US military claim angers Pakistan

[candypreet]

A Pakistani general says US claims that Pakistan is planning a new offensive against militants in its Waziristan region are "highly irresponsible".
Lt Gen Safdar Hussain, who commands Pakistani forces in Waziristan, was responding to comments by David Barno, head of US forces in Afghanistan.

Gen Hussain said he had no reports on which to base a new operation.

Pakistan stepped up military operations a year ago against suspected al-Qaeda and Taleban militants in the region.

'Speculation'

Gen Hussain was responding to Lt Gen Barno's comments that a new Pakistani operation would happen soon.
Gen Barno was in Pakistan this week as part of counter-terrorism talks.

Gen Hussain said in Peshawar, capital of Pakistan's North-West Frontier Province: "It is only speculation that terrorists are in North Waziristan.

"We are gathering intelligence but there is no report on the basis of which I can begin an operation.

"There is no organised base of terrorists. They are on the run. I will not let them reorganise."

Gen Hussain, who met Gen Barno this week, said: "I told Gen Barno he should better take care of Afghanistan and we can do ourselves in Pakistan."

Disciplinary action

His comments came a day after Pakistani army spokesman Maj Shaukat Sultan also criticised the statement by Gen Barno, saying: "We decide for ourselves what needs to be done, when and where."



Analysts say that although Pakistan remains a key ally in the US-led war against terrorism, it is highly sensitive to suggestions of US involvement in its operations.

Pakistan has deployed about 70,000 troops to the Afghan border region in its operation against militants.

The army has said in the past that hundreds of militants, including Arabs, Afghans and Central Asians, have been based in the area.

In his comments on Wednesday, Gen Hussain also said for the first time he had taken action against soldiers involved in the killing of civilians.

The action included their replacement from command positions, stripping them of seniority and sending them home.

He refused to give any further details or numbers.

Gen Hussain also said was sure al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden was not hiding in Pakistan.

He said Bin Laden's security ring was such that any movement in Pakistani areas would have left his signature.

But he said Pakistani forces were nevertheless continuing the search.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4464559.stm

[candypreet]

senior Pakistani general denied the U.S. claims that the Pakistani army is planning a new military operation against rebels in its Waziristan region, describing them as "highly irresponsible".

Lt Gen Safdar Hussain, who is in charge of Pakistani soldiers in Waziristan, was responding to remarks made by David Barno, commander of the 17,000 U.S. forces in Afghanistan.

Gen Barno, who visited Pakistan this week, was quoted by a Pakistani newspaper as saying that a new Pakistani operation would start soon in North Waziristan, but Gen Hussain said that he wasn’t aware of any new military operations in the region.

Gen Hussain said: "We are gathering intelligence but there is no report on the basis of which I can begin an operation.

"I told Gen Barno he should better take care of Afghanistan and we can do ourselves in Pakistan,” he added.

Pakistani military spokesman Maj Shaukat Sultan also denied Gen Barno’s claims, saying; "We decide for
ourselves what needs to be done, when and where."

Analysts say that Pakistan is highly sensitive to suggestions of U.S. involvement in its military operations.

The Pakistani army deployed some 70,000 forces to the Afghan border in its operation against rebels in the region.

Gen Hussain also said that he was sure al-Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden was not hiding in Pakistan. However, he said that Pakistani forces were continuing their search operations.

In another development, Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf said that he would never let foreign investigators inspect the country’s nuclear facilities.

"That is tantamount to admitting that we cannot be trusted in our own house," he said at a breakfast meeting of the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines on Wednesday.

Asked whether he will let IAEA inspectors examine the country’s nuclear sites, Musharraf said; "Why?"

"Our nuclear programme is for the protection of the people of Pakistan," he said.

"If the IAEA has questions about our nuclear programme then let them ask us. We have nothing to hide.

"We will give them all the information they want but we will not allow their inspectors into our country to question our officials or inspect our facilities." Musharraf said.http://www.aljazeera.com/me.asp?service_ID=8098

[jimb]

Pakistan could be the first nation to start a Nuke war was past rumored by D C or is it N Korea ?

