SPY EYES

On November 18, 1999, immediately after General Pervez Musharraf took over the helm of affairs in Pakistan, this columnist (Dr. Haider Mehdi) wrote a personal letter to him. The following is an extract from that letter. Consider the enormous accuracy of the predication of the political-military fallouts made over a decade ago.

“…Americans have been conducting their relations with Pakistan with specifically designed agendas. In the first phase, Pakistan fought American political battles of anti-communism… this was followed by Zia’s years, in engaging the Soviet Union in armed intervention; and now the likelihood is that the Americans would want Pakistan to assist them in destabilizing the Taliban regime in Afghanistan. As we enter the next millennium, the American and European political obsession will be to destabilize Islamic countries (what they coin now as “extremism”)… It is beyond the scope of Pakistani politics to define whether the political regime in Afghanistan ought to be destabilized or not. But, there is a certainty about one thing: should Pakistan get involved with Afghanistan’s internal affairs andcarry out the American political agenda in its newest form, the long-range consequences for Pakistan will be disastrous.”

And the ultimate disaster has struck us. Read between the lines: Admiral Mike Mullen has declared war on Pakistan. Has he not?

A simple question: Is Pakistan in a state of war now?  The simple answer is YES! 

Another simple question: Is Pakistan prepared for this forthcoming eventuality of American aggression and direct military intervention on its soil? The simple answer is: NO!

Yet another simple question: What should Pakistan do to respond to the growing US militarythreat?

We need to make multiple coordinated military and civil maneuvers: Pakistan’s armed forces (Air Force, Navy and Army) should be immediately mobilized in “Red Alert.”  We should let our adversaries know, in no uncertain terms, that so far, Pakistan has been patiently tolerant, in the interest of peace and political reconciliations, of the low-intensity war conducted against it, both covertly and overly for years by the Americans and their allies.  But, in the wake of Admiral Mullen’s recent testimony in the US Senate, the political and military ground realities in Pakistan have completely changed. Pakistan will have a “zero tolerance” military policy against any US aggressive initiatives. The preemptive civil and military counter-effective strategic response to future US military designs on Pakistan (which seem to be in an advanced stage) is to make sure that the Obama administration fully comprehends that Pakistan’s future military engagementwith US forces will turn the ongoing low-intensity war into a full-fledged military conflict, should the Americans decide on yet another aerial or ground offensive in any part of its territory. Pakistan’s high military command needs to tell the American President, in unequivocal terms, that Pakistan’s army is not for hire anymore; it will not fight US-West proxy wars nor will it engage itself in waging aggression against its own people on the behest of the US and its allies in the name of the so-called “war on terrorism.”

Let us play politics with America on the basis of our strengths rather than be coerced into submission by American political, military and financial aid threats: Let us remind the Obama administration that America still has 130,000 troops in land-locked Afghanistan whose present survival and future safe exit depends on Pakistan’s generosity of political conduct and goodwill – and if the US insists on playing fire with us, we will play fire with America. The Americans should have no doubt in their minds: we will block NATO supplies, shoot down the next drone that violates our airspace and respond to any US military aggression with our full might. We are equipped with military capability to confront any armed adventure against our nation – and thismilitary confrontation will not be a “zero sum game” – the political military odds will most certainly be tilted to our advantage.

So let us keep a humanitarian context in view: Let us invite the US to join us at a negotiation table, and let us talk peace. Let us help America in ending this vicious war that has been their making in the first place and let us give the Afghans their country back. We need to make Americans realize now that they are not fighting a specific insurgency but an entire Afghan nation; they are fighting the Afghan people!  It is about time that the Taliban’s legitimate national aspirations be respected and their moral- political rights recognized in an independent Afghanistan. Let us make US-Nato leadership understand that even in a 100-year war, the Afghans will not allow foreign military presence in their country.

