Recent Appearances...

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Recent Appearances...

Gulbadin Hekmatyar	Gulbadin Hekmatyar	Hezb i-Islami	Afghanistan				20051202	Link
	Gulbadin Hekmatyar	Hizb-i-Islami	Afghanistan				20030308
	Gulbadin Hekmatyar	Hizb-e-Islami	Afghanistan/South Asia	Afghan	At Large	Supremo	20021111
		Former prime minister of Afghanistan. Initiated the "Dog Eat Dog," rocketed Kabul, chased out of the country by the Taliban. He returned from exile in Iran when the Taliban were defeated and eventually established a (temporary) alliance with them. Hek is closely allied with the Jamaat-e-Islami in Pakistan, and Qazi Hussein Ahmed.

Afghanistan

Taliban’s caretaker cabinet is most ideal in past 50 years: Hekmatyar

2021-09-12

Pakistan approves.

[KhaamaPress] Head of Hezb-e-Islami Gulbadin Hekmatyar said that the interim cabinet of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is the most ideal one he has seen in the past five decades in Afghanistan as it does not include dual passport holders.
Hek throws em a bone. As usual, he misses
Though he himself is not part of the cabinet, he has praised the cabinet as it is free of seculars and what he called agents of other countries.

Gulbadin Hekmatyar said that the announcement of the interim cabinet was an urgent requirement since there was a complete political vacuum.

He also suggested the Taliban
Taliban

...Arabic for students...
be cautious in reopening those embassies that were part of the 20 years’ war and killed over one million people in Afghanistan.

The Head of Afghanistan’s largest political party also accused the defense minister of the previous government Bismullah Muhammadi of stealing 17 helicopters and other military equipment.

He said that Muhammadi was appointed as defense minister before the US’s full withdrawal and he stole hundreds of Humvees, rangers, artilleries, and other military equipment to fight the Taliban.

On the cabinet, Hekmatyar said that it includes those who have been in Bagram and Guantanamo and have fought 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...
He said that the Taliban has said the cabinet to be flexible and added that they have to be given time.

Link

Afghanistan

Karzai, Abdullah house-arrested by Taliban in Kabul

2021-08-27

Yesterday it was announced they’re to join the Taliban ruling council, but now it looks considerably less like a sinecure.

[KhaamaPress] Sources have confirmed to the Khaama Press that former President Hamid Maybe I'll join the Taliban Karzai
...A product, and probably the sole product, of the Southern Alliance...
and head of High Council for National Reconciliation Abdullah Abdullah

...the former foreign minister of the Northern Alliance government, advisor to Masood, and candidate for president against both Karzai and Ghani. Dr. Abdullah was born in Kabul and is half Tadjik and half Pashtun. He also held the meaningless salaried sop position as CEO of Afghanistan, while Ghani was president...
are house-arrested by the Taliban
...mindless ferocity in a turban...
and are not allowed to go out.
that's kinda what "house arrest" means
Sources also said that the two are only allowed to meet people at their respective residences.

As per the sources, Hamid Karzai is now living in Abdullah’s home.

Ever since former president Ashraf Ghani
...former chancellor of Kabul University, ex-president of Afghanistan. Before returning to Afghanistan in 2002 he was a scholar of political science and anthropology. He worked at the World Bank working on international development assistance. As Finance Minister of Afghanistan between July 2002 and December 2004, he led Afghanistan's attempted economic recovery until the Karzais stole all the money. When Biden abandoned the country left with a helicopter, four cars, and part of the national treasury...
fled the country, Hamid Karzai, Abdullah Abdullah, and Gulbadin Hekmatyar are the only political figures who are holding frequent meetings in Kabul both with the Taliban leadership and tribal elders.

The trio who have also created a council are said to be members of the 12-member grand council which is planned by the Taliban to be leading the upcoming government.

It is still not clear whether the three will have executive authority in the upcoming council.

The Taliban are still busy discussing the format of the upcoming government but have frequently promised to be forging an all-inclusive government.

Acting minister of culture and information and spokesperson of the Afghanistan Islamic Emirate Zabiullah Mujahid in a presser in Kabul had said that the religious scholars-Ulama- will be leading the government.

Link

Afghanistan

Abdullah, Karzai, Taliban discuss inclusive political process

2021-08-23

[Khaama (Afghanistan)] Key members of Taliban
...Arabic for students...
’s leadership and members of Taliban’s political office based in Doha met with former president Hamid Maybe I'll join the Taliban Karzai
...One of the more egregious mistakes of the post 9-11 era...
and head of high council for national reconciliation Abdullah Abdullah

...the former foreign minister of the Northern Alliance government, advisor to Masood, and candidate for president against both Karzai and Ghani. Dr. Abdullah was born in Kabul and is half Tadjik and half Pashtun. He also held the meaningless salaried sop position as CEO of Afghanistan, while Ghani was president...
.Shahabuddin Delawar, Abdulsalam Hanafi, Khairullah Khairkhaw, and Abdurahman Feda recently arrived in Kabul along with the head of the Taliban’s political office and co-founder of the Taliban Mullah Abdullah Ghani Baradar.

