people
those who think they have pat More »

No it is not an intelligence failure. It is the failure of some people
those who think they have patented India. So where are the pseudo
patriots like RSS, VHP, Shiv Sena, Bajrang Dal & Co ? Instead of
beating unarmed & desperate people earning their two squire meals
these Pseudo Patriots should have prevented this bombing. As per them
everybody else is a traitor & they want everybody to go to pakistan.
Balu, Where r u now? Tomorrow u will issue a statement that
somebody( read a particular community) is responsible for it. People
like balu thakre & co those who fuel communal hatred are responsible
for this mess that India is in today. And TOI you guys need to do a
better job of not appreciating what balu does by pronouncing him as
balasahib thakre. balu is a goon & goons are not to be addressed by
first name or in a respectful manner.start calling spade a spade, day
is not far off when people of this country will rise up & start
calling spade a spade including TOI. Don,t be hypocrites & stop
labeling whole communities as a terrorists. people needs factual
information/news from press not one sided story as TOI does always.
Back..

Aman, Canada, 14 February 2010, 03:31pm IST
Thakeray's are responsible for this attack! They diverted the police
attention towards the Maharasht More »

Thakeray's are responsible for this attack! They diverted the police
attention towards the Maharashtrian areas of the city, leaving this
cosmopolitan area unattended. Back..

Amit, Bangalore, 14 February 2010, 03:15pm IST
Can't say whether it is a failure of the intelligence but one thing is
certain that the defence(home More »

Can't say whether it is a failure of the intelligence but one thing is
certain that the defence(home) ministry has failed to establish any
effective counter terrorism mechanism in the country even aftr
experiencing 'the 26/11'. Back..

Ann, Noida, 14 February 2010, 03:11pm IST
No,if you ask me in a candid manner then i would say it is not the
intelligence failure incident.Ind More »

No,if you ask me in a candid manner then i would say it is not the
intelligence failure incident.India is a vast country and to keep
check on each and every point is impossible.but at the same time i ask
the concern authorities to not only sensitized the hard targets but
the soft ones near by.An insidious attack can only be caught when
planted so never lax when you have suspicion. Back..

Sujit, Saudi Arabia, 14 February 2010, 03:10pm IST
People need to be vigilant to identify unattended luggage and call
police, instead of blaming and po More »

People need to be vigilant to identify unattended luggage and call
police, instead of blaming and pointing fingers Back..

Muralee, DOH, 14 February 2010, 03:01pm IST
No, one thing we all should remember that India is not a small country
with limited population, bein More »

No, one thing we all should remember that India is not a small country
with limited population, being the most populated and also lack of
litrecy among people, it won't possible to keep a check on each and
every individual. I think the govt is doing their best, we people also
should give our best to tackle these kind of attacks. Back..

Muralee, DOH, 14 February 2010, 03:01pm IST
No, one thing we all should remember that India is not a small country
with limited population, bein More »

No, one thing we all should remember that India is not a small country
with limited population, being the most populated and also lack of
litrecy among people, it won't possible to keep a check on each and
every individual. I think the govt is doing their best, we people also
should give our best to tackle these kind of attacks. Back..

ae, india, 14 February 2010, 02:33pm IST
It is not intelligence failure because only eight people killed and
less than 50 injured. If fifty p More »

It is not intelligence failure because only eight people killed and
less than 50 injured. If fifty people killed and 100 injured it is
partial failure of intelligence. If 200 killed and 400 injured it is
full intelligence failure.IT IS NEW FUNDAMENTAL RULES WRITTEN BY OUR
NEW HOME MINISTER. SALUTE TO FAILED INDIAN intelligence IN ALL FRONT.
INDIA HAS BECOME A COUNTRY OF CHAOS. Back..

M.Murli, UAE, 14 February 2010, 02:27pm IST
This is not an intelligence failure. It is the failure of the
executive to take strong actions on th More »

This is not an intelligence failure. It is the failure of the
executive to take strong actions on the basis of intelligence already
available with them.The government knows there are a lot of sleeper
cells lying dorment and waiting to be activated but no sincere efforts
are put in to identify, arrest, interogate and punish these traitors
who are safely protected and provided with logistical support by their
local sympathisers.Government would not like to put in sincere efforts
as it will antagonise their vote bank.Afterall it is more important
for them to remain in power than be concerned about the nations
security. Back..

aesha, mumbai, 14 February 2010, 02:17pm IST
blaming the constitution and intelligence every time is not right.its
high time that the citizens sh More »

blaming the constitution and intelligence every time is not right.its
high time that the citizens show awareness.wake indians open ypour
your nation is independent and so are you.prove it. Back..

yes78% Vote no22%

Girish Naik, Mumbai, 14 February 2010, 03:00pm IST
Yes, It is the intelligence failure of Govt. All the police force in
maharashtra was concentrating o More »

Yes, It is the intelligence failure of Govt. All the police force in
maharashtra was concentrating on giving protection to Shahrukh Khan
film and during this perion, hunderds of terrorist has transported
explosive material to safer places and I fear that more blast will
happen in maharashtra. Maharashtra Govt was indulging in politiks with
Shivsena which was not needed and terrorist has taken advantage of
this. Back..

R.Pinto, KSA, 14 February 2010, 02:59pm IST
If the intellince input already available clearly specifying the
target,it is an intelligence failur More »

If the intellince input already available clearly specifying the
target,it is an intelligence failure. The priority for the moment was
release of MNIK and the our system remains still reactive than
proactive. Back..

taitus devasia, dubai, 14 February 2010, 02:59pm IST
I believe that this is an intelligence failure.

I believe that this is an intelligence failure. Back..

M.Govindarajan, Madurai, 14 February 2010, 02:59pm IST
Saying yes or no is a sort of blame game and blatant escapism. Even in
USA with all such scanning et More »

Saying yes or no is a sort of blame game and blatant escapism. Even in
USA with all such scanning etc,. the Nigerian was able to board the
flight to USA. Protection or safeguarding our land from terrorist
activity is achievable primarily by peoples` participation, not merely
by Govt`s efforts alone.That apart,Govt.,however, should not have
retracted from it`s earlier stance of not having any dialogue with
Pak., till 26/11 probe is appropriately dealt with by them.
Secondly,there is no convincing explanations on why Home Minister is
offering choice to people of POK to come to India, which is tantamount
to resettlement in disputed area and in any way, not going to solve
the core issue especially when we have no fool-proof system to verify
antecedents or credentials of such people from POK and when we are not
able to check infiltrations into India across from Pakistan and Bnagla
Desh borders. Back..

Sundara Rajan, Singapore, 14 February 2010, 02:59pm IST
Of course it's an intelligence failure on the part of the State
Government, which could rightly clai More »

Of course it's an intelligence failure on the part of the State
Government, which could rightly claim that it has nothing to do with
intelligence whatever. Back..

sen, del, 14 February 2010, 02:59pm IST
yes it is. the congress was too busy with its pseudo-secular
credentials (read SRK and his new tamas More »

yes it is. the congress was too busy with its pseudo-secular
credentials (read SRK and his new tamasha movie) and forgot the
majority. shamefull. the congress govt. should resign from the centre
after so many attacks on the country in their rule. Back..

Sundara Rajan, Singapore, 14 February 2010, 02:58pm IST
Of course it's an intelligence failure on the part of the State
Government, which could rightly clai More »

Of course it's an intelligence failure on the part of the State
Government, which could rightly claim that it has nothing to do with
intelligence at all. Back..

Indian, India, 14 February 2010, 02:56pm IST
It may or maynot be failure to act on intelligence reports. Too early
to tell that. But it is for su More »

It may or maynot be failure to act on intelligence reports. Too early
to tell that. But it is for sure failure of our strength. Those
bastards think they can keep on attacking India with no fear of
retaliation. We need eye for an eye attitude. If they kill 9 we should
kill 900 of that jihadi scum. To begin with tie that son of a bitch
Kasab to a bofors and blast him into oblivion. Pen might be powerful
than a sword, but when swords are drawn it is time to kill. Reasoning
can follow later. Back..

Rushi, Pune, 14 February 2010, 02:49pm IST
Its big failure of state goverment who failed to act on repeated
reminder inputs from NIA as well as More »

Its big failure of state goverment who failed to act on repeated
reminder inputs from NIA as well as US intelligence Back..

aditya, pune, 14 February 2010, 02:48pm IST
It is definitely a failure.It`s high time that some strict anti terror
laws come into action and tak More »

yes78% Vote no22%

Hakimuddin K, Pune, 14 February 2010, 02:43pm IST
Yes its a total intelligence failure. just a few days back all the TV
Channels were showing that Dav More »

Yes its a total intelligence failure. just a few days back all the TV
Channels were showing that David Headley has visited Pune and
particulary osho asharam and chabad house so why did the security
agency not got the pattern. if they had analysed it, they would have
found that German Bakery was the target and not osho as GB is similar
to Cafe Leapord in Mumbai. and 90% of the time foreigners are sitting
there. So here is the case that terrorists are hitting it point blank,
they are giving away the targets and our security agencies are doing
nothing to prevent those attacks. Back..

Shiva, manchester, 14 February 2010, 02:40pm IST
This is a serious lapse in the countries intel and security system. It
would be prudent to cont dial More »

This is a serious lapse in the countries intel and security system. It
would be prudent to cont dialogue with Pakistan, but not to count much
on is outcome and beef up our systems. Back..

JP, USA, 14 February 2010, 02:37pm IST
As long as Kashmir remains occupied and moral support is provided
across the border, there can be no More »

As long as Kashmir remains occupied and moral support is provided
across the border, there can be no talks with pakistanis. Failure to
resolve J&K for Indians for 60 years and current actors for last six
years is condemned. They are insincere bunch of folks who do not want
to do any result oriented work. 9% GDP growth means nothing...all
ballony. Back..

Viswanath, Kuwait, 14 February 2010, 02:36pm IST
Again the same statements!! We will increse the security?. It was not
lapse from intellegent agenc More »

Again the same statements!! We will increse the security?. It was not
lapse from intellegent agencies? We were not informed about recised
attack? Mr Chagan Bhujbal... Are you awaiting for the terrorist should
inform you where and when they will strike?? Shame on politicians like
you who is playing with life of people and making mockery statements.
Back..

dr anil, delhi, 14 February 2010, 02:34pm IST
our politician r playing thier dirty politics they r more interested
in raising issues that has noth More »

our politician r playing thier dirty politics they r more interested
in raising issues that has nothing to do betterment of this country
e.g. release of mnik .mr chidambaram few days back was talking abt
vacancies in police force but with all due respect i wanna ask him u
ve govt both in maha n centre y u cant take lead when it is matter of
internal security .i think we ve lot to learn from us on these front
Back..

Speaking Rubbish, Jeddah, 14 February 2010, 02:32pm IST
We always have solutions in our hand for every problems. But we don't
see it because we engage our e More »

We always have solutions in our hand for every problems. But we don't
see it because we engage our entire energy to find out a holy cow
(Kala Bundar) who can be most acceptable by the common
public.......... Calm down guys...The people at the helm of affair of
India, be it Military, Admin & Policitcians have the solutions known
to them...... They only need to have courange to face "80/20 Aam
people votes swings at home" 80% are impacted if problem creators are
from within 20% are impacted if the problem creators are from ouside
Go India go..implement the solution and being peace Back..

Rahul, Chennai, 14 February 2010, 02:31pm IST
There has been a sytematic sytemic failure ON INTEL .We havent clearly
learnt our lessons. The INTEL More »

There has been a sytematic sytemic failure ON INTEL .We havent clearly
learnt our lessons. The INTEL organiostaion needs a massive
restructureing and needs to keep an eye on sleeper cells. They need to
divide INTEL into HUMINT, CYBER,and CORROBORATION. Back..

nikhil , pune, 14 February 2010, 02:29pm IST
this is governments poor policies which led to the blast. is pune safe
anymore?

this is governments poor policies which led to the blast. is pune safe
anymore? Back..

shivam, nagpur, 14 February 2010, 02:28pm IST
yes it is the failure of intelligence. why govt. are not concentrate
on that such type of attack

yes it is the failure of intelligence. why govt. are not concentrate
on that such type of attack Back..

venkat, chennai, 14 February 2010, 02:27pm IST
Yes this is an intelligence failure. our police and politicians were
providing security for film and More »

Yes this is an intelligence failure. our police and politicians were
providing security for film and forgot that there is a majority of
people living outside. Long live the politicains and policeman who are
keen on providing security to cinema theatres and VIPS and let common
man die like a dog on the streets. Shame , its an intelligence
failure. FEED KASAB for many more years. Back..

no message

yes78% Vote no22%

naveen, mumbai, 14 February 2010, 02:26pm IST
In a country of one billion people you cant avoid these kind of
blasts,it's better that instead of b More »

In a country of one billion people you cant avoid these kind of
blasts,it's better that instead of buttering the politicans and
filmstars. let's make an system so that we protect ourshelf and our
dear one's without being a parasite on others.To keep the flame of
politics bright you need these kind of issues so it's better stop
thinking of getting any help from the govt. Back..

naveen, mumbai, 14 February 2010, 02:26pm IST
In a country of one billion people you cant avoid these kind of
blasts,it's better that instead of b More »

In a country of one billion people you cant avoid these kind of
blasts,it's better that instead of buttering the politicans and
filmstars. let's make an system so that we protect ourshelf and our
dear one's without being a parasite on others.To keep the flame of
politics bright you need these kind of issues so it's better stop
thinking of getting any help from the govt. Back..

S dubey, Delhi, 14 February 2010, 02:23pm IST
It is so sad to see the ministers and netas coming om nedia to say the
same things again and again , More »

It is so sad to see the ministers and netas coming om nedia to say the
same things again and again ,"country is on high alert " people should
maintain calm and need not panic" govt .is in control of situation and
so on " ,unless this govt .learns to accept failure and leaders accept
the responsibilty and gets away from pseudo secularism ,nothing is
going to change .They make the soft target softer Back..

Pankaj, Delhi, 14 February 2010, 02:22pm IST
Dont know what to say, whether its a intelligence failure or not. Our
Mumbai police was busy releasi More »

Dont know what to say, whether its a intelligence failure or not. Our
Mumbai police was busy releasing Shah Rukh Khan film and least
bothered about bomb blast. For them its another small incident. What I
feel is, this bomb blast is a bigger thing, when our police cannot
contain the local thefts and murders how will they even stop these
blasts. Our police is good for nothing, all they know is to harass
innocent people, are afraid of politicians and others Mafias. They are
good for nothing, all they can do is become mock spectators. I can
guarantee if we do a raid on any of the Police Commissioners house,
lot of ill gotten wealth will be recoverd. Back..

SQH, MUSCAT, 14 February 2010, 02:10pm IST
YES! it is an intelligence failure. One simple reason is that we knew
the area was under threat, we More »

YES! it is an intelligence failure. One simple reason is that we knew
the area was under threat, we immediately started searching Ansari &
Bhatkal..why this was not done earlier? Why a guideline was not issued
to local people to be extra cautious in handling unclaimed objects,
and keeping an eye on the strangers behaving in suspicious ways? No
such steps were taken. It is really sad we insted of providing an
atmosphare of peacefull co-existence are more about creating situation
like what is prevailing in the state on non significant issue like SRK
should say Sorry and MNIK shopuld be stopped from screening etc.
Please stop all this and contribute to the community......this will
help making us more aware of threats from devisive forces..in last
week we gave a perfect opening to bombers to carry out this crime.
Back..

Vipin, Mumbai, 14 February 2010, 02:09pm IST
Its definitely the intelligence failure. Gov has to accept it and do
something for future instead of More »

Its definitely the intelligence failure. Gov has to accept it and do
something for future instead of just giving the fake staement. Back..

a, o, 14 February 2010, 02:09pm IST
no guts

no guts Back..

aj_jedd, JED, 14 February 2010, 02:08pm IST
The Govt. as usual is in politics. Our politician should understand
the difference between Govt and More »

The Govt. as usual is in politics. Our politician should understand
the difference between Govt and Politics. then only there would be a
god govt. If they feel Govt. means politics then there will hundreds
and thousands of such blasts, becasue the politicians care for ther
"KURSI" only. Back..

rvk123, Pune, 14 February 2010, 02:07pm IST
The Maharashtra Govt. should focus on analyzing the intelligence
inputs and immidiately undertake pr More »

The Maharashtra Govt. should focus on analyzing the intelligence
inputs and immidiately undertake precautionary measures like beefing
up the security there etc. It should abstain itself from showing
political up-manship by concentrating its energies and forces by
giving security cover to film stars and theaters. Back..

SHIVRAM GOPAL VAIDYA, PUNE, 14 February 2010, 02:06pm IST
Yes, Mr. Chidambaram, it is a failure of not only of the intelligence
but also of the Maharashtra St More »

Yes, Mr. Chidambaram, it is a failure of not only of the intelligence
but also of the Maharashtra State Government. The intelligence bureau
had warned the State Government about the terrorist attacks but they
failed to watch the actions taken by the State Government. Secondly
rather than the intelligence bureau, the Maharashtra State Government
is the main responsible factor and one of the culprits, for this
terrorist this attack. The Chief Minister Mr. Ashok Chavan was busy in
protecting Rahul Gandhi during his visit to Mumbai and after that he
was interested in releasing Shahurakh Khan Film. He was behaving like
a private servant of Shaharukh Khan. Now he is saying that there was
no information at all about the proposed terrorist attack. The Deputy
Chief Minister Mr.Chagan Bhujabal is saying that there was lot of
information but with no details about the terrorist attack. What kind
of information they were expecting from the intelligence? Probably
they were expecting the following from the intelligence bureau. Name
of the terrorists, addresses (Temporary and permanent address),
contact numbers of the terrorists, photographs of the terrorists,
their travel plan before and after the terrorist attack, their local
correspondence details, exact venue, date & time of the attack, prior
information if there is any change in the plan, whereabouts of the
terrorists after committing the attack!! Isn’t it Mr. Chavan
and Mr. Bhujbal? It is high time now to dismiss Ashok Chavan for his
total failures for maintaining law and order in the State. As a
citizen of the country, we understood one thing now. Each and every
citizen has to protect himself and he should not seek any protection
from neither the police nor the Government. Now the Government will be
busy in protecting the terrorists, the anti-national film stars, so
called contraversial leaders like Rahul Gandhi etc. It will not find
time and legacy to protect the citizens. All right, doesn't matter,
the people will protect themselves the way they find it suitable, the
way they find it convenient, the way they want,henceforth. Back..

no message

yes78% Vote no22%

Ahmed, saudi arab, 14 February 2010, 02:05pm IST
don’t put every thing on Pakistan, India have their own
problems, their are more th More »

don’t put every thing on Pakistan, India have their own
problems, their are more then 100 separatist movement in India going
on right now and any one can do this type of attack (its always easy
to put blame on Pakistan forget about your own countries problems and
security laps and use this for political gain) Back..

abhishek, chandigarh, 14 February 2010, 02:05pm IST
there is nothing new about it. we need to accept it that our country's
intelligence network is not u More »

there is nothing new about it. we need to accept it that our country's
intelligence network is not up to the mark and to make it appear worse
their failures get highlighted much more than their successful
operations. but still we have to say that it surely is an intelligence
failure. and also failure of our civil defense system. Back..

P Kiddingbaram, New Delhi, 14 February 2010, 02:04pm IST
dear P Chidambaram, soft or hard target, still people were killed and
still classified as a terror a More »

dear P Chidambaram, soft or hard target, still people were killed and
still classified as a terror attack (first time i am hearing of soft
and hard target). u cannot justify this by saying 'at least it wasn't
a shoot out' as even a shoot-out can be justified by saying 'at least
it wasnt a missile strike, nuke strike' and so on. its a terror attack
and it happened. accept it. i appreciate your efforts that have kept
terror out of the country for more than a year, but keep going harder.
Back..

mubeen ahmed, saudi arabia, 14 February 2010, 02:03pm IST
This is a hijacking of security by shiv sena and shahrukh khan
conflict. the terrorist had got good More »

This is a hijacking of security by shiv sena and shahrukh khan
conflict. the terrorist had got good chance to carried out their aim
while whole state was undermine with protecting and releasing of MNIK
and vandalizing the protest of shiv sena. Instead of taking strick
action on the street government should arrest the non state actors
like shiv sena supremo and main stream leaders who hijack the whole
state security. we cant blame to govt. but security and the shiv sena
make possible for terrorist easy target. Back..

Indian, India, 14 February 2010, 02:00pm IST
Yes.If we had prior information about this then this attack would not
have happened. This informatio More »

Yes.If we had prior information about this then this attack would not
have happened. This information should come from intelligence.
Moreover better security setup can at times avert such mishaps even if
we don't have prior information. Back..

