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India-Pakistan

Pakistan may buy used F-16 jets from Jordan

2016-06-15

[DAWN] Pakistain is considering a Jordanian offer to buy sixteen used F-16 jets in lieu of the eight advanced fighters it could not buy from the United States because of a financing row, but officials fear Washington could still throw a spanner in the works. The case for the purchase of F-16s from the US is closed, "we are now going for a third party transfer of F-16s and have an offer from Jordan", Defence Secretary retired Lt Gen Alam Khattak told a joint sitting of the Senate committees on defence and foreign affairs, which had been asked by Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani to review the current state of Pak-US ties and suggest the way forward. Jordan bought used jets from Israel, so they can now sell their old ones to Pakistan... and so Jordan will have more money to buy used equipment from Israel, who can use the funds to buy more new stuff from America. A new triangle trade, but no rum or slaves involved. Just what I want to fly, used jets with Jordanese "inshallah" maintenance...

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India-Pakistan

Turkey to gift Pakistan with 34 aircraft and spares

2015-10-29

Very odd. Why would President Erdogan do such a thing, and where did he get the money? [Dawn] ISLAMABAD: Pakistain and The Sick Man of Europe Turkey ...the only place on the face of the earth that misses the Ottoman Empire.... signed on Wednesday a defence agreement under which Pakistain will get 34 T-37 aircraft and spares free of cost from its close friend. The T-37 is a Jet Trainer and Light Attack aircraft. The agreement was signed by Director General of Pakistain's Defence Procurement Maj Gen Naveed Ahmed and Turkey's Chief of Logistics Maj Gen Serdar Gulbas. A Joint Communique was also signed by Pakistain's Defence Secretary retired Lt Gen Muhammad Alam Khattak and Turkey's Deputy Chief of General Staff Gen Yasar Guler, says a blurb issued here on Wednesday. During his visit to Turkey, the defence secretary focused on Pakistain's defence and military capability and its requirements in the current global perspective. He praised the initiatives of President Recep Tayyip Erodogan for democracy. He said that Pakistain wanted to translate the exemplary brotherly relations with Turkey into strategic cooperation. The two sides agreed to enhance cooperation at regional and multinational forums, including UN, OIC, ECO and D-8. Expressing his views in the High-Level Military Dialogue Group (HLMDG) on Regional and Global Security, he said Pakistain wanted to expand cooperation from defence industries and training to the level of joint ventures. He thanked the Turkish defence industry's support for Pakistain's naval, air and communication systems.

