India - Pakistan Crisis

Top 186. Mar 18, 2002 10:32 PM

» JenL_2 - Re: Musharraf's problems

In response to message posted by BPyles:

Betty - is The Daily Telegraph a Pakistani news site or Indian or what?....Jen

-- posted by JenL_2

Top 187. Mar 18, 2002 11:21 PM

» JenL_2 - Re: Musharraf's problems

In response to message posted by BPyles:

another indepth analysis on Sunday's Church attack in Islamabad from 3/18 Asia Times:

Pakistan church attack 'aimed at US'

By Muddassir Rizvi

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan's military government looks unnerved in the wake of the killing of five people, including two Americans, in Sunday's grenade attack on a church in the tightly secured diplomatic enclave in the capital.

The incident is a timely reminder to the men in uniform that their war against Islamic extremism is far from being won.

Although a wave of sectarian violence has left more than 30 people dead in various parts of the country over the past few weeks, it was the killing of two Americans - the wife and a daughter of an American diplomat - that has outraged Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf, who said that the attack was aimed at Pakistan's efforts to combat terrorism. However, he declared that Pakistan would continue to make efforts to break these vicious and violent networks, following his policy in announcing the crackdown in January.

Pakistan put its military and police on high alert on Monday, increasing the already tight security at Islamabad diplomatic missions and churches after the attack on a Protestant congregation that also left more than 45 people - most of them foreigners - injured. Ten Americans were among the injured, along with 12 Pakistanis, five Iranians, as well as Iraqis, Ethiopians, Sri Lankans, Afghans, Swiss, Britons, Australians, Canadians and one German, police said.

A high-ranking US State Department official cut short her India visit to travel to Pakistan. Assistant Secretary of State Christina Rocca arrived in Islamabad on Monday, but the US embassy declined to reveal any details about her plans. Rocca compared the attack to the September 11 ones on America. "Six months ago the terrorists who attacked the World Trade Center slaughtered innocent people from over 80 nations," she said in a statement. "Sunday's attack in Islamabad was also against innocent individuals from many countries, this time joined together in prayer."

The fact that the unidentified terrorists could get through a tight security cordon around what was considered the most secure place in the country is itself a point of embarrassment for the military rulers, and points at massive loopholes in the law enforcement networks. As it is, security has been reinforced to preempt sectarian clashes between minority Shi'ite and majority Sunni communities in the holy month of Moharram. "We are talking about a breach in layers and layers of security. Either the attackers were too smart and well planned or they had support from 'within'. We are looking into all aspects," commented a police official, requesting not to be named.

Musharraf called a meeting on Monday with top military commanders to review Pakistan's overall security. A second high-level meeting is scheduled for Tuesday.

More serious, however, is the admission on the part of the government that the attack might have been the work of Islamic extremist groups facing immense pressure following the official crackdown to root out militancy. "I guess it is people who want to give a message to the West and who are against this war on terrorism ... they are perturbed against very strong policies pursued by President Musharraf on this issue," the country's powerful Home Minister Moinuddin Haider said in a televised interview. "So, obviously these people may have indulged in this attack."

The crackdown against extremism that followed Musharraf's much-publicized promises in mid-January to root out Islamic militancy has so far seen the arrests of more than 2,000 workers of banned jihadist and sectarian groups. However, the absence of evidence against most of the arrested men has forced the government to offer a general amnesty for the religious "terrorists" now in jail.

Except for the kidnapping and murder of American journalist Daniel Pearl, there has, however, been no action or response from the banned groups that could have been called a backlash - until Sunday, when they appeared in the most unexpected place.

Some agree with the official line that the attack was the first signs of a backlash against the government's anti-extremism posture. However, many say that it was not a simple attack against a church or Christians but a link in the chain of strikes against Americans and US interests in Pakistan, and probably a symbolic protest against the military rulers' close cooperation with the United States.

Najum Mushtaq, an analyst with International Crisis Group, said that the impression that the attack was a backlash against the government's policies is a bit misplaced. "The attack should be viewed as part of continuous anti-American, West-specific militancy in the country," he stressed. "This government has committed itself to taking on the terrorists. But, so far, it is more of a posturing to appease the United States than an earnest bid to combat militancy in the name of Islam."

"Fear of a backlash is no excuse for giving the terrorists a free hand to operate wherever they like, this time in the heart of Pakistan's most heavily guarded diplomatic enclave. The Musharraf government has serious questions to answer here. Rather than a backlash, it is the result of a lack of effective and decisive measures to enforce the law and punish the militants," Mushtaq said.

