Sunday, December 27, 2009
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Blackwater is involved in bombings in Pakistan: Gen. Durrani
Courtesy : PKKH www.Pakistankakhudahafiz.wordpress.com
“My assessment is that they — either themselves or most probably through others, through the locals — do carry out some of the explosions”.
Former chief of the Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) General Mohammad Asad Durrani sits down with Press TV and talks about the presence of Blackwater in Pakistan. The following is the transcript of the interview:
Press TV: General Durrani, US intelligence officials say that the CIA has cancelled the Blackwater contract but other reports indicate that there are at least three thousand Blackwater agents in Pakistan. What do make of these conflicting reports?
General Durrani: This may be true that the Blackwater’s contract has been cancelled but then this is also understood that such people are under a different name, whether it is Xe or Dyncorp or in any other form of private contractor-ship that they can be employed. In our case, such people have been around for a number of years now. Lately their number has increased. Some rationalization had been made that these people were required to provide security to more Americans coming because of the package they have worked out for Pakistan. But then on ground, there [are] a number of them, some of them in training facilities trying to suggest that they are there to train the police or the army or the air force.
Of course, I can also add that none of these organizations are very happy that they have been offered. Some of them have even refused training because they believe that they can be trained by them. But, in that form they are there. Others are certainly providing security and there is also a third group, which goes around, especially in the frontier area, with the NGOs and bring(s) the intelligence collection. So, the number I am not aware of but there is a contingent which is present in Pakistan.
Press TV: Analysts say that Blackwater agents are involved in bombings and that they are fomenting insecurity in Pakistan. What is your opinion?
General Durrani: My assessment is that they — either themselves or most probably through others, through the locals — do carry out some of the explosions. You see the idea is that there are other groups that are not acting on their behalf, which are acting locally because of so many reasons. They are not happy with our policy. They are not happy with whatever is happening in Afghanistan. The idea is to carry out such actions, like carrying attacks in the civilian areas to make the others look bad in the eyes of the public. Even those groups who are not targeting the civilians or were not going essentially for Pakistani targets … people should turn against them. And the second idea, which I think more or less they have succeeded, is to force the Pakistani [government] to even under take such operations where I was not initially willing to go.
Press TV: CIA officials say Blackwater has been in Pakistan to help with drone attacks. Is this the only reason why the CIA has hired Blackwater agents?
General Durrani: You see I am not aware of this statement as [of] yet. The headquarters, some of them come here to direct or carry out what we call target identification. I doubt it very much that this would be the job of people whom I consider to have been understandably involved with Blackwater operations. These operations of target identification have to be done un-reclusively. They should not look like Americans; they are people who are trained to match with the background. Intelligence work; and I cannot say that the Blackwater’s people are trained in such manner, learning the language, learning the local customs, so that they can go into those trouble areas.
Press TV: Blackwater is known for killing civilians in Iraq and Afghanistan. Why has the Pakistani government allowed such a notorious US security firm to operate in the country?
General Durrani: You’re absolutely right. I think this is about the best question that one can pose. People either were naive that they did not believe that these were Blackwaters or these people would not get involved in it. The second theory goes around that they may have come with the consent and with the knowledge of some of the people that we have in the government — among which I do not know, I cannot say very much. If it is not the ambassador of the United States who has cleared them, who has sent them, or people here, these agencies, who have accepted them. But that is one of the perceptions. But essentially it is correct that anyone who comes and we allow those people [to] come without proper security clearance, without proper vetting and investigation, then it is indeed our fault.
“My assessment is that they — either themselves or most probably through others, through the locals — do carry out some of the explosions”.
Former chief of the Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) General Mohammad Asad Durrani sits down with Press TV and talks about the presence of Blackwater in Pakistan. The following is the transcript of the interview:
Press TV: General Durrani, US intelligence officials say that the CIA has cancelled the Blackwater contract but other reports indicate that there are at least three thousand Blackwater agents in Pakistan. What do make of these conflicting reports?
General Durrani: This may be true that the Blackwater’s contract has been cancelled but then this is also understood that such people are under a different name, whether it is Xe or Dyncorp or in any other form of private contractor-ship that they can be employed. In our case, such people have been around for a number of years now. Lately their number has increased. Some rationalization had been made that these people were required to provide security to more Americans coming because of the package they have worked out for Pakistan. But then on ground, there [are] a number of them, some of them in training facilities trying to suggest that they are there to train the police or the army or the air force.
