governance is always like that, its all about balanced approach and timely actions. right thing done on wrong time can screw-up the whole game. I personally think we HAVE TO stop military supplies (ammunition and military hardware etc), we also HAVE TO stop drones by any means. its both provincial and federal govts responsibility to do this, one cannot put the blame on the other, both have to do their part. this notion of "we cannot go against federal govt's policies" is not going to work. KP govt has to pressurize federal govt to take appropriate actions. work with intelligence people, take them in confidence, find weak points of the troops-on-the-run, do whatever we can to clean this mess
i am in favour of halting the supplies, but I don't see this happening. And to be very frank this wont set a good precedence. We will move back into the 90's (Punjab versus federation, which did help PMLN but the results were not pretty for the country). I don't think most of us would want to go back in time. Besides at the moment the route is being used for USs withdrawal from Afghanistan. Is it in our interest to help them exit or let them stay in Afghanistan?
Obama already gave the policy statement few days ago and i can assure you even if all 180 million people will be on roads they can't stop the drones they are here and they are going to stay for a long time. US forces are mostly using predators even in the worst case scenario a drone is down they will probably start using stealth RQ-170 or X-47 which are technological superior and fly at such high alltitude where none of PAF weapons can reach.
Mind you MQ-1 commonly known as Predator is in service of USAF from 1994, the mighty USAF have more stuff under there sleeves.
Pakistan is nuclear power but its still no match to US assets deployed inside Afghanistan which are going to stay after 2014 too.
The solution to end the war is fighting and economical development to take care of extremism, that's all.
If history is the guide, then insurgencies are always defeated first. The rambling of IK & NS to negotiate with TTP is wrong and will result in nothing. TTP is not fighting because we are part of US-led war they are fighting because of there sick religious beliefs of world domination.
that you can ask Dawn, who told them.
Pakistan is no match for US military might, agreed. but ensuring them faster and unhindered exit, with the help of negotiation with some groups of Taliban is not very far fetched option I think. this will also create divides among Taliban, which will be good for Pakistan as well. But this will only work if US is actually willing to exit and spreading constant unrest in Pakistan is not on their agenda. Which many believe, is one of their goals, for whatever reasons, that's another story.
Agreed with everything, except for Pervaiz Khattak thing.
Not that I approve having family members ‘elected’ through reserved seats but the parties are required to give a list of names nominated for women seats BEFORE elections, specifically on or before end of March this year. It is not like he started giving out those slots AFTER he became the CM.
I don’t think PTI expected to win so many seats in KPK but the list given by them do contain a lot of Khattaks.
Pakistan is no match for US military might, agreed. but ensuring them faster and unhindered exit, with the help of negotiation with some groups of Taliban is not very far fetched option I think. this will also create divides among Taliban, which will be good for Pakistan as well. But this will only work if US is actually willing to exit and spreading constant unrest in Pakistan is not on their agenda. Which many believe, is one of their goals, for whatever reasons, that's another story.
US is moving its excess forces but who said they are fully withdrawn from Afghanistan?
In coming months Afghan government is signing a strategic pact with US just like the one Japan did after world war 2.
i am in favour of halting the supplies, but I don't see this happening. And to be very frank this wont set a good precedence. We will move back into the 90's (Punjab versus federation, which did help PMLN but the results were not pretty for the country). I don't think most of us would want to go back in time. Besides at the moment the route is being used for USs withdrawal from Afghanistan. Is it in our interest to help them exit or let them stay in Afghanistan?
halt only ammunition and military hardware, not everything. and do that with other measures in place, if IK/NS want to negotiate TTP and pursue USA to stop drones, they will also have to talk to Afghan Taliban to bring them to an agreement to let USA exit safely. If we stop their military supplies, and Afghan Taliban continue their attacks on US forces in Afghanistan, it will only make USA more desperate, and increase indiscriminate killing of people inside Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Afghan Talibans are talking to Iran now, regarding post-US afghanistan.
US is moving its excess forces but who said they are fully withdrawn from Afghanistan?
In coming months Afghan government is signing a strategic pact with US just like the one Japan did after world war 2.
US will try its best to keep some presence, and they are likely to succeed as well, but do you think any pact sign by this afghan govt will hold any water actually? And Taliban, if come to power after this withdrawal (irrespective of partial or full) will they agree with USA staying? USA can stay in fortified basis irrespective of any pact signed or not, but it will be a wound bleeding non-stop. Even today when we read about news and how they conduct their operations in fields its very much restricted.
