Pakistan : Terrorist Wahabi Islamic Rep Pakistan 7

[Naresh]

.

[url="http://tribune.com.pk/story/291762/paf-conducted-5500-bombing-runs-in-fata-since-2008/"]PAF conducted 5,500 bombing runs in Fata since 2008[/url]



DUBAI: In a rare glimpse into Pakistan’s attempt to counter domestic terrorism from the air, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) had flown more than 5,500 strike sorties over the country’s troubled FATA region since May 2008. Chief of PAF described some of the lessons learned at the Air Chiefs Conference in Dubai, Aviation International Times reported.



The need for good airborne reconnaissance was paramount, said Air Chief Marshall Rao Qamar Suleiman. When the Pakistan Army launched large-scale operations in the remote Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) in August 2008, the PAF had to rely on Google Earth imagery when planning for air support missions, AIT report said.



However, by the time that the Army was ready to move against insurgents in the Swat Valley in May 2009, the PAF had acquired Goodrich DB-110 electro-optical reconnaissance pods for its F-16 fighters, together with the same company’s ground station for imagery exploitation. Intelligence analysts could now identify terrorist training camps, ammunition dumps and command and control facilities. Some of these targets were well camouflaged, and protected by bunkers, Air Chief Marshall Suleiman noted.



Two days before the ground offensive was launched, the PAF launched a series of interdiction missions, and followed that up with close air support throughout the six-month campaign. From the imagery collected by the PAF, the Army was also able to identify suitable landing zones for airdrops of commandos.



In these mountainous regions, airpower was best delivered from medium altitude by fast jets, PAF Chief was quoted as saying by the AIT. When the Army turned its attention to South Waziristan in October 2009, the PAF conducted a seven-day campaign in advance. By now, the service had added FLIR Systems Star Safire III EO/IR sensor ball to one of its C-130 transports. Army staff on board the C-130 was able to track the movement of terrorists at night, and radio manoeuvring instructions to soldiers on the ground.



PAF has completely overhauled its tactics and techniques to conduct of irregular warfare, ACM Suleiman said. All of the squadrons were put through a training program over a four-month period. Laser-guided bombs have been used in 80 per cent of PAF strikes, the PAF chief revealed. Avoiding collateral damage was a primary concern, he explained, “specially since we were engaging targets within our own country. We engage isolated structures only, away from populated areas.”



More than 10,600 bombs have been dropped, and 4,600 targets destroyed (A ratio of 1::2), he said. PAF has flown more than 500 F-16 sorties with the DB-110 pod, and 650 with the Star Safire EO/IR sensor on the C-130.



ACM Suleiman said that “we’ve broken the back of militants in FATA.” He said offensive military engagement could only accomplish “10 to 15 per cent” of the task of pacifying tribal areas. The rest must be done by dialogue, winning hearts and minds through economic development of these very poor regions, he said.



In his presentation, PAF Chief did not mention Selex Galileo Falco UAV. However, Pakistan was first customer for reconnaissance drone, which carries Anglo-Italian company’s own electro-optical/ infrared sensor ball. Suleiman told AIN there had been problems with UAV’s data link, caused partly by terrain masking. “Then we put in a relay station, and started flying it higher, so now we are using it more.”



Cheers

[Naresh]

.

[url="http://tribune.com.pk/story/292021/water-wars-india-planning-155-hydel-projects-on-pakistans-rivers/"]Water wars: India planning 155 hydel projects on Pakistan’s rivers[/url]



ISLAMABAD:



Although the prime ministers of India and Pakistan have spoken of their desire to open a ‘new chapter’ in ties, the long-term prospects of Pakistan and India resolving their disagreements about the “emotional issue” of water is expected to worsen in the future as the former plans to construct 155 hydropower projects on Indus, Jhelum and Chenab, an alleged move to deprive Pakistan of its water rights.



The Permanent Indus Commission (PIWC), which provides an on-going mechanism for consultation and conflict resolution through inspection, exchange of data, and visits between the two countries has compiled a list of 155 hydropower projects dams, India plants to construct in violation of the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960.



