Strong need for revival of the Left movement in Pakistan: Pak Editorial

Lahore, Apr 26(ANI): Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif had recently highlighted a significant issue concerning the Left movement in Pakistan, when he questioned the silence of the intellectuals who had vowed to bring a revolution in the country in the 1970s.

Sharif also claimed that inequitable and unjust distribution of resources is responsible for the present economic downturn in Pakistan.

“Where have those left-wing revolutionaries gone?” The Daily Times quoted Sharif, as saying.

According to a leading daily in Pakistan, the present day situation is worrisome, as the country’s Left movement has died down and the government has failed to tackle the Afghan jihad and religious extremism.

“Despite many hurdles, the progressive and leftist forces remained steadfast and greatly contributed to our culture and literature. Unfortunately, because of the demonisation of communists, the Left movement in Pakistan died a slow, but painful death,” an editorial in the Daily Times said.

“The new generation has no idea about socialism and the contribution of the Left. The fault partly lies with the old leftists who failed to leave any accounts of why their movement actually failed,” it added.

It further stressed that Pakistan has a preponderance of centrist political parties or right-wing parties, and to balance the political system there is a strong need for the revival of the Left.

“It is the only way to confront the religious bigots, bring a semblance of normalcy in our society, and revisit the political, economic and social paradigm of the Left for solutions different from a perennially crisis-ridden capitalist system,” the editorial said. (ANI)

Kazakh Foreign Minister condemns Moscow metro attacks

Astana (Kazakhstan), Mar.30 (ANI): Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister and OSCE Chairperson Kanat Saudabayev has condemned Monday’s bomb attacks on the Moscow metro system that claimed the lives of 38 people and injured over 60.

In a statement issued here in the wake of the attacks, Saudabayev said: “I am deeply shocked by these inhumane attacks, and I condemn them harshly. In this hour of sorrow, I offer my deepest sympathies to the families of the victims, and to the Russian people and government.”

Kazakhstan holds the rotating chairmanship of the Vienna-based OSCE, whose 56 member countries include Russia and the United States.

Kazakhstan has attached great importance to combating the new threats and challenges of the modern age, especially international terrorism, religious extremism and the various forms of illicit trafficking and organized crime. (ANI)

Kazakh Foreign Minister condemns Moscow metro attacks

Astana (Kazakhstan), Mar.30 (ANI): Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister and OSCE Chairperson Kanat Saudabayev has condemned Monday’s bomb attacks on the Moscow metro system that claimed the lives of 38 people and injured over 60.

In a statement issued here in the wake of the attacks, Saudabayev said: “I am deeply shocked by these inhumane attacks, and I condemn them harshly. In this hour of sorrow, I offer my deepest sympathies to the families of the victims, and to the Russian people and government.”

Kazakhstan holds the rotating chairmanship of the Vienna-based OSCE, whose 56 member countries include Russia and the United States.

Kazakhstan has attached great importance to combating the new threats and challenges of the modern age, especially international terrorism, religious extremism and the various forms of illicit trafficking and organized crime. (ANI)

Terrorism a by-product of Pak’s past mistakes: Zardari

London, Sep. 19 (ANI): President Asif Ali Zardari has revealed that extremism was a by-product of Pakistan’s past mistakes and was deliberately created during the 1980s.

He said the employment of a liberal policy encouraged religious fanaticism and achieved of certain strategic objectives of terror perpetrators.

“What we are witnessing today is the outcome of that policy of the 80′s and even earlier.The policy of using religious extremism as an instrument of war. We in Pakistan have paid a very heavy price for this policy,” The News quoted Zardari, as saying.

Addressing a gathering at London’s International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS), Zardari pointed out that militants and militancy were not created in a vacuum; they have been the product of a deliberate policy to fight the rival ideology.

The free world adopted a novel strategy that was based on the exploitation of religion to motivate Muslims around the world to wage jehad, he added.

Furthermore, Zardari pointed out that the strategy may have worked well but some serious mistakes were also made as the world abandoned Afghanistan in a hurry and no thought was given to its stability after the withdrawal of foreign forces.

