Recent Appearances...

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Recent Appearances...

India-Pakistan

TTP declares 5-day ceasefire in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

2024-10-08

[KhaamaPress] The Tehrik-e-Taliban
Taliban

...Arabic for students...
Pakistain (TTP) has announced a five-day ceasefire in honor of the Pashtun tribal Jirga, which will take place in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa on Friday, October 11. The TTP recently expressed its support for the Jirga, showing solidarity with the event.

Emboldened by the Afghan Taliban’s control over Kabul, the TTP has intensified its attacks in the past three years. However,
you can observe a lot just by watching...
the group declared a temporary halt in its attacks on Pak security forces during the Jirga period out of respect for the tribal gathering.

The Pak government, however, opposed the Jirga and, in recent weeks, launched security operations against the event’s organizers in the Khyber Valley. Dozens of members from the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) were arrested as a result of these operations.

The TTP’s support for the Pashtun tribal Jirga comes as the Pak federal government recently banned the PTM, placing it on a list of prohibited organizations, which has sparked widespread opposition.

Many in Pakistain, including former Senator Afrasiab Khattak, condemned the government’s decision, labelling it a "colonial" move. Khattak argued that this decision would only strengthen the Pashtuns’ resolve in their fight for justice.

The ceasefire announced by the TTP marks a significant moment amidst ongoing tensions between the group and the Pak government.

The Jirga remains a critical event for the Pashtun community, drawing national attention to their ongoing struggles. Despite government opposition, the Pashtun movement continues to gain momentum, highlighting the deep-rooted issues of political and social justice in the region.

Link

Afghanistan

Closing of Paktia Girls’ Schools After Brief Opening Sparks Outcry

2022-09-13

[ToloNews] The closing of schools for female students beyond grade six, which had been briefly opened, sparked serious reactions inside and outside of Afghanistan.

Earlier, some girls’ schools above grade 6 in the province had been reopened due to a decision by tribal elders and local educational officials, but the schools were closed again.

On Saturday, dozens of girls took the streets in the center of Paktia to protest the closing of their schools.

The videos of the protests went viral on social media and triggered strong reactions by the Afghan public as well as famous politicians and human rights
...which are usually entirely different from personal liberty...
defenders.

Former Afghan President Hamid Maybe I'll join the Taliban Karzai
...A product, and probably the sole product, of the Southern Alliance...
again asked the Islamic Emirate to reopen girls' schools in the country.

"The voice of female students in Paktia is the voice of all our girls and of the Afghan nation. The voice of girls calling for the reopening of schools is the voice of dignity, progress and self-sufficiency for our beloved country," he tweeted.

"The fight of Afghan girls/women for the right to education is important for the entire humanity because gender apartheid and contraction of freedom in one country can have fallout for the rest of humanity," said Afrasiab Khattak, a former Pak senator and analyst of regional affairs.

Heather Barr, director of the Women's Rights Division at Human Rights Watch said on Twitter that the "Taliban
Taliban

...Arabic for students...
just shut down girls’ schools in Paktia—after community members pushed for them to open. What will the HRC do? We want a much tougher UN action on accountability."

The founder and head of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM), Mazoor Pastheen, said that Saturday's protest for educational rights by the girls in Paktia is praiseworthy.

"In the 21st century, the Afghan girls are being deprived of education by force," he said.

Nazar Mohammad Motmaeen, head of the Afghan National Olympic Committee, on Twitter criticized the closure of schools and said there has yet to be a decision about whether to close or reopen the schools for girls.

Link

Afghanistan

BBC liveblog: Taliban step up hunt for collaborators - UN report

2021-08-19

Posted at 10:09 REACTION FROM PAKISTAN: GLEE - AND WARNINGS
When the news of Taliban taking over Kabul broke on Pakistani news channels, the responses were mixed.

But most - including some Pakistani politicians and a majority among the religious parties - couldn’t hide their glee that America had “lost”.

Many began pointing to a clip of the late former director-general of Pakistan’s spy agency – called the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) - describing the US withdrawal as “his vision”.

In the May 2014 clip, Hamid Gul, also known as the "Father of the Taliban", can be heard saying that "when history will be written it will be said that ISI defeated the Soviet Union in Afghanistan with America's help.

“But it will also be added that ISI defeated America (in Afghanistan) with America's help."

Not everyone is overjoyed at developments over the border – and warnings have begun to emerge aimed at those who might hope to pull strings from afar.