According to the Indus Waters Treaty, signed between Pakistan and India in 1960, the three Eastern Rivers of the subcontinent; Ravi, Sutlej and Bias, were given to India while the three Western Rivers; Indus, Jhelum and Chenab were given to Pakistan in a treaty brokered by the World Bank.



Acting Commissioner PIWC Usman Ghani confirmed the report when contacted, saying “Yes, India is planning 155 hydropower projects on the Western Rivers. Some of the projects are small and some are big.”



Ghani also maintained that the smaller projects being initiated by India would not affect the water inflow of Western Rivers; however, the same could not be said of some of the bigger projects India had in mind.



“If India initiates a project of an installed capacity of 4-Megawatt (MW), it will not affect water inflow,” he added.



A list compiled by PICW revealed that India had constructed 41 hydropower projects and 12 hydropower plants were under construction, in addition to the 155 projects planned on the Western Rivers.



India has completed the construction of 6 hydropower plants on River Chenab, including 450-MW Baglihar 1 and 690-MW Salal 2. Construction on two projects was under way, including the 450-MW Baglihar 2 and 15MW Ranja-Ala-Dunadi.



Furthermore, India has planned an additional 56 hydropower projects on River Chenab, including some big projects such as the 1200-MW Sawalkot (1 and 2), 715-MW Seli, 1000-MW Pakaldul (1 and 2), 1020-MW Bursar (1 and 2), 690-MW Rattle (1 and 2) and 600-MW Kiru.



India has completed 15 projects on River Jhelum, including the 480-MW Uri-1, 105-MW Lower Jhelum and 105-MW Upper Sindh.



Six projects are under construction, including the 240-MW Uri 2 and 330-MW Kishanganga. India also plans to initiate 74 projects on River Jhelum, including a few big projects such as the 165MW Sonamarg Storage, 100MW Gangabal Storage and 280MW multipurpose Ujh Storage.



However, the International Court of Arbitration (ICA) has barred India from any permanent works on the controversial Kishanganga project in response to Pakistan’s appeal for ‘interim measures’ against the dam which may inhibit the restoration of the river flow to its natural channel. Some of the projects constructed by India have been contested by Pakistan, including the Baglihar dam on River Chenab. But when the matter was taken before a neutral expert against its construction, the verdict was given against Pakistan.





Cheers

[Guest]

[url="http://janamejayan.wordpress.com/2011/11/15/indus-re-enters-india-feeding-nal-sarovar-ahmedabad-satellite-images/"][size="4"]Indus re-enters India, feeding Nal Sarovar, Ahmedabad – Satellite images[/size][/url]

[Naresh]

.

[url="http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=741598"]Pakistan's Envoy to US to Be Recalled?[/url]



Pakistan's political circles were abuzz today with speculation about the recall of Ambassador to the US Husain Haqqani in the wake of media reports on secret communications between President Asif Ali Zardari and the American administration to avert a possible military takeover.



Haqqani has been at the centre of a controversy following Pakistani-American businessman Mansoor Ijaz's revelations about Zardari's purported efforts to reach out to the Obama administration to prevent army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani from staging a coup in the wake of the US raid that killed al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden.



Ijaz has claimed that he was asked to contact the US administration by a senior Pakistani official.



Though Ijaz did not identify this official, the media and analysts have speculated that Haqqani was involved in the matter without providing any proof to back up their claims.



Following a meeting of the ruling Pakistan People's Party's top leaders chaired by Zardari on Monday, an official statement said a decision had been made to call Haqqani to Islamabad to "brief the country's leadership on a host of issues impacting on Pakistan-US relations and the recent developments".



The speculation about Haqqani's possible recall gained ground after Zardari's meetings yesterday with Kayani and US Ambassador Cameron Munter.



Presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar said Zardari and Kayani had discussed the current security situation and professional matters of the Pakistan Army.



However, the INP news agency quoted its sources as saying that Kayani had conveyed the military's "reservations" over a letter purportedly sent to former US military chief Admiral Mike Mullen by Mansoor Ijaz "with the help of a top ambassador".



