Armies of India, Pak biggest hurdle in solving Siachen: Pak minister

ISLAMABAD: Ahead of its key talks with India on the Siachen issue, Pakistan has claimed that the biggest hurdle in resolving the military standoff on the world's highest battlefield are the armies of the two countries.

Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar, who was the defence minister till yesterday and has now been given the water and power portfolio in a minor Cabinet reshuffle, said India and Pakistan both stand to benefit from resolving the Siachen issue.

Both countries stood to gain nothing from the standoff on Siachen and the matter only served to satiate egos, he claimed during an interview with BBC Urdu.

He said the only way for India and Pakistan to coexist was to sit at the table and discuss the Siachen issue.

The Pakistani minister claimed that the biggest hurdle in resolving the military standoff on the Siachen glacier are the armies of Pakistan and India.

Senior Indian and Pakistani officials are set to hold talks on the Siachen issue in Islamabad on June 11 against the backdrop of renewed calls from the Pakistani civil and military leadership for the demilitarisation of the world's highest battlefield.

In response to a question, Mukhtar claimed Siachen was Pakistani territory and Pakistan had "responded" when India claimed the glacier.

"We think we can come to an agreement. India wants to talk on the Sir Creek issue first, we want to talk about Siachen first - the same issue of egos," he claimed.

"I think (Pakistan army chief Gen) Ashfaq Parvez Kayani understands this issue better than all of us and will help reach a decision when the time comes."

Asked how the Defence Minister, who is placed higher than the army chief, would allow a subordinate to take a decision, Mukhtar said that "Kayani would offer guidance (and) support, just as the government cooperates and supports the army."

Responding to a question why Pakistan is not making the first move of unilaterally withdrawing its troops to resolve the Siachen issue, Mukhtar contended that India was a big country and Pakistan expects it to demonstrate magnanimity by making the first move.

In response to another question, he said Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh want to resolve the Siachen issue through dialogue.

Indian and Pakistani troops have been engaged in a standoff on Siachen since 1984.

The guns have largely been silent since late 2003, when the two countries put in place a ceasefire along the frontiers in Jammu and Kashmir, and more troops have died on the glacier due to adverse weather than combat.

Since an avalanche killed 139 people at a high-altitude Pakistan Army camp in the Siachen sector in April, security analysts and civil society groups have questioned the deployment of troops in the hazardous terrain

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Pak Army Launched Operation Koh-e-Safaid 2

Building a ray of hope in the darkness, The Pakistan Army has successfully completed its Tri Star operations in FATA including Operation Koh-e-Safaid 2 in its adjacent agencies and in Swat to flush out terrorists. Pakistan’s military has finally managed to dismantle militant bases in this critically important region, famous for its rebel movements and legendary tales of resistance.

The successful completion of an army operation against a band of militants in the region, Pakistan’s military chief, General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani visit to Orakzai marked the end of the military operation in the region, and that people displaced due to the war could expect to return to their homeland soon. Army Chief Visit to Orakzai Agency marks the successful conclusion of operations in the agency. He appreciated the professional conduct of the operation which has cleared the agency of terrorists and encourages his soldiers.

Operation Koh-e-Sufaid had been launched to clear the area of militants whose fighting had increased the incidence of sectarian killings, kidnapping, and extortion in the agency. Pakistan army was also taken very peacefully into Khyber agency and “No-go areas” such as Kurram agency. Pakistan army gained control of Orakzai Agency. By the grace of Allah security forces have secured Malakand and Swat from all directions and very soon the dislocated people of these areas will be going back to their homes.

Pakistan Army has completed the offensive in the tribal region of South Waziristan. The successful military offensive earlier this year in the Swat Valley against militants led by a local radical cleric. There was strong public support for the offensive in South Waziristan.

The Pakistan Prime Minister paid rich tributes to Jawans and Officers of Pakistan Army and personnel of law enforcement agencies who embraced martyrdom for their country and nation in the operation.

Proud To Pakistan Army. Pakistan Zindabad!!!

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Pakistan Army Incessantly developing FATA

PESHAWAR - Corps Commander Lt Gen Khalid Rabbani Tuesday said around 3300 Pakistan Army personnel have embraced martyrdom in the ongoing war against terrorism and more than 10,000 received severe injuries in different military operations.