Pakistan has long been accused of playing a paradoxical role in Afghanistan. The country has previously been accused by the US, India, and most importantly by its own politicians and activists of using Afghanistan as a "backyard" to provide safe haven for militants to be used against India.

Senator Sherry Rehman, talking to the BBC, said that it would be a mistake for Pakistan to once again see Afghanistan as a “strategic backyard”.

Meanwhile, the former chairperson for Pakistan’s senate committee for human rights, Afrasiab Khattak, has come under fire from the state for his blunt criticism of Pakistan’s previous mistakes.

“Basically [the Taliban] are against the concept of a modern state,” he said. “Unfortunately, they are being supported from the outside.

“And those supporting them will pay a heavy price just the way they did in the past."

Posted at 8:10 'TALIBAN INTENSIFYING HUNT FOR PEOPLE WHO COLLABORATED WITH US AND NATO TROOPS'
A UN document says the Taliban are intensifying their hunt for people who worked for and collaborated with Nato and US forces.

The confidential paper was produced by the Norwegian Centre for Global Analyses, which provides the UN with intelligence information.

“The Taliban are arresting and/or threatening to kill or arrest family members of target individuals unless they surrender themselves to the Taliban,” the document, seen by the BBC said.

It said that those at particular risk were people with positions in the military, police and investigative units.

“The Taliban have been conducting advance mapping of individuals prior to take take-over of all major cities,” it said.

It added that the militants were screening for individuals while permitting some evacuation of foreign personnel from Kabul airport but the situation there remained “chaotic”.

According to the report, the Taliban are recruiting new informer networks to collaborate with the new regime.

Posted at 7:02 PROTESTS ON INDEPENDENCE DAY
National flag-waving Afghans have been seen protesting in several cities on Thursday, which marks the 102nd anniversary of Afghanistan's independence and falls at a time of great uncertainty and upheaval for the country.

One clip shared on social media appears to show a crowd in Kabul chanting "our flag, our identity" about the black, red and green tricolour national flag.

The Reuters news agency, citing witnesses, reports that several people may have been killed at a similar protest on Thursday in Asadabad - either by gunfire or in stampedes the firing triggered.

The reports of casualties come a day after several deaths were also reported at flag-related demonstrations in the eastern city of Jalalabad.

Videos on social media have shown some protesters appearing to remove and replace Taliban flags in places - pocket displays of defiance against the group's swift rise to power.

Posted at 6:46 UK AMBASSADOR PERSONALLY PROCESSING VISAS IN KABUL
The UK's Ambassador in Afghanistan, Sir Laurie Bristow, has remained in Kabul to help the evacuation of remaining Britons and has also been personally processing visa applications at the airport.

He has been praised for putting his own evacuation plans on hold, with people including the leader of the UK's Labour party, Sir Keir Starmer thanking him for staying behind to help.

Sir Laurie, who only took up his position as Ambassador in June, said on Wednesday that his team was working on the basis that they have "days not weeks" to get British nationals and Afghan's who worked with the UK's armed forces to safety.

While several countries have already evacuated their embassy staff, Bristow joined the French and American Ambassadors, who have also remained at Kabul airport.

Link

India-Pakistan

Pakistan Seeks Influence in Afghanistan Through Taliban: Khattak

2020-12-27

[ToloNews] Afrasiab Khattak, a former Pak senator and analyst of regional affairs, says Pakistain pursues its interests in Afghanistan through the Taliban
Taliban

...the Pashtun equivalent of men...
and that the group's approach towards the grinding of the peace processor has remained unchanged as it still favors violence in the country.

"They want dominance in Afghanistan under the pretext of strategic depth and they have pursued this policy. They see the Taliban as a tool for themselves," Khattak said in an interview with TOLOnews this week.

Link

Afghanistan

Ex-Pakistani PM: Pakistan Supports Both Taliban, Al-Qaeda

2020-12-22

[KhaamaPress] Veteran Pak politician and a former parliament member, Afrasiab Khattak, told 1TV news in an interview, that the Taliban
Taliban

...Arabic for students...
are still being financed and trained by the al-Qaeda bully boys.

He added Pakistain supports not only the Taliban but also al-Qaeda in relations to gain their regional goals, adding that the Afghan conflict is "rooted outside the country," 1TV news quoted Afrasiab.

The US- Taliban deal was against the international rules, it is due to the deal was made with a non-state negotiating group that promises to renounce violence and government recognition matters, Khattak told 1TV news.