“After the retreat of foreign forces, Afghanistan was abandoned and left at the mercy of the warlords and the jehadis…Pakistan has suffered more than others. For decades we had to host and continue to host millions of Afghan refugees,” he said. (ANI)

Don’t fool people by claiming “premature”success in Swat operation : former PAF official

Islamabad, July 1 (ANI): While the Pakistan government has been claiming that the Swat military offensive has been successful and nearing its end, a former Pakistan Air Force (PAF) top official, Air Marshal (retired) Masood Akhter has raised questions over the claims by saying that people shouldn’t be fooled through such statements.

During a discussion on ‘Post-Swat Operation Outlook’ here, Akhter said people should not hope that the war against terrorism and the extremist threat would end within a few weeks.

“We shouldn’t befool people by saying war against militancy will end within a few weeks. The army is rendering sacrifices there and we must support it but it’ll take some time to completely defeat these elements,” The Daily Times quoted Akhter, as saying.

Akhter said the military offensive in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) would continue until militants are rooted out from region, and added that it was in Pakistan’s interest to quell extremism.

“It’s our war because it threatens our vital national interest and our moderate way of life, and the non-state actors are also threatening all of us,” he added.

Akhter highlighted that the government’s work should not be limited to flushing out of the militants, but it should also cover the post-war scenario.

“The government should socially and ideologically isolate adversaries, sever links between local terrorists and international jihadis, and wean people away from religious extremism,” he said. (ANI)

Lal Masjid chief defiantly calls for imposition of Islamic law in Pak

Islamabad, Apr.17 (ANI): The head of the radical Lal Masjid (Red Mosque), which was stormed by Pakistani troops in 2007, led thousands of his followers in a Friday prayer meeting and called for the enforcement of Islamic laws across the militancy-plagued country.

Thousands of people crammed into the rebuilt mosque on Friday to hear Aziz lead prayers and deliver a rallying call for opponents of nuclear-armed Pakistan’s shaky democratic order.

‘I tell you that you should be ready to make sacrifices for Islam. The day is not far away when Islam will be enforced in the whole of the country,’ the bespectacled, grey-bearded cleric said, his voice carried on loudspeakers to crowds that spilled out into neighbouring streets.

‘What we have seen in Swat and the tribal areas is the result of the sacrifices at the Red Mosque: the students, the people who were martyred,’ Aziz said.

The Red Mosque siege was a turning point in Pakistan’s slide into religious extremism and violence.

Army commandos assailed the complex days after heavily armed militants holed up inside fought gunbattles with police and refused to surrender. The government says 102 people, including 11 security personnel, were killed.

Aziz was arrested as he tried to sneak out of the mosque compound, which included a seminary for girls, dressed in an all-covering burqa worn by some Muslim women. He was released on Thursday. (ANI)

KNP leaders to visit Pakistani Administered Kashmir

London, Apr.14 (ANI): The Kashmir National Party which champion policy of liberal democracy and oppose forces of communalism, terrorism and hatred; has decided to send two senior leaders to Pakistani Administered Kashmir.

KNP is a true nationalist party and wants independence from both India and Pakistan. KNP leaders sincerely believe that united and independent Jammu and Kashmir is the only viable and acceptable solution to the Kashmir dispute. This is the only solution which could bring lasting peace in the Sub Continent.

Those people who promote accession of the former Princely State of Jammu and Kashmir to either India or Pakistan have their wisdom and judgement misplaced on this issue. Similarly those who are presenting the Kashmir dispute as a religious problem are perpetuating our miseries. There could be no viable solution to the Kashmir dispute on the basis of religion. Those who are espousing a religious politics are preparing grounds for the division of the State, hence promoting religious extremism and hatred in the region.

Abbas Butt and Dr Shabir Choudhry will leave London on 17th April and stay in Dubai before proceeding to Islamabad on 19th. They will have a KNP meeting on the evening of 19th April in Rawalpindi; and have a press conference in Islamabad the next day. They will have some meetings in Islamabad in the afternoon before proceeding to Mirpur to attend an evening meeting with various Kashmiri leaders there.

KNP Zone of PAK and other friends and colleagues have been requesting a visit for more than a year, but due to other commitments the KNP leaders could not visit the area. Although weather and political environment in Pakistan and PAK is not appropriate, but the KNP leaders have decided in favour of the visit, and will hold meetings in various cities.

During their visit the KNP leaders will meet senior Pakistani leaders, ministers, Senators, member of Think Tanks and media men. They will also hold meetings with Prime Minister and President of PAK; and other senior Kashmiri leaders.

