The Daily PakistanPolitics Feb 16-28, 2014

• Feb28-2014--nine killed in various sectarian type motorcycle killings in karachi which include seminary heads and a sindh government Dy. director in teh education deptt
  
• Feb28-2014--helicopter gunships pound tribal areas bordering Di khan which are said tobe taleban routes to balochistan
  
• Feb28-2014--FO spokeswoman blows up at syria policy critics...teh opponents mainly shiite supporters of teh PPP who had openly supported teh inhuman bombing of entire cities in syria like Aleppo...the critics are usually shiite oriented who are generally allied with teh iranian funded hezbollah which has been fighting for the minority alawwite rulers against teh alqaeda and other rightwing groups, as well as anti asad political forces which have some support from teh US and Turkey..The US has stayed away from heavily arming teh rebels who would like countries like saudia, pakistan, turkey, qatar to fund them...while pakistan may not supply anti aircraft weaponary like stingers they could readily agree to supplying small arms and mortars..pakistan is also being treated badly by iran which refused to construct teh iran pakistan pipeline after refusing to fund it...teh contract to build teh pipeline was apparently given to an iranian firm...!!iran is heavily involved in a pro asad fight in syria via its lebanese armed group hezbollah
  
• Feb28-2014--Afghan custom's official shot dead while roaming in chaman
  
• Feb28-2014--PTI to stop Nato blockade saying that it has succeeded in frightening teh withdrawing USA into stopping drone attacks
  
• Feb28-2014--According to teh Dawn the chaudhry Nisar doctrine of internal security includes integrating mosques and madressah's into teh national education system, overhauling teh judiciary and intelligence network and turning teh people against extremism...attempting to replicate teh ISI as teh Directorate of internal security overseeing the countries according to dawn 33 intelligence organisations...while this has been going on since teh ayub khan days when teh ISI was headed by a major...nowadays teh ISI is headed by a Lt. General and u would probably need a directorate headed by teh primeminister for teh ISI to report to it...past attempts have seen teh failure of retired airmarshals and retired major generals as ISI heads and also attempts for teh ISI to report to teh interior minister...while most of teh unknown agencies are probably just think tanks like teh ISI apart from its monitoring of government deptts and teh armed forces...apparently some reports from provincial agencies and govt deptts were studied after decades...!!the government has since teh ayub khan days been trying to control seminaries and their curriculum however controlling religious thought always backfires...so over teh decades shiite fervour has increased under government protection while they are attacked by other right wing extremes...banning of organisations makes no difference...the creation of teh indoctrinized militants trained to fight in afghanistan has also caused pakistan immense harm...with teh militants attacking teh anti religious pakistan rulers on many fronts with new found terror oriented methods that are difficult to control..with teh government almost absolving itself from helping teh people in everyday matters or populist materialism a lot of ordinary people support teh terrorists who frighten teh government where they cannot...telling them that terrorism is anti islamic when it works to frighten teh government is almost something too difficult for them to understand...with teh terrorists succeeding even ordinary people start to terrorize each other in various ways with government almost unable to deal with them in any way...the system of bhatta and ethnic control mechanism's are just a stone throw's away from being called terror oriented ...in fact many refer to some ethnic organizations as sarkari terrorists...while teh school curriculum teaches a benign islam which does not include sectarianism or terrorism...the upstart seminary students are state of teh art terrorists and many sectarian groups teach methods of frightening others and using methods of elimination including firearms..in fact sectarian student groups apparently have arms depots in many universities...teaching teh people to live in peace would require a herculean effort to arrest terrorists, troublemakers,bhatta extorionists, killers and kidnappers and clean teh country of weapons..an almost impossible task...making seminary students take school exams might be teh easiest of teh security policy...
  
• Feb27-2014--Pakistan's ex foreign secretary suggests that the taleban not expected to make a comeback in afghanistan although if some sort of peace arrangement is not arrived at teh taleban way of fighting can easily restart in no time and the taleban have not faced that many casaulties in afghanistan due to its vast empty spaces
  
• Feb27-2014--Military operation imminent in north waziristan say Dawns US sources...with teh possibility of the taleban having been sufficiently weakened teh military whose operations are not usually as effective as its bombing raids could start a field operation which have earlier been regarded as too dangerous with teh taleban's hit and run approach...despite four-six years of fighting in various fata areas the numerical and tactical superiority of teh taleban has still survived...over a hundred killed in army air strikes in the fata over teh past few days...many say teh embarassed army chief and teh taleban shura both pulled the plug on talks with the government side not very keen nor having teh necessary expertise...
  
