------------------------------------------------------------------- DAWN WIRE SERVICE ------------------------------------------------------------------- Week Ending : 13 October 2001 Issue : 07/41 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Contents | National News | Business & Economy | Editorials & Features | Sports
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CONTENTS =================================================================== NATIONAL NEWS + Airbases given to US will be used for rescue work: Moin + Americans using Jacobabad airport + JUI gives call for 'gherao' of Jacobabad airport + Fierce bombing unleashes devastation on Kabul + No attack from Pakistan bases + Imposed setup not acceptable: CE for multi-ethnic Afghan system + Target list expanded, says Pentagon + Zahir's family warns Pakistan on Afghan issue + Civil Aviation Authority says situation being reviewed every hour + Alliance asks Pakistan not to interfere + Only terrorist camps targeted: No use of Pakistan bases + US will have no peace: Osama + The attack has begun: Taliban vow to fight till their last breath + Islamabad ready to repulse any aggression: FO + Delhi to step up military strikes in Kashmir + Telephonic talk eases mistrust: Vajpayee may visit Islamabad + Benazir wants coalition govt in Afghanistan + JUI(F), JI, PML condemn attack + Evidence should be shown to Taliban + OIC calls for moot to define terrorism + House arrest of JUI chief sparks unrest + Commanders discuss situation + Passenger plane evades collision over Pakistan + US freezes assets of Jaish-i-Mohammad + 2,000 Afghans entering Pakistan daily: UNHCR --------------------------------- BUSINESS & ECONOMY + EU for new treaty with Islamabad + $4bn routed through hundi system annually + US trade package for Pakistan soon + Exports up by 4.30pc in Sept: Imports decline + KSE index gains 14 points amid slow trading --------------------------------------- EDITORIALS & FEATURES + The Afghan cauldron Ardeshir Cowasjee + A mess of pottage Ayaz Amir + The moment of truth Irfan Husain ----------- SPORTS + Mudassar named coach, Akram banned + Pybus turns back on Pakistan + Next ACC meeting at Sharjah in November + ICC may reschedule Pakistan Tests on neutral venues + Ramzan, Wasim slam centuries
DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS =================================================================== NATIONAL NEWS 20011013 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Airbases given to US will be used for rescue work: Moin ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Ihtasham ul Haque ISLAMABAD, Oct 12: The government has allowed the US-led coalition to use two Pakistani airports "for undertaking search and rescue operation," Interior Minister Moinuddin Haider told Dawn. "Yes, Jacobabad and Pasni airports have been allowed to be used by the US-led coalition...but only for search and rescue operation to help pull out their injured troops from Afghanistan," he said. "Our airports and other facilities have been provided for non-combat role," the minister said, adding Pakistan was not offering permanent military bases to the coalition as were seen in the Middle East after the Iraq-Kuwait war. Pakistan, he said, was allowing Americans to use local airports in line with its decision to provide airspace, logistics and intelligence to get hold of terrorists in Afghanistan. "But," he clarified, "this is a limited permission and is not aimed at allowing them to launch attacks in Afghanistan from our air or land bases," The US-led coalition, he said, would vacate Pakistan's airports as soon the objectives of hunting down terrorists were achieved. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20011013 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Americans using Jacobabad airport ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Shamim Shamsi SUKKUR, Oct 12: The Jacobabad airport, is humming with activity with US military planes frequently landing and taking off. On Thursday, locals saw a number of military planes taking off from the airport, and they believed the aircraft had flown in the direction of Quetta. They said some of those planes were C-130, the jumbo aircraft normally used for carrying arms and supplies during war. People living in the vicinity of the airport said they had seen American pilots alighting from those planes. Residents of Jacobabad said there was panic in the town as power supply to the surrounding areas of the airport was switched off every night, creating a blackout-like situation. Civil and military authorities have got vacated many houses in the vicinity of the airport, particularly Soomar Goth. These houses are now being given to the army personnel. Strict security measures have been taken to guard government installations. Besides, as part of its strike, the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam had announced that it would bring out a procession in Sukkur but the military authorities did not grant them permission. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20011013 ------------------------------------------------------------------- JUI gives call for 'gherao' of Jacobabad airport ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Sabihuddin Ghausi and Saleem Shahid QUETTA, Oct 12: Maulana Abdul Ghafur Haidri, Secretary-General of Jamiat Ulema Islam (JUI) and a former Balochistan minister, gave a call to 'gherao' Jacobabad Airport on Sunday (Oct 14) and observe a countrywide strike on Monday. The JUI leader's threats came in the wake of the reports that the government has handed over airports at Jacobabad, Pasni and some other places to the US-led coalition forces to carry out attacks on Afghanistan. A striking feature of the JUI protest meeting was the presence of a large number of foreign journalists and media teams, including women, who moved around with chaddars covering their heads, to record the proceedings of the meetings. Policemen and their local friends escorted foreign journalists. Appeals were made from the stage to take care of "foreign friends" who are in the meeting for coverage. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20011012 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Fierce bombing unleashes devastation on Kabul ------------------------------------------------------------------- KABUL/WASHINGTON, Oct 11: US led forces using cluster bombs unleashed the fiercest round yet of their onslaught on Afghanistan on Thursday in what Kabul residents called a terrible inferno of destruction. Taliban said more than 140 civilians had been killed in the last 24 hours of the raids since Sunday when the attacks were launched. They said 50 bodies had been pulled from the rubble of one village. The campaign against the Taliban has stoked anti-Western anger among Muslims from Jakarta to Cape Town and British Prime Minister Tony Blair said Western countries were in danger of losing the propaganda battle for Arab and Muslim support. Britain said the war, in which it is helping the United States, would stretch well into next year. "We must expect at least to go through the winter into next summer at the very least," Sir Michael Boyce, chief of the British defence staff, told a news conference. He said the campaign had hit 40 targets so far. US defence officials said heavy B-52 and B-1 bombers targeted Taliban troops overnight on Wednesday and into Thursday, using among other weapons cluster bombs that open as they fall to release dozens of high-explosive bomblets. "We dropped a lot of bombs," one of the officials said. "We have said that this will be relentless, and it will." DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20011012 ------------------------------------------------------------------- No attack from Pakistan bases ------------------------------------------------------------------- ISLAMABAD, Oct 11: Pakistan confirmed that the US military personnel had arrived in the country but said it would not be a base for US-led strikes on Afghanistan. When asked if the US military personnel were already on the ground, Maj-Gen Rashid Qureshi said: "I don't think they're combat troops." Gen Qureshi, however, declined to provide details of the support Pakistan was giving to the United States. "However, I can say that there are no offensive operations that have been launched or are being launched against Afghanistan from Pakistan," he said. "Pakistan has committed to support and cooperating with the world community and the United States in promising an exchange of information and intelligence, airspace, whenever and if ever required, and logistical support whenever it is required," said Qureshi. But he would not confirm details of support to the United States: "That could compromise the tactical plan so we are not talking about it." Gen Qureshi declined to say who the US military personnel were.