Dawn writes that the third market suicide attack in three days tore through a crowded street in Charsadda near Peshawar killing 30 and wounding 100. The previous two attacks have also been in the NWFP region. Market places are being targeted now.
It is week four of the South Waziristan offensive. We see army approved photos of weaponry captured and hear of hideouts and strongholds taken by the Pakistani military, but with an alleged 200 militants killed, according to ISPR, where is the rest of the alleged 10,000 militants from the region?
Tuesday, 10 November 2009
Friday, 6 November 2009
JUI Chief comments Afghan situation linked to Pakistan
Dawn.com comments that rightist religious group JUI chief Fazlur Rehman has made a speech about Afghanistan and Pakistan.
He said that peace in Afghanistan and Pakistan are inter-linked; unrest in one country leads to unrest in the other.
He also said thait was the US and the Pakistanis who had initially groomed the jihadis to fight against the Russians, a fact that many choose to ignore.
He said that peace in Afghanistan and Pakistan are inter-linked; unrest in one country leads to unrest in the other.
He also said thait was the US and the Pakistanis who had initially groomed the jihadis to fight against the Russians, a fact that many choose to ignore.
Thursday, 5 November 2009
How are Pakistani civilians coping with the conflict?
Dawn has an outline of how ordinary Pakistanis are reacting to the ongoing conflict in the country. Whereas some time ago Pakistanis were telling me that city life was normal, now, it seems, urban dwellers are fearful and worried. In extreme conditions like Kashmir I have found lots of psychological problems ranging from depression to hysteria and feinting, it appears that the ongoing battles and blasts are affecting the civilian population adversely.
Tuesday, 3 November 2009
Interview with Lord Mandelson
I asked Lord Mandelson last week,
"What is the key to unlocking the Doha stalemate?"
He thoughfully and slowly replied,
"Well, its very important indeed in my view that we take what was agreed last year as the continuation point. If you start to try to unpick and renogotiate, I think that's a recipe for trouble. I would appeal to all the main negotiators, stick with what we've got, move on from there and find necessary compromise.
The recovery of the global economy is not yet embedded - it's fragile, and what a wrold trade breakthrough would give us is a major new stimulus package for the whole of the global economy from which all of us would benefit."
"What is the key to unlocking the Doha stalemate?"
He thoughfully and slowly replied,
"Well, its very important indeed in my view that we take what was agreed last year as the continuation point. If you start to try to unpick and renogotiate, I think that's a recipe for trouble. I would appeal to all the main negotiators, stick with what we've got, move on from there and find necessary compromise.
The recovery of the global economy is not yet embedded - it's fragile, and what a wrold trade breakthrough would give us is a major new stimulus package for the whole of the global economy from which all of us would benefit."
Interview with Business Secretary Lord Mandelson or Parliamentary Reception with the President of India?
This was the conundrum facing me last week on the last day of the state visit of Mrs Pratibha Patil, President of India, at the invitation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth 11.
I had bid for Lord Mandelson, First Secretary of State, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, two months ago when I knew that he would likely be addressing the UK India Business Council of which he is Lord President, during the President's visit.
So on the day, at the imposing Lancaster House by the Mall, I reminded the UKIBC I was there for the interview, and they directed me to Lord Mandelson's press secretary. The press secretary, who was softly spoken and Irish, directed me to two press aides. I was told to stay close to one of them, a pleasant chap called Ben, who told me that I could walk and talk alongside the Business Secretary after he had given his speech as he was leaving. We were to wait at the bottom of the grand staircase after his speech.
The Irish press secretary then advised us the Lord M would be seeing off the President to her car, or rather the Queen's car, so we should wait outside nearby.
Meanwhile, a Foreign and Commonwealth Office official called David said that he was directed to take me to Parliament if I wanted to attend a reception with the Indian President and hear her address there. I said that I would attend after my interview.
