The AFPAK RegionByAsad RaheelonThursday, 15 September 2011 at 00:46The folFIVE QUESTIONS appear to be pertinent...in context of the AFGHANISTAN War Efforta. What are/ were the OBJECTIVESb. How many of these Objectives have been achieved?c. Could these objectives have been achieved without actually going to WAR?d. Was going to War INEVITABLE?e. Was going to War VIABLE?Top of FormUnlikeComment You,Ajit Nair,Shiwangi Bam,Fazel Subianand29 otherslike this. Asad RaheelRESPONSE by BRIAN CUFFARI: A response to Asad's series of questions:

1) It is impossible for me to state the *actual* objective(s) of U.S. policymakers, but their stated objectives were to remove a regime, the Taliban, that was providing sanctuary to...See More15 September 2011 at 00:51Like4 Asad RaheelRESPONSE by LEO SAFAVID: I believe that if the offer to have Osama removed from Afghanistan had been accepted, Taliban had continued to rule Afghanistan. I am looking at the interests of Secularists in the region, and from that perspective, Taliban ne...See More15 September 2011 at 00:53Like3 Asad RaheelRESPONSE By ISMAIL BEY: Objective? How many have been achieved? To eradicate al qaeda in Afghanistan & implement freedom for the masses. Successful? Somewhat. Taliban is still around, but schools are flourishing as well. Women have some emancipation, a...See More15 September 2011 at 00:54Like Asad RaheelRESPONSE By MEGAN S MILLS: Referring to Asad Raheel's questions: Yanks did put squeeze on AQ, knocked out Taliban 'admin' of a stragegic area; kick started new admin and economy; according to a Northern Alliance acquaintance to predict a US effort 2 ye...See More15 September 2011 at 00:56Like1 Asad RaheelRESPONSE By SENTHIL IND: The US invasion of Afghanistan is most welcome activity! But not the US invasion of Iraq! The Taliban Govt were run by primitive fools and hence US war on Afghanistan is totally valid. But, let us not get carried away with the...See More15 September 2011 at 00:58Like1 Asad RaheelViews of TARIQ ALI (UK based scholar of Pak Origin): As southern Afghanistan collapses into chaos, and as corruption and massive inflation takes hold, the Taliban is gaining more and more recruits. The generals who convinced Benazir that control of Kab...See More15 September 2011 at 00:59Like4 Asad Raheelhttp://english.aljazeera.net/.../09/201191418433383511.html.

US blames Haqqani network for Kabul attacksUS ambassador describes series of attacks in Afghan capital, in which at least 16 people died, as "not a very big deal".ENGLISH.ALJAZEERA.NET15 September 2011 at 03:25Like1Remove Preview Asad Raheelhttp://www.theaustralian.com.au/.../story-e6frg6so....

Leon Panetta warns Pakistan on cross-border attacksUS Defence Secretary Leon Panetta showed frustration with Pakistan yesterday, warning that Washington would not tolerate any more cross-border...THEAUSTRALIAN.COM.AU16 September 2011 at 01:35LikeRemove Preview Asad RaheelThis HIGHEST SPANISH MILITARY AWARD was in recognition of Pakistan Army's contribution in the fight against terrorism.

http://www.brecorder.com/.../27952-spain-confers-highest....

Spain confers highest military honour upon KayaniStay updated with Business News, Pakistan news, Current world news and latest world news with Business RecorderBRECORDER.COM16 September 2011 at 06:17Like1Remove Preview Earl M CohenMuch excellence here to read...will return to do so once I have more time.

On Senthil Ind's comment: though his comment holds worth, I do question the logic behind, "The Taliban Govt were run by primitive fools and hence US war on Afghanistan is tota...See More16 September 2011 at 06:52Like1 Earl M CohenMy prediction: the US will pull out of Afghanistan once the oil pipeline and attendant infrastructure are put in place from Turkmenistan and Pakistan through Afghanistn to the border of India and forces to protect the pipeline, rail lines, roadways, building, electric grid, etc., have been sufficiently trained.16 September 2011 at 06:57Like1 Earl M CohenYes, I do. It's of interest to big oil. The US military serves corporations wherever force is needed to serve up and protect natural resources. Why do you think the US has triangulated the region?...See More

Asia Times Online :: South Asia news, business and economy from India and PakistanAsia Times Online. The Asia News Hub providing the latest news and analysis...ATIMES.COM|BY ASIA TIME ONLINE16 September 2011 at 07:37Like1Remove Preview Earl M CohenAlso,http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2002/06/05/memo

Al-Qaida: Al-Qaida monitored U.S. negotiations with Taliban over oil pipelineA memo by military chief Mohammed Atef raises new questions about...SALON.COM16 September 2011 at 07:42Like1Remove Preview Earl M Cohenthe year indicates the time at which the information became known. Do you think the US has since destroyed the infrastructure that went up? Do you think the knowledge of interaction between the bush admin and taliban or that al queda knew what was go...See More16 September 2011 at 08:16Like2 Earl M Cohenas to ISI and PK vs India remarks....why do you think they're "fishy"?16 September 2011 at 08:18Like1 Earl M Cohenasia times andsalon.comare credible sources, btw16 September 2011 at 08:19Like1 Earl M CohenMegan, please don't be distracted by my last remark in defense of my sources. You might know something about ISI/PK/India of which I'm unaware. Luv FB, through which we can gather facts and expand our minds.16 September 2011 at 08:40Like1 Megan S Millsno problem. One's antennae need to go up with mention of Indian 'intentions' or implications of a threat to PK, as in bit on ISI. A tandard motif in PK media to keep stressing an Indian bogeyman... when not an Israeli one (!)16 September 2011 at 09:26Like2 Asad RaheelPM of Pakistan Fri 16 sep 2011: "Now its the time the US should DO MORE

http://www.dawn.com/.../pm-says-its-united-states-turn-to....

PM says its United States turn to do morePrime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Friday said Pakistan had already contributed enormously in the fight against terrorism and extremism, and...DAWN.COM16 September 2011 at 16:02LikeRemove Preview Ram Chandramthey are doing much war. what more war does he want. lol16 September 2011 at 16:42Like1 Asad Raheelhttp://ibnlive.in.com/.../us-threatens-pak.../825624.html.

US threatens Pak with sanctions over Iran gas pipeline deal, IBN Live NewsPakistan has reservations about the TAPI project due to security concerns...IBNLIVE.IN.COM16 September 2011 at 19:13LikeRemove Preview Earl M CohenMegan, ah, I see....Yes, one must filter.16 September 2011 at 20:03Like1 Asad RaheelThe (US) COST of WAR: reportedly was a major factor as U.S. officials considered drawing down troops in 2011. A March 2011 Congressional Research Service report notes the following about Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) Afghanistan:

1) following the A...See More16 September 2011 at 23:54Like1 Asad Raheelhttp://pakobserver.net/detailnews.asp?id=114561.

Unreliable ally: Pakistan or America?ISLAMABAD | LAHORE | PESHAWAR | ...PAKOBSERVER.NET17 September 2011 at 12:09Like1Remove Preview Asad Raheel17 Sep 2011 MEETING between US Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen & Pak Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani in Seville, Spain, on the sidelines of the ongoing Nato conference of DEFENCE CHIEFS.

http://tribune.com.pk/.../anti-terrror-cooperation-n.../.

Anti-terrror cooperation: N Waziristan remains key sticking pointTalks between Kayani and Mullen reveal differing approach to Haqqani network.TRIBUNE.COM.PK17 September 2011 at 12:50LikeRemove Preview Asad Raheel17 Sep 2011 NATO DEFENCE CHIEFS MEETING at Seville SPAIN: Pak Army Chief Gen Kayani told a foreign news agency that he doubted Afghanistan would be ready for international troops to leave by 2014 as planned.

US Ambassador Cameron Munter upped the ante...See More

Kayani lays stress on national interest at Nato meetingThe COAS ruled out a full-scale action against the Haqqani network and doubted that Afghanistan would be ready for international troops to leave by...DAWN.COM17 September 2011 at 13:08LikeRemove Preview Asad Raheel17 Sep 2011 Article by Pak Journalist Aamir Mir in ASIA TIMES

Pakistan's security situation is in utter turmoil today. The highly-secured headquarters of the army and navy, the offices of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), police stations, milita...See More

Asia Times Online :: The suicide-bomb capital of the worldAsia Times Online. The Asia News Hub providing the latest news and analysis regarding economics, events and trends in business, economy and politics...ATIMES.COM|BY ASIA TIME ONLINE17 September 2011 at 13:28Like1Remove Preview Alice Ina CodeThe objectives are OPIUM! .. this is Corporate not country orientated .. The FDA is becoming a force of it's own and is controlling Armies!!17 September 2011 at 13:34Like1 Ezaz Ahmed OryoIf we forget US retaliation & afganistan's strategic value, there r far more things to b considered.We cant forget the afgan society under taliban control. Only mentionable economical work is opium trade, music, education prohibited, human right condi...See More17 September 2011 at 14:27Like4 Alice Ina CodeCIA took over the US military a few weeks ago!!17 September 2011 at 15:26Like1 Asad RaheelA video of NATO soldiers CALMLY and EFFECTIVELY responding to the attack suggests the insurgents were mightily overmatched by their opponents...(does this exclude the possibility of this attack being PROMPTED?)

One conclusion we can draw with relative...See More

What We Still Don't Know About the Kabul Attacks - By Andrew ExumTuesday, Sept. 13's dramatic attack on the U.S. Embassy and NATO...FOREIGNPOLICY.COM17 September 2011 at 18:26Like1Remove Preview Imtiaz MahmoodTen years have now passed since many of us first felt the jolt of historywhen the second plane crashed into the South Tower of the World Trade Center. We knew from that moment that things can go terribly wrong in our worldnot because life is unfair, or moral progress impossible, but because we have failed, generation after generation, to abolish the delusions of our ignorant ancestors." - Sam Harris17 September 2011 at 23:59Like Imtiaz MahmoodAs the 'ghunda tax' revenue reduced recently; Pakistan Army is planning additional revenue options:http://www.dawn.com/.../evidence-ties-haqqani-group-to...