-Reuters/dpa DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20011011 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Imposed setup not acceptable: CE for multi-ethnic Afghan system ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter ISLAMABAD, Oct 10: President Gen Pervez Musharraf has said that he had made it clear to the US and British governments that "no imposed dispensation" in Afghanistan will be acceptable to Pakistan. "Such a dispensation will be unworkable and could not last," he observed, while briefing the federal cabinet here on Wednesday on the current situation relating to actions against the Taliban regime in Afghanistan. Official sources quoted the president as telling the cabinet that a broad-based government will be acceptable to Pakistan which represented all ethnic groups. The federal cabinet decided to take serious action against those creating a law and order situation. It resolved to maintain order at all cost by firmly dealing with the law breakers. The government would not tolerate the burning of government buildings and other facilities, he warned. National security will be maintained at all cost and that violators of the law will not go unpunished, the president told the meeting, adding that he had taken a very serious view of the ongoing protests in which government properties were set on fire at some places. The president also told his cabinet colleagues that Pakistan stood committed to providing airspace and logistics to the US-led military coalition and sharing of information with it. However, the sources said, he informed the meeting that no airbase was provided to the US-led coalition to launch any attack on Afghanistan. He termed the action "very unfortunate". "No military action is taking place with our support as no aircraft has flown from Pakistan's airbase to attack Afghanistan," the president was quoted as having told the meeting. He said the action was not against the people of Afghanistan or Islam "as many people wrongly believed." He said Pakistan never wanted the destruction of Afghanistan. But he regretted that the Taliban did not accept any rational or friendly advice that landed them in trouble. "We do not want any harm to Afghan people," he said, adding that it was a matter of record that Pakistan tried hard to the last but Taliban did not respond in a positive manner to avert the attack. The president briefed the meeting about the current situation, especially his telephonic talks with President Bush and his meeting with British Prime Minister Tony Blair. The president told the cabinet that President Bush had informed him on Sunday evening (Oct 7) about US air strikes against Afghanistan, the sources said. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20011010 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Target list expanded, says Pentagon ------------------------------------------------------------------- WASHINGTON, Oct 9: US forces struck at Afghanistan bombarding the home of Mulla Mohammad Omar during the first daytime strikes of the three-day-old air-strikes. "Strikes continue," a Pentagon official said, as nightfall in Afghanistan was marked with renewed anti-aircraft fire in Kandahar and Jalalabad, and a powercut in Kabul. On Monday, a US missile strike killed four Afghans working for a United Nations mine disposal team in Kabul and on Tuesday relief agencies said safety fears had forced them to suspend aid convoys into Afghanistan. But despite the apparent targeting error, Pentagon officials said the raids appeared to be doing their job, striking the residential compound of the Taliban's shadowy supreme leader, Mulla Mohammad Omar. The Pentagon said that US forces' target list had been expanded to include Taliban armour as well as air defences, as the campaign aimed to expose the militia to attack from the Northern Alliance and to further airstrikes.-AFP DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20011010 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Zahir's family warns Pakistan on Afghan issue ------------------------------------------------------------------- ROME, Oct 9: Afghanistan's former royal family has warned Pakistan not to try to play a kingmaker's role if the Taliban government collapses under internal and external pressure. General Abdul Wali, a senior aide and son-in-law of the former monarch, Mohammed Zahir Shah, said that the ex-king has, however, nominated a delegation to travel to Pakistan in a week's time. "Nobody has the right to interfere in our Afghan policy," he warned. "The delegation will exchange views on the two countries' bilateral relations," he said. He also warned Pakistan not to interfere in Afghanistan's internal affairs by favoring one Afghan ethnic group against another. "Pashtuns, Tajiks, Uzbeks, Turkmen, Hazaras, Nooristanis and others constitute the Afghan people," he said. "It is the job of the Afghan people and only the Afghan people to determine the future government of Afghanistan. We have no consultations with others," he said, after attending a session of Zahir's associates and other exiled Afghan dignitaries here.-AFP DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20011009 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Civil Aviation Authority says situation being reviewed every hour ------------------------------------------------------------------- KARACHI, Oct 8: The Civil Aviation Authority said the country's airspace and airports remained open to commercial traffic, but following the start of attacks on Afghanistan it would review the situation every hour. "Everything is normal and we have issued clearance to all in- and out-bound flights to land and take off from any airport in Pakistan," said Air Vice-Marshall Arshad Sethi, deputy director- general, CAA. " We are reviewing the situation on an hourly basis and as and when the situation develops we will issue necessary instructions," Sethi said.-Reuters DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20011009 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Alliance asks Pakistan not to interfere ------------------------------------------------------------------- LONDON, Oct 8: The Northern Alliance called on Pakistan to stop interfering in Afghan affairs and insisted it should not have a say in the makeup of any post-Taliban government. "Please leave us alone, we can make our own destiny, our own future, our own government," Ahmad Wali Masood, envoy for the opposition movement in London, said at a news conference. "If the government and Pakistani generals continue to meddle in Afghanistan, our tragedy will be prolonged," said Masood, brother of the Northern Alliance's former commander Ahmad Shah Masood, who was assassinated last month.-Reuters DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20011009 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Only terrorist camps targeted: No use of Pakistan bases ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter ISLAMABAD, Oct 8: President Gen Pervez Musharraf said that the US- led military strikes against the Taliban would be short and targeted to eliminate the terrorist camps of the Al-Qaeda organization. "I am reasonably sure that military action is carefully targeted which is expected to be short and will lead to a political dispensation in Afghanistan," he stated. Speaking at a news conference, Gen Musharraf supported the action against the Taliban, which, according to him, was inevitable due to "unwise policies of the Kabul regime". He made it clear that no airbase of Pakistan was used by the US-led coalition to launch strikes. "We did provide them airspace, logistics and shared information with them as was earlier promised by Pakistan." All strikes, he said, were launched from the US aircraft carrier, Gulf states and some of the Central Asian States. About the post-action political dispensation, Gen Musharraf said that three things would have to be kept in mind once the objectives of combating terrorism were achieved in Afghanistan. These things, he said, were post-action rehabilitation of Afghanistan, revival of political dispensation and restoration of law and order by taking into account the demographic and ethnic considerations of Afghanistan. The president said that any solution which did not ensure setting up of a broad-based government in Afghanistan would not be acceptable to Pakistan. He said that he was assured by the US and British governments that they would provide all necessary support for restoring infrastructure and construction work in Afghanistan. The humanitarian efforts, he said, needed to be reinforced through the offices of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees after the action against Taliban was complete. "While air strikes are going on, relief activities are also picking up with UN agencies dropping considerable food aid there," he added. Gen Musharraf claimed that a vast majority of people in Pakistan supported his stand on the current situation. "There are some religious extremists who are opposing but that does not make any difference." "There is another cause of concern for us that foreign companies and foreign investors are leaving Pakistan," he said, adding that Pakistan had lost many export orders and was facing new economic problems. He said the air of uncertainty should end so that Pakistan could look after its economic interests properly. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20011008 ------------------------------------------------------------------- US will have no peace: Osama ------------------------------------------------------------------- DUBAI, Oct 7: Osama bin Laden has promised that the United States "will never again know security before Palestine knows it," in a recorded video message broadcast by the Al Jazeera satellite television network. "I swear that America will no longer know security before Palestine knows it and before all the infidel Western armies leave the (Islamic) holy lands," he said in the message which, according to the Qatar-based television channel, was recorded during the day on Sunday. - AFP DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20011008 ------------------------------------------------------------------- The attack has begun: Taliban vow to fight till their last breath ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Tahir Mirza in Washington and Faraz Hashmi in Islamabad WASHINGTON/ISLAMABAD, Oct 7: The United States, in concert with Britain, struck at what were described as Al Qaeda training camps and Taliban command and control facilities at several places in Afghanistan, signalling the start of a military campaign against the Kabul regime and Osama bin Laden expected ever since the Sept 11 attacks in New York and Washington. President George Bush in a televized address shortly after news of the strikes was announced described the action as marking the beginning of a "sustained and relentless" operation to drive out terrorists and destroy Taliban military facilities. The Pentagon said air defences, terrorist training camps and other strategic military targets linked to the Taliban were hit. Pentagon officials confirmed that the strikes began with cruise missile strikes launched from US and British ships in the Arabian Sea, including at least one British submarine. US fighter planes from aircraft carriers were also involved. Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Richard Myers, told a briefing on Sunday afternoon that a variety of locations and weapons systems, including at least 50 Tomahawk missiles, had been used. At least three cities were affected in the strikes which targeted places in the neighbourhood of Kabul, Kandahar and Jalalabad. A Taliban central command base outside Kandahar was said to have been destroyed in the first wave of attacks. Defence Secretary Rumsfeld said strikes were part of a continuing operation that would sometimes be visible and sometimes not and which would encompass political, diplomatic and economic tools besides military action, which is being increasingly seen as a punitive first assault designed to pulverize the Taliban and force them to end backing Al Qaeda. Mr Rumsfeld also said humanitarian assistance had begun to be air-dropped in tandem with the military strikes. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20011012 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Islamabad ready to repulse any aggression: FO ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter ISLAMABAD, Oct 11: Government said that it wanted peaceful settlement of all its disputes with India, including the issue of Kashmir, but it was ready to repulse any aggression. "Pakistan desires settling of all issues through peaceful means. However, Pakistan armed forces are ready to face and repulse any aggression," a Foreign Office spokesman said. The spokesman was asked to comment on the reports emanating from New Delhi that India might consider military action against alleged terrorist camps in Azad Kashmir. He said Pakistan had the capability to defend itself. On the possibility of the United States playing a mediatory role between India and Pakistan, he said Pakistan would like to resolve all outstanding disputes with India, including the issue of Jammu and Kashmir, through peaceful means. He said these peaceful means could be talks under United Nations charter or through third party mediation or any other country or through bilateral talks. The spokesman refused to comment on the presence of the United States combat troops at Jacobabad and other places in the country. "Please refrain from asking any question regarding military affairs," he said, avoiding repeated questions from the representatives of national and international media organizations, seeking confirmation of landing of the US troops in Pakistan. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20011012 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Delhi to step up military strikes in Kashmir ------------------------------------------------------------------- NEW DELHI, Oct 11: India is considering intensifying its offensive in occupied Kashmir, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee said. Vajpayee told reporters in Varanasi that the government might step up military strikes in Kashmir. "We are discussing the matter and an operation to this effect might be launched after considering all options," the United News of India quoted Vajpayee as "The central government would take appropriate decisions after due deliberations and wide-ranging consultations, which are already on," he added, according to the Press Trust of India (PTI). Vajpayee gave no details on plans to expand strikes in held Kashmir. The prime minister said India would not back out of the fight against terrorism as it affected it directly and stressed that "terrorism" should not be linked to Islam.-AFP DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20011010 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Telephonic talk eases mistrust: Vajpayee may visit Islamabad ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Jawed Naqvi NEW DELHI, Oct 9: Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee could visit Pakistan as soon as the shooting war with Afghanistan abates, amid indications that a global consensus was shaping to nudge both countries towards getting their uneasy relationship to look up, diplomatic sources said. They said a telephone conversation by President Musharraf to Prime Minister Vajpayee had considerably helped ease the mistrust between the two leaders. In an unusual gesture the two leaders agreed that India would send relief material to Pakistan by the land corridor as an expression of its solidarity with the anti-terrorist coalition of which Islamabad is a key member. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20011008 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Benazir wants coalition govt in Afghanistan ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Masood Haider NEW YORK, Oct 7: Benazir Bhutto, called for a "broad-based coalition consensus government" in Afghanistan which should be supported by both India and Pakistan and asked both countries to create conflict management mechanism to ease tensions on the borders. She also called on the international community to stick around and help in rebuilding the Afghan society after the global coalition has achieved its objectives in Afghanistan. In an interview with Dawn, Benazir said that "it is an opportunity for Pakistan to try and clean up our own society so we can put an end to the sectarian violence and it is also an opportunity for all of us to ensure that they are no private militias." It is also time for us to consider military and security reforms for a new age she expounded. Benazir hoped that a broad-based consensus government acceptable to the Afghan people should be allowed to be established in Kabul. Although she was reluctant to talk about the prospects of election in Pakistan stipulated for Oct 2002, since the situation has changed dramatically, Ms Bhutto conceded "well there is a school of thought that believes that since the situation has changed so dramatically the military rule should continue but the another school which believes that democracy is the only way that the country can move forward and in fact it is through transfer of power to the people can Pakistan gain strength and recognition on the international stage. Asked whether she would return to Pakistan to participate in the elections despite threats from the military government that she could be arrested, Ms Bhutto said "Yes I intend to contest the elections personally ." As regards the reports of a deal struck between PPP and Gen Pervez Musharraf recently, Ms Bhutto said "there was no deal struck." She did acknowledge that some suggestions were made regards to her participation in the elections, but declared "My party has rejected them." DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20011008 ------------------------------------------------------------------- JUI(F), JI, PML condemn attack ------------------------------------------------------------------- Dawn Report LAHORE, Oct 7: The JUI and Jamaat-i-Islami heads condemned the American airstrikes on Afghanistan, fearing that these might have killed innocent people. JUI(F) President Maulana Fazlur Rehman said his party would fight shoulder to shoulder with Taliban and defeat America, asking his partymen to start staging demonstrations against America all over the country. Jamat-i-Islami Amir Qazi Hussain Ahmad termed the airstrikes a cowardly act reflecting the moral bankruptcy of the American administration. The JI chief asked the government of Pakistan to immediately distance itself from the late-night operation. He said that a meeting of the Organization of Islamic Conference should be convened to discuss the US move. Qazi Hussain Ahmad said that it was unfair on the part of the US administration to let loose a reign of terror on the innocent people of Afghanistan in the aftermath of Sept 11 incidents. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20011007 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Evidence should be shown to Taliban ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Faraz Hashmi ISLAMABAD, Oct 6: Turkish Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Mr Subru Sina Gurel called on President Gen Pervez Musharraf and delivered a special message of Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, Foreign Office spokesman said. The Turkish minister also met Foreign Minister Abdus Sattar and discussed the situation arising out of Sept 11 incidents. Later, at a press conference Mr Subru said that the evidence provided against Osama bin Laden was satisfactory. "None of the governments which have received this evidence have given a negative remark," he said. The Turkish foreign minister said that the evidence should also be shown to the Taliban regime. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20011007 ------------------------------------------------------------------- OIC calls for moot to define terrorism ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Masood Haider UNITED NATIONS, Oct 6: Condemning all forms of "terrorism" the Organization of Islamic Conference stressed that the legitimate freedom movements against foreign occupation should not be confused with "terrorism" and called for convening of an international conference to define the term terrorism urgently. Addressing the UN general assembly's debate on terrorism as it came to a conclusion, Mokhtar Lamani, speaking for the OIC said that extremism, violence and terrorism were international phenomena not restricted to specific people, race or religion. "Islam is innocent of all forms of terrorism and condemns strongly the perpetrators of these horrendous crimes under the name of Islam or any other justification," he stressed. The members stressed that the UN should play a key role in intensifying international efforts to combat the menace. Annan expressed hope that the UN membership would work hard to finalize a draft comprehensive treaty banning terrorism, "and add it to the 12 conventions and protocols which have already been passed" by the General Assembly. "I would also hope that when the heads of states and the ministers come here for the (Assembly's) general debate in November, most of them will be ready to sign and work for ratification of these conventions, and above all, work hard to implement them," he stressed. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20011008 ------------------------------------------------------------------- House arrest of JUI chief sparks unrest ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Zulfiqar Ali PESHAWAR, Oct 7: The house-arrest of JUI(F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman sparked unrest among his followers resulting in protest demonstration. The protesters warned the government of dire consequences if Maulana Fazlur Rehman had not been released at the earliest. They also stated that if the government banned their demonstrations on roads they would go underground and launch massive attack against US interests. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20011008 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Commanders discuss situation ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Khaleeq Kiani ISLAMABAD, Oct 7: The corps commanders met to discuss latest security situation in the region amid strong reports that two senior most generals, including ISI chief, had resigned for being superseded. Maj-Gen Rashid Qureshi, director-general, ISPR, when contacted by Dawn late night about the resignations, did not confirm or deny. He said: "I have no knowledge about the resignations". He, however, confirmed that Gen Muzaffar Hussain Usmani, deputy chief of army staff and Lt. Gen Mehmood, director general Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) were senior to Lt. Gen. Aziz Khan, corps commander Lahore and Lt Gen Mohammad Yousaf, chief of general staff. An ISPR press release said that Lt Gen Mohammad Aziz Khan, commander 4th corps and Lt Gen Mohammad Yousaf, chief of general staff Pakistan have been promoted to the rank of general with immediate effect. "Gen Mohammad Aziz Khan has been appointed as Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee while Gen Mohammad Yousaf has been appointed Vice Chief of Army Staff. Meanwhile, selective reports pouring out of the corps commanders meeting indicated that armed forces personnel were being redeployed for enhanced security measures. Defence sources said that additional units were relocated from their parent corps and deployed in and around the federal capital. Instructions were also conveyed for beefing up the security around important installations. Special anti-terrorist squads were deputed in all major cities to avoid any untoward incident. Armed forces personnel were put on alert to in Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta and Islamabad to control any politico-religious backlash. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20011010 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Passenger plane evades collision over Pakistan ------------------------------------------------------------------- FRANKFURT, Oct 9: A Lufthansa jumbo jet, en route from Bangkok, was forced to dodge two US fighter jets to avoid a collision in airspace south of Pakistan, a company spokesman said. The incident occurred in the evening just around the time the US and Britain were launching their first attacks against Afghanistan, said a spokesman. The Lufthansa jet, carrying 308 passengers from Bangkok to Frankfurt, was cruising at an altitude of 10,000 metres in an international air corridor south of Pakistan when it was approached by two US military jets. "Our plane had the bad luck to be flying in the zone at the moment when the US-led assault began," the spokesman said. Like all Lufthansa jets, the aircraft was equipped with an automatic alert system which tells the pilot to direct the jet higher when a flying object comes "unusually" close. "This is what happened," the spokesman said. The US fighter jets established contact with Lufthansa plane to double-check its identity. Once that had been done, "they departed and the jet could carry on its journey as normal", he said.-AFP DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20011013 ------------------------------------------------------------------- US freezes assets of Jaish-i-Mohammad ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Correspondent WASHINGTON, Oct 12: Jaish-i-Mohammad is among the additions to the list of organizations whose assets have been frozen for suspected links to terrorism. The group is included in the 39 entities and individuals added to the list of 27 issued earlier by the US government. While not on the list of the State Department's officially designated terrorist organizations, Jaish is on the department's watch list. Also among the additions are Haji Abdul Mannan of Al Qadir Traders in Quetta, described as a "havala trader," Mufti Rashid Ahmad, who "may be in Karachi" and is believed to have links with the Al Rashid Trust, mentioned in the previous list, and an organization called Rabita Trust. Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill signed a "blocking order" freezing assets in the US of the organizations on this and the previous list. The Bush administration is providing the list to other governments as well, asking them to join the international crackdown on terror financing. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20011013 ------------------------------------------------------------------- 2,000 Afghans entering Pakistan daily: UNHCR ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter ISLAMABAD, Oct 12: Pakistan rejected UNHCR's claim of red tapism in preventing the field teams of the refugee agency from getting access to border areas. Talking to Dawn, federal minister for Kashmir affairs and Northern Areas division, Abbas Sarfaraz, said Pakistani authorities are not resorting to red tapism but instead have been facilitating the UNHCR right from the beginning to prevent any obstacles in their relief work. "The UN staff itself is feeling threatened of visiting the border areas for security concerns and a number of their international staff have left the forward areas," the minister claimed. The federal minister, elaborating the Pakistani stance on relief operations of UNHCR said that the over riding concern of Pakistan is to get the aid delivered. "It is immaterial for us whether the aid is delivered by the international staff of UNHCR or the local staff."
BUSINESS & ECONOMY 20011009 ------------------------------------------------------------------- EU for new treaty with Islamabad ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Shadaba Islam LUXEMBOURG, Oct 8: Relations with Pakistan climbed up the European Union's foreign policy agenda as the bloc's 15 foreign ministers promised to "continue and develop" political ties with Pakistan and said they were ready to sign a new cooperation treaty with Islamabad. The European Commission has been instructed to look into plans to revive the agreement which was put on ice following a military take-over in the country in October 1999. Diplomats say the EU is also considering an unprecedented package of budgetary aid for Islamabad in addition to increased humanitarian assistance. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20011009 ------------------------------------------------------------------- $4bn routed through hundi system annually ------------------------------------------------------------------- By M. Arshad Sharif ISLAMABAD, Oct 8: An estimated amount of $4 billion are routed through the "hundi" system in the country every year, senior finance ministry officials told Dawn. According to sources, the money trail of hundi is under investigation by US and its allies for the suspicion that it is one of the conduits of cash flows to terrorist organizations. Interviews revealed that secrecy and security are the attractions of the hundi network. There are no forms to fill out. Depending on the money changer, the limit to a transaction is usually how much cash you are willing to carry in your pocket. The hundi network remains the preferred way overseas Pakistanis send money back home. According to officials, the government is focusing on the hundi transactions and preparing for a major crackdown. Much of the focus for international investigations to track down hundi transactions will be on Dubai. The Emirate functions as the most important centre for the funds of money changers from across the Muslim world. But the trail is likely to extend far beyond the Arab world to banks in Hong Kong, Malaysia and Indonesia. Banking officials said that hundi got a big international push in the 1970s and 1980s with an exodus of millions of Pakistanis to better-paying jobs abroad. The system found its largest echo in the Bank of Credit & Commerce International. A number of Western countries used BCCI through the 1980s to channel billions of dollars in covert aid to Afghan rebels fighting Soviet occupation. BCCI collapsed in 1991. A senior government official said that local financial authorities have been tightly monitoring the foreign exchange markets in an effort to prevent money laundering. "We have asked exchange houses to ensure that these funds are legitimate workers' money," a central-bank official says. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20011007 ------------------------------------------------------------------- US trade package for Pakistan soon ------------------------------------------------------------------- WASHINGTON, Oct 6: The Bush administration is readying a package of trade benefits for Pakistan and other key allies in Washington's hunt for Osama bin Laden, congressional sources said. The measures would remove hurdles to accessing the US market, particularly for textile and apparel products. Bush has already rescheduled hundreds of millions of dollars of debt and eased economic sanctions to reward Pakistan for its help. But administration and congressional officials say the aid will not stop there. They are readying a $600 million economic assistance package, of which easing US restrictions on textile products would be a part. - Reuters DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20011010 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Exports up by 4.30pc in Sept: Imports decline ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter KARACHI, Oct 9: Pakistan's exports in September 2001 increased by 2.46 per cent to $799.6 million when compared with $780 million in August, but imports in the same month fell by 17.11 per cent to $777 million as against $938 million in August. Even if exports of September 2001 of $799 million were compared with exports of same period of 2000, it showed an increase of 4.30 per cent. Exports in September 2000 were $766 million, says provisional figures released by the Federal Bureau of Statistics (FBS) on Tuesday. Imports declined by 18.13 per cent in September 2001 to $777 million as compared to $950 million in the same period of 2000. "Exports have increased due to shipments of old orders," an exporter said fearing decline in October owing to slowdown in bookings by foreign buyers and delay in confirming letter of credits (LCs) after September 11 incident. Exporters paint a gloomy picture of foreign exchange earnings in October and November in case the US intensifies attacks on Afghanistan. "The real impact of September 11 will be felt in the current month and next month," they said. The government had already warned of a possible decline in exports by $1.5 to $2 billion in the current fiscal in view of the current situations. In July-September 2001, exports also rose by 1.77 per cent to $2.264 billion from $2.225 billion in the same period of 2000. However, imports registered a fall of 8.18 per cent to $2.507 billion in the first quarter of 2001 as compared to $2.730 billion in the corresponding period of 2000. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20011013 ------------------------------------------------------------------- KSE index gains 14 points amid slow trading ------------------------------------------------------------------- Staff Reporter KARACHI, Oct 12: The KSE 100-share index finished with an extended gain of 14 points at 1,193.65. Fauji Fertilizer and Adamjee Insurance were claimed to be star performers as both remained in strong demand throughout the session. The former rose with a gain of Rs.1.20, while the latter spurted by Rs.5.60 sending signals that it has shrugged off the recent hesitancy and is well on the road to regain its old glory as a blue chip. The KSE 100-share index managed to post a fresh modest rise of 13.98 points, reflecting the strength of PTCL and Hub-Power at 1,193.65, but the broader market was devoid of any significant trading features. Plus signs dominated the list, and major gainers being EFU Life Insurance, Knoll Pharma, Fauji Fertilizer, Dawood Hercules, Abbott Lab, Nishat Mills and Pakistan Oilfields posted gains ranging from Rs.105 to 6. Losses on the other hand were mostly fractional barring Din Textiles and Shell Pakistan, which fell by Rs.1.15 and 2.40 respectively. Trading volume was modest at 73m shares but gainers maintained a strong lead over the losers at 71 to 23, out of 123 actives. Hub-Power topped the list of most actives, up 30 paisa at Rs.15.05 on 22m shares, followed by PTCL, steady five paisa at Rs.15.10 on 16m shares, Fauji Fertilizer, higher by Rs.1.20 at Rs.37.95 on 6m shares, PSO, firm by 10 paisa at Rs.104.90 on 5m shares and Adamjee Insurance, sharply higher by Rs.5.60 at Rs.29.10 on 4m shares. Other actives were led by Sui Northern, up 20 paisa on 4m shares, Engro Chemical, higher 75 paisa on 3m shares, Bank of Punjab, firm by 50 paisa on 2.765m shares, Nishat Mills, higher by Rs.105 on 1.727m shares and MCB, up 85 paisa on 1.652m shares. FUTURE CONTRACTS: Speculative issues also came in for active support and were mostly quoted higher under the lead of Fauji Fertilizer, which rose by Rs.1.55 at Rs.38.15 on 35,000 shares followed by Engro Chemical, MCB and ICI Pakistan, which rose by 70 to 80 paisa. PTCL was again the volume leader, up five paisa at Rs.15.10 on 1.146m shares followed by Hub-Power, higher by 35 paisa at Rs.15.10 on 0.891m shares. DEFAULTER COMPANIES: Shares of three companies came in for modest trading under the lead of Allied Motors, which ended unchanged at Rs.3 on 2,500 shares followed by Colony Textiles, easy five paisa at Rs.8.35 on 2,000 shares and Service Fabrics, unchanged at 0.35 on 1,000 shares. Oct 12,2001 Market at a glance TONE: steady,total listed 757,actives 123,inactives 634,plus 71,minus 23, unc 29. KSE 100-SHARE INDEX: previous 1,179.67,Friday's 1,193.65,plus 13.98 points. MARKET CAPITALIZATION: previous Rs.294.234bn,Friday's 297.592bn,Plus Rs. 3.358bn. TOP TEN: gainers Pak Oilfields Rs.6.00, Adamjee Insurance 5.60, Dawood Hercules 3.25,Abbott Lab 3.00,EFU Life Insurance 2.25. LOSERS: Shell Pakistan Rs. 2.40, Din Textiles 1.15,Fazal Textiles 0.50, Crescent Textiles 0.50, Orid Leasing 0.40. TOTAL VOLUME: 73.030m shares. VOLUME LEADERS: Hub-Power 21.987m,PTCL 16.321m,Fauji Fertiliser 6.604m,PSO 4.793m,Adamjee Insurance 4.253m shares.Back to the top
EDITORIALS & FEATURES 20011007 ------------------------------------------------------------------- The Afghan cauldron ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Ardeshir Cowasjee Blighted as this nation is, it should count its blessings (however few they be). At the dawning of each day we awake and yawn, the sun rises, and with it comes sunshine. We are fortunate, at this particular moment in time, not to be led by either of the two 'cartoon figures' who dominated the nineties. We are fortunate now to be led by a man who can differentiate between tactics and strategy. Pervez Musharraf is strong, for he is able to admit how weak is his nation, how it cannot take on the whole wide world. We are fortunate that Big Chief Bush has sound advisers who have been able to persuade him that a multi-billion dollar missile, if directed towards Afghanistan, on landing is likely to merely demolish a tattered tent, with perhaps its peasant owner and his donkey tethered outside. Bush is fully aware that his government and its men brought in Osama bin Laden and with him his Al-Qaeda, both of which they now wish to demolish. The world may not need to realize the fact, but we must realize that we will always have Afghanistan on our north-west frontier. The world is now at war with the present rulers of that country and is using science to fight ignorance. How many of Bush's advisers and the advisers of his partners in the alliance which wishes to instal a 'friendly' regime to replace the extremely unfriendly Taliban take into account that there are sixteen ethnic groups from which they will have to form and mould and then nurture the succeeding regime? The alliance partners will have to deal with Afghans, Tajiks, Pamir Tajiks, Balochs, Berberi Hazaras, Deh-i-Zainat Hazaras, Jamshedis, Firuz Kuhis, Taimanis, Taimuris, Nuristanis, Uzbeks, Turkumans, Kyrghyzis, Karakalpaks, and lastly Arabs. To understand Afghanistan, George W Bush can talk to two scholars inherited by America, Vartan Gregorian and Farang Mehr. Farang Mehr, my friend, was born in Tehran of a Zarathushti family from Yazd. He started out in oil and insurance, was appointed deputy prime minister of Iran in Amir Abbas Hoveida's time. When he tired of politics he was appointed Chancellor of the University of Shiraz. When Imam Khomeni and his revolution arrived he fled Iran, went to the States, and is now Professor Emeritus of International Relations at the Boston University. Farang was and is very aware of the Persian saying, 'It is easy to become a mullah, but hard to be a human being.' His biography 'Triumph Over Discrimination' has been written by Lylah Alphonse and was published in the year 2000. He is a master on the twists and turns of the Iranian and Afghan thought process. He could prove very valuable on the 'psychological warfare' side of the present operation. Gregorian, who