They firstly landed in Kandahar province from the Qatar
...an emirate on the east coast of the Arabian Peninsula. It sits on some really productive gas and oil deposits, which produces the highest per capita income in the world. They piss it all away on religion, financing the Moslem Brotherhood and several al-Qaeda affiliates. Home of nutbag holy manYusuf al-Qaradawi...
i capital two days after the Taliban grabbed control of Kabul.

Baradar is presently in Kabul but has not met with the trio-Karzai, Abdullah and Hekmatyar.

Hours after former president Ashraf Ghani
...former chancellor of Kabul University, ex-president of Afghanistan. Before returning to Afghanistan in 2002 he was a scholar of political science and anthropology. He worked at the World Bank working on international development assistance. As Finance Minister of Afghanistan between July 2002 and December 2004, he led Afghanistan's attempted economic recovery until the Karzais stole all the money. When Biden abandoned the country left with a helicopter, four cars, and part of the national treasury...
fled the country, Hamid Karzai, Abdullah Abdullah, and Gulbadin Hekmatyar jointly shaped a council that aimed at negotiating with the Taliban.

Karzai and Abdullah though hold frequent meetings both with the Taliban leaders and other tribal leaders inside Afghanistan, Gulbadin Hekmatyar is yet to be seen in a joint meeting with the former two.

Saturday’s meeting with the three key members of the Taliban was focused on Afghanistan’s ongoing situation, security of people, all-inclusive political process, and the national flag and other national values.

The office of Abdullah Abdullah said that the negotiations were fruitful.

Link

Afghanistan

End of republic, Kabul’s first night under Taliban’s control

2021-08-16

Article posted to Khaama Press Monday, 16 Aug 2021 06:34 AM Afghan Time

[KhaamaPress] Hours after Afghanistan's Caped President Ashraf Ghani
...former chancellor of Kabul University, now president of Afghanistan. Before returning to Afghanistan in 2002 he was a scholar of political science and anthropology. He worked at the World Bank working on international development assistance. As Finance Minister of Afghanistan between July 2002 and December 2004, he led Afghanistan's attempted economic recovery until the Karzais stole all the money...
along with his close aides and the first lady left Kabul for Tajikistan, the Taliban
...Arabic for students...
entered Presidential Palace ARG.

The retreat of Afghan national police from their outposts around the capital left the city in chaos and allow the city to be looted and plundered easily. Though the Taliban earlier on Sunday had said that there is no plan to enter the Afghan capital militarily, the security vacuum in Kabul city made them decide to direct their fighters to enter Kabul and occupy the empty police outposts and police districts.

Hamid Maybe I'll join the Taliban Karzai
...One of the more egregious mistakes of the post 9-11 era...
International airport was also packed with tens of passengers awaiting flights out of the country who then took to the runway but found no plane and are still stuck there.

To avoid the power vacuum created after the escape of the president, head of High Council for National Reconciliation Abdullah Abdullah

...the former foreign minister of the Northern Alliance government, advisor to Masood, and candidate for president against both Karzai and Ghani. Dr. Abdullah was born in Kabul and is half Tadjik and half Pashtun. He also held the meaningless salaried sop position as CEO of Afghanistan, while Ghani was president...
, former President Hamid Karzai and head of Hezb-e-Islami Gulbadin Hekmatyar came together and shaped a temporary council.

The council is aimed at transferring the power peacefully to the Taliban and asked Afghan cops and forces of the Afghanistan Islamic Emirate to secure Kabul city and do not allow any chaos.

The trio in their separate video clips delivered different messages to the people of Kabul.

Abdullah Abdullah accused Ashraf Ghani of fleeing the country and leaving the people in mess. Abdullah also erupted into the streets of Kabul and greet the people who were hugging crying and thanked him for being with them.

Hamid Karzai encouraged people not to panic as he and his children are still living in the Afghan capital.

Meanwhile,
...back at the comedy club, Boogie was cracking himself up, but nobody else seemed to be getting the non-stop jokes...
Gulbadin Hekmatyar accused Ashraf Ghani of continuing the war and remaining stubborn to transfer power peacefully to a government that is acceptable to all.

The Afghanistan Islamic Emirate asked people to cooperate with them in identifying and arresting those who impersonate them and rob people and property.