“We and the whole nation feel proud of our martyrs, who embraced martyrdom by sacrificing their lives for peace on the homeland in a war where there is only one option for us “as Pakistanis” and that is to win it,” Corps Commander Peshawar said while addressing one day seminar titled ‘War on Terror and Role of Pak Army’ here at Sir Sahibzada Abdul Qayyum Conference Hall, University of Peshawar. The seminar was organised by Department of Political Science.

The corps commander said that Pakistan Army has conducted more than 300 major and 760 minor operations in militancy-hit areas in the last few years, most of them in the year 2009-10. He added that peace has been restored in entire north of Pakistan and road accesses to majority of Fata have been established.

From the year 2008 to 2012, writ of government has been established in 91 per cent of Fata while eight per cent remain in contested control. Army is working on the sustainable development plan in order to improve the livelihood condition of ordinary people in Fata, he added.

The Commander mentioned 52 ongoing educational projects under Pak Army especially the establishment of Cadet College in South Waziristan Agency, Khyber Institute of Technical Education and Waziristan Institute of Technical education as a major development in improving skill and quality education among people of Fata.

Gen Rabbani categorically stated that no army in the world can win war without the support of its countrymen.

He described political ownership of military operation and operation within tribal system as the way forward in achieving long lasting peace in Pakistani militancy hit areas.

He termed gradual mainstreaming of Fata and its infrastructure development as key towards its socio economic development.

Replying to a question raised by a student, Rabbani said that army remains in a particular area for attaining pace on requisition of the federal government.

He also rejected the perception that army consumes eighty percent of the budget, and explained that all the three forces i.e. Army, Air force and Navy consume 17 per cent of the total budget, in which army share is 8.7 per cent. He stressed the need for perception management of the country and described Pakistani media as key partner in achieving it.

The seminar is a sign of solidarity with our army who are sacrificing their lives for peace within the country, said Prof Dr AZ Hilali, Chairman Department of Political Science. He said that department of political science has been arranging series of national and international seminars on core issues confronting the country and the region for capacity building of the students.

The seminar was attended by Registrar, UoP Dr Fazli Hadi, Dean Faculty of Social Sciences Prof Naeem ur Rehman, Dean Faculty of Arts and Humanities Prof. Dr Farooq Swati and a good number of students.

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A Prayer for my Lost Brothers at Gayari Sector

Waiting for a loved one is an awful feeling. But if you have to wait for them, knowing that they are in a very dangerous place, is a feeling that cannot be explained in words. And the relief that you experience when the loved one returns safely is beyond expression. I feel for the mothers, wives, sisters and daughters of the men we lost in Siachen and pray that they find peace in the afterlife. The ISPR (Inter Services Public Relations) has released the list of those 139 soldiers trapped underneath the glacier. Those 139 men belong to every nook and cranny of the country. I have seen reporters taking interviews of the fathers, sons, wives and sisters. While some had tears in their eyes, some did not have the strength to talk. But I was surprised to see that there was not an iota of regret. As I write this letter, the rescue operation is still underway. These 139 men have actually given us hope. A hope for peace! A hope for harmony and strength! I have read memoirs of soldiers who had gone on to become generals of Pakistan Army. These 139 men have made that same journey. For me all those 139 Jawans have now become Generals.

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Pakistan Army Relentless Efforts to Stabilize FATA

PESHAWAR: No army in the world could win war without the support of its countrymen and political ownership of the ongoing military operations in militancy-hit areas of the country was necessary to achieve long-lasting peace, Peshawar Corps Commander Lt-Gen Khalid Rabbani said .

Addressing participants of a seminar on ‘War on terror and role of Pakistan Army’ at University of Peshawar (UoP), the corps commander said from 2008 to 2012, the government’s writ had been re-established in 91 per cent of Fata, while the situation in the remaining areas was under control.

He said around 3,300 Pakistan Army personnel had lost lives in the line of duty in the war against terrorism and more than 10,000 had been severely injured in various operations.

“We and the whole nation feel proud of those, who have laid lives for peace in a war where there is only one option for us and that is to win it,” he said

Lt-Gen Khalid said Pakistan Army had conducted more than 300 major and 760 minor operations in militancy-hit areas over the last few years, mostly in 2009-10. He said peace had been restored in the entire northern region of Pakistan and road accesses to most of Fata had been established.