Samiulla Khan, Bangalore, 14 February 2010, 01:59pm IST
Its a shame. inspite of spending so much of tax payers money on RAW,
CBI etc etc what do we get. A b More »

Its a shame. inspite of spending so much of tax payers money on RAW,
CBI etc etc what do we get. A bomb blast at anybody's will. Yes I want
my country to talk tough. lets concentrate on safety rather then
Dialogue with PAK its useless they r not going to mend there ways till
they are wiped out from the map. Back..

Anand, USA, 14 February 2010, 01:57pm IST
If the state's machinations are focused on providing "security" for a
non-actor's "work of art," the More »

If the state's machinations are focused on providing "security" for a
non-actor's "work of art," then such a thing is bound to happen. Carry
on, guys! Back..

BSDATTATR, Pune, 14 February 2010, 01:54pm IST
We are pastmasters in conducting postmortems.The intelligence has
miserably failed ;why vigilance wa More »

We are pastmasters in conducting postmortems.The intelligence has
miserably failed ;why vigilance was not stepped up near Osho Ashram
when it was clear that Headley stayed in the vicinity & it was a
target by the terrorists.The Home Minister is chary to accept his
ministry's lapse; he is busy in photo ops & hogging in arc light.PM as
usual is quiet. Back..

Haridas, Germany, 14 February 2010, 01:54pm IST
It is a very shock news. Pune is regarded as one of the peaceful place
and when I hear this bomb bla More »

It is a very shock news. Pune is regarded as one of the peaceful place
and when I hear this bomb blast it is really painful. Yes I believe
this is an intelligent failure. According to Chidambaram it is not the
intelligence failure and the bomb-blast happened in a "soft target".
Then I am afraid that if such so called "soft targets " will be
targeted in future by the ill mentality people then who is going to be
responsible for that? I think whether it is soft or big target in
bombing, it is intelligence failure and Chidambaram and his department
must come up with some solutions/schemes which controls such
activities. Government needs to give more information regarding the
measures they are taking to stop such a "soft-target" because these
are the places where common-man works. Back..

Ajay, India, 14 February 2010, 01:54pm IST
Yes it is. 26/11 case convicts should have been punished before the
year 2009 started. Setting up di More »

Yes it is. 26/11 case convicts should have been punished before the
year 2009 started. Setting up dialogues with Pak as history suggests,
is not going to solve any issues Back..

no message

yes78% Vote no22%

indian, india, 14 February 2010, 01:50pm IST
What else it is? Great achievement? why? bcoz SRK movie is released
successfully?

What else it is? Great achievement? why? bcoz SRK movie is released
successfully? Back..

yogini, dubai, 14 February 2010, 01:50pm IST
Yes. Country should focus on its security set-up.

Yes. Country should focus on its security set-up. Back..

Jai Singh, Switzerland, 14 February 2010, 01:50pm IST
Besides being an intelligence failure it shows what a disaster the law
and order machinery in India More »

Besides being an intelligence failure it shows what a disaster the law
and order machinery in India is. Justice is meted out to criminals and
terrorists when everybody has forgotten about the crime. Back..

subramanian, Hong Kong, 14 February 2010, 01:47pm IST
Yes. It is only our intelligence failure. We are immune to terrorist
attacks.We should also be sens More »

Yes. It is only our intelligence failure. We are immune to terrorist
attacks.We should also be sensitive like U.S.A. to prevent terrorist
attack on our soil. Then only we can call ourself as Developed Nation.
Back..

USK, Mangalore, 14 February 2010, 01:47pm IST
Yes

Yes Back..

aalok jain, dubai, 14 February 2010, 01:42pm IST
I Agree that it is a failure, past/history has shown that powers to be
neglect so many intelligence More »

I Agree that it is a failure, past/history has shown that powers to be
neglect so many intelligence and have even have "care a damn attitude"
for such information, we all know what happened on 26/11 Back..

no message

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/debateshow/5572278.cms

...and I am Sid Harth

[bademiyansubhanallah]

al Sahwa
A network of warfighters, analysts, and scholars dedicated to
critically examining the future of intelligence and irregular warfare
(COIN, CT, PSYOP, IO)

13 February 2010
Historical Analysis: US, China, Iran, & the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet

President Obama and the Dalai Lama are to meet on Thursday, February
18, in the White House Map Room, four months after a previous meeting
between the leaders was postponed in October, 2009 during the Dalai
Lama's visit to Washington. As the Washington Post notes, "That made
October the first time the Dalai Lama has come to Washington without
meeting with the American president since before 1991, when he met
with George H. W. Bush."

*Following this visit, the Dalai Lama will present lectures in Los
Angeles and throughout Florida on the need for compassion in the
pursuit of world peace. See more information on his CA speech here,
and more on his FL speech at Florida Atlantic University here.

The emphasis, I think, should not be on the fact that President Obama
and the Dalai Lama did not meet the first time around, but on the
situation surrounding their upcoming meeting in less than a week. An
historical analysis presents reasons to conclude that; (a) their
interaction is representative of a necessary, established tradition of
protecting human rights, and (b) this meeting comes at an pressing
time in US foreign relations.

Human Rights

His Holiness, as he is called by followers, visits the democratic
nation of the United States to, for one, be a messenger of good news
as all religious leaders ought to be. In particular, I think his
journeys here are a continuation of his peaceful campaign for
compassion against violence, which rightly includes the building of
relationships with Muslims, Christians, and Jews.

Throughout the past two decades, American Presidents have welcomed the
Dalai Lama as a champion of human rights, and as an advocate for the
defense thereof. Each time a meeting has been held with both parties,
representatives of the Chinese Government have issued statements of
disapproval and warnings of forthcoming strains in relationship. In
terms of international relations, the US does, in fact, understand
Tibet as part of China, but recognizes the struggle to establish the
full granting and practice of human rights.

After meeting with President H.W. Bush in April 1991, President
Clinton heard arguments from Tibetan delegates that China was
undertaking "population transfer into Tibet of alarming proportions"
intended to reduce the Tibetans to a minority in their own region.
This time, President Obama, I think, will receive a similar message
from China that his predecessor, President W. Bush did in 2007:
"China's display of anger [will be] demonstrated by its [non-support
of sanctions] on Iran's nuclear program." A 2008 meeting between the
Dalai Lama and President Sarkozy resulted in the same behavior: China
cancelled a summit with the European Union.

Economic Growth

We must consider, in light of this possibility, whether President
Obama may have successfully reduced this chance of occurrence through
his diplomatic discussions with Chinese leaders in November 2009. A
released White House statement did report that Obama's "visit to China
has demonstrated the depth and breadth of the global and other
challenges where US-China cooperation is critical." Although his
postponment of his meeting with the Dalai Lama did seek to ensure a
strengthing of US-Sino relations, "Zhu Weiqun, a Communist Party
official who manages Tibet affairs, said on Feb. 2 that the meeting
would 'seriously undermine the political foundation of Sino-U.S.
relations" and "not help the United States surmount the current
economic crisis."

We must consider also, in light of the upcoming meeting, whether the
Dalai Lama's Nine Rounds of Dialogue with Chinese leadership, who
oppose his pursuit for autonomy in the Tibetan homeland, has either
added fuel to the fire or stabilized disagreement of and/or anger at
the US-Tibet relationship. Recent reports give overwhelming reason to
think his efforts have only resulted in the former. In addition to
China's dissatisfaction with the ninth round, the selling of US
weapons to Taiwan, who is also viewed by China as a part of its
political territory, has set a stage for further confrontation in the
coming months.

So it seems that, yes, feelings of anger and actions of ignoring the
US are bound to happen again as they have done historically. But, the
current situation is strikingly different than before when considering
the two most important diplomatic relations at stake between the US
and China; one, economic prosperity - in particular trade - and two,
military defense - in particular nuclear warfare.

For one, as discussed by columnist Frank Ching from the China Post;

"...the United States was in a much stronger position vis-a-vis China
in the 1990s. Beijing was fearful of losing its most-favored-nation
trading status and desirous of American support for it to join the
World Trade Organization. Now, Beijing is Washington's biggest
creditor and the United States wants China to continue to lend it
money by buying Treasury bonds."

China is the single biggest holder of US Treasuries, owning at least US
$776.4 billion of US government debt at the end of June 2009.
Moreover, not only has China just recently surpassed Germany, the now-
former Exportmeister, as the world's third-largest economy as a result
of its tenfold growth in three decades, but the nation "will become
the 'pre-eminent world commercial influence' by 2035 when it surpasses
the U.S. economy," according to a report released in 2008 by Albert
Keidel at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Indeed,
despite global trends of slower growth, China's economy continues to
"expand strongly in emerging markets."

In comparison, Chinese Gross Domestic Product has expanded 10.7
percent over the last four quarters, while United States Gross
Domestic Product has expanded .10 percent over the same time period.
The growth is attributed, in many ways, to China's ability to export,
which gives indications of strong domestic market trends. As we are
well aware, the US ability to grow over time will be strained by the
onslaught of debt (i.e. monies from China), although the dollar will
gain advantage over the euro the undergoing economic struggle of
Greece and concern in general for the PIGS - Portugal, Ireland, Spain,
and Greece. Both factors will certainly add to China's arm-twisting;
although, improvements seem to be forthcoming .

*For further explaination of how China has succeeded in expanding its
growth, see the section titled, "Another Look at China's Success
Story," in Jeffrey Sach and Wing Thye Woo's report published by the
World Bank Group, entitled, China's Transition Experience,
Reexamined).

National Defense

Secondly, as Iran continues to claim it will now begin to enrich
uranium - which indicates their ability to soon become a nuclear
nation - the US needs strong, multilateral support as it moves forward
with sanctions.

There is "overwhelming evidence" that Iran has been and is a sponsor
of terrorism in Iraq and Afghanistan (although presumably now more
cautious than before), and failing and/or faltering to dry Iran's
thirst for nuclear weapons will not only greatly alter the geo-
strategic threat throughout Israel and Palestine, as well as shift the
power constructs of the Middle East, but redefine US foreign policy.
Furthermore, I think it will allow Bin Laden's al-Qaeda network to
propagandize US efforts - or the lack thereof. The prospect of AQ
obtaining nuclear, biological, and/or chemical weapons is always on
the front burner, and it still remains a possibility we must safeguard
against that Iran can transfer [at least some] resources to AQ.

President Clinton angered China in 1995-96 during his efforts to deter
Iran from opening its energy sector to foreign investments, resulting
in the Iran-Libya Sanctions Act, and President W. Bush experienced the
same in his actions to pressure North Korea, sell the first part of
the $6 billion worth of arms to Taiwan, and previously continue
sanctions on Iranian banks and nuclear programs. James Dobbins, an
analyst at RAND, thinks there are good chances during President
Obama's continued talks with China that they will yield sanctions on
Iran by abstaining and "not standing in the way of them."

Both China and Iran will be watching President Obama's meeting with
the Dalai Lama, and walking the line of good relations with China is
connected also to forthcoming dealings with Iran, especially when
considering the US role as a broker in the Arab-Israeli peace process.
As stated in the Joint Experts' Statement on Iran (November 2008);

"Any U.S. moves towards mediating the Arab-Israeli crisis in a
balanced way would ease tensions in the region, and would be
positively received as a step forward for peace. As a practical
matter, however, experience has shown that any long-term solution to
Israel’s problems with the Palestinians and Lebanon

probably will require dealing, directly or indirectly, with Hamas and
Hezbollah. Iran supports these organizations, and thus has influence
with them."

This statement, I think, shows how far-reaching dealings with China
can be when considering the connections to national defense,
incorporating both Iran and nuclear warfare and terrorist networks. (I
do not think it is an overstatement; rather, I think it shows the
effects of systems-oriented globalization - where one region is
affected by other regions while simultaneously affecting another - and
increasing alterations in the Middle East region, especially the
strings that are attached).

Conclusion

It is a shame, plain and simple, that the meeting with the Dalai Lama
cannot be nothing other than a celebration of human rights. I think
President Obama's strong personality will certainly carry this tone
during the established tradition, but it remains a part of the
equation that how he handles US interests in this matter will impact
future economic and military relations with China and Iran, and
subordinately, their associates (such as those mentioned here) North
Korea, Hamas, and Hezbollah. President Obama may be planning to take
another strategy from the Joint Experts' Statement by using the
upcoming February 18 meeting to "Support human rights through
effective, international means," in that; "While the United States is
rightly concerned with [China and] Iran’s record of human rights
violations, the best way to address that concern is through supporting
recognized international efforts."

Perhaps the White House Map Room has further directions on this matter
stashed away somewhere.
Posted by Dan P at 12:03

2 comments:

Gyre said...
To be honest, I read the arms sale and the meeting to be a shot back
at China for vocally expressing hostility to any stronger sanctions on
Iran.

As an aside, I'd suggest that readers treat the report on China's
position in 2035 with caution. If you go back 25 years from any date
in history I think you could safely say that the people 25 years ago
had no idea what the world would look like, with the possible
exception of some of the more cynical thinkers in 1920*.

*And even then they probably wouldn't have predicted that the United
States, infamous for wanting to stay out of European wars, would be
one of the two major nations in 1945.

February 13, 2010 10:48 PM
Mike Cahill said...
Also, when speaking to Chinese officials "unofficially", they feel
that their long-term future is still in doubt. The Real Costs of the
last few decades of expansion have been quite high and these Real
Costs appear to be putting a ceiling on future growth. Also, from
Beijing's point of view, looking "out" from China, they see the NATO
economies controlling the world's economy for the entire century, and
they wonder why they can not act-out their rightful role as hegemon in
East Asia. I have been told that it is quite frustrating at the CPC
Central Committee level that the USA continues its role as regional
hegemon in spite of the great strides made by the PRC. In Beijing the
US still appears as the dominant East Asia Power.

February 14, 2010 6:00 AM

"The Awakening"
"My Muslim Brothers of The World: Under the banner of the blessed
awakening which is sweeping the Islamic world...Your brothers in
Palestine and in the land of the two Holy Places are calling upon your
help and asking you to take part in fighting against the enemy - your
enemy and their enemy - the Americans and the Israelis. They are
asking you to do whatever you can, with one's own means and ability,
to expel the enemy, humiliated and defeated, out of the sanctities of
Islam."
(Osama bin Laden, Aug 1996)

"[T]he Muslim nation has begun to awaken...[and a] jihadi awakening
will pervade."
(Ayman al Zawahiri, 22 Sep 2009)

The Network
Shawn Mahood
Chris Johnson
Josh McLaughlin
Dan P
JD
Pat Ryan
William Hannah
Jen Wood

http://al-sahwa.blogspot.com/2010/02/historical-analysis-us-china-iran-14th.html

Obama sets the date for meeting with Dalai Lama
By Scott Wilson

President Obama will meet with the Dalai Lama in the White House Map
Room on Feb. 18, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs announced
Thursday. No president has ever met with Dalai Lama in the Oval
Office, he said.

Tibetans had hoped their spiritual leader would be able to meet with
the president when he visited Washington in Oct. 2009, but the
administration pushed to postpone the meeting until after a November
summit with Chinese president Hu Jintao.

That made October the first time the Dalai Lama has come to Washington
without meeting with the American president since before 1991, when he
met with George H. W. Bush. The Dalai Lama's visit will be his second
within the year and last from Feb.17-18.

By 44 Editor | February 11, 2010; 1:40 PM ET
Categories: 44 The Obama Presidency

Comments

This is welcome news, and I hope to see more support for Tibet from
future US presidents. If anyone knows of the history of the Chinese
takeover of Tibet, they will understand the implications of this
meeting. China would like everyone to think that Tibet has always been
a part of China which is completely untrue.

I'm not one of those people who say that America screws everything up,
but we dropped the ball on not coming to Tibet's aid by at least
providing weapons when they were invaded in the early 50's. Now is a
chance to somewhat redeem that decision. If anyone is interested in
this topic, read "Into Tibet" by Thomas Laird. Great read and
enlightened me on the inner-Asian plight.

Posted by: klentz09 | February 12, 2010 11:43 AM

Republicans are still gross people.

Posted by: billbridgesmaccom | February 11, 2010 8:40 PM

This Dali Lama,May be a kind man.But he is not GOD.He is a buddist
first of all,And hussein obama is muslum anyway.Our politions & unions
have sold us out to china.So he better listen to china.They own us
now.And hussein,Won't even listen or care what the American People
have to say.So you tell me why in the hell is he wasteing our money or
time listening to someone,That can't do a damn thing for America!.When
this clown {obama},WON'T EVEN TAKE ADVICE From The Suppose To Be other
Leaders here in America.He better get permisson from pelosi & reid
first.Hey I have a thought,Send that idiot joe biden.The dali lama
needs a good laugh.If you can him from behind hussein's back pocket,If
you know what I mean.Just drop the pocket part.

Posted by: dickiesnhogheaven | February 11, 2010 8:03 PM

Nuts! The least the man can do is say US taxpayers money in meeting
with this fake, hypocrite so called spritual leader and at the same
time stay out of another Asian mess, that is none of our business.

Posted by: winemaster2 | February 11, 2010 7:06 PM

Great news! Our nation and president should not care what China ahs to
say about meeting with the Dalai Lama. China is a nation with corrupt
leaders and corrupt laws, which is evidenced by their willingness to
repress and kill their own people and deny the right of free speech.

Posted by: bcinus | February 11, 2010 6:53 PM

I suspect that people who are criticizing the planned meeting with the
Dalai Lama have never heard or read anything the Dalai Lama said.

He emphasizes the importance of compassion, that anger is an emotion
that hurts the angry one most of all, and is a thoughtful and gentle
man who has tried hard to find a creative way forward for the Tibetan
people without resorting to violence.

As one who has heard a few of his talks over the years, I can say that
people who refuse to talk with him harm only themselves.

Posted by: bethechangeyouwant | February 11, 2010 5:49 PM

Why do we have to stick it to China, an important trade partner in
this open and crude way? He should have met with the bishop of DC.

Posted by: julianze | February 11, 2010 5:17 PM

The President is meeting with the Dali Lama to please the "save
humaity" wing of Democrats while

there is 10% unemployment in this country (12% in California; triple
the national average in Detroit)'

Nancy Pelosi has wasted a year trying to jam through Heath Care
Reform; Muslims still want to blow

up airplanes and buildings; we are $12,000,000,000,000 in debt –
mostly to China; schools lack the

money to educate children; bridges, dams, sewers, water systems, and
highways are in poor repair;

we are wasting money on two wars; about 75% of Americans are
dissatisfied with the work of our

Congress; Nebraska's and Louisanna's senators want other Americans to
pay for health care in

their states; Islamists are developing more nuclear weapons; Israel
won't compromise even a tad;

we can buy meth or crack in any city or town; Gitmo is still open, as
is our southern border.

Besides, we don't want to annoy our banker.

Send Biden and stay on the job, Mr. President.

Posted by: Soloflexerus | February 11, 2010 5:04 PM

Is this some kind of Litmus test for all American presidents? Are we
even remotely resembling a Judeo-christian nation? Why do the
president pay homage to a Buddist ayatollah? Hello?

Posted by: Doubter1 | February 11, 2010 4:48 PM

Is here some purpose to this meeting, beyond Mr. Obama burnishing his
"humanist" credentials? I think not...

Posted by: wcmillionairre | February 11, 2010 4:14 PM

Let's hope there is not a Treasury auction that day. The Chinese may
sit it out.

Posted by: UncleLeo | February 11, 2010 3:55 PM

Watch my video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7I_eFoIk64

It's about earth shift. Earth shift: One huge continent became 2
continents, then 5 (or 6) and then?

Did China and its surround exist when the continents were 2?

Posted by: andi-prama | February 11, 2010 2:00 PM

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2010/02/obama-sets-the-date-for-meetin.html?wprss=44

Embracing the Future

Whole Child International works in existing children’s institutions to
improve the quality of care and help prevent the bleak outcomes that
await most children raised in the world’s orphanages.

We are currently working in Nicaragua and El Salvador, and are
preparing our program for expansion into other regions of need. As
long as orphanages exist, we are committed to cost-effective
interventions to help ensure the children within can develop the basic
psychological tools they need to succeed in school, work,
relationships, and families of their own.

We can close the cycle of despair that continues to keep generations
of children from realizing their promise. Please consider joining us
to provide these children with the basic human right of a chance at a
bright future.

Our goal is to ensure that all people who care for young children
understand their need for attachment, know that they can effectively
provide it in their existing settings, and are able and empowered to
make it happen.

WHOLE CHILD INTERNATIONAL
Welcomes HIS HOLINESS THE 14th DALAI LAMA - February 20-21, 2010

His Holiness the Dalai Lama comes to L.A. to personally participate in
the launch of a new global initiative to create awareness of the
plight of institutionalized children. His Holiness will spend the
weekend spurring momentum to address the emotional needs of the
world’s most vulnerable children.