I have had the pleasure of knowing, is an Armenian born in Tabriz, Iran, who earned his degree in history and humanities from Stanford, and has taught European and Middle Eastern history at many colleges and universities in the States. I first met him when he was president of the New York Public Library, a position he held from 1981 to 1989. He moved on to become president of Brown University, and later president of the Carnegie Corporation of New York, which position he still holds. He is the author of 'The Emergence of Modern Afghanistan , Politics of Reform and Modernization from 1880-1946' (published 1969). Just scanning through the headings of the fourteen chapters of Vartan's book gives one a good idea of Afghan history: The difficult legacy divisive forces: ethnic diversity, sectarianism, and social organization; Afghanistan in decline: the reforms of Dost Mohammad and Sher Ali; European imperialism and the Anglo- Afghan wars; Abdul Rahman Khan: from anarchy to absolute monarchy; Mahmud Tarzi and 'Siraj al Akhbar'; Habibullah Khan: the quest for absolutism and modernism; The rise of Afghan nationalism; Amanullah Khan, ill-fated champion of modernization; Bacha-i-Saqao, the Bandit Amir; Nadir Shah: from anarchy to selective modernization; Nadir Shah: foreign policy; Hashim Khan: nationalism and gradualism; Hashim Khan: foreign policy. The wild Bacha-i-Saqao's hold on the throne lasted from January 17 to October 13, 1929, during which time political anarchy was rampant and the economy severely dislocated. He attacked Amanullah's 'sacrilegious and impious acts' and promised his people a complete return to the principles of the Quran and the Shariat law, the re-establishment of ancient customs regarding the status of women (he believed in going backwards), and the function of education as he knew it. He halted Amanullah's progressive measures; all the modern schools were closed, female students were recalled from Turkey, foreign advizors were forced to leave Kabul, and polygamy laws were reinstated. Laboratories, libraries, palaces and the Royal Museum in Kabul were all sacked. (The Kabul museum has been sacked many times since). Gregorian has quoted from the Afghan historian Muhammad Ali: "Rare books and articles of value were either destroyed, burnt or sold at ridiculous prices. For one Kran down, one could buy as many books as one could carry on one's shoulders . . . . confiscation of property, exile, or simple death were deemed uncommon instances of leniency. Most of the unfortunate victims were either blown up from the cannon's mouth or shot down; others were beaten, bastinadoed, impaled, bayoneted, or starved to death ... Bacha's chief victims were the officials of Amanullah Khan and wealthy merchants or influential or learned men..... He suspected the students most and regarded them as his secret enemies." His destruction even extended to the felling of trees. He also dissolved the ministries of education and justice, "both of which were regarded as unnecessary and unwelcome infringements on the power of the religious establishment. The sole responsibility for the courts and schools reverted to the religious leadership." Zahir Shah ascended the Afghan throne on November 8, 1933. He was born in Kabul and attended Habibia and Istiqlal and later, during his father's stay in France, several French lycees. Upon his return to Afghanistan, he graduated from the military school in Kabul. When aged eighteen his father appointed him minister of defence and the acting minister of education, "in order," writes Vartan, "that he might become familiar with the arts of government and the administration of the state." The real power, it is said, lay in the hands of his three paternal uncles, Shah Mahmud Khan, Shah Wali Khan, and particularly Mohammad Hashim Khan, who as prime minister assumed complete control of the country's domestic and foreign policies." Hashim attempted to convey to all that Islam was the religion of reform and progress and was not confined to literary and historical journals. He went so far as to maintain that "faith was a matter of individual conscience and heart and the intimate relationship between man and his Creator no man has a right to disturb." He and his government also championed the right of Afghan girls to receive an appropriate education, for "....as future mothers they were responsible for the moral education of Afghan youth, and therefore their education was essential to the welfare of the Muslim community and the strength of Afghanistan ..... The major concern of Hashim's modernists was to reconcile Islam with modernization and to neutralize the opposition of the Muslim religious establishment." All these attempts to move forward and all the forward-looking policies died when Zahir Shah was forced to leave his country in 1973. Of necessity grants and aid will now flow into Pakistan, and this is where Musharraf has to ensure that the men in power and position, be they in or out of uniform (many of whom are already rubbing their hands gleefully) are not struck with the predominant vice of corruption. For each man of ours disbursing money or weapons or goods, there must be another man from the donor agency conjointly responsible for the disbursement. We will have to leave it to good fortune that neither of the two is able to corrupt the other. We do not wish to be and we should not be a party to killing the poor Afghans, by now thoroughly exhausted, and sick and tired of the Taliban. Many Afghan children have been born in refugee camps and are now some ten years old. Their health and welfare has been ignored both by us and the West. These camps, if in Afghan territory, must be regarded as war-free zones, and schools must be established in all the camps wherever situated so that the children's minds can be formed correctly and in tune with the 21st century. It takes ten years to form a child's mind and bigotry cannot be abolished without education. There is time. We are in for a long difficult haul. Musharraf is performing a tightrope act, and walking a very slack rope. He must be supported - to employ that misused and abused term - in the national interest. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20011012 ------------------------------------------------------------------- A mess of pottage ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Ayaz Amir We are caught in the whirl of events over which we have no control. We are not calling the shots in the war raging in Afghanistan. Yet such is our intrepidity, or wishfulness, that we think we'll call the shots when it comes to imposing peace in that country. However much we inveigh against the so-called Northern Alliance, if it suits the Americans they'll use it, and tell us in private not to worry. The American approach to war is distant and sanitized. Bombing from the skies is one thing, risking casualties on the ground quite another. If the Northern Alliance is prepared to do the messy groundwork, no one is going to ask Pakistan if it has any objections. As for the shape of things to come, it is delusion on our part to suppose our wishes will be heeded when the shooting stops. A broad- based government, yes, for it takes no extraordinary wisdom to see that anything less will only invite more strife and mayhem in that war-torn country. But for our detailed prescriptions there will not be much patience. When the Americans decided to call it quits in Afghanistan back in the eighties they did not spend much time consulting General Zia about the modalities even though in the prosecution of that particular jihad he had been their most critical ally. Forget Zia. Even the great Churchill found himself losing importance as the Second World War drew to a close. Reflecting the respective power of their countries, the key players were Roosevelt and Stalin and it is their voices which counted when it came to drawing up the contours of the post-war world. Here we have had to change course literally overnight and give up on an Afghan policy of almost 20 years' standing - because we could not face the heat and pressure coming from Washington. Yet we think that once the firing stops our concerns, expressed so eloquently by the thrice-empowered Generalissimo, will be kept in mind when it comes to government-forming in Afghanistan. It is no business of ours to talk of a 'friendly' government there. For by doing so we sound patronizing and interfering and thereby cause offence to Afghan ears. That we have to live with Afghanistan, and Afghanistan with us, is a compulsion of geography. We should be satisfied with that and leave other notions of strategy to the largest rubbish bin in GHQ. During the Soviet occupation we played our part in keeping the Afghan resistance fragmented because a united leadership was not suited to the ISI's ambitions. We played favorites and propped up Hekmatyar, thereby earning the enmity of other leaders. Only when Hikmetyar proved a military failure, but not before destroying much of Kabul through ferocious rocket attacks, did we shift our focus to the Taliban. Where did all this frenzied interference get us? Even so, twenty years down the line we are still chanting the mantra of a friendly regime in Afghanistan. For our cooperation extracted under pressure we have already received our price. From the fringes of the international community General Musharraf has been transported to centre-stage, receiving telephone calls from Bush and Powell and a certificate of approval from Tony Blair. Most American sanctions have been lifted, although what this means in practical terms remains unclear, while the IMF looks set to cast an