BATS IN THE BELFRY

In response to an article published in Times of India:ISI gave Rs 5 lakh to man who beheaded Indian soldier.

The Indian media continues its mad tirade against Pakistan. Their latest canard is a seemingly meticulous piece of intelligence work by the Indian Military Intelligence (MI). Under the photo of the unfortunate soldier who was found beheaded on the Indian side of the LOC is a detailed account of the planning on the Pakistani side that led to this atrocity. The culprit identified by MI is of course the ISI—their nemesis. Once you assume this the rest is easy –add ranks and names of the military personnel involved,give dates time and places where conferences were held,throw in an odd local civilian name and chart out a route from the Pakistani side to the site of the incident. Throw in a mention of cash flows and voila the intelligence report is complete.

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Reason versus the Patriot

Patriotism does not require reason;it is a feeling that holds the ability to perpetuate success,like pride. In today’s world it takes a real hero to represent a nation that has been abused,belittled and coerced into conforming to what the high handed ones want;A nation that suffers from dogma,depression,delusion and failure. Labeled the underdog,the terrorist and the pest. We don’t need cynicism. Not even to get ‘real’. We have enough on our platter presently to feel the need to look into our past and say we’ve been bad. I don’t have strong moral backing for this suggestion,but because that’s the only way out. We have every problem:economic,security,political,social,you name it. And yet individuals choose to carry this ‘battered’baggage and represent it. Most face humiliation.

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Pakistani exports exceed imports in trade with India

The Indian High Commission said on Tuesday that Pakistan’s exports to India had grown faster than imports  despite missing of a deadline of Dec 31 for complete trade liberalisation regime between the two countries.

A recent tension between Pakistan and India over Line of Control led to suspension of revised visa regime along with cross-border bus service in Kashmir. After signs of easing of tension, bus service between Poonch and Rawalakot was resumed on Monday.

For the commerce ministry in Pakistan, the delay in complete liberalisation was because of procedural hiccups along with political compulsion, but for the skeptics in Pakistan, the LoC tension provides an opportunity to propagate for reversal of all those measures taken so far for complete liberalisation of trade regime with India.

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The New Emerging Global Economic Order: Taking the U.S.-India Example

Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment, Bureau of Economic, Energy and Business Affairs.

As prepared for delivery

Thank you for that wonderful greeting. I am honored to accept your invitation to participate in the Partnership 2013 Summit. For me this is an excellent opportunity to learn from so many distinguished women and men from across India and from around the world.  To be back in Agra, against the backdrop of one of the great works of art and love of mankind, the Taj Mahal, is a distinct and profound pleasure.  I am always happy to be in India.  On Saturday, I fulfilled a long held wish, when I was able to witness Republic Day in all of its splendor.  It is a remarkable event that I will long remember.

I first came to India as a young man. I traveled the Grand Trunk Road and discovered for myself “incredible India” – long before that term became a common one. My month-long journey on buses and trains – and sometimes on top of buses and trains – was one I have never forgotten.  I saw up close and in action this country’s vibrant democracy, and rich, diverse, creative society. I was left with a deep and enduring affection for both India’s people and its indomitable spirit.

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“Myth of Mohandas K. Gandhi”

Dr. Martin Luther King,Jr. might have heard the word of non-violence from Gandhi,but it is certain that Dr. King did not know the true colors of Mr. Gandhi. From the beginning to the end,M.K. Gandhi was loyal to imperialism. The Western news media and their Indian allies by a massive propaganda exercise created the illusion of sainthood around Gandhi and made people believe that he fought Apartheid in South Africa,and in the process of doing so developed a new method of non-violent struggle called satyagraha. Nothing is farther from the truth.

Gandhi,for the major part of his life,worshipped British imperialism and too often proudly proclaimed himself a lover of the Empire. He was Kipling’s Gunga Din in flesh and blood.

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Obama’s four more in foreign policy

“Fecklessness and timidity disguised as false humility won’t do; we are expected to lead whether we are asked to or want to.” – Paul Bonicelli

The thing about grand illusions is that they are the often just that – grand illusions. And illusions of grandeur hardly make for implementable solutions and policies. A black man leading the world’s most powerful nation is no longer a distant dream for Americans, nor is it achievement that points to greatness of the country when the said leader is facing a difficult second term with regards to foreign policy.