On Sunday, Feb. 21, His Holiness will deliver the public address
Cultivating compassion and the needs of vulnerable children, at Gibson
Amphitheatre. Sheryl Crow will be joining Whole Child and His Holiness
with a special musical performance. Tickets are on sale now through
Live Nation or available at all Ticketmaster locations and at
www.ticketmaster.com.

During the weekend of February 20-21, His Holiness will speak to
distinguished gatherings of philanthropists, top academics, government
officials, and the public to highlight the emotional needs of
vulnerable children worldwide.

His Holiness has had a life-long concern that all children enjoy
loving care. He often speaks about how that nurturing children through
strong and loving bonds is at the core of a child’s emotional health
and wellbeing. The most critical time for this care is during the
first years of life. His Holiness has said that it is the love and
attention we receive as children that enables us to grow into adults
who are able to care for others. Loving care during infancy is the
strongest root for a compassionate life.

It is estimated that there are as 145 million children worldwide who
are orphaned. One of the most common ways of raising these children is
through childcare institutions. Growing up in a physically and
emotionally barren environment, a child can be robbed of a normal
childhood. The absence of loving care makes many incapable of showing
compassion as adults, fostering crime and further child abandonment.

Whole Child works within existing institutions to reorient current
programs so that institutions focus on relationship-based care. Whole
Child uses a train-the-trainer approach to foster a more nurturing
environment for institutionalized children. We develop our curriculum
and gauge the effectiveness of work with the help of prestigious
academic institutions around the world. We work to change facilities
physically and in administratively so they’ provide the relationship-
based care needed for children to fulfill their developmental
potential.

http://www.wholechild.org/dalailama

Florida Atlantic University is honored to welcome

His Holiness
the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet
offering a public address

Compassion as a
Pillar of World Peace
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
10 - 11:30 a.m.

FAU Arena, Boca Raton Campus

In conjunction with this historic occasion, additional activities will
take place at FAU during
Expressions of Peace Week
February 19-24.

http://www.fau.edu/peaceweek/

His Holiness the Dalai Lama Teaches on Compassion in New York City
Tuesday, 5 May 2009, 8:58 a.m.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama gives discourse on Quintessence of
Compassion organised by Tibet House in New York on 4 May 2009/
Photos:OHHDL

New York: His Holiness the Dalai Lama's second day in New York City
was devoted to a day long teaching on "Quintessence of Compassion,"
organized by New York-based Tibet House.

In the morning His Holiness departed for Beacon Theatre, the venue of
the teaching. At the onset His Holiness explained the basis of his
teaching and said he was not a supporter of conversion of people from
one faith to another.

After a recitation of the Heart Sutra in English by some monks, His
Holiness devoted the morning session to give an overview of the Middle
Way school and on the contribution of the Buddhist master Nagarjuna to
the development of Buddhist thoughts in India. His Holiness said that
Tibetans referred to Nagarjuna and Arya Asanga as two great chariots.

His Holiness said that the author of the text, "Entry into the Middle
Way", Chandrakirti, was said by some to be direct disciple of
Nagarjuna. The first chapter of this text was on compassion and was
the subject of today's teachings.

His Holiness had lunch at the venue itself.

In the afternoon session, His Holiness explained some of the verses of
the text relating to the cause of suffering, about the nature of
compassion, and about the quality and capacity of the Bodhisattva. His
Holiness explained that compassion lies at the root of all the
teachings of the Buddha.

Tomorrow, the Office of Tibet is hosting a meeting between His
Holiness the Dalai Lama and nearly one hundred Chinese friends. This
meeting is being organized because several Chinese democracy
activists, scholars, and writers have expressed interest in meeting
His Holiness during this visit to the United States. His Holiness has
always been interested in meeting Chinese brothers and sisters to
exchange views with them on matters of common interest.

On Wednesday His Holiness will visit Albany, the capital of New York
state, to give a public talk on "Compassionate Ethics in Difficult
Times". This will be his last public program before returning to
India.

--Report filed by Bhuchung K Tsering of ICT

(Please find the following correction to yesterday's report about the
financial statement by the Tibetan Association of New York & New
Jersey. The writer had inadvertently added a 0 in the middle thus
altering the total value. The total approximate income is $ 306, 590
and the total estimated expense was $ 150, 000 with the balance being
$256, 590, which will be used for the proposed Tibetan Cultural
Center.)

http://www.tibet.net/en/index.php?id=897&articletype=flash&rmenuid=morenews&tab=1

Sunday, October 11, 2009
Dalai Lama ends D.C.

The Dalai Lama capped off a five-day visit to Washington on Saturday
by offering a 75-minute lecture on the basics of Buddhism to 4,300
people at American University, then dropping by a prominent synagogue
for the last day of the Jewish holiday of Sukkot.

As the unofficial leader of the world's 376 million Buddhists, the
Dalai Lama lectured on "Finding Wisdom in the Modern World" in the
university's Bender Arena. The hall was draped with Tibetan prayer
flags and women's volleyball banners.

The practice of Buddhism is a years-long effort, he said, in
cultivating the mental qualities of "mindfulness, heedfulness and
introspection. ... One has to constantly cultivate the right view and
internalize it so it will manifest in right action."

After a speech filled with references to Buddhist metaphysics, he
encouraged the audience to "imagine making a prostration to the
Buddha." He then cut his translator short to encourage Christians and
Muslims in the audience to visualize "Jesus Christ, the Trinity or ...
Muhammad" in following the dictates of their own faith.

He also let slip that on Tuesday he had visited the grave of Sen.
Edward M. Kennedy at Arlington National Cemetery, an experience that
he called "very moving." Several Kennedy family members were present,
according to Kate Saunders of the International Campaign for Tibet.

His week here, which was packed with visits with Chinese-Americans,
congressional aides, a closed meeting of the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee and with the State Department's special coordinator for
Tibetan issues, ended with a lunch Saturday at the home of Sen. Dianne
Feinstein, California Democrat.

From there he went to Adas Israel, a synagogue in Northwest
Washington, which had constructed a "sukkah" or tent-like dwelling
just outside the temple in honor of the Jewish holiday of Sukkot.

Its rabbi, Gil Steinlauf, told the Buddhist leader about the sukkah,
while children sang Hebrew welcoming songs. About 350 members of the
congregation were there, according to Steve Rabinowitz, a congregant
who helped manage press relations for the Dalai Lama's Washington
visit.

The Dalai Lama told the crowd he had "a lot to learn from the Jews"
and their ability to survive in a diaspora. For the past 50 years, the
Dalai Lama has been based outside of Tibet because of the Chinese
invasion of his country. Once inside the synagogue, he spoke to a
private meeting of about 400 local Tibetan exiles.

Although President Obama declined to meet with the Dalai Lama because
of his upcoming visit to China next month, the Buddhist leader sent
him a letter of congratulations Friday for winning the Nobel Peace
Prize. The Dalai Lama was awarded the same prize in 1989.

Ms. Saunders said plans are to have the Dalai Lama return to
Washington in December to meet with President Obama.

The bulk of the Dalai Lama's speech was a lecture on the Buddhist
concept of self, interspersed with prayers chanted by one of about 60
red, orange and brown-robed monks seated with him on a large stage.

"Buddhism denies the existence of a soul, or atman," he began,
speaking partly in English and partly in Tibetan with translations
furnished by his longtime interpreter Geshe Thupten Jinpa. "The notion
of a self is not only false but a form of distortion."

At one point, evoking laughter from the audience by putting a red eye-
shade on his head, he said the nonexistence of an independent,
unchanging and eternal identity at the core of an individual was
central to Buddhism and to those wish to practice it.

He compared this to the God of Christianity and the Brahman of
Hinduism, who bring into existence individuals who gain a "self" upon
creation. But it is human selfishness that causes all manner of evil,
he said, thus Buddhists do not believe in a created soul.

"The Buddhist answer," he added, "is there is no beginning, no end,"
he said. "The Buddhist idea of no soul is 'the antidote to reducing
self-centeredness.' "

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/oct/11/dalai-lama-ends-dc-visit/

China Warns U.S. on Meeting With Dalai Lama
By EDWARD WONG
Published: February 2, 2010

BEIJING — A senior Chinese official strongly warned President Obama on
Tuesday against meeting with the Dalai Lama, the exiled spiritual
leader of the Tibetans, saying it would damage relations between China
and the United States.

Ashwini Bhatia/Associated Press

A roadside vendor in Dharamsala, India, displayed his images of the
Dalai Lama, the exiled Tibetan leader who lives there.

The official, Zhu Weiqun, said any country would suffer consequences
if its leaders met with the Dalai Lama, whom China considers to be a
dangerous separatist. Mr. Zhu did not elaborate on what actions China
could take.

But a White House spokesman said the president’s plans were unchanged.
“The president told China’s leaders during his trip last year that he
would meet with the Dalai Lama, and he intends to do so,” said the
spokesman, Bill Burton, speaking aboard Air Force One as it flew Mr.
Obama to New Hampshire for an event.

“To be clear,” he added, “the U.S. considers Tibet to be a part of
China. We have human rights concerns about the treatment of Tibetans.
We urge the government of China to protect the unique cultural and
religious traditions of Tibet.”

Last autumn, when the Dalai Lama visited the United States, Mr. Obama
declined to meet with him to avoid angering China before Mr. Obama’s
trip to Beijing, in November.

Both Mr. Obama and the Dalai Lama are Nobel Peace Prize laureates.

Mr. Zhu, who is the executive vice director of the United Front Work
Department, the arm of the Chinese Communist Party that oversees
ethnic policy, made his remarks at a morning news conference,
according to Xinhua, the state news agency. The purpose of the
conference was to give details on recent negotiations between the
Chinese government and envoys of the Dalai Lama, in which China
rejected demands for greater Tibetan autonomy.

Any move by American leaders to meet the Dalai Lama will “harm others
but bring no profit to itself, either,” Mr. Zhu said.

Despite Mr. Obama’s earlier overtures to Beijing, tensions between the
United States and China have been on the rise.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton recently chastised China in
a speech she gave in which she denounced Internet censorship. Last
Friday, the United States announced sales of $6.4 billion of arms to
Taiwan, the self-governing island that China says is a rebel province.
In response, China said it would break off military-to-military ties
with the United States and impose sanctions against the American
companies that make the arms.

China usually criticizes any prominent figure who meets with the Dalai
Lama.

In 2007, despite furious objections from China, President George W.
Bush met privately with the Dalai Lama in Washington and was present
at a ceremony at which Congress awarded the exiled Tibetan leader its
highest civilian honor. China called the event a farce.

A decade earlier, President Bill Clinton informally greeted the Dalai
Lama at the White House and said he would urge China to open talks
with him, but the two leaders did not meet formally.

In 2008 China protested a meeting between the Dalai Lama and President
Nicolas Sarkozy of France. It hinted that it would impose economic
sanctions against France but never did.

China considers sovereignty issues like the status of Tibet and Taiwan
to be what officials call the nation’s “core interests.” Few things
anger the Chinese government more than the perceived intervention of
foreign countries in these matters. Tibet, always a thorny foreign
policy issue for the Communist Party, became even more so after an
uprising exploded across Tibetan regions of western China in March
2008.

The Dalai Lama, 74, lives in India and says he wants only “genuine
autonomy” for Tibet, not independence.

The latest meeting between his envoys and Chinese officials ended over
the weekend. It was the ninth round of talks since 2002, and Chinese
officials restated their rejection of the Dalai Lama’s call for
greater autonomy for the Tibetans.

Mr. Zhu said Tuesday that the Dalai Lama was not a legal
representative of the six million Tibetans in China and that China
would discuss with the envoys only the status of the Dalai Lama, not
the future of Tibet.

Peter Baker contributed reporting from Nashua, N.H.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/03/world/asia/03tibet.html

Clinton Meets Dalai Lama; Discusses Rights in China
Published: April 28, 1993

WASHINGTON, April 27— President Clinton met with the Dalai Lama today
and expressed his support for human rights in China, the White House
said.

The Buddhist leader, who visited the Holocaust Memorial Museum on
Monday, was at the White House to see Vice President Al Gore. Mr.
Clinton walked by Mr. Gore's office and talked briefly with the Dalai
Lama.

"I don't think he asked for anything in particular," the White House
spokesman, George Stephanopoulos, said. "I think he thanked him for
his support for human rights in China." The United States supports
protection of human rights and distinct cultural identity for
Tibetans, but recognizes Tibet as politically part of China.

The Dalai Lama is appealing to members of Congress and the Clinton
Administration for support in the fight against what his
representatives described as Chinese "population transfer into Tibet
of alarming proportions" intended to reduce the Tibetans to a minority
in their own region.

http://www.nytimes.com/1993/04/28/world/clinton-meets-dalai-lama-discusses-rights-in-china.html?pagewanted=1

President Bush Meets With Dalai Lama in Low-Key White House Affair
Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Oct. 15: The Dalai Lama is greeted upon his arrival in Washington.

WASHINGTON — China's leaders are outraged over President Bush meeting
with the Dalai Lama Tuesday in a narrowly publicized event that
Beijing says amounts to U.S. support for Tibet's demands for greater
autonomy if not complete independence.

The White House refused to allow video cameras at the event and did
not release still pictures of the president's meeting with the Dalai
Lama, who Bush aides describe as a spiritual leader not a political
one.

The Dalai Lama is the head of Tibet's Buddhists and to many a symbol
of their push for the right to manage their religious and cultural
affairs, education and language without Chinese interference. The
Dalai Lama has lived in exile since Beijing sent troops into Tibet to
put down an uprising in 1959, eight years after it first annexed
Tibet.

Speaking outside his hotel room after the White House visit, the Dalai
Lama shook off Chinese complaints.

"That always happens," he said with a laugh. He later added that he
was pleased to see the president.

"We know each other, and we have developed, I think, a very close
friendship -- something like a reunion of one family," the Dalai Lama
said.

Chinese officials are unlikely to get any satisfaction from White
House attempts to make the meeting a low-profile affair since Bush is
expected to stand up for the first time in front of live cameras with
the Dalai Lama on Wednesday to present him with the Congressional Gold
Medal, the nation's highest award.

Tibet's Communist Party leader Zhang Qingli said he's "furious" at the
ceremony in Washington, calling it an attempt to "split the
motherland." The Chinese consider it meddling in China's internal
affairs, even though the U.S. officially doesn't support an
independent Tibet.

Bush and the Dalai Lama have met three times. But China's latest
display of anger was demonstrated by its pulling out of a meeting this
week on Iran's nuclear program.

The White House figures China will get over it, but last week the
Chinese boycotted their annual human rights dialogue with German after
Chancellor Angela Merkel met with the Dalai Lama.

Related StoriesChina Says Congressional Award for Dalai Lama Will
Seriously Damage Relations
White House officials said Tuesday that they are sensitive to the
Chinese concerns and are making some concessions. They add that Bush
told Chinese President Hu Jintao months ago that the meeting would
take place.

"We in no way want to stir the pot and make China feel that we are
poking a stick in their eye for a country that we have a lot of
relationships with on a variety of issues," said press secretary Dana
Perino, adding that they deliberately didn't make a formal statement
about the event.

"This might be one thing that we can do. But I don't believe that
that's going to soothe the concerns in China."

FOX News' Wendell Goler contributed to this report.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,302257,00.html

Dalai Lama talks risk EU trade

The Dalai Lama has said the Tibet issue can be solved once China
becomes a more 'open' country [AFP]

Nicolas Sarkozy, the French president, has met the Dalai Lama in the
Polish city of Gdansk at a gathering of Nobel laureates.

Beijing, angry at the meeting, retaliated on Saturday by cancelling a
forthcoming China-EU summit in France.

It had also warned that multi-billion-dollar trade deals with France
were in jeopardy as Sarkozy prepared to meet the Tibetan spiritual
leader.

After the meeting, Sarkozy said: "The Dalai Lama confirmed what I
already knew: that he will not demand independence for Tibet and I
told him how important I thought it was to pursue dialogue with the
Chinese authorities."

"The Dalai Lama also told me of his concerns over Tibet."

Sarkozy has become the only European head of state to meet the Dalai
Lama while holding the EU's rotating presidency.

The Dalai Lama, who lives in exile in India, has sought "meaningful
autonomy" for Tibet since he fled his homeland following a failed
uprising in 1959 against Chinese rule, nine years after Chinese troops
invaded the region.

Asked on Friday in the northern Polish city whether he thought Sarkozy
might cancel the meeting with him, as has happened twice in the past,
the Dalai Lama said: "Wait until tomorrow. I don't know."

Boycott calls

Commenting on whether EU-China relations and trade could suffer over
the meeting with Sarkozy, the Dalai Lama said: "China also needs
Europe."

"The original initiative of some pressure, sometimes is not followed
by action," he said.

France had insisted the meeting would be held and called for economic
ties to be spared from retribution, especially during the financial
crisis.

Bernard Kouchner, the foreign minister, said: "We cannot have France's
conduct dictated to, even by our friends."

Jonathan Fenby, a London-based journalist who writes about China, told
Al Jazeera there were hopes that after the riots in Tibet in March
some kind of accommodation would be worked out between Beijing and the
Dalai Lama.

But China has taken a "tough stance and those talks, in fact, are at
an end", Fenby said.

"We cannot have France's conduct dictated to, even by our friends"
Bernard Kouchner, France's foreign minister

"The EU is now China's biggest single trading partner. If the Chinese
start to talk of a boycot of French goods ... and the Europeans react,
you could have a rather nasty situation."

Momentum has grown among Chinese internet users, angry at the meeting,
for a boycott of French products.

"I am using my real name to swear to the French: I am going to boycott
French goods for my whole life. I will never use French brands or any
product made in France," said one internet poster, who identified
himself as Yan Zhongjie.

Liu Jianchao, a spokesman for the Chinese foreign ministry, said on
Thursday that Sarkozy's meeting with the Dalai Lama would cause "a lot
of dissatisfaction" with the Chinese people, but he also called on the
public to be "calm and rational".

Although there is a large French presence in China, including
companies such as hypermarket chain Carrefour, China has a trade
surplus with the European nation and antagonising key partners during
a global slowdown could be risky.

Donald Tusk, the Polish prime minister, met the Dalai Lama on Saturday
in Gdansk, where as a past recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize he had
been invited to ceremonies marking 25 years since Lech Walesa,
Poland's anti-communist solidarity icon, received the award.

The former union leader is regarded as a key figure in the peaceful
collapse of communism in Poland in 1989.

The Dalai Lama, now 73, was awarded a Nobel Peace prize the same year.

Jose Manuel Barroso, the European Commission president, attended
Saturday's ceremonies in Gdansk.

'Totally baseless'

China has argued that the Dalai Lama is seeking full independence,
something he on Friday called a "totally baseless" claim.

"When China becomes more democratic, with freedom of speech, with rule
of law and particularly with freedom of the press ... once China
becomes an open, modern society, then the Tibet issue, I think within
a few days, can be solved," the Dalai Lama said.

Addressing the European parliament in Brussels on Thursday, he said
China lacked the moral authority to be a true superpower.

"The Dalai Lama will raise human rights issues and above all the very
urgent situation of Tibet ... where the situation nearly resembles
that of martial law," during the Saturday afternoon meeting with
Sarkozy, the head of France's Tibetan community Wangpo Bashi told
radio France-Info Saturday.

The meeting is "a very strong signal" for Tibetans, he added.

Source: Al Jazeera and gencies

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/europe/2008/12/2008126134857840567.html

11/27/2008 13:56
CHINA – TIBET – EU
Sarkozy to meet Dalai Lama, China cancels summit with EU

The summit is put off to a date to be decided. Europe criticises
China; a Tibetan spokesman comments decision. Chinese police prevent
European lawmakers from meeting the wife of jailed human rights
activist Hu Jia.

Beijing (AsiaNews/Agencies) – China has postponed a summit with the
European Union scheduled for next Monday in Lyon (France). China’s
Prime Minister Wen Jiabao was expected to attend the meeting.
The decision was taken after French President Nicolas Sarkozy
announced that he will meet the Dalai Lama on 6 December in Poland. Mr
Sarkozy is also the current EU president.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang said “we oppose any
foreign leaders having any contact with the Dalai.”

In a statement the European Union announced that it took note “and
regrets this decision by China” to postpone the 11th EU-China summit
for which it had “ambitious aims.”

None the less, it plans to continue to “promote the strategic
partnership it has with China,” especially in the economic and
financial fields.

Earlier this year the French president did not meet the Dalai Lama as
expected but sent instead his wife Carla Bruni and French Foreign
Minister Bernard Kouchner (pictured).

Geshe Gedun Tharchin, a Tibetan lama living in Rome, told AsiaNews
that “Beijing wants to prevent any meeting between the Dalai Lama and
foreign leaders, any official recognition. It insists on calling him a
dangerous criminal,” someone who foments terrorism in Tibet and seeks
its secession.

