Loud Thinking

Posts Tagged ‘terrorism’

In any crime investigations, the first logical step is to find the beneficiary of that criminal act.

Here, in Pakistan we have observed a pattern, which reveals that either, the terrorists have been targeting the GHQ, Naval and Air Force bases or indulging in specific targeted attacks on Sri Lankan cricketers, Chinese, foreigners and Pakistani minorities.

All these operations are carried out (at specifically chosen vital timings) not only to inflict maximum men and material losses, but also to undermine Pakistan’s military power; and create isolation in foreign policy, sports and tourism etc.

We should not be so naive to indefinitely close our eyes and ignore the role of huge number of Indian consulates, specially based near the Pakistan’s western borders with Afghanistan. In fact, the terrorism in Karachi and the insurgencies of Swat and Balouchistan are a clear testimony of the Indian evil designs, being perpetrated through these consulates in Afghanistan.

However, Pakistan must rest assured that this Indian game plan, specifically designed to keep Pakistan burning for an indefinite period, will never cease, till such time we repay the Indians in the same coins, by devising an strategy to fight fire with fire.

As such, it is high time that Pakistan officially warn India to immediately pack up all its consulates in Afghanistan, failing which Pakistan should also immediately take steps to establish its own consulates, in the border areas of all those countries, which share a common border with India e.g., China, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar and SriLanka etc.

PAKISTAN PAINDABAD.

Now our economic malaise has reached such a stage that business as usual, is going to jeopardise our statehood, not in years, but in months.

The degree of the sovereignty of a country, is directly proportional to the state of the economy of that nation. Actually, in constant growth & development lies our salvation. Secondly, we Pakistanis must know, that without any doubt, the …

The degree of the sovereignty of a country, is directly proportional to the state of economy of that nation. Actually, in constant growth & development lies our salvation. Secondly, we Pakistanis must know, that without any doubt, the easiest and surest way of moving ahead, is to stand on our own feet.

Foreign aid, can keep us afloat, but won’t allow us to swim.

Now the time has come to separate the growth, development, education, eradication of poverty & security of Pakistan, from the politics, forever.

In this regard, it is suggested that, we should aim to bring Pakistan, to the level of Singapore of 2010, by the year 2030. All politics & other considerations should be made subservient to this target for 2030, even if we have to abolish weekly holidays for the next 20 years & reduce our daily sleeping time to 6 hours.

All stake holders in Pakistan must immediately come forward for deciding about the direction of the future of the nation.

Biggest factor in any victory is self-confidence. Anti-thesis of terrorism is education, coupled with economic emancipation.

As such, the nation must embark upon the following agenda, to resurrect our economy without any further loss of time.
 
1. Request to all foreign donors for a 5 years moratorium, on all debt repayments by Pakistan, which is a frontline state of the world’s war on terror.  
 
2. 20% per annum reduction in all non-developmental government expenditures, plus total freeze in all perks paid from the national exchequer, involving foreign currency.
 
3.Maximum tax rate on each and every type of income in Pakistan should be fixed at 10%. This will not only bring huge revenues to the government but will also discourage the tax evasion tendencies.
 
4. Increase in productivity & exports with liberal tax relief  to industry, commerce & trade.
 
5. Set a target for 20% per annum increase in foreign remittances, by offering innovative incentives to expatriate Pakistanis.
 
6. Abolish FBR (which will alone increase income by Rs.500 billion) & impose flat 10% tax on all & every type of income (as already mentioned at 3. above), without any exemption (except for the security forces personnel, whose salaries may be doubled with expected receipt of un-precedented  increase in revenue, due to this formula). This will not only reduce income tax burden on salaried class (with max. tax rate of 10%) but will also result in so much increase in revenues, to the extent that government will not require any tax imposition  in the budget. Plus, the government will be able to give tax free salaries to all armed forces, rangers, police and other security agencies personnel, who are shedding their blood, in fighting the menace of terrorism, for our safe tomorrow.
 