In several video clips shot by the members of AIE show that looters and plunderers were arrested after people call them.

The night was rather quiet when it comes to the nightlife of a city but there were sporadic fires and the choppers were patrolling the Afghan capital.

Link

India-Pakistan

Imran Khan invites Hamid Karzai for conference on Afghanistan

2021-07-16

Two powerless politicians playing at being important, or is this actually meaningful?

[KhaamaPress] Pakistain’s Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry said Prime Minister Imran Khan
...aka The Great Khan, who who convinced himself that playing cricket qualified him to lead a nuclear-armed nation with severe personality disorders...
has invited former President Hamid Maybe I'll join the Taliban Karzai
...One of the more egregious mistakes of the post 9-11 era...
in a telephone conversation carried out between them.

Pakistain tends to organize a special conference on Afghanistan, the official wrote in a tweet.

Chaudhry though did not give more information about the conference, added that apart from Hamid Karzai other Afghan leaders were too invited.

Pak media reported that the conference will be held from July 17 to 19 for which the Afghan invitees have given the green signals.

Afghanistan’s special envoy to Pakistain who is one of the invitees has told VOA the date of the conference is still being debated.

Omar Zakhilwal, Salahuddin Rabbani, Ahmad Wali Massoud, Gulbadin Hekmatyar, and Muhammad Muhaqiq are among the people invited to the conference.

The Afghan government has not commented on the conference yet.

The invitation comes two days before an Afghan delegation including Hamid Karzai and Gulbadin Hekmatyar is due to visit the Qatar
...an emirate on the east coast of the Arabian Peninsula. It sits on some really productive gas and oil deposits, which produces the highest per capita income in the world. They piss it all away on religion, financing the Moslem Brotherhood and several al-Qaeda affiliates. Home of nutbag holy manYusuf al-Qaradawi...
i capital Doha to revive intra-afghan talks and asked the parties for a truce.

The Afghan team led by Abdullah Abdullah

Link

Afghanistan

We had fought for Islam before you born: Hekmatyar to Taliban

2021-07-15

[KhaamaPress] Head of Hezb-e-Islami

...which grew out of the Kabul University Muslim Youth organization to combat communism, drawing its members from ethnic Pashtuns and its ideology from the Muslim Brotherhood and Jamaat-e-Islami. Gulbuddin Hekmatyar split off a few years later because he wanted to be more radical on his way to forming his own caliphate...

Engineer

Gulbuddin Hekmatyar
... who used to be known in intelligence circles as The Most Evil Man in the World but who now seems merely run-of-the-mill evil...
in his recent video clip addressed the Taliban
...Arabic for students...
fighters telling them to shun violence since it only kills innocent Afghans.

Hekmatyar has told the Taliban that they-Hezb-e-Islami-have fought for the cause of Islam even prior to the Taliban’s birth.

True. Not that Islam has benefitted from either champion, but they have tried in their differently deqr little ways.

The former warlord added that if the Taliban can prove the ongoing war to be in favor of Islam and the people of Afghanistan, they-Hezb-e-Islami will too join them. He reiterated that the current conflict is neither in the favor of Islam nor the people of Afghanistan.

"There is neither rational nor religious justification for continuation of war", Hekmatyar added

He suggested, reconciliation, peace, intra-afghan talks and dialogue should be deemed as the ideal and rational means through which the goals should be pursued.

Gulbadin Hekmatyar by addressing the Taliban said, they-the Taliban- can achieve nothing but demolition and killing civilians by persisting in the ongoing war, thus they have to shun it.

Earlier, former president Hamid Maybe I'll join the Taliban Karzai
...A product, and probably the sole product, of the Southern Alliance...
also said that the Taliban with their current territorial gains can achieve nothing. He in similar call on both the Taliban and Afghan government said, the current opportunity for peace must be seized not wasted.

It comes as 11-member delegation led by head of High Peace Council Abdullah Abdullah

Link

Afghanistan

Pakistan seeks rehabilitation of Taliban in Kabul setup

2018-03-20

[DAWN] Pakistain is apparently pushing for the rehabilitation of the Taliban
...Arabic for students...
leadership in a future setup in Afghanistan, as both Washington and Kabul increase efforts to end the Afghan insurgency.

"There’s a precedence for this in the rehabilitation of Gulbadin Hekmatyar," says Pakistain’s Ambassador Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhary, pointing out that the former rebel leader was not only accommodated in the political setup in Kabul but his name was also expunged from a UN list of recognised holy warriors to create space for him. "A similar arrangement can also be made with the Taliban," he said.

