Pakistan heads towards a bloody Revolution?

Fazal ur Rehman Afridi

Unable to recover from the worst catastrophe of its 63 years history, Pakistan is faced with a serious challenge in the days to come. But, political analyst and observers believe, the worst has yet to come. After recovering from the shock and emergency relief efforts, the people will find themselves in a real problematic situation where they will find ruins of what they owned and massive destruction all around. Inefficient government lacking political will and disinterested establishment to rehabilitate the people are playing politics on the dead bodies of the victims by launching dirty vilification campaign against each other in the print and electronic media. This resembles the same situation when Rome was burning, Nero was playing violin.

Some political observers term it a follow-up to a phenomenon just like French Revolution (1789-1799), resulting in evaporation of feudal, aristocratic and religious privileges and embracing of enlightened principals like Liberty, Equality and Fraternity (www.en.wikipedia.org). While French Revolution was for the achievement of the above mentioned objectives, Pakistani masses lack both leadership and goals.

Faced with myriads of problems like terrorism, economic and social problems, masses are really frustrated and have developed psychological problems. Rampant torture and killings have made the people dangerously aggressive and violent, which is resulting in Incidents like Sialkot, when two brothers were brutally tortured and beaten to death by a mob, while police and other spectators were applauding and cheering the murderers. Later the bodies of these teenagers were hanged in front of a police station. This brutal episode shows the barbarity and distrust of the people in the security apparatus and Pakistani Judiciary, resorting to mob-justice time and again (www.observers.france24.com).

Another serious area of concern is the revival of Taliban in the areas where they have been considered weak after successful military operations. The government and military have been weakened considerably due to the destruction of infrastructure and are over-stretched to provide some help to flood victims. Taliban have come out stronger after the floods. This proposition is supported by recent wave of suicide attacks by Taliban-cum-Al-Qaeda-affiliated anti-Shia group, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi.

1. Immediately after the floods, the first alarm bell was rung when 33 people were killed and 50 injured by a suicide bomber at Karbala Gam-e-Shah, Lahore, the capital city of Punjab Province. The enraged Shia-precisionist vent their anger on police, journalists and even rescue workers. Again, the world saw the phenomenon of mob-justice by public, setting ablaze a police station and destroying properties. (Daily The News, September 02, 2010)

2. Second suicide attack was reported at Quetta, Provincial capital of Baluchistan, resulting in the killing of 65 and injuring of 160 of the Shia student processionists of Imamia Students Organization (ISO). The mob reacted in the same way as in Lahore by resorting to indiscriminate firing and destruction of properties. The Quetta attack was more dangerous in the sense as seven journalists were injured in this incident. (Daily Jasarat, September 04, 2010 ).

3. In a similar attack 2 policemen were killed in Peshawar, the provincial capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. In another suicide attack 2 Ahmadis were killed and 5 others were injured in Mardan when they were performing Friday prayer. (Daily Frontier Post, Peshawar, September 04, 2010)

4. Again, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a suicide bomber rammed his explosives-laden vehicle into a police station in the southern city of Lakki Marwat, killing 19 people, most of them security officials. (Daily Dawn, Mon, 06 Sep, 2010)

5. Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh echoed with firing on a Shia procession near Impress Market. Fortunately, it did not result in death and injury but the phenomenon of Target Killing mainly between two ethnic groups for the control of the city is continuing and hounding the public in Karachi on daily basis- which has brought the economic engine of Pakistan to a stand still.

It is important to note that all these co-ordinated attacks by Taliban and their affiliate groups took place within a short time span of one week, indicate the strength & superiority of Taliban and weakness of the government. But, this is just like scratching the surface. The civil and military establishment is weakened to the extent, that Gilgit Baltistan area has been virtually handed over to PLA of China. 8000-10000 strong Chinese army has the de-facto control of GB, in the guise of helping the flood victims and rehabilitating them. The construction of permanent military barracks by Chinese Army in GB, shows the real future intentions of China. Selig Harrison, an American expert on Asia, in his article published in New York Times, has termed it a dangerous development which will have negative implications for American interests in the region.

When we analyze these dangerous un-controlled developments in the face of the recent historically worst floods and the consequent destruction of infra-structure, it leads us to the conclusion that Pakistan is about to enter an uncharted territory. New horrible developments, one can forecast for the immediate future are partly explained by General Hamid Gul, former ISI chief, in his thought-provoking article published in Daily Jhang on September 02, 2010, “ The situation is really bad. Historical floods have taken away everything, but now the flood of (angry) people is going to sweep away (Pakistan). Nothing will be able to stop this flood of masses…..the situation demands to bury the 63 years old system. I have always been for Soft-Revolution, which seems to be imminent now.”