Cheers

[Naresh]

.

[url="http://www.geo.tv/11-17-2011/88968.htm"]Memo was an excuse to target democracy: Haqqani[/url]



WASHINGTON: Pakistan’s ambassador to the US, Husain Haqqani said Thursday that President Asif Ali Zardari would make a decision about his future, Geo News reported.



Haqqani said he offered to resign to send a message to those trying to destabilise democracy.



Speaking on Geo News programme Capital Talk, Haqqani said he had not written a memo nor had he delivered any, adding he had only met Manzoor Ijaz a few times.



“The memo was just an excuse and democracy was the real target” Haqqani said.



The ambassador added that not his job but democracy and Pakistan were dear to him and that he would be coming to country in the next few days.



Earlier Haqqani had written a letter to President Zardari and offered to resign from his post over the issue of a memo, which was reportedly sent to Mike Mullen.



Manzoor Ijaz alleged in a column in the Financial Times last month that a senior Pakistani diplomat asked for assistance in getting a memo from Zardari to Admiral Mike Mullen.



Cheers

[Guest]

Whether coup is ON or just false alarm ??

Is this Mansoor Ijaz is "Nuclear on TV specialist"?

If I recall, Mush coup was planned at his Virginia farm house, where around same time he had fund raiser for Al Gore and BB was present.

[ravish]

Nareshji,

There is nothing spectacular in Pakistan President anticipating a Coup. You will agree that US unilateral military action within Pakistan, on the face of it is spoiling the public image of the Pakistan Army. You will recall since its birth, Pakistan leadership has always projected that its Army is the best in the world. Although the propaganda was directed against India, as years passed by it became the general public perception in the Pakistani mind.

You must be aware, that school text books of Pakistan contain a very glorified and distorted account of the great deeds of the Pakistan Army, in its conflict with India in 1948 and 1965. Only in the case of 1971, the distortion of facts is rather hollow, as the story has to end with the creation of Bangladesh. In this case also, Pakistan gives more credit to the Bangladesh Mukti Bahini and the failure of the than political leadership of Pakistan as the real cause for the breakup of the country. They grossly downplay the role that India played in the creation of Bangladesh.

On the contrary, the Indian historians and the media never fail to remind the people that we performed poorly against the Chinese during the 1962 conflict. We do not shy away to admit the failure of our political leadership which resulted into this military disaster. Out of the ashes of defeat and humiliation, came the awakening of what needs to be done. This has yielded good result and today we are much more self confident in facing the realities of the present day world. The confidence of a nation cannot be built on falsehood and self glorification.

Despite the impressive stride that India has made in different fields during the last six decades of its existence as a nation, we still have a long way to go. India continues to be one of the fastest growing economies of the world, yet it still remains the home for the largest number of poorest of the poor in the world. Our child mortality rate is the same as that of sub Saharan Africa. Over 40 percent of our people are still illiterate. We do not run away from admitting these facts.

In the above background we have to analyse the action of the Pakistan President. His fear of a Coup may have been genuine, as such an action by the Army could not have been ruled out. The Coup may have restored the prestige of the Armed forces before a major section of the public although its long term benefit may have been negligible. In such a situation if the Pakistan President had sought the help of the US leadership, to ensure the safety of the civilian government there is nothing sensational or unexpected. The Coup did not take place, perhaps because wiser sense prevailed amongst the Corps Commanders. They have perhaps become much wisher than their illustrious predecessors.

[Naresh]

[quote name='Mudy' date='18 November 2011 - 10:55 AM' timestamp='1321593456' post='113776']

Whether coup is ON or just false alarm ??

Is this Mansoor Ijaz is "Nuclear on TV specialist"?

If I recall, Mush coup was planned at his Virginia farm house, where around same time he had fund raiser for Al Gore and BB was present.

[/quote]



Mudy Ji :



Welcome Back to this Thread!