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India-Pakistan

Militants slaughter FC man, kill two hostages

2011-07-21

[Dawn] Militants slaughtered an official of Frontier Constabulary in Beautiful Downtown Peshawar district and killed two hostages in Kurram Agency ...home of an intricately interconnected web of poverty, ignorance, and religious fanaticism, where the laws of cause and effect are assumed to be suspended, conveniently located adjacent to Tora Bora... on Monday night, sources said. "The body of FC man Taj Alam Khattak was found near Sheikhan police post," sources said, adding that he went missing on Monday when he was on way to his post in Aziz Market area. An official said that the FC man, a resident of Mian Wali, had been on leave since July 2. He was supposed to join his duty on 18 but he could not reach his post as cut-throats kidnapped him in the limits of Badbher cop shoppe, he added. "On Tuesday morning someone informed police about presence of a body. Police reached the area and recognised the dear departed as Taj Alam," the official said. He added that the FC was slaughtered by his kidnappers. "The area is close to Khyber Agency and involvement of cut-thoat group Lashkar-i-Islam cannot be ruled out," the official said. Meanwhile, ...back at the sea battle, the Terror of the Baltic's career had come to an abrupt and watery end... cut-throats killed two hostages, including a student, in Charkhel area of lower Kurram Agency. They were kidnapped two days ago after an attack on a convoy of trucks coming from Parachinar to Thall. The kidnappers burnt the body of the student identified as Syed Ijlal Hussain while the other hostage, Zakir Hussain, was sprayed with bullets. They were laid to rest at their ancestral graveyards in Parachinar on Tuesday. Syed Ijlal, who was going to Peshawar to get admission at a technical institute, was the lone son of Habib Hussain. Militants had burnt six trucks and kidnapped 12 people including drivers during the attack. They set free 10 drivers after interrogation and kept the two deceased in their custody. After the incident, president of Kurram chapter of Pakistain People`s Party Dr Syed Riaz Hussain demanded of the government to launch helicopter service for the residents of the region. Addressing a presser, he said that local population was suffering owing to closure of Thall-Parachinar Road, therefore, government should launch regular chopper service between Peshawar and Parachinar. Meanwhile, ...back at the sea battle, the Terror of the Baltic's career had come to an abrupt and watery end... a primitive identified as Noor Hussain suffered injuries in a landmine blast in Sharemkhel area in upper Kurram on Tuesday. He was shifted to agency headquarters hospital in Parachinar for treatment. In Akkakhel area of Khyber Agency, the activists of a local peace committee killed the relative of a local cut-thoat commander on charges of spying. Sources said that Salim Khan was picked up by members of peace committee when he was standing in front of his house. He was later rubbed out allegedly for passing information to local cut-throats against whom the peace committee had been raised, they added. Also, in Akkakhel area unidentified gunnies fired at a helicopter, which was returning from Orakzai Agency ... crawling with holy men, home to Darra Adam Khel, the world's largest illegal arms bazaar. 14 distinct tribes of beturbanned primitives inhabit Orakzai agency's 1500 or so square kilometers... on Monday night. The helicopter also returned fire and targeted cut-thoat hideouts. In Landi Kotal, nine youngsters were maimed when cut-throats fired six mortar shells at the local helipad on Tuesday. Zahid Khan, an eyewitness, told Dawn that scores of local youth were playing cricket near the helipad when mortars were fired from nearby hilltops. Local sources said that one of the mortar shells hit the house of a holy man, Mufti Ijaz, near the army camp while another fell in a government school.

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India-Pakistan

Goodbye, Peshawar?

2008-06-29