Of course, I can also add that none of these organizations are very happy that they have been offered. Some of them have even refused training because they believe that they can be trained by them. But, in that form they are there. Others are certainly providing security and there is also a third group, which goes around, especially in the frontier area, with the NGOs and bring(s) the intelligence collection. So, the number I am not aware of but there is a contingent which is present in Pakistan.
Press TV: Analysts say that Blackwater agents are involved in bombings and that they are fomenting insecurity in Pakistan. What is your opinion?
General Durrani: My assessment is that they — either themselves or most probably through others, through the locals — do carry out some of the explosions. You see the idea is that there are other groups that are not acting on their behalf, which are acting locally because of so many reasons. They are not happy with our policy. They are not happy with whatever is happening in Afghanistan. The idea is to carry out such actions, like carrying attacks in the civilian areas to make the others look bad in the eyes of the public. Even those groups who are not targeting the civilians or were not going essentially for Pakistani targets … people should turn against them. And the second idea, which I think more or less they have succeeded, is to force the Pakistani [government] to even under take such operations where I was not initially willing to go.
Press TV: CIA officials say Blackwater has been in Pakistan to help with drone attacks. Is this the only reason why the CIA has hired Blackwater agents?
General Durrani: You see I am not aware of this statement as [of] yet. The headquarters, some of them come here to direct or carry out what we call target identification. I doubt it very much that this would be the job of people whom I consider to have been understandably involved with Blackwater operations. These operations of target identification have to be done un-reclusively. They should not look like Americans; they are people who are trained to match with the background. Intelligence work; and I cannot say that the Blackwater’s people are trained in such manner, learning the language, learning the local customs, so that they can go into those trouble areas.
Press TV: Blackwater is known for killing civilians in Iraq and Afghanistan. Why has the Pakistani government allowed such a notorious US security firm to operate in the country?
General Durrani: You’re absolutely right. I think this is about the best question that one can pose. People either were naive that they did not believe that these were Blackwaters or these people would not get involved in it. The second theory goes around that they may have come with the consent and with the knowledge of some of the people that we have in the government — among which I do not know, I cannot say very much. If it is not the ambassador of the United States who has cleared them, who has sent them, or people here, these agencies, who have accepted them. But that is one of the perceptions. But essentially it is correct that anyone who comes and we allow those people [to] come without proper security clearance, without proper vetting and investigation, then it is indeed our fault.
Pakistan holding up some US visas
ISLAMABAD — Pakistan has held up visas for U.S. diplomats, military service members and others, apparently because of hostility within the country toward the expansion of U.S. operations in Pakistan, a senior U.S. diplomat said Wednesday.
American diplomats have also been stopped repeatedly at Pakistani checkpoints as part of what U.S. officials say is a wider focus on foreigners working in Pakistan. The U.S. cars are searched, although diplomats are told to open the trunk but to refuse access to the passenger compartment.
The U.S. diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe sensitive interaction between the two countries, said that the visa clampdown seems to be a reaction to widespread anti-American sentiment, even though many of the affected workers would be doing jobs that bring aid and other help to Pakistan.
The official said the reaction is probably temporary and that the U.S. does not plan to do more than press Pakistani authorities to relent.
The U.S. embassy is already large and expanding, with plans to go from about 500 employees to more than 800 over the next 18 months. Most of the growth is related to the expansion of U.S. aid to Pakistan, some of which comes with requirements for accounting and oversight that have rankled Pakistanis.
The official said that at the embassy, several employees have gone home for Christmas leave and will be unable to return because the Pakistani authorities have not expended their visas. In all, 135 visa extensions have been denied, the official said. Other visa applications have been rejected outright, but U.S. authorities have not collected data on how many.
The official said Pakistani authorities have not provided a comprehensive response to American complaints, and that several ministries are involved. That allows Pakistani authorities to spread the blame, the official said.
The official said that among those whose visas were held up are mechanics who tend to a fleet of U.S. helicopters that supports Pakistani military operations in the frontier areas.
The helicopters stopped flying when there were insufficient mechanics to maintain them, the official said. Some visas were approved after Pakistani authorities inquired about the grounded helicopters.
In October, President Barack Obama signed into law a $7.5 billion aid package for Pakistan. Pakistan’s military criticized the aid as American meddling in the country’s internal affairs.