Ambassador Chaudhary’s comments, in a talk to the Women’s Foreign Policy Group at the embassy in Washington this week, come amid enhanced activities to find a negotiated settlement to the Afghan conflict.

"We know a lot is going on right now ... this offer ... is being considered [by the Taliban]. We haven’t seen a public response [to the dialogue offer] which is interesting," he said.

Ambassador Chaudhary referred to a statement by US Defence Secretary James Mattis while explaining why he felt chances for reconciliation between the Afghan government and the Taliban were greater now.

Mr Chaudhary said he was aware of the efforts being made in Washington, Islamabad and Kabul to nurture these initial steps towards Taliban-Kabul reconciliation. "Chances for peace are brighter now than before. There are positive signs from all sides," he said. "We welcome these efforts."

The ambassador said Pakistain had always stressed the need for a negotiated settlement in Afghanistan because it believed that no military solution would work.

"Enough bloodshed. Almost 10,000 people are getting killed every year. It must stop now," said the ambassador while explaining why Pakistain wanted the grinding of the peace processor to succeed.

Link

India-Pakistan

Misuse of faith

2017-11-24

[DAWN] A RECENTLY launched collection of Hamza Alavi’s papers and speeches should be a timely reminder to us about the role that faith has come to play in Pakistain’s politics. Translated into Urdu by Dr Riaz Ahmad Sheikh (dean of Social Sciences, Szabist), Tashkeel-e-Pakistain: Mazhab aur Secularism leaves no one in doubt about the misuse of religion by our leaders to gain advantages in public life at the expense of the people’s well-being and the national interest.

Hamza Alavi, who was a Marxist scholar recognised in world academia, firmly believed that the founder of this country never sought to set up a theocratic state. Yet that is the direction in which Pakistain appears to be heading.

Much has been written and said about the exploitation of religion in the country to marginalise the minority communities and the non-mainstream Moslem sects. Religion has also been misused to try and suppress the freedom of expression and to unleash violence and extremism in order to concentrate influence ‐ and ultimately power ‐in the hands of a right-wing, religious oligarchy
... derived from the Greek words oligos, a few and the verb archo, to rule, to govern, to command. Oligarchies are invariably effectual rather than established, to whit, they disguise themselves as other systems, working as the real government behind the face of of democracy, fascism, socialism, monarchy, or what have you...
Perhaps the most dangerous aspect of this phenomenon has been the use of faith in our foreign, defence and strategic policies. Religious symbolism was employed from the start in the security establishment. Initially, it was more to mobilise the soldiers, so no one thought twice about the use of religious slogans such as ’Allah-o-Akbar’ and titles such as Nishan-e-Haider. But then we went much further. The word ’jihad’ was also used by the security establishment to justify action that may not be universally acceptable in the eyes of modern-day international law.

The rise of Islamist extremism that has spawned myriads of bully boy groups in the Middle East and South Asia was initially facilitated by the introduction of rigid interpretations of faith in public life. With extremism opening a Pandora’s box, it is difficult to see how such misuse will ever be checked.

What is worrying is that this approach was not only used to try and gain our own strategic goals and foreign policy objectives. Successive governments also allowed outsiders to use religion on our behalf. Remember how we fought Charlie Wilson’s war in Afghanistan as proxies for the US dubbing the guerillas as "freedom fighters" engaged in jihad. Now we know better ‐ as has been recounted by Zbigniew Brzezinski,

Jimmy Carter
... the worst president ever. Maybe the second worst. The votes aren't all in yet...
’s security adviser ‐ that the ’godless’ Russians were lured into Afghanistan by the Carter administration. Gulbadin Hekmatyar and colleagues were mobilised in Afghanistan in July 1979. The use of the religion card was evident to evoke a military response from the Soviets in December 1979. That was to trap the Russians in their Afghan ’Vietnam’.

This approach was also formerly seen in India-held Kashmire. The various lashkars that roamed freely in this region were said to be the creation of our security establishment, and held up as our ’strategic assets’. The aura of faith that surrounded them gave them extraordinary protection especially in the public perception. So powerful had they become that our foreign policy was seen as being held hostage to their wishes.

Against this backdrop, the situation has now taken a serious turn with the entry of Donald Trump
...New York real estate developer, described by Dems as illiterate, racist, misogynistic, and what ever other unpleasant descriptions they can think of, elected by the rest of us as 45th President of the United States...
in the White House and his announcement of a new South Asian strategy in August. A key feature of this new policy was spelt out by Trump as, "Pakistain will have to stop providing safe-haven for terrorists. ... That must change immediately."

We have not been told about the tactic the US plans to employ to achieve this end. Given Mr Trump’s performance, it would be unwise to believe that it will be business as usual. No official announcement has been made about the outcome of the American secretary of state’s visit to Pakistain apart from the outpouring of scorn from our leaders.