Obama’s second term seems to be shifting the focus from international politics to domestic crisis. In less than two months of being elected, Obama has had to face two serious challenges against the Republican front; the gun control laws and the fiscal cliff. At the same time, American troops are ready to begin withdrawal from Afghanistan and the two governments are in the process of wrapping up final details of the role of US in Afghanistan after 2014.

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The Rising Left: Bibi’s re-election

Despite Bibi’s centre-right posture, an undeniable rise in the Left brings the new Knesset closer to a peace deal.

22 January 2013: Benjamin Netanyahu has been re-elected for a second term as Prime Minister. With floundering claims of tightening the leash for the ultra orthodox, and working towards genuine peace with Palestine, Bibi was trying to appeal to the new wave of ‘Leftist’ awakening. For the Likud party a coalition with the freshly popular Yesh Atid, or ‘There is a Future’, a party headed by political newcomer Yair Lapid showed surprising strength. Lapid’s inclination towards genuine economic reform, and awareness of Palestine’s colonization as immoral and an economic drain on Israel’s resources resonated well with the growing tide. Netanyahu, keeping in mind Likud party’s right-centre posture, and trending ‘welfare’ ‘justice’ clad political reformers decided to assure a broad coalition agenda which would assure this rising wave of leftist politik that a blocking majority is not part of this term’s contract.

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The LOC Lesson

The India – Pakistan scene is littered with the debris of past events and each side has its own version of those events. There was the 1965 war rooted in the Kashmir situation at that time, then the 1971 exploitation of Pakistan’s predicament in East Pakistan that led to its secession, the 1984 aggression by India that created the still unresolved Siachen issue, there was the attack on the Indian Parliament that triggered a confrontation that could have led to war between the two nuclear weapon states, there was the Kargil attack from Pakistan, then the terrorist attack in Mumbai in 2008 and the latest is the cease fire violation on the Line of Control (LOC).

Like all previous events much has been written and spoken about the latest LOC situation. The media on both sides — but much more on the Indian side — has spewed venom and demanded action. Indian military leaders have spoken publicly in threatening tones delivering totally unwarranted warnings and politicians in India have exploited the situation to bring pressure on the government. Sanity seems to have prevailed at last and both sides are stepping back from the brink — there really being no other option. In Pakistan there is rare consensus that the situation was handled with restraint with the military abstaining from provocative statements and our Foreign Minister saying just the right things.

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NAB investigation officer in RPP case found hanging from a fan

ISLAMABAD: An officer involved in the investigation of the Rental Power Projects (RPP) case was found dead at the federal lodges number 2 in Islamabad, DawnNews reported.

Kamran Faisal who held the position of assistant director in the NAB allegedly committed suicide.

Faisal’s body was found hanging from a ceiling fan, police said, whereas sources told DawnNews that he was reportedly under extreme pressure during his investigation of the RPP case.

Police added that Faisal’s body had been taken to investigate the cause of death.

Inspector General Islamabad Police said Faisal’s death appeared to be a suicide.

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The Qadri Intervention

From a largely forgotten cleric Dr Tahirul Qadri has become a household word and a familiar sight on TV screens and the front pages of newspapers. TV anchors and the participants in endless analyses and debates have sought to discern his past, his future and his ambitions, and above all who drives him to do what he is doing. No one believes that his agenda is purely reformist — everyone believes that after or during the reformation will emerge a political ambition. No one believes that his is a solo flight — everyone believes that his flight is guided and precision guided at that. If Dr Qadri and perhaps others think his venture will reach the conclusion he seeks then they are in for a disappointment because he has mounted a challenge to the state and its institutions on the basis of the inept performance of an elected government and a flawed political system. In a democracy such corrections come from free and fair elections and on that event the whole country is totally focused with the Supreme Court in an over watch role. This fact could not have been lost on Dr Qadri and those who support him.

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