For the international community the Dalai Lama is a spiritual leader
who is fighting to preserve the culture and religion of Tibet.

Last May China came in for a lot of criticism. Fearful that it might
lead to a boycott of the Beijing Games in August, it agreed to hold
talks with representatives of the Dalai Lama.

But according to Lama Gedun, “a few days ago the eighth round of
meetings took place and the Tibetans presented various proposals for
greater autonomy. China said all of them were against Chinese law and
unacceptable, dismissing any proposal for greater autonomy. Perhaps
the talks ended there.”

Meanwhile in Beijing police stopped members of the European parliament
from meeting Zeng Jinyan at her home. She is the wife of a well-known
human rights activist, Hu Jia, who was sentenced to three and half
years in prison for “inciting subversion of state power.”

Last month he won the prestigious Sakharov Prize which is awarded to
human rights advocates. This led to protests by Chinese authorities.

http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Sarkozy-to-meet-Dalai-Lama,-China-cancels-summit-with-EU-13866.html

To be continued...

...and I am Sid Harth

[bademiyansubhanallah]

al Sahwa
A network of warfighters, analysts, and scholars dedicated to
critically examining the future of intelligence and irregular warfare
(COIN, CT, PSYOP, IO)

"The Awakening"

"My Muslim Brothers of The World: Under the banner of the blessed
awakening which is sweeping the Islamic world...Your brothers in
Palestine and in the land of the two Holy Places are calling upon your
help and asking you to take part in fighting against the enemy - your
enemy and their enemy - the Americans and the Israelis. They are
asking you to do whatever you can, with one's own means and ability,
to expel the enemy, humiliated and defeated, out of the sanctities of
Islam."

(Osama bin Laden, Aug 1996)

"[T]he Muslim nation has begun to awaken...[and a] jihadi awakening
will pervade."
(Ayman al Zawahiri, 22 Sep 2009)

The Network

Shawn Mahood
http://www.blogger.com/profile/02212456562970580058

Chris Johnson
http://www.blogger.com/profile/07106055185616275691

Josh McLaughlin
http://www.blogger.com/profile/13999710013022934333

Dan P
http://www.blogger.com/profile/02067533378725076159

JD http://www.blogger.com/profile/15229922275251649001

Pat Ryan
http://www.blogger.com/profile/13937507399915070637

William Hannah
http://www.blogger.com/profile/11570099239589250402

Jen Wood
http://www.blogger.com/profile/14215465725241320384

http://al-sahwa.blogspot.com/2010/02/historical-analysis-us-china-iran-14th.html

...and I am Sid Harth

[bademiyansubhanallah]

Two foreigners among nine dead; punish bombers quickly, says PM
Indo-Asian News Service
Pune, February 14, 2010

First Published: 21:49 IST(14/2/2010)
Last Updated: 21:51 IST(14/2/2010)

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Sunday said the terrorists who killed
seven Indians and two foreigners in Pune in India's worst attack since
the Mumbai massacre must be quickly brought to justice as the
opposition sought the axing of upcoming talks with Pakistan.

While four teams began probing the horrific bombing at the popular
German Bakery Saturday evening, Home Minister P Chidambaram hinted at
Islamist links, saying Pakistan-born American David C. Headley, an
activist of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba group, had visited Pune
in 2007-08.

Pakistan moved quickly to condemn the Pune terror strike, with Prime
Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani saying his country wanted "good relations
with India. We want (upcoming) talks to be meaningful".

In a decision that has taken many by surprise, foreign secretaries of
India and Pakistan are set to meet in New Delhi Feb 25. India snapped
its composite dialogue process after 10 Pakistani terrorists sneaked
into Mumbai in November 2008 and slaughtered 166 Indians and
foreigners.

With Pune tense but calm, Manmohan Singh asked the central and
Maharashtra governments to "take coordinated and effective action" and
speed up the probe into the bombing.

He told Chidambaram, who visited Pune and called on the prime minister
later, to ensure that "the culprits responsible for this heinous act
are identified and brought to justice at the earliest".

No group has claimed responsibility for the devastating bomb attack
that killed nine people, including a 26-year-old Iranian student and a
37-year-old Italian woman attached to the nearby Osho Ashram.

All the others who died were Indians, including a brother and sister
from Kolkata.

Sixty people were injured, and at least one of them who had suffered
78 percent burns and multiple fractures was said to be in critical
condition and unlikely to survive.

Speaking in Pune, Chidambaram linked the bombing to Headley and said
the terrorists chose to attack a place frequented by foreigners and
young Indians.

He said that Headley had surveyed the Osho ashram and the Jewish
Chabad House when he quietly visited Pune to pluck out possible
targets in India for his Lashkar handlers.

"This particular area has been on (terrorist) radar for sometime. The
Chabad House was surveyed by Headley. Police were sensitised that the
Chabad House was a target so was the Osho ashram. These were the hard
targets," the minister said.

He said the terrorist who brought the bomb to the 32-square-metre
bakery, which he called a "soft target", might have posed as a
customer and left behind the backpack containing the explosive under a
table.

The bomb exploded with a deafening roar when a waiter at the bakery
tried to open the backpack. Shopkeeper Santosh Bhosle, who was among
the first to rush to the site, told IANS on Sunday that he had never
seen such a bloody scene in his life.

Chidambaram said the case would be cracked soon. He said it was too
early to speculate what the motive of the attack was.

The authorities announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the families
of the killed. Manmohan Singh announced a further Rs 2 lakh each for
the next of kin of those killed and Rs.1 lakh each to those injured.

Anxious and grieving relatives waited outside Pune hospitals on Sunday
hoping the wounded would recover soon. A German man, finding it
difficult to speak in English, moved from one hospital to another
looking for his wife.

The authorities issued a high alert in New Delhi, Indore in Madhya
Pradesh and Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh.

In Maharashtra, hundreds of policemen spread out checking at random
vehicles, train and bus passengers, those visiting major religious
shrines and vital installations.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) urged the government to call off the
proposed talks with Pakistan, saying Islamabad still harboured anti-
India terrorists.

"Terror and talks cannot co-exist. When terror threatens India, then
not talking is also a legitimate diplomatic option," BJP general
secretary Arun Jaitley said. His colleague Sushma Swaraj echoed the
demand.

Jaitley accused the government of taking an unexplained "U turn" on
its negotiating stand in the peace dialogue with Pakistan.

The US and Britain quickly moved to ask their citizens in India to be
on alert.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/maharashtra/Two-foreigners-among-nine-dead-punish-bombers-quickly-PM/508836/H1-Article1-508822.aspx

Chidambaram hints at Headley link to Pune bombing
Indo-Asian News Service
Pune, February 14, 2010

First Published: 20:13 IST(14/2/2010)
Last Updated: 20:15 IST(14/2/2010)

Home Minister P Chidambaram on Sunday linked a bombing at a popular
bakery in Pune that killed nine people to jailed Pakistan-born
American Islamist David Headley and said the terrorists chose to
attack a place frequented mainly by foreigners and young Indians.

As three dozen of the 57 injured remained in hospitals in Pune, with
one in critical condition and unlikely to survive, the Anti-Terrorism
Squad (ATS) of the Maharashtra Police began probing the worst terror
attack in India since November 2008 when Pakistani terrorists killed
166 people in Mumbai.

The ATS would be assisted by the Crime Branch in Pune. Explosive
experts from the Indian Army visited the spot to assist the
investigators.

Chidambaram did not blame any group for the bombing but hinted that
Islamists could be involved by pointing out that Headley had surveyed
the nearby Osho Ashram and the Jewish Chabad House in 2007-8 when he
quietly visited India to pluck out possible spots for attacks for his
handlers in the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba group.

Headley, a Lashkar activist, was arrested in the US last year. He is
now in a Chicago prison.

"This particular area has been on (the terrorist) radar for sometime.
The Chabad House was surveyed by Headley. Police were sensitised that
the Chabad House was a target so was the Osho Ashram in that area.
These were the hard targets," the minister said.

"Headley surveyed Osho Ashram. He surveyed the Chabad House. It was
widely reported, widely known. Chabad House was a hard target, so was
the Osho Ashram.

"All the information available to us points to a plot to explode a
device in a place that is frequented by foreigners as well as
Indians... We are not ruling out anything, we are not ruling in
anything."

He said the terrorist who brought the bomb to the bakery -- which he
described as a "soft target" -- might have posed as a customer and
quietly left the backpack containing the explosive under a table. "It
was a soft target where young people congregate."

The bomb exploded when a waiter at the bakery tried to open the
backpack.

The German Bakery is hugely popular with foreigners but attracts a
larger number of Indians on weekends.

Six of the dead have been identified as Indians. Of the three who
remain unidentified, the sole woman could be a foreigner, Inspector
General of Police (Law and Order) Rashmi Shukla told reporters. She
said 20 of the injured had been discharged while the others remained
in seven hospitals.

Doctors said one man who had suffered multiple fractures and 78 per
cent burns was in critical condition and unlikely to survive.

Among the injured were foreigners including four Iranians, two
Nepalese and one German, one Sudanese and one Taiwanese. Pune, a city
popular with foreigners, was tense but calm on Sunday as Chidambaram
flew in early in the day to oversee the investigation.

Chidambaram said the blast case would be cracked soon. "Investigators
are on their job. Until they are through, I will not speculate on
anything."

He said it was too early to speculate what the motive was behind the
attack.

Earlier, Chidambaram surveyed the scene of the blast accompanied by
Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan, Home Minister RR Patil and
Pune Police Commissioner Satyapal Singh.

The authorities have announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the
families of those killed in the attack.

Meanwhile, security has been tightened in Mumbai and other parts of
Maharashtra. "Security has been tightened at all important
installations, including the airport, railway stations and other
places in Mumbai," said Chief Minister Ashok Chavan.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/maharashtra/Chidambaram-hints-at-Headley-link-to-Pune-bombing/508836/H1-Article1-508802.aspx

PM seeks speedy probe into Pune blast
Press Trust Of India
New Delhi, February 14, 2010

First Published: 17:37 IST(14/2/2010)
Last Updated: 17:43 IST(14/2/2010)

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Sunday reviewed the situation
following the Pune blast in which at least nine persons were killed
and directed the union and Maharashtra governments to take coordinated
and effective action to speedily investigate the matter.

Singh, who discussed the situation with Home Minister P Chidambaram,
directed speedy investigation so that "the culprits responsible for
this heinous act are identified and brought to justice at the
earliest," a PMO spokesman said.

Chidambaram briefed the Prime Minister on his visit to Pune and on the
state of investigations.

Expressing his deepest condolences and sympathies to the families of
all those killed and injured in the incident, Singh announced relief
from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund of Rs two lakh to the
next of kin of those killed in the terror attack and Rs one lakh to
those injured.

The Prime Minister said the government would extend whatever help was
required by the families of those killed and injured in the incident,
the spokesman said.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/PM-seeks-speedy-probe-into-Pune-blast/H1-Article1-508765.aspx

List of those dead in Pune terror attack
Indo-Asian News Service
Pune, February 14, 2010

First Published: 13:11 IST(14/2/2010)
Last Updated: 13:13 IST(14/2/2010)

Nine people were killed in Saturday night's Pune terror attack at the
German Bakery in the upmarket Koregaon Park, an area of the city
frequented by the elite and foreign nationals. The names of the
victims, given by the medical officer on duty at the Sassoon Hospital
here, are as follows:

P. Sundari (Thane)

Anik and Anandi Dar (brother-sister from Kolkata)

Vinita Gadani (Mumbai)

Shilpa Goenka (origin unknown)

Shankar Pansare (Pune)

Gokul Nepali (origin unknown)

an unidentified/unknown man

an unidentified/unknown woman.

Besides, there are two injured foreign nationals - Paras Rimal (Nepal)
and Chek Wang (Taiwan) - undergoing treatment at the same hospital.

Another 55 people were injured and admitted to various city hospitals.
Of these, 20 have been discharged and the condition of three continues
to be critical, the medical officer on-duty said.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/maharashtra/List-of-those-dead-in-Pune-terror-attack/508765/H1-Article1-508706.aspx

Indian Mujahideen link suspected in Pune bombing
Indo-Asian News Service
New Delhi, February 14, 2010

First Published: 21:05 IST(14/2/2010)
Last Updated: 21:06 IST(14/2/2010)

A sleeper cell of the Indian Mujahideen (IM), a home-grown Islamist
terrorist group, is strongly suspected to be behind Saturday's Pune
bombing that has come days after the arrest of one of its top
operatives, highly placed sources said.

The attack - on a "soft target" like the German Bakery - is a "copycat
strike" of what the group had used in carrying out bombings earlier in
Bangalore, Ahmedabad and New Delhi in 2008, the sources told IANS.

Intelligence agencies that collected material evidence from the blast
site at the German Bakery and also questioned afresh the terror
outfit's arrested operatives say the needle of suspicion points
towards the Indian Mujahideen.

The materials used, RDX and ammonium nitrate, and the pattern of the
blast point towards the IM's modus operandi, the sources told IANS on
conditon of anonymity as they are not supposed to speak to the media
during the course of the investigation.

The IM had owned up to a series of blasts in various cities across the
country in 2008. It is believed to be a shadow organisation of the
banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) and the Pakistan-
based Lashkar-e-Taiba.

"Explosives like RDX and ammonium nitrate were used to carry out the
Pune bomb blast. It is almost a copycat strike like what the IM had
used in carrying out blasts in 2008 in Bangalore, Ahmedabad and
Delhi," an investigator told IANS.

"We also feel that this attack could be payback for the arrest of
alleged Indian Mujahideen operative Shahzad Ahmed who was recently
nabbed in connection with the 2008 Delhi serial blasts from his
village in Azamgarh (Uttar Pradesh)."

The blast at Pune's German Bakery Saturday evening killed nine people,
including two foreign nationals, and injured 60. The explosive was
hidden in a backpack and went off when a waiter attempted to open it.

"It was an insidious and hidden attack, the way Indian Mujahideen
operatives did in 2008 and not the one we saw in Mumbai (26/11)," the
official said.

"These are all trademarks (of the IM) and we are working on some leads
that we have got. We have already got some good information," he said.

"We are strongly looking at the IM angle. Though David Headley, the
suspected LeT operative (now in a US prison), carried out an extensive
recce in India, we do not think this is a work of the Pakistan-based
militant group," a senior security official told IANS.

"They (LeT) would have normally struck at a market place or a cinema
hall rather than a soft target like the German Bakery," the official
said.

Sources in the home ministry said Home Minister P. Chidambaram has
been "extremely upset and bristling with anger" over the attacks
"considering that the Multi Agency Centre (MAC) and its subsidiary
have been working so well all this while since the 26/11 attacks".

Security agencies have also launched a massive manhunt to arrest the
IM's Pune-based operative Moshin Chaudhary, who took over as head of
the terror organisation following the arrest of some of key leaders of
the outfit. The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) believes that
Chaudhary was instrumental in setting up several modules of the outfit
in India, including one in Pune.

He also played a key role in operation BAD -- a code name for terror
attacks in Bangalore Ahmedabad and Delhi in 2008.

Important members of the IM arrested following the 2008 blasts are
Safdar Nagori, the main architect of the Indian Mujahideen, Mufti Abu
Bashir, Qayamuddin Kapadia, Mansoor Peerbhoy and Sajid Mansuri.
Chaudhary had introduced software engineer Mansoor Pheerbhoy to the
IM. He built up the tech cell of the outfit.

The Delhi Police, currently interrogating Shahzad who was nabbed Feb
2, have also extended their manhunt to arrest Chaudhary and help the
Maharashtra ATS crack the Pune blast case.

Sources also said that the government was not averse to seeking
foreign help on this attack which has taken place 14 months after the
Mumbai terror strike when 10 LeT militants sneaked into the country's
financial capital from the sea and laid siege to the metropolis for
three days, killing 166 people, including foreigners.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/newdelhi/Indian-Mujahideen-link-suspected-in-Pune-bombing/508836/H1-Article1-508809.aspx

Army to help probe Pune blast
Indo-Asian News Service
Pune, February 14, 2010

First Published: 13:27 IST(14/2/2010)
Last Updated: 13:37 IST(14/2/2010)

Explosive experts from the Indian Army on Sunday reached Pune to help
investigators probe the bombing at an eatery on Saturday evening that
killed nine people.

The team from the Pune cantonment of the Southern Army command visited
the site of the blast where police forensic experts collected samples
and other evidence.

Nearly 60 people were injured in the bombing at the German Bakery. It
was the worst terror attack in India since the Mumbai mayhem of
November 2008.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/maharashtra/Army-to-help-probe-Pune-blast/508836/H1-Article1-508710.aspx

Changing his stripes
Rajdeep Sardesai
February 11, 2010

First Published: 23:17 IST(11/2/2010)
Last Updated: 23:27 IST(11/2/2010)

Dear Uddhav-ji,

At the very outset, my compliments for the manner in which you’ve
literally ‘stolen’ the headlines from your cousin Raj in the last
fortnight. After the assembly election defeat last October, there were
many who had written you off as a weak, namby-pamby politician, who
would be better off doing photography. But now, it seems that the
‘fire’ that burns inside Bal Thackeray is alive in the son too. After
years of struggling to establish yourself, you have finally discovered
the mantra for success as a Shiv Sena leader: find an ‘enemy’,
threaten and intimidate them, commit the odd violent act and — eureka!
— you are anointed as the true heir to the original ‘T’ Company
supremo.

Your cousin has chosen to bash faceless taxi drivers and students from
North India, soft targets who are totally unprotected. You’ve been
much braver. You’ve actually chosen to target national icons: Sachin
Tendulkar, Mukesh Ambani, Shah Rukh Khan, powerful figures who most
Indians venerate. Shah Rukh is no surprise since the Sena has always
been uncomfortable with the Indian Muslim identity. Forty years ago,
your father had questioned Dilip Kumar’s patriotism for accepting an
award from the Pakistani government. You’ve called Shah Rukh a traitor
for wishing to choose Pakistani cricketers in the Indian Premier
League. That your father invited Javed Miandad — the former Pakistani
captain and a close relative of Dawood Ibrahim — to your house is a
matter of record that we shall not go into today.

I am a little surprised that you chose to question Ambani and
Tendulkar though. The Sena has always enjoyed an excellent
relationship with corporate India. Why then criticise India’s biggest
businessman for suggesting that Mumbai belongs to all? After all, no
one can deny that Mumbai’s entrepreneurial energy has been driven by
communities from across India. The diatribe against Sachin is even
stranger. He, along with Lata Mangeshkar, is Maharashtra’s most
admired and recognised face. Surely, you will agree that Sachin
symbolises Maharashtrian pride in a manner that renaming shops and
streets in Marathi never can.

Of course, in between, some of your local thugs also attacked the IBN
Lokmat office. I must confess that, initially, the attack did leave me
outraged. Why would a political outfit that claims to protect
Maharashtrian culture attack a leading Marathi news channel? But on
reflection I realised that we hadn’t been singled out: over the last
four decades, the Shiv Sena has targeted some of Maharashtra’s finest
literary figures and journalistic institutions. That you continue to
live in a colony of artists while attacking artistic freedom remains
one of the many tragic ironies in the evolution of the Sena.

Just before the assembly elections, you had told me in an interview
that you were determined to shake off the Shiv Sena’s legacy of
violence. You spoke of the need for welfarist politics, of how you
were saddened that rural Maharashtra was being left behind. I was
impressed by the farmer rallies you had organised, by the fact that
you had documented farmer suicides in the state. I thought that Uddhav
Thackeray was serious about effecting a change in Maharashtra’s
political landscape.

I was obviously mistaken. Farmer suicides still continue, the after-
effects of drought are still being faced in several districts. But the
focus is now squarely on finding high-profile hate figures. You claim
to have a vision for Mumbai. Yet, on the day the Sena-controlled city
municipal corporation’s annual budget revealed an alarming financial
crisis, your party publication, Saamna, was running banner headlines
seeking an apology from Shah Rukh Khan. You asked your sainiks to
agitate against Rahul Gandhi’s visit to Mumbai. But why have you not
asked them to wage a war against the water cuts that have made life so
difficult for millions in the city?

At one level, I can understand the reasons for your frustration. The
Congress-Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) government has been
thoroughly incompetent: the last decade has seen Maharashtra slip down
most social and economic parameters. Yet, the Shiv Sena has been
unable to capture power in the state. Your war with cousin Raj has
proved to be self-destructive. The assembly poll results showed that a
united Sena may have offered a real challenge to the ruling alliance.
In fact, the Sena and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena together garnered
around 43 per cent of the popular vote in Mumbai-Thane, almost 7 per
cent more than what was obtained by the Congress-NCP combine. Yet,
because your vote was split, you won just nine of the 60 seats in the
region, which proved decisive in the overall state tally.