indulgent eye on Pakistan's economic woes. Furthermore, a few loans have been rescheduled. President Bush has gifted Pakistan 50 million dollars, which roughly would be the cost of bombing Afghanistan for three or four days. That's about it. No debt write-offs, none of the financial bonanza some of our keen- eyed enthusiasts were expecting. Even the Americans, who are not averse to buying their way out of trouble, would be surprised at this cheap bargain: the cooperation of a vital country for a few crumbs of comfort. But Pakistan is not complaining. Having lived for years as a near- international outcast we are grateful for the attention we are getting. The refrain on the lips of the liberati is that we have rejoined the international mainstream. Even if Britain is irrelevant to our circumstances, and has been so for the last forty years, we were happy about Blair's visit. Among the sops he threw our way was the declaration that military cooperation with Pakistan stood revived. For the Army School of Music in Abbottabad we were probably getting bagpipes and other instruments from Britain. About anything else it is hard to say although Blair, when he referred to military cooperation, almost sounded as if he was giving us half the British fleet. We are happy, above all, that we are not the target of American anger. How the notion of destruction entered our minds is a mystery but the fact remains that when Bush and Powell were drawing the line between friend and foe - either you are with us or with the enemy - Pakistani resolve collapsed. We thought that if we did not make haste American cruise missiles would rain down on us. Granted there was the factor of India. With a dignity and sense of self-respect which can only be compared to ours, India was offering everything to the US (in Arundhati Roy's evocative words "furiously gyrating her hips" in order to catch American attention). Still, should we have panicked so quickly? Or convinced ourselves that the slightest hesitation would invite swift and terrible American retribution? This is no exaggeration. In the immediate aftermath of September 11 the one plaintive question on the lips of the chattering classes was, 'what choice do we have'? But all this is water under the bridge. We have signed up for loyal service and have received our wages, there being room now neither for complaining nor second thoughts. Our brave cries about the desirability of a 'friendly government' in Afghanistan are more in the nature of self-assurance than a clear message to the US, the wish clearly passing muster for the deed. To explain all this General Musharraf has brandished the stick of (sic)'national interest' (making do without the definite article when intoning these words). Everything has been done in 'national interest'. As if the national interest is a sacred scroll whose text only the general can read. Or a hallowed collection of bones locked in a deep chest to which only he has the key. It is a moot point, however, whether military leaders aspiring to legitimacy or longevity (often interchangeable concepts) are the best keepers of the national flame. The short-cut they have taken to power makes legitimacy and acceptance prime if not overriding necessities. Afghanistan in the eighties transformed Zia from pariah to respected statesman. Twenty odd years on a different set of events in Afghanistan has brought much the same reward for General Musharraf. Which is not to say he has sacrificed the national interest for personal gain. Far from it. But in a situation as confused and uncertain as ours, it is often hard to figure out where personal advantage ends and the larger good begins. The timing of two events has certainly worked to General Musharraf's advantage. Under the cover of the Agra summit he quietly made himself president. His elevation was good for him. It has meant little for the nation whose affairs remain as confused as before. Now under the cover of the war clouds over Afghanistan he has given himself an open-ended extension as army chief and also reshuffled the army command. All the coup-makers who stood by him on October 12 two years ago are out. Lt General Aziz has exchanged his seat round the power table for four-star pomp and irrelevance. Mahmood and Usmani have once again proved the dictum that power brooks neither rivals nor a sense of obligation. No ruler, much less an authoritarian figure, likes living under a shadow of gratitude. Moreover, collaborators (those who have been helpful in the acquisition of power) make for uneasy subordinates because they claim too much for themselves. >From Ayub to Musharraf, with Bhutto and Zia in between, this has been one of the defining themes of Pakistani politics. No doubt policy differences over Afghanistan have also played their part in this reshuffle. The theocrats of the army command, those who believed in the virtues of jihad, are out. The army is now set on a different course, which is the one benefit to the nation from the present roll of events. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20011013 ------------------------------------------------------------------- The moment of truth ------------------------------------------------------------------- By Irfan Husain Every once in a while in a nation's history, it is faced with a defining moment in which its course is determined for years to come. For Pakistan, this critical juncture arrived in the aftermath of the 1970 elections: a series of disastrous decisions by politicians and generals precipitated a bloody civil war which ended in a humiliating military defeat for Pakistan and the secession of its eastern wing. We were next faced with such a moment after the flawed 1977 elections: had Zulfikar Ali Bhutto immediately agreed to fresh polls, he would have denied the army an excuse to stage a coup and spared us a decade of Zia's crippling Islamization that haunts us still. These are the ifs and buts of history, and historians will no doubt debate the fallout of those distant events for years to come. But the consequences of the September 11 terror attacks on America are much more immediate. While the world struggles to come to terms with those gruesome acts and their still murky aftermath, Pakistan was faced with its moment of truth immediately after the mayhem in New York and Washington just a month ago. So far, General Musharraf has taken the right decisions and made all the right moves. Perceptibly, his resolve has hardened. This firmness was evident in the ruthless manner in which he rid the army high command of generals known for their fundamentalist views. By manoeuvring officers loyal to him into key positions, he has secured his flanks. Clearly, he could not keep people on his team who were identified with Pakistan's failed pro-Taliban policy. However, this spring-cleaning is also due to our intelligence agencies that have been propping up the medieval regime in Afghanistan: many officers have established close personal links with the Taliban leadership, and need to be eased out so that their organizations can better respond to the dramatically altered environment after September 11. Changing a deeply entrenched policy is a bit like changing a large ship's course: it takes time for the bow to respond to the helmsman. For the last quarter century, Pakistan has been drifting away from the course of rational self-interest and basing its policies on ideological abstractions divorced from reality. When Zia boasted that he would make Pakistan "a laboratory of Islam", he was as good as his word. A series of failed experiments have pushed Pakistan toward financial bankruptcy and international isolation. >From declaring interest un-Islamic to supporting the Taliban next door, successive leaders have done little but confuse and demoralize the nation. Sectarian and ethnic parties and terrorists have moved into this moral and intellectual vacuum. Now, after the massive jolt provided by the events of September 11, there is a real opportunity to move away from the disastrous policies of the past. General Musharraf was clear in his recent impressive press conference that Pakistan's taliban policy would have to be abandoned in the light of the changed environment. This pragmatic approach was also evident in his acceptance of a possible role for Zahir Shah in the post-Taliban dispensation. The ex-king of Afghanistan had earlier been anathema to the Pakistani establishment. It is this rationality and ability to call a spade a spade that distinguishes General Musharraf from his undistinguished predecessors. A leader must be able to spot dangers and opportunities, avoiding the former and seizing the latter. By aligning himself with the global alliance against terror, he has avoided the certain isolation that would have followed had he tried to sit on the fence. By doing so, he has taken on the fanatics and their fury is evident but containable. After years of being covertly encouraged in their madness by short-sighted members of the establishment, they feel suddenly betrayed. But to put things in perspective, many of the contorted, bearded faces on our TV screens belong to Afghan refugees who are committing acts of violence in Pakistani cities. While Iran isolated its Afghan refugees in camps near the border, Zia allowed ours to go anywhere they pleased. Their presence in the major cities provides extremist parties with foot soldiers while injecting a further element of instability into our polity. All over the world, foreign nationals breaking local laws are deported. Why can't our vast law and order apparatus at least put disorderly refugees into camps far from the cities? Pakistan's