By M K Bhadrakumar The unthinkable is happening. The United States is confronting the Pakistani military leadership of General Parvez Kayani. An extremely dangerous course to destabilise Pakistan is commencing. Can the outcome be any different than in Iran in 1979? But then, the Americans are like Bourbons; they never learn from their mistakes.
Sana Saleem The military offensive in South Waziristan has been deemed successful: speaking to the press, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani announced the completion of the South Waziristan offensive, and stated that the army will now focus on the Orakzai area. However, continued attacks on major cities and high security zones suggest that many fighters have fled the war zone and are being sheltered in cities across the country. The absence of a sound strategy to combat the infiltration of militants in otherwise peaceful areas is adding fuel to the fire. As the army forges on, the chances of more fighters fleeing to cities becomes higher. It appears to be a vicious circle of collateral damage: every time the military vows success, it is met with deadlier and more well planned attacks in urban areas beyond the tribal belt that result in heavy civilian casualties. Meanwhile, the recruiting of militants continues everyday and more people are being won over with the ‘this is not our war’ line of reasoning.
By Bilal Qureshi Isn’t it time? For every decent human being, it is sickening to see people being butchered the way human beings are slaughtered in Pakistan these days. Human life has no respect or value for barbaric animals responsible for these bombings and suicide attacks. And if the news of bombings and killing was not enough, I was horrified to learn that Lahore’s commissioner (incorrectly) blames India for these attacks while Punjab’s law minister (correctly) believes that the thugs being smoked out from Swat and Wazirstan are actually behind these attacks to force the government to back down. Isn’t it time for Pakistan to get united? Isn’t it time stop obsessing about India? Isn’t it time to be realistic?
Dawn Editorial Sunday, 11 Oct, 2009 As assaults go, they don’t come more audacious than this. Attacking the army’s headquarters in Rawalpindi — an assault that entailed the taking of several hostages by militants and that was continuing late into the night — sends a signal that the Taliban are alive and kicking and will not go down without a fight. But is this attack, in which there have been fatalities both among the militants and the military personnel, a statement of intent or a sign of desperation? Are the militants flexing their muscles from a position of strength or lashing out like rabid animals trapped in a corner? Not even the most optimistic of militants could have hoped that the assailants would be able to enter the GHQ itself and carry out a precision attack without being liquidated in the process.
Eight terrorists attacked the General Head Quarters of Pakistan army, GHQ as it is known as, in Rawalpindi this morning at about 11:30 am. Four of terrorists were killed and two arrested. According to the latest news a member of ”Amjad Faruqi Group” of Tehreek e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in a call made to the office of a prominent news channel has claimed the responsibility of the attack on GHQ. The person has told that they demand: 1- Halt of operation in northern areas 2- Accountability of former President Pervez Musharraf 3- Return of black water and, 4- Closure of Western NGOs The question is that are these really the motives behind the attack? Clearly even the perpetrators would have known that the attack will have no more than a symbolic value. The question is who benefits from this symbolic attack.
After the terrorist attack on the General Headquarters of Army in Rawalpindi today, people have started linking up the incident with the ongoing issue of the Kerry Lugar Bill. At Awaam, we have started a poll to know public opinion about whether there is a link between the attack and KL bill or not. Please take a moment to add your opinion as well:
Awaam by Vision21 