It is time we were told about what Mr Rex Tillerson had to say apart from his ’expectation’ that the 75 ’terrorists’ whose names were given to Pakistain should be handed over to the US or information about their whereabouts be provided. How will the security establishment react to this demand?

In this context the New York Time’s report of Oct 17 carries certain implications. According to the NYT the US had planned to send in SEALs to rescue the American/Canadian couple kidnapped by the Haqqani network

four years ago. The family had been sighted by US drones. Reportedly, Pakistain went into action to recover the hostages when Washington gave the message, "Resolve this or the United States will."

Is this report to be believed? One cannot help but recall the US helicopter operation of 2011 that saw SEALs entering Pakistain territory to kill the late Osama bin Laden

... who is no longer with us, and won't be again...
? Are similar incursions to be expected to destroy the alleged safe havens set up in the name of religion?

Link

Afghanistan

The Implications of Peace Deal with Hekmatyar

2016-10-03

[Khaama (Afghanistan)] The peace deal between the Government of Afghanistan and Gulbadin Hekmatyar is the first noteworthy success of the National Unity Government (NUG) in peace efforts. Hezb-e- Islami (HIA) of Gulbadin Hekmatyar agreed to cease hostilities in exchange for government recognition of the group and support for the removal of American and United Nations
...a formerly good idea gone bad...
sanctions against its leader, according to the agreement.

The western nations and the United States welcomed the peace agreement with Hekmatyar

"We applaud both parties for seeking a peaceful resolution through political dialogue and negotiation, and we commend the agreement as an important demonstration of the Afghan government’s commitment to restoring peace and stability in Afghanistan," the White House said in a statement.

The draft deal is in effect as it has been signed by President Ashraf Ghani

...former chancellor of Kabul University, now president of Afghanistan. Before returning to Afghanistan in 2002 he was a scholar of political science and anthropology. He worked at the World Bank working on international development assistance. As Finance Minister of Afghanistan between July 2002 and December 2004, he led Afghanistan's attempted economic recovery until the Karzais stole all the money. ..
and by Mr. Hekmatyar, though not physically together.

The Commitments
Based on the agreement, the NUG committed to grant Hekmatyar amnesty for all his past offenses and release certain HIA prisoners. The Afghan government also agreed to press for the lifting of American and UN sanctions on Hekmatyar. The deal also includes provisions for his security at government expense. HIA will agree to cease all military anti-government activity and recognize the current Afghan constitution.

On the political side, the Afghan government pledges to provide freedom of travel and accommodation for the leader of HIA and other prominent personalities of that party and to give Hekmatyar the choice of two or three appropriate residences, including security arrangements, for which it will take on the costs. In addition, according to the agreement, the government further honor Hekmatyar in a special presidential decree "for his efforts for the liberation of the country," and will officially announce the right of HIA to be active both in the political and the social arenas and participate in all elections. The Government of Afghanistan also commits to arrange for the presence of HIA in the "consultation process for important government policies".

The agreement also provides for the voluntary return of refugees from HIA-related camps in Pakistain and other HIA members in exile. Returnees will receive land "in Kabul
...the capital of Afghanistan. Home to continuous fighting from 1992 to 1996 between the forces of would-be strongman and Pak ISI/Jamaat-e-Islami sock puppet Gulbuddin Hekmayar and the Northern Alliance, a period which won Hek the title Most Evil Man in the World and didn't do much for the reputations of the Northern Alliance guys either....
and other provinces," and about 20,000 families will be given help from "the international community."

Link

India-Pakistan

JUI rejects ANP moot against terrorism

2013-01-22

[Dawn] Jamaat Ulema-e-Islam
...Assembly of Islamic Clergy, or JUI, is a Pak Deobandi (Hanafi) political party. There are two main branches, one led by Maulana Fazlur Rahman, and one led by Maulana Samiul Haq. Fazl is active in Pak politix and Sami spends more time running his madrassah. Both branches sponsor branches of the Taliban, though with plausible deniability...
chief 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 ...
has said that his party would not attend the all parties conference (APC) being convened by the Awami National Party for working out a strategy at the national level to counter terrorism.

