The Displaced PEOPLE
Jun 6, 2010
|
|
3 million Pakistanis were newly displaced in 2009 in Pakistan, many of them have not been resettled and also more are pouring out from areas addressed by the Pakistan Army. This is 1.7 percent of the population of 170 million and is worrisome. |
|
Defence News
Jun 6, 2010
|
|
The federal government has decided to raise the defence budget by 31 percent from Rs 343 billion to Rs 448 billion for the fiscal year 2010-11. The Defence Ministry had requested an increase of Rs 110 billion in the defence budget for 2010-11, however, the federal government approved an increase of Rs 105 billion. |
|
Indo Pakistan Dialogue: Building Trust
Jun 6, 2010
|
|
India's External Affairs Minister Mr S M Krishna had a telephonic conversation with the Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Mr. S.M.Qureshi during the month. |
|
Indo Pakistan Rapprochement: A Temporary Thaw
May 3, 2010
|
|
The Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan reportedly held, “very positive” talks in Bhutan on the side lines of the 16th SAARC Summit on 29 April. Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said, “It was a very positive meeting. A step in the right direction,” Qureshi said of the 90-minute meeting. India’s role in Afghanistan and the Balochistan did not figure in the talks. Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said, “Balochistan was not raised to the best of my knowledge. Pakistan is well aware that India doesn’t seek to interfere in the internal matters of Pakistan.” |
|
SAARC Summit – Pushing Indo Pakistan Detente
May 3, 2010
|
|
The 16th SAARC Summit on 28 and 29 April adopted the Thimpu Statement on Climate Change, which expressed determination to make South Asia a world leader in low-carbon technologies and renewable energy. The Statement also agreed to ensure timely implementation of the Dhaka Declaration and SAARC Action Plan on Climate Change. SAARC leaders agreed to establish an Inter-governmental Expert Group on Climate Change to develop clear policy directions for regional cooperation as envisaged in the SAARC Plan of Action on Climate Change. There were a number of bilateral between various heads of state, which provided them an opportunity to restructure their relationship in a positive manner. |
|
Aerospace Power Crucial
May 3, 2010
|
|
The Defence Minister Shri AK Antony said that the recently demonstrated precision strike capabilities of the Indian Air Force would go a long way in ensuring the national security. Addressing the top brass of the Indian Air Force, he said, aerospace power will prove to be crucial in future conflicts. “In the years to come, Aerospace Power will prove to be the decisive factor in shaping the outcome of conflicts. Indian Air Force is in the process of transforming itself into a strategic aerospace force befitting our national growth and aspirations. Combat units of the Indian Air Force have focused on precision capabilities to enhance their combat potential. |
|
18th Amendment and After
May 2, 2010
|
|
Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari signed the 18th Amendment on 26 April which is expected to bolster parliamentary democracy weakened by a decade of military rule. “This is an historic day,” Law Minister Babar Awan told dignitaries gathered at the presidential offices. “For the first time in the history of this country, a democratically elected president has voluntarily given up his power back to the parliament of this country,” he said. Prime Minister Gilani also hailed the signing of the bill as a, “momentous occasion”. |
|
Pakistan Army: Fighting the Right War, the Wrong Way
May 2, 2010
|
|
Pakistan Army claims to have controlled the Tehreek e Taliban (TTP) in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and North West Frontier Province (NWFP) by a mix of kinetic operations and deals with guerrilla leaders as Hafiz Gul Bahadur in North Waziristan. Despite these short term gains, the faulty strategy employed will only prolong the militancy, bring grief to the people of the region, bolster the Taliban and fail to contribute to stability in Af-Pak. |
|
High Mark and Azm E Nau III
May 2, 2010
|
|
The first phase of military exercise Azm-e-Nau - III culminated with an Integrated Fire Power Exercise at Khairpur Tamewali. Chief of Army Staff said that exercise Azm-e-Nau III was conceived and executed as a concept validation exercise. The Chief of Army Staff, General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani has been regularly visiting the Exercise Azm-e-Nau-3 in the field and also logistics installations. |
|
Taliban Reconciliation and Reintegration
May 2, 2010
|
|
As brought out from time to time, talks with the Taliban for reconciliation will be complex as there are a number of issues and stake holders involved both internal and external. At the internal level President Karzai wants to shape talks for reconciliation to his advantage, but is facing major opposition within as well as from Pakistan which wants to be the power broker in a post West withdrawal scenario. Thus it is likely to engage the leaders who are willing to reconcile to advantage. |
|
Afghan Security Capacity Building
May 2, 2010
|
|
Afghanistan's security forces will need four to five years before they are fully capable of taking over responsibility for the country's security. In his inauguration address in November 2009, President Karzai had indicated that the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) will be able to take the, “security lead within three to five years”. This has been highlighted by Afghan government officials and ministers in a number of forums such as the NATO foreign ministers meeting in Tallinn, Estonia. |
|
Terrorism and Militancy: Addressing the Divides
May 2, 2010
|
|
Pakistan’s sordid saga with terrorism and militancy continued in April. On 5 April, two security men and four attackers were killed when heavily armed militants in two vehicles tried to storm the US consulate in Peshawar. |
|
US Pakistan Strategic Dialogue: Kayani on the High Table
Apr 4, 2010
|
|
Much was made of the US Pakistan strategic dialogue with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton acknowledging that the two nations “have had our misunderstandings and disagreements in the past.” She wanted to address the Pakistani people directly an unusual thing for a foreign minister level dignitary even if it is of a super power, the United States. “The dialogue we seek is not only with the government of Pakistan, but you the people of Pakistan,” she said, backing this up with personal commitment of President Barack Obama to building ties with Islamabad. |
|
Counter Militancy Campaign: A Hard Grind Ahead.
