FATA made as Qabailistan

Satisfied with Army’s performance in Swat and surrounding regions, Gen Kayani has now diverted his attention towards South Waziristan (SW). Large number of people had left their homes in July-August 2009 in the wake of impending Operation Rah-e-Nijat and had taken refuge in makeshift camps in Tank and Dera Ismail Khan. Although the Mehsud dominated SW was cleared of the miscreants by December 2009, but the displaced persons terrorized by the militants were reluctant to return back. They were hesitant to take on security of their respective villages on self-help basis by organizing village defence force. Hakimullah Mehsud’s men had thoroughly terrorized the locals and they were not picking up heart to return and face them.

They returned in small packets from mid 2011 only when the Army assured them that it would provide them security as well as help in rehabilitating them and in developing the region. To start with, three major roads were built, one leading from Jandola-Srarogha to Makeen-Razmak, the other from Tanai-Wana to Angoor Adda, and the third one from Tank-Gomal to Wana. Network of roads is being laid to make the area serve as third transit link for trade with Afghanistan. Once the area was opened up, displaced persons were brought back from December 2010 onward and rehabilitated. In addition to rebuilding destroyed houses, fifty new houses were built for the poor including 26 houses for the widows. Building material has been provided for self-help construction. Villages are developed on the concept of model village having basic facilities available at their doorstep. Kotkai, Chaghmalai, Sarwakai and Jandola have already been turned into model villages where market complexes have also been constructed. 112 shops have been handed over to the locals on a nominal rent of Rupees 20 per month to enable them to earn their livelihood. Ten poultry farms have so far been established in markets and many more are under construction. Locals are trained in this field. After letting them handle two flocks of birds free of cost, they are charged nominal amount in running the poultry farm independently. Schools, health centres, sports complex, recreational parks, public toilets, roadside driver hotels and mosques are found in most villages.

RAW and `RAAM`

EVERYBODY knows about RAW (Research and Analysis Wing) — the dreaded intelligence agency of India, but nobody knows about RAAM (Riyast-i-Amoor-o-Amanat-i-Milliyah) — the intelligence agency of Afghanistan.

Earlier in the Cold War era, KHAD happened to be the premier Afghan intelligence agency, which was dismantled when the mujahideen and then Taliban took over.
It is not surprising that the recently-formed Afghan intelligence agency, RAAM, has close similarity with the name `RAW`.
It has many reasons RAAM has been established with the help of Indian RAW — a large number of RAW personnel and agents are working in RAAM, who are providing all kinds of assistance, coordination and collaboration. RAAM is in fact the extension and sub-wing of RAW.

Spymaster to ‘talk tough’ on drones

A high-level meeting co-chaired by President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf Wednesday discussed the regional security with focus on prime minister’s visit to Afghanistan and US-Pakistan relations.
ISI Director General Lt-Gen Zaheerul Islam, who is visiting the US next week, has been authorised to take a determined stance on the issue of drone attacks during his talks with the US officials, a foreign agency quoted an official source as telling. He will seek direct control of predators for precision strikes and for minimising their political fallout.
Official sources told The Nation that the meeting discussed regional security, militants’ attacks from across the border, situation after resumption of Nato supplies and Pak-US relations. The prime minister briefed the participants about his talks with Saudi King Abdullah on reconciliation process in Afghanistan.
The meeting reiterated Pakistan’s resolve to facilitate Afghan-owned and Afghan-led peace process in Afghanistan. The meeting was informed that ISI DG during his visit to the US would discuss new framework for intelligence sharing between the two countries.
Pakistan’s spymaster would meet his CIA counterpart and other senior US officials to discuss evolving some mechanism to end the attacks by drones, US weapon of choice which Pakistan believes was counterproductive to anti-terrorism efforts.
The meeting held at the Aiwan-e-Sadr was attended among others by Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar, Foreign Secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani, Defence Secretary Nargis Sethi, Secretary General to the President Salman Faruqui, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Khalid Shameem Wynne, Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Asif Sandila and Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Tahir Rafique Butt.

Two kidnapees recovered in Dera Bugti

Security forces recovered two kidnapped persons from Sui area of Dera Bugti in an operation on Tuesday.

A spokesman for the FC said that on a tip off, FC and local peace force raided a hideout where two kidnapped persons were being held. During exchange of firing one kidnapper was killed and the kidnapped persons were recovered safely.

Meanwhile one person was shot dead on Saryab road in Quetta during a firing incident.

