allvoices -

Another 'Khyber to Panipat' warning - Pakistan's UN envoy underscores urgency of tackling Indo-Pak tensions

starsandstripes — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 19:12:11 -0600

It is indeed regrettable that an attempt is being made internationally to involve Pakistan through its government and people to bear the brunt of the outrage against the Mumbai incident.

We now know that to build up circumstantial evidence has resulted in some of the costliest mistakes made by mankind and the latest example has been that of the American intervention in Iraq .

History tells us that whenever the Khyber is breached, India becomes vulnerable and the flash point is always within Indian boundaries typically at Panipat. For a long time Pakistan has been trying to tell the world that the front line has shifted from Afghanistan into Pakistan and the consequences for India , Middle East and China in particular and the world in general are obvious.

Redrawn map has Pakistan wary - Ringed by Foes, Pakistanis Fear the U.S., Too

starsandstripes — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 10:18:17 -0600

President Obama - Memo From Islamabad By Jane Perlez published in the New York times and the Seattle Times needs your attention.

So how will your promise, President Barrack Obama, for a new start between the United States and Pakistan will be received by Pakistani people and be begun? And Pakistani's made to believe that we (the Americans) are really their freinds in deed and not only when in need. Our 61 years dealings with Pakistan have been that we have ditched the Pakistani people after the pakistani's had met our needs.

One possibility as very realistically suggested by Jane Perlez could be some effort to ease Pakistani anxieties, even as the United States demands more from Pakistan. That will probably mean a regional approach to what, it is increasingly apparent, are regional problems. There, Pakistani and American interests may coincide.

A redrawn map of South Asia has been making the rounds among Pakistani people. It shows their country truncated, reduced to an elongated sliver of land with the big bulk of India to the east, and an enlarged Afghanistan to the west. It has fueled a belief among Pakistanis, including members of the armed forces, that what the United States really wants is the breakup of Pakistan, the only Muslim country with nuclear arms.

President Obama this impression must be checked immediately personally by you Mr. President and the Congress. Based on our past actions the Pakistani's have all the reasons to believe that what the President of the USA gives is conveniently taken away by the Congress confirming the impression that Americans are unreliable.

For us to be successful on the Pakistan Afghanistan border areas (FATA and NWFP) we need to provide Economic, Energy, Education and latest Military Equipment to Pakistan. We cannot be successful if Pakistan police, para-military, military and air forces are poorly equipped and paid. Bombing from air by our, Nato or CIA predators is counter productive. Aerial bombing by CIA may kill one Al Qaeda operative but collaterally it also kills 20 local civilians and produces 100 more recruits for Al Qaeda and America haters.

People in Pakistan have very strong instinct for revenge and loyalty and one good deed can earn multiple deeds in return. Lets understand their instincts and give the Pakistanis all that they need and want. Let us not be the judges of their needs and wants.

It will be much less expensive and much less time consuming and effective (for winning the war on terror) to let the Pakistanis do the fighting and give them all they want : be it nuclear technology to meet their growing energy needs, latest aircrafts/helicopters, communications, night vision or other military equipment. Lets not fool ourselves with secret or sensitive technology or proliferation impracticable ideas. Once a non US country gets our technology it is no longer a secret. Lets not forget what forced Pakistanis to go to North Korea, it were our incessant sanctions imposed on Pakistan before and after the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Lets bring a real change. Get rid off the divisive neocon agenda of Bush, Chaney and Carl Rove ..........................................................................and bring real change to unite the USA with the World. And gain the trust and friendship of Pakistani people.

As Taliban Overwhelm Police, Pakistanis Hit Back

starsandstripes — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 14:07:38 -0500

To be successful on the Pakistan Afghanistan border areas (FATA and NWFP) we need to provide Economic, Energy, Education and latest Military Equipment to Pakistan. We cannot be successful if Pakistan police, para-military, military and air forces are poorly equipped and paid. Bombing from air by our, Nato or CIA predators is counter productive. Aerial bombing by CIA may kill one Al Qaeda operative but collaterally it also kills 20 local civilians and produces 100 more recruits for Al Qaeda and America haters.