Apr 4, 2010
|
|
The month began for the Pakistan Army on a high note with the capture of Damadola caves in Bajaur. The Army representative Major General Tariq Khan took journalists on a tour of the maze of 156 caves developed over five to seven years, and carved into rock . Major General Tariq Khan said the complex served as a key militant headquarters "There were Egyptians, Uzbeks, Chechens and Afghans killed in the operation," he told reporters. |
|
The Military: Kayani Extension or Succession?
Apr 4, 2010
|
|
President Asif Ali Zardari assured the army brass that there would be no cut back in defence expenditure “We cannot afford to cut down allocations for the armed forces,” he said while addressing the National Defence College. Mr Zardari clearly identified the various challenges that the country faced and in particular one from non state actors which it has to tackle with alacrity |
|
The Command Line Up in Pakistan Army
Apr 4, 2010
|
|
With General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani retiring on November 28, 2010 there is much speculation whether he would be getting an extension or will be retiring as planned. While it is widely believed that extension to Lt Generals can be given by the army chief without the approval of the government, the Chief will have to seek okay from the political hierarchy at least nominally. |
|
Indo Pakistan Relations- An Appraisal
Apr 4, 2010
|
|
India commented on the internal situation in Pakistan in an official report which is generally assiduously avoided by New Delhi. The reason may not be far to see for there are concerns arising from growing instability in Pakistan spilling over across the Line of Control and International Border in the ensuing Year. The Annual Report of Ministry of Defence for the year 2009 – 10 thus expressed concern over worsening security situation inside Pakistan with continuing infiltration in Jammu & Kashmir |
|
Indian Mujahideen, Lashkar E Taiyyaba, Karachi Project
Apr 4, 2010
|
|
The threat and the challenge paradigm of terrorism in India are evident with its many dimensions. The Home Minister Mr P Chidambaram did not mince words when he said, “The challenge before security is that the source of the terror lies across our border and they have the support of the state and therefore their capacity to reach here and strike is very high.’’ One of the key challenges is the relatively new entity the Indian Mujahideen or the IM which is formed from radical elements of the splinter group of the banned SIMI a grouping of Muslim students. |
|
The 18th Amendment: Ushering In a New Democracy?
Apr 4, 2010
|
|
The most encouraging news from Pakistan is that the 18th Amendment to the Constitution is likely to go through Parliament most likely on 5 April which will lead to restoration of democracy in full measure with elected leaders having authority over governance rather than the President which was usurped by Army leaders from Zia ul Haque to Pervez Musharraf from time to time. There was a compromise on the proposed judicial commission, to be headed by the Chief Justice (CJ), which would have a retired Supreme Court judge as its seventh member. Renaming of NWFP has been another notable achievement with consensus that Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa should be the new name of the province. There have been celebrations all over Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa after this historic decision. |
|
Pakistan Plan of Upgrading Violence
Apr 4, 2010
|
|
The commander of the so called United Jehad Council (UJC) Syed Salahuddin claimed that activities of militants in Jammu and Kashmir had increased according to a "definite plan". "In the field, the activities of the mujahideen have increased and are increasing according to a definite plan. |
|