Talking to media persons after addressing the condolence reference organised for former chief of Jamaat-e-Islami
...The Islamic Society, founded in 1941 in Lahore by Maulana Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi, aka The Great Apostosizer. The Jamaat opposed the independence of Bangladesh but has operated an independent branch there since 1975. It maintains close ties with international Mohammedan groups such as the Moslem Brotherhood. the Taliban, and al-Qaeda. The Jamaat's objectives are the establishment of a pure Islamic state, governed by Sharia law. It is distinguished by its xenophobia, and its opposition to Westernization, capitalism, socialism, secularism, and liberalist social mores...
Qazi Hussain Ahmad
... third president (1987--2009) of the PakJamaat-e-Islami. Qazi was also head of the Muttahidah Majlis-e-Amal until his ego became bigger than the organization. Qazi is what is known as a fiery preacher, which means he has lots of volume, a good delivery, and not a lot of reverence for coherence. He was the patron of Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, Rasool Sayyaf and Osama bin Laden during the war against the Soviets. He used to recommend drinking camel's urine to maintain good health before his kidneys started to go...
at Nishtar Hall here on Sunday, Mr Rehman categorically said that his party would clean the mess left over by the ruling party in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa
... formerly NWFP, still Terrorism Central...
"The ANP has promoted terrorism and violence in the region and now the ruling party is trying to involve other parties to remove the dirt. We don't want to take the blame for the wrongdoings of others," he said when asked whether the JUI-F would attend the proposed APC.

The ANP has started contacting other political parties to participate in the conference being organised in the wake of liquidation of senior minister Bashir Ahmad Bilour in a suicide kaboom 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.
on Dec 22, 2012. Several political parties have accepted the invitation. However,
there is a theory which states that if ever anybody discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable. There is another theory which states that this has already happened...
the JUI-F is yet to receive any invitation.

Condemning the killing of 18 civilians in Bara, Khyber Agency

, Mr Rehman said that there was complete lawlessness in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, 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 tribal areas.

He said that governor's rule was imposed in Balochistan
...the Pak province bordering Kandahar and Uruzgun provinces in Afghanistan and Sistan Baluchistan in Iran. Its native Baloch propulation is being displaced by Pashtuns and Punjabis and they aren't happy about it...
when the people staged a sit-in to protest against killings and lawlessness in Quetta, while the federal government had closed its eyes to the situation in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Fata.

He said that innocent people, including women and kiddies, were killed in the province, but nobody was taking notice.

"Our party strongly criticises this double standard," he remarked. He opposed 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....
chairman Imran Khan

... aka Taliban Khan, who is the lightweight's lightweight...
's demand that President Asif Ali Ten Percent Zardari
... husband of the late Benazir Bhutto, who has been singularly lacking in curiosity about who done her in ...
should resign from the presidency before general election.

Earlier, addressing the condolence reference the JUI-F chief blamed external forces for ongoing wave of sectarianism in the country. He said that big powers were fuelling sectarianism to weaken Moslems.

The country's security agencies despite spending the taxpayers' money had failed to contain foreign interference in the country, he added.

He said that Pakistain was at the crossroads and people were killed on linguistic, sectarian and ethnic grounds. Political parties have to play their role to stop violence, he said and added that aggrandisement of Islam was their joint goal and they should
focus on it.

He paid tribute to late Qazi Hussain Ahmad who struggled for rule of law and democracy throughout his life.

He said that unity among Moslems was Qazi Sahab's top priority and for this purpose Milli Yakjehti Council and Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal were formed.

Federal minister Ghulam Ahmad Bilour, Pakistain Moslem League (likeminded) president Senator Saleem Saifullah Khan, former Afghan prime minister Gulbadin Hekmatyar' aide Engineer Ghairat Baheer and others also addressed the reference.

JI's central general secretary Liaquat Bloch said that the death of Qazi Hussain Ahmad was a major loss for the Islamic
resistance forces across the world.

He said that the leader fought against dictatorship and served the cause of democracy.

He said that the country could not afford any type of adventurism or unconstitutional act and demanded free and fair election.

He said that honest people should be inducted in the caretaker setup for conducting elections. He urged religious parties to contest next general election from a JUI-F's no to APC Fazl blames ANP for promoting violence joint platform to defeat secular forces.

In Mansehra
...

a city and an eponymous district in eastern Khyber-Pakthunwa, nestled snug up against Pak Kashmir, with Kohistan and Diamir to the north and Abbottabad to the south...
, leaders of political parties paid tribute to Qazi Hussain Ahmad and said that his services for the country and Moslem Ummah would be remembered for long.

"Qazi Hussain Ahmad struggled for enforcement of Shariah in the country and played an important role in formation of political alliances to steer the country out of crisis," said Javed Khan Swati, a PTI leader while speaking at a reference held here on Sunday.

Representatives of almost all political parties, labour unions, lawyers and journalists spoke on the occasion.

"Pakistain has been deprived of a seasoned religious scholar who laid the foundation of Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal to brig people of different sects on a single platform," said JI leader Tariq Sherazi.