7. Initiate steps (by imposing economic emergency) to bring each and every economic activity under document.  

I am more than confident that by the dint of sheer hard work, sincerity & honesty, which is imbibed in the bones of Pakistani work force, we can surely bring Pakistan, into the comity of 20 developed nations of the world, in the next 15-20 years.

The news published at ESPNcricinfo.com quoted as below, that ICC is not willing to send its officials for supervising the planned cricket matches to be played between Pakistan and Bangladesh, scheduled in April 2012, is really disappointing to say the least. Rather than ICC helping revive international cricket in Pakistan, by sending a world XI, it is relegating the BD cricket teams tour to Pakistan, almost to a nonevent, as if it was hockey or rugby and does not pertains under the ambit of ICC. This is NOT Cricket.

Quote. “ICC news

ICC frames plan for ‘unsafe’ series
Nagraj Gollapudi
March 7, 2012

The ICC has introduced a “special dispensation” to be made only in “exceptional circumstances” in order to ensure that bilateral series take place even if the ruling body has determined it “unsafe” to appoint its officials for such series. This would allow such series to be manned by “non-neutral match officials”, a departure from the ICC’s Standard Playing Conditions, pending permission from the ICC’s Executive Board.

The dispensation, announced at the end of the ICC’s Chief Executive Committee (CEC)’s two-day meeting in Dubai, will have special significance for the proposed tour of Pakistan by Bangladesh, the planning for which is at an advanced stage.

The CEC stated that it had limited powers to take a decision over safety issues as to whether tours should take place or not. It reiterated that the ICC’s role in bilateral series was “limited to considering the safety and security of the match officials after a tour had been confirmed and a security plan produced.” The decision as to whether a particular tour should take place or not was, the CEC stated, “one for the participating countries.”

The CEC statement has ensured that the ICC’s own officials need not be appointed for Bangladesh’s tour of Pakistan. That could be seen by Pakistan as a stumbling block towards hosting top-level international cricket; other nations would be wary of touring if the ICC deemed the situation was not safe for their officials.

For Bangladesh, the seal of ICC’s approval would have ensured greater vigilance around security issues. Last week, a nine-member Bangladesh delegation, led by their cricket board president Mustafa Kamal, gave a nod to the security arrangements at various venues after a two-day visit. Both Kamal, and Zaka Ashraf, the Pakistan Cricket Board chairman, had said that they would approach the ICC to approve the tour.

It is understood that the ICC dispatched individual letters to both the PCB and BCB on Monday, saying that it could not give the tour a go-ahead. The CEC’s introduction of this special dispensation around “non-neutral match officials” did not make a specific reference to the ICC’s disapproval of the series or that the tour had been deemed “unsafe” for its match officials to stand in. The dispensation however, creates the opportunity for the series to go ahead with Pakistani or Bangladeshi umpires and match-referees.

There had been two itineraries proposed for the tour, one of which includes a three-match ODI series, and the other a series of two ODIs and one Twenty20 international, to be completed in one week in April. Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium and Karachi’s National Stadium are the venues expected to host the matches.

ESPNcricinfo understands that Bangladesh’s security team had expressed its reservations in playing in Karachi, and instead hope to play all the proposed matches in Lahore. Earlier, Rawalpindi was dropped as a venue from the plan.

“It is important the tour goes ahead for Pakistan cricket to show the country can host games again,” Subhan Ahmad, the PCB’s chief operating officer, told Reuters. “We will have the highest level of security possible.”

Haroon Lorgat, the ICC chief executive, pointed out that special dispensations however should not become a norm. “Bearing in mind that safety and security is the sole responsibility of individual member boards for bilateral matches, the CEC regarded this as an exceptional circumstance in which the appointment of non-neutral match officials could be justified but stated clearly that it should not to be regarded as a preferred option or precedent if the dispensation were to be granted,” Lorgat said.

There has been no international cricket in Pakistan for exactly three years now after masked terrorists attacked the Sri Lankan team bus and the van carrying ICC match officials, who were on their way to the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on March 3, 2009, on what was the third day of the second Test.” Un-quote.