By Dr Farrukh Saleem Peshawar -- literally 'High Fort' in Persian -- now stands encircled. Haji Mangal Bagh Afridi controls most of what is west of Peshawar. Dara Adam Khel, a mere 35 kilometres south of Peshawar, is controlled by Baitullah Mehsud's loyalists. Charsadda and Shabqadar, both less than 30 kilometres north of Peshawar, are controlled by Commander Umar Khalid, TTP's (Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan) leader in Mohmand agency. Two weeks ago, Javed Aziz Khan of The News reported that Sheikhan, Sarband, Regi and Nasir Bagh were under Mangal Bagh's absolute control while Mathra, Michni, Daudzai and Khazana were under Umar Khalid's control. What is the real plan? Is the 'High Fort' being surrounded with the intent of an assault? After all, Pakistan army's XI Corp -- some 60,000 soldiers -- commanded by the brave Lieutenant-General Masood Aslam is headquartered in Peshawar (in 1971, Masood Aslam was wounded fighting in Chumb-Jaurian sector. He has served in Siachen and has been the recipient of Sitara-i-Jurat for his extraordinary service and bravery). Peshawar also has the Bala Hisar Fort, the Frontier Corps' headquarters, where Major-General Mohammad Alam Khattak (Tamgha-i-Basalat) is the commander. Peshawar has the 7th Infantry Division, the Golden Arrow Division, Pakistan's 'oldest and the most battle-hardened division'. Peshawar also has the Central Police Office. Malik Naveed Khan is in command but has neither human capital nor much else. The Sarband Police Station, which is right next to Khyber agency, according to Javed Aziz Khan, has a total of six bullet-proof jackets and not a single armoured personnel carrier (APC). The Matani Police Station has one APC but that is almost always at the workshop. Is Peshawar under siege? Athar Minallah, my dear friend, insists that there are Taliban in Bradford and in Birmingham. Question: What really prevents Bradford from falling into Taliban's hands? It is not the 10the Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment; it is the civilian administrative apparatus. Cripple that civilian administrative machinery and Bradford Taliban will take over the City Hall, Bradford Cathedral and also the National Media Museum. And, in absence of an effective civilian administrative setup, almost all residents of Bradford will rush towards the Taliban for protection as well as for the dispensation of justice. South Waziristan now belongs to Baitullah Mehsud. Hafiz Gul Bahadur is the Taliban supreme commander in North Waziristan. Maulvi Faqir Mohammad controls Bajaur. Mangal Bagh and Haji Namdar reign over Khyber. Commander Umar Khalid is the boss in Mohmand. That's some 20,000 sq-km of physical Pakistan terrain. Is this terrorism or is it an insurgency? Should the state of Pakistan devise a counter-terrorism or a counter-insurgency strategy? To be certain, violence is the common denominator in terrorism and insurgency. But, rarely will terrorists attempt to actually control physical terrain. In essence, what the state of Pakistan faces is not terrorism but an active insurgency. A retired army brigadier, as knowledgeable in FATA as anyone I know, insists that the roots of this insurgency can actually be traced back to 1997. In 1999, this brigadier, with his FATA insurgency fact-file under his arm, had walked up to the DG-ISI but no one was ready to pay much heed. Then came 9/11 and that pushed the Talibanisation of NWFP some two years behind. How do we get out of it? It is obvious that jirgas are meaningless and so are peace agreements. The best suggestion that I have heard so far is as follows: give the militants every sort of indemnity that they ask for. Forgive each and every one of their past crimes. Accept a hundred other conditions put up by the militants. All in exchange for just one. And, that condition is that no one -- absolutely no one -- will be allowed to run a parallel administration. Where is the government going wrong? Well, the government blinks while the Taliban -- the government's ex-proxies -- freely exhibit their muscle (for instance, they enter Peshawar at will and take from Peshawar whatever they want). Remember, tribal loyalties belong to whoever has the muscle. Act now or sayonara Peshawar. Adiós Peshawar. Au revoir Peshawar. Mach's gut Peshawar. Aloha Peshawar. Arrivederci Peshawar. Zai jian Peshawar. Just what language do our decision makers understand?