Americans and US interests have in the past been a target of right-wing extremists in Pakistan. The killing of two American staffers of the US consulate general in Karachi in 1995 followed the extradition to the United States of Ahmed Yusuf Ramzi in connection with the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. Similarly, four American officials of Union Texas were murdered in 1997 after a US court handed down the death penalty on none Aimal Kansi for the assassination of two Central Intelligence Agency officials in Langley, Virginia. In 1999, the American Embassy and the American center were attacked with rockets by unidentified men.

In fact, one press report links the latest grenade attack with the ongoing investigation and indications of the possible extradition of Omar Saeed Sheikh, who is being held by Pakistani intelligence agencies for the murder of Daniel Pearl. "Several times during his interrogation or during his chit-chat with police officials in Karachi, Sheikh Omar had claimed that his associates would react to his extradition to the United States," writes Kamran Khan of the English-language The News daily, quoting intelligence sources.

"The attack on the Protestant International Church was more of an anti-US terrorist strike than an attack on church goers ... the attackers had definite information that the US diplomatic community in Islamabad visits this church for Sunday service," he said. "If they wanted to attack a Sunday church service, there were many less secured targets available all over the country."

In October, 16 Christian worshippers were killed during a Sunday service in the Pakistani city of Bahawalpur, an attack the government had blamed on "trained terrorists" - one alleged attacker was killed in a recent encounter with police.

Interestingly, the military government, in a total departure from past policy, has not tried to blame a "foreign hand" or India for the attack. In fact, Musharraf's press secretary, Major-General Rashid Qureshi, told the press that he would not comment on a possible Indian connection since the government had no such proof.

However, a few politicians, who are racing to show loyalty to the military government to increase their winning chances in the October elections, repeated the old mantra. "RAW [the Indian intelligence agency] is responsible for the attack. They want to divert the attention of the international community from the Hindu-Muslim riots in India," commented Mian Azhar, who heads the Pakistan Muslim League (Quaid-i-Azam), a breakaway wing of former premier Nawaz Sharif's party.

But other groups were more cautious in their response. "It seems some evil forces are trying to trigger a clash of civilizations by targeting people of different faiths," a self-exiled chairperson said in a statement. "The people of Pakistan will have to reject the politics of hate and intolerance."

(Inter Press Service)

.....Jen

-- posted by JenL_2

Top 188. Mar 19, 2002 12:07 AM

» JenL_2 - Re: Musharraf's problems

more on Pak Extremist violence against Americans

from the article above....

Americans and US interests have in the past been a target of right-wing extremists in Pakistan. The killing of two American staffers of the US consulate general in Karachi in 1995 followed the extradition to the United States of Ahmed Yusuf Ramzi in connection with the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.

Here's the report from 3/95 Congressional Record:

TRAGEDY IN PAKISTAN -- (BY KAMRAN KHAN AND MOLLY MOORE) (Extension of Remarks - March 09, 1995)

Looks like unfortunately it's business as usual in Pakistan. Amazing the similarity between these two incidents 7 years apart!......Jen

-- posted by JenL_2

Top 189. Mar 19, 2002 7:23 AM

» BPyles - Musharraf's problems

Jen: Am sure the article came from London Daily Telegraph, but when I checked today, cannot find it. Just did not notice I did not have the word London. Plenty of articles now about same situation. In fact they are everywhere today. New York Times has an excellent one but about same as all the others.

-- posted by BPyles

Top 190. Mar 19, 2002 7:25 AM

» BPyles - 1986 plane hijackers being freed

The 5 who did this have served their time and are to be turned loose.

"September 5 , 1986 - Pan American Boeing 747 seized by Arab terrorists in Pakistan. They kill seventeen hostages and wounded another one hundred and twenty seven after panicking and thinking they were under attack. Pakistani security forces then stormed aircraft and freed the hostages".

Palestine doesn't want them and the 5 are "demanding" that they not be turned over to US/FBI. Not sure why we want them unless some of the victims or the plane was US.
-----------------------------------------

LHC sets free five PanAm hijackers
By Our Staff Reporter, Dawn, Pakistan

RAWALPINDI, March 18: The Lahore High Court, Rawalpindi bench, on Monday ordered the release of five Palestinians who were convicted by a court for hijacking PanAm plane in 1986 , and directed the federal government to make arrangements for their deportation as they have completed their sentence.

A division bench comprising Justice Javed Buttar and Justice Saeed Akhtar, directed the interior ministry to make arrangements for the deportation of the petitioners as they have completed their sentence. The court decided to take up their petition after one month.

The Palestinian hijackers are presently lodged in Adiala jail. They had also demanded of the court to direct the government not to hand them over to FBI for extradition to the United States.

