My views on the US occupation of Afghanistan and why America will fail are well-known to regular readers. To my surprise, my views are shared by many a foreign policy expert and other opinion makers as has been evidenced in numerous B-side posts published and shown here that also criticise the US role in Afghanistan. Indeed in November’s B-side Matthew Hoh takes the centre stage via his resignation letter which is discussed for it offers an insight into the American experience as Hoh is an American with frontline experience of the US role in Afghanistan.

More recently an interview with Matthew Hoh on Al Jazeera has become available and it is necessary viewing as it pinpoints the failure of the US and is criticism from no armchair analyst or armchair general. Rather they are the true words of a passionate American who has served in that arena that is called the graveyard of empires and deserve to be heard and heeded (are you listening Celebrity Obama?). The interview is shown below:

As expected , President Obama has decided to send another 30,000 US troops to the graveyard of empires that is Afghanistan. The commander in chief of the US Army and the commander in speech for the world waxed eloquently, however his decision will have a profound and adverse impact on Pakistan and will destabilise Pakistan even further. 

The killing fields of Pakistan that have so far drenched FATA and NWFP and Pakistani cities like Lahore, Islamabad and Rawalpindi including the devastating  mosque attack of today are full alreadywith the blood of innocents.  The tragedy is that my beloved Balochistan province will be in the eye of the storm as US action in Afghanistan is sure to send the Taliban on the run to the border regions around Balochistan. Consequently a new front will be forced on a weak Pakistan to tacke the Taliban  and the lie of a ‘Quetta Shoora’ in Balochistan with the more than occassional drone attack from Uncle Sam.

Crucially such drone attacks will be the first attack by our so-called partner and the very first on mainland Pakistan, it is another US policy folly more like designed to degrade and destabilise Pakistan from within. However I remain confident that the Pakistani nation will rise to the challege of protecting our state interests as the nation is united in defeating both the evil of the Taliban and the US who seek to challenge the writ of the Pakistani state, the latter by guns and the former by grants paid in the weakened US dollar. The Obama folly, sorry full speech can be seen below:

Part 2 of rthe Hussain and Hillary Show focuses on Hillary Clinton.  It is short and sweet because like Hussain Obama, Hillary Clinton too delivers a hissy fit but this time it is one that speaks the truth- the Taliban Truth.

As the X Files told the world ‘the truth is out there’, well Hillary has caught on and told the ‘Taliban Truth’ at a US  Committee hearing.  The truth that Uncle Sam created the monster that is the Taliban aka the then ‘mujahideen’ and that as usual having used and abused them and Pakistan Uncle Sam left. Enjoy the Taliban Truth below:

This dedicated series of posts covers the comments of the H tag team that is Hussein Obama and Hillary Clinton.

On the eve of President Zardari’s first meeting with President Obama, I am posting Obama’s newest diatribe on issues concerning Pakistan. The subtitle of the post in indicative as I have called Obama’s comments as Hussein’s  hissy fit by the artist still known in some circles as Hussein Obama.

Indeed the Pakistani media and the Muslim media at large delighted at the  Muslim heritage President Obama could natuarally claim and waxed eloquent that his presidency would be the panacea for the world’s  ills. The Pakistani media in particular went on an overdrive never tiring of using the till now middle name of Hussein whenever mentioning Barack Obama.

Today the Pakistani media is mute now after realising in only one hundred days that Hussein Obama is more vocal and not less vocal against Pakistan. Indeed the condescending tone with which Obama belittles Pakistani democracy after his beloved country  supported dictatorship and looked the other way when the democratic forces fought martial law is criminal.

Worse the fact that President Obama is the first US President to so publicly attack Pakistani efforts and its democratic government irrespective of its poor performance smacks of a total disregard for Pakistan and shows an inherent imperial outlook in a man who promised change. And change it is!

Even during the infamous Bush era, Pakistan was not disgraced in such a way and never ever by the office and the person of the President. And before it all boils over,  here is Hussein’s hissy fit (view from 0.43 to 3.45)

April’s B-side is focused entirely on the two A’s that give Pakistan a constant headache- America and Afghanistan. The much trumpeted Obama policy for Afghanistan has been announced with accompanying fanfare and is the focus of April’s B-side as Afghanistan’s fate will affect Pakistan greatly.

April’s B-side contents are:

•    A New Strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan by BARACK OBAMA
•    With Obama At the World’s Most Dangerous Place by Prof AKBAR AHMED
•    Munich Conference Speech by SHAH MEHMOOD QURESHI

I begin the debate with the celebrity President and from the horse’s mouth as it were with President Obama speech on America’s new policy and include too its transcript. It is a must watch and read, do especially read my views on the policy.

A New Strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan by BARACK OBAMA

We begin the speech that is shown in two parts:

The second part of Barack Obama’s speech:

The full text of the Obama speech is shown below:

Good morning. Today, I am announcing a comprehensive, new strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan.

This marks the conclusion of a careful policy review that I ordered as soon as I took office. My Administration has heard from our military commanders and diplomats. We have consulted with the Afghan and Pakistani governments; with our partners and NATO allies; and with other donors and international organizations. And we have also worked closely with members of Congress here at home. Now, I’d like to speak clearly and candidly to the American people.

The situation is increasingly perilous. It has been more than seven years since the Taliban was removed from power, yet war rages on, and insurgents control parts of Afghanistan and Pakistan. Attacks against our troops, our NATO allies, and the Afghan government have risen steadily. Most painfully, 2008 was the deadliest year of the war for American forces.

Many people in the United States and many in partner countries that have sacrificed so much have a simple question: What is our purpose in Afghanistan? After so many years, they ask, why do our men and women still fight and die there? They deserve a straightforward answer.

So let me be clear: al Qaeda and its allies the terrorists who planned and supported the 9/11 attacks are in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Multiple intelligence estimates have warned that al Qaeda is actively planning attacks on the U.S. homeland from its safe-haven in Pakistan. And if the Afghan government falls to the Taliban or allows al Qaeda to go unchallenged ñ that country will again be a base for terrorists who want to kill as many of our people as they possibly can.

The future of Afghanistan is inextricably linked to the future of its neighbor, Pakistan. In the nearly eight years since 9/11, al Qaeda and its extremist allies have moved across the border to the remote areas of the Pakistani frontier. This almost certainly includes al Qaeda’s leadership: Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri. They have used this mountainous terrain as a safe-haven to hide, train terrorists, communicate with followers, plot attacks, and send fighters to support the insurgency in Afghanistan. For the American people, this border region has become the most dangerous place in the world.