Your defeat seems to have convinced you that the only way forward is
to outdo your cousin in parochial politics. It’s a strategy that has
made you a headline-grabber once again. Unfortunately, TV rating
points don’t get you votes or goodwill. There is space in
Maharashtra’s politics for a regional force. But it needs to be based
on a constructive, inclusive identity.

Tragically, the Shiv Sena has never offered a serious social or
economic agenda for the future. Setting up the odd vada pav stall in
Mumbai is hardly a recipe for addressing the job crisis . Why hasn’t
the Sena, for example, started training projects to make the
Maharashtrian youth face up to the challenges of a competitive job
market? Why doesn’t the Sena give regional culture a boost by
supporting Marathi theatre, literature or cinema? The wonderful
Marathi film, Harishchandrachee Factory, nominated for the Oscars, has
been co-produced by Ronnie Screwvala, a Parsi who, like millions of
other ‘outsiders’, has made Mumbai his home. Maybe I ask for too much.
Tigers, used to bullying others for years, will never change their
stripes.

Post-script: Your charming son, Aditya, who is studying English
Literature at St Xavier’s College, had sent me a collection of his
poems. I was most impressed with his writing skills. Let’s hope the
next generation of the ‘T’ Company will finally realise that there is
more to life than rabble-rousing.

Jai Hind! Jai Maharashtra!

Rajdeep Sardesai is Editor-in-Chief , IBN Network

n ***@network18online.com

The views expressed by the author are personal

http://www.hindustantimes.com/editorial-views-on/columnsothers/Changing-his-stripes/Article1-507826.aspx

Mumbai monopoly
Ramachandra Guha, Hindustan Times
February 14, 2010

First Published: 21:20 IST(14/2/2010)
Last Updated: 21:38 IST(14/2/2010)

Back in the 1970s, the American political scientist Mary Katzenstein
did field research in Mumbai on the practices of a then very young
Shiv Sena. Some of her results were presented in her contribution to a
book titled Images of Maharashtra. The essay was published in 1980;
reading it now, 30 years later, it is striking to see how little has
changed in the politics of India’s urbs prima.

Here, first, is Katzenstein’s representation of the methods used by
the Shiv Sena to get more jobs reserved for Marathi speakers: ‘The
pressure is exerted by individual municipal councillors from Shiv Sena
as well as through campaigns of letter-writing, telephone calls,
visits to company heads, and the demonstrations for which the Sena
leadership is well- known’. She continues: ‘In one instance, now part
of Shiv Sena lore, a prominent Sena leader called on an executive of
Indian Oil expressing displeasure at the small number of
Maharashtrians employed in the firm. The company executive was told,
“You are sitting inside the office but your oil tanks are
outside”’ (implying that if the company did not comply, the tanks
would be set on fire).

The resentment had some basis in fact. Katzenstein quotes a study by a
group of Bombay students of 25 major companies in the city, which
found that of executives hired before 1950, 56 per cent were Gujarati,
and 25 per cent South Indians. There were a handful of North Indians,
but not a single Maharashtrian. The situation improved in later years,
but slowly. Between 1950 and 1960, of the managers that these
companies hired, 12 per cent were Marathi speakers, 34 per cent
Gujarati speakers, and 29 per cent from the south of the country. Of
those hired after 1960 (the year that the state of Maharashtra
formally came into being, with Bombay as its capital), 21 per cent
were locals, 34 per cent again from Gujarat, and 12 per cent from the
South.

Presently, the Shiv Sena and its offspring, the Maharashtra Navnirman
Sena (MNS), are known for targeting North Indians. However, in the
1960s the Indians they tended to hate most came from the south of the
country. Bal Thackeray’s followers torched Udupi restaurants and
attacked Tamil-speaking workers and managers. The decline in
executives from the South in the 1970s that this survey reported may
have been, in part, a consequence of the Shiv Sena’s activities.

In response to these protests, the Maharashtra government issued a
directive in 1968 to offices and companies in the state. This asked
them to employ more Marathi speakers as ‘the interests of the local
people are closer to this state and to the industries established
here’. If more locals were recruited, the directive continued, then
‘the feeling of responsibility towards that industry will be created
in the society and a close feeling for one another will be created’.

How did the Congress party, in power in Bombay since Independence,
view the rise of the Shiv Sena? ‘At the state level’, wrote our
political scientist in the year 1980, ‘the [Congress] government
stands to profit in a number of ways by the existence of a nativist
political party. The state government can use the threats of violence
posed by the nativist group to gain attention or to extract
consideration from the central government in inter-state disputes’.
However, ‘of even more potential importance to the Congress is the
Sena’s electoral support. In the 1968 municipal elections it was
evident that the Shiv Sena had won much of the support that had
formally gone to the leftist Samyukta Maharashtra Samiti’.

Through the 1950s and 1960s, the movement for a united state of
Marathi-speakers constituted the most effective opposition to the
Congress. The Samyukta Maharashtra Samiti was dominated by socialists,
among them such stalwarts as S.M. Joshi and N.G. Goray. The Samiti had
done extremely well in the general elections of 1957. Ten years later,
the king of the Mumbai Congress, S.K. Patil, was defeated in his own
city by the then obscure socialist leader George Fernandes.

In the 1970s, the Congress was prepared to tolerate the Shiv Sena, in
the belief that it would undercut the popular base of its opponents on
the left. Forty years later, the main challenge that the Maharashtra
Congress faces is from the right. Thus, before the 2009 elections, the
Congress indulged and perhaps even promoted the MNS, to cut into the
votes and seats of the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance.

The intimidation and violence promoted by the Senas are unacceptable
in a constitutional democracy. The methods are illegitimate but,
apparently, also ineffective. In 2010, as in 1980, the most successful
entrepreneurs and entertainers in Mumbai are almost all non-
Maharashtrians. An overwhelming proportion of senior managers are from
outside the city and state.

The ordinary Marathi manoos may not have benefited very much from the
activities of the Shiv Sena and the MNS. The leaders of these parties
have been more fortunate. Many years ago, Mary Katzenstein drew
attention to the ‘obvious upward mobility of key Sena leaders. In
1970, for instance, Manohar Joshi, who by his own insistent account
was raised in poverty, planned a European vacation — his first outside
India.’ Thirty five years later, a company controlled by Manohar
Joshi’s son put up a bid for five acres of mill land in the heart of
Mumbai, valued at Rs 421 crore. As reported in The Telegraph of July
22, 2005, Mr Joshi’s company was one of two successful bidders; the
other was a company controlled by a certain Raj Thackeray.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/editorial-views-on/columnsothers/Mumbai-monopoly/Article1-508814.aspx

Pawar may still deal out an ace
Pankaj Vohra, Hindustan Times
February 14, 2010

First Published: 21:14 IST(14/2/2010)
Last Updated: 21:39 IST(14/2/2010)

The developments in Mumbai over the past couple of weeks have certain
political dimensions, which could impact on both the state as well as
national politics. On the one hand, young Rahul Gandhi emulating his
grandmother Indira Gandhi’s brand of politics virtually raided the
city despite threats from the Shiv Sena thus reiterating that Bombay
belonged to all Indians. On the other, Sharad Pawar, the NCP supremo
and Maharashtra’s tallest leader resurrected the demoralised Sena by
calling on Bal Thackeray the next day ostensibly to broker peace
during the IPL matches since they would feature Australian players.

The spillover of the politicking, which is at the centre of the
present storm, has led to a huge controversy revolving around Shah
Rukh Khan’s latest release, My Name Is Khan thereby bringing the Shiv
Sena back to the centrestage of state politics. Those who believe that
Pawar had gone to the Thackeray residence to talk about the IPL must
be naïve since the Maratha who has been under fire from Congress
leaders regarding the price rise issue is exploring other options.

What is happening in Maharashtra at one level also has a political
appeal directed not so much at the Marathi manoos but the manoos in
Bihar where elections are expected later this year. In this context,
statements by Congress leaders lauding the contribution of North
Indians, particularly those from Bihar in the affairs of Bombay are
aimed at addressing that constituency in the state. It is no surprise
that like the Congress, the BJP too has been condemning the
chauvinistic and divisive politics of the Shiv Sena. It boils down to
posturing before the state assembly polls.

The genesis of the present trouble can possibly be traced to repeated
attempts to downsize Sharad Pawar during the past few months. The
coalition partners formed the government in the state after many
hiccups largely because some leaders spoke out of turn against Pawar.
Subsequently, the central government during its second avatar and
facing acute criticism on the price rise issue has tried to shift the
blame on to Pawar. After all with a world-renowned team of top
economists — Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Planning Commission
Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia besides the seasoned Finance
Minister Pranab Mukherjee, how can Pawar alone be blamed?

As if this was not enough, there are elements in the Congress who have
been talking about divesting Pawar of some of his portfolios during
the long-awaited Cabinet reshuffle. Simultaneously, Rahul Gandhi’s
increasing popularity among the youth is making some in his own party
uncomfortable since this can lead to their positions being affected.
Their aim is to contribute to a climate of instability and prevent
Rahul from becoming more powerful.

Thus when Rahul Gandhi without caring for his own safety visited
Bombay and outwitted the Sena, the crafty Maratha chose to resurrect
Bal Thackeray and the irrelevant Sena by sending a message that his
permission to conduct the IPL in Mumbai smoothly was required. The
implication was that the state government under Ashok Chavan (Rahul’s
choice) was not in control of things. Many political analysts would
also infer that theoretically if Pawar’s position were threatened at
the central level, he would have no qualms about forming an
alternative government in the state with the BJP-Sena. A logical
corollary would be that the stability of the central government where
he is a partner would also get threatened.

Therefore, politically, the Congress-NCP relations could determine the
future of both the state and central government. Pawar is not one to
withdraw from any coalition without inflicting maximum damage. He will
draw a blueprint which has at its core ‘power sharing’ and not merely
‘ideological beliefs’ since the government’s economic policies are not
necessarily benefiting the aam aadmi. Power and not ideology as
everyone knows is the biggest cementing force. Between us.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/editorial-views-on/columns%20pankaj%20vohra/Pawar-may-still-deal-out-an-ace/Article1-508811.aspx

Stop obsessing (and get on with it)
Vir Sanghvi, Hindustan Times
February 13, 2010

First Published: 23:48 IST(13/2/2010)
Last Updated: 23:55 IST(13/2/2010)

Early in his first term, when Manmohan Singh was more accessible to
the media and more willing to discuss issues with those whose views
were different from his, the prime minister outlined what he hoped
would be his government’s policy on Pakistan.

As far as he was concerned, the dispute with Pakistan was a legacy of
the 20th century. An India that aimed to be a superpower in the 21st
century could not afford to be obsessed with a small neighbour. China,
our great rival in the region, had border disputes with its neighbours
(including India) but saw beyond them.

In our case, however, we had been defined for too long in our dealings
with the international community by the Kashmir issue and by our
problems with Pakistan. The challenge for his government, he said, was
to move beyond Pakistan, to end the obsession with our neighbour and
to stop spending billions on arms.

Manmohan Singh repeated these remarks when he spoke to journos on the
plane to New York on his way to his first meeting with Pervez
Musharraf. When the prime minister met the Pakistani president he made
two points. First of all, he asserted, he had no mandate to redraw the
borders of India. Nor would any Indian prime minister in the
foreseeable future. Secondly, border disputes were fast becoming
obsolete. In the 21st century, borders were soft and porous. So why
not find a Kashmir solution based on soft borders and regional
cooperation and prosperity?

I have dealt at some length on the PM’s views because I believe they
are still at the core of his Pakistan policy. It is too simplistic to
see Manmohan Singh as a dove or a Pakistan-lover. Rather, he believes
that Pakistan should be a minor irrelevance and that the baggage of
the dispute is dragging India down and preventing us from occupying
our rightful place in the world.

Frankly, I don’t see how anyone can disagree with Manmohan Singh. Yes,
of course, it is absurd for India’s future to be held hostage to a
dispute in the tiny Kashmir Valley. And who can deny that we are now
in the same league as China and not Pakistan?

But here’s the problem: it is not enough for us to think like that.
Pakistan must also be willing to accept that a peaceful solution that
does not compromise India’s sovereignty is possible. Sadly, everything
we have seen over the last year suggests that Pakistan is a long way
from accepting that position.

Islamabad recognises that India has a lot to gain by settling this
dispute on terms that do not radically alter the status quo. But what
does Pakistan gain from such a solution?

At present, Pakistani policy is guided by three major factors: the
jihadi threat; the need for the Pakistani establishment (politicians
and army) to retain the support of its people; and the relationship
with the US over Afghanistan and the war on terror (or whatever they
are calling it today).

All three factors work directly against the Manmohan Singh
formulation.

India has always believed that the terrorists who come across the
border are guided by the Pakistani State. The Pakistanis say they are
freelancers beyond the control of the State.
The disagreement over which characterisation is accurate still rages
but it seems unlikely that the terrorists who are exploding car bombs
in Pakistan are State actors. Rather, it seems as though the State is
losing control of Pakistan. So, the ISI may still be able to control
the Laskar-e-Tayyeba and a few other outfits but there is no way in
which Pakistan can rein in all the terrorists it has spawned. The
monster of terrorism is now consuming its maker.

In these circumstances, no Pakistani government can guarantee that
peace will return to Kashmir because militants will stop streaming
across the border or even that India’s cities will be free from 26/11-
type attacks. If the Pakistani government can’t even secure Lahore or
Karachi, how can it prevent attacks on Bombay?

Nor is it clear that the Pakistani State even wants to rein in the
terrorists. Elements in the State (in the army, the ISI, etc.) are
delighted by the global attention paid to 26/11-type incidents and do
not see how Pakistan gains if these stop.

Nor does the Pakistani public believe that the terrorists who cause
mayhem in the name of Kashmir are a bad thing — they treat them as
freedom fighters. Moreover, Pakistanis also believe that much of the
violence in India emanates not from Pakistan but from Indian Muslims
who are finally fighting back after decades of mistreatment. (You and
I may laugh at this characterisation but Pakistan needs to believe
that Muslims are treated badly in India. After all, if Muslims can
live happily in Hindu-majority India, then what was the need to create
Pakistan?)

So, an embattled Pakistani State has nothing to gain by cracking down
on those who attack India. On the contrary, it risks alienating its
own people by appearing to let down the ‘freedom fighters’ and ‘poor
Indian Muslims who are fighting for justice’.

The chest-thumping tenor of recent statements made by senior Pakistani
ministers (‘India has blinked’ etc.) is a clear indication of the
desire of Pakistani politicians to demonstrate how they are standing
up to India. In a situation where ministers play to the gallery, no
real progress is possible in the peace process.

And finally, there is the American angle. The US has now recognised
that the violence in Afghanistan (and the terrorism that emanates from
there) will never end as long as Pakistan offers safe haven and
support to the militants. (It is the same with Kashmir: no peace is
possible as long as Pakistan exports terror.)
The Pakistanis have told the Americans that they would like to help
but domestic public opinion is deeply hostile to the US. The only way
they can mollify their own people is if they can say that Washington
is on Pakistan’s side against India, that it will help secure Kashmiri
freedom, etc.

Naturally, the US cannot do all of this. But it can put pressure on
India to talk to Pakistan (so that the Pakistanis can claim we
blinked). And that is exactly what the Americans are now doing.

Given this background, how can any peace be possible? Every concession
we offer (the inclusion of Baluchistan in the joint statement at Sharm
el-Sheikh, for instance) is treated as evidence of Indian perfidy. We
are just being used by the Americans and the Pakistanis and our
genuine desire for peace is being exploited.

I subscribe to Manmohan Singh’s vision. Of course, we must stop being
obsessed with Pakistan. But can we do this while Pakistan is still
obsessed with us?

And when that obsession is expressed through violence, murder and
terrorism?

The views expressed by the author are personal

http://www.hindustantimes.com/editorial-views-on/viewsvirsanghvi/Stop-obsessing-and-get-on-with-it/Article1-508589.aspx

The dialogue
Hindustan Times
February 10, 2010

First Published: 23:24 IST(10/2/2010)
Last Updated: 23:26 IST(10/2/2010)

Yes, you Khan!

My Name is Khan...

No, it’s not. The last time we met your name was...

Oof! No, I was saying that My Name is Khan had its world premiere last
night in Abu Dhabi. Did you watch it on Facebook?

You just said Abu Dhabi. Why should I then have gone on Facebook?

Because the premiere ceremony was streamed live on Facebook. Don’t you
read the papers? Are you slow or something?!

I suffer from Asperger syndrome.

Hey! That’s the ailment that Shah Rukh Khan in My Name is Khan has!
That’s so cool.

Hey, you have progeria and Amitabh Bachchan played a character with
your ailment in Paa. So don’t worry. What’s My Name is Khan about?

It’s about a Mumbai boy moving to the US where he falls in love with
a girl whom he marries. Trouble starts after 9/11 when, as a Muslim
businessman, Rizwan goes kaput and his marriage falls apart. To win
her back, our hero travels across America.

Wow! If this movie doesn’t get an Oscar, it’ll just show how anti-
Islam America is!

Do say: If Johnny Lever played the hero, would the film have been My
Name is Lever.

Don’t say: His name is Bal.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/editorial-views-on/offtrack/The-dialogue/Article1-507476.aspx

Play it again, Shyam
February 09, 2010

First Published: 23:34 IST(9/2/2010)
Last Updated: 23:36 IST(9/2/2010)

Remakes and comparisons go hand in hand. Forever living in the shadow
of the original, the risk of a remake losing out to its ‘novel’
predecessor is generally high. So it wasn’t surprising that listeners
first juxtaposed ‘Phir Mile Sur Mera Tumhara’ with its 22-year-old
progenitor ‘Mile Sur Mera Tumhara’ and then evaluated their relative
worths.

The 1988 ‘alternative’ national anthem ‘Ek Sur’ a.k.a ‘Mile Sur Mera
Tumhara’ and its 2010 avatar that was unveiled on Republic Day on
national TV are from the same source pool. Some folks feel the new kid
on the block is a classic case of ‘Bollywood overdose’. Many thank the
makers of ‘Phir Mile Sur...’ for at least excluding non-Hindi-speaking
Katrina Kaif from the menagerie of film stars who range from members
of the Bachchan gharana to the latest entrant in the hall of fame,
Deepika Padukone. The absence of other national icons such as Sachin
Tendulkar, Lata Mangeshkar and A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, has ruffled many
feathers.

Some others feel perturbed by the song’s length — 16 minutes 17
seconds as against 6 minutes 9 seconds of the original. And many
others are still grumbling about a video that’s high on gloss and low
on ‘theme’, unlike the original one.

Even I couldn’t resist the comparison between the original and its
mutant counterpart. Yes, I did feel uneasy. Not because Phir Mile
Sur... was below par, but because it was exactly how I’d expected it
to be.

The difficulty of spotting a ‘common guy’ in the video seems to
reflect how we undervalue the non-celebrity these days. There must
have been problems of ‘accommodation’ in the video. After all, with so
many faces representing India today, it’s not easy to pick even the
‘best’ of the big lot.

But going by the latest on the subject, Kailash Surendranath, the
proud maker of the Phir Mile Sur Mera Tumhara video, is set to re-make
the remake, this time including the biggie who had been left out:
Sachin Tendulkar. Perhaps it’s time to propose that Kailash-ji
reserves some room for the person who will render the right ‘feel’ to
the song: the aam Indian.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/editorial-views-on/offtrack/Play-it-again-Shyam/Article1-507167.aspx

It wasn’t a state secret that I’d call on Thackeray
Sujata Anandan, Hindustan Times
February 09, 2010

First Published: 00:38 IST(9/2/2010)
Last Updated: 00:40 IST(9/2/2010)

Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar’s meeting with Shiv Sena chief Bal
Thackeray on Sunday has acquired political undertones. In an exclusive
interview, Pawar tells Sujata Anandan not to read any meaning into it.

The world is agog with rumours that you were cocking a snook at the
Congress by calling on Bal Thackeray …

That’s all humbug. I had just one issue on my mind — the Indian
Premier League. That was all that we discussed.

But you were raging at Bal Thackeray in the morning at your party meet
in Aurangabad. And in the evening, you were having tea with him…

It was not a state secret that I would call on Thackeray. I was not
hiding anything. I still believe that a fight between two brothers
should not destroy peace and harmony and bring trouble to the common
man. I said this at the Aurangabad meeting and I announced before
5,000 party workers that I would be going to Matoshree (Thackeray’s
residence) and tell Balasaheb that.

What was Thackeray’s response?
(Pause) Okay, bye.

People believe that you are miffed at the Congress Working Committee
passing strictures against you. And that is why you were snubbing them
through this visit to Matoshree.

The CWC passed no strictures. They’ve no reason to.

The price rise?

That is not my responsibility alone. We are battling it together.