It will be much less expensive and much less time consumingng and effective (for winning the war on terror) to let the Pakistanis do the fighting and give them all they want : be it nuclear technology, latest aircrafts/helicopters, communications, night vision or other millitary equipment. Lets not fool ourselves with secret or sensitive technology or proliferation bullshit. Once a non US country gets our technology it is no longer a secret.

Lets bring a real change. Get rid off the divisive neocons agenda of Bush, Cheney and Carl Rove and change to unite USA with the world.

Sen. Obama and McCain and Afghanistan - Pakistan policy

starsandstripes — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 19:59:16 -0500

Sen. Obama and McCain and Afghanistan - Pakistan policy for your cool cosiderstion.

Fallout of US-India nuke deal

starsandstripes — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 22:34:58 -0500

China's plan to help Pakistan build nuclear power plants is first of many pacts in the region. President Bush chickens are coming home to roost. We are going to loose this nuclear technology market too. India is already negitiating to buy nuclear reactors and technology from France. Eight years of economic dissaster.

The US vs. Pakistan: With Allies Like These

starsandstripes — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 13:50:34 -0500

The US vs. Pakistan: With Allies Like These

Hit and miss with Afghan and now Pakistan air strikes

starsandstripes — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 23:38:11 -0500

Hit and miss with Afghan and now Pakistan air strikes.

President Obama, please keep this report in mind if you do not want another eight years of the last eight years and are for change.

Please remember and I QUOTE You President Obama:-

"I know it's been a long campaign. And I know you've been asked to do a lot.

I hear you.

But right now, I'm asking you to remember what's at stake for our country.

After 20 months of fighting to bring the change we need, we cannot hold back now. We need to dig deep because what we do -- or don't do -- between now and Election Day will make all the difference."

And I promise - We will continue to do all that we can do for you and our country the US of A.

Mullen urges India’s role needed in Afghanistan

starsandstripes — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 00:32:09 -0500

Admiral, Are you serious about winning the war on terror? India has its own objectives and will stab us in the back as it has done throughout the cold war.

Why does India need 13 consulates and dole out millions to Afghanistan while India's poor masses sleep in the streets?

Pakistanis know that the border insurgency poses a growing threat to their own survival. It is time that we stop our "do more mantra" and help and work with Pakistanis and assure them by practical deeds that we are friends in deed and not only when in need.

It’s two side to the same coin, this insurgency is really a involving not just Afghanistan but its neighbor Pakistan. Ultimately, the solution is going to be one determined by Afghans and Pakistanis. So let's tell the Indians in no uncertain term to Back Off and stop their sabotage and subversion in Baluchistan, Karachi, Waziristan, Islamabad, Lahore and Afghanistan and also tell Karzai to work sincerely with Pakistan. Narcotics money will not help him, he needs to learn from the fate of the Shah and Marcos.

Why India has over 5 consulates on Pakistan Afghanistan Border. The answer to this will help in winning the war on terror.

US adds fuel to Pakistan crisis

starsandstripes — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 23:25:00 -0500

May we have our Department of State comment.

Pakistan stares into the abyss

starsandstripes — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 00:01:24 -0500

Who is responsible and what can be done?

Let us not forget that Musharraf was most put off when the Indians began funding the Baloch Terrorist insurgents to dissect Pakistan as they did in 1971 by creating Bangla Desh. This was the unkindest cut. He had appealed to his generals to join the US after 9/11 on the plea that India would join the war on terror and not upstage Pakistan in Afghanistan. Not only had India 'conquered' Pakistan by investing the largest amount among the allies on nation-building in Afghanistan but it also began probing Balochistan with money sent in, not 'through its 13 consulates in Afghanistan', but from Dubai, in line with its old policy of supporting all Baloch terrorist insurgencies. Watch out for India it will stab us in the back, the Uniterd States of America, as India did during the Cold War. Why does India need 13 consulates and dole out millions to Afghanistan while India's poor masses sleep in the streets?