Let us make Americans understand that they have failed in their conceptualization of the 21^stcentury global world and their capitalistic corporate strategic goals do not sit well with the present-day enlightened socio-political awareness of the masses. The American-Western dogma is dead: look at the economic failures, take stock of the continued free-market crises and failings in capitalistic democracies. Stop indulging in counter- revolutionary wars: there is no room in the present-day world, in the interest of the masses everywhere, to create more Afghanistans, Iraqs and Libyas. America, as the leader of the reactionary, neo-con and neo-imperialist axis, needs to be stopped now – if necessary, by force.

Barrack Obama needs to be told that, in the aftermath of General Mullen’s Senate testimony, Obama’s re-election bid for the second presidential term largely depends on Pakistan’s goodwill and favorable political conduct. Obama needs to take bold and valorous acts of political statesmanship to opt for instant peace in Afghanistan than to choose another instant war against Pakistan. And Pakistan can help Obama in attaining peace instantly at a negotiation table helped by the Haqqani network and coordinated by the Taliban – without which Barrack Obama will be part of an ugly American history in the year of our Lord, 2012.

And the final vital question: Is the Zardari-Gilani regime capable of delivering this important message and able to communicate Pakistan’s nationalistic point of view with required dignity, integrity, convincing arguments, conceptual strength and tactical diplomacy to Obama’s administration? I am afraid the simple reality is: NO.

Zardari-Gilani are Pervez Musharraf’s protégés incapable of comprehending the looming crisis over Pakistan – just as Musharraf, a decade ago,  intentionally and consciously disregarded Pakistan’s national interests (which was brought to his attention in my letter of November 18, 1999) – all for the love of personal power!

So what needs to be done? An interim government – to deal with the political- military crisis coming our way in the next few weeks! Perhaps even in the following few days!

Stop America, now!

In the wake of the prevailing security situation and tension in relations with the US (afterstatements issued by Mullen, Panetta  and Gen Mettis) General Kiyani and the top military and political  leadership unanimously rejected the allegations leveled against Pakistani security institutions by the US.The Pakistani Defence Minister Ahmed Mukhtar, said that Pak is not supporting Haqqani network. Misunderstandings between the US and Pakistan will give benefit to some third party who do not want peace and stability in the region. US needs to improve its intelligence and attitude. Pakistan has suffered more than any other country in War on Terror.

On other hand, Indian Foreign Minister,  S M Krishna said that we are happy that US has endorsed our stance about Haqqani Network and ISI. Hina Rabbani Khar, Pakistan's young Foreign Minister carries a mature head and said in an interview to American Channel that America cannot fly alone in the region. Pakistan faced 311 attacks but America only one. it was the US that had established Haqqani network and not Pakistan. Ronald Reagan is on record.

These fireworksand volley of canon fires from Washington DC have put the readers into state of confusion. I as a writer decided to help the readers to understand the situation and form a clear opinion of theirs. A statement relased on the Taliban's website (Voice of Jihad) said "all insurgent activity is of "our own initiatives and our own actions."   It said there are no ties between the Haqqani network and Pakistan's spy agency, the ISI

The statement also said attempts to link the Haqqani network's founder, Jalaluddin Haqqani, to the Pakistani government were an attempt to "give a bad name to our prominent figures" by tying them to foreign intelligence services. Has the super power learned some lesson after its statement of weapon of mass destruction in Iraq and later saying SORRY INTELLIGENCE FAILURE. The CIA Chief labeling ISI Complicent or incapable after OBL Killing in Abbottabad. I only ask does present US officials giving such starement and CIA represent the same America which is known for its uprightness , values , Human rights and LIBERTY. OR a group of out sourcers like Black Waters having no value for rule of law and TRUTH. I leave my readers with these two photographs to decide themselves.

President Ronald Reagan dedicates Space Shuttle to Taliban foreruners

By Mahboob A. Khawaja, Ph.D.