• Feb27-2014--The SC rejects the trial of a low level military intelligence officer under teh army act for kidnapping a hizb ul mujahideen activist from rahimyar khan
  
• Feb27-2014--The new terrorism policy of teh government does not show much change although talks are now not teh preferred mode...teh interior minister pointed to teh confusion in intelligence circles by saying that teh country has 26 intelligence agencies with some being more powerful and the views of others subdued by the power elite...even in teh military there are at least four intelligence agencies what to talk about undercover groups with even local level commanders sometimes running their own personal fief's...the ineffective anti terrorism arm of teh government could theoretically be given more powers to call on law enforcement and military to act...at teh moment military raids are approved at teh primeministerial level while there are calls to let the military handle it onits own...even though that causes the military to become reluctant, too cautious and frightened and ususally it too backs out as it also becomes part of teh failure to resolve teh issue...and the military does not like tobe called teh reason for an operations lack of success...
  
• Feb27-2014--In the bombing campaign in teh Fata region the dawn reports that teh army chief may have sought approval for further raids or a wait and see attitude maybe adopted...the army chief suggests that new techniques to deal with internal rebellions are being used although bombings and eliminations have been going in teh fata for almost seven years...The army option is teh same as it has always been since teh seventies marri rebellion...the army has not used aerial bombardment only in teh karachi situation...while there have been no significant retaliations from teh taleban or teh elimination of senior leaders many feel that mullah fazlullah may still be in afghanistan and the new shura might be handling things...given the taleban's limitation in communications and preparedness they could take some time to react...however teh option of talks would now only take place if teh taleban are in danger of losing and accept subjugation...many feel that teh sharif regime offered the taleban an advisory role in governance although the tough stance of teh taleban was not found acceptable...in other reports threats have surfaced against nawaz sharif from both sides of teh terrorist divide which caused nawaz sharif to avoid a karachi visit...whether military strikes can soften teh taleban position or end teh conflict is not yet known...
  
• Feb26-2014--In a supposedly new face uplift the interior minister tries to make the Nacta more powerful and suggests formation of provincial terrorism handling forces which could be used for political purposes as teh much critisized FSF of teh bhutto days...others suggest it is just a refusal to negotiate as Irfan siddiqui cant handle the taleban anymore
  
• Feb26-2014--The Peshawar high court says that imran khan cant stop intra afghan goods traffic
  
• Feb26-2014--As the TTP rejected a suggested ceasefire teh military continued its air strikes on tribal hideouts killing another 30
  
• Feb25-2014--the pro alawitte stance of teh PPP regime overturned by teh nawaz sharif regime suggests dawn...The iranians have not beeen found very friendly by teh nawaz regime and teh syrian government fight is lead by teh pro shiite lebanese hezbollah...!the foreign office says it is not providing weapons to syrian groups as they and teh saudis have their own sources and are only supporting a transitional government
  
• Feb25-2014--three FC men and a suicide bomber die in an attempted suicide blast outside teh iranain consulate in peshawar one killed in several other blasts in peshawar..
  
• Feb25-2014--In what could be an intra party assassination asmatullah shaheen a taleban shura member killed in an attack alongwith three others...the attempt could be to collect head money...others suggest that it could be the initiation of a war between religious groups
  
• Feb25-2014--three killed in sectarian attacks in karachi
  
• Feb24-2014--In AJK after teh ruling PPPAJK lost a by election to teh PMLn and teh chief secretary and police chief of AJK are fired
  
• Feb24-2014--in a clash between militants and teh FC in Turbat five militants killed in an exchange of heavy weapons fire
  
• Feb24-2014--The mqm is virtually closer to subjugation by teh law enforcement agencies than teh taleban as they laughingly held a pro police demo in karachi...the mqm has held a general anti police /rangers position and is said to have killed over 300 policemen taking part in karachi operations...The mqm is opposed to operations against its own killers/terrorists but wants teh army to attack teh taleban who challenge them in their own domain
  
• Feb24-2014--thirteen killed in a bomb blast at Hangu chowk in kohat referred to as a shiite bus stop
  
• Feb24-2014--military bombs six places in teh tirah area which are reportedly populated by various terrorist groups...38 militants killed...about three groups have been fighting for control of the bara-tirah area...the government has no options but to bomb teh areas daily until teh militants are either eliminated or accept subjugation since talks are too complicated to handle for teh simple minded nawaz sharif and raheel sharif...
  
• Feb23-2014--helicopter gunships fired on militant positions in Hangu killing 10...while militants attacked a checpost in lower kurram...
  
• Feb23-2014--after electricity teh nawaz sharif regime jacks up cement prices too.. Rs535...!
  
• Feb23-2014--three killed in Buner blast
  
• Feb22-2014--Treason court says that musharaf ineligible for protection/trial under army act which many regard as teh personal fiefdom of teh army chief and it would be difficult to try an army chief under teh army act as retired army chiefs would have to be brought in or teh army chief himself would have to head teh tribunal against an ex army chief...!
  
