Loud Thinking

Archive for June, 2013

Will Iqbal Qasim Resign or Will he be Dismissed?

If Iqbal Qasim is authentically the son of his father, he should take full responsibility as chief selector PCB, of the dismal performance by the nincompoop spent cartridges (Imran Farhat, Shoaib Malik and Kamran Akmal) he selected; and for the blunder of non selection of many young and upcoming players, like Ahmad Shahzad.

The follies of insane selectors, rusted and dud NCA management headed by Intikhab Alam, and a battery of incompetent and sluggish coaches have miserably failed in uplifting our teams batting, which is now only capable of scoring 150 + – 10-20 runs.

It is high time that the new government (which has promised accountability in every department) cleans the mess without wasting any further time, at the PCB and ensures a purging of the nincompoop personnel from top to the bottom.

If Iqbal Qasim chief selector PCB is son of his father, he should resign for not selecting Ahmad Shahzad and picking Imran Farhat, Shoaib Mailk and Kamran Akmal.

Today’s champions trophy match between Pakistan and South African cricket teams is virtually a final match for both the teams. Anyone losing the match will face immediate exit from the tournament’s next round.

Team-Work is to work in harmony with others in a group.

“Individual commitment to a group effort – that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.”

Vincent “Vince” Lombardi (1913-1970);
athletic coach

Define the Playing Field Before Entering a New Market

When you’re on the hook to launch a new product or service, you need to answer a critical question:

How many customers will buy it? It’s tempting to jump right in, assuming everyone will want your fantastic new offering. But before you put the resources into building, marketing, and launching a product, it pays to research just how big the market is.

Your gut feel may be directionally correct, but double-check it against hard data about potential customer groups. And don’t do this in a vacuum.

Be sure to have an objective conversation with the people on your team about exactly where this product will play and how big that market might be.

Defining the specifics will help you clarify your product’s competitive advantage.

Today’s Management Tip was adapted from HBR’s Go to Market Tools: Market Sizing

“Over and over again, we lose site of what is important and
what isn’t. We crave things over which we have no control, and
not satisfied by the things within our control. We need to
regularly stop and take stock; to sit down and determine
within ourselves which things are worth valuing and which
things are not.”

— Epictetus

Pakistan is no more an ally of the West. Rather, its their favourite punching bag.

An Open Letter to the PM Pakistan

H’able Mian Nawaz Sharif Sahab,

Salaam.

Regarding drone issue, I don’t think this fact may have been brought to your kind notice that drones are just machines; and if we shoot them, no US loss of life will entail.

Now, there is a question that why Pakistan must shoot down the US drones? The answer lies in the fact that its not ONLY a matter of violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty. If today, the US is attacking our tribal areas, tomorrow who can stop them targeting areas in Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore? And then the US can easily say “sorry it was a computer malfunction, caused by a cyber attack from Iran or China”.

As I have already informed you in one of my earlier emails, the biggest crime of Pervaiz Musharraf was not the toppling of your elected government. Rather, his biggest crime was to remove the fear of a nuclear power country from the hearts of its enemies. And that was the SPECIFIC reason, Americans knew in advance, before launching a full fledged bombardment on Salala post, resulting in killings of about 28 Pak Army officers and Jawans and injuring many others, that this was a gutless, pseudo and impotent nuclear power, with which they can do any offensive, without any HARD retaliation.

This fact is proved with the Americans refusal to apologise on their aggression. We must also never forget that this was not only an attack on Pakistan, but also a gift to India, EXACTLY on 26/11, for satisfying Indian’s ego on the anniversary of Mumbai attack. Americans call Pakistan a major non-NATO ally, but the fact is that in Asia, after Israel, no country is closer friend of America, than India.

It’s also a fact that Pakistan is no more an ally of the West. Rather, its their favourite punching bag.

Further, can anyone imagine the sorry image of a nuclear power, that a country like Afghanistan, which doesn’t even possesses regular armed forces, attacks Pakistani forces, at will; and beheads our soldiers in large numbers. All these HIGHLY aggressive and provocative acts against our country, have proven to our enemies that Pakistan either doesn’t have any threshold, or if at all there is any red line, its absolutely NOT visible to our enemies.