It’s two side to the same coin, this insurgency is really a regional problem involving not just Afghanistan but its neighbors. Ultimately, the solution is going to be one determined by Afghans and Pakistanis. So let's tell the Indians in no uncertain term to Back Off and stop their sabotage and subversion in Baluchistan, Karachi, Waziristan, Islamabad, Lahore and Afghanistan and also tell Karzai to work sincerely with Pakistan. Narcotics money will not help him, he needs to learn from the fate of the Shah and Marcos.

Why India has over 5 consulates on Pakistan Afghanistan Border. The answer to this will help in winning the war on terror.

Pakistan's contradictory faces

starsandstripes — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 23:12:23 -0500

Let us know the ground realities before deciding to extend the war on terror.

Our actions have been contradictory: General Mullen was saying we respect Pakistan"s sovereignty, Defense Secretary Gates was delivering another message in Kabul and CIA drones were firing hellfire missiles on Pakistan. Who should most allied of the allies (Pakistan) believe.

Are we trying to create more terrorists?

What is confusing American Voters

starsandstripes — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 23:11:21 -0500

I received the following email from a freind;

I'm a little confused. Let me see if I have this straight.....

* If you grow up in Hawaii, raised by your grandparents, you're
'exotic, different.'
* Grow up in Alaska eating mooseburgers, a quintessential American story.

* If your name is Barack you're a radical, unpatriotic Muslim.
* Name your kids Willow, Trig and Track, you're a maverick.

* Graduate from Harvard law School and you are unstable.
* Attend 5 different small colleges before graduating, you're well grounded.

* If you spend 3 years as a brilliant community organizer, become the
first black President of the Harvard Law Review, create a voter
registration drive that registers 150,000 new voters, spend 12 years
as a Constitutional Law professor, spend 8 years as a State Senator
representing a district with over 750,000 people, become chairman of
the state Senate's Health and Human Services committee, spend 4 years
in the United States Senate representing a
state of 13 million people while sponsoring 131 bills and serving on
the Foreign Affairs, Environment and Public Works and Veteran's
Affairs committees, you don't have any real leadership experience.
* If your total resume is: local weather girl, 4 years on the city
council and 6 years as the mayor of a town with less than 7,000
people, 20 months as the governor of a state with only 650,000 people,
then you're qualified to become the country's second highest ranking
executive.

* If you have been married to the same woman for 19 years while
raising 2 beautiful daughters, all within Protestant churches, you're
not a real Christian.
* If you cheated on your first wife with a rich heiress, and left
your disfigured wife and married the heiress the next month, you're a
Christian.

* If you teach responsible, age appropriate sex education, including
the proper use of birth control, you are eroding the fiber of
society.
* If , while governor, you staunchly advocate abstinence only, with no
other option in sex education in your state's school system while your
unwed teen daughter ends up pregnant , you're very responsible.

* If your wife is a Harvard graduate laywer who gave up a position in
a prestigious law firm to work for the betterment of her inner city
community, then gave that up to raise a family, your family's values
don't represent America's.
* If you're husband is nicknamed 'First Dude', with at least one DWI
conviction and no college education, who didn't register to vote
until age 25 and once was a member of a group that advocated the
secession of Alaska from the USA, your family is extremely admirable.

OK, much clearer now.

China seeks NSG concessions for Pakistan

starsandstripes — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 19:36:34 -0500

We need to understand that Pakistan has historically pursued a policy of "strategic depth" in Afghanistan, supporting their Pashtun allies in the country to guard against India or Iran encircling Pakistan on its western border. During the 1990s, the ISI built up the Taliban in support of this strategic policy. After 9/11, 2001, India and Iran have expanded their own influence in Afghanistan.

India has five cosulates along Pakistan Afghanistan border. What for? Obviously to cause trouble for Pakistan. Indians have gone to the extent of supplying training and arms to Baitullah Mehsud, the sworn enemy of the United States and Pakistan. Pakistan intelligence have evidence that there are Indian sponsored Terrorism and Terror Training camps in FATA & Baluchistan on the Pakistan Afghanistan Border and that Karzai is in league with India.