Retired generals and establishment fed journalists, forwarding the concept of controlled soft revolution are naïve to understand that it cannot be termed revolution at all but Evolution, as there is no concept of soft or hard revolution, it is always bloody. It seems naïve on the part of an experienced General like Hamid Gul to dream of a soft Revolution, despite the fact that the idea of revolution (either soft or hard) presented by him seems to be real and imminent. As, there seems to be lack of leadership and vision, the angry movement can turn into mobocracy, which can result in civil war and unimaginable destruction. A revolution sans leadership lacking vision and goals will plunge the country into chaos and destruction.

So, to cut it short, the establishment fed journalists and political actors who are proposing the idea of Soft-Revolution to destabilize the present democratic set-up, will have to think twice about the consequences of a Revolution. Pakistan Army will not have a country to rule then, as one political scientist put it, “other countries have Armies, Pakistan Army has a country”. Revolution on the French pattern is not possible as Pakistan lack the values, vision and wisdom of the French people, which transformed France for a better tomorrow. If Pakistanis opt for a real revolution, Army, feudals and religious extremists who are presently at privileged position will not have place in the future political dispensation. Baluchistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, already in civil-war like situation- Of course, a revolution can result in Balkanization of Pakistan.

After Times Square, a Time bomb is Ticking for Pakistan: Are lessons learnt?

Fazal ur Rehman Afridi

Paris-France

Faisal Shahzad, the mastermind of the botched car bomb attack at Times Square of New York, was born in 1979. He is Kashmiri by ethnicity and a naturalized US citizen. He was first considered to be a lone wolf by Pentagon officials. Later, the US State Department allied him with the Tehrik-e-Taliban (TTP), which supposedly trained him in North Waziristan. The latest twist came with new arrests in USA and Pakistan, paving the way for US authorities to finally put a halt to wild speculations in media by pin-pointing Mohmand Agency to be the launching pad for this attack. According to media reports militants of Jaish-e-Muhammad (Kashmiri militant group involved in Indian Parliament attack in New Delhi on December 13, 2001, now has developed strong links with TTP and Al-Qaeda) have been arrested in Peshawar and are being interrogated to arrive at the origin of this botched plot. It is believed that he had active contacts with Lashkar-e-Taiba also (a Pakistani based Kashmir-oriented Jihadist turned terrorist group involved in the Bombay terrorist attacks). Whatever may be the reason or origin of this malicious intent, one thing is for sure that Pakistan has not learnt lessons from its past. Terrorism and extremism has brought the country on the verge of collapse due the failed military policies. Out of touch with new realities of the changing world our establishment is bent upon harping the old tune of good and bad Taliban, still painting them to be a strategic asset.

The timing and the hast with which Air Vice Marshal (R) Baharul Haq the father of the accused in attempted act of terrorism, fled from his Peshawar house and was taken into the protective custody of Pakistan Army, put many questions marks on the involvement of some big fishes in this act of terrorism. According to some reliable sources a Military secret service took him in custody to avoid being questioned directly by American officials, before being briefed by it. The uncle of Faisal Shehzad, Maj Gen (retd) Tajul Haq, reported to have served as the Inspector General of Frontier Corps (IGFC) in the past. This puts a lot of question marks on the involvement of some government officials in the plot. I have been constantly making hue and cry about the Pakistani Military clean-shaved Taliban, who are more dangerous than Madrasa-educated Taliban. In my previous articles, I have elaborated the modus operandi of the ISI, which usually employ retired military officers to train the future terrorists and extremists in the tribal areas of Pakistan. They usually work through NGOs in order to avoid attracting the attention of media, United States and European intelligence agencies. Some NGOs of this type have been discovered by US but it is the tip of an iceberg. There are strong indications that Pakistani secret service may have worked as liaison between Times Square bomber and the terrorist out-fits like TTP, Jaish-e-Muhammad and Al-Qaeeda.

Another point which creates further doubts in the mind of an impartial analyst, is the hue and cry of the establishment-fed journalists like Shahid Masood, Kamran Khan, Talat Hussain, Rafeh Alam, Ansar Abbasi and Hamid Mir on the harsh statements of US officials. Who are trying their best to prove, however absurdly to the Pakistani masses as if this plot was hatched by US, just to put pressure on Pakistan to start military operation in North Waziristan. Instead of learning lessons from mistakes, the establishment is spreading rumors and conspiracy theories to create confusion among public, fueling anti-American sentiments in the country. The main pro-establishment politico-religious out-fit, Jamat-e-Islami is leaving no stone un-turned in blaming US for all the problems of Pakistan. Without a nod and support from establishment, JI could not have organized its anti-US campaign, which is gaining momentum with every passing day. The resurrection of MMA indicate that army establishment is again thinking about venturing into new un-charted territories, which will lead to dire consequences for the territorial integrity of the country.