But this is not simply an American problem far from it. It is, instead, an international security challenge of the highest order. Terrorist attacks in London and Bali were tied to al Qaeda and its allies in Pakistan, as were attacks in North Africa and the Middle East, in Islamabad and Kabul. If there is a major attack on an Asian, European, or African city, it too is likely to have ties to al Qaedaís leadership in Pakistan. The safety of people around the world is at stake.

For the Afghan people, a return to Taliban rule would condemn their country to brutal governance, international isolation, a paralyzed economy, and the denial of basic human rights to the Afghan people especially women and girls. The return in force of al Qaeda terrorists who would accompany the core Taliban leadership would cast Afghanistan under the shadow of perpetual violence.

As President, my greatest responsibility is to protect the American people. We are not in Afghanistan to control that country or to dictate its future. We are in Afghanistan to confront a common enemy that threatens the United States, our friends and allies, and the people of Afghanistan and Pakistan who have suffered the most at the hands of violent extremists.

So I want the American people to understand that we have a clear and focused goal: to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat al Qaeda in Pakistan and Afghanistan, and to prevent their return to either country in the future. That is the goal that must be achieved. That is a cause that could not be more just. And to the terrorists who oppose us, my message is the same: we will defeat you.

To achieve our goals, we need a stronger, smarter and comprehensive strategy. To focus on the greatest threat to our people, America must no longer deny resources to Afghanistan because of the war in Iraq. To enhance the military, governance, and economic capacity of Afghanistan and Pakistan, we have to marshal international support. And to defeat an enemy that heeds no borders or laws of war, we must recognize the fundamental connection between the future of Afghanistan and Pakistan which is why I’ve appointed Ambassador Richard Holbrooke to serve as Special Representative for both countries, and to work closely with General David Petraeus to integrate our civilian and military efforts.

Let me start by addressing the way forward in Pakistan.

The United States has great respect for the Pakistani people. They have a rich history, and have struggled against long odds to sustain their democracy. The people of Pakistan want the same things that we want: an end to terror, access to basic services, the opportunity to live their dreams, and the security that can only come with the rule of law. The single greatest threat to that future comes from al Qaeda and their extremist allies, and that is why we must stand together.

The terrorists within Pakistanís borders are not simply enemies of America or Afghanistan ñ they are a grave and urgent danger to the people of Pakistan. Al Qaeda and other violent extremists have killed several thousand Pakistanis since 9/11. They have killed many Pakistani soldiers and police. They assassinated Benazir Bhutto. They have blown up buildings, derailed foreign investment, and threatened the stability of the state. Make no mistake: al Qaeda and its extremist allies are a cancer that risks killing Pakistan from within.

It is important for the American people to understand that Pakistan needs our help in going after al Qaeda. This is no simple task. The tribal regions are vast, rugged, and often ungoverned. That is why we must focus our military assistance on the tools, training and support that Pakistan needs to root out the terrorists. And after years of mixed results, we will not provide a blank check. Pakistan must demonstrate its commitment to rooting out al Qaeda and the violent extremists within its borders. And we will insist that action be taken one way or another when we have intelligence about high-level terrorist targets.

The governmentís ability to destroy these safe-havens is tied to its own strength and security. To help Pakistan weather the economic crisis, we must continue to work with the IMF, the World Bank and other international partners. To lessen tensions between two nuclear-armed nations that too often teeter on the edge of escalation and confrontation, we must pursue constructive diplomacy with both India and Pakistan. To avoid the mistakes of the past, we must make clear that our relationship with Pakistan is grounded in support for Pakistanís democratic institutions and the Pakistani people. And to demonstrate through deeds as well as words a commitment that is enduring, we must stand for lasting opportunity.

A campaign against extremism will not succeed with bullets or bombs alone. Al Qaeda offers the people of Pakistan nothing but destruction. We stand for something different. So today, I am calling upon Congress to pass a bipartisan bill co-sponsored by John Kerry and Richard Lugar that authorizes $1.5 billion in direct support to the Pakistani people every year over the next five years resources that will build schools, roads, and hospitals, and strengthen Pakistanís democracy. I’m also calling on Congress to pass a bipartisan bill co-sponsored by Maria Cantwell, Chris Van Hollen and Peter Hoekstra that creates opportunity zones in the border region to develop the economy and bring hope to places plagued by violence. And we will ask our friends and allies to do their part ñ including at the donors conference in Tokyo next month.

I do not ask for this support lightly. These are challenging times, and resources are stretched. But the American people must understand that this is a down payment on our own future ñ because the security of our two countries is shared. Pakistanís government must be a stronger partner in destroying these safe-havens, and we must isolate al Qaeda from the Pakistani people.

These steps in Pakistan are also indispensable to our effort in Afghanistan, which will see no end to violence if insurgents move freely back and forth across the border.

Security demands a new sense of shared responsibility. That is why we will launch a standing, trilateral dialogue among the United States, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Our nations will meet regularly, with Secretary Clinton and Secretary Gates leading our effort. Together, we must enhance intelligence sharing and military cooperation along the border, while addressing issues of common concern like trade, energy, and economic development.

This is just one part of a comprehensive strategy to prevent Afghanistan from becoming the al Qaeda safe-haven that it was before 9/11. To succeed, we and our friends and allies must reverse the Taliban’s gains, and promote a more capable and accountable Afghan government.

Our troops have fought bravely against a ruthless enemy. Our civilians have made great sacrifices. Our allies have borne a heavy burden. Afghans have suffered and sacrificed for their future. But for six years, Afghanistan has been denied the resources that it demands because of the war in Iraq. Now, we must make a commitment that can accomplish our goals.

I have already ordered the deployment of 17,000 troops that had been requested by General McKiernan for many months. These soldiers and Marines will take the fight to the Taliban in the south and east, and give us a greater capacity to partner with Afghan Security Forces and to go after insurgents along the border. This push will also help provide security in advance of the important presidential election in August.

At the same time, we will shift the emphasis of our mission to training and increasing the size of Afghan Security Forces, so that they can eventually take the lead in securing their country. That is how we will prepare Afghans to take responsibility for their security, and how we will ultimately be able to bring our troops home.

For three years, our commanders have been clear about the resources they need for training. Those resources have been denied because of the war in Iraq. Now, that will change. The additional troops that we deployed have already increased our training capacity. Later this spring we will deploy approximately 4,000 U.S. troops to train Afghan Security Forces. For the first time, this will fully resource our effort to train and support the Afghan Army and Police. Every American unit in Afghanistan will be partnered with an Afghan unit, and we will seek additional trainers from our NATO allies to ensure that every Afghan unit has a coalition partner. We will accelerate our efforts to build an Afghan Army of 134,000 and a police force of 82,000 so that we can meet these goals by 2011 and increases in Afghan forces may very well be needed as our plans to turn over security responsibility to the Afghans go forward.