[OldGit]

Well I'm not surprised that General Hussein is pissed at advanced warning being given, by the foolish lose mouthed Barno to the militants. I think I'd be a bit mad too - wouldn't you? Maybe the enemy will be a lot harder to find, now they know who's coming and when...

[death2aq]

Well I'm not surprised that General Hussein is pissed at advanced warning being given, by the foolish lose mouthed Barno to the militants. I think I'd be a bit mad too - wouldn't you? Maybe the enemy will be a lot harder to find, now they know who's coming and when...

Good point. That very well could be. I hope so, because we are getting more suspicous of Pakistan by the day. I mean, did they discipline those soldiers by sending them to villages to rape those that accused them of bad deeds? They are going to have to start being more open with us. Things are not looking good for them. Piss off the U.S. like we got pissed on 9/11, and those new F16's might get dismantled.

[OldGit]

I'm never sure whether Musharaff is serious about reigning in the militant elements that infest his country. The place is deeply backward and has a festering element of medievalist muslim backwoodsmen. I hate that element, and it's efforts to drag people back to Dark Age barbarism. On the one hand, Musharaff moves slowly to get these people - too slowly for my liking, but on the other hand, this is no easy job - they are a powerful force in the country, and he probably needs to move cautiously, so he doesn't lose the support of the Army. Democracy in Pakistan would bring a nightmare, there are too many extreme Islamists in the population. Sensible Muslims like Musharaff are in the majority, but just.... I think the Pakistani secret service often work against him - remember, Afghanistan's Taliban, was set up and supported from Pakistan, partly with Pakistani Secret Service support.

If I could draw cartoons, I'd do one showing Musharaff skating on thin ice. There would be big cracks with bearded taliban types prodding the fragile surface with swords and AKs. That's Pakistan in a nutshell for me.

[candypreet]

I'm never sure whether Musharaff is serious about reigning in the militant elements that infest his country. The place is deeply backward and has a festering element of medievalist muslim backwoodsmen. I hate that element, and it's efforts to drag people back to Dark Age barbarism. On the one hand, Musharaff moves slowly to get these people - too slowly for my liking, but on the other hand, this is no easy job - they are a powerful force in the country, and he probably needs to move cautiously, so he doesn't lose the support of the Army. Democracy in Pakistan would bring a nightmare, there are too many extreme Islamists in the population. Sensible Muslims like Musharaff are in the majority, but just.... I think the Pakistani secret service often work against him - remember, Afghanistan's Taliban, was set up and supported from Pakistan, partly with Pakistani Secret Service support.

If I could draw cartoons, I'd do one showing Musharaff skating on thin ice. There would be big cracks with bearded taliban types prodding the fragile surface with swords and AKs. That's Pakistan in a nutshell for me.

I agrree

[OldGit]

I agrree

Good.

[Pispas]

I'm never sure whether Musharaff is serious about reigning in the militant elements that infest his country. The place is deeply backward and has a festering element of medievalist muslim backwoodsmen. I hate that element, and it's efforts to drag people back to Dark Age barbarism. On the one hand, Musharaff moves slowly to get these people - too slowly for my liking, but on the other hand, this is no easy job - they are a powerful force in the country, and he probably needs to move cautiously, so he doesn't lose the support of the Army. Democracy in Pakistan would bring a nightmare, there are too many extreme Islamists in the population. Sensible Muslims like Musharaff are in the majority, but just.... I think the Pakistani secret service often work against him - remember, Afghanistan's Taliban, was set up and supported from Pakistan, partly with Pakistani Secret Service support.

If I could draw cartoons, I'd do one showing Musharaff skating on thin ice. There would be big cracks with bearded taliban types prodding the fragile surface with swords and AKs. That's Pakistan in a nutshell for me.In total agreement, as always, esteemed T.O.