This is a very dangerous situation which constantly invites aggression against Pakistan. THIS IS ALSO AN OPEN INVITATION TO SNATCH AND GRAB OUR NUCLEAR ASSETS (WHENEVER THEY FEEL IT NECESSARY) WITHOUT ANY FEAR OF NUCLEAR OR CONVENTIONAL RETALIATION FROM PAKISTAN, ON THEIR ASSETS IN THE REGION. THE MAXIMUM THEY WILL EXPECT IS A LOCALISED RESISTANCE FROM PAKISTAN, WHICH IS ALWAYS FEARFUL ABOUT A FULL FLEDGED ATTACK AND CHOCKING OF ITS ECONOMIC LIFE LINE. But the recent OPEN NUCLEAR threat from North Korea, to attack America, is a classical case study, which proves that US can ill afford a nuclear attack. It will not be out of place to mention here that India, after testing 5000 KM range missiles, is now almost ready for the test of 10,000 KM range missiles. Which means for all the practical purposes, America will be, within the range of Indian nuclear attack.

In today’s world, nuclear weapons are NOT FOR USE; and are just acquired as a deterrence and to push the country’s interests, among the comity of nations.

Manufacturing the nuclear weapons are very expensive, but maintaining and securing the nuclear weapons are even more costly. We have to derive the CBR (cost benefit ratio) of manufacturing and maintaining the nuclear arsenals of Pakistan, knowing very well that these nuclear weapons are NOT for use, but are there to diffuse, the ill intentions of the Pakistan’s adversaries. And this BASIC purpose of acquiring nuclear weapons by Pakistan, has been ALMOST diluted, by the sell off, of the nation by Pervaiz Musharraf, which has prompted our adversaries to embark upon their plans of BALKANISATION of Pakistan, by various overt and covert means. Even today (9 June, 2013) there was a news item Published in the daily “The News” page #2 under the heading “US, UK support for Baloch leaders Shocks Pakistan, allies at UN”. This proves my stance that our nuclear status and stature = zero as far as, our influence is concerned, to steer Pakistan’s foreign policy and its image. And don’t forget we are a major non-NATO ally of the 49 nations NATO alliance, fighting US imposed WOT (war on terror) in Afghanistan; and our losses in men and material are minimum 10 times higher than the combined losses of the 49 countries.

On the other hand, the impact of North Korea’s nuclear image can be easily gauged with another news item published on 9 June, 2013, by the daily “The News” on page #24 under the tittle “UN food body approves $200m food aid to N Korea”.

So, coming back to the main issue, we should not forget that even non nuclear nations have been preserving their integrity and sovereignty in the face of blatant aggression from the US. The examples of Cuba and Iran are standing tall against American aggression, which also clearly proves that “one can’t be insulted more than he permits” or in other words “our respect is in our own hands”. Here, we must not forget that after Iran brought down US drone violating its air space, it refused to hand over the (intact) plane, despite severe pleadings from the US government. However, in our case it was reported in the press that our previous government, handed back the tail of the crashed US helicopter to America, which invaded Pakistan’s city of Abbotabad.

As such, Mr. Prime Minister, your number 1 job is to restore the image and reputation of a nuclear Pakistan. And luckily, the importance of Pakistan has gone so high (at least till the end of the year 2014) that you need not at all, embark upon war with any nation; only correct posturing with unmistakeable intentions, known VERY clearly to all and sundry, will deliver your objectives.

Last but not the least, a great statesman is not the person who wages the war and wins it. The greatest statesman is he, who achieves his objectives without waging a war. In this regard, Allah has ordained in the holy Quran, the art of statecraft, by telling the Muslims to keep your horses READY and FIGHTING FIT, and to your enemies, your 20 horses will look 200.

Best Wishes and Highest Regards,

Syed Nayyar Uddin Ahmad

Lahore

Sent from my iPad3 4G LTE

Why shoot the drones?