Not in a distant past, our President, Prime Minister, Foreign Minister were boasting tirelessly of the success of the Pak-US strategic dialogue, supposing that it will lead to a long term strategic relationship. The scribe, on the other hand in his previous articles elaborated in details that Strategic relations are established and successful between nations which share common values and similar view of the world. Pakistan and US does not fit into that category of countries which share common values and identical view of the world.

This wild day dreaming came to a sudden halt when the Times Square attempted terrorist plot surfaced. The resultant harsh reaction from USA on the highest level was not only unexpected rather shocking for our politico-military leadership. The threat of severe consequences by US Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton was a stark reminder to the hard realities of the changed world. This warning by Foreign Secretary coupled with US Attorney General statements have exposed the myth of our so-called Strategic Relationship with US. I think the consequences, as pointed out by Hilary Clinton would have been catastrophic if this failed car bomb attempt would have been successful, resulting in killing of innocent Americans.

To counter the threats by Hilary Clinton, the Military Establishment has again chosen the suicidal path of becoming hostage to radicals and hawks among its ranks; by giving a green signal to its politico-religious parties to resurrect the Mutahida Majlese Amal (MMA). The recent meeting of the leaders of the former MMA to discuss the revival of the old and discarded multi-party religious alliance is only possible after a nod from the Establishment.

Similarly, the alleged release of six top Taliban Commanders involved in insurgency in Eastern Afghanistan caste doubts on the commitment and credibility of the secret services of Pakistan. This shows how sincere we are in our commitment to eradicate terrorism and extremism from our soil. Is it what our leaders were calling strategic relationship?

The arrests of Col. Imam, Khalid Khawaja (two former ISI operatives) and Asad Qureshi (a UK based journalist of Pakistani origin) : and the resultant killing of Khalid Khawaja by a less known Punjabi Taliban group named Asian Tigers, shows that the terrorists are using the same tactics of double timing Pakistan. Weather Mr. Khwaja was a CIA agent or double agent, one thing is clear that Taliban have become strong enough to kill any one in Pakistan with impunity. Here too, Col. Imam seems to be the main culprit who organized this visit to trap Khwaja. Javed Ibrahim paracha of Kohat and Molvi Abdul Aziz, who have close links with Talibans and working actively for ISI are involved in this murer. Involved in almost every big terrorist attack, Tariq Afridi, the leader of TTP Khyber Agency continue to abduct, torture and kill innocent people. He is providing safe heavens to Lashkar e Taiba, Jaish e Muhammad, Lashkar e Jhangwi, Asian Tigers and Al-Qaeda. Pakistani military and secret agencies instead of arresting him provide training, logistics, sanctuaries and finances.

Despite the mighty intelligence apparatus of CIA in hand, ironically US could not know about the fact that in Swat and South Waziristan operations, military gave a safe exit corridor to the Taliban to avoid direct confrontation with them. It is clear like a day light that in all military operations conducted by Pakistan Army including the two well known operations of SWAT and South Waziristan, Taliban including their leadership were given safe exit to avoid confrontation. Later on, only innocent civilians were bombarded by Pakistani helicopter gunships, long range artillery and fighter jests in contravention to the Geneva Convention. The same is happening now in North Waziristan. All the terrorists have been informed by Military Establishment through journalists like Hamid Mir to vacate the area before the military is forced by US to conduct military operation. So, now all the terrorists including TTP, Jaish-e-Muhammed, Lashkar-e-Taibba, 313 brigade of Ilyas Kashmiri and Asian Tigers (the Pubjabi Taliban) have been shifting to settled areas of Pakistan. Yet in another dangerous move, after pressure from US, the terrorists and extremists are moving into AJK and trying to cross over to Indian Held Kashmir to sabotage the current peace process between India and Pakistan. It is an open secret that without the connivance of Military Establishment this would have been possible for Taliban Militia to move freely in the whole country from Swat to Karachi and from FATA to AJK without any fear of confrontation.

IS PAKISTAN READY TO SOLVE ITS ASTRONOMICAL PROBLEMS?

Pakistan is faced with myriad of problems ranging from socio-political, religious, ethnic and economic. Our outdated education system, non-functional health system, inefficient and paralyzed institutions, corrupt and visionless leadership and un-bridled military driven by medieval Wahhabist ideology.