You received flak for your comments on sugar in your party mouthpiece,
Rashtrawadi. It says “eating less sugar when prices are so high will
not kill you…”

Those were the comments of the editor. The editor’s opinion is not
necessarily the party’s view.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/editorial-views-on/interviews/It-wasn-t-a-state-secret-that-I-d-call-on-Thackeray/Article1-506834.aspx

...and I am Sid Harth

[bademiyansubhanallah]

NATO says its rockets killed 12 Afghan civilians
Reuters
Monday, February 15, 2010 9:05 IST

Marjah(Afghanistan): NATO rockets killed 12 Afghan civilians on
Sunday, the second day of an offensive designed to impose Afghan
government authority on one of the last big Taliban strongholds in the
country's most violent province.

The assault, one of NATO''s biggest against the Taliban since the war
began in 2001, tests U.S. President Barack Obama''s plan to send
30,000 more troops to seize insurgent-held areas before a planned 2011
troop drawdown. NATO apologised for the civilian casualties that also
damaged efforts to win local support.

A day after the attack started with waves of helicopters ferrying
troops into the town of Marjah and the nearby Nad Ali district, US
Marines came under intense fire in the heart of Marjah as they sought
to root out pockets of insurgents.

The United States' top military officer on Sunday said the assault on
the Taliban stronghold of Marjah in Afghanistan''s Helmand province
had gotten "off to a good start".

"It's actually very difficult to predict (the end)," Admiral Mike
Mullen, chairman of the US joint chiefs of staff, told reporters
during a visit to Israel. "We have from a planning standpoint talked
about a few weeks, but I don''t know that."

The offensive has been flagged for weeks, to persuade Taliban fighters
to leave so the area can be recaptured with minimal damage or loss of
civilian life, in the hope that the100,000 people there will welcome
the Afghan administration.

"This is not focused on the Taliban, and it is a strategy not just to
clear the area but to hold it and then build right behind it so that
there is a civilian component here and there is a local governance,"
Mullen said.

Civilians killed

Despite the best efforts, two rockets fired by NATO troops missed
militants firing on them, instead slamming into a house and killing 12
people. Afghan President Hamid Karzai expressed sadness and said the
victims were members of the same family.

"Upon hearing the news, Hamid Karzai immediately ordered an
investigation as he had previously ordered that the operation should
be carefully done to prevent innocent civilians being killed," a
statement from the president's office said.

NATO commander US general Stanley McChrystal in a statement extended
apologies to Karzai, and said the use of that type of rocket had been
suspended pending review. The number of civilians killed by NATO has
declined since he took command in mid-2009.

Taliban fighters unleashed automatic gunfire at NATO helicopters
flying in and out Marjah town, and fired on Marines during a ceremony
to raise the Afghan flag over the compound to mark progress in the
offensive.

Captain Ryan Sparks compared the intensity of the firefights to the
U.S.-led offensive against militants in the Iraqi town of Fallujah in
2004.

"In Fallujah, it was just as intense. But there, we started from the
north and worked down to the south. In Marjah, we're coming in from
different locations and working toward the centre, so we're taking
fire from all angles," Sparks said.

US forces fired mortar rounds against a Taliban position, and the
militants fired a round back which landed in the Marines' compound but
failed to explode. The Marines responded by firing rockets at the
suspected militant position.

NATO forces had advised civilians not to leave their homes, advice
human rights groups say gives the coalition additional legal and moral
responsibility to avoid heavy fighting that could harm innocent
people.

Hostage video

Most of the population has stayed put. Some residents said the Taliban
had heavily booby-trapped Marjah. It was unclear how many Taliban
stayed to fight.

"There is no Taliban here now, they have already fled. Now this area
is calm and stable," villager Abdul Raziq said.

Taliban spokesman Qari Mohammad Yousuf said on the group's website it
had launched direct attacks on NATO-led troops in several parts of
Marjah and had surrounded some in one area.

Marjah has long been a breeding ground for insurgents and lucrative
opium poppy cultivation, which Western countries say funds the
insurgency. The scale of the problem was glaring at the compound taken
over by the Marines.

Bags of drugs worth hundreds of thousands of dollars had been
discovered, as were sacks of chemicals capable of producing 100 pounds
of explosives, said Tim Coderre, a civilian adviser to Marine
officials.

Also on Sunday, the Taliban released a video of two French journalists
kidnapped on Dec. 30, showing them pleading for their release. They
were on assignment for France 3 television when they were kidnapped in
Kapisa province, north of Kabul.

"We have been held prisoner for three weeks and we want the French
government to hold negotiations with these people so that we can be
released as quickly as possible," one of the hostages says in the
video.

France 3 had no immediate comment, while the French Foreign Ministry
again condemned the kidnapping.

"State services are fully mobilised since Dec. 30 and are doing their
best to obtain the liberation of our two compatriots," the ministry
said.

http://www.dnaindia.com/world/report_nato-says-its-rockets-killed-12-afghan-civilians_1347970

Five Australians jailed for jihad plot
Reuters
Monday, February 15, 2010 12:46 IST

Sydney: Five Australian Muslims found with weapons and chemicals to
make bombs and convicted of plotting a terror attack in Australia were
jailed on Monday for terms ranging from 23 to 28 years.

The men were found guilty in October 2009 of conspiring to commit an
attack between July 2004 and November 2005 in retaliation for
Australia's involvement in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

During a 10-month trial, the prosecutor told the New South Wales state
Supreme Court that the men obtained instructions on how to make pipe
bombs capable of causing large-scale death and destruction and
literature which glorified the actions of al Qaeda chief Osama bin
Laden.

The prosecution never told the court of any suspected target.

Australia, a close U. S. ally, was among the first countries to commit
troops to US-led campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Australia has never suffered a major peacetime attack on home soil,
although 95 Australians have been killed in militant bombings in
neighbouring Indonesia since 2001.

Judge Anthony Whealy said in sentencing the men that the group was
motivated by "intolerant, inflexible religious conviction" and said
the prospects of rehabilitation were poor.

"It is clear beyond argument that the fanaticism and extremist
position taken by each offender countenanced the possibility of loss
of life," he said.

The men, aged between 25 and 44 and who cannot be named by order of
the judge, were arrested in Sydney in 2005 as part of Australia''s
largest ever terror raids.

Judge Whealy said since their arrest the men appeared to wear their
imprisonment as "some badge of honour".

The judge outlined in detail the group''s stockpiling of chemicals and
firearms and instructional, extremist or fundamentalist material found
at their Sydney homes.

Police said during the trial that they found 28,000 rounds of
ammunition during raids on the men''s homes.

Videos showing the execution of hostages or prisoners by mujahideen,
which were never shown to the jury, were "particularly brutal and
graphic", Whealy said.

"It is impossible to imagine that any civilised person could watch
these videos," he said.

Prosecutors said three men had gone on paramilitary-style camps in
Australia's outback to prepare for an attack, but the defence said
they were just hunting, camping and having fun.

The jury heard from 300 witnesses, examined 3,000 exhibits, watched 30
days of surveillance tapes and listened to 18 hours of phone
intercepts, but there was no direct evidence linking the accused to
the terrorism plot.

http://www.dnaindia.com/world/report_five-australians-jailed-for-jihad-plot_1348004

Pune blast: JuD role not ruled out, govt wants access to Headley
PTI
Sunday, February 14, 2010 23:12 IST

Pune, New Delhi: The involvement of the Pakistan-based Jamaat-ud-Daawa
(JUD) in yesterday's bomb blast in Pune has not been ruled out.

The central government clarified tonight that the JuD's role is also
under scrutiny, days after the front of terrorist group Lashkar-e-
Taiba (LeT) spoke of the western Indian city being a target.

As Investigators pieced together clues to unravel the identities of
those behind last night's attack on German Bakery in Koregaon Park,
the possibility of execution of terror plans by the LeT at places
checked out by Pakistani-American David Headley, a terror suspect
currently in the custody of the FBI in connection with the 26/11
attack on Mumbai, is also being looked into.

After visiting the site of the attack in which nine persons were
killed, Union home minister P Chidambaram renewed the demand for
access to Headley. Pune was one of the places Headley had surveyed.
The Koregaon Park area, the Chabad House, and Osho Ashram in the
vicinity of the targeted bakery were known to have been recced by
Headley.

In possibly a joint effort, the involvement of the Indian Mujahideen
(IM), which had got LeT help in carrying out some attacks in the
country, was also not being ruled out by police.

No arrests have been made in the attack in which officials said the
deadly RDX and ammonium nitrate were suspected to have been used. Two
foreigners — an Italian woman and an Iranian male student — were among
those killed in the first strike since the Mumbai carnage of November
26-28, 2008.

"Seeing that just recently the JuD had made a statement saying that
Pune is a fair target, we will have to link one and the other and then
think that some of these agencies in Pakistan are behind the [Pune]
blast," Union home secretary GK Pillai told a TV channel tonight.

Pillai, however, said it was too early to draw any conclusions.

A high-level meeting convened by Chidambaram analysed the

speech made by JuD leader Hafiz Abdur Rahman Makki at the Kashmir
solidarity day conference in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on February 4.

In the speech, Makki had spoken about attacks on Indian cities,
including Pune.

Prime minister Manmohan Singh reviewed the situation with Chidambaram
in New Delhi and directed the Centre and the Maharashtra government to
take coordinated and effective action to speedily investigate the
matter.

Chidambaram ruled out any intelligence failure in the attack.

Asked if the IM was involved, Pune police commissioner Satyapal Singh
said, "We can't say anything right now."

The state police said it had obtained CCTV footage of the front area
of German Bakery at the time of the blast.

The closed circuit tv of a five-star hotel 'O' had captured the
visuals and the anti-terrorist squad (ATS) had taken possession of the
footage, inspector-general of police (law and order) Rashmi Shukla
said. The bakery had no CCTVs.

Chidambaram visited the site of the attack after which he dismissed
talk of any "intelligence failure" and said the terrorists
had hit a "soft target". Maharasahtra's ATS has formed four teams to
investigate the blast.

Chidambaram held a high-level meeting in Delhi to review the security
situation following which a red alert was sounded in cities like
Kanpur, Indore, and the national capital.

He said India must be allowed to interrogate Headley.

http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_pune-blast-jud-role-not-ruled-out-govt-wants-access-to-headley_1347922

Terrorist take security forces for a 'date'
PTI
Sunday, February 14, 2010 22:09 IST

New Delhi: Are dates 13 and 26 proving ominous for India?

It seems so if the timing of the previous four major blasts and terror
attacks in the country before yesterday's Pune strike, also on the
13th day of February , is an indication.

During the last two years, three major blasts and one terror attack
has taken place at the nerve centres of the country leaving hundreds
dead and injured. The common factor is that the attacks took place
either on the 13th or 26th.

The scary link with these two dates started in Jaipur where 68 people
were killed in serial bombings on May 13, 2008.

It was followed by the Ahmedabad attack which claimed 57 lives after
20-odd synchronised bombs went off in less than two hours on July 26,
2008.

In the same year, the national capital was shaken by a series of six
synchronised blasts at crowded markets which occured on September 13
killing 26 people.

And, memories of the audacious attack on Mumbai which started on
November 26, 2008 are still fresh. Lives of 166 people were snuffed
out on 26/11.

http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_terrorist-take-security-forces-for-a-date_1347907

Pune may be execution of Headley's plan: security agencies
PTI
Sunday, February 14, 2010 20:29 IST

New Delhi: Security agencies today did not rule out the possibility of
execution of plans by Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashker-e-taiba of
the places recced by David Headley, an American terror suspect,
arrested in the US last October.

The areas around Bhaba Atomic Research Centre in Trombay, film
studios, NTPC cold storage are among some of the places where Headley
had conducted reconnaissance till March last year, official sources
said.

The last visit of the US terror suspect was already believed to
finalise synchronised terror strikes on Jewish houses located in five
cities at the instance of Lashker-e-Taiba.

Headley, born to a Pakistani father and whose earlier name was Daood
Gilani, has been charged by the FBI for conspiring in the audacious
2008 Mumbai attack, which left over 160 dead, including six
foreigners.

Headley had carried out recce of Israeli airlines -- El AI-- office
located at Cuffe Parade in March this year before moving to the
national capital where he chose to stay in a small hotel at Pahargunj
area adjacent to a Chabad House, barely 300 metres from the hotel --
De Holiday Inn, they said.

He later travelled to Pushkar in the outskirts of Ajmer in Rajasthan
where he insisted on a room opposite a Jewish prayer centre claiming
he was a Jew and wanted "holy sight".

Headley later moved to Goa where he stayed at a guest house located in
Anjuna village along the coast of Arabian sea before proceeding
towards Pune where he recced the area around Koregaon Park -- a place
where the blast took place last
night.

It is also believed that he wanted to target the foreigners coming to
the Osho Ashram.

Headley later left for Mumbai where he again went to the Cuffe Prade
area and apparently firmed up some loose ends in targeting the Israel
Airways office before flying to Pakistan
from the Chatrapati Shivaji airport.

While tracing Headley's movements in Mumbai, sleuths had found that he
had conducted a proper reconnaissance of not only BARC but also of
some Bollywood studios in the north-eastern suburb of the city.

49-year-old Headley had travelled to Chembur and Trombay several times
and filmed the exit and entry points of BARC
besides the movement of employees, investigators said.

The terror suspect had also taken video shots of the nuclear facility
by hiring a boat from Gateway of India. The rear side of the BARC,
located on a hill top, can be seen from the Arabian Sea.

The security around the nuclear installation has been tightened and
efforts were on to ensure proper cover in the mangroves, the sources
said.

Security of NTPC's cold storage plant in the area was also being
reviewed as the security agencies were apprehensive that while filming
BARC, Headley may have conducted recce of it as well. The terror
suspect is known to have been trained by Pakistan-based terror group
Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) in the clandestine filming of vital
installations.

http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_pune-may-be-execution-of-headley-s-plan-security-agencies_1347863

Police preparing sketch of Pune blast suspect
PTI
Sunday, February 14, 2010 20:30 IST

Pune: A sketch of the Pune blast suspect is being prepared by police
on the basis of eyewitnesss account, City police commissioner Satyapal
Singh said today.

Singh, who released the list of dead and the injured foreigners in the
blast at a press conference here, said one of the injured eyewitness
was being treated under police protection.

He said the blast occurred at 6.52 pm yesterday when the explosive
device kept in a blue-red bag at German Bakery exploded.

"Somebody saw it but it went off before anybody could do anything," he
added. On the possible use of RDX, Singh said report on the nature of
explosives used was expected tomorrow.

Singh issued an appeal-cum-warning to mediapersons not to interview
the injured in the hospitals as it could hamper investigations. He
asked the citizens not to panic and expressed confidence that police
would be able to crack the case soon.

http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_police-preparing-sketch-of-pune-blast-suspect_1347866

Nitish Kumar condemns terrorist attack in Pune
Sunday, February 14, 2010 20:26 IST

Patna: Cautioning all to be vigilant against forces out to rupture the
social fabric, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar today expressed grief
for the loss of human lives in the Pune terrorist attack.

The attack was not only limited to Pune but an attempt to break the
unity and integrity of the country, Kumar said asserting people would
not be cowed down by such mindless mayhem by certain forces.

Kumar said there should not be any "politics in tackling such forces
who wanted to breach the social fabric" so unique of India.

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_nitish-kumar-condemns-terrorist-attack-in-pune_1347865

Indian government fears serial attacks
Anil Anand & Surendra Gangan / DNA
Monday, February 15, 2010 0:43 IST

Terror reared its ugly head on Saturday after a lull of almost 15
months; it may not retreat into its murky corner in a hurry.

The bomb blast in Pune is not a one-off attack, say the central and
state governments, adding that the country should be prepared to ward
off a series of similar attacks across other cities, given the pattern
followed by the terrorist outfit — Indian Mujahideen (IM) allegedly
operating under the instructions of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) —
believed to be responsible for the blast at German Bakery at Koregaon
Park in Pune.

State home ministry sources cite Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur followed by
Nashik and Aurangabad as on top of terrorists’ hit-lists; the latter
two are being targeted for their religious importance, it is learnt.

“The outfit involved (LeT/IM) is known for executing a series of
attacks, be it 26/11, Mumbai railway serial blasts or the blasts in
three cities in July 2008. There are chances of similar attempts in
the near future,” said a home department official after a meeting with
the state police department on Sunday evening at the Mantralaya.

The IM could be further employed by Pakistan-based terror groups to
carry out similar acts of terrorism in other cities, was the warning
by Union home ministry sources as well.

Despite the home ministry’s earlier claims on having decimated the IM,
it sounded an alert in Delhi, Kanpur and Indore fearing that groups
like LeT and Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) might foment trouble in these cities
with IM as their local face.

Alarmed by fresh reports of the LeT-JuD nexus with the IM, the Centre
has also asked state governments to remain vigilant and increase
surveillance at key public places.

Highly-placed ministry sources admitted to the existence of IM sleeper
cells in various cities, including Pune, where the outfit was
allegedly used by LeT operative David Coleman Headley. Kanpur has also
also been in the news about IM presence, which was exposed by a couple
of incidents of bombs — assembled by its operatives — accidentally
going off.

The presence of a Metro network, which also runs underground, and
preparations for the Commonwealth Games reinforced Delhi as a target.

Of late, Indore, too, has reported IM activity. A BJP national
executive meeting is to be held there this week, leading the Centre to
sound an alert.

Sources further pointed out that central intelligence agencies had
since October 2009 thrice alerted the Maharashtra government about a
possible terrorist strike in Pune. The prime targets according to them
were the Osho centre and a Chabad House.

Ostensibly finding the two impregnable, the terrorists settled for a
soft target in German Bakery, a senior ministry official said.

Meanwhile, the intelligence and the security agencies of the Centre
and the states have started a coordinated effort to expose the IM
network and their Pakistan handlers. In this connection, a combined
effort was being made, particularly with the Maharashtra SIT, to nab
Mohsin Chaudhary, said to be one of the founder members of the IM and
the brain behind Pune blast.

While most of the important IM activists were arrested by the police
during the past two to three years, Chaudhary had managed to escape.

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_indian-government-fears-serial-attacks_1347963

Lashkar chief back with anti-India agenda
Amir Mir / DNA
Monday, February 15, 2010 0:10 IST

ISLAMABAD: As India and Pakistan mull over whether or not to resume
the stalled peace talks, Hafiz Saeed, the founder of Lashkar-e-Taiba
(LeT), has suddenly resumed his activities by taking to the streets.

He is holding public meetings, mouthing venomous anti-India slogans,
promising to liberate Jammu & Kashmir (J&K), and stoking jihadi
passions with impunity.

The most shocking aspect of the ugly episode is that he has been
allowed to do all this from the platform of Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD), an
organisation banned by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in
December 2008. JuD is accused of being a front organisation for the
now banned LeT, the jihadi group blamed for
the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai.

Saeed’s heightened activities come in the wake of the recent Indian
offer to Pakistan for resumption of foreign secretary-level talks.

For the first time after being banned by the UNSC, the JuD was allowed
on February 5 to hold a protest rally in Lahore under its original
name. Such rallies are quite common on the Kashmir Solidarity Day,
which is officially observed on February 5 every year in Pakistan.

That day, waving the black and white flag of the group and dummy
Kalashnikovs and raising anti-India slogans, JuD activists first
gathered at Markaz-ul Qudsia, the new headquarters of JuD and began
the rally after the Friday prayers. The JuD’s Muridke head office was
taken over by the Punjab government last year.

In his first public appearance since his release from house arrest in
October 2009, Saeed told the audience that militants waging jihad in
J&K were considering the revival of their armed struggle.

A day before the rally in Lahore, the JuD had organised a Kashmir
conference on February 4 in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-
occupied Kashmir (PoK). It was attended by several key leaders of pro-
Kashmir jihadi groups, including former ISI chief Lt Gen (retd) Hameed
Gul, Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin and Al-Badr chief Bakht
Zamin.

The conference adopted a declaration, asking Pakistan to revoke the
ban on Kashmiri militant groups so that PoK can once again become the
base for waging the “freedom struggle” in J&K.

Most analysts believe Saeed’s renewed activities couldn’t have been
possible without the consent of the Pakistani intelligence
establishment which is still adamant to keep some of the pro-Kashmir
jihadi groups alive and to use them as the civilian face of the
Pakistan Army.

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_lashkar-chief-back-with-anti-india-agenda_1347957

Two top Hizbul Mujahideen militants killed in encounter
PTI
Monday, February 15, 2010 9:08 IST
Last updated: Monday, February 15, 2010 11:15 IST

Srinagar: Two top Hizbul Mujahideen militants were killed in an
encounter with security forces in Kulgam district of South Kashmir
this morning.

On a tip off that the two militants were hiding in a house at Qaimoh,
70 kms from here, police assisted by security forces cordoned the
village in the wee hours.