Indicating that the United States has given concessions to the Taliban in order to remain in Afghanistan and use the region in case of a new cold war breakout.

Earlier, the government said Taliban are still carrying coordinated operations with al-Qaeda, and United Nations
...an idea whose time has gone...
analysis confirmed Taliban and al-Qaeda ties remain intact.

On February 2020, in a speech, Mike Pompeo urged the bully boy group to "keep your promises to cut ties with al-Qaeda".

This comes as, amid peace talk breaks for 20 days in Doha, the conflict still have raged across Afghanistan.

Link

India-Pakistan

PTM Marches across Miran Shah in Protest ‘against State Brutalities with Pashtuns’

2020-11-16

[KhaamaPress] The Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) held a “massive gathering” in Miran Shah, North Waziristan on Sunday, according to sources, “expressing opposition to a new war being imposed on both sides of Durand Line.”

“Pashtuns in a massive PTM gathering in Waziristan are expressing opposition to new war being imposed on both sides of Durand Line,” tweeted Afrasiab Khattak, a former member of the Senate of Pakistan.

“PTM is trail blazer in resistance to war state repression,” he added. “Glad that other pol [Political] parties have mustered the courage to point out the real usurpers.”

Meanwhile, Human Rights activist and supporter of PTM Khor Bibi cheers the gathering, saying they have stood up “against state brutalities with Pashtuns”.

“Bravo PTM! 4 holding such a massive demonstration & show of power against gross human rights violations committed by Pak Army on innocent Pashtuns,” she wrote in a tweet.

“We’ll never forget & forgive #KharQamar & Wana massacres; killing of Arman Loni, Arif Wazir&Tahir Dawar,” she added.

The PTM is a rights group that has called for the de-mining of the former tribal areas and greater freedom of movement within tribal areas. It has called for an end to “extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances and unlawful detentions,” according to reports.

Link

India-Pakistan

PM, ex-army chief misquoted by Imran, Zafarul Haq tells Senate

2014-02-15

[DAWN] Leader of the House in Senate, Raja Zafarul Haq Friday said that the prime minister and former army chief were misquoted in a statement by PTI chief Imran Khan

... aka Taliban Khan, who ain't the brightest knife in the national drawer...
, regarding success chances of a possible military operation against Taliban.

The upper house of Parliament witnessed a heated debate on a recent TV interview of Pakistain Tehrik-e-Insaf
...a political party in Pakistan. PTI was founded by former Pakistani cricket captain and philanthropist Imran Khan. The party's slogan is Justice, Humanity and Self Esteem, each of which is open to widely divergent interpretations....
chief Imran Khan in which he had allegedly questioned the capability of the armed forces to take on Death Eaters.

Khan in a TV interview on Tuesday night had stated that during a meeting the prime minister had quoted former army chief Gen (retd) Ashfaq Parvez Kayani
... four star general, current Chief of Army Staff of the Mighty Pak Army. Kayani is the former Director General of ISI...
as saying that there was a 40 per cent chance of success of a military operation against Death Eaters in the country's tribal areas.

"(Pakistain Tehrik-e-Insaf) PTI chairman Imran Khan misquoted Prime Minister

Nawaz Sharif
... served two non-consecutive terms as prime minister, heads the Pakistain Moslem League (Nawaz). Noted for his spectacular corruption, the 1998 Pak nuclear test, border war with India, and for being tossed by General Musharraf...
and the former army chief while stating that there were 40 per cent chances of success if an operation is started against Death Eaters," Raja Zafarul Haq informed the Senate in response to a point of order, raised by Senator Raza Rabbani.

He said: "I have obtained required information which suggests that the statement of Imran Khan has no reality and is totally baseless. The PTI chief could not understand what the former army chief had said."

Raja Zafarul Haq said that on the demand of Imran Khan before the All Parties Conference (APC), his meeting was arranged with PM Sharif, Minister for Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and the then COAS.

In the meeting, he said, the former army chief had told the PTI chief that if an operation was launched by the government against Death Eaters, then 40 per cent terrorism related activities could be controlled without delay.

Haq recalled, at that time Kayani had also stated that the government should fully utilize the option of dialogue with Death Eater groups.

"We have full confidence in Pakistain Army which is capable to fight extremism and aggression against the country. Their determination cannot be questioned," he added.