Instead of correcting our wrongs, we have developed a psyche of denial, resulting in further piling up of problems. We have developed a psychology of spreading rumors and conspiracy theories, blaming US, Israel and India for all our failures. Instead of taking responsibility for our failures and deficiencies, we blame others to avoid accountability. Policy of putting our heads into the sand like an Ostrich will not work any more with increased political awareness of the masses through independent print and electronic media. The economic mismanagement, political upheavals, social anarchy, unemployment, energy crisis, sky-rocketing prices, corruption, total disregard for rule of law and supremacy of the constitution are of our own making. Nobody from America, India or Israel has come to create these problems for us. We will have to fix the responsibility once and for all. Otherwise, God does not change the destinies of those nations, who are not interested in changing themselves. Blaming others for our self-created problems will lead us to no where. Time has come to bring to justice all those who have brought the country to this state of the affairs. We are living in a country where hundreds of innocent people are killed both by non-state actors like Taliban and un-bridled military everyday. Establishment has turned the Pakistan into a security state rather than a welfare state. We will have to say goodbye to culture of extremism. Establishment must stop supporting extremist groups in Pakistan to preserve it sovereignty. Pakistan has to decide once and for all whether it is on the side of the forces of darkness or enlightenment. The establishment should transfer all the powers to the civilian democratic dispensation particularly foreign affairs, finance and national security. Pakistan can ill-afford this drama of the all powerful military establishment taking credit for all the successes and blaming the civilian leadership for failures using them as scapegoats. By the same Establishment, Baloch and Pashtuns have been alienated to an extent that it seems impossible for them to reconcile with the Pakistani State. Baloch and Pashtun nationalism is on rise and sooner or later they are suppose to declare independence from Pakistan, because they did not join Pakistan to be ruled by Military dictators and live like slaves under the black Punjabi imperialists.

Our Human rights record is also not enviable. We have a black spot on our face in the form of FATA which is governed by a century old draconian law of FCR, through which Pashtun tribes are persecuted through collective punishment and territorial responsibility. Despite being citizens of Pakistan, the tribes do not enjoy even the basic rights enshrined in the constitution of Pakistan. The Supreme Court of Pakistan cannot exercise its jurisdiction in FATA. The parliament of Pakistan, cannot legislate for FATA. People are languishing in jails for the crimes they have not committed. All this is in contravention to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights passed by the General Assembly of UN in 1948. A recent US panel’s report has declared Pakistan as worst in religious freedom violations. Shia-sunni antagonism and the support received from the establishment by certain groups like Lashkar-e-Jhangwi is not a secret. These groups are killing innocent people in broad day light and no body is arrested or tried in the history of the country. Religious minorities are constantly under attack by extremists fanatics. Most important of all one Muslim Ahamadi group is constantly harassed, tortured and killed with impunity even with the assistance of establishment, where Police, executive, and even judges are biased towards this small group. Even some high profile journalists like Hamid Mir, Ansar Abbasy, Haroon Rashid etc, are always spewing hate and venom against this group resulting in further persecution of innocent people. The professional ethics of these journalists should be questioned by the press freedom organizations to stop them creating anarchy and fanaticism in the country. We have removed the name of Dictator General Zia ul Haq from the constitution for which the present Parliament deserve credit, but his ghost is still haunting the religious minorities and even some Muslim sects in the form discriminatory laws.

In terms of press freedom, more than 40 journalists have been killed since 2004. Journalist with commitment to their profession and love for the truth are still being killed with impunity both by Pakistan military and Taliban. The private media is pressured and subjugated by the government by holding advertisement to those who do not follow the government line. Establishment is not only pervasive in most of the big media, rather it has hundreds of prominent journalists on its pay rolls, who are fed stories by the Establishment. Taliban and secret military agencies are physically threatening , harassing, abducting, torturing and killing the journalists with impunity. Ironically not a single person has been arrested or tried in the killings of such a big number of journalists.

Not only journalists: Pakistan has an un-enviable reputation of killing its own leaders. The founder of the Nation, Quid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah was left to die in want of medical assistance. Liaqat Ali Khan, the first Prime Minister of Pakistan was killed by the establishment in Liaqat Bagh, Rawalpindi. Then the judicial murder of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was a rude shock to the people of Pakistan. Murtaza Bhutto was killed in day light by Pak secret services to embarrass his sister Benazir Bhutto. Benazir Bhutto was the last leader killed by the same establishment to stop civilian leaders strengthening democratic institutions in the county.

The hot issue of disappeared persons is a black spot on the face of Pakistan. Our intelligence agencies are flouting rule of law and fundamental rights as a matter of routine practice? Articles 9 and 10 of the Constitution state that no person shall be deprived of life or liberty, except in accordance with law, and no person shall be arrested or detained without being produced before a magistrate within 24 hours of such arrest or detention. Despite, the collective efforts of the Parliament, and Supreme Court of Pakistan, not a single disappeared person has been recovered from military secret services, in total disregard for the rule of law and supremacy of the constitution.

Pakistan has to come out of the old failed traditionalist illusionary policy of strategic depth in Afghanistan. Taliban are not a strategic asset, rather they are a strategic threat now not only for Pakistan but for the whole region. Complete overhaul of the military strategy, training and ideological perception needs to done to make it conform with the modern needs and challenges in a changed world after 9 11. Military needs to be accountable to the civilian leadership, if we want to win the war on terrorism. We should learn from the famous statement of former British War Prime Minister Winston Churchill that war is too serious a matter to be left to Military. We have the recent example of former USSR crumbling under the heavy weight of military expenditure and adventurism sans strong economic and social development.