This push must be joined by a dramatic increase in our civilian effort. Afghanistan has an elected government, but it is undermined by corruption and has difficulty delivering basic services to its people. The economy is undercut by a booming narcotics trade that encourages criminality and funds the insurgency. The people of Afghanistan seek the promise of a better future. Yet once again, have seen the hope of a new day darkened by violence and uncertainty.

To advance security, opportunity, and justice not just in Kabul, but from the bottom up in the provinces we need agricultural specialists and educators; engineers and lawyers. That is how we can help the Afghan government serve its people, and develop an economy that isnít dominated by illicit drugs. That is why I am ordering a substantial increase in our civilians on the ground. And that is why we must seek civilian support from our partners and allies, from the United Nations and international aid organizations an effort that Secretary Clinton will carry forward next week in the Hague.

At a time of economic crisis, it is tempting to believe that we can short-change this civilian effort. But make no mistake: our efforts will fail in Afghanistan and Pakistan if we don’t invest in their future. That is why my budget includes indispensable investments in our State Department and foreign assistance programs. These investments relieve the burden on our troops. They contribute directly to security. They make the American people safer. And they save us an enormous amount of money in the long run because it is far cheaper to train a policeman to secure their village or to help a farmer seed a crop, than it is to send our troops to fight tour after tour of duty with no transition to Afghan responsibility.

As we provide these resources, the days of unaccountable spending, no-bid contracts, and wasteful reconstruction must end. So my budget will increase funding for a strong Inspector General at both the State Department and USAID, and include robust funding for the Special Inspector General for Afghan Reconstruction.

And I want to be clear: we cannot turn a blind eye to the corruption that causes Afghans to lose faith in their own leaders. Instead, we will seek a new compact with the Afghan government that cracks down on corrupt behavior, and sets clear benchmarks for international assistance so that it is used to provide for the needs of the Afghan people.

In a country with extreme poverty that has been at war for decades, there will also be no peace without reconciliation among former enemies. I have no illusions that this will be easy. In Iraq, we had success in reaching out to former adversaries to isolate and target al Qaeda. We must pursue a similar process in Afghanistan, while understanding that it is a very different country.

There is an uncompromising core of the Taliban. They must be met with force, and they must be defeated. But there are also those who have taken up arms because of coercion, or simply for a price. These Afghans must have the option to choose a different course. That is why we will work with local leaders, the Afghan government, and international partners to have a reconciliation process in every province. As their ranks dwindle, an enemy that has nothing to offer the Afghan people but terror and repression must be further isolated. And we will continue to support the basic human rights of all Afghans ñ including women and girls.

Going forward, we will not blindly stay the course. Instead, we will set clear metrics to measure progress and hold ourselves accountable. We’ll consistently assess our efforts to train Afghan Security Forces, and our progress in combating insurgents. We will measure the growth of Afghanistanís economy, and its illicit narcotics production. And we will review whether we are using the right tools and tactics to make progress towards accomplishing our goals.

None of the steps that I have outlined will be easy, and none should be taken by America alone. The world cannot afford the price that will come due if Afghanistan slides back into chaos or al Qaeda operates unchecked. We have a shared responsibility to act ñ not because we seek to project power for its own sake, but because our own peace and security depends upon it. And what’s at stake now is not just our own security it is the very idea that free nations can come together on behalf of our common security. That was the founding cause of NATO six decades ago. That must be our common purpose today.

My Administration is committed to strengthening international organizations and collective action, and that will be my message next week in Europe. As America does more, we will ask others to join us in doing their part. From our partners and NATO allies, we seek not simply troops, but rather clearly defined capabilities: supporting the Afghan elections, training Afghan Security Forces, and a greater civilian commitment to the Afghan people. For the United Nations, we seek greater progress for its mandate to coordinate international action and assistance, and to strengthen Afghan institutions.

And finally, together with the United Nations, we will forge a new Contact Group for Afghanistan and Pakistan that brings together all who should have a stake in the security of the region our NATO allies and other partners, but also the Central Asian states, the Gulf nations and Iran; Russia, India and China. None of these nations benefit from a base for al Qaeda terrorists, and a region that descends into chaos. All have a stake in the promise of lasting peace and security and development.

That is true, above all, for the coalition that has fought together in Afghanistan, side by side with Afghans. The sacrifices have been enormous. Nearly 700 Americans have lost their lives. Troops from over twenty other countries have also paid the ultimate price. All Americans honor the service and cherish the friendship of those who have fought, and worked, and bled by our side. And all Americans are awed by the service of our own men and women in uniform, who have borne a burden as great as any other generations. They and their families embody the example of selfless sacrifice.

The United States of America did not choose to fight a war in Afghanistan. Nearly 3,000 of our people were killed on September 11, 2001, for doing nothing more than going about their daily lives. Al Qaeda and its allies have since killed thousands of people in many countries. Most of the blood on their hands is the blood of Muslims, who al Qaeda has killed and maimed in far greater numbers than any other people. That is the future that al Qaeda is offering to the people of Pakistan and Afghanistan a future without opportunity or hope; a future without justice or peace.

The road ahead will be long. There will be difficult days. But we will seek lasting partnerships with Afghanistan and Pakistan that serve the promise of a new day for their people. And we will use all elements of our national power to defeat al Qaeda, and to defend America, our allies, and all who seek a better future. Because the United States of America stands for peace and security, justice and opportunity. That is who we are, and that is what history calls on us to do once more.

Thank you, God Bless You, and God Bless the United States of America.

Published in The News

WASIM VIEW- Before I analyse the new policy I must comment on a related aspect which is that I find the Obama Administration to be pernicious in referring to Afghanistan and Pakistan as AfPak. Such a cavalier regard to my country I find to be spiteful and proves that even after Bush, the fools rule.  It is within this context that the new policy needs to be viewed with an arrogant America belittling a nuclear Pakistan putting it on par with our failed state of a neighbour.

In terms of the policy, I find it to be more of the same with only cosmetic changes trumpeted as much more than that by the slick PR machine that is Obama. It is ‘do more’ again and is old wine in a new bottle and I can summarise it best as dollars for drones.

The military and civilian aid promised has pleased the Pakistani government but not the masses who see it as short change for services rendered with Pakistan as proxy for Uncle Sam’s tussle with Al-Qaeda. Indeed Pakistan’s Finance Ministry has stated that the war on terror has cost Pakistan financially alone a loss of $35bn so who is President Obama kidding with his much trumpeted aid to the people of Pakistan of £1.5bn a year, these are pennies or paisa and he can keep it I say.

I have chosen not to indulge in a nitpick exercise on the speech but I do wonder which planet President Obama and his fanclub are on. Is it not an admission of US failure  when President Obama says ‘ it has been more than seven years since the Taliban were removed from power, yet war rages on, and insurgents control parts of Afghanistan and Pakistan. Remember this has all happened on NATO’s watch supported of course by the sole superpower of Uncle Sam! 

