Fate of General Kayani.

[Ali.009]

We all know that how Gen Kayani took a stance against US attacks on Pakistani soil and made strong statments. He was the first man to do it while our prime minister and president were busy visiting shrines and making foregin trips. Zardari didnt have the courage to say anything against its US ally till a week after incidents. Recently, he was forced to support army since Gen Kayani became the hero by showing strong anger against US insurgency.


With the strong statments of Gen kayani against US, it will be fine to say that he might become the next target. The Nytimes of sept 11 even accused General kayani of being aware of the bombings in kabul, even indians dont dare to do that. Kayani Holds the Key by Rajinder Puri

The general is surely a dangerous man in the eyes of Us and Zardari government, who is finding it hard to uphold the interests of US. Zardari has already tried to please US in a failed attempt on 27 july to cripple the ISI. And there is a possbility that zardari might try to replace Gen kayani with the powers left by Musharraf in his hands, as he is the last hurdle in the way for Zardari government to completely take control of army and spy agencies of Pakistan, and make them work for the interest of US.


Discuss.

 

[EagleEyes]

Actually its not a one general alone. The whole Pakistan Armed Forces stands behind that man. Zardari or Gilani will not and cannot do anything. You cannot suppress the people's voice especially when Army is taking their side. Cooperating with U.S. is a great thing, but then going too deep with collaboration which hurts our people, our interests, and our principles.. will no way be tolerated by this nation.

 

[Ali.009]

I agree, Gen Kayani is not alone, and that thing hurts US and Zardari the most. They might try to make a move which can result in the take over of the Zardari government and putting and end to the current mess.

 

[Spring Onion]

Actually its not a one general alone. The whole Pakistan Armed Forces stands behind that man. Zardari or Gilani will not and cannot do anything. You cannot suppress the people's voice especially when Army is taking their side. Cooperating with U.S. is a great thing, but then going too deep with collaboration which hurts our people, our interests, and our principles.. will no way be tolerated by this nation.

Rightly said. That is the point that has made US/CIA sleepless. The statements of warning against attacks in Pakistani areas should have been made by the zardari and his governement but then it dosnt fit into their agenda of CIA. Hence they were chewing words over his statement afterwards acting like born idiots.

But the point which webby mentioned is that entire Army and nation is standing behind Kiyani even the tribesmen

Plus Ali you are right about sinsiter moves against Kiyani by US- Zaradri Co.
He is the clear target at present.

 

[fatman17]

Rightly said. That is the point that has made US/CIA sleepless. The statements of warning against attacks in Pakistani areas should have been made by the zardari and his governement but then it dosnt fit into their agenda of CIA. Hence they were chewing words over his statement afterwards acting like born idiots.

But the point which webby mentioned is that entire Army and nation is standing behind Kiyani even the tribesmen

Plus Ali you are right about sinsiter moves against Kiyani by US- Zaradri Co.
He is the clear target at present.

if the govt. backed by the US/CIA (i doubt it) try to replace the CoAS who has been in power for 10 months only, there will be a coup and this time it will be ruthless. the politicians better not make this mistake on anybody's behest.

 

[Spring Onion]

if the govt. backed by the US/CIA (i doubt it) try to replace the CoAS who has been in power for 10 months only, there will be a coup and this time it will be ruthless. the politicians better not make this mistake on anybody's behest.

Yes that is obvious.

But the worrying thing is before going for Kiyani, Zardari having more sinsiter move to display including changing the head and other influential of ISI and put his own trusted men there, hence there will be no need to remove Kiyani.

We need to watch at every front.

 

[fatman17]

Yes that is obvious.

But the worrying thing is before going for Kiyani, Zardari having more sinsiter move to display including changing the head and other influential of ISI and put his own trusted men there, hence there will be no need to remove Kiyani.

We need to watch at every front.

Jana jee - i agree we need to be careful but AZ has already tried his hand with the ISI (bringing it under interior min) and will be suicidal if he again takes "panga" with Gen.Kiyani (in-directly) on the ISI. Gen. Kiyani is playing his constitutional role 100% but this dosnt mean he will remain submissive.