PAK-US STRATEGIC DIALOGUE- A PASHTUN PERSPECTIVE

The hollow claims of Pakistan commitment to peace in Afghanistan have been exposed by the statement of the former UN special representative to Afghanistan Mr. Kai Eide that the resent arrest of high profile Talibans leadership by Pakistani authorities, have jeopardized the process of secret peace talks with moderate Talibans. Mr. Karzai was also infuriated by these arrests though not expressing it publically. This mis-adventure of Pakistan indicate the real villainous intentions of Pakistan Military Establishment for elusive peace in Afghanistan.
International community should be well aware of the fact that Pakistan support only those Talibans who do not want the peaceful settlement of Afghan imbroglio. Pakistani Military Establishment was protecting those hardline Talibans who were killing US and Allied forces in Afghanistan. These arrests have made it clear that the root cause of the Afghan problem lie in Pakistan. Ironically, the billions of dollars that US is pouring into the pockets of Pakistani Generals are used to finance, train and equip those Talibans who are involved in killing the same Americans. It seems illogical and bizarre that the American tax payer money is spent on killing the American soldiers.

Pakistani Military establishment who is historically obsessed with the word STRATEGIC is currently involved in Strategic dialogue with US. A high level delegation of military-cum-civilian leadership is in Washington to find ways and means how to sell their fellow countrymen to US on prices higher than General Musharraf did. Pakistani have not forgotten the legends like Strategic depth of Afghanistan, the Strategic Retreat of Kargil, the Strategic defeat of 1971 and the Strategic wholesale bazar of General Musharaf. I do not know out-come of this strategic dialogue. But, one thing is clear that Pakistanis will face further humiliation, further terrorism, further selling of their daughters and sons, further burden of debt , further anarchy and further filling of pockets of Army Generals. People will forget General Musharafs retail-sale, when they will hear the stories of General Kayanis wholesale offers to US .

This time around, Pakistan has a new product to offer. Huge amounts are at stake as a very large number of pro-Pakistan Talibans are on Public Auction in Washington. Time will tell as to which group among Haqani Network, Quetta Shura or Gulbadin Hikmatyar will get the highest bid price. Musharraf used to sell individual, General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani is going a step further by selling larger groups. But, even at this stage Pakistani Military Establishment is clever enough to sell some expired products which are of no use to Pakistan. At this stage Americans should show their wisdom by demanding the real Talibans. Clean-shaved Punjabi uniformed Generals are the real Talibans, who are the root cause of all the troubles in the region. Besides these Generals, the Punjabi turbaned and bearded Talibans are also a threat to the regional peace. Durable peace in the region cannot be achieved until or unliess the Punjabi Talibans are eliminated. And these Punjabi Talibans are not located in North-West of Pakistan or Afganistan, rather they are hiding in cities like Faisalabad, Muridke, Lahore, , Dera Ghazi Khan, Rahim Yar Khan, Bahawalpur, Multan, and Karachi. I would advise the Military Establishment to include in the offer the Punjabi Talibans also. Surely they will get the highest price from Americans.

Pakistan can achieve nothing from this strategic dialogue. This is just a ploy to deceive the public through good stories, kind words and smiles from US politicians. Both countries have a long history of mistrust. Strategic dialogue takes place and can be successful when the two negotiating countries share the same priorities and same vision of the world. Both these important elements do not exist when it comes to Pakistan and USA. Pakistan has achieved nothing except a promise of Up gradation of 3 power plants. Pakistani pro-military media has blown it out of proportion as if something really important is taking palce.. For how long Pak Military Establishment will hypocritically hide the facts and deceive the public. Why the public is not taken into confidence on the demands by the US to attack those Talibans which were considered friends by military. Americans should know well that they can never succeed in eliminating the menace of terrorism in the region until or unless Pakistani Military openly condemn terrorism and start a hot pursuit of Terrorists. Another important factor which makes this strategic dialogue a doomed to fail exercise is the exclusion of Pashtuns from this dialogue. How can this dialogue succeed when the main party to the problem of terrorism has been excluded? Pashtuns, who are directly affected by Terrorism, facing and fighting this threat on daily basis is not considered by Pakistan to be represented in these talks. This shows the hypocrisy and the mal- intentions of Military Establishment towards Pashtuns who have been victims of genocide and terrorism. The success of strategic dialogue will remain an illusion until or unless the main stakeholder Pashtuns are not heard.