The measure provides $1.5 billion annually over five years for economic and social programs and comes as Pakistan faces a string of violent militant attacks and bombings as its military orchestrates an offensive into the Taliban heartland.
The law is the Obama administration’s attempt to strengthen the weak civilian government in Islamabad and encourage its fight against Taliban and al-Qaida militants operating along the border with Afghanistan, where the United States is fighting an eight-year war.
The stability of a nuclear-armed Pakistan is deemed crucial to U.S.-led efforts to battle extremists in South Asia.
The White House said the law, which was passed unanimously by Congress, is “the tangible manifestation of broad support for Pakistan in the U.S.”
The legislation requires the secretary of state to report to Congress every six months on whether Pakistan’s civilian government maintains effective control over the military’s budgets, chain of command and top promotions.
The White House said the requirements are “accountability measures” placed on the United States to ensure that the aid directly benefits the Pakistani people. It said that the law does not seek to micromanage Pakistani military or civilian affairs, “including the promotion of Pakistani military officers or the internal operations of the Pakistani military.”
Courtesy : PKKH ..
www.pakistankakhudahafiz.wordpress.com
American diplomats have also been stopped repeatedly at Pakistani checkpoints as part of what U.S. officials say is a wider focus on foreigners working in Pakistan. The U.S. cars are searched, although diplomats are told to open the trunk but to refuse access to the passenger compartment.
The U.S. diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe sensitive interaction between the two countries, said that the visa clampdown seems to be a reaction to widespread anti-American sentiment, even though many of the affected workers would be doing jobs that bring aid and other help to Pakistan.
The official said the reaction is probably temporary and that the U.S. does not plan to do more than press Pakistani authorities to relent.
The U.S. embassy is already large and expanding, with plans to go from about 500 employees to more than 800 over the next 18 months. Most of the growth is related to the expansion of U.S. aid to Pakistan, some of which comes with requirements for accounting and oversight that have rankled Pakistanis.
The official said that at the embassy, several employees have gone home for Christmas leave and will be unable to return because the Pakistani authorities have not expended their visas. In all, 135 visa extensions have been denied, the official said. Other visa applications have been rejected outright, but U.S. authorities have not collected data on how many.
The official said Pakistani authorities have not provided a comprehensive response to American complaints, and that several ministries are involved. That allows Pakistani authorities to spread the blame, the official said.
The official said that among those whose visas were held up are mechanics who tend to a fleet of U.S. helicopters that supports Pakistani military operations in the frontier areas.
The helicopters stopped flying when there were insufficient mechanics to maintain them, the official said. Some visas were approved after Pakistani authorities inquired about the grounded helicopters.
In October, President Barack Obama signed into law a $7.5 billion aid package for Pakistan. Pakistan’s military criticized the aid as American meddling in the country’s internal affairs.
The measure provides $1.5 billion annually over five years for economic and social programs and comes as Pakistan faces a string of violent militant attacks and bombings as its military orchestrates an offensive into the Taliban heartland.
The law is the Obama administration’s attempt to strengthen the weak civilian government in Islamabad and encourage its fight against Taliban and al-Qaida militants operating along the border with Afghanistan, where the United States is fighting an eight-year war.
The stability of a nuclear-armed Pakistan is deemed crucial to U.S.-led efforts to battle extremists in South Asia.
The White House said the law, which was passed unanimously by Congress, is “the tangible manifestation of broad support for Pakistan in the U.S.”
The legislation requires the secretary of state to report to Congress every six months on whether Pakistan’s civilian government maintains effective control over the military’s budgets, chain of command and top promotions.
The White House said the requirements are “accountability measures” placed on the United States to ensure that the aid directly benefits the Pakistani people. It said that the law does not seek to micromanage Pakistani military or civilian affairs, “including the promotion of Pakistani military officers or the internal operations of the Pakistani military.”
Courtesy : PKKH ..
www.pakistankakhudahafiz.wordpress.com
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Crisis of Actions ...a nation with national pride amiss
As i write these lines here ..i hear in background somewhere in neighborhood , indian music being played in full volume and chants and whistles much to the similar chaos we experience often at mehndis and dance routines these days ...
Just yesterday 40 lives were taken in a serious barbaric and inhuman fashion...why say inhuman when its about taking lives anyway..because the victims and the shaheeds were doing nothing but praying their most important Salaat of the week..the Juma prayers...
on the contrary ,life is very much the same ..and business is all usual everywhere in the country except only where these men are fighting for this land of pure and doing all they can to avert the hostile actions of ENEMIES ..