The US administration accuses Pakistan of being complacent in last week’s Haqqani group Taliban attacks on the US compound in Kabul. It is not only absurd but unexpected from an ally waging proxy war on behalf of the US. The inept and wicked Pakistani elite and politicians deserve immediate accountability for their crimes against the interests of the people.   But the people can only demonstrate and get burnt, echoing competing and disgusted voices often with fatigued spirit and run-down bodies of decades old protests challenging the incompetent military dictators and crime riddled sadistic political rulers. This week, an elder Pakistani political observer informed me about “prostitution run politics flourishing in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi.” No wonder, why many Pakistanis would identify Zardari-PPP and the Generals as shameless (“baigharat”) and prostitution agents (“kanjars”).  What an insult to morally conscientious Pakistani people?

Reminiscent of the British Empire have long been erased by the changing pulse of time and history but the New American Empire wants to reassert its political hegemony over South West and Central Asia. After Iraq, Muslim people of Afghanistan and Pakistan are the net victims of this tragic plan well in progress but the mindless and mostly bribed rulers are happy – life brings many pleasures and comforts to them. The US is defeated and it wants more to share the same fate and image at least to argue with the American voters in forthcoming presidential elections. No matter how illiterate, the people are perceived to be in global imagery, Pakistanis have wide range of knowledge and understanding of the US led bogus war on terrorism. Its ultimate aims are to destabilize and cripple Pakistan within by its ruling monsters – PPP- Bhutto-Zardari, Geelani, the Generals and their accomplice bureaucrats. Is it something new to the Pakistanis? Wolfwoltz, the former neo-con architect of the Iraq war and Bush appointed President of the World Bank asked General Musharaf to phase-out pro Islamic and pro-Pakistani senior militaryand civilian officials and phase-in pro-American and pro-secular officials to govern Pakistan.Musharaf complied with the demands of the Master. Corruption and treachery is part of the Pakistani current governance. Zardari-PPP gang and the Generals must face legal – political accountability or both law and firing squads for their treachery and wickedness to the interests of the people of Pakistan.

ANI in its report of May 12, 2011 makes it known that “Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) operatives have infiltrated the Taliban and Al-Qaeda networks, and have created their own Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) force in order to destabilize Pakistan. Much of the information-gathering network of Pakistan's supreme security service was curtailed in the country's tribal areas during former military ruler Pervez Musharraf's era, consequently giving an edge to America's CIA, The Nation reported. The CIA was given direct access to the entire territory ofNorth and South Waziristan, which has since developed its stronghold in the belt, itadded…….the CIA operatives have infiltrated the Taliban and Al-Qaeda networks, and have created their own TTP force…….This force has been recruited, trained and equipped by these CIA operatives to target the Pakistan Army personnel, armed forces' installations, markets, hospitals, schools and public places to destabilize Pakistan.” In 2006-2007, the US purchased $60 million worth of Soviet era made weaponry from Russia and distributed to various groups active in Afghanistan and adjacent tribal belts of Pakistan. This would enlarge the scope of killings and empower the insurgency.

The paper quoted the sources, as claiming that the Soviet Intelligence Agency had already disclosed that CIA contractor Raymond Davis and his network had provided Al-Qaeda operatives with chemical, nuclear and biological weapons, so that US installations may be targeted and Pakistan be blamed, and pressed to do more in areas such as conducting operations in NorthWaziristan.

"After the civil government justified the CIA operation in Abbottabad all of them have again indulged in their original nefarious activities," the sources added.

It is a public knowledge worldwide that the US-India and Britain are working collaboratively to destroy the nuclear arsenals and the integrity of Pakistan. Andrew Gavin Marshall (“Imperial Eye on Pakistan: Pakistan in Pieces, Part 1- Global Research. 5/30/2011) adds the proper perspective: ‘Pakistan in Pieces’ examines the changing views of the American strategic planners – particularly the military and intelligence policy makers in Washington – towards Pakistan.

“In particular, there is a general acknowledgement that Pakistan will very likely continue to be destabilized and ultimately collapse. What is not mentioned in these assessments, however, is the role of the military and intelligence communities in making this a reality; a veritable self-fulfilling prophecy. This part also examines the active on the ground changes in American strategy in Pakistan, with increasing military incursions into the country.”