My personal opinion is that Pashtuns have realized that their real enemy is Pakistani Military. Mullah Abdul Gahni Birader who was negotiating secretly with UN is a testimony to the fact that Pashtuns do not trust Pak Military Establishment anymore. They want to talk directly with US and Afghan government to resolve the issue. Talibans have realized that they have been used as fodder in this war by Pakistan to protect the Punjabi and Wahabi interests. That is why some Talibans elements in Pakistan have turned against Pakistan and are involved in killing Pakistani military, secret agencies and police. Talibans must realize that they are fightin neither Jihad nor a holy war. Instead of fighting the war of Wahabism for Saudis and their Pakistani mercenaries, they should stop violence and start dialogue with the US and Afghan government directly. No body will stop them from practicing their religion. Rather than fighting a proxy war for Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, they should try to learn what their real roots are. They should return to their roots, culture and tradition. If Saudis and Pakistanis have so much love for Islam and Jihad, then they should fight it from their land. If they are really interested in Jihad then thousands of American forces are present in Saudi Arabia. Pakistan is also hosting US and NATO forces in its territory, providing them military basis,ports, human intelligence and all logistical support. These two countries which are a part of every problem in global terrorism, are fighting that war in other countries of the world including Afghanistan and Pashtun part of Pakistan, spelling the blood of other nations particularly Pashtuns. All the Nationalists, secular and educated Pashtuns headed by Awami National Party (ANP) have expressed the same views in a recently held Grand Jirga in Peshawar in which it was clearly identified that the two key causes of terrorism are: strategic depth policy of the military establishment of Pakistan; and the Arab expansionism embodied by al Qaeda under the garb of global Islam.

On the other hand Pakistan is not interested in rooting out terrorism, as terrorism can be eliminated by weakening the Motivation Power of the Terrorist Organizations. This can be done by providing real education rather than Wahhabis education of hatred. Education systems (curriculum & literature) of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are just spreading hatred against other nations and religions like Hindus, Jews, Shias, Ahamadis and Christians. Through economic development, creation of Jobs, rule of law and supremacy of the constitution and good governance we can direct the energies of our youth for peace, stability, tolerance and love. Pakistan has failed in all these areas. Rather the money received from International Community is used piling up of more weapons. The bellies of some Generals are getting bigger and fatter then ever. While watching the distruction of recent Mingora blast, I was shocked to see a picture of a small boy dead on a garbage dump. A small boy who was supposed to be at school, was at the garbage dump , earning livelihood for his family. This poor boy was not spared even at a garbage dump to earn his livelihood. Talibans are offering handsome amounts to such young and poor Pakistanis to become bombers rather than good educated citizens of the country. This real example shows the failure of the Pakistani government which is creating an environment where only terrorists can flourish. Talibans are just a link otherwise the real motivational force for terrorism is Pakistani Military Establishment, which is not interested in the economic and financial betterment of its people.

The recent hue and cry by pro-military media on Kerry-Lugar Bill was not due to the fact that Pakistani Nation was insulted. Military felt insulted when the US made a deal with civilian government according to which the money was to be used for social and economic development rather than going into the pockets of Generals. As the Military Establishment could not double-time the US this time, they made it a matter of honor. Another irritant was the US commitment to civilian rule and democracy, directly in conflict with Military Establishment, the real ruler of Pakistan right from its creation. Military is selling the citizens of Pakistan to US with the sole purpose of earning money, that is not considered dishonorable and humiliating but when the civilians institutions are supported by US, it becomes a matter of honor.

To expose the double-timing of the Pakistani Military Establishment I would like to present one example of Military operations conducted by Pak Military to which I am a personal witness. Recently, Pakistan Military started a military operation against Talibans in F.R Kohat and F.R Peshawar. All the entry and exit were cordoned of by the military to these areas. Tthe people of Jawaki F.R Kohat area are witness to the fact that Talibans fighters were given a safe-exit by the military. These Talibans entered and dispersed in settled areas of Kohat city through adjoining Bazid Khel Area without any trouble and even stayed for one night or two in Bazid Khel.

I have personally seen military helicopters supplying logistics to these Taliban terrorizing, abducting and killing local civilians in F.R Kohat and Peshawar. It is impossible to live, train and attack without the help of military in these inaccessible hilly areas. Similar, things were repeated in South Waziristan, Swat and Bajour. The main victims of the aerial bombardment and artillery shelling were innocent civilians rather than Taliban who are considered to be a STRATEGIC ASSET.

Another story which shows the real motivational force in flourishing terrorism for which military is responsible. In a small village of Jawaki Babu Khel F.R. Kohat only one person named as Murad Khan was working as informer to Talibans. Before the military operation, he took hostage all the male members of that ill-fated village. Even male children were taken hostage by this Taliban informer. He told his fellow villagers that Military will kill them all on the charges of helping Talibans. Military has done it already in other such cases, so due to fear of being killed by military they all left the village, despite the fact that these poor villagers did not help Talibans. So, now all the women in that village of Babu Khel are all alone and not a single male member of a village is there to provide them food and protection. I am sure that the military would have killed those innocent villagers if they would have stayed, as we have been witness to many such abductions, tortures and killings by military. Ironically the same military gave a safe- passage to real Talibans. It means that government is involved in motivating civilians to join hands with terrorists or be prepared to be killed either by Talibans or military. There are hundred of examples of past military operations in which military killed innocent civilians. Taliban also killed innocent civilians on the charges of helping military. In both the cases innocent civilians are the victims.

