Ex-CIA Station Chief writes
Found via Zenpundit (hat tip) a comment by an ex-CIA Station Chief in Kabul, so of interest: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/graham..._b_201355.html
JMM,
I will only accept Zadari's policy statements on education in madrassahs when something is done, apart from rhetoric. This is more "playing to the gallery" and irrelevant.
davidbfpo
Moving towards Pukhtunkhwa and/or civil war?
Interesting article, if one overlooks the "socialist" site, on the current situation in Pakistan vis-a-vis the Pushtuns:
Apologies for not being able to link this, but here is the site/article
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2009/ma...paki-m25.shtml
Two million rendered refugees by fighting in Pakistan
By Vilani Peiris
25 May 2009
"There is virtually no independent reporting from the conflict zone, but from all reports fighting has been fierce, with Pakistani military forces using F-16 fighters, helicopter gunships, and heavy artillery to bomb, blast, and strafe suspected insurgent positions with little, if any, concern for civilian life."
Wonder why the double standard when it comes to human life: When there is an airstrike by USAF in Herat (which caused civilian casualties, many being used as human shields by "Taliban") there is an uproar and demands for US apologies etc. Yet, when the Pak --Punjabi/Mohajir--led military engages in relentless, and indiscriminate, bombing with artillery etc. in Swat, Buner etc, causing more casualties that the MSM is reporting (in their defense, their access is restricted) they are cheered on.
Al Qaeda has got its wish ...Pushtuns have been suckered and now pay the price for their misplaced "hospitality."
Wali of Swat's Take on Situation
The perspective of the Wali of Swat on the situation in Swat etc.:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090529/...e_wali_of_swat
QUOTE:
"Aurangzeb has harsh words for Pervez Musharraf, Pakistan's former military ruler under whose watch Swat's situation began deteriorating. He claims Musharraf let the Taliban run roughshod in Swat because it would help win more U.S. aid.
[B]The military has no choice but to fight the Taliban now, he says, but the problem should have been taken care of years ago, before it metastasized[/B]
War fighting model suggested by Pak from Lahore bombing article
David:
The individual Pakistanis and family unit(s) grassroots level up as suggested in detail by the journalist who survived the Lahore blast in the FRONTIER POST office...which was basically leveled...is the fight and win your own war model most likely to succeed now.
Support for the Pak Army is growing even among the Pakhtuns. While Zadarai is on again off again, somehow his military have managed thus far to remain on the attack from all sources I have within Pakistan as a lay writer and reader on this good site.
GLOBAL HUJRA ONLINE is "off the air" with automatic notice that it's owners have "Exceeded their bandwidth" which is a coincidence (?) from date and timing of the Lahore blast. I thought that site was out of Canada, run since 1987 by an ethnic Pakhtun college professor, but that may or may not be the case in 2009?
Friday, weekend time may generate more dialogue on your posting(s). Events change and expand so much daily inside Pakistan.
Have a Pakistani national friend who is now in process of becoming a US citizen...his younger generation family are in business here where I/we live. He is having an impossible time trying to sell his Karachi home to end his affairs there, stuck in Karachi with no buyers as of last e-mail I had from him.
Have a good weekend...the SEC College Baseball Tournament ended last Sunday, my pick made but lost the final game, Vanderbilt University baseball team. But, Regional baseball games begin today, Friday, 29 May, when Vanderbilt plays Middle Tennessee State University at the University of Louisville, KY...and Alabama plays Oklahoma State at Clemson in South Carolina.
Permanent Pak military bases in Swat once & for all
Earlier this week in June, 2009 Pakistani President Zardari announced that a large Pakistani military force will permanently remain inside Swat to back up the local police and stop the damnable returns of the Taliban which happen when the Pak military fights and then withdraws.
Long overdue but better late than never.
Rare report on loyalty under strain
Pakistani Air Force personnel arrested for links to terrorists and some sentenced to death: http://www.thenews.com.pk/updates.asp?id=81332
Not seen this type of story before, although long suspected in open sources that loyalties are under strain.
davidbfpo
Ex-Pakistani Ambassador writes
The ex-Pakistani Ambassador in the USA and High Commissioner in the UK, Dr Maleeha Lodhi, where she is widely admired, has written this article: http://thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=185627
Interesting that she notes the public change to hostility towards the Pakistani Taliban enabled the new campaign, which is seen as legitimate state action. Not a response to Western pressure. Retaining that public support will be essential. How the Pakistani state and Pakistani Army respond to this 'window of consent' is unclear.
davidbfpo