The above mentioned decision of ICC means that they want to inflict upon Pakistan, a perpetual punishment of banning genuine and authentic International cricket from this cricket loving country forever. And too, by ignoring all the huge human and material sacrifices Pakistan gave as a front line state, in the war against terror, while standing with the world community to make this planet a secure and safe place of freedom, peace and liberty.

This is called playing into the hands of terrorists. In fact, this gives a clear cut signal that terrorism pays.

But remember, what happened at Munich Olympics where so much blood was shed? IOC did not succumb to the unbearable pressures of security concerns and the majestic Olympics flame and its movement goes on, despite severe security threats all over the world.

ICC must know that the way it is approaching security issues in Pakistan, it is not only retrogressive but discriminatory, as well. However, leaving aside the negative effects on Pakistan cricket, the biggest sufferer will be the game of cricket, for which ICC will rue for a long time to come, when posterity will give its verdict that not terrorism, but ICC, with its myopic policies, destroyed growth & development of the glorious game of cricket.

If nations and organizations start succumbing to the threats of black mail or security concerns, then nothing will stop their decay into wilderness. Look how serious security threats were posed by the Mumbai 26/11 attack, but English cricketers continued their tour of India, sending a clear message of solidarity and steadfastness with freedom, peace and liberty.

Timidity, only gives longevity to the nefarious designs of the evil. And this was the reason England never surrendered in the Second World War to the mighty German onslaught, despite unbearable sufferings sustained for many years. Similarly, Pakistan as a front line state in war on terror is standing for more than a decade, like a rock of Gibraltar, to protect world from the spread of terrorism. As such, Pakistan deserves more than any other country in the world to be supported, even out of the way, for its sacrifices for the peace of the entire world.

So come on ICC, show some true spirit of cricket, as it is not the game for timid perons, stand up and be counted for freedom, peace and liberty.

Today, Times of India reported (Link:- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Black-money-India-to-sign-agreements-with-42-more-nations/articleshow/10793795.cms) that After signing agreements with 48 countries, India will shortly ink pacts with 42 more nations to bring back black money stashed abroad, Union minister of state for parliamentary affairs Harish Rawat said. Once these agreements are signed, India will be in a position to bring back black money stashed in different banks abroad, he told reporters here.

In Pakistan, every body knows that we are no less behind any nation in corruption. Moreover, we are also no less behind in raising hue and cry against corruption. But, the problem is that corruption can neither be curbed with hollow slogans nor by declaration of assets by the politicians and government employees. Corruption can only be minimized by deterrent legislation; which ensures that crime of corruption will not pay, neither in the short nor in the long term. And effective judicial verdicts, like the one announced today by the Delhi court in which former Indian 86 years old telecom minister Sukhram, has been sentenced for five years jail, for taking Rs 3 lakhs as bribe to give a lucrative contract to a private firm in 1996. He pleaded for leniency in court on grounds of his old age while the CBI called him a “habitual offender” and sought maximum punishment for him.The 86-year-old former minister was held guilty for misusing his official position during his tenure as telecom minister in P V Narasimha Rao’s cabinet in giving a contract worth Rs 30 crore to a private company, Haryana Telecom Limited (HTL), to supply 3.5 Lakh Conductor Kilometers (LCKM) of Polythene Insulated Jelly Filled (PIJF) cables to the telecom department.

We in Pakistan must realize that our main problem is not the existence of corruption. Rather, the fertile culture which help breeds corruption pay as the most lucrative and profitable activity in Pakistan. Till such time we attack the very roots of this cancerous culture of corruption in Pakistan, no positive improvement should be expected in any sphere of life.

And we must be aware of the fact that corruption is a bigger menace than terrorism.

Since we have all the required intitutions and no dearth of honest and honourable people, what is required is developing  a system to post these DYNAMITE people to be head of NAB, FIA and Anti-Corruption deparments of provincial governments.

Towards the achievement of this goal, a committee is proposed to be constituted, consisting of Chief Justice of Supreme Court, all Chief Justices of High Courts and leader of the opposition of National and all provincial assemblies, for appointing on a tenure post, all heads and key personnel of NAB, FIA and Provincial anti-Corruption departments. Moreover, NO person in the country from civil, military, judiciary and any other department should have the immunity from interrogation on corruption matters before these departments.