At the end I would like to comment on the explanations given by my Pashtun brother and Journalist, Salim Safis to his Punjabi counterparts, where he seems to be apologetic about his language and culture. I would like to make it absolutely clear that as Pashtuns we are proud of our language and culture. If some Punjabis are afraid of our language and culture, they should consult a psychiatric. We are not against any language and culture, but we are proud of our heritage be it our language, culture or traditions.

PAK-US STRATEGIC DIALOGUE- A PASHTUN PERSPECTIVE

The hollow claims of Pakistan commitment to peace in Afghanistan have been exposed by the statement of the former UN special representative to Afghanistan Mr. Kai Eide that the resent arrest of high profile Talibans leadership by Pakistani authorities, have jeopardized the process of secret peace talks with moderate Talibans. Mr. Karzai was also infuriated by these arrests though not expressing it publically. This mis-adventure of Pakistan indicate the real villainous intentions of Pakistan Military Establishment for elusive peace in Afghanistan.
International community should be well aware of the fact that Pakistan support only those Talibans who do not want the peaceful settlement of Afghan imbroglio. Pakistani Military Establishment was protecting those hardline Talibans who were killing US and Allied forces in Afghanistan. These arrests have made it clear that the root cause of the Afghan problem lie in Pakistan. Ironically, the billions of dollars that US is pouring into the pockets of Pakistani Generals are used to finance, train and equip those Talibans who are involved in killing the same Americans. It seems illogical and bizarre that the American tax payer money is spent on killing the American soldiers.

Pakistani Military establishment who is historically obsessed with the word STRATEGIC is currently involved in Strategic dialogue with US. A high level delegation of military-cum-civilian leadership is in Washington to find ways and means how to sell their fellow countrymen to US on prices higher than General Musharraf did. Pakistani have not forgotten the legends like Strategic depth of Afghanistan, the Strategic Retreat of Kargil, the Strategic defeat of 1971 and the Strategic wholesale bazar of General Musharaf. I do not know out-come of this strategic dialogue. But, one thing is clear that Pakistanis will face further humiliation, further terrorism, further selling of their daughters and sons, further burden of debt , further anarchy and further filling of pockets of Army Generals. People will forget General Musharafs retail-sale, when they will hear the stories of General Kayanis wholesale offers to US .

This time around, Pakistan has a new product to offer. Huge amounts are at stake as a very large number of pro-Pakistan Talibans are on Public Auction in Washington. Time will tell as to which group among Haqani Network, Quetta Shura or Gulbadin Hikmatyar will get the highest bid price. Musharraf used to sell individual, General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani is going a step further by selling larger groups. But, even at this stage Pakistani Military Establishment is clever enough to sell some expired products which are of no use to Pakistan. At this stage Americans should show their wisdom by demanding the real Talibans. Clean-shaved Punjabi uniformed Generals are the real Talibans, who are the root cause of all the troubles in the region. Besides these Generals, the Punjabi turbaned and bearded Talibans are also a threat to the regional peace. Durable peace in the region cannot be achieved until or unliess the Punjabi Talibans are eliminated. And these Punjabi Talibans are not located in North-West of Pakistan or Afganistan, rather they are hiding in cities like Faisalabad, Muridke, Lahore, , Dera Ghazi Khan, Rahim Yar Khan, Bahawalpur, Multan, and Karachi. I would advise the Military Establishment to include in the offer the Punjabi Talibans also. Surely they will get the highest price from Americans.

Pakistan can achieve nothing from this strategic dialogue. This is just a ploy to deceive the public through good stories, kind words and smiles from US politicians. Both countries have a long history of mistrust. Strategic dialogue takes place and can be successful when the two negotiating countries share the same priorities and same vision of the world. Both these important elements do not exist when it comes to Pakistan and USA. Pakistan has achieved nothing except a promise of Up gradation of 3 power plants. Pakistani pro-military media has blown it out of proportion as if something really important is taking palce.. For how long Pak Military Establishment will hypocritically hide the facts and deceive the public. Why the public is not taken into confidence on the demands by the US to attack those Talibans which were considered friends by military. Americans should know well that they can never succeed in eliminating the menace of terrorism in the region until or unless Pakistani Military openly condemn terrorism and start a hot pursuit of Terrorists. Another important factor which makes this strategic dialogue a doomed to fail exercise is the exclusion of Pashtuns from this dialogue. How can this dialogue succeed when the main party to the problem of terrorism has been excluded? Pashtuns, who are directly affected by Terrorism, facing and fighting this threat on daily basis is not considered by Pakistan to be represented in these talks. This shows the hypocrisy and the mal- intentions of Military Establishment towards Pashtuns who have been victims of genocide and terrorism. The success of strategic dialogue will remain an illusion until or unless the main stakeholder Pashtuns are not heard.