Andrew Marshall streamlines the core issue:

“In 2005, the Times of India reported on a US National Intelligence Council report, written in conjunction with the CIA, which predicted a “Yugoslavia-like fate” for Pakistan, saying that, “by year 2015 Pakistan would be a failed state, ripe with civil war, bloodshed, inter-provincial rivalries and a struggle for control of its nuclear weapons and complete Talibanisation.”

Leading American Democratic and Republican politicians were actively engaged in belligerent statements that Pakistan represented a greater strategic threat than Iran.

The Asia Times Online (12/2007) ran a story about the US plan to rid Pakistan of President Musharraf, and that the US and the West, more broadly, had begun a strategy aimed at toppling Pakistan’s military. As part of this, the US launched a media campaign aimed at demonizing Pakistan’s military establishment.

Authors Frederick Kagan and Michael O’Hanlon in an op-ed in the New York Times (November 2007) stated categorically that, “the United States simply could not stand by as a nuclear-armed Pakistan descended into the abyss,” and that, “we need to think — now — about our feasiblemilitary options in Pakistan, should it really come to that.”

The authors concluded remarks point out that “decline in Pakistan would likely be gradual, therefore allowing the US to have time to respond, and placed an emphasis on securing Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal and combating militants. They finished the article with the warning: “Pakistan may be the next big test.”

Defense Secretary Panetta and new CIA Chief General Petreaus asking Pakistan to do more in crushing the activities of Haqqani group tells all – how the US failed to quell the freedom fighters in Afghanistan. Now, it needs a face saving shield, and that means incursion into Pakistan and possible reactionary military attacks to occupy Pakistan.

Zardari and General Kiyani would have already consented to such plan – the faithful paid agents of the US strategic plan stationed in Pakistan. To the US, Pakistani masses will demonstrate for a while, get killed and go home – who cares?  The US appointed new administration and Generals will talk about human rights, freedom and justice as the core of American enhanced liberal democratic values – a model as is the Iraq blue print under the US-British militaryoccupation. Pakistani Generals and Zardari are no strangers to these social interactions as they have worked for long time to bring this new phase of democracy to the besieged people of Pakistan.

Recently, in “Pakistan- Whithering Heights”, the author made the following observation:

How to free Pakistan from the grip of most corrupt, incompetent and criminally well known rulers – PPP- Bhuttos-Zardari and the Generals?

Could Pakistan fight another war against itself or anybody else?

With broken economy, shattered public confidence, destroyed businesses/trades/commerce, crippled resources, daily civilian bloodbaths, defeated armed forces under corrupt leadership – what else is there that Pakistani masses could look for to acquire sense of security and survival?  The Generals and Zardari gang see no evil anywhere around them except the one if they look straight in the mirror.  Deprived of any consideration, practically discarded as human beings and viewed as digits and numbers, and politically tortured and victimized, 180 million Pakistanis live under the virtual occupation and slavery of the few egomaniac blood thirsty Draculas. Pardon my ignorance, but why there is no typhoon or another big earthquake in the Presidential Palace, the Assembly or where the Generals occupy the public land? Everyday is fast becoming a tragic day. Human bodies –innocent civilians put to flames by the MQM-PPP gangsters in Karachi. Yesterday, a bomb blast in bus near Peshawar killing 60 passengers and injuring many. Today, a bus crash reported 37 school kids killed near Islamabad and many more wounded because of the failure of the breaks. Strange, why do the breaks of Zardari’s car or General Kiyani’s car not fail and turn them ups and down?  The global news media shows painful scenes of human miseries – hunger, sickness and helplessness affected by the flooding in Sindh. Political beggars come out to make case for global aid, yet nobody cares to help the people.  Why isn’t there a flood in Islamabad destroying the Zardari palace, Generals and the bogus National Assembly? People’s life and safety are left to the mercy of Allah, Who is indeed Merciful.  In an Islamabad masjid, an Imam completes the morning “Fajr” prayers and raises his hands to God:

“Oh Allah help us and save us from the treacherous plans and wickedness of the rulers – the fasiqs and fajars who are conspiring to destroy Muslims and Pakistan”