Evidence ties Haqqani group to Pakistan: MunterDAWN.COM18 September 2011 at 00:05LikeRemove Preview Brian CuffariI commented in this thread about some of my many personal thoughts on the ongoing occupation of Afghanistan. I felt it important to highlight, also, U.S. policy towards Iran. Given the facts that the U.S. has heavily occupied two of Iran's neighbors...See More18 September 2011 at 09:36Like Brian CuffariI know I changed subjects a bit, but I believe it is important to the overall context of the war in Afghanistan. I don't believe we can properly look at the war in Afghanistan without also looking at U.S. policies in the rest of the region.18 September 2011 at 10:09Like1 Alice Ina CodeI think US should stay in Afghanistan at the moment .. looks like a war is going to break out between china/Pakistan and India! .. it's prophecised that India will win this war in 2011-2012! Pakistan need to fix relationships with US and India and defuse the Chinese hand in this!! Prophecy 2011 - 6 :

War could break out between India and Pakistan / China, India will win the war if it will happen in 2011-2012.18 September 2011 at 10:13Like1 Asad RaheelSeveral hours after the crash, the Pakistani army sent soldiers in to wrest it out of militant hands, sparking a fight with the Taliban in which three militants were killed, said the officials. Three militants and two soldiers were also wounded in the clash, they said.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/Pak.../Article1-747244.aspx.

Pak troops battle Taliban for US drone debris - Hindustan TimesPakistani soldiers have fought Taliban militants to seize precious debris from a...HINDUSTANTIMES.COM|BY HINDUSTAN TIMES19 September 2011 at 01:50LikeRemove Preview Asad RaheelUS Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has pressed her Pakistani counterpart Hina Rabbani Khar to take strong action against terrorist groups especially Lashkar-e-Toiba and the Haqqani network, during their 3-1/2 hours of "very candid" meeting.

http://ibnlive.in.com/.../us-presses-pak.../185617-56.html.

US presses Pak to act against LeT, HaqqaniS Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has pressed her Pakistani counterpart Hina Rabbani Khar to take strong action against terrorist groups especially...IBNLIVE.IN.COM19 September 2011 at 15:34Like2Remove Preview Asad RaheelWhereas in principle it has never declined to do so, the reason always cited by Pak Army for not yet being able to take wholesome action against Taliban havens in FATA (incl North Waziristan) is RESOURCE CONSTRAINT. In this light, it has hence been its...See More

India, US urged to prepare for worst case Pakistan scenariosDawn.comis your source for the latest breaking news, current events and top...DAWN.COM19 September 2011 at 16:05Like1Remove Preview Brian CuffariHi Megan S Mills, sorry for my late response. I think Iran's fundamental interest at this point (viewing this from their perspective and not my own) is to prevent the NATO mission in Afghanistan from succeeding. U.S. intentions towards the Iranian re...See More20 September 2011 at 01:24Like2 Brian CuffariAn example of what I view as an improved U.S. policy towards Iran would be that of the Bushehr nuclear facility. Russia assists Iran in its production in this facility, and it is open to international inspection. Granted, there have been many problem...See More20 September 2011 at 01:31Like2 Asad RaheelIn Afghanistan it is obvious that there is going to be no clear victor. The best anybody can expect is that the blighted country will have some absence of war for a few years, if not lesser.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2011\09\19\story_19-9-2011_pg3_3

Daily Times - Breaking News, Pakistan, World, Cricket, Entertainment and South Asia News, Sports, FaDailyTimes delivers the latest breaking news and information on the latest top...DAILYTIMES.COM.PK20 September 2011 at 02:25LikeRemove Preview Asad RaheelCOMMENT byHumayun Afghan: Pakistan and its ISI intel agency has been behind most of the world's terrorist attacks in that it has a vast array of terror groups it has promoted as its proxies in deploying its Strategic Depth policy. There have now been...See More20 September 2011 at 12:19Like3 Asad RaheelCOMMENT byHumayun Afghan: He never can. Neither will he do so unofficially. If he even dares to he will get the military Establishments whiplash on his back.20 September 2011 at 12:25Like1 Asad RaheelCLIP byHumayun Afghan: A few Facts of the War on Terror...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdQmez0L-uU

The Platform "13-09-11" Part 01The Platform, Talk Show, International Forum.YOUTUBE.COM20 September 2011 at 12:28Like1Remove Preview Asad RaheelContnd...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZV26aeE1ZU&feature=related

The Platform "13-09-11" Part 02The Platform, Talk Show, International Forum.YOUTUBE.COM20 September 2011 at 12:29Like1Remove Preview Asad RaheelAmbassador Khalilzad indeed projects the matter...very well!20 September 2011 at 14:44Like Asad Raheelhttp://ibnlive.in.com/.../26-shiites.../185956-56.html

26 Shiites killed in Pakistan by gunmenBike-borne unidentified gunmen on Tuesday shot dead at least 26 Shia Muslim pilgrims in cold-blood in southwest Pakistan's Balochistan province after...IBNLIVE.IN.COM20 September 2011 at 19:57Like1Remove Preview Asad Raheelhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/.../rabbani-afghanistan...

Ex-President Of Afghanistan Burhanuddin Rabbani Killed: ReportBy AMIR SHAH, Associated Press KABUL, Afghanistan -- Two Afghan...HUFFINGTONPOST.COM20 September 2011 at 20:16Like1Remove Preview Humayun KasiPeople forgot who this warlord Rabaani was. He was the President of Afghanistan during the Civil war of 1992-1996. He was supporting each side which provided his government some support. Now having his fellow warlords in the current regime, he was out...See More20 September 2011 at 23:19Like3 Humayun KasiRajotavo DasGupta well like I said in my post the ISI will just wipe out any one daring to negotiate with the Taliban on behalf of the Afghan Government. This is the third example. Like I already said the Taliban second in command Mullah Biradar vanish...See More21 September 2011 at 01:59Like2 Asad RaheelThe first question is: who to blame? The Taliban's usually smooth system for claiming responsibility for attacks (SMSes, e-mails), for many hours remained silent. Their first utterance claimed responsibly but said they would need a little longer to rev...See More21 September 2011 at 02:32Like1 Humayun KasiThat is all just to give it a different color. rabbani had no such power compared to Mujadidi or Fahim of Herat currently. Rabbani was more like a figurehead. Well the strange thing is when the Norway attacks were being carried out all the AL Qaeeda we...See More21 September 2011 at 02:38Like1 Asad RaheelAccording to U.S. and Pakistani officials, the new compromise pact slashes the number of U.S. forces allowed in Pakistan to between 100 and 150, nearly half of what it has been in the past. The number of special operations trainers would fall from 140 to fewer than 10.

http://www.boston.com/.../ap_exclusive_us_pakistan_agree.../

AP Exclusive: US, Pakistan agree to limit troopsThe United States and Pakistan have agreed to limit the number of American troops in that country, amid frayed relations between the two nations and a...BOSTON.COM21 September 2011 at 02:59LikeRemove Preview Humayun KasiWell The Afghan Talibaan certainly will. So far they are being backed by the Haqqani network for carrying out the attacks in Kabul, since Khalilzad said on the east they reside on the border areas. Speaking of the down numbering the troops, well I am s...See More21 September 2011 at 03:05Like2 Asad RaheelYes...so many of these internet reports can hardly be relied upon...u often find two extreme viewpoints...to pick & choose from!21 September 2011 at 03:12Like1 Humayun KasiAgreed and True. While for this reason I try to connect every dot I tend to gather from the surroundings. For if I don't do that then like the majority of the Y generation, i would be too opinion dependent on the Internet.21 September 2011 at 03:15Like3 Asad Raheel...the wiki LOVING youngsters...LOL!!21 September 2011 at 03:17Like3 Asad Raheelhttp://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/.../artic.../10052867.cms

Clashes sparked by Taliban attack leave 19 dead in Pakistan - The Times of IndiaAt least 18 militants and a soldier were killed today in clashes that erupted...TIMESOFINDIA.INDIATIMES.COM21 September 2011 at 04:59LikeRemove Preview Asad Raheelthe CIA officially declined to comment on whether the meeting had taken place. However, sources said the ISI boss had met with David Petraeus, CIA officials at the CIA headquarters (on Tues 19 Sep) in Langley and separately with senior White House officials at the Pak Ambassador's residence in Washington.

http://www.sananews.net/.../pasha-meets-petraeus-in.../

South Asian News Agency | Pasha meets Petraeus in Washington to discuss Haqqani networksana news deliver latest and breaking news in Urdu from Pakistan, World,...SANANEWS.NET21 September 2011 at 15:52Like1Remove Preview Asad RaheelThurs 21 Sep: A top Pakistani military commander was lightly wounded Wednesday when his helicopter came under fire in the Swat Valley, where the military fought off a Taliban insurgency two years ago.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/.../pakistani-helicopter.../

Pakistani helicopter under fire, general woundedISLAMABAD (AFP) A top Pakistani military commander was lightly wounded Wednesday when his helicopter came under fire in the Swat Valley, where the...VANGUARDNGR.COM21 September 2011 at 17:54LikeRemove Preview Asad RaheelIn what amounts to an ultimatum, administration officials have indicated that the United States will act unilaterally if Pakistan does not comply.

The message, delivered in high-level meetings and public statements over the past several days, reflects...See More

U.S. sharpens warning to PakistanThe Obama administration has warned Pakistan that it must cut ties with a leading Taliban group based in the tribal region along the Afghanistan border...WASHINGTONPOST.COM22 September 2011 at 02:55Like2Remove Preview Asad RaheelOPINION of the second largest oppositional armed group, Gulbuddin Hekmatyars Islamic Party of Afghanistan: Foreign special services, first of all American ones, can be traced back to the assassination of Afghan ex-President Burhanuddin Rabbani. He believes that the situation of a controlled chaos is in the US geopolitical and financial interests.

http://english.ruvr.ru/2011/09/21/56511351.html

Foreign special services involved in Rabbani's death - Afghan Islamic PartyForeign special services, first of all American ones, can be traced back to the...ENGLISH.RUVR.RU22 September 2011 at 05:34Like1Remove Preview Humayun KasiWell Hekmatyaar is with the ISI so if this is an opinion this means there can be no one else behind the killing as Hekmatyaar and his men are assisting the Taliban on the orders of ISI..22 September 2011 at 05:37Like4 Asad RaheelCOMMENT byImtiaz Hussain MahmoodUS ties filling of Pakistan's begging bowl to crack-down on Haqqani network, Qaeda and the Quetta Shura the remains of the Afghan Taliban government overthrown and driven into Pakistan by the 2001 US-led invasion of...See More