President Obama’s monumental mistake in his new strategy is in continuing a transactional US-Pakistan relationship. Indeed when Barack ‘No Blank Check’ Obama warned Pakistan of Uncle Sam’s no blank check policy, it reaffirmed to Pakistan that the US under change-we-cant Obama continues to engage only on its terms wielding dollars to the political elite to co-opt its support as and when needed. Indeed the blank check jibe is indicative of the flawed strategy and smacks of a lack of trust and commitment to a nation that has given its all.

Choice words of praise ‘our allies have borne a heavy burden’ are not enough. Candidate Obama campaigned on the platform of ‘Change We Can Believe In’, however President Obama’s changed US policy is not change but more of the same. It is not change and Pakistan does not believe in it too.

The second article is analysis of the Obama speech by my mentor and hero Professor Akbar Ahmed. Its well worth a read:

With Obama At the World’s Most Dangerous Place by Akbar Ahmed

Seated a few yards in front of President Obama as his invited guest at the White House on Friday, March 27, I heard him describe the areas I had been in charge of including Waziristan as “the most dangerous place in the world.”

Obama was laying out what I suspect will become the signature foreign policy effort of his presidency. He had shifted the American focus of the last eight years from the Middle East to Afghanistan and Pakistan. Ultimately he will be judged by the success or failure of the objectives he laid out in his speech.

As if to confirm the sentiment of Obama’s speech, at the same time as he delivered it, a suicide bomber in the Tribal Areas of Pakistan blew himself up and seventy other people in a mosque at Friday prayer. Around the same time, an Afghan soldier, trained by Americans, turned his gun on two American soldiers killing them and then shot himself. The stakes, therefore, could not be higher.

Obama laid out a persuasive argument, something that I had been doing for several years that in order to stabilize Afghanistan, its neighbor Pakistan had to be stabilized. Obama’s political insight was that Pakistan could not be stabilized without first calming and controlling the border areas that lie between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Obama rightly made a distinction between al-Qaeda who would be challenged and defeated and the general Taliban who were to be treated differently. There were those Taliban who could be talked to and eventually brought in, and those who were not redeemable.

Afghanistan will receive the attention it deserves but could not get because of the war in Iraq, and Pakistan will no longer be neglected. For Pakistan Obama committed $1.5 billion in aid annually for the next five years. While applauding Obama’s generosity, I would urge him to ensure that the rulers of Afghanistan and Pakistan account for the $16-17 billion in American aid already given since 9/11 before providing more funds for their Swiss bank accounts.

As a Pakistani, it was a pleasure to hear an American president speak with such respect of the people of Pakistan. Obama talked of the suffering of the Pakistanis at the hand of the terrorists after 9/11. He even mentioned the large numbers of Pakistani soldiers killed in action along Pakistan’s international border while attempting to bring law and order.

I was equally impressed as I am sure most Pakistanis were–that he was the first American president I have heard pronounce the name of the country correctly. It is difficult for the people of that country to take American commentators too seriously when they pronounce Iran as “I-ran”, Iraq as “I-rack”, or Qatar as “gutter.”

But, eloquence and diction will not get Obama very far in the rugged terrain that he has rightly called lethally dangerous for America and the world. If he fails to control the tribal areas, Obama will find his policy unraveling and the fears of American commentators that this may very well become “Obama’s Vietnam” may prove correct.

So as someone who was directly in charge of three divisions in Baluchistan and several of the Tribal Areas in the Frontier Province, let me offer my suggestions based on my experiences.

My first suggestion is that Obama stop the drone strikes. At the moment, the issue of the drone strikes in the Tribal Areas is a highly sensitive and inflammatory one. While some “bad guys” may be killed in the strikes, there is little doubt that too many “good guys” are lost in the process–and many of them are women and children. This causes widespread outrage and fuels the anti-Americanism which is already rampant.

There is talk of opening up a new chapter by ordering drone strikes in Baluchistan. Not a good idea. The colonial British assiduously prevented the Baluch tribe of Baluchistan and Pashtun tribes of Southern Afghanistan and Pakistani agencies like North and South Waziristan from ever teaming up against them. I can predict that with the first drone strike in Baluchistan, America will ensure that this occurs. As a result, the Taliban will gain new supporters and vast strategic depth.

And for those who may still have a cocky arrogance about dealing with these “tribal people,” I would suggest they take a look at the map and confront the reality that the Baluch share hundreds of miles of border with Iran which will undoubtedly provide covert aid to put further pressure on its American adversaries.

Secondly, Obama must encourage the Pakistani government to stabilize law and order at the district level, the basic unit of administration. This can be done by revamping the civilian administrative structure in the tribal areas and districts of Pakistan. The vast majority of Pakistanis are fed up with the anarchy in their country and want to focus their lives on food, employment, and education for their families. Above all, they want law and order, which the district administration once provided. The district structure has been marginalized to the point of irrelevance over the last decade, and in its vacuum feudal lords, corrupt policemen and army soldiers play havoc with ordinary Pakistanis. An independent, honest, and competent civil administration, backed by an independent judiciary, would provide immediate relief and justice at the district level.

In the Tribal Areas, the office of the political agent, along with the structure of tribal administration should be revived and strengthened, and the army used in aid of civil power and not to thwart it. It has been clearly shown that the army cannot deal effectively with the tribes.

Thirdly, in the tribal areas the council of elders, the jirgas that act as a tribal body providing justice and stability and the religious scholars advocating calm and stability should be strengthened. Some of these have become particular targets of the Taliban. But they are an effective inbuilt structural check to the Taliban.

Fourthly, the madrassas which form a vast, complex network of potential recruiting arenas for the Taliban need to be vigorously reformed. With the kind of money Pakistanis are receiving they should also be told that a large percentage should go to this reformation providing new syllabi, teachers training programs, and up to date equipment. This action will go a long way toward securing the next generation of Pakistanis.

Finally, follow up on the sensitivity shown by Obama in his approach to the Pakistani people and emphasize friendship and honor. I would suggest less bluster and more diplomacy on the part of those who are being sent out as part of Obama’s efforts in the field.

Back at the White House, as I sat sensing the charisma of Obama and the eloquence of his words, I could not help but feel that I was seated in the front row watching history unfold.

I wondered whether he or those whose task it was to implement the President’s vision were fully aware of the enormity of the challenge, as indeed I was.

Published in the Huffington Post

WASIM VIEW-Professor Akbar Ahmed is a personal hero of mine and a master of his trade. Prof Ahmed is spot on when he notes that the Obama Afghanistan and Pakistan policy will be the signature foreign policy effort of his presidency.

