[Pak-Media] The Mouse That Roared

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Link: http://www.opinion-maker.org/2011/10/the-mouse-that-roared/ (sent via Shareaholic-Publishers)

----
By  S.M. Hali

The Mouse That Roared is a 1955 Cold War satirical novel by Irish American writer Leonard Wibberley, in which an impoverished backward nation declares a war on the United States of America, to get out of its economic woes hoping to lose, but things don't go according to pla

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[Pak-Media] CIA instigating mutiny in the Pakistani army

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For Info
am


 

 A instigating mutiny in the Pakistani army
 By M K Bhadrakumar

 The unthinkable is happening. The United States is confronting the
 Pakistani military leadership of General Parvez Kayani. An extremely
 dangerous course to destabilise Pakistan is commencing. Can the
 outcome be any different than in Iran in 1979? But then, the Americans
 are like Bourbons; they never learn from their mistakes.

 The NYT report today is unprecedented. The report quotes US officials
 not less than 7 times, which is extraordinary, including "an American
 military official involved with Pakistan for many years"; "a senior
 American official", etc. The dispatch is cleverly drafted to convey
 the impression that a number of Pakistanis have been spoken to, but
 reading between the lines, conceivably, these could also probably have
 been indirect attribution by the American sources. A careful reading,
 in fact, suggests that the dispatch is almost entirely based on deep
 briefing by some top US intelligence official with great access to
 records relating to the most highly sensitive US interactions with the
 Pak army leadership and who was briefing on the basis of instructions
 from the highest level of the US intelligence apparatus.

 The report no doubt underscores that the US intelligence penetration
 of the Pak defence forces goes very deep. It is no joke to get a
 Pakistani officer taking part in an exclusive briefing by Kayani at
 the National Defence University to share his notes with the US
 interlocutors – unless he is their "mole". This is like a morality
 play for we Indians, too, where the US intelligence penetration is
 ever broadening and deepening.

 Quite obviously, the birds are coming to roost. Pakistani military is
 paying the price for the big access it provided to the US to interact
 with its officer corps within the framework of their so-called
partnership". The Americans are now literally holding the
 Pakistani army by its jugular veins. This should serve as a big
 warning for all militaries of developing countries like India (which
 is also developing intensive "mil-to-mil" ties with the US). In our
 country at least, it is even terribly unfashionable to speak anymore
 of CIA activities. The NYT story flags in no uncertain terms that
 although Cold War is over, history has not ended.

 What are the objectives behind the NYT story? In sum, any whichever
 way we look at it, they all are highly diabolic. One, US is rubbishing
 army chief Parvez Kayani and ISI head Shuja Pasha who at one time were
 its own blue-eyed boys and whose successful careers and
 post-retirement extensions in service the Americans carefully
 choreographed fostered with a pliant civilian leadership in Islamabad,
 but now when the crunch time comes, the folks are not "delivering". In
 American culture, as they say, there is nothing like free lunch. The
 Americans are livid that their hefty "investment" has turned out to be
 a waste in every sense. And. it was a very painstakingly arranged
 investment, too. In short, the Americans finally realise that they
 might have made a miscalculation about Kayani when they promoted his
 career.

 Two, US intelligence estimation is that things can only go from bad to
 worse in US-Pakistan relations from now onward. All that is possible
 to slavage the relationship has been attempted. John Kerry, Hillary
 Clinton, Mike Mullen – the so-called "friends of Pakistan" in the
 Barack Obama administration – have all come to Islamabad and turned on
 the charm offensive. But nothing worked. Then came CIA boss Leon
 Panetta with a deal that like Marlon Brando said in the movie
 Godfather, Americans thought the Pakistanis cannot afford to say 'No'
 to, but to their utter dismay, Kayani showed him the door.
 The Americans realise that Kayani is fighting for his own survival –
 and so is Pasha – and that makes him jettison his "pro-American"
 mindset and harmonise quickly with the overwhelming opinion within the
 army, which is that the Americans pose a danger to Pakistan's
national security and it is about time that the military leadership
draws a red
 line. Put simply, Pakistan fears that the Americans are out to grab
their nuclear stockpile. Pakistani people and the military expect
Kayani to disengage from the US-led Afghan war and instead pursue an
 independent course in terms of the country's perceived legitimate
 interests.