 

[Spring Onion]

Jana jee - i agree we need to be careful but AZ has already tried his hand with the ISI (bringing it under interior min) and will be suicidal if he again takes "panga" with Gen.Kiyani (in-directly) on the ISI. Gen. Kiyani is playing his constitutional role 100% but this dosnt mean he will remain submissive.

Sir did you check another development last month??? After failing to bring ISI under unelected CIA agent Rehman Malik, Zardari government and Rehman Malik have come up with another idea and they had issued an order that investgations in terrorism cases will be done only by police and there was no need to inform the intellegence agencies about the arrests and also the arrested terrorists will not be handed over to intellegence for interogtion.

Now Sir what you make out of it .

 

[fatman17]

Sir did you check another development last month??? After failing to bring ISI under unelected CIA agent Rehman Malik, Zardari government and Rehman Malik have come up with another idea and they had issued an order that investgations in terrorism cases will be done only by police and there was no need to inform the intellegence agencies about the arrests and also the arrested terrorists will not be handed over to intellegence for interogtion.

Now Sir what you make out of it .

Jana Jee i am not aware of this development. i will only say this that pakistan police dosnt have the credibility, capability and capacity to conduct these investigations. so this ploy IMO will fail and they will come running back to ISI, just like they did when their peace-deal with TTP failed and they came running back to the PA.

 

[Spring Onion]

Jana Jee i am not aware of this development. i will only say this that pakistan police dosnt have the credibility, capability and capacity to conduct these investigations. so this ploy IMO will fail and they will come running back to ISI, just like they did when their peace-deal with TTP failed and they came running back to the PA.

Yes Sir i agree with you but here the cause for concern is that they had also been orderd not to give any information to the intellegence about any development and rather report directly to Rehman Malik.

Rest yes indeed i agree with you.

 

[batmannow]

Is the war over?
By Ardeshir Cowasjee

INFORMATION technology has made it possible for people to know that Pakistan has waged war against a formidable enemy, the world’s sole superpower, and that both warring sides are winners.

To boot, from the latest reports and statements made by the high and mighty of Washington and Islamabad it is proclaimed that ‘sovereignty’ and honour on both sides have been upheld and that we should infer that peace now reigns and all the gunfire heard is but ‘noises off’.

If such be the case, had information technology ruled the air waves in 1914 or in 1939, many lives may have been saved by the spread of instant information, no matter how biased, vague or misinformative. We in 2008 embroiled in our war must thank our former president, Gen Pervez Musharraf, for having opened up the air waves and the printed press.

Our television screens beam out over 80 channels, 61 of them locally conceived which regale us with a relentless string of analysts, retired army generals, renowned intellectuals, informed commentators, who move effortlessly from channel to channel spouting too often dangerous and inflammatory words — ‘take ‘em on’, ‘attack’, ‘teach them a lesson’, and so on, much in the vein of the Hizbut Tahrir Wilayah Pakistan. Its message to its Pakistani brethren during the holy month has been: “It is you that America fears the most. America is aware of your fighting spirit and it is well acquainted with your abilities to overcome India and the Soviet Union … the only practical way to protect ourselves from the American aggression is by responding to a stone with a rock.”

To relieve the monotony, thankfully television has also given us Animal Planet and BBC Food, and our press ‘The Wizard of Id’ and ‘The Gambols’.

Apart from the professional pontificators we have the frightened who write and remain nameless. For instance, we had a letter from a ‘concerned citizen’ — in this newspaper yesterday under the heading ‘Sickening example’ — who wrote that “There are many people today who think of Muslims as intolerant barbarians...” What is he afraid of? Being lynched? Sadly, the man is in his right senses.

On the matter of war and peace, I have been pipped at the post by two rare but sane writers whose columns appeared in this publication on Friday and on Saturday. Ayesha Siddiqa is unconvinced about the reign of peace: “... [T]he American government knows that Pakistan’s so-called liberal elite and many among the Pakistani expatriate community would be happy with the removal of the Taliban or other militants. If the Pakistan Army can’t do it, then let the US forces achieve the objective. Moreover, eliminating this threat would fundamentally readjust the military’s power vis-เ-vis the civilian establishment because it would essentially mean roping in the intelligence agencies as well. This means that Pakistani society is divided and will not be able to pose an extensive threat to American attacks.”