Police also found a dead body in Sorab area of Kalat. Police said the man was shot dead and later his body was thrown in the open

Soviet satellites spied into Pak during 1971 war

Soviet Union had extensively used satellites to photograph Indian, Pakistani and southern Chinese border during 1971 India Pakistan war, says an US declassified report. Analysis of limited data from 10 orbiting spacecrafts of the Soviets during November 1971 indicated a high level of intelligence collection in the India-Pakistan area. The spacecrafts included three high-resolution photo reconnaissance and seven electronic intelligence satellites.

The data indicated ‘a primary photographic collection effort of airfields in India and Pakistan. Other major military targets were Pakistani Army headquarters at Peshawar and Rawalpindi, Pakistani naval facilities, and an oil refinery and storage facilities at Karachi.

The Soviets also observed the southern Chinese border to include the sub district headquarters at Jihkatse near the Sino-Bhutan border and the Gilgit Road, which crosses the Chinese-Pakistan border through the Khunjerab Pass.

PM says foreign elements involved in Balochistan

Prime Minister Raja Parvez Ashraf has said that the turbulence in Balochistan, though foreign abetted, is an internal issue for the state and people of Pakistan to resolve.

He was addressing participants of the workshop on Balochistan situation “Perception and Realities - the Way Forward” at the National Defence University in Islamabad on Tuesday.

The Prime Minister said all our friends interested to bring about peace in this region are expected to respect the sovereignty of Pakistan and the aspirations of more than 95% people of Balochistan, who are as patriotic Pakistanis as in any other part of the country. The state and people of Pakistan are capable to solve their problems and they would assert their sovereign right and independence in dealing with their domestic problems.

Raja Parvez Ashraf said we do recognize the sense of deprivation among the people of Balochistan and the need for rapid development of this province. However, the situation of Balochistan should be seen in its true perspective dispassionately and in a cool-headed manner. The situation in Balochistan is far from being simple because of internal and external linkages. There is not one but in fact many fronts on which we need to fight for the cause of the people of Balochistan.

The Prime Minister said the people of Balochistan particularly the poor have not tasted the fruits of independence and development as yet. The real issue of Balochistan is the socio-economic deprivation of the common people. The benefits of whatever developmental programmes and projects were undertaken in the past in Balochistan, did not trickle down to the common people. Another aspect is the menace of sectarianism and religious extremism that the people of Pakistan in general and the people of Balochistan in particular are victim of. He said our universities, think tanks, intellectuals and media have to play a constructive role to promote tolerance and harmony in the society.

He said sectarian killings, must be seen in the context of geo-strategic linkages to the Balochistan issue. Under the garb of sectarian cover, non-state actors and foreign-sponsored groups are fueling the fire that warrants vigilance at various tiers both at the governmental as well as at the societal levels.

The Prime Minister said the democratic government has taken concrete steps to take the people of Balochistan on board. The President of Pakistan offered a public apology to the people of Balochistan for the wrongs done to them and vowed to usher in a new dawn of prosperity in the province.

He said we have practically demonstrated our willingness through NFC Award, Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan Initiative and the 18th Constitutional Amendment to redress the wrongs done earlier to the people of Balochistan in particular and other provinces in general. As a consequence, besides a huge economic package, a large number of Baloch youth have been recruited both in military and civil sectors.

Raja Pervez Ashraf appreciated the role of Pakistan Army and Frontier Corps in promoting and protecting national interests in Balochistan.      

Lower Orakzai van blast toll rises to 13

PESHAWAR: A bomb ripped through a vehicle in Pakistan's northwestern tribal belt on Wednesday, killing thirteen civilians including two children, officials said.

The bomb exploded in Sepoy village in Orakzai district, said senior administration official Zakir Hussain.

"It was remote-controlled bomb planted on the road. The bomb exploded near a pick-up van carrying passengers," Hussain told.

The blast killed seven people on the spot while six others succumbed to their injuries after reaching the hospital.

Two women, an 11-year-old boy and a three-year-old girl were among the victims while four others were wounded.

Most of the victims were the passengers of the unfortunate van who were shifted to Kohat Hospital where some are said to be in critical condition.

Intelligence officials confirmed the blast and the casualties.

The security forces and Aman Lashkar (peace militia) started search operation after the explosion during which exchange of fire was reported.

ISI chief to discuss drones with US

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's head of intelligence will next week visit the United States to resume talks on drone strikes, the thorniest aspect of Pakistani-US relations, an official said Wednesday.