KNP team in PAK, other friends and like minded people are making arrangements that the visiting KNP leaders could also have meetings with nationalist Kashmiri leadership and leaders from Gilgit and Baltistan.

They will have some meetings with diplomats, including diplomats from the Western countries to discuss the problems of the region, especially terrorism, extremism and the Kashmir dispute.

KNP leaders will also address bar councils in various cities and hold press conferences and public meetings in various cities, including Mirpur, Bhimber, Kotli, Muzaffarabad, Hajeera, Nelam Valley, Chakothi and Bagh.

Apart from that they will launch a new book of Dr Shabir Choudhry in Kotli. The new book, Struggle for independence, ‘Jihad’ or a ‘Proxy war’ is published by a famous Kashmiri publisher – Kasher Publishers.

KNP leaders will also hold meetings with NSF leaders and other nationalists to discuss with them the proposed unity march to Gilgit and Baltistan in August; and how it could be supported, and how mistakes of the past could be avoided.

The KNP leaders will travel to the Neelam Valley, Chakothi and other areas near the LOC to listen to the miseries of the people who have been subject to human rights abuse. They want to investigate human rights abuse, political harassment and intimidation there by meeting the victims and their relatives.

KNP leaders will be back in the UK on May 4. (ANI)

7 in 10 Pakistanis consider religious extremism to be a major threat

New York, Mar. 14 (ANI): Most Pakistanis believe that the consequences of religious extremism are going to be terrible for their country and people, a new survey has revealed.

According to a poll conducted by Pew Global survey (IRI) global research in 2008, 72 percent Pakisatnis said they were concerned about Islamic extremism in their country, while 54 per cent said they were very concerned about it, the Dawn reports.

Pakistanis’ concern rated highest in percentage among the eight countries, which were surveyed. The question was asked to the citizens of Pakistan, Egypt, Jordan, Indonesia, Lebanon, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Turkey.n October 2008′s IRI poll, sixty percent Pakistanis had characterized religious extremism to be a serious problem, but most people were averse the idea that the Pakistani military should combat extremist groups.ust 38 per cent of Pakistanis supported using the Army to fight extremists in NWFP and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). About one-third said they would like to see the Army confront al Qaeda, while 52 per cent disagreed with this view.

However, support for military action had increased since IRI’s previous poll in June 2008, when just 27 per cent wanted the Army to fight extremists in tribal areas. Around 22 percent said army should fight al Qaeda, while twenty percent felt this way about the Taliban.he October poll also revealed that more than half of Pakistanis supported the government cutting a deal with radical groups. 54 per cent agreed with the statement ‘I support a peace deal with the extremists,’ while just 35 per cent disagreed.

In the June poll, 64 per cent had supported a peace deal and only 18per cent had opposed one.

The earlier survey conducted in 2004 had found that roughly four-in-ten Pakistani Muslims said suicide bombings and other forms of violence against civilians could be justified to protect Islam from its enemies. However, in April 2008 only five per cent citizens justified it. (ANI)

Attack on Lankan players a matter of grave concern: Mukherjee

New Delhi, Mar 6 (ANI): External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Friday said that the attack on Sri Lankan cricket players was a matter of grave concern to the entire world, and charged Pakistan with not having the will to fight terrorism.

“Pakistan failed in providing security to Sri Lankan cricketers, which is a matter of grave concern to the entire world,” Mukherjee said on the sidelines of the India Today Conclave.

Mukherjee urged the international community to join hands to fight this menace, adding that India is also capable of neutralizing the impact of the economic crisis than any other government in the world.

“With an investment rate of close to 40 percent and a saving rate of a similar range it is easy for the government to deal with the menace,” Mukherjee said.

Former French Prime Minister Dominique De Villepin said the world needed a global law to deal with terrorism.

“No cause can justify terrorism. I appeal to the United States to take the initiative for firming up an international alliance to achieve the desired objectives,” Villepin said.

He said religious extremism is the root cause for terrorism in any country.

Villepin also supported granting India membership of the UN Security Council.

“India is emerging at the world stage and it is high time it is granted the membership of the UN Security Council besides becoming the permanent member of the G-8 group of Nations,” he added. (ANI)

Al Qaeda plus affiliates, not LTTE behind Lahore attack

London/Lahore, Mar.4 (ANI): Few doubt that al-Qaeda or its affiliates in Pakistan’s tribal areas were the instigators of Tuesday’s terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team.