Advocate Tariq Asad, represented the Palestinian hijackers. Out of six Palestinians, five were awarded death, and one life imprisonment. Their death sentence was commuted into life imprisonment in December 1988 when Benazir Bhutto declared general amnesty.

The Palestinian hijackers have also a lot of complaints against Palestinian Ambassador to Pakistan, Ahmad Abdul Razzaq, who is not ready to accept them as Palestinian citizens.

His plea for not accepting them as Palestinian, they stated, was that they had entered into Pakistan carrying Jordanian and Syrian passports, and could not be provided diplomatic passports.

A Pakistani non-governmental organisation, named National Council of Human Rights, have pleaded the case of Palestinian hijackers. Those undergoing the imprisonment are Mustafa Hasan, Saeed Bomer, Mansoor Al Rashid, Mohammad Abdul Khalil Hassain Al Rahyal and Jamal Saeed Abdul Rahimi al Rahimi.

-- posted by BPyles

Top 191. Mar 19, 2002 9:38 AM

» JenL_2 - Re: 1986 plane hijackers being freed

In response to message posted by BPyles:

Betty & Steven - am I just being suspicious again or does it seem that Pak is letting go all their captive vicious vipers? Posted above:

-- Pakistan authorities have released the leader of a pro-Taliban radical party who had called for a holy war in support of the ousted Afghan militia, his party said on Sunday.

Maulana Fazalur Rehman, who heads the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islami party, was detained in October after he called for a jehad, or holy war, in support of Afghanistan's Taliban militia during the US-led military campaign against the now ousted regime.

-- Facing unrelenting pressure from the United States and India, Gen. Musharraf seemed to have grasped the nettle. He issued a stinging attack on extremism in a speech to the nation on Jan 12 and banned seven Islamic groups. He carried out mass arrests of militants, although he refused to hand over 20 extremists whom India wanted.

More worryingly, last week some 800 of those militants were set free after merely signing a paper which said they would not support extremism. Not a single militant wanted for earlier massacres and murders in Pakistan has been charged or gone on trial since Sept. 11. Pakistan's military government released a pro-Taliban Islamic leader yesterday after keeping him in detention for more than five months.

-- The crackdown against extremism that followed Musharraf's much-publicized promises in mid-January to root out Islamic militancy has so far seen the arrests of more than 2,000 workers of banned jihadist and sectarian groups. However, the absence of evidence against most of the arrested men has forced the government to offer a general amnesty for the religious "terrorists" now in jail.

-- RAWALPINDI, March 18: The Lahore High Court, Rawalpindi bench, on Monday ordered the release of five Palestinians who were convicted by a court for hijacking PanAm plane in 1986 , and directed the federal government to make arrangements for their deportation as they have completed their sentence........Out of six Palestinians, five were awarded death, and one life imprisonment. Their death sentence was commuted into life imprisonment in December 1988 when Benazir Bhutto declared general amnesty.

What's up with that! .... Jen

-- posted by JenL_2

Top 192. Mar 19, 2002 11:34 AM

» BPyles - Pakistan terrorists

Jen: Agree that they are releasing a lot. Would make you wonder if they had an ACLU?

In checking the Pak news sites today, kept running across articles like these two. As if they all of a sudden realized they have a problem.
------------------

Commanders vow to meet threats

President dismayed at ‘security lapse’
From Nasir Jaffry, The Statesman, Pakistan, 3-19-02

RAWALPINDI: Corps Commanders Monday vowed to meet internal and external threats to the country with an iron hand, saying that nobody would be allowed to jeopardise its solidarity.

The commanders made these observations in response to President General Pervez Musharraf's expression of dismay at the grenade attack on Protestant International Church in the federal capital Sunday, which resulted in the loss of innocent lives.

The president, who chaired the one-day conference of the Corps Commanders here at the General Headquarters, emphasized the need to be vigilant and alert in present scenario.

"While our troops are fully awake to the threat by the enemy, we cannot lower our guard to the internal security, which is also of paramount importance," the president said.

Sources said the conference was briefed about the incident of terror and the pace of investigations ordered immediately after the attack. The security in Islamabad has already been tightened and the president has directed the security apparatus to mobilise all available means to hunt down the terrorists.

Addressing the commanders moot, Musharraf voiced resentment at the security lapse in the capital, which resulted in the loss of innocent lives. The commanders expressed their resolve to meet any threat, internal or external, with an iron hand, saying that nobody would be allowed to jeopardize country's solidarity.

Musharraf told the conference that the government would not be cowed down by such ghastly acts and would continue its war against terrorism and make the country a cradle of peace, harmony and tranquillity, the sources said.