As the joint search party came near the house, the militants hiding
there opened indiscriminate fire prompting the police to retaliate and
in the ensuing gunbattle the two militants were killed, superintendent
of police, Kulgam, Keshav Ram said.

The militants were identified as Ashraf Maulvi and Raouf Ahmad Bhat.

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_two-top-hizbul-mujahideen-militants-killed-in-encounter_1347971

Two held with explosives from Gujarat district
PTI
Monday, February 15, 2010 13:36 IST

Panchmahal: Two persons were today arrested with explosives including
detonators and gelatin sticks from Popatpura village here, police
said.

Amarsinh Gadhvi and Ramlal Gurjar were held near the Godhra taluka
village while they were transporting the explosives without license,
they said.

The duo hid the explosive substances, including 84 detonators and 52
gelatin sticks in their tractor, police saidBoth have been booked
under the Explosive Substance Act and further investigation in the
matter was on.

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_two-held-with-explosives-from-gujarat-district_1348022

US, Israel up pressure for sanctions on Iran
Reuters
Monday, February 15, 2010 9:58 IST

Doha: The United States declared on Sunday it saw few alternatives to
more sanctions on Iran, saying it sought a peaceful end to a nuclear
standoff but did not want to engage diplomatically "while they are
building their bomb".

With military experts warning of the risks of any military action,
secretary of state Hillary Clinton urged Iran to reconsider 'dangerous
policy decisions' on its nuclear programme.

"Iran leaves the international community little choice but to impose
greater costs for its provocative steps," Clinton told a US-Islamic
World Forum in Qatar.

"I would like to figure out a way to handle it in as peaceful an
approach possible, and I certainly welcome any meaningful engagement,
but ... we don't want to be engaging while they are building their
bomb," Clinton said.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Thursday that Iran was now able
to enrich uranium to more than 80 percent purity, close to levels
experts say would be needed for a nuclear bomb, although he denied it
had any such intention.

A new round of UN sanctions would require the consent of veto-wielding
Security Council members Russia and China, both of which have been
less inclined to impose them in the past.

Vice president Joe Biden expressed optimism that China might agree.
"We have the support of everyone from Russia to Europe. And I believe
we''ll get the support of China to continue to impose sanctions on
Iran to isolate them," he told NBC TV.

Clinton is due to visit Saudi Arabia for talks with King Abdullah on
Monday, continuing her tour to seek Arab countries'' backing for
action against Iran and support for talks between Israel and the
Palestinians.

US officials have hinted that one way Saudi Arabia could help
diplomatically would be to offer China, a major consumer of Iranian
crude, guarantees it would meet its oil requirements, a step that
might ease Beijing's resistance to new sanctions.

Moscow

Benjamin Netanyahu, prime minister of Israel which says its existence
would be threatened by a nuclear armed Iran, said he would urge
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, when they meet in Moscow on Monday,
to back "crippling sanctions".

An aide said these should "target Iran''s refined petroleum imports".
Iran, the world's fifth-largest oil exporter, lacks domestic
refineries and imports some 40 percent of its gasoline.

Russia indicated it would not oppose tougher sanctions, after Iran
said it was enriching uranium to greater purity.

But in a move that will concern Israel, a leading member of Russia's
Security Council said sanctions were no reason to stop it shipping an
order of S-300 anti-aircraft missiles to Iran.

"This deal is not restricted by any international sanctions, because
the talk is about deliveries of an exclusively defensive weapon,"
Vladimir Nazarov, deputy secretary of Russia's Security Council, said
ahead of Netanyahu''s visit.

On another diplomatic tack, Turkey's foreign minister will travel to
Tehran to see if he can salvage a UN-brokered deal, getting Iran to
swap its low enriched uranium for uranium that has been enriched to a
higher level abroad.

Turkey has offered itself as a third country where the uranium could
be exchanged. Although the proposal remains officially on the table, a
senior diplomat close to the International Atomic Energy Agency told
Reuters it was "all but dead" given the profound mutual mistrust.

Playing down the idea of a pre-emptive Israeli strike on Iran, US
military chief Admiral Mike Mullen, told reporters on a visit to Tel
Aviv he thought that was a very risky option.

"I worry a great deal about the unintended consequences of a strike,"
he said, referring to Iran's threats to retaliate against Israel and
U.S. sites in the Gulf. "I think the Iranians are very difficult to
predict."

Clinton told the Doha conference she favoured a peaceful outcome but
said Iran had shown no interest in serious talks about its nuclear
program -- something Tehran says it has every right to pursue.

http://www.dnaindia.com/world/report_us-israel-up-pressure-for-sanctions-on-iran_1347975

Five militants killed in US drone attack
PTI
Sunday, February 14, 2010 17:57 IST

Peshawar: At least five suspected militants were killed and four
others injured in a US drone attack in the lawless North Waziristan
tribal region in
northwest Pakistan today.

The drone fired two missiles at a house in the Mirali area of North
Waziristan Agency, official sources and local residents said.

The attack targeted a house. The exact identities of those killed
could not immediately be ascertained.

The US has carried out more than a dozen drone attacks in Pakistan's
tribal belt this year.

Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan chief Hakimullah Mehsud was reportedly
killed in one such attack in North Waziristan in mid-January.

http://www.dnaindia.com/world/report_five-militants-killed-in-us-drone-attack_1347763

Iran moving toward military dictatorship: Hillary Clinton
Reuters
Monday, February 15, 2010 13:46 IST

Doha: The United States believes Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps is
supplanting the Iranian government and that Iran may be heading toward
a military dictatorship, US secretary of state, Hillary Clinton said
on Monday.

Speaking in a televised session with students in Qatar, Clinton said:
"The Revolutionary Guard we believe is, in effect, supplanting the
government of Iran."

"That is how we see it. We see that the government of Iran, the
supreme leader, the president, the parliament, is being supplanted and
that Iran is moving toward a military dictatorship. That is our view."

http://www.dnaindia.com/world/report_iran-moving-toward-military-dictatorship-hillary-clinton_1348028

Iranians celebrate Valentine's Day
Reuters
Sunday, February 14, 2010 17:55 IST

Tehran: Love is all around in the streets of Tehran on Valentine's Day
this year with young men and women openly holding hands and exchanging
red roses, and shops decked with red ribbons, candles and heart-shaped
red balloons.

Forget political turmoil, violent protests, the nuclear row with the
West and soaring prices. Today romance rules.

"I am fed up with politics. This year I asked my girlfriend to
celebrate Valentine's Day more gloriously than any year before," said
28-year-old Shahrokh Sedaghati, an architect, looking for a perfume as
a gift in a central Tehran shop.

Valentine's Day is not officially banned in the Islamic state, but
hardliners have repeatedly warned about a Western cultural invasion
and under Iran's Islamic sharia law, unmarried couples are banned from
mingling.

Young Iranians are demanding social freedom, jobs, housing and less
costly marriage ceremonies and dowry payments, and this year
Valentine's Day showed just how strong their feelings are.

"Young people want to live their lives. They have access to the
Internet and can see how youngsters around the world live," said one
professor of psychology at a Tehran university.

The celebration, named after a Christian saint, has become a money-
maker for businesses in Islamic Iran where more than 60 percent of the
population of 73 million are under 30.

"We are already out of red roses. Even teenagers are buying flowers
for loved ones. Today is a very good business day for flower shops
here," said one florist in the north of the city.

"We also had orders from Iranians living abroad, who wanted to send
flowers to their loved ones in Iran," he said. The revolution that
toppled Iran's US-backed shah more than three decades ago sparked an
exodus.

Restaurant-owners said they were fully booked despite the fact that
Valentine's Day falls between two Shi'ite religious mourning holidays.
Some restaurants even used text messages to entice young Iranians to
celebrate with romantic dinners.

"I bought my girlfriend a box of chocolate and will take her to a
fancy restaurant tonight," said Saman Rahmani, a 28-year-old English
teacher.

Iran is still in the grip of internal unrest with the Islamic state's
hardline leadership under pressure over its June presidential
election.

The moderate opposition say the vote was rigged to secure president
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's re-election.Officials say it was the healthiest
vote since the 1979 Islamic revolution.

The domestic dispute, coincides with growing international pressure
for tougher UN sanctions over Iran's nuclear programme, which might
further harm the country's economy.

http://www.dnaindia.com/lifestyle/report_iranians-celebrate-valentine-s-day_1347765

Israel general doubts power to hit Iran atom sites
Reuters
Sunday, February 14, 2010 17:03 IST

JERUSALEM: Israel may lack the military means for successful
preemptive strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities, its former top
general said on Saturday.

While endorsing international efforts to pressure Tehran into curbing
sensitive nuclear technologies, Israel has hinted it could resort to
force. But some analysts say Israeli jets would be stymied by the
distance to Iran and by its defences.

Asked in a television interview about Israeli leaders'' vows to "take
care" of the perceived threat, ex-general Dan Halutz, who stepped down
as armed forces chief in 2007, said:

"We are taking upon ourselves a task that is bigger than us."

"I think that the State of Israel should not take it upon itself to be
the flag-bearer of the entire Western world in the face of the Iranian
threat," Halutz, whose previous military post was as air force
commander, told Channel Two.

"I'm not some passer-by ... I've filled a few positions that give me a
different level of information to the average person," he said without
elaborating.

The United States and European nations are trying to enlist other
world powers in stepping up sanctions against Iran for its uranium
enrichment, a process with bomb-making potential. Tehran denies having
hostile designs but its anti-Israel rhetoric has stirred war fears.

Some analysts believe Israel, which is assumed to have the Middle
East's only atomic arsenal but neither confirms nor denies this
capability, is boosting its defences to deter a nuclear-armed Iran
from future confrontations.

The United States, publicly circumspect about the prospect of another
regional war, has stationed strategic radar in Israel and last year
held anti-missile drills with its ally.

Asked what Israel should do if its foreign allies failed to prevent
Iran going nuclear, Halutz said: "Then we will have to think about how
to handle it, and I won''t say anything more."

http://www.dnaindia.com/world/report_israel-general-doubts-power-to-hit-iran-atom-sites_1347734

Hillary Clinton seeks more Arab pressure on Iran
Reuters
Sunday, February 14, 2010 10:57 IST

Shannon (Ireland): US secretary of state Hillary Clinton will seek to
enlist more Arab diplomatic pressure on Iran to curb its nuclear
ambitions during a visit to the Gulf this week, U.S. officials said on
Saturday.

US secretary of state Hillary Clinton will seek to enlist more Arab
diplomatic pressure on Iran to curb its nuclear ambitions during a
visit to the Gulf this week, US officials said.

Speaking as she set off on a three-day visit to Qatar and Saudi
Arabia, the officials said Clinton also hoped to win greater Arab
support to revive Israel-Palestinian peace negotiations, which have
been frozen for more than a year.

US president Barack Obama has made little headway in his effort to
restart the peace talks or to persuade Iran to rein in a civil nuclear
program which the West, as well as many Arab states, suspect is a
cover to develop atomic weapons.

The United States is leading a push for the U.N. Security Council to
impose a fourth round of sanctions on Iran, which says its nuclear
program is to generate electricity so it can export more of its
valuable oil and gas.

The US officials hinted that one way Saudi Arabia could help
diplomatically would be to offer China guarantees it would meet
Chinese oil requirements, a step that might ease Beijing's reluctance
to impose further sanctions on Iran.

China, which wields a veto on the Security Council, has lucrative
commercial relationships with Iran and, along with Russia, has worked
to dilute previous sanctions resolutions.

"We believe that all countries have a part to play in helping to
sharpen the question for Iran," US assistant secretary of state
Jeffrey Feltman told reporters as Clinton began her trip, saying Saudi
Arabia and China have recently increased their diplomatic and
commercial contacts.

"We would expect them (the Saudis) to use these visits, to use their
relationships, in ways that can help increase the pressure that Iran
would feel," he added.

Other US officials, who spoke on condition they not be identified,
said they believed Saudi Arabia had made some gestures toward China on
fuel assurances but gave no details.

"There's been some recent, positive moves," said one official, without
elaborating.

'Stop talking about negotiating'

Clinton is scheduled to meet Qatari prime minister Sheikh Hamad bin
Jassim al-Thani on Sunday and Saudi King Abdullah on Monday.

The centrepiece of Clinton's trip is a speech on Sunday at the US-
Islamic World Forum, a meeting hosted by the Qatari government and the
Saban Centre for Middle East Policy of the Washington-based Brookings
Institution think tank.

Aides described her appearance as a sequel to Obama''s June speech in
Cairo, in which he called for an end to the "cycle of mistrust and
discord" between the United States and the Muslim world and sought to
pave the way for better relations.

While Obama's speech was well received by many, there has been deep
unhappiness among Arabs at his inability to get Israel to stop
building Jewish settlements on the West Bank.

A year of U.S. diplomatic efforts has so far failed to revive talks
aimed at ending the six-decade conflict through a peace treaty that
would create a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Having failed to get Israel to undertake a total settlement freeze or
to get Arab states to take confidence-building steps such as reopening
Israeli trade offices as a first step toward negotiations, Washington
now simply wants to get talks going.

Clinton planned to discuss how Arab states might give Palestinian
President Mahmoud Abbas political cover to help him resume peace talks
despite the absence of a settlement freeze.

"What we would like to see right now is for the Arab states to provide
the support that president Abbas feels he needs in order to enter ...
negotiations," he said. "Let's stop talking about negotiating. Let''s
actually get the negotiations moving."

http://www.dnaindia.com/world/report_hillary-clinton-seeks-more-arab-pressure-on-iran_1347576

French president Nicolas Sarkozy condemns Pune blast
PTI Sunday, February 14, 2010 20:40 IST

New Delhi: French president Nicolas Sarkozy today strongly condemned
the "abominable" terror attack in Pune and expressed support to India
in its efforts to bring to justice the perpetrators of the 'cowardly"
act.

The president "strongly condemns the abominable attack perpetrated
against the city of Pune... claiming tens of victims, killed or
injured in a most cowardly manner," a statement released by the French
Embassy here said.

It said Sarkozy expresses his sorrowful condolences to their families,
their near and dear ones, to the people and the Government of India.

"On behalf of France, the president of the Republic assures the prime
minister of India Manmohan Singh of France's full and entire
solidarity," the statement said.

Affirming his determination to fight terrorism relentlessly, Sarkozy
expressed support to India in its "efforts so that the perpetrators of
these unspeakable criminal acts may be brought to justice and
sentenced."

French foreign minister Bernard Kouchner also denounced the terror
attack and said there could be no excuse for "recourse to terrorism, a
criminal act." France, he said, is at India’s side in its fight
against this scourge.

http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_french-president-nicolas-sarkozy-condemns-pune-blast_1347869

Editorial
Iran's nuke bluster
Saturday, February 13, 2010 0:58 IST

Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s declaration on Thursday, the
31st anniversary of the Islamic republic, that his country is now a
nuclear state has had the expected effect in London and Washington. It
was the perfect red rag to Western bulls. The unthinking response was
a call for immediate, tougher sanctions against Iran, member of the
famous ‘axis of evil’ triad propounded by former US president George W
Bush. They did not pause to note that he said, ‘nuclear state’ and not
‘nuclear weapons state’. But Western leaders and strategists are not
assessing facts.

They are looking for ways of acting against Iran short of, hopefully,
going to war just to take the focus away from the foibles and follies
in Iran and Afghanistan. None of the experts had even paused to ask
whether this could be bluster on the part of a beleaguered Tehran
regime which is facing a tough challenge from a
determined opposition at home.

After Saddam Hussein’s non-existent weapons of mass destruction
(WMDs), something that then US secretary of state Colin Powell piously
argued for before the UN Security Council, and former British prime
minister Tony Blair ‘sexed up’ sufficiently, it will be difficult for
western leaders to convince the rest of the world about Iran’s nuclear
weapons.

The West would be committing a blunder if it wants to drum up world
support against Iran by manipulating opinion by presenting
exaggerations and lies as facts. More than the Iran (Islam)-phobic
West, it is the Arab neighbours of Tehran who are apprehensive of
Tehran’s nuclear programme and its claims. The possibility that Iran
could acquire nuclear weapons and not necessarily through indigenous
capability — we know this from Pakistan’s example — is not to be ruled
out. What is needed then is not the knee-jerk belligerence of the
Anglo-American kind.

Is there something that Iran will have to do on its part? Yes. It will
have to end its useless anti-Israeli rhetoric because it is of no help
to the Palestinians. What the Palestinians need is a quick resolution
and posturing is of no help at all. This gesture alone will clear the
air and create a helpful, if not friendly, climate for talks. The
other thing Iran will have to accept is its treaty obligations. As
India has reiterated time and again, Iran as a signatory to the
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) has to abide by the commitments
that the treaty entails.

The bluster of Ahmadinejad should not be a pretext to plunge the
region and world into another war-like situation. The misjudgments of
Bush and Blair cannot be allowed to be
repeated.

http://www.dnaindia.com/opinion/editorial_iran-s-nuke-bluster_1347086

...and I am Sid Harth

[bademiyansubhanallah]

CCTV footage reveals vital clues in Pune blast: Sources
15 Feb 2010, 11:29am IST| Duration: 01:40

Watch Video

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/videoshow/5575311.cms

Pune blast: Pak-based JuD's role under scanner
15 Feb 2010, 8:58am IST| Duration: 01:01

Watch Video

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/videos/news/Pune-blast-Pak-based-JuDs-role-under-scanner/videoshow/5574771.cms

Pune bakery blast: Eyewitnesses' account
13 Feb 2010, 9:50pm IST| Duration: 01:05

Watch Video

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/videos/news/Pune-bakery-blast-Eyewitnesses-account/videoshow/5570039.cms

Pune blast victims recount horror
14 Feb 2010, 7:17pm IST| Duration: 01:17

Watch Video

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/videos/news/Pune-blast-victims-recount-horror/videoshow/5573217.cms

'I am grateful to be alive'
14 Feb 2010, 6:46pm IST| Duration: 01:36

Watch Video

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/videos/news/I-am-grateful-to-be-alive/videoshow/5573126.cms

Probe moving in right direction: Pune police
14 Feb 2010, 5:55pm IST| Duration: 00:54

Watch Video

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/videos/news/Probe-moving-in-right-direction-Pune-police/videoshow/5573007.cms

US condemns Pune attack, offers help
14 Feb 2010, 3:05pm IST| Duration: 00:16

Watch Video

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/videos/news/US-condemns-Pune-attack-offers-help/videoshow/5572570.cms

Ammonium Nitrate and RDX used in Pune bomb: Sources
14 Feb 2010, 2:37pm IST| Duration: 01:18

Watch Video

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/videos/news/Ammonium-Nitrate-and-RDX-used-in-Pune-bomb-Sources/videoshow/5572463.cms

24 eyewitness accounts recorded in Pune blast
14 Feb 2010, 1:41pm IST| Duration: 01:19

Watch Video

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/videos/news/24-eyewitness-accounts-recorded-in-Pune-blast/videoshow/5572320.cms

Manish Tiwari's reaction on Pune bomb blast
14 Feb 2010, 11:55am IST| Duration: 01:21

Watch Video

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/videos/news/Manish-Tiwaris-reaction-on-Pune-bomb-blast/videoshow/5572031.cms

CBI forensic, NIA teams sent to Pune
13 Feb 2010, 10:26pm IST| Duration: 00:45

Watch Video

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/videos/news/CBI-forensic-NIA-teams-sent-to-Pune/videoshow/5570190.cms

...and I am Sid Harth

[bademiyansubhanallah]

Three killed in fresh US drone attack in Pakistan
STAFF WRITER 17:35 HRS IST

Peshawar, Feb 15 (PTI) A US drone fired missiles at a vehicle in
Pakistan's troubled northwest killing three militants in the second
such strike in last 24 hours in an area controlled by Taliban fighters
of Haqqani network.

Missiles fired by the drone hit a vehicle in Tapai Kalay area, located
15 km east of Miranshah, the main town in North Waziristan Agency. All
three occupants of the vehicle, believed to be Taliban militants, were
killed, officials said.

However, some local residents said four persons were killed in the
attack but this could not immediately be ascertained. The vehicle was
also destroyed.

This was the second drone attack in the region since yesterday, when
seven fighters, including four foreign militants were killed in a
missile strike on a compound that was believed to be a militant
training centre.

US has carried out more than a dozen drone attacks in Pakistan's
tribal belt this year.

http://www.ptinews.com/news/518424_Three-killed-in-fresh-US-drone-attack-in-Pakistan

Three LeT militants killed, IED defused in Srinagar
STAFF WRITER 18:34 HRS IST

Srinagar, Feb 15 (PTI) Three Lashkar-e-Toiba militants were killed in
two separate encounters in Jammu and Kashmir, where a major tragedy
was averted with timely detection of a powerful IED in Baramulla
district today, police said.