The corps commander said the army was working on a sustainable development plan for Fata to improve livelihood of locals.

He said the army had been carrying out 52 educational projects in Fata and they included establishment of a cadet college in South Waziristan Agency, Khyber Institute of Technical Education and Waziristan Institute of Technical Education.

Lt-Gen Khalid called for gradual mainstreaming of Fata and said its infrastructure development was imperative for socioeconomic development in the region.

He said the army went to an area for pace at the request of the federal government. He denied that the army consumed eight per cent of the budget and said all three forces i.e. army, navy and air force consumed 17 per cent of the country’s total budget, while the army shared in it was 8.7 per cent.

Chairman of UoP Political Science Department Professor Dr AZ Hilali, whose department organised the seminar, highlighted the importance of the seminar and said it was a sign of solidarity with Pakistan Army, which rendered great sacrifices for peace in the country.

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Balochistan's Road towards Prosperity

ISLAMABAD: Whereas the steps being taken by the Pakistan Army for the establishment of peace in Balochistan and to remove the sense of deprivation among people of the province are yielding positive results, the growing Taliban threat has forced the Indian spymasters to shift from Afghanistan to the Gulf states where they are operating as businessmen.

“The steps being taken by the army under the guidance of Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani to establish peace in Balochistan and remove the sense of deprivation among the people of the province are yielding positive results, causing distress to the Indian intelligence agencies,” an official source said here on Wednesday, requesting anonymity. “A positive change is being witnessed in the thinking of common Baloch people because of the recruitment of Baloch youths in the army and other security institutions on priority basis,” he said.

The source said the worries of the Indian intelligence officials are, however, growing because of the change in thinking of the Baloch youths while the recruitment of the Baloch youths in the army and security institutions on priority basis has saved Pakistan from a battle front, which was more dangerous than Waziristan because lava was boiling there. He said the Indian spying network, which was targeting Balochistan since long, has almost been defeated now because the Balochistan policy of General Kayani has shattered the Indian policy of misleading the Baloch youths. “When he had taken over as the army chief, General Kayani faced the toughest and the biggest challenge of establishing peace in Balochistan and also defeating the Indian campaign of misleading the Baloch youths,” the source said. “General Kayani was extremely serious in addressing the Balochistan problem and he took pragmatic measures, which are now yielding positive results,” he remarked.

The source revealed that the country’s top security agency achieved highly important successes during the past three years but details of those successes could not be made public because of their sensitive nature. He said these successes also helped other security agencies of the country to achieve their goals. He said the powers that wanted to pit the Baloch people against other provinces and national institutions were behind the kidnapping and target killing incidents in the province during the past few years.

“The foreign elements have been involved in planning the killing of passengers of public transport in different cities and districts of Balochistan and the most prominent among these elements were the Indians. The term of Baloch Liberation Army was also introduced by the Indian intelligence agencies because India wanted to infuse into the Baloch youths the hatred against other provinces and the army,” the source said.

“Although the Indians had initially succeeded in their nefarious designs to a great extent and their operations were on their peak following the death of Nawab Akbar Bugti, the strategy devised by General Kayani and implemented by the army to bringing the Baloch people, particularly youths, into the national mainstream has now completely changed the scenario,” he added.

The source pointed out that because of the growing threat of the Taliban attacks, the senior Indian intelligence officers have shifted from Afghanistan to the Gulf states in the vicinity of Balochistan, where they are posing as businessmen and are providing jobs to Baloch youths so as to create afresh an atmosphere of hate in Balochistan. This is the reason that the Pakistani establishment is trying to provide maximum job and business opportunities to Baloch youths to save them from the economic blackmailing of Indians, he remarked.

When contacted by The News for comments, former Inter-Services Intelligence chief Lt Gen (R) Hamid Gul said no doubt General Kayani is doing good work in Balochistan because the situation had worsened in that province during the Musharraf regime. He said that under a long-term policy, General Kayani recruited the Baloch youths in the army and also took other measures on priority basis to address the sense of deprivation among Baloch people.

“However, the president and prime minister too should give priority to Balochistan, as the government and civil institutions have yet much to do there and a short-term policy is also needed because India and the US do not want peace in Balochistan. Therefore, the elimination of the Indian and US influence there is utmost necessary,” he commented.