US Senate ties Pakistan aid to Haqqani crackdownA US Senate committee voted on Wednesday to make economic and security aid to Pakistan conditional on its cooperation in fighting militants such as the...DAWN.COM22 September 2011 at 12:16Like2Remove Preview Humayun KasiWell now the tide is changing. The killers of those Shia's in Mastung weren't Pashtuns. They are from the terrorists outfits of Sipah e Sahaba. Same for other outfits, starting from the top to the foot soldiers are Non-Pashtun. Even the ones who attack...See More22 September 2011 at 12:24Like2 Humayun KasiThat is true Megan. Those who don't believe can come to Visit the Chaman and the Spin Boldak areas on the Pakistani side of the border. Even in a village outside Spin Boldak. They are guarded by the Local armed militia men who get their guns and cars f...See More22 September 2011 at 12:39Like2 Lola SovinaBad piece is always better than good war22 September 2011 at 16:30Like1 Asad Raheelhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haqqani_network

Haqqani network - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaThe Haqqani network is an independent insurgent group originating in Afghanistan that is closely allied with the Taliban.[1]Maulvi Jalaluddin Haqqani...EN.WIKIPEDIA.ORG23 September 2011 at 00:16LikeRemove Preview Asad Raheelhttp://tribune.com.pk/story/258005/warning-bells-from-kabul/

Warning bells from KabulAgriculture, industries crippled, corruption, rich get richer, all is definitely not well in Land of the Pure.TRIBUNE.COM.PK23 September 2011 at 00:21LikeRemove Preview Ram ChandramLola Sovina, how can war be good and peace be bad?23 September 2011 at 00:23Like Leo SafavidWar is a bloody business. Besides many other requirements, one of the essential requirements from the warring parties is a will to fight till end. It also requires a willingness to sacrifice lives in order to win. Allied Powers won two world wars be...See More23 September 2011 at 01:59Like2 Megan S Millswelcome to the beautiful world of counterinsurgency post-1945. You have to know who your allies are, objectives clear, and as you mentioned, be determined to see it through... afraid I don't see Govt of Pakistan as a victim, and never will.23 September 2011 at 02:16Like Leo SafavidMegan, they are all looking after their own interests. Pakistan has already started planning for Afghanistan post USA.23 September 2011 at 02:20Like2 Asad RaheelThe Afghan Jehad against the Russians was a COVERT operation called Operation CYCLONE, organised by the US (through three U.S. presidential administrations), Pak, KSA & the Afghan Mujahideen in the 1980s. This operation has been written upon by George...See More23 September 2011 at 03:15Like1 Asad RaheelThat Pakistan is the country which shares the longest border with Afghanistan its stakes in this country are the HIGHEST. Therefore, Pakistan seeking stability in its backyard & counting also selectively upon the people & methods traditionally employed...See More23 September 2011 at 05:30Like2 Asad RaheelThe Relations between Pakistan & the Pak Taliban have NOT always been comfortable rather they have often been problematic. A high percentage of the Taliban are ethnic Pashtuns; whereas the Pashtuns are the majority (68%) in Afghanistan, they also are a...See More23 September 2011 at 05:32Like Asad RaheelPOST byBrian Cuffari

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-15024344

Pakistan 'supported' Kabul attackThe most senior US military officer accuses Pakistan's spy agency of supporting Afghanistan's Haqqani group in last week's Kabul US embassy attack.BBC.CO.UK23 September 2011 at 05:35Like1Remove Preview Lola SovinaRam Truthseeker, a wise one can understand this ancient proverb23 September 2011 at 16:01Like Asad RaheelThe matter of Pakistan's alleged support to the HAQQANI NETWORK (which allegedly is responsible for the recent Kabul attack) cannot be viewd in isolated context...it has to be viewed in the history of the past 33 yrs details of which i have provided an...See More23 September 2011 at 16:48Like4 Asad RaheelRESOLUTION

a. The need of the hour is for both allies (the US & Pak) to not lose nerve esp in the frustration of inability to achieve higher war objectives...to not lose sight of the already acheived objectives (arrest/killing of the top Al-quqeda le...See More24 September 2011 at 00:29Like1 Leo SafavidI think it was the premature announcement of withdrawal by Obama, under domestic political compulsion, which has resulted in the current problems. Pakistan has a very India-centric foreign & defense policy. Its biggest fear is that after USA's exit,...See More24 September 2011 at 01:00Like3 Megan S Millshow can PK be taken seriously by Washington?24 September 2011 at 01:03Like Leo SafavidI believe both Pakistan & Washington are only looking after their own interests as per their foreign & defense policy objectives. I do not agree with the Pakistani policy makers at all and nor do I agree with the short-term objectives of the Americans...See More24 September 2011 at 01:14Like3 Megan S MillsI sometimes chat with people in diplomatic life who labour under an idea that All Developing Countries are as bloody corrupt as PK with regard to Aid, agreements, what is given vs. what is done with It -- as is patently false. Some of this contingent...See More24 September 2011 at 01:17Like1 Asad Raheelhttp://www.reuters.com/.../us-usa-pakistan...

Scenarios: U.S.-Pakistan ties dismal, but could get worseWASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States and Pakistan unleashed a war of words this week as Washington accused Islamabad of involvement in attacks...REUTERS.COM24 September 2011 at 04:24Like1Remove Preview Asad RaheelPOST byDorothea LedinekOnly an insane person could think that Taliban, with Pan-Islamic ideology, would have confined themselves within the boundaries of Afghanistan. Whatever the blurred border line between Pakistan and Afghanistan exists presently...See More

Viewpoint OnlineViewpoint is a non-profit venture organised on a voluntary basis. It is an activist alternative to the corporate-mainstream media. Viewpoint is an outlet for...VIEWPOINTONLINE.NET25 September 2011 at 12:57Like2Remove Preview Asad RaheelCOMMENTS:

Ismail Bey Future scenario: US army pulls out of the region..China fills the void, as will Russia now that Putin is seeking re election....See More

Viewpoint OnlineViewpoint is a non-profit venture organised on a voluntary basis. It is an activist alternative to the corporate-mainstream media. Viewpoint is an outlet for...VIEWPOINTONLINE.NET25 September 2011 at 13:24Like2Remove Preview Asad RaheelIn line with the point of Ismail Bey...i wud like to highlight that China is already a beneficiary of the Afghan war & without paying any bill. At least one incident (& there are probably more) occured when ground Intelligence provided by the ISI led t...See More25 September 2011 at 13:34Like2 Asad RaheelBut blaming the Haqqani network is like using a kind of militancy shorthand, as the much-used moniker fails to capture the complex nature of the politico-military organization that is expanding its scope, network, and political aspirations

http://www.foreignaffairs.com/.../how-the-haqqani-network...

How the Haqqani Network is Expanding From WaziristanThe network of militants operating in Pakistan's tribal areas are playing an increasingly destabilizing role in NATO's possible negotiations with the Taliban.FOREIGNAFFAIRS.COM25 September 2011 at 15:45Like1Remove Preview Dorothea LadyneggDuring my time in Pakistans Tribal areas, I saw no effort by Pakistani security forces to confront the Haqqanis. Instead, Afghan Taliban, Pakistani Taliban and foreign militants openly walked the streets of large towns, set off explosions during bomb-...See More

Help Pakistan rein in the ISIThe opinions expressed are his own. Admiral Mike Mullens blunt declaration on Thursday that a Taliban faction known as the Haqqani network was a...REUTERS.COM|BY DAVID ROHDE25 September 2011 at 17:49Like1Remove Preview Leo SafavidFollowing are Pakistan's insecurities which compel them to keep Afghani Taliban & Haqqani on their side:

Afghanistan has never recognized the Pakistani border with Afghanistan (Durand Line) in all these years. Thus, Pakistan wants a government in Afg...See More25 September 2011 at 18:05Like1 Asad RaheelYes indeed u r correct in spelling out Pak's insecurities...which as an ally the US shud address however i also agree with u...as pointed out in my appreciation above that Pak had bet on the wrong horse...when it was time to choose ie it should have su...See More25 September 2011 at 18:43Like2 Dorothea LadyneggWhether the office is in Aabpara, Doha or Washington is not relevant to me. The very fact that the Taliban will be granted enough legitimacy anywhere in the world to have an office is baffling. Thousands died in mosques, on roads, in schools, in courts...See More

New Age Islam | Mapping an Agenda for the Twenty-first CenturyAttempting serious rethinking within Islam, New Age Islam brings modern...NEWAGEISLAM.COM25 September 2011 at 19:42Like4Remove Preview Asad RaheelEXTRACT from the above Article: As the world observed the tenth anniversary of the horrific tragedy of September 11, 2001, an SMS was doing the rounds in Pakistan. It said, Dear USA! Your 9/11 is our 24/7. Regards, Pakistan. My question is: till when? Presently, it is for 365 days a year. When will our ordeal end?26 September 2011 at 01:29Like Asad RaheelISLAMABAD: Pakistan has once again demanded of US to take notice of attacks inside Pakistan from Afghanistan. As per media reports, the US ambassador in Pakistan, Cameron Munter held second meeting with Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir on Tuesday.

http://www.onlinenews.com.pk/details.php?id=183919

ONLINE - International News NetworkLargest Pakistani News AgencyONLINENEWS.COM.PK28 September 2011 at 02:19LikeRemove Preview Asad Raheelhttp://www.washingtonpost.com/.../28/gIQAcX9t4K_story.html

White House refuses to endorse criticism of Pakistan by Joint Chiefs of Staff chairmanWASHINGTON The White House is refusing to endorse controversial...WASHINGTONPOST.COM29 September 2011 at 01:47LikeRemove Preview Asad RaheelThe TRAGEDY:

a. the govts of both Pak & the US are hiding facts from their own peoples...See More29 September 2011 at 12:00Like John HeiserAmerican is not really different in that regard, people just think they are.29 September 2011 at 12:06Like Asad RaheelI subscribe to the theory that most of the times Bravery lies in NOT fighting as compared to iniate a fight...hence to the Doctrines that

a. the Art of War lies in its Avoidance...See More29 September 2011 at 12:22Like Asad RaheelIF the US is the 800-pound gorilla that stamps on itself, Pakistan is like a python which thinks its crushing its prey but is really asphyxiating itself.

http://www.dawn.com/.../lying-liars-and-the-lies-they...