For USSR , cold war was easy , it was just the US mainly allied with some countries in europe and military might was very much going hand in hand with the other's deceptive hostile strategies ...for Hitler it was easy too , he knew who is raising alarm and where ..all these wars were text book wars and thus history is easy to gather for fact finding..
Pakistan whereas faces a serious MODERN face of warfare where all these hostile agencies and countries are up against one common enemy and that too with out a declared conditions for peace if any ...mainly due to the lack of reasoning behind their so called motives.
For years we have been hearing tales of how army robbed this nation of democracy , and some Generals manipulated and toyed with the HOLY constitution ..where as the NRO and SRO looters shrug their shoulders labelling the khakis invasion of political grounds as invalid...ironically its only the men in these very khakis are the sole target of criticism from abroad aswell ..that allies the enemy and the black sheep JUST HERE..and in result situations like NRO and SRO result countering all that is good and all that can be done good to this land of Pure.
Thus when a political SO called leader ..dies he is termed 'shaheed' with so much care and respect and public holidays are resulted to honor the dead ..so he / she gets away cleanly not only with all the corruption behind him/her but they also get the very status of SAINT ..where people flock to their mazaars ..and pay homage for God knows what reasons..
WHERE as when a man in khakhi gives his life ...no flashy funeral ..no mourning or REVIEW in foreign policy is even thought of ...instead it is taken seriously FOR GRANTED ...
yesterday not only these honorable men were targetted but their kids as well , question is asked WHY ...BECAUSE they care because it is these very people that are seen as the sole keepers of the pride and honor that this amazing country possesses with in ...only if we recognize that ...
TTP claims that they targetted the masjid...because it belonged to Pakistan Army and so who was there and who wasnt it doesnt matter , according to Wali ur Rehman ...sadly still some of the politicians insist upon negotiating with TTP..
solution lies in staying NO- PARTY based country and uniting the whole nation ...rise Pakistan and do what you are destined to do ..INSHA'ALLAH
Just yesterday 40 lives were taken in a serious barbaric and inhuman fashion...why say inhuman when its about taking lives anyway..because the victims and the shaheeds were doing nothing but praying their most important Salaat of the week..the Juma prayers...
on the contrary ,life is very much the same ..and business is all usual everywhere in the country except only where these men are fighting for this land of pure and doing all they can to avert the hostile actions of ENEMIES ..
For USSR , cold war was easy , it was just the US mainly allied with some countries in europe and military might was very much going hand in hand with the other's deceptive hostile strategies ...for Hitler it was easy too , he knew who is raising alarm and where ..all these wars were text book wars and thus history is easy to gather for fact finding..
Pakistan whereas faces a serious MODERN face of warfare where all these hostile agencies and countries are up against one common enemy and that too with out a declared conditions for peace if any ...mainly due to the lack of reasoning behind their so called motives.
For years we have been hearing tales of how army robbed this nation of democracy , and some Generals manipulated and toyed with the HOLY constitution ..where as the NRO and SRO looters shrug their shoulders labelling the khakis invasion of political grounds as invalid...ironically its only the men in these very khakis are the sole target of criticism from abroad aswell ..that allies the enemy and the black sheep JUST HERE..and in result situations like NRO and SRO result countering all that is good and all that can be done good to this land of Pure.
Thus when a political SO called leader ..dies he is termed 'shaheed' with so much care and respect and public holidays are resulted to honor the dead ..so he / she gets away cleanly not only with all the corruption behind him/her but they also get the very status of SAINT ..where people flock to their mazaars ..and pay homage for God knows what reasons..
WHERE as when a man in khakhi gives his life ...no flashy funeral ..no mourning or REVIEW in foreign policy is even thought of ...instead it is taken seriously FOR GRANTED ...
yesterday not only these honorable men were targetted but their kids as well , question is asked WHY ...BECAUSE they care because it is these very people that are seen as the sole keepers of the pride and honor that this amazing country possesses with in ...only if we recognize that ...
TTP claims that they targetted the masjid...because it belonged to Pakistan Army and so who was there and who wasnt it doesnt matter , according to Wali ur Rehman ...sadly still some of the politicians insist upon negotiating with TTP..
solution lies in staying NO- PARTY based country and uniting the whole nation ...rise Pakistan and do what you are destined to do ..INSHA'ALLAH
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