• Feb22-2014--two shot dead in a shiite equipment shop run by apparent sunni's in purana qila of rawalpindi...motorcyclist killers could be of either sect although shiite orchestrated violence has taken place recently in raja bazaar alongwith some suspected taleban retaliation
  
• Feb22-2014--gas pipeline blownup in Sui
  
• Feb22-2014--a mob sets ablaze four anti encroachement trucks after they remove a hoarding with some religious inscriptions...in lahore
  
• Feb22-2014--while earlier the taleban were being urged to announce a ceasefire now the taleban want teh government to announce a ceasefire too...!
  
• Feb21-2014--In what is being termed as punitive action the airforce and helicopter gunships carried out raids at six places in taleban territory targeting uzbek fighters and an IED factory...upto 16 or more uzbeks killed while seven pakistanis killed in an attack on teh bara area..the government however hoped that taleban talks will resume soon...while teh TTP delegate prof ibrahim said teh atatcks were unfortunate and targeted civilians
  
• Feb21-2014--five shot dead in karachi in ongoing ethnic and political violence
  
• Feb20-2014--Another 36 inch pipeline blows up due to high pressure in ghotki...killing two and causing further supply problems in teh punjab...
  
• Feb20-2014--while teh domestic gas users are shown no respect by teh PMLn regime with gas going on and off in rawalpindi teh government instead of urging the rich textile mill owners to switch to their own sources of power or change their equipments...statred contemplating allowing them to use gas thus creating problems of supply...most non essential users must be stopped from using gas in winter totally...many feel that since teh unavailaibility of gas especially in winter is almost permanent teh government should stop CNG stations and industries from using gas and shift them to captive power stations or other energy modes...the losses caused by textile mills to teh country are much higher than teh measly $1 billion in profits that they apparently make...
  
• Feb20-2014--after teh TTP said that they had killed 23 prisoners in their custody the military made clear that teh taleban had killed 460 in teh last five months including 114 soldiers, 38 policemen and injuring another 1264...obviously teh taleban attacks are not due to custodial deaths as no figure is available from the taleban side...in general one would assume that custodial deaths would not exceed 150 over teh last five months and that with a generalized break in drone attacks teh taleban should at least make teh extra effort to reduce terror attacks which teh taleban seem to think are not murders...The ministry of interior and secretary defence also weighed in against the taleban...although one does not understand why teh government cannot stop infiltrations and weapons smuggling from teh indians and chinese...there is obviously a clear lack of understanding on teh taleban side about teh ethics of meaninglessly killing people and on teh government side about custodial deaths and disappearances...Obviously both sides have to show a sense of responsibility for what they do...however many feel that the posturing has no effect on either side and both sides should get down to serious talks and move towards a solution...obviously a total disregard of teh actions on both sides is not possible and there must be a serious effort to realize that living within teh constraints of a normal soceity is the real goal...The PMLn government apparently unable to talk back at teh TTP propaganda said even teh countries worst enemies like india had not beheaded its soldiers in captivity
  
• Feb19-2014--The TTP claims a sudden upsurge in custodial killings which are not very noticeable or announced and say they are interested in continuing talks and can implement an agreement and stop violent acts of component groups...while teh TTP claims that they are following sharia many aspects of their conduct including random terrorist killings thru attacks and bombs of various types are not considered tobe endorsed by islamic sharia...fighting a government of a muslim country also is a doubtful dubious situation as according to islamic sharia no mischief of any sort is allowed...!four people one of whom was a prayer leader and had disappeared last month found shot dead in surjani town, karachi...!
  
• Feb19-2014--an army major is killed in an ambush in FR peshawar alongwith the death of three militants...the taleban usually donot announce their casaulties and teh military is prone to announce casaulties that are generally unverifiable...some suggest that like teh police the military makes up stories of encounters to account for casaulties in other situations
  
• Feb19-2014--In what can be called a day of dubious natured ex rulers...almost the worst of our ex rulers pervez ashraf, gilani and musharaf appeared in different courts in government provided bullet proof vehicles and surrounded by gun mounted VIP security vehicles...one wonders at teh excessive security..musharaf who was hiding in a military hospital appeared after 48 days of being summoned...he was told that teh court would decide at teh next hearing its jurisduction over an ex army chief-president a dubious illegal position at best and whether an army chief can be tried under the Army Act only especially in teh context of teh treason court under article six...article 6 is specific to this case against musharaf
  
• Feb18-2014--ex afghan taleban minister gunned down in peshawar as pakistan's government taleban negotiators refuse to talk as teh taleban try to justify their ruthless behaviour
  
• Feb18-2014--1200 cops literally teh entire islamabad VIP security force tobe deployed for musharaf visit to teh treason trial court
  
• Feb18-2014--Iran threatens to invade pakistan to attack an iranian group called teh jaish e adl which kidnapped iranian border guards and disappeared into balochistan
  