Lying liars and the lies they tellOpinion columns, editorials, Dawn 50 years ago today, blogs and letters to the editor on the latest national and international news and issues.DAWN.COM30 September 2011 at 10:56LikeRemove Preview Asad RaheelThe question asked in Islamabad, as well as in Washington, as to what benefits US aid brings to Pakistan, is being answered as follows. In Washington, the question being asked post-Bin Laden is: what is or has the US received in return for the $20bn ai...See More

Who benefits from US aid?Opinion columns, editorials, Dawn 50 years ago today, blogs and letters to the editor on the latest national and international news and issues.DAWN.COM30 September 2011 at 11:21LikeRemove Preview Asad RaheelThese financiers and facilitators provide the fuel for the Taliban, Haqqani Network and Al-Qaeda to realize their violent aspirations, Treasury under secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence David Cohen said in a statement.

http://www.dawn.com/.../us-levies-sanctions-on-haqqani...

US hits alleged Haqqani commander with sanctionsDawn.comis your source for the latest world news covering current events and top stories from Pakistan, South Asia, US, Europe and the rest of the world.DAWN.COM30 September 2011 at 11:26LikeRemove Preview Asad Raheelhttp://www.dawn.com/2011/09/30/us-tones-down-rhetoric.html

US tones down rhetoricThe United States appeared on Thursday to have adopted a new approach for dealing with the alleged presence of terrorist outfits in Fata, taking legal action...DAWN.COM30 September 2011 at 11:35LikeRemove Preview Asad Raheel"I don't agree exactly with that," Dempsey said. American global power and influence are derived from three strengths: military, diplomatic and economic.

http://www.foxnews.com/.../new-us-military-chief-differs.../

New U.S. Military Chief Differs With Mullen Over National Security Threat Posed by DebtEven before taking over as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the highest...FOXNEWS.COM30 September 2011 at 14:47Like1Remove Preview Megan S Millsa later article indicated Yank, Euro talks with Afghanistan minus Pakistan, a suggestion that whole Afghan tangle being repositioned.1 October 2011 at 14:20Like Asad RaheelRajotavo DasGuptaAsad sab what are your thoughts on the possible 'conflict' scenario in South Asia...where are we heading?Like Unfollow Post 16 hours ago...See More1 October 2011 at 17:17Like1 Leo SafavidI think that USA is backing down from its earlier accusations, and I am sure Pakistan is likely to do the same. I expect either joint operations in North Waziristan & Quetta or simply the Pakistani forces doing a better job on their own. I expect to...See More1 October 2011 at 17:37Like3 Asad RaheelBrian CuffariBismarck on preventive war: "committing suicide from fear of death."...See More1 October 2011 at 18:15Like Dorothea Ladynegghttp://www.thefridaytimes.com/beta2/tft/article.php...

Report: Tribal militias are double-edged weapons by Zia Ur RehmanUnder fire for opposing the Taliban, tribal lashkars look up to the state for...THEFRIDAYTIMES.COM1 October 2011 at 19:48Like1Remove Preview Asad Raheelhttp://www.voanews.com/.../Pakistan-Denies-Involvement-in...

Pakistan Denies Involvement in Rabbani AssassinationForeign ministry calls the allegations baseless and irresponsibleVOANEWS.COM3 October 2011 at 03:21LikeRemove Preview Asad RaheelDorothea Ledinek"We have been witnessing a horrible backlash from the Taliban", Kamal said. "They are bombing our lashkars, but our weddings, funerals, and jirgas, and beheading our families."...See More

The Friday TimesAapas ki Baat - Najam Sethi k Sath (21th Sep 2011 - Part 1/3) Geo TvTHEFRIDAYTIMES.COM3 October 2011 at 03:23LikeRemove Preview Asad RaheelTherefore, the sooner the Americans and Pakistanis lay their cards on the table and claim their respective interests in Afghanistan based on their Tajik-Uzbek and Pashtun proxies, a significant amount of give and take should show the way forward for bo...See More

Editorial: US-Pak relations: roadblocks ahead by Najam SethiAdmiral Mike Mullen's brutally candid statements have pushed US-Pak...THEFRIDAYTIMES.COM3 October 2011 at 03:37Like1Remove Preview Asad RaheelOf PROXY Wars & Links to INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES: Head of the HAQQANI Network Visits WHITEHOUSE!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYLBoXQTBqY...See More

Ronald Reagan Dedication for Afghan Mujahideen - 1Haqqani Network, Proxy War & US History of Proxy War.http://chagataikhan.blogspot.com/2011/09/haqqani-network-proxy-war-us-hist...YOUTUBE.COM3 October 2011 at 12:45LikeRemove Preview Asad RaheelSo when I meet for many hours, as I do, with Pakistani officials, they rightly say, Youre the ones who told us to cooperate with these people. Youre the one who funded them. Youre the ones who equipped them. Youre the ones who used them to bring...See More

Pakistanis alone did not create Haqqanis: USUS Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said that the Pakistanis have a point when they say that Pakistan alone did not create the Haqqani network, which...DAWN.COM|BY FROM THE NEWSPAPER3 October 2011 at 12:51Like1Remove Preview Asad RaheelSiraj Haqqani, a key leader of Afghanistan's militant Haqqani network, tells the BBC in an exclusive interview it was not responsible for killing Burhanuddin Rabbani, the man overseeing Taliban peace talks in Afghanistan. Mr Haqqani was giving an audio...See More

Transcript of Haqqani interviewSiraj Haqqani, a key leader of Afghanistan's militant Haqqani network, tells the BBC the group did not kill government peace envoy Burhanuddin Rabbani.BBC.CO.UK3 October 2011 at 15:50LikeRemove Preview Leo SafavidAsad, Haqqani trying to defend Pakistan is not a good sign. It is acting too much like 'a friend in need is a friend in deed'. But, I am sure that it is true that every one & his uncle is trying to cut a deal with Haqqanis. Quite pathetic, actually.3 October 2011 at 16:03Like3 Asad RaheelLeoLeo Safavidirrespective of the US "Do More" mantra...i think its high time for Pakistan to bring forth legislation (in its own interest) to formally INCORPORATE the FATA into its own territory & hence thereby to enforce its WRIT there.

Following...See More3 October 2011 at 19:35Like1 Leo SafavidAsad, I totally agree with you. In 21st century for a country to have free tribal regions is mind boggling. That ancient British system needs to be changed & all tribal areas incorporated in to the rest of the nation-state system. One law & one poli...See More3 October 2011 at 21:33Like1 Imtiaz MahmoodTo establish schools and industry, money and skills are required. When jihadi soldiers are getting $500/month and ISI protection, who needs a lower paid production job. For God's sake we are Al Humdo Lillah Muslims; we need money without working. It should either be oil or minerals in our lands and kafirs should extract these for us and just give us money.3 October 2011 at 22:52Like2 Dorothea LadyneggFrom Khazaana Morh to Loi Sam, crossing the villages of Deelay and Rashakai, more than 15,000 houses and around 700 shops were razed to the ground by jet bombers and shelling on both sides of the road. Its hard to believe when you are told there were...See More4 October 2011 at 00:33Like Asad RaheelYaImtiaz Hussain Mahmood...the remuneration of a Taliban soldier has always been higher than that of a Pak Army soldier...Infact to tell u the truth the average Mujahideen or Taliban soldier has tended to look down upon a Pak Army soldier

I've learnt...See More4 October 2011 at 00:37Like2 Asad RaheelVery timely...an article sent by youDorothea Ledinek. It indicates the VAGARIES of military action (against the Taliban) in the FATA. So far military action has taken place against the Taliban in three areas ie Swat, Bajaur (as depicted in this articl...See More4 October 2011 at 01:39Like Asad RaheelGen Allen: "We came to this region for two reasons: go after al Qaeda and to make sure the Taliban don't unseat this government and don't return to power."

Despite 10 years of war, 1,777 U.S. service members killed and $557.1 billion already spent --...See More

Afghan War Still Worth It, General SaysThis week marks 10 years of fighting in Afghanistan. Gen. John Allen is now the eighth U.S. commander in charge of the war, charged not only with fighting...ABCNEWS.GO.COM|BY ABC NEWS4 October 2011 at 10:41LikeRemove Preview Reasons for Taliban's success inspite of US war on terror:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-15132461

Secret of the Taliban's successTen years ago the Taliban melted away without a fight - only to re-emerge as a sophisticated guerrilla force which has taken on the might of the US military in...BBC.CO.UK6 October 2011 at 20:31Like1Remove Preview In short, the article talks about US losing the focus on th war against Taliban, once Iraw war started and they outsourced it to Pakistan Army, but Pak Army was following a 'soft' policy and this allowed Taliban to regroup in Waziristan regions and the...See More6 October 2011 at 20:34Like1 Asad RaheelThe 2014 target for U.S. forces to leave has also speeded up peace talks between the U.S. and the Taliban. Afghans are no longer sure who is on whose side, or whether peace in their country is even possible.

At this stage it appears that the U.S. will...See More

Analysis: First-person view of Afghan collapse - Forbes.comFORBES.COM7 October 2011 at 03:08Like1Remove Preview Brian CuffariThe U.S. is broke, and can't afford anymore military occupations. We have made the same historical mistakes as many other powerful nations that have over-extended their entire economies through bloated military budgets. A Brown University study has c...See More7 October 2011 at 03:12Like3 Asad RaheelPresident Hamid Karzai has said his government and Nato have failed to provide Afghans with security, 10 years after the Taliban were otherthrown. The president also vowed to step down in 2014 and said he was working on the succession.

My perception o...See More

Karzai on 10 years of Afghan conflictThe BBC's John Simpson spoke to Afghan President Hamid Karzai on the tenth anniversary of US led forces commencing their attack on the Taliban...BBC.CO.UK8 October 2011 at 01:46LikeRemove Preview Asad RaheelISLAMABAD: Gen. (Retd.) Talat Masood said that threat perceptions of Pakistan and the US vary from each other despite unity of objectives so both the countries want to confront the threat differently.

http://www.brecorder.com/.../30974-pakistan-us-have...