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India-Pakistan

Pakistan Boosts Military Forces in Peshawar, Khyber Region

2008-06-29

WaPo wakes up a little bit, but they still don't get the idea that the Talibunnies, the local gunnies, and the ISI are just different fingers on the same hand. KABUL, June 28 -- Hundreds of Pakistani military and police forces moved into the northwest city of Peshawar Saturday to head off a possible attack on the city by armed Islamist insurgents. Pakistani paramilitary troops, army soldiers and police began streaming into Peshawar Friday after several contingents of heavily armed Islamist militants were seen amassing near the outskirts of the city. Residents and government officials in Peshawar said there is growing concern that the capital of Pakistan's North-West Frontier Province could soon fall under Taliban control. So I guess the Talibunnies advance into Peshawar is off for a week or so ... Maj. Gen. Mohammed Alam Khattak, commander of the paramilitary Frontier Corps, said in a televised press conference that he expects the operation in the Peshawar area to last four to five days. Khattak said Pakistani security forces launched the strike against militants in the region at the request of the North-West Frontier government. 'This is an operation with the limited objectives of applying adequate force to increase the prameters of security in Peshawar and establish the government here where it has been challenged,' Khattak said. He has to say that but the fact is the frontier police were outgunned and about to be overrun, and there's no good way for the central government to explain that to the West. Residents in the nearby tribal area known as the Khyber Agency said several army tanks and armored vehicles could be seen patrolling the streets of Bara, one of the tribal area's main towns, as helicopters flew overhead. In recent months, the Khyber Agency has become a hotbed of extremist activity, and clashes involving militants there this year have killed dozens of people. The build-up of security forces in the Khyber Agency and the city of Peshawar, a densely packed urban hub about 30 miles from the border with Afghanistan, signals a major strategic shift in the country's struggle to quell extremist activity. Peshawar officials and local residents say a state of high-anxiety has besieged the city of 3 million. Many in the region fear that a major clash between Pakistani security forces and militants in Peshawar could spark a large-scale conflict that could engulf the entire North-West Frontier in violence. Not that the NWF is all that peaceful right now ... Ret. Brig. Gen. Mahmood Shah, a former security chief in Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas, or FATA, said the developments in Peshawar were 'troubling.' Shah said the Taliban virtually controls the country's entire tribal belt and now it was knocking at the doors of one of the country's most strategically and politically important cities. 'The situation demands action from the government,' Shah said. Peshawar, which is a little more than 100 miles from the Pakistani capital of Islamabad, has witnessed periodic clashes with Taliban militants and local warlords within the last year. Until now, however, Pakistani authorities have steered clear of direct or large scale confrontations with the rising number of insurgents in the area. Since partners generally try to work things out between them quietly ... The strategically located Khyber Agency, a relatively prosperous and urbanized tribal agency compared to the rest of the six mountain agencies, is home to the Afridi and Shinwari tribes. Named after the famous Khyber Pass, the tribal area has for centuries been a vital trade route, leading to Central Asia. Today, it is the key passageway for the movement of military supplies to U.S. and NATO forces operating in Afghanistan. Peshawar and the Khyber Agency are also located at the crossroads of a decades long Taliban insurgency that spans the the porous 1,100 mile border between Pakistan and Afghanistan. The city has been a hothouse of militant extremism, playing host to numerous Islamic fundamentalist heavyweights, including at one time al-Qaeda leaders Osama bin Laden and his top lieutenant Ayman al-Zawahiri. But within the past two years it is lesser known Islamic insurgents and local warlords in Pakistan's restive tribal areas who have taken center stage. More than a half dozen top warlords with Taliban links or sympathies operate openly in the seven tribal agencies, including the Khyber Pass agency, Peshawar's nearest neighbor along the so-called tribal belt. In more recent months, militant warlord Mangal Bagh Afridi has presented the biggest threat to security in the region. Leader of the increasingly powerful militant group Lashkar-e-Islam, Bagh, an illiterate former bus driver, rose to power through his activism with local trade unions in the area. And through murder, preaching, murder, gun sex, murder and pillage ... Lashkar-e-Islam has come to be seen by many residents and officials in the province as a terrorizing force bent on imposing a harsh form of Isamic fundamentalism on the region. In March, more than 10 people were killed after dozens of Lashkar-e-Islam militants clashed with local residents at the edge of Peshawar. Residents and officials in the agency say Bagh's fighters control just about all a vast majority of the tribal agency. Lashkar-e-Islam has essentially formed its own shadow government in the tribal agency. Despite an official government ban, Bagh's group operates its own pirate FM radio station as part of its effort to gain the sympathies of the local tribesmen, recruit new fighters and terrorize their opponents. Lashkar-e-Islam members have destroyed dozens of CD shops in the tribal agency under orders from Bagh. Members of rival groups have even accused Lashkar-e-Islam activists of extorting money from truckers moving between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Although Bagh has publicly denied any connections with the Pakistani Taliban or al-Qaeda, his efforts to impose strict Muslim codes in Bara mark him as one of the more ardent extremists operating in the region. A senior Pakistani government official in Peshawar said authorities have been aware of Bagh's exploits in the region but have refrained from moving against him. The senior official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter, said that local authorities in Peshawar were ordered by high-ranking military intelligence officials in Islamabad to allow Bagh to continue operating his shadow government. 'Mangal Bagh has been here for quite some time now but it's a fact that we have tolerated him because we've been told to do so,' the senior official said. The government, the agency, the military and the ISI, working hand-in-glove ... On Saturday, Pakistani security forces in the Sipah section of Bara blew up Bagh's house, according to residents and local officials. Officials said Bagh was not living in the house and has fled to the remote Tirah Valley, northwest of Bara. I bet he had enough time to take his accordion with him ... 'It's like an undeclared curfew here now in Bara and other parts of Khyber Agency,' said Ashraf ud-din Pirzada, a resident of Bara. 'It is a very confusing situation for the local people. On the one hand, they don't like bloodshed. On the other hand they want to get rid of this situation created by Mangal Bagh and his Lashkar-e-Islam.' Paramilitary troops also destroyed Lashkar-e-Islam's headquarters in the town of Shalobar near Bara. Shoaib Afridi, a Lashkar-e-Islam commander, was injured and another of the group's fighters was killed during the assault on the headquarters, according to local media reports.