It is earnestly hoped that the above said mechanism if put in place, will strike such a fear in the hearts of all and sundry, that no one will dare even think of doing corruption in Pakistan.

This has reference to the news published on November 04, 2011 in the daily “Pakistan Today” under the heading ” Pakistan going after extremists will be a ‘real wild card’: Rice” Link :-  http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2011/11/pakistan-going-after-extremists-will-be-a-real-wild-card-rice/

Ms Condoleezza Rice let me tell you that your words Calling Pakistan “a continuing problem” for both the US and Afghanistan are very offensive, uncalled for and an insult for a nation, who gave more sacrifices in men and material, than combined losses of 49 NATO countries, fighting your sown and harvested terrorism in Afghanistan.

And don’t forget Ms C. Rice that Pakistan and this region is suffering, just because your agencies failed to stop 9/11 plotters, who got training in aeroplane flying right inside your country; and none of them belonged to Pakistan.

America has a habit of waging wars on innocent people on false pretexts.

We in Pakistan wonder, what wrong we have done over the last 64 years, in looking after your needs and helping you as a friend e.g. in Korean war era under various pacts, allowing overflights for your U2 planes to spy over USSR, connecting USA with China, bringing down USSR in Afghanistan war in 80s, saving American soldiers from being lynched by Somalian war lords, saving US staff from burning Islamabad Embassy,  making America a single super power and fighting so called American war on terror  imposed on this region that too because of sheer incompetence of US intelligence agencies, in stopping 9/11 attacks in the first instance.

Ms Condoleezza Rice, the fact is that America has time and again proved, with its betrayal in its friendship with Pakistan, that you people are and never were worthy of Pakistan’s friendship and all the sacrifices we gave for you. Moreover, now there is no doubt that you understand one and only one language, learnt in Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

And the moral of the story is, that a nation may survive being not a friend of America but, it can’t survive, being a friend of America. 

THANK YOU AMERICA

By: Col Khawar Munir Haroon(Retd),Sitara-e-Imtiaz(Military)

Thank you America, you did what you are capable of doing. You should have done it much earlier. You have unnecessarily put your people, the tax payers, under relentless pressure. Your “war on terror” expenditure has crossed $ 4 Trillion dollars. Expenditure on maintaining your troops in Afghanistan has crossed $ 100 Billion dollars. Your budget deficit is touching $ 1.645 Trillion dollars. You are under debt of over $ 14 Trillion dollars. Your economy is standing on the moving sands. A bubble, which your own economists are predicting, is about to burst. Very rightly so you have put strings to your support to Pakistan.

It is always good to run away from the theater of war. You did it in Korea, then in Vietnam. Prior to that, you buckled in front of Cuba, when Castro and Che Guevara kicked out your prodigy, Batista. You are running out of Afghanistan now. Do it fast, lest your poodle stops wagging its tail. This time your exit should be forever.

The degree of the sovereignty of a nation is  directly proportional to the state of economy of that nation. Actually, in constant growth & development lies our salvation. Secondly, we Pakistanis must know  without any doubt, that the easiest and surest way of moving ahead, is to stand on our own feet. Foreign aid, can keep us afloat, but won’t allow us to swim.

Biggest factor in any victory is self confidence. Anti-thesis of terrorism is education, coupled with economic emancipation.

As such, the nation must embark upon the following agenda, to resurrect our economy without any further loss of time.

1. Request to all foreign donors for a 5 years moratorium, on all debt repayments by Pakistan. 

2. 20%  per annum reduction in all non-developmental government expenditures, plus total freeze in all perks paid from the national exchequer, involving foreign currency. 

3. Increase in productivity & exports with liberal tax relief to industry, commerce & trade.

4. Set a target for 20% per annum  increase in foreign remittances, by offering innovative incentives to expatriate Pakistanis.