 Three, there is a US attempt to exploit the growing indiscipline
 within the Pak army and, if possible, to trigger a mutiny, which will
 bog down the army leadership in a serious "domestic" crisis that
 leaves no time for them for the foreseeable future to play any
 forceful role in Afghanistan. In turn, it leaves the Americans a free
 hand to pursue their own agenda. Time is of the essence of the matter
 and the US desperately wants direct access to the Taliban leadership
 so as to strike a deal with them without the ISI or Hamid Karzai
 coming in between.

 The prime US objective is that Taliban should somehow come to a
 compromise with them on the single most crucial issue of permanent US
 military bases in Afghanistan. The negotiations over the strategic
partnership agreement with Karzai's government are at a critical
 point. The Taliban leadership of Mullah Omar robustly opposes the US
proposal to set up American and NATO bases on their country. The
 Americans are willing to take the Taliban off the UN's sanctions list
 and allow them to be part of mainstream Afghan political life,
 including in the top echelons of leadership, provided Mullah Omar and
 the Quetta Shura agree to play ball.

 The US tried its damnest to get Kayani to bring the Taliban to the
 reconciliation path. When these attempts failed, they tried to
 establish direct contact with the Taliban leadership. But ISI has been
 constantly frustrating the US intelligence activities in this
 direction and reminding the US to stick to earlier pledges that
 Pakistan would have a key role in the negotiations with the Taliban.
 The CIA and Pentagon have concluded that so long as the Pakistani
 military leadership remains stubborn, they cannot advance their agenda
 in Afghanistan.

 Now, how do you get Kayani and the ISI to back off? The US knows the
 style of functioning of the Pakistani military. The army chief
 essentially works within a collegium of the 9 corps commanders. Thus,
 US has concluded that it also has to tackle the collegium. The only
 way is to set the army's house on fire so that the generals get
 distracted by the fire-dousing and the massive repair work and
 housecleaning that they will be called upon to undertake as top
 priority for months if not years to come. To rebuild a national
 institution like the armed forces takes years and decades.

 Four, the US won't mind if Kayani is forced to step aside from his
 position and the Pakistani military leadership breaks up in disarray,
 as it opens up windows of opportunities to have Kayani and Pasha
replaced by more "dependable" people – Uncle Sam's own men. There is
 every possibility that the US has been grooming its favourites within
 the Pak army corps for all contingencies. Pakistan is too important as
 a "key non-NATO ally". The CIA is greatly experienced in masterminding
 coup d-etat, including "in-house" coup d'etat.

 Almost all the best and the brightest Pak army officers have passed
 through the US military academies at one time or another. Given the
 sub-continent's middle class mindset and post-modern cultural ethos,
 elites in civil or military life take it for granted that US backing
 is a useful asset for furthering career. The officers easily succumb
 to US intelligence entrapment. Many such "sleepers" should be existing
 there within the Pak army officer corps.

 The big question remains: has someone in Washington thought through
 the game plan to tame the Pakistani military? The heart of the matter
 is that there is virulent "anti-Americanism" within the Pak armed
 forces. Very often it overlaps with Islamist sympathies. Old-style
left wing "anti-Americanism" is almost non-existent in the Pakistani
 armed forces – as in Ayaz Amir's time. These tendencies in the
military are almost completely in sync with the overwhelming public
 opinion in the country as well.

Over the past 3 decades at least, Pakistani army officers have come to
 be recruited almost entirely from the lower middle class – as in our
country – and not from the landed aristocracy as in the earlier
 decades up to the 1970s. These social strata are quintessentially
 right wing in their ideology, nationalistic, and steeped in
 religiosity that often becomes indistinguishable from militant religious faith.

Given the overall economic crisis in Pakistan and the utterly
 discredited Pakistani political class (as a whole) and countless other
 social inequities and tensions building up in an overall climate of
 cascading violence and great uncertainties about the future gnawing
 the mind of the average Pakistani today, a lurch toward extreme right
 wing Islamist path is quite possible. The ingredients in Pakistan are
 almost nearing those prevailing in Iran in the Shah's era.

 The major difference so far has been that Pakistan has an armed forces
 "rooted in the soil" as a national institution, which the public
 respected to the point of revering it, which on its part, sincerely or
 not, also claimed to be the Praetorian Guards of the Pakistani state.
 Now, in life, destroying comes very easy. Unless the Americans have
 some very bright ideas about how to go about nation-building in
 Pakistan, going by their track record in neighbouring Afghanistan,
their present course to discredit the military and incite its
 disintegration or weakening at the present crisis point, is fraught
 with immense dangers.