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'US making Islamabad Scapegoat for Failure to Beat Afghan Insurgency': Pak Army Commander

A top Pakistani military commander has reportedly accused Washington of seeking to make Islamabad a scapegoat for its failure to beat insurgency in Afghanistan.

Lt Gen Khalid Rabbani, the corps commander for Peshawar, during an interview with an American Press agency, said US efforts to talk peace with insurgents in Afghanistan meant Washington can no longer expect Pakistan to attack all militant factions on its side of the border, some of whom Islamabad is also reaching out to.

"Why do they raise their fingers toward Pakistan? It is shifting the blame to others," The Express Tribune quoted Lt. Gen. Rabbani, as saying.

Lt. Gen. Rabbani remarks came a day after militants in North Waziristan killed 13 soldiers, including four that it captured when troops raided a militant hideout.

According to the paper, Lt. Gen. Rabbani defended the government's dealings with North Waziristan-based militant commander Hafiz Gul Bahadur, who is believed to have signed a nonaggression pact with the government, saying "at the moment he seems to be trying to keep himself out of the trouble."

He also stressed that U.S. and NATO were in contact with insurgents in Afghanistan to try and "co-opt them into the peace process."

"Something has to be done, and it's in the offing. North Waziristan is the only region we haven't cleared. It should be done as early as possible," the paper quoted Lt. Gen. Rabbani, as saying. (ANI)

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Memogate Scandal: A Farce intended to Tarnish the image of Pak Army

American stooge Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani criticized General Kayani and the director general of the Inter-Services Intelligence, Lieutenant-General Ahmed Shuja Pasha, for filing court papers in a case involving a mysterious memo that has pitted the military against the civilian government.

In an interview with the Chinese media, Gilani said the filings were ‘unconstitutional’, infuriating the military’s high command, who issued a stern press release. “There can be no allegation more serious than what the prime minister has leveled”.

Gilani further infuriated the army by sacking the defense secretary, Lieutenant General (retd) Naeem Khalid Lodhi, for ‘gross misconduct and illegal action which created misunderstanding’ between institutions.

The preposterous attitude of Government about memo controversy clearly depicts that PPP’s bankrupt Government is involved in this heinous act and when caught red-handed, they made Pakistan Army a scapegoat. The veritable arm of Government ‘Hussain Haqqani’ is the main culprit who was backed by the government to give him route out of Pakistan.

Juxtaposition to that, the only witness of Memogate controversy, an English business man ‘Mansoor Ijaz’, who nailed this controversy was slandered by the current regime and was threatened not to come to Pakistan which clearly shows who the perpetrators are. The illegitimate intimidation by Rehman Malik to Mansoor Ijaz in a press conference clearly depicts the frenzied state of government as caught red-handed. Conversely, Army was and is, in favor of judicial process in Memogate case which is the manifestation that Army wants democracy in this country.

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Balochistan Can't be Separated in Army Presence: Musharraf

KARACHI: Former president Pervez Musharraf has said as long as Pakistan Army was there, Balochistan could not be separated from Pakistan.

Addressing retired army officers organisation 'Pakistan First' over the video link on situation in Balochistan, the leader of All Pakistan Muslim League and former army chief said Balochistan Liberation Army is an organisation of militants supported by foreign elements and targeting non locals in the province. He regretted that some politicians were supporting the separatists for political gains.

The former president said out of 160 tribes in the province, only Sardars of three namely Bugti, Marri and Mengal wanted separation of Balochistan for their vested interests and they had the backing of forces involved in destabilising Pakistan.

He said Talal Bugti, Shahzeb Bugti and others were in contact with the foreigners for this purpose. He said only four percent of Pakistan's population lives in Balochistan and 60 percent among it had rejected the separatists.

He regretted that people of Pakistan were not fully abreast with the situation in Balochistan and they were perturbed over the prevailing situation.

Musharraf said the situation had worsened in Balochistan due to failure of the government and he felt pained over it. He said during his tenure, four universities and three cadet colleges were opened in Balochistan and all the Master degree holders were given ten thousand rupees scholarships and jobs.

Speaking on the occasion, retired army officers expressed concern over the situation in the province. The function was attended by a large number of retired army officers.