5. Abolish FBR (which will alone increase income by Rs.500 billion) & impose flat 10% tax on all & every type of income, withour any exemption (except for the security forces personnel, whose salaries should be doubled with receipt of un-precedented increase in revenue, due to this formula). This will not only reduce income tax burden on salaried class ( with max. tax rate of 10%) but will also result in so much increase of revenues that government will not require any tax imposition  in the budget. Plus, the government will be able to give tax free salaries to all armed forces, rangers, police and other security agencies personnel, who are shedding their blood, in fighting the menace of terrorism, for our safe tomorrow.

6. Initiate steps (by imposing economic emergency) to bring each and every economic activity under document.  

(I wrote this article exactly a year ago, is being reproduced for the lovers of the game, on the first anniversary of the world record, created by Sachin Tendulkar)

Many congratulations to Sachin Tendulkar for creating a unique world record, of scoring a double century in an innings of an ODI. It is a well-deserved honor earned by a batsman (Sachin Tendulkar ) adored by the followers of the game, transcending the geographical boundaries of their nations. Without doubt, the feats of Sachin are a testimony to the fact, that he is the greatest player, ever produced, by the glorious game of cricket.

In fact, cricket is truly a game of peace. It is the only game where player of one team, ties the shoe laces of the opponent member of the team. Under the circumstances, millions of cricket lovers of Pakistan and India have been denied, for more than sufficient gap of time, the pleasure of witnessing high class cricket duels between one of the finest cricketers, the game has ever produced.

We the cricket lovers, demand from both the governments and their respective cricket boards, to immediately restore cricketing ties between the two teams. Initially, we can play three tests five ODI’s and two T20 matches series in Sharjah, Abu Dhabi and Dubai stadiums in the first available slot of time. Both the teams can also experimentally, play a night test match in the proposed series. Thus, turning a new leaf in the annuls of the game.

I am confident that, by the resumption of cricketing ties between Pakistan and India, a lot of animosity will also be removed in their current tension riddled ties. In this regard, it is very aptly said that the most ailing nations have developed a functional blindness to their own defects. They are not suffering because they can’t resolve their problems, but because they can’t see their problems.

The leadership of both the countries must realize that only peace and friendship, not war, can break the shackles of poverty and terrorism, so rampant in the sub-continent.

The recent statement of US ambassador to Pakistan that :(ISLAMABAD: US ambassador to Pakistan Cameron Munter has said that the United States has right to interfere in Pakistan’s economic and governance affairs as the former provides funds to it, Geo News reported.

Addressing a ceremony here, Cameron said that the United States provides largest aid to Pakistan, therefore, it has right to interfere in economic and governance affairs.http://www.thenews.com.pk/NewsDetail.aspx?ID=8937)  has clearly laid bare the American mind set towards Pakistan.

Although, US president calls Pakistan as an enormous country and an ally of America, who has given tremendous sacrifices in fighting the menace of terrorism, yet, Mr. Munter has the audacity to tell us that America has a right to interfere in our internal affairs, just because we are receiving their aid. By this analogy, can the US ambassador to Israel, give the same statement, because that country is the biggest recipient of US aid?

I will ask Mr. Munter, if helping another country is the criteria for interference in its affairs, then Pakistan has all the right to meddle in the affairs of your country. Hope, you remember our greatest favour,   in making America the sole super power. So, before uttering such statements, just weigh our favours to America in monetary terms, and calculate how much you still owe to us, in return of Pakistan’s just one favour to America.

Mr. Munter,  should also know that there is a long list of our favours to his great country, starting from permitting U-2 flights over USSR, facilitating Kissinger’s visit to China, saving American soldiers’ life in Somalia etc. He should not force us  to think that to  call him and his country a friend, is a mistake. Perhaps, he only understand one language taught  by the brave people of Vietnam, Iraq & Afghanistan. True friendship, has no meaning in any of his dictionaries.

The government of Pakistan must immediately take notice of this blatant interference in its internal affairs by the American ambassador and send him back to his country. This punishment will restore the sanctity of our integrity and shall be remembered by Munter, throughout his life. This will also send a message to the world, that Pakistan is an honourable nation and it will not offer other cheek, if slapped on one.

Actually, every individual and nation must understand that, one can only be insulted to the extent, it is permitted. In other words you can’t be insulted, more than you allow.