The Army Coup is most definitely one be it the "Castration" of Mr. Ten Per Cent or Installing Imran "The Puppet" Khan in Mr. Ten Per Cent's place!!



After all the Pakistani Army has the Country!!!



Cheers

[Naresh]

[quote name='Mudy' date='18 November 2011 - 10:55 AM' timestamp='1321593456' post='113776']

Whether coup is ON or just false alarm ??

Is this Mansoor Ijaz is "Nuclear on TV specialist"?

If I recall, Mush coup was planned at his Virginia farm house, where around same time he had fund raiser for Al Gore and BB was present.

[/quote]



Mudy Ji :



Welcome Back to the Tread!



Either the Army will Castrate Mr. Ten Per Cent or Install Imran "Im the Dim" Khan as the Army's "Puppet"!!



After all the Pakistani Army has the Country!!!



Cheers

[Naresh]

.

[URL="http://www.dawn.com/2011/11/17/ug-lee-american-hits-campaign-trail.html"]Ug Lee American hits campaign trail[/URL]



My name is Ug. Ug Lee American. On October 3, I declared my candidacy for president of Pakistan. I presented a three-pronged platform: eradicating militancy by leveraging our in-country assets (spies, security forces, US fast-food chain mascots, Sesame Street muppets); enhancing food security by deploying instant-irrigation technologies and pizza delivery services; and easing unemployment by implementing an expansive massage therapy jobs program that alleviates the distress of sore-jawed, “do more”-uttering US officials.



Regretfully, I made this announcement in English — a language that my most trusted sources estimate is spoken by less than 8 per cent of Pakistanis. Accordingly, today I am kicking off a grassroots campaign to bring my message to the Pakistani people — all 180 million of you. Or 154 million of you. Or whatever happens to be the UN Population Division’s projection du jour. (As president, one of my first directives will expedite the completion of Pakistan’s long-awaited census, so that we finally have a definitive figure.)



My core campaign strategy is to beat my competitors at their own game. To this end, I will pepper my speeches with occasionally alliterative yet ultimately trite slogans often divorced from reality — “trade not aid,” “regional solutions,” “fly drones under the Pakistani flag,” “sweeter than honey and higher than the Himalayas,” etc. I shall impart these pearls of clichédom while flashing a grin reminiscent of the Cheshire Cat’s. And whenever a particularly horrific tragedy befalls Pakistan, I shall abruptly suspend my campaign and repair with alacrity to my beachfront home in Hawaii.



Not to be upstaged by another competitor, I shall enlist the assistance of my dear brother and fellow politician, Ug Leo American. While I make progressive, paradigm-shifting pronouncements, I shall dispatch Ug Leo to parrot the populist rhetoric of the street. Together, we shall steadfastly take for granted our ability to hold sway over Punjab. Furthermore, I shall demonstrate my mass mobilisation prowess. Another of my competitors has garnered immense praise for attracting 100,000 people to a rally in Lahore.



Well, I promise you at least 500,000; there is nothing like a public appearance by an American to bring Pakistanis onto the streets. Yes, many will chant naughty insults, some will wave anti-American signs, and a few may even try to kill me. Yet as my eyes-on-the-ground confidants assure me, in Pakistan it is all about the crowd numbers and less about the other pesky details. My advisers also underscore the imperative of projecting myself as a savior — a messiah-like figure who can save the nation from itself. “Ug Lee,” they say, “you must depict yourself as a breath of fresh air — one who will emerge from the mountains, or from a forward operating base, and answer the long-held prayers of the masses for a blissfully uncorrupt and post-dynastic leader to come and make the bad guys go away.”



No problem. There are two things we do well in Pakistan: Appearing out of nowhere (particularly in Lahore’s busy traffic circles), and making the bad guys go away (at least the militants we expunge via Predator drones and occasional Special Forces raids).



To be sure, it is never easy to run for president of a foreign country, and Pakistan is certainly no Albania. To my chagrin, merely delivering an innocent public presentation in Pakistan can place you in the crosshairs of an angry shoe-thrower.



