WikiLeaks: UAE expressed concern over Balochistan airstrip leak

[T-Faz]

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) was concerned in 2005 that the details about its military cooperation with the US on the Balochistan airstrip had been leaked, according to latest diplomatic cables released by Wikileaks.

Ahmed Al Musally, Director of the Asian and African Affairs Department at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, had specifically complained that retired General Tommy Franks, former Commander of US Central Command, mentioned in his book, “American Soldier” that US forces had made use of Sheikh Zayed’s private airstrip in Balochistan, Pakistan.

In his meeting with the deputy chief of mission, Al Musally explained that the government of UAE desires to keep details of the UAE cooperation with the US military in Afghanistan and Pakistan confidential, because the Government is concerned that public acknowledgement of this assistance could pose risks to the UAE security within the UAE or to UAE officials in Pakistan.

Earlier, the Pakistan Air Force’s (PAF) deputy chief had revealed that the Shamsie airbase in Balochistan was not under their control as it was funded and constructe by the UAE. The PAF chief had made this revelation during an in-camera session of both houses of parliament following the unilateral operation by US forces in Abbottabad that killed Osama bin Laden.

Cable Referenced: WikiLeaks no 32618.

WikiLeaks: UAE expressed concern over Balochistan airstrip leak – The Express Tribune

 

[ARCHON]

UAE cooperation with the US military in Afghanistan and Pakistan confidential

Not even Pakistan people was supposed to be known about this arrangement. UAE must be angry that the news leaked out.

 

[Ajaxpaul]

UAE is sooo very concerned..As long as Arabs are safe, they dont care about south Asians. Time to find other alternative source of Energy. All the brains of Asia should focus on this objective. Then we can show them where they actually belong.

 

[T-Faz]

I hope Imran Khan does one of his Dharna's outside the UAE embassy as they are providing their bases in Pakistan for drone strikes.

There should be pressure on all involved including PA, USA, UAE and our Gov.

 

[Last Hope]

Wikileaks: Saudi Arabia, UAE funded extremist networks in Pakistan

By Reuters
Published: May 22, 2011

WikiLeaks said $100 million a year was making its way from those Gulf Arab states to a recruitment network in Punjab.

Charities from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates financed a network in Pakistan that recruited children as young as eight to wage “holy war”, a local newspaper reported on Sunday, citing Wikileaks.

A US diplomatic cable published by WikiLeaks said financial support estimated at $100 million a year was making its way from those Gulf Arab states to an extremist recruitment network in Pakistan’s Punjab province, Dawn newspaper reported.

The November 2008 dispatch by Bryan Hunt, the then principal officer at the US consulate in Lahore, was based on discussions with local government and non-governmental sources during trips to Punjab, Pakistan’s most populous province.

It said those sources claimed that financial aid from Saudi and United Arab Emirates was coming from “missionary” and”Islamic charitable” organisations ostensibly with the direct support of those countries’ governments.

Saudi Arabia, the United States and Pakistan heavily supported the Afghan mujahideen against Soviet occupation troops in the 1980s. Militancy subsequently mushroomed in the region and militants moved to Pakistan’s northwest tribal areas along the border with Afghanistan, seen as a global hub for militants.

Since then there has been a growing nexus between militant groups there and in Punjab. In recent years militants have been carrying out suicide bombings seemingly at will in Pakistan, despite military offensives against their strongholds.

Children sent to training camps

But militancy is deeply rooted in Pakistan. In order to eradicate it, analysts say, the government must improve economic conditions to prevent militants from recruiting young men disillusioned with the state.

The network in Punjab reportedly exploited worsening poverty to indoctrinate children and ultimately send them to training camps, said the cable.

Saudi Arabia is seen as funding some of Pakistan’s hardline religious seminaries, or madrassas, which churn out young men eager for “holy war”, posing a threat to the stability of the region.

“At these madrassas, children are denied contact with the outside world and taught sectarian extremism, hatred for non-Muslims, and anti-Western/anti-Pakistan government philosophy,” said the cable.

It described how “families with multiple children” and”severe financial difficulties” were being exploited and recruited, Dawn reported.

“The path following recruitment depends upon the age of the child involved. Younger children (between 8 and 12) seem to be favoured,” said the cable.

Teachers in seminaries would assess the inclination of children “to engage in violence and acceptance of jihadi culture”.

“The initial success of establishing madrassas and mosques in these areas led to subsequent annual “donations” to these same clerics, originating in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates,” the cable stated.


So the Arabs are a friend or just another puppet of USA?

 

[RazorMC]

There are no friends.
All these countries worshipped Pakistan (metaphorically speaking) during the 50s and 60s. Our economy was booming, we had a highly developed education system compared to GCC and strong military.
Since the economic hardships, many of the countries don't look at Pakistan the same way.

 

[Cheetah786]

I am surprised that you guys are surprised during Iran Iraq war these Arabs were with Saddam Fighting the Bsd shias Right after the war they were with USA helping attack Iraq fighting the bad Iraqies.

They finance Terrorist in Muslim countries
They spread and create hate with in Muslim nations
They host Wests military on there lands so Muslims nations can be controlled and attacked at will.
They invest all there incomes in west or keep it in western banks.
All high paying jobs must go to westerners

Please feel free to tell me i am wrong or add on to my list.

 

[RazorMC]

And you know the funniest thing... ?
We Pakistanis feel for our Muslim brothers in Palestine while many in the GCC refer to them as Arab brothers. Their calls for Islamic brothers only comes when addressing Pakistan.

I know a lot of Arab individuals who respect Pakistan and its citizens, but the government policies have suggested otherwise. There needs to be better cooperation between Muslims states and peace, but why are we stuck with the role of a security-guard that has to keep Iran at bay ?

If they care about an Arab brotherhood then we, as Ajamis, are definitely not invited.

We have ignored a valuable neighbour in Iran at our expense while someone else reaps the reward of peace.
We are left to be a client-state while our "friends" enjoy all the luxuries in the world.

Again, let's adopt attitudes which are mutually beneficial and ones that are not partial to either Arabis or Ajamis.

 

[harpoon]

There are no friends.
All these countries worshipped Pakistan (metaphorically speaking) during the 50s and 60s. Our economy was booming, we had a highly developed education system compared to GCC and strong military.
Since the economic hardships, many of the countries don't look at Pakistan the same way.

This is what happens to nations (which also includes India) that sells themselves short