Besides others, traders body president Haroonur Rasheed, transport union's secretary general Pervez Khan and teachers association's president of Khalid Zaman also spoke on the occasion.

Link

-Obits-

After Rabbani

2011-09-26

[Dawn] PROF Burhanuddin Rabbani

... the legitimate president of Afghanistan...
is the first of the seven leaders who represented the face of the Afghan jihad against the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1980s to be assassinated.

He was not a power-broker like Wali Karzai, the assassinated half-brother of the Afghan president, nor was he a man who stood in the way of any power player's ambitions in the current fratricidal Afghan conflict. Yet his liquidation carries a message; it is not without purpose.

Prof Rabbani, a person of dignified bearing with scholarly credentials and demeanour, had his share of controversy, guile and animosities, but, unlike some of his peers, he was never known to be ruthless. He played his hand masterfully in early 1992, when the Najibullah regime crumbled, to facilitate the entry of his ally Ahmed Shah Massoud in Kabul who had already succeeded in winning over key Parchami generals controlling the city.

Rabbani manoeuvred to negotiate the Beautiful Downtown Peshawar Accords that gave the strategic defence portfolio to his party, Jamiat-i-Islami, and ensured that the position of prime minister did not go to the person of Massoud's arch rival, Gulbadin Hekmatyar.

Who everyone agrees is a bad egg, even those said to be his friends.

He managed to extend his titular presidency beyond the period of four months agreed under the accords. He is also credited with a short-lived, last-minute Massoud-Hekmatyar patch-up in 1996 when the Taliban were knocking at the gates of Kabul. The Bonn process did not accord Rabbani the recognition he had expected following the ouster of the Taliban. Thereafter, his political fortunes remained somewhat in decline.

Hamid Maybe I'll join the Taliban Karzai
... A former Baltimore restaurateur, now 12th and current President of Afghanistan, displacing the legitimate president Rabbani in December 2004. He was installed as the dominant political figure after the removal of the Taliban regime in late 2001 in a vain attempt to put a Pashtun face on the successor state to the Taliban. After the 2004 presidential election, he was declared president regardless of what the actual vote count was. He won a second, even more dubious, five-year-term after the 2009 presidential election. His grip on reality has been slipping steadily since around 2007, probably from heavy drug use...
appointed Rabbani to head the High Peace Council, a body mandated to work for reconciliation, because he remained one of the few Afghan personalities who could reach across the ethnic divide which is partly responsible for keeping Afghanistan in a state of political fragmentation and turmoil.

The Council has achieved little, but as its head and for the respect he enjoyed, Rabbani symbolised the idea and the process of reconciliation. His liquidation is meant to kill the process. The crime is a stubborn and disdainful rejection of peace on the part of its perpetrators. The circumstances of the liquidation should help to identify them. Their act calls for a firm and forceful response. The challenge for the Afghans and for Pakistain is how to salvage the reconciliation process and push it forward.

Reaction to Rabbani's liquidation includes calls within the Kabul establishment to end the reconciliation process. The media have reported views that, being a Tajik, Rabbani was not the right person to head the process which cost him his life

Yes, there can always be found thise who have views, if one looks hard enough in the right places...

or that the liquidation demonstrated that this is not the time for reconciliation which must await the withdrawal of the US/NATO
...the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. A collection of multinational and multilingual and multicultural armed forces, all of differing capabilities, working toward a common goal by pulling in different directions...
forces. These are dangerous, if not motivated, explanations and a veiled justification for continuation of the conflict.

The US/NATO military presence has become part of the problem, and a clear US commitment to limit and withdraw military presence is necessary for the eventual balance and stability of Afghanistan. Realistically, however, the drawdown and withdrawal of US forces will be eased by progress towards reconciliation and reduction of violence. Those wishing to force the US military exit, recalling the fate of the Soviet intervention, need to bear in mind the difference.

A large section of the Afghans and almost all countries of the world are comfortable with the US military presence as long as it is seen to be combating the Taliban and extremism. Arguably, domestic pressures within the US are building to bring the troops back home, but that opinion will not countenance a retreat. On the other hand, the Taliban, their bad boy creed and linkages with Al Qaeda are universally viewed as an abomination. Many countries including Afghanistan's neighbours and most Afghans will oppose and resist any return of the Taliban rule, even if supposedly the US military presence were to end precipitously.

Stabilisation in Afghanistan depends on progress towards reconciliation and reduction of violence which requires a three-way cooperation between the Afghan government as the process must be Afghan-led, the United States as the occupation power and Pakistain, not for any claim of a special role but because of the demographics of the area and the presence in Pakistain of many Afghan Taliban elements including leaders.