Pakistan, US have different threat perceptions: Talat MasoodGen. (Retd.) Talat Masood said that threat perceptions of Pakistan and the...BRECORDER.COM9 October 2011 at 04:45LikeRemove Preview Asad RaheelResponding to questions, Musharraf claimed that India's ambition is to weaken Pakistan, to have a weak Pakistan so that it can be dominated, so that it does not have any confrontationist attitude, which does not go well with India's vision of "dominating the region" and maybe being if not a world power, at least a regional power.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/.../arti.../10276783.cms

India wants to weaken, dominate Pakistan, claims Musharraf - The Economic TimesFormer Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has claimed that India's...ECONOMICTIMES.INDIATIMES.COM9 October 2011 at 04:51LikeRemove Preview John HeiserIndia has been playing regional superpower since the mid-eighties. Buying aircraft carriers and sending them to call on the ports of small nations. It is a way of intimidating Soyj and South East Asia,9 October 2011 at 04:56Like Asad RaheelIt is clear that India and China are competing for access to Afghanistans rich mineral and energy resources. It is also clear that this competition fuels some of New Delhis strategic thinking regarding its presence in Afghanistan. Pakistans repeated...See More

China factor in AfghanistanOpinion columns, editorials, Dawn 50 years ago today, blogs and letters to the editor on the latest national and international news and issues.DAWN.COM10 October 2011 at 11:07LikeRemove Preview Asad RaheelPost by BRIAN CUFFARI:

The latest United Nations report outlines an extensive torture network throughout what is basically the entire country of Afghanistan, with children as young as 14 believed to have been beaten and/or tortured while detained. U.S...See More

BBC - HomepageBreaking news, sport, TV, radio and a whole lot more. The BBC informs, educates and entertains - wherever you are, whatever your age.BBC.CO.UK11 October 2011 at 00:37LikeRemove Preview Asad RaheelISLAMABAD: The banned conglomerate of militant groups, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), will seek mediation by countries like Saudi Arabia, if the government offers them peace talks a top militant leader of the banned outfit said in a cautious response to Pakistans earlier decision to open negotiations with the group.

http://tribune.com.pk/.../guarded-response-taliban-hint.../

Guarded response: Taliban hint at accepting Saudis as peace brokersCommander of the group says implementation of a peace deal must be...TRIBUNE.COM.PK11 October 2011 at 03:33LikeRemove Preview Asad RaheelThis is another indication as to where in the equation do the Taliban hold Pakistan...therefore Pakistan shud now stop flirting with the Taliban!11 October 2011 at 10:22Like2 Asad RaheelTo offer an Olive branch to the Haqqanis & to pressurise Pakis to Bash them...DIPLOMACY?? Where does all this leave Hamid Karzai? And, of course, what happens now to the India-Afghan strategic agreement? There are no easy answers. What a twist in the Great Game all this is turning out to be!

http://blogs.rediff.com/.../clintons-olive-branch-to.../

Clintons olive branch to Haqqani clan - Indian PunchlineThe US secretary of state Hillary Clinton has openly signalled in an interview with Reuters that Washington is open to talking with the Haqqani network....BLOGS.REDIFF.COM12 October 2011 at 19:14Like1Remove Preview Asad Raheel(Reuters) - Militants fired two missiles at a rally led by the governor of Pakistan's northwestern Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province on Tuesday, killing one person and wounding four, but the governor was not hurt, security officials said.

...See More

Pakistan's governor escapes missile attackKALAYA, Pakistan (Reuters) - Militants fired two missiles at a rally led by the governor of Pakistan's northwestern Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province on...REUTERS.COM12 October 2011 at 19:21Like1Remove Preview Asad RaheelWASHINGTON: US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Wednesday said that the United States cannot abandon Pakistan but that the South Asian nation must help solve Afghanistans difficulties or it will continue to be part of the problem.

http://www.sananews.net/.../us-cannot-abandon-pakistan...

South Asian News Agency | US cannot abandon Pakistan relationship: Hillary Clintonsana news deliver latest and breaking news in Urdu from Pakistan, World,...SANANEWS.NET13 October 2011 at 10:35Like1Remove Preview Asad RaheelBob Woodward, a Washington Post journalist, writes in the book that President Zardari told the then-CIA Director Gen Michael Hayden during their meeting in New York on 12 November 2008: Kill the seniors. Collateral damage (caused by CIA drone attacks inside Pakistan) worries you Americans. It does not worry me.

http://www.dawn.com/.../some-suggest-staying-away-from...

Some suggest staying away from Obamas WarsDawn.comis your source for the latest news about Pakistan, in-depth coverage on national politics and expert opinions.DAWN.COM15 October 2011 at 18:30LikeRemove Preview Asad RaheelThe Obama administration has launched the opening salvos of a new, more aggressive approach towards an Afghan insurgent group it asserts is supported by Pakistans government, the newspaper quoted senior US administration officials. The decision to...See More

Daily Times - Breaking News, Pakistan, World, Cricket, Entertainment and South Asia News, Sports, FaDailyTimes delivers the latest breaking news and information on the latest top...DAILYTIMES.COM.PK16 October 2011 at 17:34LikeRemove Preview Asad RaheelPESHAWAR: Militants ambushed Pakistani troops on Monday, killing nine soldiers in gunbattles that lasted several hours on the outskirts of Peshawar in the northwestern tribal badlands, officials said.

http://www.dawn.com/.../nine-pakistani-troops-killed-in...

Nine Pakistani troops killed in northwest: officialsAnother three members of the Frontier Corps paramilitary were wounded in the attack and at least 14 militants killed in retaliatory fire in Bara district.DAWN.COM17 October 2011 at 23:28LikeRemove Preview Asad RaheelMIRAMSHAH/PESHAWAR: The United States shifted hundreds of its troops to the Afghan area bordering North Waziristan on Sunday along with heavy arms and gunship helicopters and sealed the Pak-Afghan border for all types of movement.

http://thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=9604...

Hundreds of US troops seal NWA borderMIRAMSHAH/PESHAWAR: The United States shifted hundreds of its troops to the Afghan area bordering North Waziristan on Sunday along with heavy...THENEWS.COM.PK18 October 2011 at 00:43LikeRemove Preview Asad RaheelYes Manan Mody i had already mentioned that the ISAF had moved Artillery to the border adjoining N Waziristan some time ago. Now the border has been sealed with a view tp prevent infiltration from N Waziristan...the location of the Haqqani network.18 October 2011 at 00:46Like Asad RaheelIts high time that the issue of the END-GAME in Afghanistan be discussed threadbare!! My suggestion wud be to take other regional powers on board esp PRC...which shud also foot some of the bill fr the War...as it is an indirect beneficiary...terrorists of ETIM (a separatist movement in China) hav also been killed by US & Pak army actions. India, the CARs & Iran shud also have a say in it.18 October 2011 at 00:57Unlike2 http://www.indianexpress.com/.../pm-to-urge.../861312/

PM to urge Brazil, SA for common stand on Af-Pak - Indian ExpressPM to urge Brazil, SA for common stand on Af-Pak - Prime Minister...INDIANEXPRESS.COM18 October 2011 at 05:48LikeRemove Preview Kishor ShahIt should be clear to all, by this time, that AF problem can not be solved by Brute Force or Political manouverings.It is time to try humanitarian methods to dilute the problem. This applies to all India, Pakistan, USA etc.18 October 2011 at 08:49Like1 Kishor ShahManan Mody : HiNo quick fix solution available on this issue. Improve the quality of life of people of AF which will dilute the violence. Allow people to move from apprehensions to reconcilliation. Rest will follow.This is a long drawn process.18 October 2011 at 09:28Like1 Asad RaheelThat...what u hav pointed outKishor Shahhas indeed been the Lacking ie DEVELOPMENT (pursuant to military action in Afghanistan)18 October 2011 at 23:32Like Asad RaheelThe Pakistani Taliban declared war on the government in 2007, partly because of the government's alliance with the United States. It has since launched suicide bombing attacks and assaults on Pakistani government, military and international targets, k...See More

Pakistan: Militants Must Surrender Weapons Before Peace TalksThe Pakistani government is demanding that Islamic militants lay down their...VOANEWS.COM19 October 2011 at 01:43LikeRemove Preview Asad RaheelNo one should be in any way mistaken about allowing this to continue without paying a very big price, Mrs. Clinton said before leaving for Pakistan for what is certain to be a tense visit by an unusually powerful American delegation sent to demand greater Pakistani cooperation in fighting Al Qaeda and other extremists groups.

http://www.nytimes.com/.../clinton-issues-blunt-warning...

Clinton Issues Blunt Warning to PakistanSecretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton warned Pakistans leaders on Thursday that they would face serious consequences if they continued to...NYTIMES.COM|BY BY STEVEN LEE MYERS20 October 2011 at 17:55Like2Remove Preview Asad RaheelUS Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has arrived in Pakistan for talks on dismantling Taliban sanctuaries in the north of the country.

Her aides say that she will personally deliver a blunt message from the Obama administration that Pakistan must ste...See More

Clinton in Pakistan for key talksUS Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrives in Pakistan for crisis talks on dismantling Taliban sanctuaries in the north of the country.BBC.CO.UK21 October 2011 at 03:34LikeRemove Preview Kishor ShahNo amount of violent means and no amount of political manouverings is likely to yeild peace in AF.Af problem can be diluted by sustained long term humanitarian efforts for which all powers have to shun their power oriented thinkings.21 October 2011 at 09:53Like1 Asad RaheelVery aptly pointed outKishor Shah...this indeed has been the MAJOR lacking. That too much burden of the same shud not be placed on the US exchequer...is addl reason to bring on other regional players on board (esp PRC, Russia, India & Iran) in the fin...See More21 October 2011 at 10:25Like1 Kishor ShahI assume that there are different sets of Talibans with different patrons?God pl impart some good senses to mankind to stop this 30 years old bloodsheddings.21 October 2011 at 10:35Like2 Asad RaheelMegan S Mills...i think that the Taliban r being financed by the KSA (in one of my posts i had mentioned the Haqqani network had agreed to arbitration only by the KSA ie not Pak or the US).