Lord M was still not around, and David was about to leave for Westminster. Lord M arrived, waving to the President as she got into her car. Lord M was chatting on the steps of Lancaster House. David looked at me, and I decided in that moment to fulfill my mission and do my interview. David walked speedily off to his car, and the Business Secretary got to his car door (which he opened himself) while I strode purposefully towards him, my voice recorder outstretched. He stared at my stomach, where my ID card was displayed from a strap round my neck, and waited for my question.
I had bid for Lord Mandelson, First Secretary of State, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, two months ago when I knew that he would likely be addressing the UK India Business Council of which he is Lord President, during the President's visit.
So on the day, at the imposing Lancaster House by the Mall, I reminded the UKIBC I was there for the interview, and they directed me to Lord Mandelson's press secretary. The press secretary, who was softly spoken and Irish, directed me to two press aides. I was told to stay close to one of them, a pleasant chap called Ben, who told me that I could walk and talk alongside the Business Secretary after he had given his speech as he was leaving. We were to wait at the bottom of the grand staircase after his speech.
The Irish press secretary then advised us the Lord M would be seeing off the President to her car, or rather the Queen's car, so we should wait outside nearby.
Meanwhile, a Foreign and Commonwealth Office official called David said that he was directed to take me to Parliament if I wanted to attend a reception with the Indian President and hear her address there. I said that I would attend after my interview.
Lord M was still not around, and David was about to leave for Westminster. Lord M arrived, waving to the President as she got into her car. Lord M was chatting on the steps of Lancaster House. David looked at me, and I decided in that moment to fulfill my mission and do my interview. David walked speedily off to his car, and the Business Secretary got to his car door (which he opened himself) while I strode purposefully towards him, my voice recorder outstretched. He stared at my stomach, where my ID card was displayed from a strap round my neck, and waited for my question.
Monday, 2 November 2009
Pakistani Blasts and Hakimullah Mehsud $5m Bounty for BBC News
With a further motorbike suicide attack in Pakistan's Rawal Pindi today, close to Army HQ where a near 22-hr siege took place just a few weeks ago, I was given the opportunity to be the first to say on air at the BBC that a $5m bounty had been placed on information leading to or the capture of TTP leader Hakimullah Mehsud, Qari Hussain Mehsud, described as the trainer of suicide bombers, and senior militant Wali ur-Rehman Mehsud.
Today more attacks have taken place at a police checkpoint in Lahore and the UN has pulled out of the NWFP and FATA. What does that say about confidence in Pakistani security?
Today more attacks have taken place at a police checkpoint in Lahore and the UN has pulled out of the NWFP and FATA. What does that say about confidence in Pakistani security?
Wednesday, 28 October 2009
The Afghan Blasts for BBC News
Today the President of India who is on a state visit to the UK, not that you would know anything about it from the media, was being presented with some items belonging to Mahatma Gandhi at the Indian High Commission. The President is going to take them back to India.
As I was getting ready to go, I was called to go into the BBC about the attack on a private guest house in Kabul often used by UN personnel. Here was a dilemma. Be in time for a ceremony with the President of India, or go and do my job delivering analysis. I struck a deal and hoped to reach the High Commission in time, after my appearance.
President Patil herself was running late, having got quite intrigued on her fist stop, a visit to the Natural History Museum.
Anyway, I got to India House before the outriders, the helicopter, and the Bentley arrived -one of three belonging to Her Majesty the Queen which she lends to certain visiting Heads of State. The security guys at the High Commission dashed out after the President entered to have their photos taken with the vehicle.
As I was getting ready to go, I was called to go into the BBC about the attack on a private guest house in Kabul often used by UN personnel. Here was a dilemma. Be in time for a ceremony with the President of India, or go and do my job delivering analysis. I struck a deal and hoped to reach the High Commission in time, after my appearance.
President Patil herself was running late, having got quite intrigued on her fist stop, a visit to the Natural History Museum.
Anyway, I got to India House before the outriders, the helicopter, and the Bentley arrived -one of three belonging to Her Majesty the Queen which she lends to certain visiting Heads of State. The security guys at the High Commission dashed out after the President entered to have their photos taken with the vehicle.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