And Irfan Husain yesterday very rightly reminds us that “Should our army actually kill a number of American troops, the resulting escalation could easily spin out of control very quickly. The Americans currently have two aircraft carrier groups in the Gulf, with a third on its way. Their combined firepower could wipe out Pakistan many times over. So, while it’s great fun to fulminate against the Americans before the cameras in TV studios, we need to get real here.”

As for letting the Americans do what has manifestly become obvious — taking on and reining in or eliminating the militant Taliban who cover the frontier area, press reports yesterday have it that within a matter of weeks dozens of US military advisors will descend upon Pakistan with their training teams. Hopefully this is correct, though we are informed that Pakistan has been resisting such a move. If it happens, this will alter the entire scenario as far as any cross-border incursions are concerned.

As to the aircraft carrier groups, they form part of the US Seventh Fleet, the largest of the forward-deployed US fleets, covering 52 million square miles, with approximately 60-70 ships, 200-300 aircraft and 40,000 sailors and marines assigned to it at any given time. It conducts operations to ensure control of the sea to defend the United States against attack through the western Pacific and Indian Oceans. Friends of the Hizbut Tahrir would seem to be totally out of their depth.

The problem remains that no matter how many placatory statements may emanate from the spokespersons of the two antagonists, Pakistan is largely viewed by the American public as untrustworthy and ramshackle. They fear that the murderous violence that overwhelms Pakistan may spread to their own land once again. They feel that the war on terror started in this region, in the training camps and madressahs that swarm the Frontier and Balochistan regions, and that therefore it must be ended over here — however and by whatever means.

Unless there is a swift turnaround within the next few months, and then should Barack Obama, the more militant of the two American presidential candidates, have any say in the matter, we need to watch our backsides. He may have no compunctions about ‘acting’ against the ‘so-called’ Islamabad ally. He has committed himself in advance to the projection of American power into what is considered by too many of his compatriots and others around the world as one of the major enemies in the war on terror. If we do not amend our national mindset we may be in for a lot more war and a lot less peace.

As it is, despite the official placatory statements, some local expert polls have it that 53 per cent of the 173 millions of Pakistan would be happy were President Asif Zardari to declare war on America (though many are worried about how helpless we would be were we to win). If this is what has been achieved by COAS Gen Ashfaq Kayani’s tactics of shooting not to kill, coupled with Zardari’s prosthodontic wall-to-wall perpetual grin, are they to be congratulated?

The rightwing Washington Times last week carried a column by Arnaud de Borchgrave which ended with an ominous warning: “in authorising this month’s raid into South Waziristan ... President Bush was testing the boundaries of the new government — and the authority of Mr Zardari over the army. In Afghanistan, the future of the Atlantic alliance is at stake. In Pakistan, the state itself is at stake.”

arfc@cyber.net.pk

Battle to be won or lost in Bajaur
By Ismail Khan

THE battle in the Bajaur Agency has not only become a tipping-point for Pakistan’s internal security, it can also have a deep impact on the country’s status as a key US ally in the war against terrorism. In the second week of August, the operation started haltingly to prevent what looked like the imminent fall of Bajaur’s regional headquarters, Khaar, to the militants.

Having suffered initial reversals, the operation is now on at full throttle. It has created a surrender-or-die situation for the militants and a now-or-never moment for the country’s security forces.

Predictably, the militants are using everything they have to hold their ground. Government and security officials say that they are baffled by the resilience and stiff resistance offered by the battle-hardened fighters, by their tactics and the sophistication of their weapons and communications systems.

“They have good weaponry and a better communication system (than ours),” said a senior official. “Even the sniper rifles they use are better than some of ours. Their tactics are mind-boggling and they have defences that would take us days to build. It does not look as though we are fighting a rag-tag militia; they are fighting like an organised force.”

More worryingly, the Bajaur battleground has attracted militants from other tribal regions and from across the border, from Afghanistan’s eastern Kunar province. It has long been known that there are foreign militants in Bajaur, but their numbers have always been thought to be small. Now, their ranks are swelling, catching by surprise many veterans in the civil-military establishment. This supply line from Kunar to Bajaur has, however, eased the pressure in Afghanistan. Western diplomatic sources acknowledge that the level of violence in Kunar has dropped appreciably since the launch of the operation in Bajaur, indicating a planning and operational linkage that overlaps the Durand Line.