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Another Pakistani wins 'Sword of Honour' at Sandhurst-UK

Bringing Honour to the Nation

It was another glorious day for Pakistani nation when another Son of the Soil proved his metal on a foreign land. Pakistan Army's, Cadet Officer Muhammad Talha Zahid went under rigorous training at RMA Sandhurst, UK and proved himself THE BEST OF THE BEST by winning "Sword of Honour" for over seas cadets. He is the 5th Pakistani achieving this great honour.

Best overall cadets from different countries all around the world are sent here to get trained in this renowned military institution. A Pakistani winning the sword speaks itself of the high standards of Pakistan Army Military Training setup.

Beside the sword the cadet also won the following awards:

a) The Prince Saud Abdullah Faisal of Saudi Arabia Prize for Overseas Cadet for Best Academic Scores.

b) The Pakistan Defence & International Affairs (DIA) Prize for Best Performance at DIA by an Overseas Cadet.

c) The Brunei Prize for Best Performance at War Studies by an Overseas Cadet.

The ceremony was attended by High Commissioner of Pakistan and Army and Air Advisor. The individual has indeed made his nation proud on this great day and will surely prove to be a great asset for future of Pakistan Army.

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The tale of two ex-officials

There will be time; there will be time; time to repent, time to regret, time to feel sorry and time to lament; but that will be too late. The people playing in hands of the conspirators would one day feel sorry for no one else but for their own-self, one day when they would realize that they have been brutally exploited against their own people and against their own land. That is the actual story of tomorrow for those who are now joining hands with the western conspirators and helping them out in destabilising Pakistan, ignoring the reality that Pakistan is the only country which has an identity as a fort of Islam. Today it is the most favourite activity for some of the so-called media analysts to ridicule and make fun of the Pakistan army and the intelligence agencies of Pakistan. These are the people who feel pride in army bashing just for the sake of their trivial and petty interests. In their struggle to please their foreign masters, such analysts are simply undermining the very foundations and basis of Pakistan. One day they would realise that by inflicting damage to these institutions the nation has labeled them as ‘traitors’ and that day, when it would be too late for them, the nation would pay them back for their treachery. The Memogate scandal is also one of such heinous attempts to destabilise Pakistan. This scandal not only tried to drag the top military leadership in the courts but also negatively impacted on the prestige and honour of the Armed Forces. But on the other hand the military authorities did not let the schemers of this conspiracy succeed in their wicked intentions. Though some of the analysts were of the view that after the retirement of Ex-ISI chief General (r) Pasha the military authorities would give up pursuing this scandal but a few days back General Pasha’s appearance before the court of law disappointed all such analysts and their analysis. General Pasha’s appearance in the court has also confirmed General Kayani’s assurance that the Army will always honour the supremacy of law without interfering in government affairs. Mr Hussain Haqqani must also follow the same patterns of genuineness and truth as set by General Pasha. If he is right he should not be frightened of appearing before the honourable court of law and surrender his Blackberry data. Mr. Haqqani is also a true and sincere Pakistani who has done great services to this country but his act of evading and avoiding the court is no doubt distorting his image. Impression or image is always very important; it builds as well as demolishes ones repute and reputation.

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A Letter from Siachen

Dear A,

“We, the willing, are doing the impossible for the ungrateful. We have done so much, with so little, for so long, we are now qualified to do anything, with nothing.”

This quotation was written diagonally on the first page of his diary as he showed me his poems. My host is a young man, whose spirits are still volatile despite the sub-zero temperature of this place. It is our first meeting. He does not know that the quotation is by mother Teresa, he does not know mother Teresa at all. He thinks it was said for him, dismissing any reason for researching its origins. The young man got engaged recently, the reason for an occasional blush whenever the subject of his future comes up. I only reached here the night before, but we are close friends now. There is something in the wind, with flakes, that urge people to speak in never-ending monologues. Discuss emotions, exchange secrets, talk about themselves – things they do not talk about ‘normally,’ not the least when they are engrossed in the workings of the ‘civilised world.’ I asked him about the quotation on the wall and he said let’s call it a day.

My room, call it my studio apartment, is a typical bunker, built on self-help basis, thanks to our meagre resources. Carved out from a hillock, it is a classical one-window room of fourteen-by-ten feet. The ten-foot high ceiling had 70 girders. Trivial information, you say? I count them every night before I can sleep. No, I have not grown insomniac, but I dare not venture out to count stars in this part of the world.