My gut instinct tells me Musharaff ain't necessarily a bad fella, but he's surrounded by highly dubious characters and when push comes to shove, his ass is nearer and dearer to him than the buns of George.

One false move and you've got a Been Laden *and* a Been Musharaff.

The country stinks! In every aspect. Politics and opportunism (same thing really) make for the strangest of bedfellows.

Good thing that India and Pakistan appear to have embarked on a more neighbour-friendly road.

[Catwoman]

Really? I rather think this is Mushy deliberately playing two sides against each other and it looks like he is going to get caught in his own game.



[World News] Washington, A recent report published by the International Crisis Group (ICG) has said that the Pakistan government's policy of supporting the country's religious and fundamentalist sections of the country to counter the civilian opposition has reached such an alarming proportion that the religious extremism has started to threaten the very foundations of its existence.

The Daily Times quoted the ICG report as saying that the co-option and patronage of religious parties by successive military governments has led to the country's Islamisation and the subsequent marginalization of the country 's democratic, with the result that jihadi groups and madarsaas have started flourishing like never before.

"Instead of empowering liberal, democratic voices, the government has co-opted the religious right and continues to rely on it to counter civilian opposition. By depriving democratic forces of an even playing field and continuing to ignore the need for state policies that would encourage and indeed reflect the country's religious diversity, the government has allowed religious extremist organisations and jihadi groups, and madrasas that provide them an endless stream of recruits, to flourish," the paper quoted the report as saying.

The report states that the Constitutional provisions to Islamise laws, education and culture and the official dissemination of a particular brand of Islamic ideology not only militate against Pakistan's religious diversity, but also breed discrimination against the country's non-Muslim minorities.

It states that allowing Islam to be used as a political tool not only promotes an aggressive competition for official patronage between the various Shia, Sunni factions, but also leads to a scenario with the clergy of the major sects and the sub-sects fighting among themselves to build up their political parties, raise jihadi militias, expand madrasa networks across the country.

The report states that the Musharraf administration has also like all other military governments weakened the country's secular and democratic forces. It says that the crackdown against jihadi organizations in Pakistan has failed to dismantle the terror infrastructure and all banned extremist groups persist with new labels, adding that not only is jihadi media flourishing, but leading figures of extremist Sunni organisations are freely preaching jihad...

[OldGit]

In total agreement, as always, esteemed T.O.

My gut instinct tells me Musharaff ain't necessarily a bad fella, but he's surrounded by highly dubious characters and when push comes to shove, his ass is nearer and dearer to him than the buns of George.

One false move and you've got a Been Laden *and* a Been Musharaff.

The country stinks! In every aspect. Politics and opportunism (same thing really) make for the strangest of bedfellows.

Good thing that India and Pakistan appear to have embarked on a more neighbour-friendly road.

No, I prefer your analysis to Catwoman's. I've read enough about Mushy to know he's cast in more of a western mould than a eastern one. I think he's a decent sort, but as you say, surrounded by shady bastards. One thing though, it's a big mistake to think his first priority is to please the USA. I read in another thread about AQ Khan, someone aghast that he (Musharaff)described Khan as a hero of the nation or some such - well what would you expect when old AQ whatever his faults (from a Pakistani perspective) gave them equality with their powerful Indian neighbour? If Musharaff even wanted to punish AQ Khan, he could not. AQ is more popular with the masses of that grateful nation than Mushy is BY FAR....

Musharaff will probably work quite well with us, but it would be a mistake to think that he was in some way OUR creature.... He's his own man and he'll play the game to suit his nation as well as helping us, his allies.

[Boomer]

No, I prefer your analysis to Catwoman's. I've read enough about Mushy to know he's cast in more of a western mould than a eastern one. I think he's a decent sort, but as you say, surrounded by shady bastards. One thing though, it's a big mistake to think his first priority is to please the USA. I read in another thread about AQ Khan, someone aghast that he (Musharaff)described Khan as a hero of the nation or some such - well what would you expect when old AQ whatever his faults (from a Pakistani perspective) gave them equality with their powerful Indian neighbour? If Musharaff even wanted to punish AQ Khan, he could not. AQ is more popular with the masses of that grateful nation than Mushy is BY FAR....