Prof Ahmed’s article is a cogent one with praise and criticism of the Obama policy. Prof Ahmed is right when he praises President  Obama for speaking directly to the Pakistani people. However I politely differ with him in deeming this as respect as I believe his actions sorry drones speak louder than his words and show his real respect for the Pakistani people. However I do echo Prof Ahmed’s praise of President Obama in being the first US President in prounouncing Pakistan correctly.

Prof Akbar Ahmed’s demolition of the US position on drones is just that, a demolition. In particular he speaks with clarity and authority as he has personally been in charge of Balochistan and the Tribal Areas and can call on his experience to support his arguments. I second Prof Ahmed’s support for the revival of the office of the political agent and the tribal administration.

Other suggestions such as madrassa reform and strengthening the jirga or council of elders make eminent sense too. All in all Prof Akbar Ahmed’s strategy by the way of his article is spot on and free advice, the Obama Administration would do well to heed it.

The third article is in fact a speech by Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi delivered at the Munich Security Conference. It is  worth a read as it was made before the Obama strategy was announced and thus represents the Pakistani position on the issue. Please hear the speech too on the website link shown at the end of the article.

Munich Conference Speech by Shah Mehmood Qureshi

Your Excellency, Ambassador Wolfgang Ischinger, Chairman of 45. Munich Security Conference, Excellencies, Distinguished participants, Ladies and Gentleman,

It is a matter of great privilege and honour for me to address the 45th Munich Security Conference, a premier forum for candid deliberations on global security issues.

I am grateful for this opportunity to share Pakistan’s views on NATO’s mission in Afghanistan and its future. This issue is of vital importance for peace and stability in our region. I wish to thank Abassador Wolfgang Ischinger for this timely and important initiative.

To us in Pakistan, Afghanistan holds a special significance. Peace and security of our two countries are interlinked. What afflicts one, invariably impacts the other. For the last three decades, Pakistan has suffered the gravest fallout of the conflict in Afghanistan- Our stakes in its peace and stability are therefore, high.

Regrettably, our region, has for far too long, been a victim of history and circumstance. Over time, the troubles of Afghanistan have gone through different phases, morphing into one of the gravest and most serious challenges of our times: the challenge of extremism, militancy and terrorism.

But let’s be very clear. The genesis of the problem goes back to the decade-long foreign occupation of Afghanistan and the deliberate expoitation of religion by the free world to defeat a super power. The legacy of this strategy is now threatening the whole world. We are all equally responsible for it.

Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan, in 1989, should have been followed by a well thought-out and comprehensive plan, to rebuild the country, within a democratic, pluralistic framework. The international community should have assisted Afghanistan, in reconstructing its devastated physical, social and institutional infrastructure.

The international community should have provided opportunities for education and livelihood to the youth and the freedom fighters. A country-wide disarmament process should have been initiated. Instead, the hapless Afghans were all but abandoned. Flushed with weapons, fired with ideology, and forgotten as the last vestige of a war just won, Afghanistan was left in a crippling security and socio-political vacuum.

International neglect, widespread poverty, lack of governance and sustained internecine warfare provided further grounds to the insidious spread of extremism and extremist ideologies.

The rise of the Taliban has to be seen in this context. Subsequently, the Taliban were hijacked by Al Quaeda thus creating a dangerous nexus. What followed is history.

Pakistan, as a frontline State during the Afghan Jihad could not and did not remain immune to these trends and tragedies unfolding across its western border. The presence in our country of the largest human refugee population in contemporary times stands testimony to this reality.

While this dangerous affliction was spreading, silently gnawing at the fabric of our societies, the world looked the other way. Sadly, it took more than 3.000 lives, and a barbaric atrocity of the scale of 9/11 to awaken the world to the gravity of the situation.

The world`s response was prompt and massive. Since then the international community, including NATO has maintained a firm commitment to peace, stability and development of Afghanistan. Pakistan has been an integral and leading partner of this global endeavour.

Yet, seven years on, despite having made significant gains, the malady of extremism and terrorism continues to plague the region. It has roots in all countries of the region. The challenge confronting us today is big and complex.

A confluence of latent and conflicting interests, invisible hands, covert policies, free flow of arms, money and drugs and misplaced priorities have added to the complexity of the situation.

Popular perceptions of longstanding and festering disputes involving the Muslim populations, for example, in the Middle East, Iraq, Kashmir and more recently in Gaza, are further compounding factors.

It is time for dispassionate stock-taking. We need to honestly ask ourselves some basic questions:

One: Seven years on whether militancy and terrorism has been reigned in or is in fact spreading. What is the popular perception about the military strategy of the coalition in Afghanistan?

Two: What are the underlying causes and rallying points formenting extremism and terrorism? Are these beeing addressed in a meaningful and comprehensive manner?

Three: Has international assistance brought about a significant improvement in the lifes of the affected people? Is the international community truly following a broad-based and comprehensive approach to deal with this scourge?

After Afghanistan, perhaps no country has suffered more in human and material terms than Pakistan. We lost Benazir Bhuttoto to terrorists. Nearly 2,000 Pakistanis lost their lifes in more than 600 terror related incidents last year alone. Pakistan’s economy has suffered direct and indirect losses of more than $ 35 billion.

In October last year, the Parliament of Pakistan adopted a historic Resolution declaring the Pakistani nation’s unswerving commitment to stand against the threat of terrorism and to address its root causes. This Resolution provides a comprehensive framework for a multi-proged strategy to deal with this serious menace. It also sent a clear message that the territory of Pakistan will not be used for terrorist activities, while our sovereignty and territorial integrity must be respected.

In line withe this resolution, we are pursuing a multiproged strategy with the support, cooperation and owership of local populations. Recent distractions at our eastern frontier notwithstanding, Pakistan is assiduously fulfilling its responsibilities along the western border.

The dawn of democracy in Pakistan has heralded a new era of understanding and cooperation between Pakistan and Afghanistan. With Afghanistan, our democratic government has made a new and promising beginning. This has resulted in restoring trust and confidence and bringing about a fundamental and qualitative transformation in bilateral ties with Afghanistan in all spheres.

We have joined hands to move towards our common vision of peace, prosperity and development for our people and the region. During President Asif Ali Zardari’s historic visit to Kabul last month, I had the pleasure of signing, together with Foreign Minister Spanta, a landmark Declaration on Future Directions of Bilateral Cooperation.

The Declaration looks beyond the present phase of terrorism, and provides a clear and comprehensive framework to take forward Pakistan-Afghanistan partnership to higher levels, in the political, economic, security and social fields. It is also a manifestation of the aspirations and determination of our people for a better, peaceful and prosperous tomorrow.

Creating an implementing projects such as the Turkmenistan -Afghanistan-Pakistan-India Gas Pipeline project would create a stake for people living all along the route. A stake, where peace would pay clear dividends.