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India-Pakistan

Culture, politics hinder US effort to bolster FC

2008-03-31

Cultural and political fault lines within the Frontier Corps (FC) and Pakistan itself could undo the United States’ plan to train and equip the 80,000-strong force, according to the Washington Post. The newspaper quoted US officials as saying that 21 American advisers had been tasked with training a cadre of FC officers in counterinsurgency and intelligence-gathering tactics “as early as this summer”. It said the bulk of the force’s rank-and-file troops were ethnic Pashtuns, with many wary of going into battle against a Pashtun-dominated insurgent force. Commanders, meanwhile, were regular army officers who often had little in common with their subordinates, the Post added. Major General Muhammad Alam Khattak, the FC’s top commander, expressed frustration with a “slow-moving military bureaucracy that has left his troops to fight an insurgency with World War II-era rifles”. “It’s very difficult, but our force is an old force ... We are on a global geopolitical fault line,” Khattak told the Post. The newspaper said that FC units, which were poorly equipped and lacked support from the army, had suffered devastating defeats by the Taliban over the past six years. About 300 troops have been killed since 2001, it said. Low salaries and inconsistent medical evacuation services for wounded troops have also dimmed morale, Khattak said. “Many of our casualties were not warranted. If we had been better equipped, we would not have seen so many casualties,” he added. “When you have a position that is only manned by five or six [FC] men and it’s confronted by a contingent of dozens of Taliban militants, there’s not a lot of incentive to stay and fight,” a Western military official said, adding, “As far as some of these FC guys go, they think: What’s the point in resisting these guys? If I don’t fight, I live to see another day.” “These guys are Pashtuns, so they know the local areas. But there are problems. There’s been this kind of historical stepchild relationship with the army,” said a Western diplomat.