The instability in the region may suit the US' geo-strategy for
 consolidating its (and NATO's) military presence in the region but it
 will be a highly self-centred, almost cynical, perspective to take on
 the problem, which has dangerous, almost explosive, potential for
 regional security. Also, who it is that is in charge of the Pakistan
 policy in Washington today, we do not know. To my mind, Obama
 administration doesn't have a clue since Richard Holbrooke passed away
 as to how to handle Pakistan.

 The disturbing news in recent weeks has been that all the old
"Pakistan hands" in the USG have left the Obama administration. It
 seems there has been a steady exodus of officials who knew and
understood how Pakistan works, and the depletion is almost one hundred
percent. That leaves an open field for the CIA to set the policies.
 The CIA boss Leon Panetta (who is tipped as defence secretary) is an
experienced and ambitious politico who knows how to pull the wires in
the Washington jungle – and, to boot it, he has an Italian name. He is
 unlikely to forgive and forget the humiliation he suffered in
Rawalpindi last Friday. The NYT story suggests that it is not in his
blood if he doesn't settle scores with the Rawalpindi crowd. If Marlon
Brando were around, he would agree.

 Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar was a career diplomat in the Indian Foreign
 Service. His assignments included the Soviet Union, South Korea, Sri
 Lanka, Germany, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Kuwait and Turkey.


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[Pak-Media] World Teachers Day: The United Nations Lauds the Commendable Contribution of Teachers in the Socio-Economic Development of Pakistan.

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Dear Media Colleagues,


World Teachers' Day 2011

World Teachers' Day is held annually on 5 October to celebrate the essential role of teachers in providing quality education at all levels. It also commemorates the anniversary of the 1966 signature of the UNESCO/ILO Recommendation Concerning the Status of Teachers.

The 2011 events will focus on the theme "Teachers for Gender Equality"

On this World Teachers Day, the United Nations Pakistan lauds the contribution and dedication of teachers, particularly the female teachers working in far flung regions of Pakistan, towards building the next generation of a peaceful, democratic, and prosperous Pakistan.  A joint statement by the Country Representatives of UNESCO, UNICEF, UNDP, and ILO in Pakistan to acknowledge and commend the role played by teachers in the socio-economic development of Pakistan is attached (and copied below) for your kind attention and coverage.


Your cooperation and support to highlight the significant contribution of teachers towards improving the learning of students in schools, colleges and universities of Pakistan is highly appreciated.


With best regards,





Joint Statement by the

Country Representatives of UNESCO, UNICEF, UNDP, and ILO in Pakistan

on the occasion of

World Teachers Day, 5th October 2011

 

"On this World Teachers' Day, we would like to acknowledge and commend the role played by teachers in the socio-economic development of Pakistan. Teachers have been, are, and will remain the torch bearers of knowledge and social change -- they nurture and inspire the future generations. This is vital for bringing peace and democratic stability, for creating jobs and achieving economic development, and for creating respect and harmony between boys and girls, men and women, different beliefs, and ethnic groups.


We also avail this opportunity to highlight the significant contribution of teachers towards improving the learning of students in schools, colleges and universities of Pakistan. Teachers are fundamental in human capital formation: building children and young peoples' capacity to be part of a productive labour force across the entire spectrum of livelihoods and occupations. Dedicated, caring teachers also equip students with the knowledge and attitudes that make them good citizens in a vibrant democratic society, imbued with a sense of civic responsibility. Teachers also enjoy substantial influence in their social environment, being role model for their pupils, and are held in tremendous respect by local communities who seek their guidance in both personal and communal matters. Teachers, along with good parenting, are our children's future and therefore the nation's future – and beyond that – the world's future. You can have a school without a building, without desks, without books, but so long as there is a good teacher, there will be learning.


Given the current challenges that Pakistan is facing teachers have the responsibility to promote peace and instill in their students the universal values of peace, tolerance, equality and respect for diversity. This includes equal rights for all including men and women, all socio-economic groups, and minority groups.

Recognizing the wide gender disparities in education in developing countries, the global theme for this year's World Teachers' Day is 'Teachers for Gender Equality'. Participation rates of girls in education are low in Pakistan and as a result the percentage of illiterate women is high. At present, about 40% of Pakistani girls are not enrolled in primary school. Teachers can play a leading role in motivating parents to send their daughters to school and keep them in school and in mobilizing local communities to support girls' education in safe, protected schools. The likelihood of out of school boys and girls is higher to enter the world of work as child labourers, including its hazardous forms. Many out of schools girls enter into invisible forms of labour, for example, child domestic workers.