The leader of the house acknowledged that besides soldiers, the officers of armed forces have also rendered valuable sacrifices in the war against terrorism.

Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan welcomed the statement of the leader of the house, saying the whole nation stands alongside Pakistain Army in the fight against terrorism.

Earlier speaking on a point of order, Senators Raza Rabbani, Afrasiab Khattak, Farhatullah Babar and Rehman Malik
Pak politician, Interior Minister under the Gilani government. Malik is a former Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) intelligence officer who rose to head the FIA during Benazir Bhutto's second tenure. Malik was tossed from his FIA job in 1998 after documenting the breath-taking corruption of the Sharif family. By unhappy coincidence Nawaz Sharif became PM at just that moment and Malik moved to London one step ahead of the button men. He had to give up the interior ministry job because he held dual Brit citizenship.
had demanded of the government to come out with a clear stance on the statement of Imran Khan.

They mentioned the recent terrorist activities in Bloody Karachi
...formerly the capital of Pakistain, now merely its most important port and financial center. It is among the largest cities in the world, with a population of 18 million, most of whom hate each other and many of whom are armed and dangerous...
and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa
... formerly NWFP, still Terrorism Central...
and questioned, were the citizens left on Taliban's mercy.

The senators of Pakistain People's Party and Awami National Party also criticized the PTI government in KP for its failure to ensure security of lives and properties of common people.

Link

India-Pakistan

PTI workers 'checking vehicle papers'

2013-11-28

[Pak Daily Times] The Awami National Party (ANP) has tabled an adjournment motion in the Senate against checking of papers of trucks by members of Pakistain Tehrik-e-Insaf
...a political party in Pakistan. PTI was founded by former Pakistani cricket captain and philanthropist Imran Khan. The party's slogan is Justice, Humanity and Self Esteem, each of which is open to widely divergent interpretations....
(PTI) during the party's sit-in against drone attacks.

Many PTI workers have been accused of damaging goods and manhandling truck drivers while checking papers, with police earlier registering cases against 40 PTI workers. On Wednesday, ANP senators Afrasiab Khattak, Zahid Khan and Daud Achakzai filed an adjournment motion in the Senate Secretariat, stating that members of the ruling party in KP are involved in checking papers of vehicles in the name of blocking NATO
...the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Originally it was a mutual defense pact directed against an expansionist Soviet Union. In later years it evolved into a mechanism for picking the American pocket while criticizing the cut of the American pants...
supply. It is said in motion that such action by PTI members is illegal. It is up to the government and not members of any political party to stop or continue the NATO supply, it said, adding that people of KP are facing "severe difficulties due to illegal acts of PTI members". It has been demanded that this matter should be discussed on the floor of House.

Link

India-Pakistan

The tough task of defining the adversary

2013-10-31

[Dawn] 'Who are the Taliban,' asked a politician during his very first briefing on militancy.

The politician, who had been vehemently propagating peace talks with the Taliban, was confused when informed that there was not one but many groups of the Taliban.

Before embarking on peace negotiations, the tough task for the PML-N government is to define first the adversary they want to engage, political analysts say.

It has been more than a month since the All Parties Conference was held.

The political parties gave the government the mandate to hold negotiations. Until now, there are reports of 'initial contacts' with the Taliban, the main factors of talks vis-à-vis with whom (group), by whom and where is still not known.The use of different nomenclatures through years is a manifestation of this confusion.

The question is whether the adversary is just religious students wanting reforms in the government (Taliban), freedom fighters waging a struggle against foreign forces (Afghan Taliban), a group wanting to end American domination of the world by all means (Al-Qaeda), or terrorists, bully boys, fascists, criminals, gangsters, misguided folks or stakeholders, a unique term used in the APC document.

A clear definition of an adversary helps identify one's own goals in any negotiations, political analysts say, who insist the government seems to be lacking clarity on the issue.

"There is a lot of confusion. In fact how the discourse is structured is wrong," says Senator Afrasiab Khattak, who as a big shot of Awami National Party held peace talks on the behalf of government with the Taliban in Swat
...a valley and an administrative district in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province of Pakistain, located 99 mi from Islamabad. It is inhabited mostly by Pashto speakers. The place has gone steadily downhill since the days when Babe Ruth was the Sultan of Swat...
valley in 2008. In Senator Khattak's opinion, the government should be clear and show whether it has strong resolve to eliminate militancy or just wanted to appease. He warns the government should be careful as talks should not mean stooping low to the level of terrorists.