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India-Pakistan

Pakistani forces launch offensive against militants in Swat valley

2007-10-27

(KUNA) — Hundreds of Pakistani troops with aerial support launched an operation against a local holy man militant commander and his supporters in the once peaceful Swat valley in northern frontier province, NWFP, a day after huge explosions killed over 30 security personnel and wounded dozens others in the area. Paramilitary troopers, after Friday noon prayers, raided a seminary of local militants' commander Maulana Fazlullah at Imamdehri village, security sources told KUNA. They said a fierce gunbattle erupted between the supporters of Maulana and troopers when they tried to enter into the seminary. They added that the two sides were still exchanging heavy fire, adding that troops fired mortar shells as well. According to media reports, at least six gunship helicopters were hovering in the area and sounds of explosions could also be heard. Sources said that forces had taken control of the militants' training camp adjacent to the religious seminary. Another source claimed that at least five militants had been killed and several, including security men, were wounded in the ongoing offensive. The source said the two sides were using heavy weapons against each other. The operation was launched a day after in a suicide explosion that caused ammunition in military truck to explode, killed over 30 security personnel and wounded several others. Important safety tip here: If you need a ride in a war zone, probably the ammunition truck isn't the best ride to have. You might think seriously about walking. If there are 40 of you, you might want to wait for a bus. The attack has been seen in reaction to recent troops reinforcement in the valley in the aftermath of rising militancy and attacks on security forces. Military Spokesman Waheed Arshad said troops had been dispatched at the request of provincial government to improve the situation of law and order. A few hours ahead of the operation, Caretaker Chief Minister NWFP Shamsul Mulk told Pakistan Television that the government had no intention to launch a specific operation in Swat if the efforts to establish its writ are not resisted. Militancy and extremism is on the rise in once peaceful touristic Swat valley since Tahreek Nifaz-e-Shariat Mohammadi (TNSM), Fazlullah's Al-Qaeda linked banned group, established its strongholds in the area. Despite the government ban on his group and its illegal radio station, Fazlullah, also known as "Mullah Radio," has been broadcasting fiery anti-government and anti-west speeches on his illegal FM radio station. A few hours ahead of the operation, Caretaker Chief Minister NWFP Shamsul Mulk told Pakistan Television that the government had no intention to launch a specific operation in Swat if the efforts to establish its writ are not resisted. He said the writ of government was weak in the area and the government was trying to strengthen it by deploying more troops. If these efforts are not resisted the law enforcers will not go in pursuit of anyone to his doorstep, the chief minister said. Hundreds flee as ‘operation’ launched in Swat Forces battle with Fazlullah supporters One militant killed, bodies of 4 abducted soldiers found Militants fire at copter carrying FC IG Musharraf directs officials to avoid civilian losses By Saleem Athar and Manzoor Ali Shah MINGORA/PESHAWAR: Security forces battled with armed supporters of rebel cleric Maulana Fazlullah here on Friday, killing one militant and injuring three others, while bodies of four abducted security personnel were found on a roadside, witnesses and officials said. Two civilians were also killed in the clashes, as hundreds of residents of Imam Dheri started leaving the area fearing a full-scale operation, Online reported. Maulana Fazlullah’s spokesman Sirajuddin confirmed the attack on the cleric’s headquarters in Imam Dheri and the death of a militant. He said that an 80-member delegation was heading for Islamabad to hold talks with the federal government on the invitation of Political Affairs Minister Amir Muqam when the security forces besieged Fazlullah’s headquarters. “Heavy weapons and helicopters were used when the forces surrounded Fazlullah’s headquarters,” security sources told Daily Times. The local Taliban set up barricades at Sharialm, Chaprial and Shakar Dara in Matta Tehsil on Friday morning and took ‘suspicious’ people hostage at gunpoint, locals told Daily Times. Three Frontier Corps personnel and a policeman were reportedly among the ‘suspicious’ people the Taliban took hostage from the Chaprial and Pir Killi areas of Matta Tehsil. The militants later dumped the bodies of the four law enforcement personnel in Shakar Dara. "What'ya bring 'em in for, Mahmoud?" "Looked suspicious to me, Yer Holiness." "Okay. Kill 'em." NWFP Home Secretary Badshah Gul Wazir said they received “unconfirmed reports” of the abducted soldiers’ killing. The militants paraded the soldiers’ bodies in their vehicles while holding the head of a soldier in the air to show their barbarity, he added. That's unconfirmed barbarity, mind you. A journalist of a local television channel was also taken hostage in Imam Dheri on suspicion of being an “undercover agent”, but was released after four hours. Military spokesman Maj Gen Waheed Arshad said army helicopters joined the operation, and troops were sent to the region as reserves to help local authorities maintain law and order, if requested, AP reported. Helicopter attacked: Separately, militants fired at a helicopter carrying FC Inspector General Maj Gen Alam Khattak who had come to inspect his troops deployed at Fizza Ghat. They missed the target and the helicopter made safe landing, said a local police official. Musharraf briefed: The top military authorities and the NWFP governor have briefed President Pervez Musharraf on the operation in Swat, Online reported. Musharraf has asked them to avoid loss of life and property of civilians. NWFP Home Minister Shahzada Gustasap Yes, you read that name right. It's Pasatsug, spelled backwards. said the government was still trying to pacify the situation through peaceful means, while a meeting of the NWFP cabinet hinted at the promulgation of the Provincial Shariah Act 2003 to the Provincially Administrated Tribal Areas (PATA). The meeting also decided to implement the Nizam-e-Aadal Ordinance in the Malakand and Swat areas after removing the ‘legal hitches’ with the consultation of the Peshawar High Court chief justice. It also considered allowing an FM Radio channel in the area for “peaceful teachings”. The cabinet also discussed a proposal for setting up Shariah courts and appointment of qazis.

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India-Pakistan

NWFP gov holds a meeting

2006-04-01

NWFP Governor Khalilur Rehman presided over a high-level meeting to review the law and order situation in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas at Governor’s House, Peshawar. Chief Secretary Ejaz Ahmad Qureshi, Frontier Constabulary Inspector General Maj General Mohammad Alam Khattak, FATA Secretary Muhamad Shahzad Arbab, Governor Secretary Arbab Mohammad Arif, Khyber Agency Political Agent Fida Wazir participated in the meeting. The meeting also reviewed the situation in Bara and proposed measures to tackle the situation. The Khyber Agency political agent informed the meeting about government action taken so far. Rehman said the government would take action against all defying its authority, whether such people were in Bara, North and South Waziristan or in the settled districts of the province. He directed authorities concerned to show no mercy to miscreants. This was after he said all was well, no Taliban here, move along...

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