H’able Mian Nawaz Sharif Sahab,

Salaam.

Regarding drone issue, I don’t think this fact may have been brought to your kind notice that drones are just machines; and if we shoot them, no US loss of life will entail.

Now, there is a question that why Pakistan must shoot down the US drones? The answer lies in the fact that its not ONLY a matter of violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty.

As already informed you in one of my earlier emails, the biggest crime of Pervaiz Musharraf was not the toppling of your elected government. Rather, his biggest crime was to remove the fear of a nuclear power country from the hearts of its enemies. And that was the SPECIFIC reason, Americans knew in advance, before launching a full fledged bombardment on Salala post, killing about 28 Pak Army officers and Jawans and injuring many troops, that this was a gutless, pseudo and impotent nuclear power, with which they can do any offensive without any HARD retaliation.

This fact is proved with the Americans refusal to apologise on their aggression. We must also never forget that this was not only an attack on Pakistan, but also a gift to India, EXACTLY on 26/11, for satisfying Indian’s ego on the anniversary of Mumbai attack.

Further, can anyone imagine the sorry image of a nuclear power, that a country like Afghanistan, which doesn’t even possesses regular armed forces, attacks Pakistani forces at will and beheads our soldiers in large numbers. All these HIGHLY aggressive and provocative acts against our country, have proven to our enemies that Pakistan either doesn’t have any threshold, or if at all there is any red line, its not at all visible to our enemies.

This is a very dangerous situation which constantly invites aggression against Pakistan. THIS IS ALSO AN OPEN INVITATION TO SNATCH AND GRAB OUR NUCLEAR ASSETS (WHENEVER THEY FEEL IT NECESSARY) WITHOUT ANY FEAR OF NUCLEAR OR CONVENTIONAL RETALIATION FROM PAKISTAN, ON THEIR ASSETS IN THE REGION. THE MAXIMUM THEY WILL EXPECT IS A LOCALISED RESISTANCE FROM PAKISTAN, WHICH IS ALWAYS FEARFUL ABOUT A FULL FLEDGED ATTACK AND CHOCKING OF ITS ECONOMIC LIFE LINE. But the recent OPEN NUCLEAR threat from North Korea to attack America, is a classical case study, which proves that US can ill afford a nuclear attack. It will not be out of place to mention here that India, after testing 5000 KM range missiles, is now almost ready for the test of 10,000 KM range missiles. Which means for all the practical purposes, America will be within the range of Indian nuclear attack.

In today’s world nuclear weapons are NOT FOR USE and are just acquired as a deterrence and to push the country’s interests among the comity of nations.

Manufacturing the nuclear weapons are very expensive, but maintaining and securing the nuclear weapons are even more costly. We have to derive the CBR (cost benefit ratio) of manufacturing and maintaining the nuclear arsenals of Pakistan, knowing very well that these nuclear weapons are NOT for use, but are there to diffuse the ill intentions of the adversaries. And this BASIC purpose of acquiring nuclear weapons by Pakistan, has been ALMOST diluted by the sell off of the nation by Pervaiz Musharraf, which has prompted our adversaries to embark on their plans of BALKANISATION of Pakistan, by various overt and covert means. Even today, there is a news item Published today in the daily “The News” page #2 under the heading “US, UK support for Baloch leaders Shocks Pakistan, allies at UN”. This proves my stance that our nuclear status and stature = zero as far as, our influence is concerned, to steer Pakistan’s foreign policy and its image. And don’t forget we are a major non-NATO ally of the 49 nations NATO alliance, fighting WOT (war on terror) in Afghanistan; and our losses in men and material are many times higher than the combined losses of the 49 countries.

On the other hand, the impact of North Korea’s nuclear image can be easily gauged with another news item published today by the daily “The News” on page #24 under the tittle “UN food body approves $200m food aid to N Korea”.