• Feb18-2014--six polio workers kidnapped alongwith a WHO official in Tank
  
• Feb18-2014--The taleban talks seem to have bogged down amid claims of executing FC prisoners in retaliation for teh killing of taleban men in custody all over teh country...since the taleban themselves kill brutally without thought or reason or culpability the reasonings seem pathetic as teh countries interrogators are not known to behave within limits anyway and especially when dealing with militant hostilities or insurgencies...In any talks therefore of such a nature the cessation of hostilities is usually teh first issue tobe broached...given teh situation which is known for the last six years at least unless violent acts are stopped in a real process there is usually no way forward...One of teh government negotiators has suggested that teh taleban start with a goodwill gesture such as releasing two PPP hostages or a unilateral ceasefire...The army and primeminister reacted to the taleban claims of killing hostages although given taleban history hostages are usually eliminated soon after capture...teh dawn suggests that teh government is working in a blind alley..given earlier history of talks and teh unrelenting violence both sides should suggest an end to hostilities as a start...there can be no reasoning for retaliatory violence as it becomes an unending process or a circular debt like situation...if it is not stopped than it goes on and on......however teh taleban have to realize that they eventually have to yield to whatever system of governance exists in teh country... immunity from prosecution for past acts could also be talked about after a cutoff of hostilities...however even in teh toughest of negotiations responsibility has tobe center stage and talks about how to handle culprits from both sides can be discussed once a basis for talks and solution is arrived at...talks with rebelling groups have been held all over teh world and even in our regional insurgencies such as nepal, sri lanka, phillipines etc...and almost everything can be on teh table especially when a level of confidence and goodwill is achieved...
  
• Feb17-2014--Dawn has headlined a report from teh Mohmand taleban one of the fiercest taleban groups who are said tobe responsible for terrorist incidents countrywide...they admit to teh killing of 23 FC men captured in 2010 in shongari in the tribal areas...while this might have happened much earlier teh Taleban say that it is in response to teh custodial killing of their men all over teh country...the release of taleban captives said tobe in teh hundreds if not thousands is one of teh reported main demands of teh TTP...however earlier releases have shown that teh taleban restart their terrorist activities after being released and such a solution can only be achieved after a basic agreement of non violence...the taleban have killed many soldiers in captivity although they might still be holding some political and foreign captives...the first aspect would have tobe exchanging lists of their captives and than to move from there in this aspect..It has been reported that teh government did earlier release some captives but no goodwill was achieved
  
• Feb17-2014--five militants killed in karachi in Rangers encounters and operations
  
• Feb17-2014--apparently Najam Sethi fixed 35 punctures to get teh PCB job back suggests teh PTI...and later made some ordinary appointments to teh coaching staff and selected an ODI team based on five year old reputations...
  
• Feb17-2014--a railway track bomb typical of baloch saboteurs derails teh peshawar bound khushal khan khattak express near jacobabad...six dead...some suggest that billa zardari might be involved in terrorism too
  
• Feb17-2014--a possible ceasefire from teh terrorist natured taleban is teh only possibility of talks surviving for very long to arrive at some specific solution...mullah Yusuf Shah suggested that they were working on eliminating teh taleban base of retaliation for government actions...The military in general only retaliates if directly attacked...
  
• Feb17-2014--a policeman dies in peshawar after their vehicle is blownup by an IED...possible polio related attack
  
• Feb16-2014--while income taxes are now meaningless since they are low on teh ladder of taxes collected teh government has issued an income tax directory of mna's and senators showing teh wide differences between teh poor and rich and those that pay and those that do not..a tribal senator pays teh highest taxes of over Rs17 million at the center while a sindh mpa is teh highest taxpayer with over Rs18 million
  
• Feb16-2014--with barely a few hundred listening to his anti taleban speeches Billa Zardari has spent public money for his personal entertainment many say..mela's and festivals are for public entertainment and not meant for the sindhi/PPP elite...while teh whole country has suffered taleban excesses and there is a dire need for a reconciliation but teh PPP is only concerned with its corner or safe haven in sindh where it also can barely get along with teh semi-terrorist mqm its erstwhile ally for five years...teh PPP itself was guilty of going to bed with terrorists to just get into government...although teh mqm is now totally worthless and floundering in a cesspool of taleban and its own terrorism
  
• Feb16-2014--PMLn sources suggest that Nawaz Sharif had said that terrorism would reduce by 40% in teh event of an operation in Fata...most people donot have a high regard for teh armies ability to eliminate terrorism or even anti state actions given teh experience of Fata, Malakand/Buner/Swat, Karachi and Balochistan...In internal situations the army is successful generally in direct military conflicts but has problems dealing with a guerrilla war or terrorist tactics or underground/political warfare with teh PPP having suggested that nothing can be done about suicide blasts
  
• Feb16-2014--six shot dead in karachi