We urge government and civil society, including the private sector, to focus on professional development of teachers by increasing the investment in teacher education, refresher training, and teacher support including taking concrete steps towards improving their working conditions. We also urge the government to give representation to teachers in different legislative and statutory bodies to ensure their participation in the decision making processes at various levels.  We also appeal to the teachers and their associations to fulfill their moral and professional obligations by meeting the learning needs of not only the children enrolled in their schools but also of the children who are not fortunate enough to have access to education.


We are confident that the teachers of Pakistan can assist the country in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and targets of 'Education for All'. Teachers can contribute significantly in fulfilling the fundamental Right of all Pakistani children of age 5 to 16 years, boys and girls both, to free and compulsory education, as enshrined in Article 25-A of the Constitution of Pakistan. Teachers can contribute directly and indirectly, through their pupils, in ensuring that Pakistan is a knowledge based democratic society, help garner support in post-crisis reconstruction, and help in coping with disasters and emergencies through working with local communities. Dream of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan, who said, "Pakistan is proud of her youth, particularly the students, who are nation builders of tomorrow. They must fully equip themselves by discipline, education, and training for the arduous task lying ahead of them."

Teachers are catalyst for human growth and development. We also call for greater efforts and structures of social dialogue that give teachers a voice in decision-making through their democratically elected organizations. Without teachers' inputs to shape education reforms, recovery processes are not likely to achieve all their goals.


Once again we laud the contribution and dedication of teachers, particularly the female teachers working in far flung regions of Pakistan, towards building the next generation of a peaceful, democratic, and prosperous Pakistan."


***






[Pak-Media] News--Energy riots can swell into anti-govt movement

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Energy riots can swell into anti-govt movement

Energy should not be used as a political tool

Rulers unconcerned about economic stability

Shahzab's statement about President not treason

 

Islamabad: [Oct 04]

The Pakistan Economy Watch (PEW) on Tuesday said energy crisis, which has sparked protests and riots, has potential to become a countrywide movement.

 

Such a mass movement, supported by worsening situation and apathy of rulers can send the incompetent government packing, it said.

 

Masses are business community are not ready to bear punishment anymore which is result of incompetency of concerned officials and politicians, said Dr. Murtaza Mughal, President of the Pakistan Economy Watch.

 

He said that corrupt politicians, incompetent bureaucracy, America, India and misguided political preferences were reasons behind the energy crisis in Pakistan.

 

US do not want Pakistan to use Iran gas which has potential to stabilise economy. India is barring our share of water jeopardising our capacity to generate electricity. She is also helping Afghanistan build dams to reduce Pakistan's share of water.

 

Dr. Murtaza Mughal informed that India is building controversial dams by importing cement from Pakistan. Cement exports to New Delhi should be immediately banned, he demanded.

 

He said that corruption in power generation and distribution companies is an open secret while politicians have developed unexampled interest in rental. They are ignoring all other forms of power generation for personal gains.

 

Federal government should not use energy as a political weapon to punish opponents; it should not delay delivery of power plants destined for Punjab on Karachi port without justification, he demanded.

 

Dr. Murtaza Mughal said that statement of Chief Minister Punjab against President Zardari is not treason and those who are suggesting a legal action are enemies of Pakistan.

 

The preferences of rulers have also contributed to the situation. Rs 1000 billion have been spent on pleasing political supporters in ailing state run corporations since the current government assumed power. A similar amount has found its way into the pockets of major politicians, he alleged.

 

A small part of that extraordinary amount would have eradicated energy crises forever, he said.

 

Rulers are less concerned about economic stability otherwise, there would have been no complaints of brain drain, flight of capital and relocation of industries, he observed.

--

Dr. Murtaza Mughal

Cell:  0321-5157671

President Pakistan Economy Watch

www.pakistaneconomywatch.com


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[Pak-Media] FBR updated Revenue figures

0

 

Dear,
attached please find the table of updated Revenue Collection figures for collection upto 30th September, 2011. please use in your stories. i request that this may be given maximum coverage as possible. this table was last updated yesterday, 3rd October, 2011. please note that this table is updated frequently and any updates would also be shared with the you as soon as possible.

with regards

--
Mohammad Shahzad
Secretary PR
Federal Board of Revenue (FBR)
Islamabad
+92 051 920 8407
+92 333 5201233
http://www.fbr.gov.pk/

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