On one side, the empty cartons have been arranged, covered by gunny bags, only to be topped by the prayer mat. I have a lot of time to pray and reflect, probably since I am the closest I could get to Him. The other wall supports the bed (an arrangement of empty cartons) upon which lies air mattress, along with our sleeping bags. Tastefully, the big-flower-print bed sheet does not permit the attention to drift to the poor structure of the bed. The dark toilet is an extension of the same room. An old cough syrup bottle has been modified with kerosene oil to serve the purpose of the lamp which practically lights up nothing. The empty ghee cans are our makeshift geysers. Basic instinct is the best aide when it comes to anatomy in the dark bathroom. The room décor is an artistic arrangement of the empty containers of food, fuel and fire. Food cartons serve as tables, fuel cans as stools and empty (fired) cartridges as bedside teapoy items. The most decorated table has boxes of chicken cubes, noodles, egg biscuits, brick-game and yes, our window to the world, the radio. Other inhabitants include a Fujika (a kerosene-lit heater), petromax, the books that you have sent and the military phone – this masterpiece of technology which connects me to you, remains silent. The weather, the snow, the wind, the electric power everything conspires against our probable communication. Reminds me how Shah Latif narrates the plight of Sassi after she had been robbed of Pannu:

“The camel (which carries Punno) is my enemy, the wind (which is erasing the foot prints of caravan) is my enemy, the sand is my enemy and so are the brothers of Punnu,

And most of all the sun is my enemy, for having risen so late and not waking me up”

Our high point of the day arrives when we sit down for dinner. Fresh vegetables are a luxury. We have to live on roasted onions and tomato puree, which is canned. The weather denies us the luxury of fresh vegetables, and much more. After getting over with dinner, we gather around the radio and switch it on. This really is the world on our finger tips. There is no FM here, only the BBC and loads of incomprehensible regional channels. The alternative to BBC is Radio Pakistan, which runs the night-time transmission. About the night-time transmission, it is the radio’s revenge from the television for morning shows.

Another day has gone. The vigilant sentries change over their duties. Far from home, away from gatherings, phone calls, SMS-es, these men, I think, are doing something which can never be monetised. Purposelessly, looking against the ravishing snowstorms, their biggest foe is the weather. You can never predict its move. It sulks within and you only realise how loosely you hang between a life and death when it hits you. A minor headache turns into cerebral edema and a man full of stories, intentions, commitments and emotions becomes, what they call, a ‘causality.’

The radio is tuned up and we start receiving our dose of military bashing. A whole lot of qualified individuals start describing us as a merry-making mob, with no clue about how one can party at 20,000 ft above the mean sea level. My mind races. Huge chunks of budget for tomato puree and canned vegetables. Power hungry for morally supporting everyone that we have, people who love us and people who are the reason we live to guard this piece of land. Luxurious lives in a make-shift room with empty cartons. I think the quotation on the wall is not so over-rated.

Hope to hear from you soon…

Yours faithfully,
H

The author, who wishes to remain anonymous, served his tenure at Siachen with the men who were trapped under an avalanche on Saturday. This letter is one of the several that he wrote to his wife during his time at the glacier.

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280 Pakistani Soldiers leave for UN Mission

Lahore - A batch of 280 Pakistani troops left from Allama Iqbal International Airport here Saturday on a UN mission for war-ravaged Liberia.

Pakistan peacekeeping troops have been serving in Liberia for the last three years and have played a pivotal role in maintaining secure and stable environment in the most volatile regions of the country. They have largely contributed towards capacity building of the vital national infrastructure of the strife-stricken African country.

Liberia, a small country located at the tip of western coast of Africa next to Sierra Leone and Ivory Coast, became a republic in 1847. The Liberian economy depends mainly on export of natural resources. The decades of genocide and civil strife between different ethnic groups for the control of these natural resources have virtually damaged the country’s infrastructure. Liberia’s stability is vital to its neighbouring countries, which have witnessed turbulence as a result of the fallout of continued violence.

It may be mentioned that Pakistan Army peacekeeping contingents have rendered dedicated services in neighbouring Sierra Leone and Ivory Coast by playing a major role in stabilising the volatile situation in these war ravaged-countries.