Several of my advisers have warned me about the Ghairat Brigade (only recently did I realise that, despite its martial-sounding name, this is not a local security force). This Brigade has accused me of besmirching Pakistan’s honor, and one of its crafty members has declared his intention to run for president of India in retaliation (Ronald McDonald, one of my more incisive advisers, wonders why the Ghairat Brigade would aspire for what in India is a largely ceremonial post).



My coterie also speaks ominously of a growing anti-American urban middle class, and of all those young people with quibbles about America. My prized aide Rani the Muppet, who is intimately familiar with Pakistani youth, tells me that even joining Haseen O Jameel the Crocodile for a sing-along on Sesame Street, or jamming with Atif Aslam on Coke Studio, would do little for my prospects.



Happily, I have already formulated a strategy for such challenges: I shall simply ignore them. There is a truism about American efforts in Pakistan: Never let the overwhelming sentiments of Pakistan’s populace get in the way of right-minded policies. There are, after all, other ways to fulfill our objectives.



One option is to tap a relatively new resource: sketchy yet savvy interlocutors well-placed to facilitate backchannel correspondence between myself and Pakistan’s leadership, in the hopes of attaining an outcome that will hasten my journey to President House.



So, as I sit here in the business-class lounge of Dubai’s international airport, surrounded by bleary-eyed travelers watching very old episodes of “Baywatch” on a larger-than-life plasma TV, and waiting for the next PIA flight to convey me to Pakistan, whenever that may be, I solemnly declare to you: “Yes Lee Can.”



Michael Kugelman is the program associate for South Asia at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington, DC. You can reach him at michael.kugelman@wilsoncenter.org



Cheers

[Naresh]

.

[url="http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2011/11/19/story_19-11-2011_pg5_8"][color="#FF0000"]Country’s debt rose by Rs 5.091 Trillion in 3 years[/color][/url]



* Lower House informed that country’s debt was recorded at Rs 10.890tr by August 2011 up from Rs 5.799tr by March 2008



ISLAMABAD: The Lower House on Friday was informed that the country’s debt was recorded at Rs 10.890 trillion by August 2011 from Rs 5.799 trillion by March 2008, [color="#FF0000"]showing a net increase of Rs 5.091 trillion or 87.79 percent since formation of the current government.[/color]



During the question-hour session, on behalf of the minister of finance, Minister of Textiles Makhdoom Shahabuddin told the House that the government borrows money to finance the gap between income and expenditure. This gap is being filled through domestic and external borrowings. External loans were obtained to finance various development projects in different sectors of economy. Foreign loans were also obtained for post-disaster reconstruction and budget support. As the government revenue is less than its expenditure, therefore borrowing of money from both sources would be a continuous phenomenon until revenue increases more than the expenditure.



He said the present government started off its term with inherited backlog of problems - deficits, energy shortages, power sector circular debt, security expenditure, resettlement of internally displaced persons, low growth and entrenched inflation. In addition, the country faced multiple adverse shocks of commodity and oil prices and fallout of global financial crises. The situation was further compounded by the unprecedented calamity of great floods.



Shahabuddin said these challenges posed by the aforesaid issues affected the pace of the reform process as the government was forced to make difficult trade-offs. The government was forced to intervene in the energy and commodity markets to keep prices from getting completely out of reach of the public. This burden of subsidies along with higher security-related expenditures exerted continuing pressure on the fiscal system and adjustment path was affected.



The repayments of loans are agreed at the time of negotiations and signing of loan agreements with the borrowers and being paid as per agreed schedules. Appropriate budget provisions are made accordingly. Besides government has adopted a policy of curtailing its avoidable expenditures. In addition it has recently introduced austerity measures, which interalia, include complete ban on new recruitment, purchases of assets etc and 20 percent budgetary cut on operative expenses.



To another question, Shahabuddin said the borrowing limit of the government reached 59 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) while last limit is 60 percent. The government still could not cross the borrowing limit, allowed (60 percent of the GDP) under the law. Fiscal Responsibility and Debt Limitation Act (FRDLA) has made it mandatory for the government not to increase its borrowing over and above the 60 percent of GDP and in case it required more borrowing beyond this limit, it has to take approval from the parliament.