Knowledgable U.S. officials say they are concerned that the growing roles of Pakistan's rivals India and Iran are feeding the ISI's desire to support the Taliban and other insurgent groups to counter India and Iran to protect Pakistans interests.

These officials say a better U.S. policy would have been to limit India's high-profile activities inside Afghanistan. These officials also say that Washington need to understand the ground reallities and play a more active role in mediation between Pakistan and India to stabilize Afghanistan and the broader South Asian region.

Supporting India and ignoring Pakistan is not in our interst. If we are so enamoured with India that we are giving India nuclear technology the least we can do in our own interest is to treat Pakistan at the same level as India.

Urgent aid for Pakistan

starsandstripes — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 20:05:06 -0500

Senators Obama & McCain,

Please take note and help Pakistan with Nuclear Energy in the same manner as India. This will enable Pakistan to focus on war on terror. If we dont do this "Pakistan will seek nuclear parity with India, and China will fume at a transparent US ploy to balance Beijing’s rise by building up India as a counterweight next door”. By denying Pakistan these capabilities we are denying ourselves a quick and victorious end to war on terror.

Asif Ali Zardari is poised to become Pakistan's President - Pakistan waits as Bhutto clan trade blows

starsandstripes — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 21:37:24 -0500

Pakistani MPA's please do what is best for your country. You may not get another opportunity.

Several leading Pakistani newspapers reproduced extracts from a story published a day earlier in The New York Times (NYT), according to which the US Ambassador to the United Nations, Zalmay Khalilzad, is in hot water with other senior officials in the Bush administration over what they described as his "unauthorised contacts" with PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari.

ANALYSIS / A giant failure called Afghanistan

starsandstripes — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 20:16:19 -0500

Dear Sen. Obama & Sen. McCain let's learn a lesson from this analysis By Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz Correspondent and what Ahmad Rashid says in his latest Book- "Descent into Chaos".

US Defence Secretary Rumsfeld's plan was to buy off the warlords, isolate Al Qaeda and get Osama bin Laden through paid agents.and do this without 'nation-building' (reconstruction). Musharraf didn't let go of his policy of backing the Taliban and through them domination of Afghanistan because he thought Americans would cut and run leaving Pakistan holding the bag as we did after the defeat of Soviets and instaed of rewarding the most allied of the allies Pakistan we put sanctions on our ally Pakistan. Rumsfeld and latter our Congress and President Bush were proving Musharaf right all the time specially by trying to supply nuclear Technology to India and disregarding NPT.

Musharraf was most put off when the Indians began funding the Baloch Terrorist insurgents to dissect Pakistan as they did in 1971 by creating Bangla Desh. This was the unkindest cut. He had appealed to his generals to join the US after 9/11 on the plea that India would join the war on terror instead and upstage Pakistan in Afghanistan. Not only had India 'conquered' Pakistan by investing the largest amount among the allies on nation-building in Afghanistan but it also began probing Balochistan with money sent in, not 'through its 13 consulates in Afghanistan', but from Dubai, in line with its old policy of supporting all Baloch terrorist insurgencies. Watch out for India it will stab usin the back, the Uniterd States of America, as India did during the Cold War. Why does India need 13 consulates and dole out millions to Afghanistan while India's poor masses sleep in the streets?

The US on the ground ladled out cash to the wrong people, ignored mass killings of prisoners and presided over systemic and illegal brutality to captives. "Suspects" as old as 88 and as young as 13 were shipped to Guantanamo Bay. The neocons cared about only one objective, hitting Al-Qaeda, and were indifferent both to collateral damage and to the importance of salvaging the Afghan society that they had overrun.

Karzai, a Pashtun, had no control over the Tajik and Uzbek war-lords. They refused to disarm or to let their men be integrated into a national army. Occasionally they fought each other; they collected tolls which they refused to hand over to the government; and they alienated the Pashtun majority. For a long time Karzai dared not confront them. When eventually he managed to form a new government without them in 2004, he proved indecisive in implementing a programme of reform.