There is also no clarity when it comes to defining who would be on the other side of the table during peace talks.

JUI-F leader Fazl, older and even wider than he used to be...

Fazl, older and even wider than he used to be...

Maulana Fazlur Rehman
Deobandi holy man, known as Mullah Diesel during the war against the Soviets, his sympathies for the Taliban have never been tempered by honesty ...
was also quoted by media as saying the government must confirm first which Taliban group it needs to talk to and at what forum.

Since there are so many groups within the Taliban, it, analysts say, will be a difficult task for the government to engage one powerful group for talks who could influence all bully boy outfits to agree to a solution.

The Taliban are divided in different groups as they are spread all across seven tribal agencies and six Frontier Regions of Fata and even major cities of the country. However,
by candlelight every wench is handsome...
the political parties, who may have agreed in All Parties Conference to hold talks to resolve the lingering issue of peace, also are divided on how to move forward.

How would the centre and government of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa
... formerly NWFP, still Terrorism Central...
, and the ruling coalition consisting of four political parties and opposition come to one decision when it would come to launching a military operation if talks fail. This is another point to ponder. The PTI has been shifting all responsibility on the federal government since it came to power and has already started nagging the federal government for showing laziness in holding peace talks.

The only political government, which held peace talks was previous coalition government of the Pakistain People's Party and Awami National Party, which were allies and on the same page because they were ruling the federal as well as the provincial governments when the peace deal was brokered with the Taliban of Swat. Even that deal didn't work and it was a military operation, which dispersed Death Eaters helping the government reclaim its writ in Malakand division.

"We had our traditions, which helped us hold talks. We held talks according to that way and proved Death Eaters wrong. They became social outcasts," feels Senator Khattak, who emphasises holding talks should not mean losing space and authority to terrorists.

How many of the political parties have effective representation in the tribal areas is also a big question mark. The ruling PML-N is a political party, which has a strong base in Punjab but for it, tribal areas are just a periphery, which is dispensable, political analysts say.

"PML-N has not shown any keenness to resolve the issues of Fata since they came to power," said Senator Khattak.

Shahabuddin, PML-N MNA from Bajaur Agency, aka Turban Central

...Smallest of the agencies in FATA. The Agency administration is located in Khar. Bajaur is inhabited almost exclusively by Tarkani Pashtuns, which are divided into multiple bickering subtribes. Its 52 km border border with Afghanistan's Kunar Province makes it of strategic importance to Pakistain's strategic depth...
, did not take calls and so did other MNAs from the area, including Ghalib Khan Wazir and Syed Wali Shah.

While the government has yet to specify which Taliban, the good or the bad, they want to engage for peace talks, Death Eaters have been growing not only in their size and influence but have franchised militancy to grassroots levels. Extortionists, kidnappers and rogues have joined them or linked their groups to Death Eaters for power and money. Their presence can be felt very much in Beautiful Downtown Peshawar
...capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (formerly known as the North-West Frontier Province), administrative and economic hub for the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan. Peshawar is situated near the eastern end of the Khyber Pass, convenient to the Pak-Afghan border. Peshawar has evolved into one of Pakistan's most ethnically and linguistically diverse cities, which means lots of gunfire.
. In the capital city's posh Hayatabad Township, where mostly retired government officials live and there is presence of Frontier Corps, Death Eaters had been raising funds in mosques. No one from among the faithful can dare stand up and differ with them.

Brig (r) Mehmood Shah, who had been home secretary, is not very optimistic about the desired outcome of the proposed peace talks.

"If the government fails to establish its writ through peace talks, any other option to resolve the issue would have public support," he insists.

Like termite, as it was mentioned in an official document, Death Eaters had been making the system hollow from within continuously.

Whether military operation or peace talks, the Death Eaters have an edge over the government. The Death Eaters have nothing to lose in this win-win situation, where their adversary is more divided, lacks clarity and a narrative/strategy to counter them.

Link

Afghanistan

Pashtun Leader in Pakistan Urges Better Relations Between Kabul, Islamabad

2013-05-10

[TOLONEWS] Prominent member of National People Party Afrasiab Khattak, who is a Pashtun leader beyond the border, in an exclusive interview with TOLOnews on Wednesday urged better relations between Kabul and Islamabad, a comment made after recent border festivities between Afghan and Pak forces.