The Taliban hav miniscule support amongst the people of Pak....See More21 October 2011 at 11:10Like Megan S Millsif you think anyone in this part of the world is Not aware of the CIA/US link of old, think again. In 2011, KSA funded, Iran arming them, ISI facilitating and who else is involved? Do understand the pickle but harder to understand what seems considered normal as in Army chief's threat of the other day. What DO educated Pakistanis really object to... unclear.21 October 2011 at 11:47Like1 Chetan Marwahnothing megan. nothing. pakistan needs a new paradigm for all its people, and it wont happen organically21 October 2011 at 12:16Like http://indiatoday.intoday.in/.../pakistan.../1/157191.html

Would stand by Pakistan if it is attacked by anyone: Hamid Karzai : Pakistan News - India TodayAfter being critical of Pakistan over its links with Taliban militants, President...INDIATODAY.INTODAY.IN22 October 2011 at 21:24LikeRemove Preview Asad RaheelWhen one reads the writing on the wall that his days are numbered...then he runs HELTER & SKELTER!!...Senthil Ind22 October 2011 at 21:51Unlike1 Asad RaheelIs it an admission (by the US) that the former policy was a misstep that Washington is now trying to correct or is it a measured and flexible response to Pakistans clearly desperate challenge on the basis of strategic depth against a perceived two...See More

Change of tack on the HaqqanisUS has changed its stance, but would conditionalities imposed from Taliban and Pakistani sides yield fruitful talks?TRIBUNE.COM.PK22 October 2011 at 22:01Like1Remove Preview very aptly put Asad22 October 2011 at 23:18Like Tinker SmileThere are few facts 1. Pakistan is not Iraq or Afghanistan Paksitan is a nuclear power 2. US can not use Afghanistan soil to attack Pakistan it will be considered an attack by Afghanistan. Pakistan will retaliate with it might against Afghanistan 3. Afghanistan is not that fool to allow its territory to attack Pakistan.23 October 2011 at 01:05Like Asad RaheelAsad Raheel Background Briefing on the Secretary's Events in Islamabad

Special Briefing...See More

Background Briefing on the Secretary's Events in IslamabadBackground Briefing on the Secretary's Events in IslamabadSTATE.GOV23 October 2011 at 01:10LikeRemove Preview Kishor ShahFor younger generation jingoism is very tasty but they do not know about damages it causes. It is wiser to avoid confrontation with USA and USA should also reconcile to regional realities.At this page we should do some brain storming to avoid confrontation and not evaluate power equations.23 October 2011 at 09:34Like2 Asad RaheelThe Afghan endgame took the centre stage during extensive talks between the US and Pakistan during US Secretary of State Hillary Clintons visit to Islamabad last week. As a result of those marathon discussions, both Pakistani and US officials have now...See More

Afghan endgame: Pakistan, US agree on blueprintUS delegation crafts framework for reconciliation.TRIBUNE.COM.PK24 October 2011 at 05:43Unlike2Remove Preview Asad RaheelRants of an insecure (& corrupt) guy who probably now realises that his days are numbered.

Karzai has said that his country would support Pakistan if it was attacked by either the United States or India....See More

Karzai backtracks on Pak remarks - Hindustan TimesPresident Hamid Karzai sought to distance himself Monday from controversial remarks made in an interview in which he said Afghanistan would back...HINDUSTANTIMES.COM|BY HINDUSTAN TIMES25 October 2011 at 13:12Like1Remove Preview Asad RaheelWASHINGTON: The United States has asked the Pakistanis to squeeze the Taliban and the Haqqani network but that does not necessarily mean taking overt military action against them, says US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton who also acknowledged that the Pakistani Taliban had built safe havens in Afghanistan.

http://www.dawn.com/.../us-not-seeking-overt-military...

US not seeking overt military action in Fata, says ClintonThere are different ways of fighting besides overt military action, and I think this is an important point of clarification, said the US Secretary of State.DAWN.COM25 October 2011 at 16:22Like1Remove Preview Megan S Millsyes but who said Anything about attacking Pakistan ...26 October 2011 at 10:10Like Asad RaheelI do'nt think it was a volte face on the part of the US...maybe better described as a wolf in sheep's clothing which diplomacy (previously the US state dept was out of the loop) tends to be...as there is no let up in their demand on Pak to do more...ne...See More27 October 2011 at 00:47Like Asad Raheel"We must not begrudge if Pakistan orders ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence) to take counter-measures to protect its own interests," said Musharraf defending the Pakistani spy agency that US officials have accused of supporting extremists.

"Now, India i...See More

'ISI may act if Afghanistan gets close to India' - Hindustan TimesAccusing India of trying to create anti-Pakistan Afghanistan, former Pakistan...HINDUSTANTIMES.COM|BY HINDUSTAN TIMES27 October 2011 at 20:09LikeRemove Preview Indrajit GuptaWhy? in what way does it concern Pakistan if Afghanistan becomes close to India. The two countries were very close before the overthrow of the monarchy; how did it affect Pakistan in any negative way then?27 October 2011 at 20:22Like2 Megan S MillsAfghanistan somewhat anti-PK since about 1984, but no matter.27 October 2011 at 20:33Like Megan S MillsAFG/Central Asia as strategic location - oil/gas/minerals less an issue for Yanks than they are for China. USA soon able to buy all oil it needs from Cda that is not produced domestically. Helps to look at each mineral and see Where known deposits are...27 October 2011 at 21:02Like1 Megan S Mills1. PK relies on 2B+ US Aid, 2. PK says it is not fiddling about in AFG where it has Zero entitlement, but runs ops in AFG. Why is that US military agreement in India (2000-) does not see Indian Forces dicking round with neighbours? Yes, US drones dep...See More28 October 2011 at 19:44Like Alice Ina Codejust reading this conversation has made me so sad!! .. I do believe though that US people are fixing the problem .. they have heard all the peoples complaining of them and things they did hardly know about!! They will work it out and I think in very ne...See More28 October 2011 at 19:44Like1 Megan S MillsHOW IS UNCLE SAM THE ENEMY OF PUNJABISTAN?28 October 2011 at 19:45Like Megan S MillsKSA financing Mountain Brothers et al ... so US is the enemy?28 October 2011 at 19:46Like Asad RaheelNEW YORK - Former president Pervez Musharraf said Thursday that the fact that Osama bin Laden turned up in Pakistan after a decade-long manhunt reflected the countrys negligence and not its complicity with the Al-Qaeda leader.

http://nation.com.pk/.../US-to-suffer-heavily-if-goes...

US to suffer heavily if goes into NWANEW YORK - Former president Pervez Musharraf said Thursday that the fact that Osama bin Laden turned up in Pakistan after a decade-long manhunt...NATION.COM.PK6 November 2011 at 18:52LikeRemove Preview Bill MiessnerYeah, and if you believe that, Musharraf also has a bridge in NY that he wants to sell to you.6 November 2011 at 19:19Like1 Asad RaheelThe POLITICAL HISTORY of AFGHANISTAN: The political history of modern Afghanistan begins in 1709 with the rise of the Pashtuns, when the Hotaki dynasty was established in Kandahar followed by Ahmad Shah Durrani's rise to power in 1747. The capital of A...See More10 November 2011 at 17:27Like1 Asad RaheelMirwais Hotak, seen as Afghanistan's George Washington,[79] successfully rebelled against the Persian Safavids in 1709. He overthrew and killed Gurgin Khan, and made the Afghan region independent from Persia. By 1713, Mirwais had decisively defeated tw...See More10 November 2011 at 17:28Like1 Asad RaheelFollowing the 1842 Battle of Gandamak that was fought between Akbar Khan and William Elphinstone, the British established diplomatic relations with the Afghan government but withdrew all forces from the country. They returned during the Second Anglo-Af...See More10 November 2011 at 17:45Unlike2 Asad RaheelIn April 1978, a prominent member of the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA), Mir Akbar Khyber, was mysteriously killed. Leaders of the PDPA feared that the government was planning to dismantle them because many were being arrested. Hafizul...See More10 November 2011 at 17:48Unlike2 Asad Raheelhttp://www.megavideo.com/?d=SRIA5RX5

MEGAVIDEO - I'm watching itMEGAVIDEO.COM22 November 2011 at 12:06LikeRemove Preview Asad RaheelPESHAWAR, Pakistan Pakistan on Saturday accused NATO helicopters of firing on an army checkpoint in the northwest and killing 25 soldiers, then closed a key border crossing used by the coalition to supply its troops in neighboring Afghanistan.

http://www.ajc.com/.../pakistan-25-troops-dead-1241420.html

Pakistan: 25 troops dead in NATO helicopter attack | ajc.comPESHAWAR, Pakistan Pakistan on Saturday accused NATO helicopters of...AJC.COM26 November 2011 at 15:17Like1Remove Preview Asad RaheelCOMMENT by Riaz Rehman: I have been saying!! over and over!! but no one believe me!!..WAR is coming to Pakistan!!!...26 November 2011 at 23:25Like Asad RaheelCOMMENT by Lee Simpson: They wouldn't attack for no reason I would say Pakistan has been playing it's double game again hiding militants.26 November 2011 at 23:26Like Asad RaheelThe Pakistani government has demanded the United States vacate an air base within 15 days after blaming NATO air forces for the fatal attack on military outposts in northwest Pakistan. The government issued the demand Saturday after NATO helicopters an...See More

Pakistan demands US vacate air base after deadly strikesThe Pakistani government has demanded the United States vacate an air base within 15 days after blaming NATO air forces for the fatal attack on military...TODAY.MSNBC.MSN.COM27 November 2011 at 01:13Like1Remove Preview Asad Raheelhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hZOM6sCU1c...

'NATO strike revenge for Pakistan crackdown on CIA assets'A NATO air strike on an army checkpoint in northwest Pakistan has killed up to...YOUTUBE.COM28 November 2011 at 01:26Like1Remove Preview Asad Raheelhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFh2NqTxdCw

Nato Attack Martyred Soldiers Funeral Prayer Offered (27/11/11) - Pakistan ArmyPESHAWAR: The funeral prayer of the martyred 24 soldiers, who yesterday...YOUTUBE.COM28 November 2011 at 02:03LikeRemove Preview Megan S Millsand ISI responsible for 30+ CF in southern Afghanistan. (No, CIA rubbish, here). Govt of PK suddenly concerned about jawans? my goodness!28 November 2011 at 09:02Like Asad RaheelLONDON: US-Pakistani relations are at one of their worst points in memory after the NATO strike that killed 24 Pakistani troops, but can recover, Washingtons top military officer said on Monday.