Pakistan NEEDS a strategic change and new policy direction disconnecting its affiliation with the US warmongering – a new political system and indeed much desired New Leadership. There is no systematic mechanism to expect this change to come out of the piled up political garbage of the PPP- Generals administration.  The logical way out is the IMMEDIATE formation of a non-partisan civilian government replacing the Zardari gang, and under new, educated and intelligent leadership providing a breathing space and an opportunity to make the navigational change, out of the prevalent and dangerous political present.  This should be the CORE THINKING of a sustainable change and new political direction. The People of Pakistan can make it happened – the only hope under the shadows of more wars, drone attacks, and more deaths and destruction in waiting as part of the US friendship baggage.

The US, however should take cognizance that attacking Pakistan is not going to be a cakewalk. It is a nuclear weapons equipped battle hardened country which will defend itself or go down fighting. It is hoped and prayed that good sense prevails in the US administration!

The US government has virtually read out the Miranda warning to Pakistan. Miranda is the formal warning required to be given by police in the United States to criminal suspects in a custodial situation before they are interrogated, to make the accused aware of, and remind him of his rights under the US Constitution. Admiral Mike Mullen, Leon Panetta and the White House Spokesperson have virtually issued Miranda warnings to Pakistan accusing it of supporting attacks by the Haqqani network on US targets in Afghanistan, including the September 13 assault on the US Embassy/NATO Head Quarters in Kabul. While briefing the US Senate, the Admiral categorically stated: “The Haqqani network, for one, acts as a veritable arm of Pakistan’s internal services intelligence agency.” US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta told senators the presence of safe havens in Pakistan, is giving the insurgents advantages they have otherwise lost. White House spokesman Jay Carney last Friday called on Pakistan to “break any link they have” with the Haqqani terror network, blamed for attacks in Afghanistan including the recent strike on the US embassy in Kabul.

The synchronized blame game has been refuted vehemently by Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Defence and Foreign Ministers and the Chief of Army Staff. History is replete with wrongful US indictments. It had attacked both Afghanistan and Iraq with apparent UN approval but under trumped up charges. In the case of Afghanistan it invoked the self defence clause, insisting that the Taliban regime was harbouring Osama bin Laden, the purported perpetrator of the 9/11 attack. Despite the Taliban’s insistence that the US provide evidence pertaining to the allegations and Osama would be tried under Afghan laws, the US invaded Afghanistan and has caused the death of over 40,000 civilians so far. It must be understood that “self-defence”, firstly in both international and US law, must be clearly distinguished from the use of force for revenge or punishment; states, like persons, must not act as vigilantes. Secondly, in criminal law, “self-defence” may be invoked in the face of an imminent threat of death or grave bodily harm. In general, the threat must be immediate and the response must not be pushed beyond what is reasonably required to repel that threat. Thus the invasion of Afghanistan was not a legitimate act of “self-defence” by the United States after the 9/11 attacks. There is no UN Security Council resolution authorizing the United States, whether alone or in coalition with other countries, to attack Afghanistan. Between 11 September and 7 October 2001, when the Afghanistan invasion began, the UN Security Council adopted only one resolution concerning the 9–11 attacks. Resolution 1368 of September 12 condemned the 9/11 attack while Resolution 1378 of 14 November 2001, adopted more than five weeks after the bombardment of Afghanistan commenced, only condemns the Taliban and supports “the efforts of the Afghan people to replace the Taliban regime”!

Countries that plan wars in order to capture resources, conquer territory, or in other ways advance their strategic interests or hegemonic designs never lack for noble-sounding pretexts: self-defence, defending civilization, rescuing threatened national minorities, and so on. After no weapons of mass destruction had been found to justify the invasion of Iraq, the Bush administration argued that it was legitimate to overthrow a brutal dictatorship in order to free the Iraqi people. But to allow any country to make war entirely on its own grounds means throwing out international law and replacing it with “might makes right.”