The Jirgagai process, emanating from Kabul Peace Jirga, has been a great success in bringing the representative segments of the people of the two countries together. The Jirgagai meeting held in Islamabad in October last year, made important strides in achieving dual objective of promoting dialogue with the opposition and forging a common agenda for development and people-to-people exchanges. Since then two further meetings of Contact Group of Jirgagai have taken place, achieving positive results.

Both Pakistan and Afghanistan are resolved to pursuing the Jirgagai process as a useful means for promoting dialogue and development.

The Tripartite Military Commission mechanism has proven useful in enhancing coordination both at the strategic and tactical levels. However, we remain concerned about financing and arming of militants. Recent incursions in our territory by militants are a matter of serious concern. Pakistan wishes to see the tripartite mechanism further strengthened.

More than 3 million Afghan refugees who are still in Pakistan pose an additional security risk, often providing nurseries and sanctuaries to militants.

On the regional plane, Pakistan will be hosting the 3rd Regional Economic Cooperation Conference on Afghanistan (RECCA) on 1-2 April 2009. We are in close touch with Afghan authorities and our international partners to make this conference focused and result-oriented. This event, we hope, will prove to be a milestone in assisting Afghanistan in its developmental efforts and forging greater regional cooperation.

Critical situations demand critical appraisals. This is an opportune moment to readjust our strategy on the basis of lessons learnt. Our way forward must be grounded in strict adherence to principles enshrined in the UN Charter, observance of international law and respect for the free will and aspirations of sovereign States and their peoples.

It is our considered view that the future course of action to deal with this growing problem should incorporate the following essential elements:

One: The international community must adopt a regional approach in resolving this problem which is essentially regional in nature. Only those solutions enjoying the support of regional countries would be sustainable.

Two: This complex problem requires a multi-faceted, comprehensive and balanced approach. Over emphasis on military dimension has not proved fruitul. For lasting success of any endeavour, the people must assume ownership.

Three: In the battle for hearts and minds, the power of persuasion must be stronger than the effects of coercion. An inclusive process must include dialogue and reconciliation.

Four: A generous focus on reconstruction, development and social welfare with participation of all stakeholders. To attain durable security, the dynamic and logic of development must trump the dynamic and logic of force. The campaign against extremism will not be won in the battlefield but in classrooms and the mind of the people.

Five: Drug money is a major source of terror-funding. There is a need to address this issue in a comprehensive manner. Farmers growing opium will have to be provided alternate opportunities.

Six: There is need for better coordination of international efforts. All disconnects and fragmentations, including within the international coalition and NATO must be addressed.

Seven: An extensive sensitization campaign should be launched with the support of local communities to neutralize the impact and influence of militant ideologies and to correct negative perceptions that fuel extremism.

Eight: Any lasting and sustainable solution must respect local customs, traditions, values and religious beliefs.

We know that the difficulties are complex and daunting, and the road ahead winding, bumpy and long. Yet these obstacles are not insurmountable. Pakistan welcomes the international community’s unwavering resolve to remain meaningfully and effectively engaged to help root out the menace of extremism and terrorism.

Pakistan is a principal partner in this global compaign. Pakistan is determined to tide the difficulties with the support of its friends and allies. We will continue to strengthen our partnership with the international community. It is well within our capacity to harness our resources to defeat the common enemy. Together we can achieve lasting peace and stability and craft a better tomorrow for our coming generations. I thank you.

Published with speech in audio on the Munich Security Conference Website

WASIM VIEW- Shah Mehmood Qureshi’s speech surprised me for its strong projection of the Pakistani position. Moreover Pakistan’s Foreign Minister delivered the speech in front of an invited audience of so-called foreign policy experts such as Henry Kissinger and it was a good one indeed.

The Foreign Minister was only too right when he reminded his Western audience that the Afghanistan problem is decades old saying that ‘the genesis of the problem goes back to the decade-long foreign occupation of Afghanistan and the deliberate expoitation of religion by the free world to defeat a super power. The legacy of this strategy is now threatening the whole world. We are all equally responsible for it’.

Afghanistan was left to rot and abandoned by the West  after it tired of its  red fetish a la Communism. Worse still, Pakistan has paid for and continues to pay the price of that ill on  behalf of  an unappreciative West. Indeed as the West sleeps easy even now,  it is Pakistan that lives a daily nightmare.

Shah Mehmood Qureshi’s is right too when he  reminds his audience of the Pakistani effort that ‘as a frontline state during the Afghan Jihad Pakistan could not and did not remain immune to these trends and tragedies unfolding across its western border. The presence in our country of the largest human refugee population in contemporary times stands testimony to this reality’. Later in the article the Foreign Minister rightly puts the West in the dock with his ‘Qureshi Questions’ proving how the West has failed in Afghanistan and the evidence is damning I feel.

Pakistan has lost its brave citizens and soldiers, its soil and even sanity. In purely numerical terms Pakistan has incurred lost over 2000 citizens, incurred a loss of more than $35bn and houses 3mn Afghan refugees at Pakistan’s pleasure while the West rabbits on and on and on with ‘do more’.

President Obama would do well to listen and learn from the Pakistani position as championed by the Foreign Minister. The Obama Administration should embed Pakistan’s eight elements as contained in the speech not in words but in actions and this is not the case thus far with the US listening but not learning. Drone attacks must end, otherwise the situation will get worse. I said a while back that Afghanistan could prove to be Obama’s Vietnam, a Vietnam indeed for another President and in another American century.

Guest Blog by NADEEM ARIF NAJMI

Pakistan is a country fighting a battle for its very survival thanks to the frantic efforts of its ever-hostile Eastern neighbour, the ineptitude of Uncle Sam on the Western border and its constant drone attacks on Pakistani areas, and General Zia’s legacy – a generation of fanatical Mullahs hell bent on destroying everything that the founders of Pakistan lived and died for.

Hardly a day passes when some depressing sorry about Pakistan does not dominate the national and increasingly the international headlines. From the Taliban imposing their tyranny on the peace loving people of Swat Valley, to the daily bombings and acts of wanton violence that blight Pakistan’s name throughout the world; to the trouble in Balochistan. Pakistan seems increasingly like a lost cause, a failed state on the brink of imploding.

Yet we must not lose heart. We must at this dark hour seek solace in the words of the Quaid: ‘Musalman musebat main ghabraya nahin karta!’ “A Muslim does not panic when adversity strikes”. The words of the Quaid’s beloved master (saw) as found in the Holy Quran are even more inspiring for the sorry state we find ourselves in “Fear not, Allah is with us”.