Dempsey refrained from repeating some of the accusation...See More

US-Pakistan ties troubled but repairable: US military chiefGeneral Martin Dempsey says Shamsi base closure by Pakistan government is 'serious blow'.TRIBUNE.COM.PK29 November 2011 at 12:03Like1Remove Preview Asad RaheelIt took until Monday for Gen. James Mattis, leader of the Pentagons Central Command, to announce a more formal investigation and to name Brig. Gen. Stephen Clark to lead it. The inquiry will include representatives of NATO and General Allens team. Si...See More

What Happened on Pakistans Border?A transparent investigation of the NATO strikes, with Pakistans participation, is essential.NYTIMES.COM29 November 2011 at 12:23LikeRemove Preview Asad RaheelA joint inquiry is the right way to go about it. Therefore the Inquiry ordered by Centcom Command is auspicious. Pak shud be well advised to withold its responses to the event, till the outcome of the joint inquiry, incl rhetoric. In the interim, it needs to carry out INTROSPECTION which shud also incl its own inquiry/ inquiries.29 November 2011 at 18:35Like Asad RaheelA step in the right direction of INTROSPECTION by Pak:

LAHORE, Nov 29 (APP): Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday announced to summon a joint session of the parliament after the recommendations of the parliamentary committee on National Security to discuss Mohmand Agency incident and the controversial memo affair....See More

PM to summon parliaments joint session to discuss Mohmand agency incident, memo matterAssociated Press of Pakistan Corporation, Pakistan's premier NEWS agencyFTPAPP.APP.COM.PK|BY UPLOADER29 November 2011 at 18:59LikeRemove Preview Asad RaheelArticle by leftist Pakistani intellectual Tariq Ali, who graduated from Oxford & was also President of the Oxford Union. He is now based in London, writes widely, has published many books, and is a frequent contributor the London Review of Books, The G...See More

Whats Next for Pakistan? - BattlelandAttached is a very important essay analyzing the political aspects of the current crisis with Pakistan, written from the point of view of leftist Pakistani intellectual.BATTLELAND.BLOGS.TIME.COM29 November 2011 at 23:55Like1Remove Preview Asad RaheelThe 10-year-old Afghan war, neither wholly won nor lost, is slowly drawing to a close - or so Washington postulates. But what has not stopped is the linked, escalating destabilisation of the infinitely more important, more populous, and nuclear-armed P...See More

Cavalier US attitude risks turning Pakistan into another IranCavalier US attitude risks turning Pakistan into another IranSMH.COM.AU30 November 2011 at 00:01LikeRemove Preview Asad RaheelRAWALPINDI: International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) carried out the cross-border attack on purpose and there are no expectations of any results coming from the inquiry.The statements were made at a...See More

NATO, ISAF carried out attack on purpose: Pakistan ArmyNo expectations of any results coming from inquiry into incident, say army officials at media briefing.TRIBUNE.COM.PK30 November 2011 at 00:24Like1Remove Preview Riaz Ahmad RehmanNATO is Saying!!!!!!""Kar ley jo karna hey!!!""...Pakisatn cannot go to Security Council..coz there is already resolution passed that states that US can strike anywhere where they find Terrorist hideouts!!!30 November 2011 at 00:29Like Asad RaheelUNITED NATIONS: Pakistans permanent envoy to United Nations (UN) Abdullah Hussain Haroon in his letter to UNs Security Council has lodged strong protest against NATOs attack on Pakistans border post in Mohmand Agency, media reported on Tuesday.

http://www.onlinenews.com.pk/details.php?id=186447

ONLINE - International News NetworkLargest Pakistani News AgencyONLINENEWS.COM.PK30 November 2011 at 01:18LikeRemove Preview Asad RaheelBullocks, PatriotRiaz Rehman...Pakistan reserves that right...but in my opinion...it shud not excercise it...& certainly not yet!30 November 2011 at 01:22Like Asad RaheelPakistan is to boycott talks on Afghanistan's future in protest at a Nato air strike which killed 24 of its soldiers at the weekend, officials say.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-15937270

Pakistan 'to boycott Bonn talks'Pakistan is to boycott next week's talks in Bonn on Afghanistan's future in protest at a Nato air strike which killed 24 of its soldiers, officials say.BBC.CO.UK30 November 2011 at 01:29Like1Remove Preview Asad RaheelI do not think that war is an option fr either of the two countries...however considering one of the worst case scenarios...ie if such incidents are repeated then Pak cud turn into a state like Iran & quoting from the relevant article ante..."If Washington does not learn to tread more carefully, it may find the first US-Pakistan war is starting just as the fourth Afghan war supposedly ends".30 November 2011 at 01:52Like Anuradha Baqaya ChakVery doubtfulAsad Raheelsahab because both India and Pakistan will never go to war with the US or China even if the US and China go to war with each other...we could be part of the peace keeping forces30 November 2011 at 10:19Like2 Simon McWatersThe State Department has a long history of disagreeing with the policy proposals of the CIA and Defence Department. Their backgrounds give all the reasons - State Department tends to be filled with people educated in politics, history and diplomacy, so...See More30 November 2011 at 11:15Like2 Asad RaheelAnuradha Chak...I hav not really given my own comments...yet...i've just responded affirmative or in the negative to comments frm other members. I am also of the opinion that Pak shud participate in the inquiry convened by the US Centcomm...to which it...See More30 November 2011 at 11:16Like Asad RaheelViews of some US Senators: Frustration is particularly acute among members of Congress, who amid an economic recession are being asked to support billions in military and civilian aid for Pakistan.

Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, the second-ranking Demo...See More30 November 2011 at 13:50Like Asad RaheelThe state of Pakistan is akin to a headless chicken ever since Musharraf had exited (in 2008) from the political scene. It comprises of self-serving politicians & an obscurantist Army...worsened by the fact that they are NOT on the same page with each...See More30 November 2011 at 14:56Like1 Bill MiessnerIt is difficult for us in the West understand how backwards Afghanistan truly is. Most Afghans have never traveled more than a mile or two from their little village, have never met a representative of the government, and do not even realize that they live in a country named Afghanistan.30 November 2011 at 18:28Like2 Asad Raheelhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQ_mzOaf8Js

Secret Pakistan: BBC Documentary "BACKLASH" Week 2-[FULL HD]Secret Pakistan "Backlash" 2011, Part 2 of the BBC Documentary Series....YOUTUBE.COM30 November 2011 at 21:47Like1Remove Preview Asad Raheelhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSinK-dVrig&feature=related

Secret Pakistan : Documentary by BBC Part 1 (Double Cross)"Secret Pakistan" by BBC showing involvement of ISI and Pakistan Army in...YOUTUBE.COM30 November 2011 at 21:48Like1Remove Preview Lola Sovinahttp://www.telegraph.co.uk/.../US-refuses-to-apologise...http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/pakistan/8921789/US-refuses-to-apologise-for-PakistanTELEGRAPH.CO.UK1 December 2011 at 01:06Like1Remove Preview superb analysis Asad, however I think US war on Afghanistan served its purpose atleast in the beginning of the war, in throwing out the bunch of clowns ruling Afghanistan. I dream US, Russia, India and Pakistan should form a joint special task force and destroy Islamist terrorists groups like Taliban/Haqqani etc etc and liberate the entire region from fundamentalism1 December 2011 at 01:55Like1 Reuven KossoverIt's hard to comment on this. I've only learned the bare minimum about all this, and what I've learned, I've learned from the point of view of the Pashtun colleague I have who fled the Taliban there. I was already living in Israel when the United Sta...See More1 December 2011 at 02:07Like1 Asad Raheelhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1lHLPuthPY

Outraged Pakistanis Protest Deadly Cross-Border Attack by NATOProtesters throughout Pakistan raged Monday against the U.S. and NATO...YOUTUBE.COM1 December 2011 at 18:31LikeRemove Preview Asad RaheelNEW YORK, 1 DEC: The White House has ruled out President Barack Obama offering formal condolences to Pakistan over the killing of its 24 soldiers in a Nato strike, as suggested by his top diplomat in Islamabad in a desperate bid to salvage deteriorat...See More

Nato strike: Obama not to offer formal apology to PakJoomla! - the dynamic portal engine and content management systemTHESTATESMAN.NET|BY PRATIK11 December 2011 at 18:34LikeRemove Preview Asad RaheelWe cannot be successful in securing peace and security in the region alone. I urge you to ensure full US participation in and cooperation with a full, impartial and transparent investigation into the airstrike.

When forces act under the auspices of...See More

US Congressman concerned by Nato strike, seeks full probeThe response of the United States will be criticalto the security of our troops in Afghanistan, Dennis Kucinich stressed in the letter released by his office.DAWN.COM1 December 2011 at 23:49LikeRemove Preview Asad RaheelPakistan has resumed some cooperation with US-led forces in Afghanistan following Nato strikes that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers by working with the coalition to prevent another cross-border incident from escalating, US spokesperson Navy Lt Cmdr Brian Badura said.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/.../Article1-776766.aspx

Nato-Pak resume cooperation tentatively - Hindustan TimesPakistan has resumed some cooperation with US-led forces in Afghanistan...HINDUSTANTIMES.COM|BY HINDUSTAN TIMES2 December 2011 at 01:00LikeRemove Preview Asad RaheelI was planning to devote this column to Memogate and Ambassador Husain Haqqanis resignation, then I woke up one morning to learn that the topic had been rendered quaint by a Nato cross-border attack killing two dozen Pakistani soldiers and bringing th...See More

We are free to choose peace | Blog | DAWN.COMI was planning to devote this column to Memogate and Ambassador Husain Haqqanis resignation, then I woke up one morning to learn that the topic had...DAWN.COM2 December 2011 at 13:34LikeRemove Preview Asad RaheelPost by Megan S Mills: ISLAMABAD - Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani on Thursday suspended command and chain system to counter any aggression on borders.

http://nation.com.pk/.../Kayani-declares-war-on-Nato...

Kayani declares war on Nato aggressorsISLAMABAD - Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani on Thursday suspended command and chain system to counter any aggression on...NATION.COM.PK2 December 2011 at 18:26LikeRemove Preview Asad RaheelCOMMENT by Megan S Mills someone really needs a bullet2 December 2011 at 18:27Like Gagan ShargaSenthil Ind you have observed correctly and I appreciate your statement "the 'joke' comment was Gagan's analysis on Pakistan's response to US/NATO".....and it was in that context only but I think it rubbed the wrong way......but facts will remain facts...See More2 December 2011 at 22:03Unlike2 Asad RaheelI think it was screening of the above videos...which was instrumental to banning of BBC & CNN telecast in Pak...which I hav already stated is an obscurantic step. The videos contain both fact & fiction (which can be rebutted) but a lot can be understoo...See More25 August 2013 at 18:28EditedUnlike4 That was a solid threadbare analysis, I never knew Zardari was a case study in HarvardI think some new regime should come in Pakistan, Mushy or Imran Khan - and things will turnaround3 December 2011 at 04:48Like2 Leo SafavidI think that what ever might have been the reasons for America's war in Afghanistan, it did serve at least a humanitarian purpose. A government like the Taliban one should not be allowed any where on this planet.