Realising how crucial and critical the Bajaur operation is — and the massive impact it can have on restive neighbouring tribal regions — the army has lined up tremendous resources to make quick headway.

Concern for backlash

Government and security sources say that so far the operation is going well. However, there are concerns that rising numbers of civilian casualties in a lengthening conflict may cause public and political backlash, and undermine the national support needed to succeed in Bajaur. The Jamaat-i-Islami, for one — which has a strong political base in Bajaur and has had close ties with Gulbadin Hekmatyar’s Hizb-i-Islami (which operates in Kunar) — has already launched a campaign against the operation.

For now, government and security officials are staying put and are determined to take the battle to what they call “its logical conclusion”.

To gauge the seriousness of this operation a brigade of the Pakistan Army has, for perhaps the first time, been placed under the command of the recently-posted Inspector General of Frontier Corps, Maj-Gen Tariq Khan, to ensure the unity of command and effectiveness.

The security forces are relieved by much-needed words of praise from an otherwise sceptical and suspicious American administration regarding the action in Bajaur. On Thursday, US Defence Secretary Robert Gates told reporters in Kabul that the US was “encouraged” by the security forces’ operation in Bajaur.

At home, meanwhile, important members of the political leadership have stopped expressing misgivings about the establishment’s intentions in terms of dealing with militancy; they acknowledge that this operation is for real.

“There is a change in their approach,” said a senior politician from the NWFP. “They seem serious. As to what caused this change of mind, we really have no idea.”

One view being expressed among political circles is that the gravity of the security threat to national integrity, crucial support from the current leadership and growing public mobilisation in Buner, Dir and Bajaur have together served as a shot in the arm for the military, enabling it to decisively take on the militants.

An additional fillip has been provided by the American administration’s upping of the ante. President George W. Bush’s July authorisation to permit operations in Pakistan’s tribal areas forced the army high command to come up with a strong reaction.

More importantly, the US commando raid in Angoor Adda made the top brass reiterate the commitment that they alone will take action on Pakistani soil, and Bajaur is the litmus test of this commitment. This has helped the government ‘own’ the operation as being driven by internal security concerns and has changed the perception that action was being taken under external pressure.

More aggressive approach

Bajaur, thus, may constitute the beginning of a more aggressive approach and strategy by Pakistan’s armed forces, backed equally by the political leadership.

The success of this approach may not only initiate the unravelling of the militants’ insurgency in the tribal region — though total elimination would take much longer and would require a host of other measures such as political, administrative and economic reforms — it may also restore to the state and its security forces much-needed credibility at home and abroad.

Equally crucial, however, would be the extent of the collateral damage, for that may tip the balance either way and cause the loss of local support to the government. Tribal support, therefore, would be of critical importance. The Salarzai and Utmankhel tribes have already risen against the militants, albeit for reasons of their own. But it would be the Mamonds, which constitute a stronghold of the militants, which could really tilt the balance in the government’s favour.

Analysts say that any failure, or the abandonment of the operation midway as occurred, for a variety of reasons, in South Waziristan, Darra Adamkhel and Swat, could potentially not only undermine the gains made so far in Bajaur, but could also cast a negative spell on the ongoing operations in Swat and elsewhere.

“Needless to say, such a situation would not only embolden the militants on the one hand, on the other it would give the cynics in Washington and Kabul an excuse to point to Pakistan’s lack of ability and political will to fight this war,” commented a seasoned observer.

Clearly, therefore, the Bajaur operation is being watched closely by policy-makers in the US, and may shape that country’s strategy vis-เ-vis Pakistan and the tribal areas, Bush’s July authorisation notwithstanding.

The stakes are equally high for the militants in Bajaur which, after Waziristan, is perhaps the second most significant stronghold of the militants.

Militant leader Maulvi Faqir Muhammad is the deputy to Baitullah Mehsud’s Tehreek-Taliban Pakistan, whose fighters are not only waging a war against Pakistani security forces but are also involved actively in the ‘jihad’ in Afghanistan, particularly in the bordering eastern province of Kunar. Faqir Muhammad is known to wield a lot of influence over militants operating in Swat under Maulana Fazlullah, who draws strength and support in large measure from Bajaur.