It is the first time in a year the head of the ISI intelligence agency flies to Washington, signalling a thaw in relations beset by crisis since US troops found and killed Osama bin Laden in Pakistan in May 2011.

Lieutenant General Zaheer ul-Islam, who was appointed in March, will hold talks with CIA director David Petraeus on US drone strikes, counter-terror cooperation and intelligence sharing.

But the battle lines have long been drawn and there is little indication that in the talks next week Pakistan will win any concessions on drones, given the huge level of distrust between Islamabad and Washington.

A senior Pakistani security official said Islam would demand an end to US attacks against the Taliban and Al-Qaeda, and again ask for the means for Pakistan to carry out the attacks instead.

Islamabad has been increasingly vocal in its public opposition to the drones, which leaders quietly approved initially, as its alliance with Washington crashed to its lowest ebb in a decade.

"This visit comes against the backdrop of extensive consultations between civilian and military leadership and the general has been authorised to take a firm stand on drones issue during his talks," the official told.

"We need this precision strike capability to avoid collateral damage and its political fall out. The idea is that the US develops the target and tells us, and we destroy it ourselves," the official added.

Pakistan says American raids are a violation of sovereignty and fan anti-US sentiment.

But US officials are understood to believe the attacks too important to give up, although the number as declined as relations have nosedived

Pakistan, Iran decide to form JWG over gas pipeline project

Pakistan and Iran on Wednesday agreed to form a Joint Working Group (JWG) to expedite the Iran-Pakistan Gas Pipeline Project.
A meeting of the Pakistan-Iran Joint Committee on oil, gas and energy was held on July 17-18 at Islamabad to discuss bilateral cooperation in said sectors.
The Iranian team was headed by Dr Ahmad Khalidi, Deputy Minister for Internal Affairs to Minister for Petroleum and Pakistani team was headed by Abid Saeed, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources.
The two sides discussed issues of mutual interest particularly the energy sector. The Iranian side expressed its intention to invest in the E & P sector including investment in the upstream and midstream.
The Iranian side also invited Pakistani companies to invest in E & P sector in Iran.
The two sides decided to include experts from technical, legal, financial and commercial sectors in the JWG to work out the details with respect to the implementation of the Iran-Pakistan Gas Pipeline project.

TTP militants attacked checkposts in Chitral

CHITRAL: Militants attacked security forces’ check-posts on Pak-Afghan border in Chitral on Wednesday, DawnNews reported.
Casualty of any soldier was not reported. However, in retaliation, Pakistani forces killed at least nine militants, government sources said.
Spokesman of Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Ehsanullah Ehsan claimed that “TTP has launched a massive attack on check-posts in Chitral’s area Boni.”

Pak-US ties discussed in high level meeting

A high-level meeting took place on Wednesday in Islamabad to discuss the relationship between Pakistan and the United States, DawnNews reported.
The meeting was jointly presided over by President Aif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf.
The meeting was attended by the chiefs of all three armed forces; Army, Air Force and the Navy.
Chairman Joint Chief of staff committee General Khalid Shamim Wyne and Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar also attended the meeting.
The meeting came before the prime minister leaves for Kabul to discuss Taliban peace talks and cross-border attacks coming from Afghanistan.

Ayaz Palijo lashes out at PPP, MQM

PAT chief says Sindis and Blochs cannot live under threats.

Lambasting the ruling Pakistan People s Party, Pakistan Awami Tehreek leader, Ayaz Latif Palijo said Abdul Rehman of Lyari was declared a dacoit and killed while Rehman Malik, who had run away leaving Benazir Bhutto behind in danger, was elevated to the position of interior minister.
Addressing a Sindh Muhabat Rally he stated said that Sindhi and Baloch people would not live under fear of threats.
“Our differences are with MQM (Muttahida Qaumi Movement) and its policies and not with the Urdu speaking people,” Ayaz Palijo said. He said his party wanted a Pakistan where orders were not taken from foreigners.
The ministers had also run away from Karsaz (after a bomb attack on Banazir arrival rally) but the people of Lyari did not leave the ground and stayed there for their leader, Ayaz Palijo recalled.
Further criticizing the government, he said 4,000 policemen were deployed to stop today s rally. “We were told that section-144 was in place,” he said.
Lauding the services of Uzair Baloch for Lyari, the Awami Tehreek leader said Uzair Baloch is the man who protected Lyari. Speaking on the occasion, Uzair Baloch said: “Our fight is with the enemies of Pakistan.”