Musharaff will probably work quite well with us, but it would be a mistake to think that he was in some way OUR creature.... He's his own man and he'll play the game to suit his nation as well as helping us, his allies.
I agree. My biggest fear is an assassination or military coup bringing on a radical fundamentalist government. I'd hate to see those nukes fall into their hands!

[candypreet]

I agrree
but the first part seems more probable " I'm never sure whether Musharaff is serious about reigning in the militant elements that infest his country"

[candypreet]

Afghans say solid evidence Taliban in Pakistan
27 Feb 2006 12:02:12 GMT

Source: Reuters
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/ISL298050.htm

[candypreet]

Looming Pakistan Push?
Steve
Things are heating up in Afghanistan, and if the Asia Times has it right, it may well be leading to US troops finally crossing over into Pakistan in pursuit of Taliban and al-Qaeda attackers slinking back into the Waziristan region.

The Americans are pointing directly at the two Waziristans as the primary conduit for the suicide bombers who are currently playing havoc with the US-NATO-led war machine in Afghanistan, and a safe haven for enemy combatants. The US now has come up with a plan to confront the strategic arm of the Taliban based on the Pakistani side of the border.

The anti-US forces, meanwhile, are taking countermeasures, and the Pakistani government is trying to find a safe position for itself between the antagonists.

Negotiations have begun to finalize new rules for dealing with the tribal region. Last month Pakistani Vice Chief of Army Staff General Ehsan Saleem Hayat attended the conference of the Tripartite Commission (representing Afghanistan, Pakistan and the forces of the US and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization) in Kabul, and General John Abizaid of US Centcom (Central Command) has traveled to Pakistan to finalize a blueprint.

Sources say the Americans are set on a plan of hot pursuit of enemy combatants across the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, and they want a clear demarcation of the Pakistani tribal areas that have long been volatile and which they say should be part of the Afghanistan front in the “war on terror”.

Pakistan wants to errect a fence along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border in the Waziristan region. The US dismisses this as ineffectual. The Taliban in Waziristan clearly prefer to see a fence rather than the business end of an approaching US military unit.

The gathering presaged the future setup in the Waziristans. The mujahideen will remain in the background and the non-militant face of leadership, in the form of local tribal elders, the JUI-F and religious leaders, will be visible. This will enable the Pakistani authorities to justify their proposal to fence the Durand Line rather than allow US-led forces a free hand in the tribal areas.

Going further to note an Arab presence still, with fresh foreign graduates from local madrassas attending a large Waziristan meeting where “fire and blood were in the air as momentous events loomed,” Syed Saleem Shahzad noted the development of the Taliban’s planned Hizballistan Defense.

Meanwhile the “guests” - foreign anti-US fighters including Uzbeks, Arabs and Chechens - who are living in North Waziristan have had their own command structures dismantled and been asked to join the central mujahideen force of commander Gul Badar, or simply to scatter into ordinary tribal society.

Certainly, there is no overt connection between the Lebanese Hezbollah and the Pakistani Taliban, yet the new setup in the Waziristans clearly echoes that in Lebanon, where Hezbollah hides itself behind many thick curtains while remaining in a position of power. It was precisely this setup that enabled Lebanon to defend its territorial integrity and political interests during the recent Israeli invasion.

Neither the US nor Islamabad knows the strength of the Pakistani Taliban in the mountain fastnesses of the two Waziristans. Pakistan has offered a general amnesty for all previously wanted people, and military checkpoints are manned only at three or four points on the borders of the region. The Taliban, meanwhile, call the shots everywhere.