America's biggest mistake was that bef...See More3 December 2011 at 05:39Like2 Gagan ShargaAsad your comment-"the CIA the US Defence dept (which mostly comprises of ex CIA appointees) is also not exonerated from this" should be looked from the perspective of Pakistan....Why Pakistan keep pointing out to others for the mess that they created...See More3 December 2011 at 10:31Like Gagan ShargaPakistan Army enjoys powerful position as the civilian government is like headless government...........Cannot understand when former Pakistan's foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi made the statement that Pakistan nukes are not safe under Zardari.....so do you think he made the observation after having done the case study, as you stated above, on Zardari at Harvard????3 December 2011 at 10:35Like Gagan ShargaPakistan kept interfering in the Afghanistan when they supported Taliban and even Afghan President has said time and again that Pakistan should dismantle the terror camps but to no avail and then they expect NATO to become like sitting ducks and plead innocence........3 December 2011 at 10:44Like1 Ratan ShargaWar is and never will be a solution to any problem.Only innocent people die in wars who have nothing to do with the high egos of the rulers or political blunders that took their heads. But then there is another lobby (industrialists) who are manufactur...See More3 December 2011 at 11:55Like1 Asad RaheelGagan Sharga...plz read much further up in the thread...on the role of both the ISI & CIA as regards Afghanistan. It is on the basis of this history, absence of a clear cut policy, vested interests of many officials in these orgs & their mis-handling o...See More3 December 2011 at 12:43Like Asad RaheelRatan Sharga...i term this phenomena "corporate brinkmanship".3 December 2011 at 12:55Like Asad RaheelAs regards US AID to Pak.

a. its trickle down effect (fr reasons manifold) to the people of Pakistan...has always been minimal....See More3 December 2011 at 13:33Like1 Leo SafavidAsadthat is what I was saying when I said that even if a very small fraction of the billions spent by the US had been invested in uplifting of the Afghan and Tribal people of Pakistan, it would have made a difference. It might be too late now as the best time was right after US victory against the Taliban.3 December 2011 at 14:02Like1 Asad RaheelYesLeo Safavidthis is what i had implied in my ante comment reproduced as under

"Leo Safavid has also cited additional reasons...as to how the Afghanistan problem...went out of hands"....See More3 December 2011 at 14:19Like1 Leo SafavidArsalan Ali, may be thinking out of box can provide solutions. Any way, history by itself is worth reviewing and analyzing.3 December 2011 at 15:14Like1 Asad RaheelMANSUR IJAZ: Haqqani made just one critical mistakeseconding me into his scheme. I dislike the brinksmanship and heavy-handed role that Pakistans military and intelligence organizations have played throughout the nations history, and have said so ov...See More

An Insider Analysis of Pakistan's "Memogate"In an analysis of Pakistans Memogate, Mansoor Ijaz, a key player in the controversy, offers his interpretation of the actions of Islamabads erstwhile...THEDAILYBEAST.COM|BY THE DAILY BEAST3 December 2011 at 15:30LikeRemove Preview Gagan ShargaAsad- everyone knows that US and Pakistan were both partners in driving out erstwhile Soviet Union from Afghanistan.......whereas you completely missed what I was trying to state.My point is US and USSR were at loggerheads in cold war...........Pakista...See More3 December 2011 at 15:30Like Yvonne LeadpencilThis is the one they are trying for.

Option 3: Afghan-led Counterinsurgency...See More3 December 2011 at 15:31Like1 Yvonne Leadpencilhttp://www.cfr.org/afghanistan/afghanization-can-work/p26662

How Afghanization Can Work - Council on Foreign RelationsWhat is the best way to stabilize Afghanistan at a time when international...CFR.ORG3 December 2011 at 15:32LikeRemove Preview Gagan ShargaNow blaming US is like diverting and putting the blame on them and show it to the people that it is US that created the entire problem whereas Pakistan was just a small player whereas it is not the case....3 December 2011 at 15:32Like Simon McWaters"Afghanistan is a different country and why on earth did Pakistan went there?"

If your neighbours house is on fire and threatens to set yours ablaze too, it is only sensible to do all you can to extinguish that fire.3 December 2011 at 15:35Like2 Gagan ShargaPolicy makers in US should have asked one question to themselves when they launched the war against terror.....Did Pakistan willingly entered the war against terror as an ally of US????The answer is clear-No.When US made the call and ask their position...See More3 December 2011 at 15:44Like Gagan ShargaSimon-Oh I did not know that Pakistan went there after 1990 to douse the fire and it has good fire fighting capability indeed by sending the Taliban which created what you call heaven in Afghanistan????Today the whole world is reaping the what should we call the dividends of the effort to, in your language, extinguish the fire of the neighbour.........3 December 2011 at 15:47Like Asad RaheelMansoor Ijaz, an American of Pakistani ancestry, negotiated Sudan's offer of counterterrorism assistance to the Clinton administration in 1997. He was also involved in the negotiation of the ceasefire in Kashmir between militants backed by ISI and Paki...See More3 December 2011 at 15:58Unlike2 Gagan ShargaThis is what I pointed out earlier.....Generals of Pakistan Army do not have to face the election or people's verdict/mandate so they are not accountable and not sensitive to the concerns of common Pakistani citizen...........Moreover, they do not worr...See More3 December 2011 at 16:08Like Asad RaheelGagan Sharga...whereas i appreciate ur interest in the matter...but since it spans over decades...i wud suggest u read more about it...the fol long comments higher up in this thread are likely to be of help to answer your queries:

1) Asad Raheel The A...See More3 December 2011 at 16:25Like1 Gagan ShargaBut Asad given the amount of growing distrust between US and Pakistan do you think, as you said,one should lay all the cards on the table and then become vulnerable?????Neither Pakistan nor US will ever lay all the cards it is like a fool testing the d...See More3 December 2011 at 17:42Like Asad RaheelGagan Sharga ur comment:

"Simon-Oh I did not know that Pakistan went there after 1990 to douse the fire and it has good fire fighting capability indeed by sending the Taliban which created what you call heaven in Afghanistan????Today the whole world i...See More3 December 2011 at 17:43Like Asad RaheelAgreedGagan Shargathere is a lot of difference between wat shud be done & what will occur...I gave my views on wat shud be done...& yes i do not think it happening that way eg so far Pak has not joined the inquiry!3 December 2011 at 17:47Like Gagan ShargaThey also told blatant lies even to Pakistani people when they said that Pakistani soil is not used for the NATO operations but slowly facts are coming out and it is in the interest of Pakistan to own up their faults before other skeletons tumble out o...See More3 December 2011 at 17:49Like Asad RaheelGagan Shargai hav already commented on the OBL scene & the applicability to it of the legal doctrine of recent possession but that does not mean that Pak's acheivements in this war oughta be brushed under the carpet...indeed most of the Al-qaeda chaps have been apprehended by ISI...again i reiterate that u may pl read the comments relevant...so we can move onwards. Plz also read the ENTIRE post of Mansur Ijaz!!3 December 2011 at 17:57Like Gagan ShargaWhere the money has gone that Pakistan received from US and international agencies over the years and why Pakistani people are still suffering????Does the government has the answers????3 December 2011 at 17:57Like Asad RaheelWell the answer which i can give u right here is that uGagan Shargaare not reading things which have already been answered...(at least in some pre-liminary form)...which wud be a pre-requiste fr reasonable debate eg even this recent shot in the air fired by u abt finances ie US AID has been addressed to an extent, by both myself &Leo Safavid. Therefore, i do not see how we can move onwards to reasonable debate.3 December 2011 at 18:05Like Gagan ShargaWell as far as aid is concerned then Pakistan got billions of dollars and was helped both with money and weapons...but how much did they spend for making the lives of Pakistani people better????Negligible amount....rest they diverted to terror groups a...See More3 December 2011 at 18:20Like Asad RaheelI hav already said...& now REPEAT that there oughta be a Broad based inquiry...also cause the Pak people hav not been the main beneficiary of such amounts.

Again at the cost of repetition...the views of Mansur Ijaz (i wonder if u had read them earlier...See More3 December 2011 at 18:28Like Asad RaheelAgain citing Mansur Ijaz...(at the cost of REPETITION)

Pakistans military men may not allow civilian supremacy just yet, but a serious transition seems to be underway to at least make civilian institutions strong enough to coexist on an even footing...See More3 December 2011 at 18:39Like1 Gagan ShargaTrue and it can only be possible when common people start asserting themselves and demanding from the establishment their right and atmosphere of peace and economic progress........but again as you mentioned "what should be done" is just another remark but one should hope that things will become better in Pakistan.......3 December 2011 at 18:42Like1 Gagan Shargawith respect to your statement, "no one would believe Pak can challenge might if US/NATO"

--> True, what you have mentioned on Pak military/ISI leadership to do introspection and focus on people development is valid point. However, i don'...See More3 December 2011 at 18:48Like1 Leo SafavidGagan Sharga, neither I norAsad Raheelhas been defending Pakistan's military's policies regarding Afghanistan & the Taliban. I just expressed the views of the Pakistani Establishment and the reasons behind its double policy there. I actually said,...See More

President Prevez Musharraf with Fareed Zakaria at CNNPresident Prevez Musharraf with Fareed Zakaria at CNNYOUTUBE.COM3 December 2011 at 19:23Unlike2Remove Preview http://www.ibtimes.com/.../afghanistan-women-rights-kabul...

Afghan Women Fear Erosion of Rights Once NATO Troops DepartIt is believed that hundreds, perhaps thousands, of women in Afghanistan are...IBTIMES.COM|BY IBTIMES3 December 2011 at 20:50LikeRemove Preview Riaz Ahmad RehmanAfghanistan.......A WORLD ACADEMY OF WARFARE, The HISTORICAL GRAVEYARD OF SUPERPOWERS !!

The Hallmark of the "Super Powers" is their limited ability to learn... for USA, there was a lesson in the 75 years life cycle of USSR to learn from. But alas, t...See More3 December 2011 at 22:03Like1 Asad RaheelGagan Sharga, your statement, "no one would believe Pak can challenge might if US/NATO"

I view it differently & my views are: why fight at all? the strength of the opponent is the secondary (but indeed a) consideration. Fighting has generally been eas...See More4 December 2011 at 00:02Unlike1 Asad RaheelPOST by Arsalan AliA candid estimate puts losses to Pakistans economy due to its participation in war on terror around US$ 70 billion. The US has provided $20.7 billion to Pakistan since 2002, which makes about 0.1 percent of the American treasure sp...See More

MYTH AND REALITY OF AMERICAN AID | Opinion MakerBy Air Commodore Khalid Iqbal Since 1950s, Pakistani governments, both...OPINION-MAKER.ORG4 December 2011 at 01:43LikeRemove Preview Asad RaheelThe MEMOGATE SCANDAL: Copy of Mansoor Ijazs secret memo to Admiral Mullen, Ijaz claims memo authored by recently resigned Pak Ambassador to US (Husain Haqqani)

http://pakistanblogzine.wordpress.com/.../copy-of.../

Copy of Mansoor Ijazs