Pakistan: Conspiracy to fan Sunni-Shia clashes in Karachi

Ashura‚ the 10th of Muharram is being observed today with due solemnity and sanctity to pay homage to Hazrat Imam Hussain and his companions who laid down their lives to preserve the uprightness of Islam in Karbala.

The Federal and provincial governments have taken strict security measures to maintain law and order on the occasion. The law enforcement agencies have been put on high alert throughout the country to deal with any eventuality, cell phone service suspended in more than eighty cities and close circuit cameras have also been installed at sensitive points to keep watch on Majalis and processions.

Despite these arrangements perpetrators succeeded in creating a blast near an Imambargah situated in Karachi Shadman Town area early on Friday injuring at least one person. TV reports quoted police officials as saying that unknown persons riding on a motorcycle hurled a hand grenade from a bridge near a group of policemen deployed for security at the said Imambargah, near Nagan Chowrangi. The Majlis-i-Wahdat-i-Muslimeen (MWM) condemned the attack on the Imambargah.

It is necessary to remind the readers the statement of Karachi Police Chief Shahid Hayat given on Tuesday “Conspiracy is being hatched to fan Sunni-Shia clashes in the city”. The gunmen killed five Sunnis a day after six Shias were assassinated in the metropolis.

Responding to a question, the IGP Sindh said the police were alert to possible reaction to the recent killing of Pakistani Taliban chief Hakimullah Mehsud in a drone attack in northwestern North Waziristan agency, close to Afghan border.

Police said five, killed on Tuesday, belonged to Deobandi sect and were either members or sympathizers of banned extremist outfits. “Apparently they were targeted because of their sect,” senior police officer Muneer Shaikh told AFP.

Pakistan: Karachi under terrorist attack

Over the last few years shias have been victim of ‘targeted killing’ by some banned religious outfits, the most brutal and notorious being Lej, TTP. On Ashura special security arrangements are made for the security and safety of mourners but perpetrators outperform law enforcing agencies.  Now it is being said opening that terrorists are embedded in law enforcing agencies. The point gets some credence because nearly 70,000 people have been killed over the years but no perpetrator has been punished. Most of the accused have been acquitted due to lack of evidence. For the latest update and share my latest blog, Karachi comes under terrorist attack, once again. To read further please click shkazmipk.com
Shabbir Kazmi 
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Who is Sabotaging Geneva Negotiations?

When it looked certain that the five permanent members of UN Security Council and Germany were about to arrive at some sort of understanding that may pave way for easing sanctions on Iran, France raised the question which has remained unanswered even by those who have the state-of-the-art technology at their disposal. While some of the critics may be surprised or shocked, I am neither amused nor frustrated. To read the details please visit shkazmipk.com

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Shabbir kazmi

Pakistan: Shortage of gas causing US$2 billion losses to economy

Just the other day Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Pakistan’s Minister for Petroleum & Natural Resources claimed that the country was bearing an annual loss of US$2 billion. His statement, “We are focusing on LNG import, Iran-Pakistan (IP) and Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline projects to overcome the energy crisis” looks completely out of place because of funding issues. However, he surprised many by declaring that Iranian gas was cheaper than LNG. Please read and share my latest blog Pakistan: Shortage of gas causing US$2 billion losses to economy visit shkazmipk.com

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Shabbir Kazmi

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Pakistan: Opposite views on negotiations with Taliban

According to media reports the negotiations between the Government of Pakistan (GoP) and notorious banned outfit Therik-e-Taliban (TTP) had commenced. Providing no other details about who was taking part or what would be discussed, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said talks have started with the TTP. One can recall that during the election campaign PML-N enjoyed support of TTP, which otherwise attacked election meetings of ANP, MQM and Taliban. Sharif was elected mainly by promising to negotiate with militants who have killed thousands of civilians and security personnel.

Many in Pakistan are frustrated that years of military operations in the tribal areas, where the militants have their safe havens, have failed to end the violence. They see negotiations as a necessary step. However, others strongly believe that stringent actions should be taken against the perpetrators. This clear split in thinking became evident if one looks at the proceedings of the meetings of two religious factions held on the same day but in two different cities.

Before going into details of these two proceedings it is necessary to look at the stance of Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI), headed by Imran Khan, who has threatened to cut off Nato supplies moving through Pakistan if the US launches any drone strikes during the talks. Khan went to the extent of saying that his party had the capability to stop the Nato supplies and warned that his words must not be taken lightly. His party controls the provincial government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in northern Pakistan where one of two routes handles supplies in and out of Afghanistan. Pakistan had suspended Nato supplies in the past.