Such was the situation until Wednesday, when the two Waziristans embarked on a new phase in which US military campaigns seem unavoidable. Cognizant of developments and intent on saving turbans, beards and throats, thick curtains have been drawn.
http://rapidrecon.threatswatch.org/2006/09/looming-pakistan-push/

[candypreet]

Sunday, November 05, 2006

‘Pakistan will never support military action against Iran’

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz Saturday told a visiting Iranian delegation on Saturday that Pakistan had joined the international coalition against terrorism to ensure regional and global peace, while stressing that Islamabad would never support military action against Tehran.

Noting that Pakistan and Iran enjoyed cordial relations, the prime minister addressed the Iranian nuclear issue by saying that Pakistan had always extended full support to Tehran on the basis that Iran refrain from engaging in proliferation and its nuclear programme be placed under International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards.

Iran, he stressed, had the right to peaceful nuclear energy, adding that Pakistan had gone on record as saying that the Iranian issue should be addressed through dialogue and diplomacy. Aziz reiterated that Pakistan was against any use of force against Iran to resolve the nuclear standoff and would never be a party to military action against its neighbour. The prime minister went on to describe the Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) gas pipeline project as viable, stressing that Pakistan was committed to its completion.

He said that discussions between Islamabad and Tehran had now reached the stage of fixing gas prices, reiterating that India was also on board to complete the deal.

Guaranteeing full security tor the project, he pointed out that the IPI pipeline served the energy needs of the three countries, while such cooperation would also boost their respective economies.

In separate talks with the energy minister of Brunei, the prime minister hailed the close brotherly relations enjoyed by the two sides, expressing hope that they would expand in the future. He noted that the International Economic Islamic Forum would pave the way for the resolution of socio-economic problems facing the Muslim Ummah, through the bolstering of cooperation by Islamic countries in diverse fields. Pointing out that Pakistan’s energy requirements were on the rise, he confirmed that Islamabad was holding talks with several countries to acquire energy.

He also said that since Pakistan was in need of civil nuclear technology, “we will not accept any discrimination on this count”. Talking to a delegation of Turkish entrepreneurs, Aziz said that bilateral cooperation was constantly expanding between Islamabad and Ankara in the economic, trade and investment sectors. He went on to stress that Pakistan’s investment environment was going from strength to strength, with the country providing a level playing field to both domestic and international investors alike. agencies


http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2006\11\05\story_5-11-2006_pg7_13

[candypreet]

:happy_01: any comments?

[candypreet]

Iran: Pakistan would not provide bases to US
http://www.indianmuslims.info/news/2007/march/12/muslim_world_news/iran_pakistan_would_not_provide_bases_to_us.html

Submitted by Indian-Muslim on Mon, 2007-03-12 12:45. Muslim World News
ISLAMABAd, Mar 11 (NNN-PTI) -- Pakistan would not provide military bases to the United States if it launches attacks on Iran, Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri has said.

He said an attack on Iran would leave negative impacts politically and economically not only on Pakistan but in the region as well.

"Iran is Pakistan's friend and neighbouring country. Pakistan has been actively engaged with Iran, US and European Union to resolve the conflict.

Our stance is very much clear on Iran-Pakistan-India gas-pipeline. Pakistan's stance was also clear during voting in Vienna, (during IAEA debate on Iran's nuclear programme), Pakistan's stance on US-Iran conflict is very much clear.

"Pakistan is against military action and wants to resolve the conflict through dialogue," he told reporters in Lahore yesterday.

He said Pakistan's foreign policy is aimed at promoting peace and security at global and regional level.

On Indo-Pak relations, he said the two countries have come a long way from the tense period in 2001 and 2002 when there was tension on the border.

"Since the peace process started in January 2004, Pakistan and India resumed the composite dialogue process which encompasses talks on peace and security including Jammu and Kashmir and CBMs in nuclear and conventional fields, Siachen, Sir Creek, terrorism and drug-trafficking, economic and commercial cooperation, promotion of friendly exchanges and Wullar Barrage," he said.

On the US Congress legislation linking Pakistan's defence aid with terrorism, Kasuri said Pakistan has serious reservations on the legislation