Militants in the Mohmand tribal region would also be watching the operation in neighbouring Bajaur with a great deal of anxiety, since the triumphs and losses of their comrades in arms and ideology may also decide their own fate.

Having said this, however, much would depend on the strategy the government adopts in the post-operation scenario, to consolidate its grip over Bajaur in order to prevent the resurgence of the militants, and to introduce a rehabilitation package for hundreds of thousands of Bajauris.

Officials say that a one-time package of $7.2 million is ready for such an intervention, based mostly on commitments made by international donors. But the full success of the entire operation will also be determined by how quickly, efficiently and transparently this rehabilitation process is carried out and implemented.

Victory for either side may not be soon in the coming, but one thing is certain: it may largely determine the future course of events in Pakistan.


Dear ali009, young sir,
its nice,to see your post, well i have put one of the articals from a great pakistani journalist, who speaks truth, no yellow journlism from him, he does'nt have any favourists in pakistani politics, he is from the days of MOHAMMED ALI JINNAH, he is not bias any way.
I guss, its the battle field, which is going to decide his fate, if he can make these militants break down, then he can do more.

 

[Ali.009]

Are you trying to say through this artricle that Pakistan should back off with fighting US and even if they keep enterin our soil we shouldnt retaliate?

I am sorry sir, but i think this article is just to de-moralize the nation, as thousands of others are doing right now. You are trying to scare Pakistan by american fleet in oceans! What a pity! When today's muslims will start fearing US instead of Allah, this will be their fate. I should rightfully say that US is in no point to afford a war, they cant even sustain their 'huge' army by which you are getting impressed. They are bankrupt, its better to increase the moral of nation, rather then posting such articles in the name of Pakistaniat.

Kindly read islamic military history, you'll understand how muslims defeated world super powers.

-Regards

 

[batmannow]

Are you trying to say through this artricle that Pakistan should back off with fighting US and even if they keep enterin our soil we shouldnt retaliate?

I am sorry sir, but i think this article is just to de-moralize the nation, as thousands of others are doing right now. You are trying to scare Pakistan by american fleet in oceans! What a pity! When today's muslims will start fearing US instead of Allah, this will be their fate. I should rightfully say that US is in no point to afford a war, they cant even sustain their 'huge' army by which you are getting impressed. They are bankrupt, its better to increase the moral of nation, rather then posting such articles in the name of Pakistaniat.

Kindly read islamic military history, you'll understand how muslims defeated world super powers.

-Regards

MyDear, young , sir
I guss, its not right how you thought about it, i was, quit a good student of islamic history, but what should, pakistan do,now..in 2008?
do, you think, that if we go war with USA, nothing will happen to us?

what, i was trying to put here, is that its not a time , when pakistan... should make another u-trun like it did back in 2002!
i, guss pakistan should wait a while, and prepare itself, militrly, economicly, socialy, we cant have any war with any 1... for now, but yes , we have to stop of being bullied by any 1....also, we need to have best of relations with CHINA, RUSSIA, IRAN, better than USA!!!

 

[Ali.009]

The situation is nothing different then before. But what has changed is, the war is being dragged into Pakistan. US has to attack Pakistan sooner or later, we should accept this fact and increase our moral and faith over Allah, accordingly. On the other hand, this thread is about Gen Kayani, not US-Pak war.

-Regards

 

[batmannow]

The situation is nothing different then before. But what has changed is, the war is being dragged into Pakistan. US has to attack Pakistan sooner or later, we should accept this fact and increase our moral and faith over Allah, accordingly. On the other hand, this thread is about Gen Kayani, not US-Pak war.

-Regards

Dear Ali.009; sir
I think, you are 100% right!
but, sir GEN. kiyani's future is in the battle field, & i guss, the most strongest enemy he is going to face , is offcourse USA and its admin+ CIA.
In the declining , relationship with USA &, in the growing shadow of war with USA, his all the abilities will be going to tested.

At, the same time i wish him very good luck & want him to go beyond every ones thoughts, i would be supportting him anyway, even he go for next marshallaw. i guss, he have to do that, he cant stand long enough against,
these CIA agents, i mean ppp govt.