So, coming back to the main issue, we should not forget that even non nuclear nations have been preserving their integrity in the face of clear cut aggression from the US. The examples of Cuba and Iran are standing tall against American aggression, which also clearly proves that “one can’t be insulted more than he permits” or in other words “our respect is in our own hands”. Here, we must not forget that after Iran brought down US drone violating its air space intact, it refused to hand over the plane despite severe pleading from the US government. However, in our case it was reported in the press that our previous government, handed back the tail of the crashed US helicopter to America, which invaded Pakistan’s city of Abbotabad.

As such, Mr. Prime Minister, your number 1 job is to restore the image and reputation of a nuclear Pakistan. And luckily, the importance of Pakistan has gone so high (at least till the year 2014) that you need not at all, embark upon war with any nation; only correct posturing with unmistakeable intentions, known VERY clearly to all and sundry, will deliver your objectives.

Last but not the least, a great statesman is not the person who wages the war and wins it. The greatest statesman is he, who achieves his objectives without waging a war. In this regard, Allah has ordained in the holy Quran, the art of statecraft, by telling the Muslims to keep your horses READY and FIGHTING FIT, and to your enemies, your 20 horses will look 200.

Best Wishes and Highest Regards,

Syed Nayyar Uddin Ahmad

Lahore

Sent from my iPad3 4G LTE

Rewards for a major non NATO ally. If USA or UK had done this with India on Kashmir, their envoy’s would have been expelled by now and diplomatic relations snapped.

Shock as US, UK support separatist Baloch leader at the UN

Murtaza Ali Shah
Sunday, June 09, 2013
From Print Edition

LONDON: Britain and America shocked Pakistan and its allies at the 23rd regular session of the United Nations Human Rights Council’s general debate in Geneva on 7 June when the two countries clearly supported nationalist leader Mehran Marri, Balochistan’s representative to the UN, who spoke against the recent elections and alleged that Pakistan was committing rights abuses in Balochistan.

Pakistan is likely to lodge protest with both the countries for taking a hostile position towards Pakistan by intervening on behalf of Mehran Marri who alleged that the recent elections exposed the “farce that the Pakistani establishment wanted to present as democracy”. The support by the two powerful countries to a Baloch separatist leader will give strength to the view of those who have suspected that elements within the US and the UK Baloch nationalist factions for their own regional and strategic objectives.

Marri, the youngest son of Karachi-based veteran leader Nawab Khair Baksh Marri, said that the Baloch didn’t take part in the election “charade” as participating the elections would have legitimised the “injustices against the Baloch people since 7th March 1948 when Pakistan forcibly annexed Balochistan”.

Mehran Marri told the session that one of the provincial assembly member was elected with 544 votes, on a 1.18 percent voters turnout. Pakistani delegate objected to the remarks made by Marri and said that Pakistan is fully conscious of its obligations to protects the human rights of its citizens. “We cannot allow the use of this forum for statements which highly impinge on the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity of the sovereign states as enshrined in the United Nations Charter. We request you to expunge such remarks from the proceedings,” said the Pakistani delegate.

Both Cuba and China came to Pakistan’s defence and supported Pakistani delegate’s position. The Cuban representative told the session that it was unacceptable for an NGO to to try to attack the territorial integrity and independence of a sovereign state. He said that his country was not prepared to listen to such remarks. The Chinese delegate stated that his country supported Pakistan and believed that this forum shouldn’t be used to “impinge upon the territorial integrity and freedom of a sovereign state”.

Both the US and the UK representatives took strong exception to the objections made during Mr Marri’s speech by Pakistan, Cuba and China and called on the session chair to allow Mehran Marri to complete his full statement. The UK delegate said that his country supported the position adopted by America on this matter and it was important that Mehran Marri made his full statement and that his remarks are not expunged.

Mehran Marri alleged in his speech that the establishment has intensified its “dirty war” and every day a few new “mutilated bodies or previously abducted bodies are dumped. He stressed that the “systematic and organised war against Balochistan should be of concern to the free world. Pakistan should not be allowed to carry on with brutalities and massacre in Balochistan. He alleged that Pakistan and China have formed a nexus to “exploit” the resources of Balochistan and both countries are using the province an “economic corridor”.