Yet we must not delude ourselves that a horde of angels will descend from a golden cloud and fight our battles for us. The Lord helps those who help themselves. We must overcome this nightmare ourselves with full faith that Allah will reward our efforts and Pakistan will emerge stronger than ever inshallah.

I have thought long and hard about how we can deal with the multiple challenges we currently face. Here follow my suggestions for dealing with these complex problems, I welcome feedback from readers so we can further develop these ideas and send some sort of draft policy plan to the movers and shakers in Islamabad in the (perhaps, slightly naive) hope that some of these ideas might be heeded to:

1. Break ranks with the USA. Announce that Pakistan will not tolerate any further drone attacks or breaches of its sovereignty. Pakistan will in the first instance expel the US ambassador, then take the issue to the United Nations and finally strike down any planes or drones that fly into our territory. If this leads to an aggressive stance from the US, withdrawal of aide, sanctions and possible military strikes then so be it. Pakistan will eventually be the target of the American war machine, no matter how obedient we are. So better to keep our self-respect and fight to save Pakistan than to lose our dignity as well as our country and nuclear assets.
2. Pakistan should ask NATO to seek a speedy exit from Afghanistan and ask the various factions within that country to come to the table to work out a joint strategy to govern that country. This will obviously include the Afghani Taliban. If NATO bows before the US, we should consider blocking Pakistan’s supply routes to NATO troops in Afghanistan.
3. The Government, opposition and all other stakeholders should come together and with the ‘US attacks’ excuse stripped from the terrorists a Pakistani anti – terrorist strategy should be worked out based on dealing with Jirgas, isolating the terrorist leaders and reconciling the elements who came to arms as a result of the policies of Musharraf. The deals signed should be unequivocal and should brook no compromise with those who want to establish their own mini-states or implement their own brand of Sharia. The deals should be purely based on a renunciation of violence, the arrest and trial of the main leaders of the terrorist groups and plans to develop and reconstruct the affected areas. If use of force is required against small groups of hardcore terrorists than Pakistan should not shrink from the task and seek to enrol the support of tribal or local lashkars in these attempts. Any military actions should be a last resort and carried out with due concern for minimising harm to civilian infrastructure and ordinary people.
4. Convince misguided Jihadis that fighting a war against the state of Pakistan is creating fasaad in the earth – not Jihad- and those guilty of taking up arms against the government that exists according to the principle of shura (mutual consultation as demonstrated during elections) is a worse crime than any other, being a rebellion against the Sharia itself. They should be nudged to include this in capital letters in the syllabuses of Madrassahs. It should made clear to the would be islamists that Islam cannot be implemented by coercion, and they should carry out tabligh to convince the majority to support sharia rule. This is the only legitimate way to create the kind of state that they would like to see. Madrassahs associated with people like Javed Ghamidi and others willing to give this message should be set up across Pakistan and especially in the areas where extremism is strong.
5. The government should stem the tide of rising extremism and talibanisation by promising to bring the laws of Pakistan into conformity with the Sharia. The way to do this already exists in the constitution. The recommendations of the Islamic ideology council should be brought to Parliament and discussed and debated, and brought into force as soon as they are agreed. The media should be made to obey a code of conduct that restricts shamelessness and immoral behaviour on television, radio and the print media. Law-enforcing agencies should announce a Jihad against prostitution, drugs, alchohol and gambling carrying out raids and punishing perpetrators across the country. No new laws or Taliban style moral police should be created for this Jihad. The present law of the Islamic republic should be implemented in full. As for the other ‘Islamic’ laws that Taliban supporters would like to see (like banning music, films and forcing women to stay at home in veils or strict penal laws) the moderate ulema would be utilised to convince them that they should try to ‘educate’ Muslims about the need for these laws so that a majority votes for parties willing to carry out these changes. If they can’t they should simply try to reform individuals and groups rather than raise arms against the state. All these points can be made with reference to the Quran, Sunnah and opinions of the Imams and ulema whom they respect.

No doubt some of these things might be easier said than done, and others might open up a Pandora’s box of new problems. Yet I am certain we will find no solution to our problems by ignoring the danger posed by the extremists and pretending that all the terrorists are CIA or RAW agents. Nor can we close our eyes to the hatred generated by our docility before the American aggression and its role in motivating poor, illiterate and impressionable young people to fight against their own country.

If we remain true to our principles of unity (seeking reconciliation with all reconcilable Pakistanis not least the tribals) faith (seeking to implement the Islamic provisions of the constititution) and discipline (imposing the writ of the state from a position of strength) we can and we will inshallah, save Pakistan and begin the process of creating that ‘Other Pakistan’ the Quaid’s Pakistan.

The Mush-Bush tango of two has just given birth to its greatest evil, to its biggest bastard for the son of Satan is soon to arrive at our door. My blood is boiling at the moment for I am full of rage at hearing of the appointment of General Jay Hood as Defence Attache in the US Embassy. For those of us not aware of his spectacular achievements, it is suffice to say that he has previously been the chief of Guantanamo Bay with the honour of presiding over countless episodes of torture and worse ABUSES OF THE HOLY QURAN.Thus his appointment is a slap in the face of every Pakistani. It is a slap in the face for every reader of this post and it hurts. I should not need to remind anyone that Pakistan was created to be the second Madina, that it is a nation built on the glorious principles of the QURAN. Hence Satanic Hood’s appointment in this land of the pure is akin to welcoming Abu Lahab to these shores and I for cannot say silent as this ignomy is befallen on this great nation.

So I urge all Pakistanis inside and outside of Pakistan especially those in the US to resist this calculated attempt by our friend Uncle Sam (foe more like!!!!) to further undermine our national sanctity and sanity. The passionate Shireen Mazari says it all in her news report which is reproduced in full below and can be seen here:

According to the US Department of Defence News Release of March 13, 2008, Major General Jay W. Hood has been posted as the Chief, Office of the Defence Representative, Pakistan.

General Hood is a former commanding general of Guantanamo Bay prison and according to US National Public Radio (NPR), General Hood’s tenure at Guantanamo was marred by a series of scandals and growing controversies relating to policies on detention and interrogation. While controversy has always surrounded Guantanamo, it reached new heights when Hood was there – especially in the aftermath of the scandal breaking out publicly on detentions in Iraq at Abu Ghraib. Interestingly, it was General Miller, Hood’s predecessor at Guantanamo, who was implicated in Iraq.

Hood came under intense criticism when he decided to force feed prisoners with the use of a restraining chair. The gruesome means of force feeding have compelled the US to censor a drawing by a Guantanamo Bay detainee where he depicted himself as a skeleton with his head double-strapped down, a tube in his nose, a black mask over his mouth, no eyes visible only giant cheekbones. The detainee, Sami Al Haj is a Sudanese cameraman who worked for Al Jazeera television and the self-sketch was to mark his 431st day on hunger strike at Guantanamo Bay.