Now the US is threatening to throw its erstwhile “most non-NATO ally” Pakistan to the dogs of war. The US has already violated Pakistan’s sovereignty on two accounts, firstly by launching the Drone attacks and secondly the May 2 attack to “eliminate” Osama bin Laden. Pakistan needs to take its case to the UN; but this step may yield no results if former US Permanent Representative to the UN John Bolton is to be believed: “There is no such thing as the United Nations. There is only the international community, which can only be led by the only remaining superpower, which is the United States, when it suits our interest and we can get others to go along… When the United States leads, the United Nations will follow.”

The US, however should take cognizance that attacking Pakistan is not going to be a cakewalk. It is a nuclear weapons equipped battle hardened country which will defend itself or go down fighting. It is hoped and prayed that good sense prevails in the US administration!

The US top brass once again found itself making headlines by accusing Pakistan’s Intelligence agency of aiding, protecting and facilitating the Haqqani Network.  The network, aptly branded as ‘ the most deadly US foe in Afghanistan’ has carried out a number of attacks on US troops and has served as a barrier to US military success in Afghanistan. Admiral Mike Mullen, known for his caustic remarks and accusatory notes against Pakistan’s intelligence agency found himself repeating the same rhetoric. While Pakistan has strongly denied such allegations, the United States is bent on defaming the agency by implicating its complicity with the Quetta Shura Taliban and the Haqqani Network.

The Haqqani network emerged as a jihadist force under the putative leadership of Jalaluddin Haqqani. He acquired fame as a veteran war hero against the Russians in the 1980’s. Ironically, then, he was revered by the American Intelligence agency for his ‘remarkable skill to execute Russians’. With the tables now turned on the Americans, the network serves as the greatest threat to the American interests in Afghanistan. Later on, his son, Sirajjudin Haqqani succeeded him and expanded the influence of the network by recruiting foreign militants to fight off the American presence in Afghanistan. It is primarily active in Afghanistan’s Southeastern provinces of Paktia, Paktika, Khost, Logar and Ghazni.

 In recent years, the Haqqani network has mainly targeted US troops, Afghan government officials and Indian citizens in Afghanistan. The pattern of events suggest that the Haqqani network has operated against foreign domination on Afghan soil. Its ability to impact can be estimated by the targets it has selected to attack and the manner in which the attacks are carried out. The Haqqani network is believed to have been involved in the assassination attempt on President Hamid Karzai, whereby he narrowly survived but three others were killed, along with the attack on the Indian embassy killing more than 40 personnel. However, the recent attack on the US embassy in Kabul has exasperated the US military and political establishment and created a frenzy to take the Haqqani network head on and dismantle it once and for all. In doing so, the United States wants Pakistan to play an effective role by launching attacks on its ‘safe-havens’ in North Waziristan. Pakistan, for its part has denied the presence of the Haqqani network within its territory.

As such the US is considering all options to persuade Pakistan to take up a more aggressive course of action against the Haqqani network. The once “do-more” mantra has now transformed into a “do-more syndrome”. The Americans seems to be blinded to the fact that Pakistan has done more than any other state in the world to eradicate terrorism. However, its support of the United States in the war against terror has landed it in a quagmire. Pakistan has lost more than 35,000 lives, with enormous destruction of infrastructure, total collapse of our economy, not to mention a psychologically besieged nation. So, while the United States has its own interests to cater to, the Pakistani government and its military must place its own priorities at the forefront. The US government continues to employ its “carrot and stick” approach to Pakistan by promising one billion in aid to Pakistan by conditioning it with strong action against Haqqani network inNorth Waziristan and the Quetta Shura Taliban. On the contrary, it has threatened to keep the option of sanctions open incase of noncompliance. The US has also warned that incase Pakistan were not to take up the desired course of action, the US would take out the target by itself. Furthermore, another point worth noting is that the issue of Kashmir was briefly touched upon by Admiral Mike Mullen. His recent statement that, resolution of the Kashmir issue could lead to an enduring peace in the region should not be brushed aside. It may well have been an indication that if Pakistan were to deal with the Haqqani network with an iron fist, The United States could play a positive role in bringing the parties to the negotiating table. However, there is a great deal of ambiguity and no clear commitment has been made. As such, it would not be wrong to suggest that the US is trying to use every trick of the trade to influence Pakistan’smilitary and political leadership to sway in its favour.