Urging better relations between Kabul and Islamabad, Mr Khattak said that border the tension between the two countries is a matter of concern and to settle the tensions a sustainable solution must be found. On the other hand, Mr Khattak emphasises that Death Eaters are in Afghanistan and they are considered as threats for the people of both sides of the border.

His concern comes after recent tensions caused by Pak military build-up in Goshta district of Nangarhar
The unfortunate Afghan province located adjacent to Mohmand, Kurram, and Khyber Agencies. The capital is Jalalabad. The province was the fief of Younus Khalis after the Soviets departed and one of his sons is the current provincial Taliban commander. Nangarhar is Haqqani country..
province.

He added that Afghanistan is Pakistain's neighbour country and both countries must work together on counter insurgency.

"The incidents which took place in recent days would not take place because I have already said that we are neighbouring and brotherly countries and here are a lots of commons between us and all of efforts must be concentrated on our commons not pressurising on disagreements," Afrasiab Khattak told TOLOnews.

Link

India-Pakistan

Islamabad sit-in ends: A revolution that did not happen

2013-01-19

[Dawn] He came, he talked and he talked and then he left with little more than a few promises that fell far short of most of the demands he had been making since Dec 23.

Dr Tahirul Qadri had asked for a clean-up of the system, consultation with the army and judiciary and dissolution of the assemblies and the Election Commission of Pakistain.

He went back with a vague date for the dissolution of the assemblies and a promise that he would be consulted again by the government and that he would suggest two names for a caretaker prime minister.

But admittedly, his about-turn was caused more by the heavens above and not mere mortals.

When on Thursday morning the skies brought down rain on the protesting thousands, Dr Qadri, who had threatened deadlines, declared the government corrupt and unfeeling and predicted a revolution, finally ran out of steam and demanded that the government which he had declared dismissed a few days ago negotiate with him.

Luckily for him, the ruling alliance behaved as maturely as had the opposition a day earlier. Instead of ignoring the doctor, the government immediately dispatched a heavyweight team to talk to him. This gave the doctor a face-saving option as by his demand for negotiation it was quite clear that Dr Qadri had failed to achieve anything and that the government was willing to let the capital be paralysed as it waited for the protesters to exhaust themselves.

The government team reached D-Chowk within the 45-minute deadline set by Dr Qadri.

From the PPP to the PML-Q to the MQM and the ANP, every party sent its representatives to greet the doctor, who embraced warmly those he had been calling Yazid and corrupt earlier.

Afrasiab Khattak, Farooq Sattar, Qamar Zaman Kaira, Amin Fahim, Mushahid Hussain Syed, Babar Ghauri, Syed Khursheed Shah and Farooq H. Naek, led by Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, negotiated with the protesting doctor for about five hours which for once was carried out in the windowed container and in the glare of television cameras.

This was not a revolution that happened, but it was still televised.

The cold and wet but bravely enthusiastic crowds waiting outside saw phone calls being made and papers being read and discussed -- for five long hours.

Once they finally came out at 8.50pm, the doctor announced: "We have reached an agreement to be known as Islamabad Long March Declaration. Give them space, a government team is going to the Prime Minister's House for signatures on the document and then it will be signed by all of us and read out before you."

The suspense was still to continue.

The agreement was rushed to the prime minister for him to sign and then brought back.

Then all the politicians and the doctor took their turns on the mike before the un-earth-shattering declaration was released -- to the media and not by the doctor.

But by then the end was a foregone conclusion.

Link

India-Pakistan

ANP stresses solution to problem of terrorism

2013-01-15

[Dawn] The Awami National Party paid tribute to its late leader Bashir Ahmed Bilour at a reference held here on Saturday.

Ghulam Ahmed Bilour
... the guy who offered a $100,000 reward for bumping off the makers of a film making fun of Islam...
told participants of the reference that the sacrifice rendered by his younger brother, Bashir Bilour, should serve as a wakeup call and there should be an immediate and permanent solution to the problem of terrorism.

According to a blurb issued by Bacha Khan Markaz, the participants, including ANP provincial president Afrasiab Khattak, information minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain, Senator Ilyas Ahmed Bilour, CM's adviser on local government and rural development Haroon Ahmed Bilour and others praised the zeal with which late Bilour campaigned for much-needed peace on the Pakhtun soil.

Ghulam Bilour said that Bashir Bilour battled terrorism bravely and remained undeterred despite being on the hit-list of Talibs. His liquidation will not go in vain as he fought for peace till end of his life, he said.

Link

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