Answering another question, Shahabuddin said the last year’s devastated floods, which incurred $10 billion losses to the national exchequer was mainly responsible for higher volume of borrowing by the government. The current year’s floods in Sindh further aggravated the critical economic situation of the country.



Member National Assembly Dr Abdul Kadir Khanzada suggested that the government should take the parliament into confidence before making any more borrowing. He said the common people were suffering a lot from heavy burden of domestic and foreign loan. High rate of inflation broke the backbone of common people, he maintained. Responding to Khanzada, Shahabuddin said the government is concentrating on curtailing inflation pressure in the country.



The Ministry of Finance in written informed the House that the government-initiated public sector reforms are in progress and their impact upon common man will be estimated after its completion. The government is keeping a close watch on the movement of the prices of essential items through fortnightly Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet meetings and suggests necessary steps for maintaining price stability. The ministry said the cabinet also reviews inflationary trend and prices of essential commodities in its meeting on fortnightly basis.



The National Price Monitoring Committee (NPMC) is also monitoring prices of essential commodities in consultation with provincial governments and concerned federal ministries/divisions and organisation.



The House was informed that the inflation rate during the financial year 2011-12 is lower than the financial year 2010-11 as inflation rate measured by consumer price index on yearly basis was 11 percent in October 2011 as against 15.3 percent in October 2010. This decline is due to various government measures including tight monetary policy as well as the decreasing trend in international prices of sugar, wheat, tea, palm oil and crude oil.



Cheers

[Arun_S]

[size="2"]Night[/size][color="#808080"]Watch[/color][url="http://www.kforcegov.com/Services/IS/NightWatch/NightWatch_11000231.aspx"] For the night of 18 November 2011[/url]

Pakistan-US: Special comment. This week, the Pakistani ambassador to the US submitted his resignation for his involvement as a conduit for conveying a politically explosive memorandum from Pakistani President Zardari to Admiral Mullen, when he was US Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff. The Washington Post published the text of the memo whose authenticity, on a prima facie basis, is established by the ambassador's request to resign.



The memo describes a "significant deterioration in Pakistan's political atmosphere, after the US raid that killed Usama bin Laden in Abbottabad last May. The elected civilian government feared a military overthrow, led by Chief of Army Staff, General Kayani and the Inter-Services Intelligence Directorate.



The memo text says that Zardari asked for Mullen's intervention with Kayani to prevent a military takeover of government. In return, Zardari promised to "revamp" his government with a new national security team of pro-American officials in return for Mullen's intervention and made six additional representations.



The six additional promises include

1. an independent investigation of bin Laden's presence in Pakistan;
2. identification by name of those officers who harbored bin Laden followed by their dismissal and arrest;
3. a commitment to hand over to US authorities bin Laden's deputy Zawahiri, plus Mullah Omar and Pakistani Taliban leader Sirajuddin Haqqani or permission for independent US operations to kill them;
4. an offer to enlarge US oversight of the security of Pakistani nuclear weapons;
5. the elimination of Section S of Inter-Services Intelligence which is the section that maintains contact with the Taliban and the Haqqani network;
6. and to cooperate fully with India to bring to justice the perpetrators, inside or outside the government, responsible for the 2008 Mumbai massacre.

Several points are worth noting. Most important is that Zardari and Prime Minister Gilani's government are afraid of the Pakistan armed forces to such an extent that they would ask for American assistance to prevent a coup, however misdirected.



The Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, is legally a military advisor and chairman of the board of senior service staff officers. He also has a dual responsibility to report as a Congressional watchdog of the state of the armed services and has no authority independently to commit the US to anything. Zardari evidently did not appreciate the subtleties of the Chairman's task. Mullen could not and would not do such a thing without presidential authority.



Secondly, Zardari and Gilan appear to know or have a good idea about the identity of military personnel who harbored bin Laden.