The president said the government would not spare those playing with the lives of innocent people and bring them to justice at all costs.

It is expected that the officials of the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) will extend full help to their Pakistani investigation teams during the course of investigations to nab the terrorists.

The measures being taken to improve security keeping in view gravity of the situation were also critically reviewed and analyzed and recommendations made to prevent recurrence of untoward incidents, the sources said.

The conference also discussed defence-related matters, security issues and the president's recent visit to Japan. Senior army officers gave extensive briefings on operational matters.
The conference deliberated at length the borders situation, Line of Control and the Working Boundary with special reference to the arrangements made to meet any eventuality.
The conference is also believed to have discussed the arrangements, made to maintain law and order and prevent untoward incidents during the month of Muharram.

It merits a mention here that army troops will remain available at the disposal of authorities and their services can be utilized in case of an emergency during Muharram.

The president briefed the commanders about his recent contacts with the world leaders on the tensions prevailing in the region.

He also informed the military top brass about the outcome of his visit to Japan and the gains achieved during talks with the Japanese leaders.

---------------Crucial cabinet meeting tomorrow
ISLAMABAD: President Pervez Musharraf has summoned the federal cabinet meeting tomorrow (Wednesday) to discuss law and order situation, official sources disclosed it here Monday.

The cabinet meeting will review the overall law and order situation in country in wake of terrorist attack on Protestant International Church that left five people dead.

Reservations raised by provincial governments about the new police act will also come under discussion. It is learnt that there has been a rift between NRB and Interior Ministry over the new police act, which is also opposed by the provinces. - Online

-- posted by BPyles

Top 193. Mar 19, 2002 11:39 AM

» BPyles - Terrorists Acts?

Jen: Speaking of being suspicious, this is the fourth or maybe fifth article about train wrecks I have seen in last few days. Wish I had saved the earlier ones, but just dawned on me today that this would be an easy terrorist act to accomplish. None have had even a hint of terrorism, but....suspicious minds!
------------------
---Balochistan Express Pakistan, 3-19-02-----------
7 killed as train rams into barrier

LAHORE: Seven persons were killed when a Lahore bound train went onto a wrong track with a dead end and rammed into the barrier, injuring dozens. Talking to APP General Manager, Pakistan Railways, Iqbal Samad Khan said that the mishap occurred due to driver-error. As a result, 80-Down Lahore-bound non-stop train hit the barrier at the dead end of the track, while the train's engine and the first coach dug in the sand. He said that the mishap occurred only 8 kilometres outside Lahore near Railway Station Qila Sattar Shah. Incidentally, Faisalabad-bound L-115 was crossing the ill-fated train on its way to Faisalabad. The incident took place at 4.33 pm. Majority of the train passengers were daily commuters who shuttle to Lahore for job and were home-bound. The Railway authorities rushed to the spot to undertake rescue operations. A Railway spokesman said that the deathtoll could have been more if the first carried full load of the passengers. Half of the coach carried 44 passengers while the rest was carrying luggage. Nine of the seriously injured were rushed to Mayo Hospital.

-- posted by BPyles

Top 194. Mar 19, 2002 12:04 PM

» BPyles - Musharraf's nice-guy pose

Remember the editor of the Pakistan newspaper who was fired and fled to US? He is still speaking out. Don't know how much of his story to believe.
------------------
Don't be fooled by Musharraf's nice-guy pose: Ex-News editor
PTI

Washington, March 19 , Hindustan Times, March 20, 2002

A Pakistani journalist has fled to the US fearing for his life after publishing a story linking the ISI to attackers of Indian Parliament.

Shaheen Sehbai said he felt compelled to leave Pakistan and come to the US lest he share the fate of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl.

Sehbai was forced to resign as Editor of English daily 'News' for publishing Omar Saeed Sheikh's revelation linking the Pakistan intelligence agency to his involvement in the attack on Indian Parliament.

In an article in the Journal titled Don't Be Fooled By Musharraf's Nice-Guy Pose, he said the October elections, which President Pervez Musharraf has promised, were being rigged by the ISI.

He alleged that the ISI was handpicking the candidates and that Musharraf's regime could be expected to be no more democratic than that of Zia ul-Haq.

After the ISI asked the owner of the newspaper to sack him as well as three other senior journalists, Sehbai said: "I resigned rather than be a part of a conspiracy to mislead Pakistan's people."

"Fearing for my safety--and with the Pearl case fresh in mind--I chose to join my family in Virginia and live to fight another day. And fight we must. This media management is the first sign of where Musharraf's newly tactful ISI is headed."

-- posted by BPyles