It was also during Hood’s service at Guantanamo Bay that the Pentagon released details of five confirmed cases of US personnel abusing the holy Quran. In a story published in the Washington Post on 4 June 2005, the US military admitted that soldiers and interrogators had kicked the holy Quran, got copies wet and stood on the holy Book during an interrogation and also sprayed urine on another copy. This was well established by the Pentagon after General Hood, as Commander of Joint Task Force Guantanamo completed an inquiry into these cases of abuse of the holy Quran. Yet Hood chose to describe these incidents as “largely inadvertent”.

The inquiry tried to cover up deliberate abuses of the holy Book that detainees had been reporting to their lawyers, including lawyer Tom Wilner who was representing 11 Kuwaiti detainees. He declared that the number and persistence of reports of the Quran abuse from detainees revealed a much broader problem than indicated by the Hood inquiry. Clearly Hood’s main intent was to cover up as much as could be done in the wake of increasing revelations on the issue of Quran abuse.

It is unfortunate that the US Army Chief of Staff has chosen to appoint such a controversial officer to Pakistan, especially given his record and linkage to abuse of prisoners and the Holy Quran at Guantanamo. Guantanamo Bay itself has become a symbol of injustice, torture and abuse of Islam and sending a commanding officer from there to Islamabad begs the question: What is the message coming out of the Pentagon for Pakistanis by this insensitive act?

Equally important, given that host governments always have a choice of refusing a nominee – and many Western countries have exercised that right in the diplomatic nominees of the Pakistan Government – why has the Pakistan government chosen to silently accept what the US military dishes out, with no thought to the sensitivities of its own people?

When asked, a US Embassy spokesperson said:

“Major General Hood was nominated by the US Army and approved through the highest levels of the Department of Defense. His assignment to Pakistan is not related to his previous assignment but rather is a reflection of his standing as a senior military officer.

He was chosen for the assignment to Pakistan because he is a highly qualified officer at the Major General level. Assigning an officer at this level to this position reflects the continued US goal of cooperation with the Armed Forces of Pakistan. He is the second consecutive Major General assigned as Chief of the Office of the Defense Representative Pakistan.”

My one demand is non-negotiable and is addressed to those in power that Satanic Hood must not arrive on our holy soil, period. If he does then rivers of blood will follow as Pakistan as a nation will not stand silent to such evil, me included.

-  Originally posted on 21st March 2008, 04:39 PK Time, written under MARTIAL LAW

I am deflated at the moment given that the fool in me bought the story hook, line and sinker from the Mush regime regarding the prospect of the Chief Justice reading his Eid prayers at Faisal Mosque. Furthermore the ‘re-arrests’ of our leaders Justice Tariq Mehmood and Aitzaz Ahsan have compounded the pain for all involved in the noble struggle to restore the pre-Nov 3 judiciary.

The chaos and division that ensued from the debate regarding to decision to boycott the elections or not has left a bad taste in the mouth and coupled with the continued arrests of our leaders our noble struggle has been hit for a big six in recent weeks.

With election fever finally taking root and the media treading carefully with a capital C so as to remain on our boxes. It is becoming difficult to keep the valiant struggle to restore the pre-Nov 3 judiciary in the news, in order to keep the issue alive. Even the recent attacks by the police on innocent women protestors in Islamabad were not deemed headline or front page news with media outlets choosing to look the other way except for token reporting and nil analysis.

The worst culprit is none other than Uncle Sam.and her media who like their governments have chosen to delight in hearing that the emergency has been lifted and that the khaki king has shed his second skin. The message coming from them through their inactions is ‘rejoice for its all hunky dory now’. The trouble with their approach is that they are ignoring the real issues vital to democracy and the rule of law and assume that ‘normalcy’ has returned to Pakistan.

The reality is that martial law has not been lifted it has only been concealed. Like the tip of a proverbial iceberg, the ugly realities of dictatorship continue hidden below the surface.

I have numerous questions to ask Uncle Sam ( I mean President Bush and his fan club really!) in this regard and also of those other forces who support the conventional wisdom of the Western media and governments.

However I cannot better the questions put forward recently by our very own Aitzaz Ahsan and Congressman John F.Tierney in an article in the Washington Post that brilliantly exposes the fantastic flaws of the US position. The article and questions are as below:.

Questions for the Two Rulers of Pakistan and America By John F. Tierney and Aitzaz Ahsan

One of us chairs a House of Representatives subcommittee tasked with oversight of U.S. foreign policy and one of us languishes under illegal house arrest after transfer from a Pakistani jail for the “heinous” and “seditious” crime of representing, in legal proceedings, the illegally sacked Chief Justice of Pakistan’s Supreme Court, Mr. Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.

As members of the political opposition in our respective countries and as lawyers firmly committed to the rule of law, we have a few questions for our [tyrannical] heads of state:

1. How will you address the increasing anti-Americanism in Pakistan in light of the growing, and not unjustified, perception among Pakistan’s democratic moderates that the United States is not willing to stand with the people of Pakistan against an increasingly authoritarian and anti-democratic government in Islamabad?
2. How will you respond to the inevitable international condemnation of a parliamentary “election” in which journalists are muzzled; political parties are prohibited from campaigning; Pakistani military and intelligence services visibly enforce an atmosphere of intimidation; and opposition leaders are unlawfully exiled, illegally jailed or placed under unlawful house arrest?
3. How do you expect to effectively compete against PMLQ-MQM ideology when U.S. education funding to Pakistan is one-fifteenth its military support and Pakistani funding for public education remains woefully inadequate? Thirteen million Pakistani children ages 5 to 9 — out of 27 million total — are not enrolled in school at all, leaving them exposed to extremist PMLQ-MQM mentors.
4. How do you expect to combat the PML-Q and MQM cancer spreading from Pakistan’s Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) into the Northwest Frontier and Balochistan provinces of Pakistan when the Pakistani military is busy pointing its guns at judges, lawyers, journalists, political opponents and human rights advocates?
5. How do you expect to muster the political fortitude and legitimacy to fight extremist MQM and PML-Q forces when you have alienated the center-left and center-right — the more progressive components of Pakistani society?
6. The people of Pakistan and the people of the United States deserve honest answers to these vexing questions. They are long overdue.

John F. Tierney (D-MA) is a Member of the U.S. Congress. Barrister-at- Law Aitzaz Ahsan, Pakistan Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President and an eminent human rights Advocate, has represented Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry as well as two former prime ministers of Pakistan, Benazir Bhutto and Muhammad Nawaz Sharif.

The questions say it all and I am all ears Uncle Sam as I await your rejoinder with bated breath.

 - Originally written on 24th December 2007, 02:45 PK Time, written under MARTIAL LAW