transformation from a backward and violent country of armed zealots into a moderate Muslim state will take time and political will. Above all, it will take strong nerves and an iron fist. But it is a task made easier by the knowledge that extremist religious parties have never won more than five per cent of the popular vote. The interior minister has been making well meaning but ineffectual noises about reining in jihadis and sundry militants. With the recent ouster of hard-line generals from positions of power, it will be easier to tackle these armed and dangerous groups. But we must face the fact that without a resolution of the Kashmir issue, thee will always be a cause for homegrown terrorists to rally around. While the conflict may be a freedom struggle for Kashmiri militants, there has clearly been cross-border support by Pakistan-based groups. In the changed international environment, this kind of activity will be branded as support for terrorism and the Pakistan government will be held accountable for the actions of its citizens. At Agra, General Musharraf showed more flexibility than any of his predecessors by accepting the possibility of a 'third option' - an independent Kashmir. India must explore the contours of a possible solution based on such a formula. For far too long have politicians, journalists and generals in Islamabad and New Delhi been locked in their respective rigid positions, unable to think creatively on this vexed issue that has held the entire subcontinent hostage, and cost untold lives and treasure. The Pakistani leader's recent telephone call to the Indian prime minister was an excellent move to break the deadlock. Both sides need to build on the progress made at Agra. Hardliners on both sides need to be reined in, and verbal hair-splitting must not be allowed to torpedo future talks. Other steps are required to exorcise the spectre of intolerance that stalks the land. First and foremost, we need to reintegrate our sundered minorities into the mainstream. For far too long have they been oppressed and unfairly marginalized. The hateful system of separate electorate must go, and the controversial blasphemy law needs to be reviewed. Similarly, laws that discriminate against women should be repealed. In short, Zia's poisonous legacy must be shed if we are to progress. A month ago, the world changed. For better or for worse only time will tell. Meanwhile, there are dangers and opportunities for all nations. Pakistan has made a good start in avoiding the former; we must now capitalize on the latter by returning to the comity of nations as a modern, progressive state where all citizens are equal before the law.
SPORTS 20011012 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Mudassar named coach, Akram banned ------------------------------------------------------------------- Sports Reporter KARACHI, Oct 11: Mudassar Nazar was confirmed as Pakistan coach until the two-Test tour to Bangladesh in place of Richard Pybus who earlier in the week turned his back citing security concerns in South Asia. Sikander Bakht, who served as Pybus' deputy in August for the Asian Test Championship, was appointed assistant coach but only for this month's Sharjah Cup which will run between Oct 26 and Nov 4. Mudassar, who also coached Pakistan on the 1992-93 tour to the West Indies, is the 10th coach since 1997. Others are Haroon Rasheed, Mushtaq Mohammad (twice), Javed Miandad (twice), Wasim Raja, Richard Pybus (twice) and Intikhab Alam. "It is a great honor to be appointed coach of the multi- talented team which, I believe, has more ability than it has been performing in the recent past," the former Test opener said from Lahore. "Although little over three months is a very short time but I will give my best to the team because for me, success is everything. "I see this appointment as the stepping stone for a permanent assignment with the Pakistan team," Mudassar, who played 76 Tests and earned the tag of Man with the Golden Arm, added. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20011010 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Pybus turns back on Pakistan ------------------------------------------------------------------- Sports Correspondent LAHORE, Oct 9: Richard Pybus has turned his back on Pakistan and will not be returning to Pakistan to coach the national cricket team citing uncertain situation prevailing in this region. A Pakistan Cricket Board spokesman said that the England-born South African Pybus had intimated the PCB about his decision. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20011011 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Next ACC meeting at Sharjah in November ------------------------------------------------------------------- Sports Reporter ISLAMABAD, Oct 10: A meeting of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) due to be held in Kuala Lumpur later this month has been rescheduled for November and will now take place in Sharjah. Zakir Hussain Syed, secretary of the ACC told Dawn that the meeting is now set for Nov 2-3 and had been moved from Kuala Lumpur after some delegates requested for a change of venue. The meeting, originally scheduled for Lahore on Oct 20 and 21, was shifted out of Pakistan in the aftermath of the terrorists strikes in the United States. The ACC meeting will consist of two parts with the first session comprising the adjourned Annual General Meeting in London on June 20 approving the audited statement of accounts and budget. The second part, which will be the special general meeting, will discuss the situation arising following India's withdrawal from the Asian Test Championship and measures to avoid this happening in future. India had refused to travel to Lahore for a match of that championship against Pakistan which was to start late last month, a decision that resulted in the host board suffering heavy losses. The Indians had also said 'no' to a Test series in Pakistan last December. The Sharjah meeting, will also decide on a permanent structure of governance on the pattern of the International Cricket Council (ICC). Also on the agenda is the setting up of an ACC secretariat either in UAE, Nepal or Malaysia. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20011009 ------------------------------------------------------------------- ICC may reschedule Pakistan Tests on neutral venues ------------------------------------------------------------------- LONDON, Oct 8: International Cricket Council (ICC) president Malcolm Gray admitted that Pakistan's home Test matches could have to be played on foreign soil following safety concerns arising from United States and British military action in neighboring Afghanistan. "Obviously the current situation is a huge problem," Gray said at the launch of the ICC's new logo at Lord's. "Our hope is that it might be short and sharp and we can get over it quickly. But if the situation continues it will cause enormous problems logistically and financially for the game." New Zealand and Sri Lanka have already cancelled tours to Pakistan because of turmoil caused there by the terrorist incidents in the United States and the subsequent military response. The ICC want to keep Pakistan playing international cricket and Gray said: "It's possible their home matches could be played at independent venues if that becomes necessary. "Nothing has been decided but it's something we are looking closely at. "A number of political situations are affecting the world of cricket. Ideally, all ICC members should be free to play against each other, unconstrained by events and decisions outside their control. "In reality however, international cricket in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe is currently being affected by political decisions and horrific uncertainties."-AFP DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20011007 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Ramzan, Wasim slam centuries ------------------------------------------------------------------- Sports Reporter KARACHI, Oct 6: Test rejects Mohammad Ramzan and Mohammad Wasim struck identical centuries for KRL as Pakistan Public Works Department (PWD) took first innings points in the drawn Patron's Trophy Grade-I match at Jinnah Stadium in Sialkot. According to details available were, Wasim was out for 123 after dominating the opening partnership of 193 with Ramzan, who finished unbeaten on 123 in KRL's second innings score of 315 for one. Saeed bin Nasir was the other not out batsman with 52 to his credit in the unbroken second wicket stand of 122 with Ramzan. Earlier, PWD extended their first innings lead to 135 by reaching a mammoth 592 in reply to KRL's 457. Iqbal Imam, who resumed on 83 in the overnight score of 544 for eight, became the second batsman in PWD's innings to reach a century. Iqbal, the left-hander, made 114 off 190 balls in stay of 244 minutes. Part-time off-spinner Intikhab Alam claimed both the wickets that fell. By far the most successful bowler for KRL was Yasir Arafat, whose final analysis were six for 166 in 34 overs while Shoaib Akhtar, the Test speedster, had only one wicket in the innings for 85 runs in 28 overs. ------------------------------------------------------------------- You can subscribe to DWS by sending an email to <subscribe.dws@dawn.com>, with the following text in the BODY of your message: subscribe dws To unsubscribe, send an email to <unsubscribe.dws@dawn.com>, with the following in the BODY of you message: unsubscribe dws ------------------------------------------------------------------- Back to the top.
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