Pakistain has the ability to put pressure on some of the Taliban, who may be amenable to reconciliation, to accept reasonable and realistic terms. While Pakistain's tolerance for the presence of the Afghan Taliban inside the country and its insistence on choosing its own tactics to deal with Death Eaters and cut-throats is understandable and possible to explain, Pakistain cannot allow the use of its territory for operations and attacks in another country, which negate its claim of illusory sovereignty and attract the charge of complicity.

The opportunity for tripartite cooperation to promote reconciliation, and hence prospects of peace, appears to be all but lost with the recent downturn in US-Pakistain relations. The US defence secretary and chairman, joint chiefs have publicly accused Pakistain of backing the Haqqani group's recent attacks on the US embassy and NATO compound near Kabul. The implicit warning is unprecedented. Official denials or blaming the US military intervention for the violence will not help. In the interest of our national security, we need to take every measure to ensure that Pakistain's generosity towards the Afghan Taliban and the Afghan refugees is abused no more.

The ominous trends in US-Pakistain relations must be tossed in the calaboose through urgent dialogue at the highest political and military levels based on realism and frankness and without false expectations. Positive US-Pakistain relations, but not necessarily an aid relationship, are important for Pakistain and for the region. Advocacy to the contrary is bereft of comprehension of global and regional correlations of forces.

There is no gainsaying that Afghanistan has long suffered and needs peace. The three decades of conflict have spread to Pakistain, inflicting a heavy toll and threatening destabilisation. Insensitivity about continuation of the conflict amounts to acquiescence in its fatal consequences for the future of the country.

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India-Pakistan

Pakistan: Spy chiefs look at new strategy to fight Taliban

2008-10-26

(AKI) - By Syed Saleem Shahzad - A dinner hosted by the Saudi King Abdullah for former Taliban leaders and members of the Islamic militant group, Hezb-E-Islami, in Mecca in September sought a solution to the recent resurgence of Taliban terrorism in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

But well-placed sources have told Adnkronos International that the success of the dinner was confined to the quality of the delicious Arab cuisine.

Militants with real firepower in Afghanistan and Pakistan all refused to lay down their weapons. Now a jirga or tribal meeting will bring together Afghani MPs and Pakistani leaders in Islamabad early next week, as the new head of Pakistan's intelligence services, Lt. General Ahmed Shuja Pasha, meets CIA director Michael Hayden in Washington to discuss the escalation of the conflict.

The Pakistani Parliament has voted in favour of a gradual withdrawal of security forces from the tribal areas and emphasised the need for dialogue, as a US predator drone once again struck North Waziristan and killed several people.

Pasha and Hayden are expected to finalise the new terms for strategic cooperation aiming at killing or eliminating top Al-Qaeda leaders and at least four top Taliban commanders to defeat the insurgency. Immediately after the meeting of intelligence chiefs, top American military commander David Petraeus will visit Pakistan to finalise new regional military operations.

Pakistan's Ambassador to the US, Hussain Haqqani, spoke to AKI about the relationship between the two allies. "Pakistan and the United States are overcoming any differences that may have arisen in the recent past in all spheres," Hussain Haqqani said from Washington. "Pakistan and the US are close allies and strategic partners, and in our strategic partnership, military cooperation and intelligence cooperation are very important.

"It is unfortunate that in the recent past some doubts and misgivings have been expressed about cooperation in the intelligence field. We look forward to overcoming those differences in the days to come."

The dialogue initiative was a strong gesture that emanated from Saudi Arabia, and both Kabul and Islamabad were proactive in promoting dialogue through back channels at the behest of western coalition partners.

Powerful militant leaders, including Jalaluddin Haqqani, Baitullah Mehsud and Gulbadin Hekmatyar, warlord and leader of the Hezb-e Islami political party, were invited for talks and asked to stop the war and start negotiations. All three refused.

Hopes were high that former Afghan premier, Gulbadin Hekmatyar, a personal friend of President Hamid Karzai's would agree to dialogue. Such a move would have been a major breakthrough since over three-fifths of the Taliban force are comprised of former members of the radical Hezb-e-Islami group. The move could have split the Taliban led insurgency, but Hekmatyar firmly rejected the proposal.

Hekmatyar told Kabul that he would not negotiate until NATO troops left Afghanistan. Washington asked Islamabad to also engage in dialogue with Hekmatyar so that he could be distanced from the Taliban-led resistance. However, Hekmatyar refused to talk with the Pakistani administration led by President Ali Asif Zardari and described the whole military and political leadership as American proxies with whom he was not willing to talk. His reply has effectively shut the door on dialogue, despite the parliamentary vote.

When the intelligence chiefs conclude their talks in Washington next week, Petraeus is likely to be finalising a new strategy during his visit to Pakistan.

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