A self-styled district commander of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) Ashraf
Moulvi and his close associate Rouf Ahmad Bhat were killed in a
gunbattle with a joint search party of police and Army in Kulgam
district's Qaimoh, 70 kms from here in South Kashmir, this morning,
Superintendent of Police, Kulgam, Keshav Ram Chourasia told PTI.

"As per police records the duo were affiliated with Hizbul Mujahideen
but had recently switched to LeT which was revealed by the documents
recovered from them," he said.

Terming the killing of the two militants as a "major success", he said
Moulvi had been arrested and jailed under Public Safety Act (PSA)
thrice in the past one decade.

We do not rule out involvement of foreign hand in Pune blast, says
Home Secretary G K Pillai.

http://www.ptinews.com/news/518611_Three-LeT-militants-killed--IED-defused-in-Srinagar

Trial of Kasab to resume on Feb 20 for arguments
STAFF WRITER 15:48 HRS IST

Mumbai, Feb 15 (PTI) The trial of Pakistani gunman Ajmal Kasab and two
Indians in the 26/11 terror attack case has entered a crucial phase
with the prosecution and defence lawyers gearing up to submit
arguments on February 20.

The court would assemble this weekend, nearly a month after it
concluded recording of evidence.

Special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam and Kasab's lawyer K P Pawar
said they were ready to put forth their arguments. So also, the lawyer
of co-accused Sabauddin Ahmed, Ejaz Naqvi, is all set to argue the
case of his client.

However, the sudden killing of advocate Shahid Azmi, who represented
co-accused Faheem Ansari, is likely to defer the arguments as Ansari
would have to engage another lawyer who will have to go through the
entire evidence which is time consuming.

Azmi was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in his suburban Kurla office
last week.

http://www.ptinews.com/news/518135_Trial-of-Kasab-to-resume-on-Feb-20-for-arguments

Gloom in Kolkata school where Pune victims studied
STAFF WRITER 16:49 HRS IST

Kolkata, Feb 15 (PTI) Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan, the school where Pune
blast victims Ankik Dhar, his sister Anandi and friend Shilpa Goenka
studied, plunged into gloom today as teachers and friends recalled
their brilliance.

The three ex-students, who met for the the last time at Pune's famed
German Bakery before being killed in Saturday's blast, were all
brilliant students, recalled the teachers.

The mathematics teacher picked up Ankik for his special praise,
describing him as 'extra ordinarily brilliant'.

"God knows why these talented children were snatched away from us. No
idea what the terrorists got in killing them," a teacher lamented.

A condolence meeting was held today in the school, situated at Salt
Lake area, before its assembly. The school will remain closed on
Wednesday in memory of the students.

While the brother-sister duo was resident of Lake Town in North 24
Parganas district, their friend Shilpa lived at nearby Salt Lake.

http://www.ptinews.com/news/518286_Gloom-in-Kolkata-school-where-Pune-victims-studied

VHP opposes Indo-Pak talk, to take up national issues
STAFF WRITER 16:16 HRS IST

Bhubaneswar, Feb 15 (PTI) Opposing the proposed Indo-Pak talks in the
aftermath of terror attack in Pune, VHP today said sadhus would
henceforth take up national issues instead of only dealing with
spiritual matters.

VHP's international president Ashok Singhal said, "a decision in this
regard will be taken at a meeting during Kumbha mela" while a number
of 'Lok Jagaran' (public awarness) campaign would be launched after
the mela.

Singhal, who was here to attend a function at Puri, said sadhus would
now be involved in agitations similar to the Amarnath shrine board
land issue.

Saints of different sects would take a decision in this regard and
various Hindu organisations like VHP would support them, he said.

Asking the Centre to take "an offensive stand" on terror attacks
allegedly sponsored by Pakistan, Singhal termed the leaders supporting
the talk as "shamelss".

http://www.ptinews.com/news/518187_VHP-opposes-Indo-Pak-talk--to-take-up-national-issues

Maha ATS to quiz Shahzad in Delhi about Pune blast
STAFF WRITER 16:14 HRS IST

Mumbai, Feb 15 (PTI) A team of Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS),
probing the Pune blast, will question in Delhi suspected Indian
Mujahideen (IM) terrorist Shahzad, arrested in connection with the
2008 serial blasts in the national capital.

Shahzad (21) has provided information about the sleeper cells of the
terror outfit active in Maharashtra and particularly in Pune, police
sources said.

Investigators are probing possible links of IM in the Pune blast on
Saturday that has left nine people dead, including two foreigners.

A list of suspects, who could have been directly or indirectly
involved in the blast, has been prepared, the sources said.

Shahzad, who is in the custody of Delhi Police's Special Cell in
connection with the Delhi blasts, had reportedly told police that an
IM terror module is active in Pune.

Shahzad was arrested on February 1 by UP ATS from Azamgarh district.

http://www.ptinews.com/news/518186_Maha-ATS-to-quiz-Shahzad-in-Delhi-about-Pune-blast

PDP voted against surrender policy in Assembly: Omar
STAFF WRITER 18:32 HRS IST

Jammu, Feb 15 (PTI) Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today refuted the PDP
claim that it supported the surrender and rehabilitation programme of
Kashmiri youths in PoK and said it was only his party that had taken
the initiative.

The records in the Assembly are testimonies to the fact that PDP voted
against the resolution moved by CPI(M) leader M Y Tarigami and that NC
supported the initiative, Omar said addressing a public meeting at
Kalakote in Rajouri district, 100 kms from here.

"Some people are habitual in telling lies in private while others
shamelessly speak falsehood publicly," he said referring the PDP's
claim that it supported the surrender and rehabilitation of youths who
had crossed across the line of control (LoC) and borders during
militancy.

http://www.ptinews.com/news/518599_PDP-voted-against-surrender-policy-in-Assembly--Omar

Sena-BJP MPs walk out of CM's meet; say govt failed to act
STAFF WRITER 15:10 HRS IST

Mumbai, Feb 15 (PTI) Alleging failure by the Maharashtra government to
act on Central intelligence inputs of a possible terror strike in
Pune, Opposition Shiv Sena-BJP MPs today walked out of a meeting
convened by Chief Minister Ashok Chavan to raise state's issues in
Parliament.

"The meeting began with a tribute to those killed in the Pune blast,
after which senior Sena leader Manohar Joshi raised the issue of lack
of coordination between Centre and state government," senior Sena MP
Chandrakant Khaire told PTI.

"We told the Chief Minister that the state government had failed to
act on alerts given by Central government and instead, it deployed
huge police force for Rahul Gandhi's visit to Mumbai and to ensure
release of Shah Rukh Khan's film," Khaire said.

http://www.ptinews.com/news/518066_Sena-BJP-MPs-walk-out-of-CM-s-meet--say-govt-failed-to-act

Dreaded criminal shot dead in Barabanki encounter
STAFF WRITER 16:33 HRS IST

Barabanki, Feb 15 (PTI) A dreaded criminal, carrying a cash reward of
Rs 50,000 over his head, was today killed in an encounter with police
in Ramnagar area of the district, a senior officer said here.

Ali Ahmad (45), who had 31 criminal cases against him, including those
of loot and murder, was killed in an encounter with police near
Budhwal railway station this morning, deputy Superintendent of Police
A T Mishra said.

While Ali's accomplice managed to flee from the spot, police recovered
a Chinese pistol near the criminal's body, he said.

"Ali escaped from police custody while being taken to Barabanki
district court in 2007 and was on the run since then," the DySP said.

Mishra said that recently one of Ali's accomplices, Salim, was killed
in an encounter with police in Ghaziabad district and an AK 47 rifle
was recovered from him.

http://www.ptinews.com/news/518262_Dreaded-criminal-shot-dead-in-Barabanki-encounter

Deoband opposes full body scanners at American airport
STAFF WRITER 15:1 HRS IST

Muzaffarnagar, Feb 15 (PTI) A leading Islamic seminary today strongly
opposed use of full body scanners in American airports, saying that
the security screening system was in violation of Islamic law.

"Full body scanning is against the Shariat. It is in violation of
Islam as men and women can be seen naked by other men and women,"
acting Vice-Chancellor of Darul-uloom Deoband Maulana Abdul Khalik
Madrasi said here upholding the 'fatwa' issued by the US-based Fiqh
Council of North America.

He said that Islam emphasises "haya" (modesty) and treated covering of
the body as part of the faith.

http://www.ptinews.com/news/518054_Deoband-opposes-full-body-scanners-at-American-airport

Around 1 to 1.5 kg RDX used in Pune blast: report
STAFF WRITER 14:39 HRS IST

Mumbai, Feb 15 (PTI) The forensic report into Pune blast has said
around one to one and a half kg of RDX was used in the explosion,
sources said.

"The forensic report has confirmed that RDX was used and the quantity
was around one to one and a half kg," sources told PTI.

The report is expected to be submitted to concerned officials today,
sources said.

http://www.ptinews.com/news/518019_Around-1-to-1-5-kg-RDX-used-in-Pune-blast--report

Not hesitant on solving terror issues with India: Pak
STAFF WRITER 17:11 HRS IST
Rezaul H Laskar

Islamabad, Feb 15 (PTI) Pakistan today said it is "not hesitant" about
solving terror-related issues with India though the Kashmir dispute
will have to be settled to ensure absolute peace in the region.

Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit made the remarks while talking to
a TV news channel about the Foreign Secretary-level talks scheduled to
be held in New Delhi on February 25.

A number of issues, including terrorism, the Kashmir dispute,
differences over sharing of river waters and bilateral trade, would
come up for discussion during the upcoming meeting, he said.

Pakistan will also bring up India's alleged involvement in fomenting
unrest in the tribal areas and Balochistan province, Basit said.

No conditions had been set for the dialogue, he added.

http://www.ptinews.com/news/518341_Not-hesitant-on-solving-terror-issues-with-India--Pak

Taliban bastion almost under control: Afghan military
STAFF WRITER 17:7 HRS IST

Lashkar Gah (Afghanistan), Feb 15 (AFP) The Afghan military said today
that US-led troops had taken almost full control of a Taliban bastion
at the centre of a massive ground and air assault that was in its
third day.

The offensive is the first major test of US President Barack Obama's
strategy to reverse the Taliban insurgency and end the eight-year war,
and one of the biggest since the 2001 US-led invasion brought down the
Taliban.

US Marines were leading 15,000 US, NATO and Afghan troops in the
ground and air operation designed to clear the Taliban from the Marjah
region of the southern province of Helmand and make way for Western-
backed authorities.

So far at least 12 Afghan civilians and two NATO soldiers have been
killed in Operation Mushtarak ("Together" in Dari). Another five NATO
soldiers have died elsewhere in southern Afghanistan since the assault
began Saturday.

http://www.ptinews.com/news/518340_Taliban-bastion-almost-under-control--Afghan-military

Terror attacks not to deter rise of India: AAPI
STAFF WRITER 10:7 HRS IST

Washington, Feb 15 (PTI) The American Association of Physicians of
Indian Origin (AAPI), one of the most influential doctors organisation
in the US, today said the terrorist attacks like the one in Pune last
week would not stop the rise of India as a global power.

Terming the terrorist attack in Pune as a provocative act on the part
of the terror groups, AAPI in a statement commended India for the
restraint shown by it.

"This attack is just the latest provocation India has faced, making it
virtually the only nation in the global community to continually show
remarkable restraint in the face of ongoing terrorism," said AAPI
president Dr Vinod K Shah.

"Citizens of India, Iran, Sudan, Nepal, Taiwan and Germany suffered
injuries in this attack, indicating the global reach of this senseless
violence. We give our sincerest condolences to the families who lost
loved ones in this attack," Dr Shah said.

http://www.ptinews.com/news/517725_Terror-attacks-not-to-deter-rise-of-India--AAPI

Three killed in attacks in Baghdad, north Iraq
STAFF WRITER 3:0 HRS IST

Kirkuk (Iraq), Feb 15 (AFP) Three people have been killed and nine
others wounded in attacks that took place in Baghdad and northern
Iraq, officials said.

Unidentified assailants opened fire on two civilians who were
travelling on a motorbike in the northern oil city of Kirkuk, killing
one and seriously wounding the other, police said yesterday.

In another incident, a Christian was killed in a drive-by shooting in
front of his house in the northern city of Mosul, police said.

Separately in Sadr City, a densely populated district of Baghdad, an
explosion went off at a cafe killing one civilian and wounding six
others, according to interior ministry sources.

The same sources said two employees of the mobile telephone company
Zain were wounded by a roadside bomb in the capital's western
neighbourhood of Bayaa.

http://www.ptinews.com/news/517656_Three-killed-in-attacks-in-Baghdad--north-Iraq

Only 1 in 5 blacklisted Iraqi candidates to run
STAFF WRITER 1:48 HRS IST

Baghdad, Feb 14 (AP) Only one in five candidates accused of being
loyalists to Saddam Hussein's regime successfully fought an order
banning them from running in Iraq's national elections next month,
officials said today.

The Shiite official in charge of the vetting panel that is widely seen
as targeting Sunnis also called on parliament to declare the already-
outlawed Baath party a terrorist organisation.

In his first press conference since the Baathist ballot purge, Ahmed
Chalabi said the Accountability and Justice Committee that he heads
"managed to reach results supporting (the) constitution."

The ban, which aims to purge candidates with links to the Baath party,
is threatening to disrupt the March 7 parliamentary elections, and
could throw the vote results in dispute if there is a broad perception
that Sunnis have been politically sidelined.

http://www.ptinews.com/news/517653_Only-1-in-5-blacklisted-Iraqi-candidates-to-run

Biden: Military trial possible for 9/11 suspect
STAFF WRITER 1:36 HRS IST

Washington, Feb 14 (AP) Vice President Joe Biden says the
administration has not ruled out a military trial for the professed
mastermind of the September 11 terror attacks even if a civilian trial
would be preferable.

Biden, in defending the Obama administration from critics of its
approach to prosecuting accused terrorists, said in interviews aired
today that it is not yet clear where Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four
other September 11 suspects held at the US military prison at
Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, will be tried.

However, Biden said he believes Mohammed will be found guilty
regardless of the venue. His remarks echoed comments last month by
White House press secretary Robert Gibbs, who said Mohammed "is going
to meet justice and he's going to meet his maker."

President Barack Obama will make the final decision about the trial,
Biden said.

http://www.ptinews.com/news/517648_Biden--Military-trial-possible-for-9-11-suspect

...and I am Sid Harth

[Sid Harth]

Parliamentary by-polls: Sharif withdraws nomination
STAFF WRITER 17:53 HRS IST

Lahore, Feb 16 (PTI) Pakistan's main Opposition PML-N chief Nawaz
Sharif today withdrew his nomination papers for next month's
parliamentary by-polls after his party decided that he can mount
greater pressure on the ruling coalition from outside the House.

Sharif had earlier announced his decision not to contest the by-polls
but the former premier had to withdraw his nomination papers after his
candidature was challenged in the Lahore High Court.

Freelance journalist Shahid Orakzai filed a petition in the High Court?
s election tribunal on Friday in which he alleged that after the 1993
general election, Sharif and his brother, Punjab Chief Minister
Shahbaz Sharif, had negotiated a deal with him to "buy" the votes of
seven parliamentarians from the tribal areas for the election of the
speaker of the National Assembly.? ?

The Court today reserved its judgment on Orakzai?s petition after
hearing arguments by lawyers from both sides.

http://www.ptinews.com/news/520404_Parliamentary-by-polls--Sharif-withdraws-nomination

IEDs biggest challenge for troops fighting Taliban
STAFF WRITER 20:23 HRS IST

Kabul, Feb 16 (AFP) Improvised explosive devices, or IEDs, are the
biggest threat facing troops engaged in an assault on a Taliban
stronghold in southern Afghanistan, military commanders have said.

US Marines are leading 15,000 US, NATO and Afghan troops in an
operation to clear the Marjah and Nad Ali districts in Helmand
province of Taliban militants who have controlled the region, along
with drug traffickers, for years.

The aim of Operation Mushtarak ("together" in Dari), is to re-
establish Afghan government control so security and civil services
such as police stations, schools and clinics can be set up.

Commanders say areas have been heavily mined with IEDs by Taliban
fighters as they have fled or melted into the local population.

The homemade bombs have been found planted in roads and fields,
hanging from trees and even plastered into walls, Afghan Army Colonel
Shirin Shah told AFP.

http://www.ptinews.com/news/520862_IEDs-biggest-challenge-for-troops-fighting-Taliban

Pak yet to ascertain if Baradar among captured: Malik
STAFF WRITER 20:14 HRS IST
Rezaul H Laskar

Islamabad, Feb 15 (PTI) Pakistani authorities are yet to ascertain
whether top Taliban military commander Mullah Baradar had been
arrested in Karachi, Interior Minister Rehman Malik said today,
terming as "propaganda" a US media report claiming the big catch.

"We are verifying (the identity of) the people who have been
apprehended. If there is any big target among them, I assure the
nation that we will bring it to your notice," Malik told reporters
outside the parliament hours after The New York Times reported that
Mullah Baradar had been arrested in a joint spy operation by Pakistani
and US operatives.

? ? "If The New York Times reports something, it is not the divine
truth. It could also be wrong," he said.

There is "intelligence sharing" between Pakistan and the US but the
two countries are not conducting any joint investigation or joint
raids, he added.

http://www.ptinews.com/news/520843_Pak-yet-to-ascertain-if-Baradar-among-captured--Malik

US tells Iraq to improve prisons, stamp out abuse
STAFF WRITER 20:16 HRS IST

Geneva, Feb 16 (AP) In a UN debate, the United States has urged the
Iraqi government to improve its poor prison conditions and to
investigate allegations of detainee abuse.

The US criticism came at a debate today at the UN Human Rights Council
over Iraq's human rights record, nearly six years after accounts
emerged of US torture at the Abu Ghraib prison west of Baghdad.

US representative Douglas Griffiths also said he was deeply concerned
about the violence against religious minorities, gays, lesbians and
women in Iraq.

Iraqi Human Rights Minister Wijdan Salim said her country was trying
to improve the protection of human rights while handling the country's
difficult security situation.

http://www.ptinews.com/news/520840_US-tells-Iraq-to-improve-prisons--stamp-out-abuse

JK govt to take action against illegal nursing homes
STAFF WRITER 19:50 HRS IST

Jammu, Feb 16 (PTI) Set to regulate private health sector in Jammu and
Kashmir, the state government has started initiating stringent action
against nursing homes, diagnostic centres and clinics which are
functioning illegally.

"We have started initiating stringent action against such centres to
streamline the private sector health care in J-K," Health Minister
Sham Lal Sharma told reporters here today.

The regulatory body, constituted to enforce the norms to be adopted by
the nursing homes, has been asked to initiate necessary steps to seal
all such establishments which are not fulfilling the set para meters
as per the Supreme Court directions, within a week's time, he said.

The Minister said time limit granted by the Supreme Court to various
nursing homes to meet the required parameters has expired on January
29 and there was no escape from the legal action for such
establishments which are violating the norms.

http://www.ptinews.com/news/520752_JK-govt-to-take-action-against-illegal-nursing-homes

File photo of police, rescue workers inspecting the site of explosion
at German Bakery in Pune. PTI Photo Photograph (1)

Pune attack: Unknown Pak group claims responsibility
STAFF WRITER 19:54 HRS IST
Rezaul H Laskar

Islamabad, Feb 16 (PTI) Laskhar-e-Taiba Al Alami, a hitherto unheard
terror outfit, today claimed it carried out the Pune blast because of
India's "refusal" to discuss the Kashmir issue with Pakistan.

The claim was made by a man who called Nirupama Subramanian, the
Islamabad-based correspondent of The Hindu newspaper.

The caller identified himself as Abu Jindal and described himself as
the spokesman of the LeT Al Alami (International).

The caller claimed his group carried out the attack in Pune that
killed nine people because of what he described as India's "refusal"
to discuss the Kashmir issue in forthcoming talks with Pakistan.

He also said his group had split from the Laskher-e-Taiba because it
"took orders" from Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence agency.

The man said India's "alliance" with the US was another reason for the
attack.

Asked if there were any other reasons, he said: "These are the only
two reasons.

http://www.ptinews.com/news/520757_Pune-attack--Unknown-Pak-group-claims-responsibility

Omar for focused thrust on physical targets
STAFF WRITER 23:17 HRS IST

Srinagar, Feb 16 (PTI) Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah
today called for focused thrust on achieving physical targets.

Chairing separate meetings of Ganderbal and Bandipora District
Development Boards at Ganderbal, 25 kms from here, Omar asked the
project executors to maintain quality standard.

With a view to step up work on various upcoming projects and schemes
in the Bandipora district, the chief minister announced additional
amount of about Rs 2.30 crore.

http://www.ptinews.com/news/521358_Omar-for-focused-thrust-on-physical-targets

...and I am Sid Harth