So it means Taliban will stop killing shias in Afghanistan?
ask this from Taliban : ) and even if there is a sectarian violence in Afghanistan (like most of the muslim countries) does this mean they do not try to settle their differences with other countries by talks?
US will try its best to keep some presence, and they are likely to succeed as well, but do you think any pact sign by this afghan govt will hold any water actually? And Taliban, if come to power after this withdrawal (irrespective of partial or full) will they agree with USA staying? USA can stay in fortified basis irrespective of any pact signed or not, but it will be a wound bleeding non-stop. Even today when we read about news and how they conduct their operations in fields its very much restricted.
Look at the details,..
1) how many US soldiers killed in last two years in Afghanistan.
2) how many suicide or bomb blasts happened in Afghanistan.
3) What is the count of killed top taliban commanders and US (0) - even though US forces are operating in hostile and foreign environment.
4) Afghan army is pretty much trained and taking over responsibilities from US forces.
5) Does US succeeded in defeating Al-Qaida - i think pretty much.
6) US is the Pakistan largest trading partner and same is true for dollars.
What i believe is US actual goals were defeat the Al-Qaeda, have round the clock presence in Afghanistan to take care of China/Pak/Iran/CARs & building of Afghanistan as a nation.
ask this from Taliban : ) and even if there is a sectarian violence in Afghanistan (like most of the muslim countries) does this mean they do not try to settle their differences with other countries by talks?
Clear one thing Taliban never controlled the Afghanistan fully except the Pushtun dominated areas, even today they are not representing all the sects and areas of Afghanistan. The fake fame we Pakistanis tend to give them created the Utopian heaven about the bravery of Taliban in our minds. They are just bunch of poor, un-educated lot energizes with sick interpretation of religious text and that's all.
They are cruel, sick, fanatic & extremist in the their society & world view, certainly will be wiped out from the face of earth in a short time.
The pros and cons of pti's decision regarding NATO supplies are:
1) pros: it will improve Pti's credibility among its voters and push home the message that the party delivers what it promises
cons:
1) Pti will renege on its claims that they'd halt nato supplies when in power
2) a stand off between the provincial government and federation/military
3) the biggest affectees of this stand off would be the people of the province as kpk might not get its financial share from the federation affecting the economy of the province. One of the ways to reduce the talibanization is through good governance and economy.
4) we could see rise in terrorism related incidents in the province
After five years people will judge the party as to how they run the province.
The peace in fata is related to peace in Afghanistan, if we can do something to help Americans leave the region I think overall it would have a positive impact. The provincial and federal governments should improve the relationship with afghans.
On the local front the provincial government needs to improve its governance, and provide security (policing/intelligence) to the residents, improve health and education systems. If they succeed they'll reduce the chances of people getting radicalised.
I read somewhere that Imran khan is preparing a petition for international human rights organisations against drones. That’s the way to go I think, Pti should take concrete actions as compared to emotional ones. Secondly according to our latest agreement with US, only food and related items can pass through the borders. The provincial government should improve its scanning abilities to ensure that no weapons pass through the province in the garb of NATO supplies.
that’s what i’m saying, create the atmosphere to block the supply, and that only the “military” supply, let the food, medicines, etc etc go. and a limited/controlled amount of fuel. and to do this provincial govt doesn’t have to do it on its own, yes they can start on their own, but they can pursue federal govt to do this as well from their resources. implement this in karachi, and cross-check at a few places before the trucks cross border to Afghanistan.
IK has been very vocal about proper tax collection. one thing KP govt can do for sure is impose a hefty tax for the transit. i believe it falls under provincial govt’s area of governance, and provinces are free to impose and collect their own taxes/ services related revenue. this will help KP’s development as well. but only non-military supplies, no ammunition, no military hardware.
PTI has been in favour of a US/Nato-free Afghanistan and at a time when they want to leave, why should it become a hurdle? Does PTI wants the US to stay in Afghanistan? In fact, I think PTI should actually facilitate their exit from Afghanistan.
PTI has been in favour of a US/Nato-free Afghanistan and at a time when they want to leave, why should it become a hurdle? Does PTI wants the US to stay in Afghanistan? In fact, I think PTI should actually facilitate their exit from Afghanistan.
Its in our interest for the Americans to leave the region asap.