Thirdly, Zardari and Gilani were prepared to hand over to the US or permit the US to kill other hostile leaders, including Zawahiri and Mullah Omar. This suggests they know or at least knew where these men were hiding at the time the memo was written.



Finally, the civilians distrusted the Pakistan Army and security forces to such an extent that they were willing to grant to the US exceptional oversight of Pakistani nuclear weapons. This condition of distrust has not changed and is likely to worsen.



What is missing from this unusual story is any account of the US reaction to and handling of the Memo. Mullen has flown to Pakistan frequently and no coup occurred, but the five other items are open. Civilian government in Pakistan remains both incompetent and fragile, plus under constant threat of military overthrow.

[Naresh]

.

[url="http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2011/11/20/story_20-11-2011_pg1_3"]Pakistan’s economy facing serious challenges, needs urgent care : IMF[/url]

* Fund says govt should immediately resolve energy crisis for economic growth



ISLAMABAD : The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said on Saturday that Pakistan’s economy was facing serious challenges, including energy crisis and declining investment and would not be able to move on the economic front without resolving these issues.



The IMF identified that Pakistan was facing some short-term issues, and stressed the need for addressing the issues on a long-term basis.



Addressing a press conference after attending a seminar on Revival of Pakistan Economy, IMF Assistant Director Adnan Mazarei, said that Pakistan’s external account position would not be as good as it was last year. “We are going into difficult global situation and Pakistan has to adopt a policy mix to achieve growth and employment generation,” he said.

Cheers

[Naresh]

.

[url="http://www.geo.tv/11-20-2011/89042.htm"]Haqqani to meet President Sunday morning[/url]



ISLAMABAD : Pakistani Ambassador to United States Husain Haqqani arrived at Presidency in the wee hours of Sunday, Geo News reported.



According to the sources, President Asif Ali Zardari would meet Husain Haqqani on Sunday morning. Haqqani would present his point of view before the country's leadership over secret memo.



Prior to his departure from Washington airport, Haqqani met US special representative to Pakistan and Afghanistan Marc Grossman.



Pakistani-American businessman Mansoor Ijaz had claimed that he wrote a memo outlining the civilian government's fears of military intervention and sent it to the then US Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Mike Mullen on the instructions of Husain Haqqani.



However, Husain Haqqani denied any connection with the memo



Cheers

[Naresh]

.

[url="http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=78454&Cat=9"]Economic meltdown 2012-2013 - Dr Farrukh Saleem[/url]



For the first time in recent memory Pakistan’s private sector has stopped growing. For the first time in recent memory net borrowing of the private sector has been negative – Rs81 billion – indicative of a shrinking private sector. For the first time ever every Pakistani man, woman and child is indebted to the tune of Rs61000 while the Government of Pakistan (GOP) continues to borrow additional funds at the rate of Rs500 crore a day every calendar day of the year.



For the first time in recent memory four out of every 10 Pakistanis have fallen below the poverty line. On March 25, 2008, the day Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani was taking oath of office, there were an estimated 47.1 million Pakistanis living in extreme poverty. Over the past three years an average of 25,000 Pakistanis per day – every single day of the past three years – have been driven into extreme poverty. The total now stands at an estimated 72.9 million below the poverty line. Money, I have been told, cannot buy happiness; neither can poverty.



For the first time in recent memory Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) has suffered such a drastic fall over such a short period of time – from $5.4 billion in 2008 to around a billion. Public Sector Enterprises are now losing Rs100 crore a day, every day of the year, and no one is worried. Pepco, just by itself, is losing Rs50 crore a day, every day of the year, and no one is worried. The Pakistan Railways is about to add a colossal $600 million to our national debt, and no one is worried. Life, they say, “wouldn’t be worth living if one worries over the future as well as the present.”



As per the 2011 Legatum Prosperity Index, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe and the Central African Republic are the only three countries worse off than Pakistan. As per their ‘Safety & Security Sub-Index’, Sudan is the only country worse off than Pakistan. As per their ‘Education Sub-Index’, the Central African Republic, Mali, Sudan, Ethiopia and Nigeria are the only five countries worse off than Pakistan (http://www.prosperity.com/rankings.aspx).