For now, Pakistan has conveyed to the US Government that owing to shortage of manpower and scarcity of resources as well as an out stretched army already assisting desperate people in flood hit areas, it cannot afford to open up a new front for itself. Its priority for now is to eliminate terrorists who are directly involved in launching attacks against the state and its agencies. Pakistan’s foreign minister has conveyed to the US establishment that by openly castigating Pakistan’s intelligence agency, the United States would lose an important ally.

Pakistan needs to understand the leverage that it enjoys owing to its geo-strategic position and as a route for essential supplies going into Afghanistan for American and NATO troops. As for US threats to discontinue financial assistance to Pakistan, the fact is that it has never really done much good in terms of alleviating the miseries of the common people. The allocated aid was either not released, or whatever was received, was used in military operations against terrorists, who propped up in hundreds and thousands due to Pakistan’s pro-American position, and whatever was left often found itself sitting idly in the pockets of corrupt politicians. The US discontinuation of aid may well serve as a blessing for Pakistan; to set ourselves free from the hideous culture of beggary.

Furthermore, if the United States wishes to engage in a misadventure by violating Pakistan’s territorial sovereignty, encouraged by its previous operation in Abbotabad, our armed forces must be vigilant and respond with full vigor. A failure to do so will seriously jeopardize the reputation of the present government as well as tarnish the image of the military in the eye of the public for a long time to come.

Courtesy: Opinion Maker.

From SPY EYES reliable sources:

Many officers of Pakistan Navy have expressed their surprise and dismay over a campaign by certain sectarian elements within the establishment and media to promote and project officers belonging to their sect, which according to them was highly influencing the organizational culture and professionalism of the Navy in a negative way.

According to reliable sources inside the Naval authorities, a recent example was the media and lobbying campaign for Vice Admiral Abbas Raza to replace Chief of Naval Staff Noman Bashir who is going to retire on 7 October 2011. Due to his sectarian as well as ethnic background Raza is reportedly the hot favourite of President Asif Ali Zardari and the Defense Secretary Syed Ather Ali. Major General Ather Abbas is also reportedly campaigning for him in the media due to similar reasons.

Articles posted and on websites such as www.defence.pk and www.paksoldiers.com used by serving and retired officials of armed forces of the country also reflect the propaganda being done in favour of Admiral Raza, who is third on the seniority list of the names being considered as the successor of Admiral Noman Bashir. TV channels under the influence of DG ISPR through his brothers have also run stories projecting Raza as the next naval chief.

Raza has earlier faced severe criticism internally as the key senior naval official responsible for the security failure at PNS Mehran in March this year as he serves as the Commander of the Naval Fleet and was ultimately responsible for the security of the naval aircrafts destroyed in the attack. However, due to his strong connections with the President, Defence Secretary and strong backing of a certain sectarian lobby within the security establishment and the media he was not replaced or transferred after the PNS Mehran tragedy and the onus of the incident was put on his subordinates.

Surprisingly, a similar media campaign was launched by the same lobby to award the highest gallantry award, Nishan-e-Haider, to the duty officer at Mehran base who belonged to the same sect and was killed by the terrorists within the first minute of the attack while he was neglectfully talking to his family for long hours on the official telephone instead of doing his job.

An officer of the Navy who requested anonymity said that it would be a great tragedy if Vice Admiral Abbas Raza is appointed as the Naval Chief. He said, “We were expecting that the NHQ will ask him to submit his resignation after the PNS Mehran tragedy, however it never happened. Now, it would be like adding insult to injury if he is made the CNS”.

According to the sources, the best solution to this controversy was to appoint the senior most admiral on the successors' list otherwise it would have a highly negative impact on the organizational culture of Pakistan Navy and would further shatter the morale of the officers and sailors, which was already on a low after the Mehran base tragedy.