The Pakistan Ulema Council (PUC) has urged the government to set the agenda of dialogue with Taliban and inform the nation about it. The demand was made at the Istehkam-i-Pakistan Conference held in Multan on Sunday. It was presided over by Hafiz Allama Mohammad Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi, the chairman of the PUC. Various leaders attending the conference demanded that the dialogue process should start without delay and the talks should be initiated through tribal elders and notables.

As against this an ‘Azmat-i-Wilayat’ Conference held in Karachi on the same day under the auspices of Majlis-i-Wahdat-i-Muslimeen (MWM) opposed any dialogue with the Taliban and demanded a Swat-like military operation to eradicate terrorism. A resolution adopted at the conference pointed out that neither the US nor the terrorists could be friends of Pakistan because both of them had been attacking Pakistan and Pakistanis, including civilians and military personnel, and their property and installations. 

It was also stated, “A fixed match is being played between the terrorists and the US to prolong their two-pronged anti-Pakistan terrorism”. MWM Chief Allama Nasir Abbas Jafari stressed the need for forging Sunni-Shia unity. He said the unity of Shias and Sunnis of the subcontinent had created Pakistan and now their unity could save the country.

Allama Sahib said the terrorists are free to move about and no action was being taken against them. "There should be no talks with the Taliban...we will always support the oppressed," Abbas said. He also alleged that PML-N was afraid of confronting the terrorists and of tackling them. Another MWM leader Amin Shahidi said engaging the Taliban in dialogue was unconstitutional.

Is there anything for Pakistan in Nawaz Obama meeting?

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has already landed in United States, held a meeting with John Kerry, as preamble to Nawz Obama meeting. Prior to the meeting a ‘lollypop’ has been offered to Pakistan in the shape of release of US$1.6 billion assistance with emphasis on resumption, with military assistance amounting to paltry US$300 million.

Many Pakistanis wonder, is this what the country looks forward? The reply is certainly in negative. The super power has to treat Pakistan and India at par be it economic relations, trade with Iran or assigning role in Afghanistan and Indian Ocean. Pakistan should not be made subservient to India.

Earlier, to finalize the agenda of the meeting US special envoy for Pakistan and Afghanistan James Dobbins came to Pakistan and met Sartaj Aziz, Adviser to the Primer Sharif on Foreign Affairs and National Security but the focus remained on items which may be important but vital issues were never talked about.

Nawaz-Obama meeting is being held at a crucial time when date for withdrawal of US-led Nato troops from Afghanistan is getting closer. After marathon talks in Kabul between Afghan President Hamid Karzai and US Secretary of State John Kerry this month, it was decided that a long-delayed security deal on the future of US forces in Afghanistan is close to being completed. In this regard Dobbins had already acknowledged that Islamabad had increased its support to the Afghan peace process.

United Sates recognized Pakistan’s role in facilitating direct talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban.  It was also acknowledged that Pakistan particularly over the last six months or so, become active in supporting an Afghan reconciliation process and urging the Afghan Taliban to participate in the process.  It may be encouraging that Pakistan’s role in establishing sustainable peace has been acknowledged but behind the scene India is still a devil’s role in Afghanistan. Indian activities are aimed at establishing its hegemony in the region.

It is necessary to mention that the focus of Nawaz-Obama meeting may be Afghanistan but a few points pertaining to Pakistan also needs to be included in the agenda. The item on top of the agenda should be completion of Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline before 2014 ends. About US$2 billion have to be raised for financing of the project, which can’t be unless United States gives a clean signal. If United States can grant permission to India to continue to buy oil from Iran, why should there be an embargo on Pakistan on buying gas from Iran?

The meeting must also focus on resolution of Kashmir, which has already led to three wars between Pakistan and India. Both the countries are spending billions of dollars annually on the procurement of conventional and non-conventional weapons. In this regard India has to give people of Kashmir a chance to decide their fate. They have been living in siege for decades and thousands of people have been killed by the Indian security forces.

Though, Hindu extremists say, “We will not allow another division of India on the basis of religion”, division of Indonesia and Sudan provide a precedence for giving people of Kashmir a chance to decide their fate. India has been blaming Pakistan for ‘state sponsored terrorism. Pakistan has also been accusing India for infiltration in Baluchistan. There are growing concerns that Baloch militants are being supported by some of the US Senators, who are pleading for an independent Baluchistan.

After having witnessed role being played by United States in Libya, Iraq, Syria and rest of the Middle East and North Africa and particularly in Iran, many Pakistanis strongly believe, the super power first creates rebel groups; provide them funds and arms only to create unrest in those countries. They also believe Pakistan is also going the same turmoil. Lasting peace can’t be restored in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Pakistanis also have no doubt that militant groups operating in Pakistan are getting funds and arms from outside Pakistan. The sole agenda of these militants is to keep the country under turmoil so that it can’t make economic progress. However, the US administration tends to forget that economic progress can help in maintaining peace in the world in general and turmoil areas in particular.