In the 2011 Failed State Index, countries like Rwanda, Burundi, Ethiopia and Burma are now better off than Pakistan. In the not too distant future we will not be able to service our $60 billion external debt. In the not too distant future we will have to print, print and print to service our Rs6,000,000,000,000 internal debt. The ‘cost of living is going up and the chance of living is going down’. The meltdown has begun.



The writer is a columnist based in Islamabad. Email: farrukh15@hotmail.com

[Guest]

[url="http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/Americas/Pakistan-envoy-resignation-is-internal-issue-US/Article1-772820.aspx"]Pakistan envoy resignation is 'internal issue': US[/url]

Pakistan's government said earlier that it had asked Haqqani to resign and ordered a probe into claims that he sought American help against the country's powerful military.



Haqqani, a close aide of President Asif Ali Zardari, has played a key role in helping Pakistan's civilian government navigate turbulent relations with Washington which nosedived over the US raid that killed Osama bin Laden.

I don't think he is going back to Pakistan, plus Mansoor Ijaz is again exposed as Paki Army spy

[Guest]

[url="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45442757/ns/world_news-south_and_central_asia/t/pakistan-troops-dead-nato-helicopter-attack/#.TtB-ALLNkh4"]Pakistan: 7 troops dead in NATO helicopter attack[/url]

KHAR, Pakistan — Pakistani officials say seven army soldiers were killed when NATO helicopters fired on a checkpoint in the country's northwest near the Afghan border.

Two intelligence officials and one government official said Saturday that the attack in the Mohmand tribal area also wounded five soldiers. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media.

The Pakistani military says the attack happened Friday night.

I think Pakis may try funny business inside India.

[Guest]

[url="http://news.yahoo.com/pakistan-demands-us-vacate-suspected-drone-183904830.html"]Pakistan demands US vacate suspected drone base[/url]

ISLAMABAD (AP) — The Pakistani government has demanded the U.S. vacate an air base within 15 days that the CIA is suspected of using for unmanned drones.



The government issued the demand Saturday after NATO helicopters and jet fighters allegedly attacked two Pakistan army posts along the Afghan border, killing 24 Pakistani soldiers.

Islamabad outlined the demand in a statement it sent to reporters following an emergency defense committee meeting chaired by Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani.



Shamsi Air Base is located in southwestern Baluchistan province. The U.S. is suspected of using the facility in the past to launch armed drones and observation aircraft to keep pressure on Taliban and al-Qaida militants in Pakistan's tribal region.

Paki army is showing manhood. Had it India, by now Pakis would have called for nuke attack on India and rest of world would have started sanction calls and travel warning. Now Paki army had nothing to show. <img src='http://www.india-forum.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

[ravish]

The death of Pakistani troops as a result of NATO attack on Pakistan border outpost this morning is bound to put further strain the bilateral relations between USA and Pakistan. However, in view of precarious economic and security situation in Pakistan in one side and the US requirement of facilities within Pakistan too carry out its operation within Afghanistan will ensure that business is back to normal within a few days.

In the past also Pakistan’s sovereignty has been violated by the US and NATO forces. After some initial noise by Islamabad, business has been back to normal. We should be conscious of the fact that these incidences are causing much serious damage to the state machinery of Pakistan. Its public image is getting damaged and full advantage of the same is expected to be taken by the extremist and anti US elements within Pakistan. In the emerging situation there is nothing for India to rejoice, as an unstable Pakistan will bring in more problems for India,

[Guest]

NAWABSHAH: Railway department, by repairing the up and down link rail tracks damaged by five explosions in a row near Hyderabad, Nawabshah and Mehrabpur railway stations, has restored the trains traffic, Geo News reported.



Sindh Liberation Army has accepted the responsibility of explosions on the tracks.



It may be recalled that several trains narrowly escaped from tragic mishaps due to the blasts blowing up rail tracks.



Law enforcing agencies reaching the scene have started their respective actions.





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