Suggestions that the Tamil Tigers were avenging their defeat in Sri Lanka are being seen as improbable, according to an analysis by The Times.

In hitting a visiting cricket team, they could not have chosen a target more likely to outrage a cricket-mad nation, humiliate its hapless Government and send a defiant message not only to India, Sri Lanka and other neighbors but also to the entire cricket world.

According to the paper, the timing of the attack in which seven Lankan cricketers sustained minor injuries and six policemen were killed, was intended “as a response to the recent deadly strikes by US drones on al-Qaeda leaders in villages on the Afghan border.”

The paper further goes on to say that the political aim was to make it clear to the Pakistani Army and the political establishment that they are losing the war against religious extremism.

The message going out was that Pakistan’s rulers have long failed to confront extremism. It was a chilling message that militant Islam is as ruthless, dangerous and adroit as ever.

It also demonstrated how Pakistan each day is inching nearer to becoming a failed state.

Pakistan’s absurd initial claim that the attackers were sent across by India in a “conspiracy” to defame Pakistan beggar’s belief.

According to the paper, the truth is that the army, the compromised Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency and the political establishment have shown no serious interest in confronting the Islamists, who have too many sympathisers in their own ranks to risk a crackdown.

Pakistan is now in grave danger. The latest atrocity increases tensions with India, weakens any hopes that America and the West will shore up the floundering democracy and makes it humiliatingly clear to ordinary people that their country is becoming ungovernable.

The paper says that President Zardari should use this attack to apply pressure to both the army and the ISI.

Pakistan risks a global cricket boycott, a threat that means a great deal to the Pakistani people.

To the millions for whom cricket is a religion; it should be a call to confront extremism before it destroys them and the ideals on which their state was founded. (ANI)

For Obama, it’s back to basics in Afghanistan: Expert

Washington, Feb.11 (ANI): When he was not in office, Barack Obama committed himself to winning the war in Afghanistan, and now that he is the 44th President of the United States, he should ensure that he is not deterred from his mission or vision, feels South Asian expert Lisa Curtis.

Curtis, a senior research fellow in the Asian Studies Center at the Heritage Foundation, further goes on to say in an article that Obama’s Special Envoy for Pakistan and Afghanistan, Richard C. Holbrooke “shouldn’t fall prey to Pakistani regional strategic calculations that may involve calls for a greater Taliban and diminished Indian role in Afghanistan.”

“We cannot afford to revert to pre-Sept. 11, 2001, Afghanistan. We must judge the role of other countries in this effort on whether they’re helping to build a new and more peaceful Afghanistan, not on zero-sum strategic calculations that fuel religious extremism and violence,” she emphasizes.
She also says that another important aspect of U.S. diplomacy will be finding alternative supply routes into Afghanistan.

“About 75 percent of supplies for NATO operations in Afghanistan currently travel through Pakistan. But an increase in attacks on these supply lines, including the recent destruction of the bridge through the Khyber Pass, demonstrate that the United States needs to secure supply lines through other countries,” Curtis says.

She believes that Holbrooke has his work cut out for him as he visits South Asia this week.

“It’s time to go back to Policymaking 101: Define your objectives – and figure out what you need to achieve them,” Curtis says.
The year 2008, she opines was a tough one for Afghanistan. There was a 60 percent rise in Afghan civilian casualties, and the highest number of coalition forces deaths to date.

“But we shouldn’t back away from the conflict, as some of Obama’s advisers and his supporters in Congress appear to be counseling. Instead, we need a new strategy to accomplish our original, and still worthy, goal of securing the U.S. homeland from future Sept. 11, 2001, type of attacks,” Curtis said.
The Obama administration’s decision to increase U.S. troop levels is an important signal to the Afghan people that the U.S. remains committed to securing their future, Curtis says, adding that the average Afghans does not support the harsh policies and violent tactics of the Taliban.

“Appointing an Afghanistan-Pakistan Representative was an important step to improving U.S. diplomatic efforts in the region. A major problem over the last seven years has been the tendency of the U.S. bureaucracy to treat Afghanistan and Pakistan as separate issues. Unfortunately, this leads more to finger pointing between Afghanistan and Pakistan watchers than to genuine solutions,” she concludes. (ANI)