They ensured security, facilitated repatriation of refugees and restored writ of the democratically elected government through smooth transition.

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Missing persons: ISI, MI counsel says RAW and Mossad involved

ISLAMABAD:
The counsel for Inter-Services Intelligence agency (ISI) and Military Intelligence (MI) has revealed in the Supreme Court that Indian spy agency Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) and Israel’s Mossad are active in Pakistan. He was speaking during the hearing of the missing persons case.

He said that they were behind kidnappings in the country and were being helped by terrorist groups.

The chief justice asked the defence counsel if the agencies had any credible information of the involvement of RAW and Mossad, and why they did not take any against them. “We did not bar you from taking action against RAW and Mossad.”

Terming the intelligence agencies’ reply on Adiala missing persons unsatisfactory, the apex court on Friday took suo motu notice against the abduction of a boy who used to provide food at camps set up by the relatives of missing persons outside parliament.

A three judge-bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry directed Inspector General of Police Islamabad and Attorney General of Pakistan Maulvi Anwarul Haq to submit a report of the incident by March 17 and present the abductee before the court on March 19.

Addressing Maulvi Anwarul Haq and Raja Irshad, counsel for ISI and MI, the chief justice said that this time a man was abducted right under the nose of the federal government. Advocate Tariq Asad the counsel for missing persons told the court that Omar Mehmood Khan was picked up by the intelligence agencies because he used to serve the food to the families at the missing persons’ camp at D-Chowk (in front of the Parliament).

Raja Arshad rejected the allegations, stating that the military intelligence agencies were not involved in missing persons’ episodes.

A family recently returned from Canada through a letter had informed the Human Rights Cell of the apex court that one of their family members, Omar Mehmood Khan, 24, was abducted by the agencies on March 10 near Orchid Scheme in Islamabad.

“After going through the contents of the letter last night, we issued notices to IGP Islamabad that what kind of high-handedness was underway by none other than officials of agencies, even in the federal capital city,” the chief justice informed the attorney general.

The letter suggests that Omar was kidnapped in the same style as was used in picking up many other missing persons. Men driving two double cabins with tinted glasses, a black corolla, a white Suzuki Baleno and a Suzuki Mehran picked up the boy in front of his father, mother and a younger brother.

Omar’s mother, Dr Rubina was also present in the court today. The chief justice, while calming her down, said that “we will not allow anyone to act above the law”, adding that the agencies were not above the Constitution.

Advocate Raja Irshad asked the court why all blame was leveled on the ISI and MI. The chief justice said that, “We respect our armed forces and intelligence agencies, but when they detracted then the court and media expressed concerns and you cannot stop us from this.”

During the last hearing, the court had rejected explanatory reports submitted by the lawyer of the agencies and termed them unsatisfactory, and had also sought a detailed report from the chief secretary of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. The K-P chief secretary submitted a report on the health of inmates today, which was appreciated by the court.

Counsel for detainee Hafiz Majid, Advocate Tariq Asad informed the court that his client was suffering from Cancer and Hepatitis C, and asked that permission be granted to shift him to Shaukat Khanum Cancer Hospital in Lahore.

The court was informed that the health condition of at least three prisoners was still not satisfactory. The chief justice asked Raja Irshad how the detainees were being treated. “Were they not human? Why a fair trial right was denied to them? We will proceed against you after deciding initial things – you will tell us how the four of them died in your custody.”

Advocate general of K-P will submit a report within three days on which internment centers inmates will be kept at. The court also asked him to arrange a place where relatives of these inmates could see them easily.

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Pakistan Army Conducting War Exercise near Jehlum

Pakistan Army is conducting war exercise at Tilla Field Firing Ranges near Jhelum reported PakSoldiers.Com.

According to military sources large number of troops are participating in the exercise. Gujranwala Corps Commander Lieutenant General Raheel Shareef visited the field area and witnessed the exercise. Corps commander was briefed on the tactical setting of the exercise by the field commanders on the occasion.

Raheel Shareef witnessed the firing of Artillery and heavy Infantry weapons during the exercise.

He appreciated the morale, skilful planning and conduct of exercise and highly commended the tactical skills as well as accurate firing standard of the troops. He lauded endurance and standard of professional readiness of Soldiers. During this exercise Director General Military training and General Officer Commanding (GOC) were also present.

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