Karzai is unwilling to stamp out the cultivation of opium and the drug-lords, one of whom was his own brother. Drug dealing corrupted the entire administration and the police. The Allies did not provide money for planting alternative crops and would not allow their armies to interdict the drug trade for fear of alienating the tens of thousands of Pashtun farmers and Taliban who depended on it.

Karzai is lacking in leadership and in honesty. He is subject to strange bouts of inaction and indecision, Karzai found his relative and minister Nurzai involved in heroin trafficking and did nothing. His brother Ahmad Wali Karzai was also involved drug trade but Karzai defended him and did nothing. Why?

Al-Qaeda is establishing themselves in the Uzbekistan and the other secular Central Asian republics, where tyrannical and corrupt governments are propped up by the Americans simply because these, too, suppress Islamic (along with all other) groups.

The US and the EU are under threat. George Bush and Musharraf and Karzai are the most unpopular men in the region. It is clear who has won the war.

Sen. Obama & Sen. McCain let's learn a lesson and reverse this situation.

Neither the Pakistani nor American military have the ability to close down the rugged, 1,200-mile border, and that dealing with the problems in the tribal belt will require a concerted, long-term military and economic effort by the Pakistani and American governments, now run by a split coalitionin Pakistan and lame duck in the USA,

The Pakistani Army is believed to be fighting in at least three areas in the northwest of the country and claims to have killed hundreds of militants in recent weeks. Terrorist attacks inside Pakistan have also increased.

Pakistanis know that the border insurgency poses a growing threat to their own survival.It is time that we stop our "do more mantra" and help and work with Pakistanis and assure them by practical deeds that we are freinds in deed and not only when in need

Uprooted civilians beg Pakistan, militants to talk

starsandstripes — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 23:31:09 -0500

There is a flood of refugees from FATA to Peshawar, Mardan and Nowshera settled districts of Pakistan. At risk are women and children. What is UNICEF doing. Is UN now only left for passing resolutions?

Disease is rampant among children. We need to act. If we don't, these children are at risk of becoming future suicide bombers. Brute military force alone will not win us the war against terror.

These children need schooling. clean water, food, sanitation and places to play.

The next Vice President Joseph Robinette Biden, Jr.

starsandstripes — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 21:11:47 -0500

Joe Biden the next Vice President of the United States of America is a seasoned statesman and a very brave person. He understands the ground realities of war on terror and will win this war for us and our children's safe and prosperous future.

Despite ongoing suicide bombings during Pakistan General Elections of February 8, 2008 he was visiting polling stations in Lahore, Islamabad and other Pakistani cities and towns.

Compared to President Bush and former President Clinton when they visited Pakistan as Presidents they used multiple decoy aircrafts to land at the military section of Islamabad airport. The airplane disembarking stairs were hidden by a number large buses. They used a number of decoy helicopters to travel between the airport and US embassy and President House.

Obama and Biden we wish you Godspeed.

Biden to be Obama's running mate

starsandstripes — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 01:02:52 -0500

Joseph Robinette Biden, Jr. Biography

Full Name: Joseph Robinette Biden, Jr.
Party: Democratic
Political Office: U.S. Senator from Delaware; elected 1972; reelected 1978, 1984, 1990, 1996, and 2002
Business/Professional Experience: Attorney (in Wilmington), 1968-72; Councilman, New Castle County (Delaware), 1970-72
Date of Birth: November 20, 1942
Place of Birth: Scranton, Pa.
Education: B.A., University of Delaware, 1965; J.D., Syracuse University College of Law, 1968
Spouse: married (2d) Jill Jacobs, 1977
Children: sons Joseph R. III, born 1969 and Robert, b. 1970 (with first wife Neilia Hunter, m. 1966; died 1972 in auto accident with infant daughter Naomi); daughter Ashley, born 1981
Religion: Roman Catholic
Home: Wilmington, Del

Dozens killed in Pakistan suicide blasts

starsandstripes — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 07:12:47 -0500

Pakistan's flawed heroes:

Donot waste Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir's ultimate sacrifices.