My personal opinion is that Pashtuns have realized that their real enemy is Pakistani Military. Mullah Abdul Gahni Birader who was negotiating secretly with UN is a testimony to the fact that Pashtuns do not trust Pak Military Establishment anymore. They want to talk directly with US and Afghan government to resolve the issue. Talibans have realized that they have been used as fodder in this war by Pakistan to protect the Punjabi and Wahabi interests. That is why some Talibans elements in Pakistan have turned against Pakistan and are involved in killing Pakistani military, secret agencies and police. Talibans must realize that they are fightin neither Jihad nor a holy war. Instead of fighting the war of Wahabism for Saudis and their Pakistani mercenaries, they should stop violence and start dialogue with the US and Afghan government directly. No body will stop them from practicing their religion. Rather than fighting a proxy war for Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, they should try to learn what their real roots are. They should return to their roots, culture and tradition. If Saudis and Pakistanis have so much love for Islam and Jihad, then they should fight it from their land. If they are really interested in Jihad then thousands of American forces are present in Saudi Arabia. Pakistan is also hosting US and NATO forces in its territory, providing them military basis,ports, human intelligence and all logistical support. These two countries which are a part of every problem in global terrorism, are fighting that war in other countries of the world including Afghanistan and Pashtun part of Pakistan, spelling the blood of other nations particularly Pashtuns. All the Nationalists, secular and educated Pashtuns headed by Awami National Party (ANP) have expressed the same views in a recently held Grand Jirga in Peshawar in which it was clearly identified that the two key causes of terrorism are: strategic depth policy of the military establishment of Pakistan; and the Arab expansionism embodied by al Qaeda under the garb of global Islam.

On the other hand Pakistan is not interested in rooting out terrorism, as terrorism can be eliminated by weakening the Motivation Power of the Terrorist Organizations. This can be done by providing real education rather than Wahhabis education of hatred. Education systems (curriculum & literature) of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are just spreading hatred against other nations and religions like Hindus, Jews, Shias, Ahamadis and Christians. Through economic development, creation of Jobs, rule of law and supremacy of the constitution and good governance we can direct the energies of our youth for peace, stability, tolerance and love. Pakistan has failed in all these areas. Rather the money received from International Community is used piling up of more weapons. The bellies of some Generals are getting bigger and fatter then ever. While watching the distruction of recent Mingora blast, I was shocked to see a picture of a small boy dead on a garbage dump. A small boy who was supposed to be at school, was at the garbage dump , earning livelihood for his family. This poor boy was not spared even at a garbage dump to earn his livelihood. Talibans are offering handsome amounts to such young and poor Pakistanis to become bombers rather than good educated citizens of the country. This real example shows the failure of the Pakistani government which is creating an environment where only terrorists can flourish. Talibans are just a link otherwise the real motivational force for terrorism is Pakistani Military Establishment, which is not interested in the economic and financial betterment of its people.

The recent hue and cry by pro-military media on Kerry-Lugar Bill was not due to the fact that Pakistani Nation was insulted. Military felt insulted when the US made a deal with civilian government according to which the money was to be used for social and economic development rather than going into the pockets of Generals. As the Military Establishment could not double-time the US this time, they made it a matter of honor. Another irritant was the US commitment to civilian rule and democracy, directly in conflict with Military Establishment, the real ruler of Pakistan right from its creation. Military is selling the citizens of Pakistan to US with the sole purpose of earning money, that is not considered dishonorable and humiliating but when the civilians institutions are supported by US, it becomes a matter of honor.

To expose the double-timing of the Pakistani Military Establishment I would like to present one example of Military operations conducted by Pak Military to which I am a personal witness. Recently, Pakistan Military started a military operation against Talibans in F.R Kohat and F.R Peshawar. All the entry and exit were cordoned of by the military to these areas. Tthe people of Jawaki F.R Kohat area are witness to the fact that Talibans fighters were given a safe-exit by the military. These Talibans entered and dispersed in settled areas of Kohat city through adjoining Bazid Khel Area without any trouble and even stayed for one night or two in Bazid Khel.

I have personally seen military helicopters supplying logistics to these Taliban terrorizing, abducting and killing local civilians in F.R Kohat and Peshawar. It is impossible to live, train and attack without the help of military in these inaccessible hilly areas. Similar, things were repeated in South Waziristan, Swat and Bajour. The main victims of the aerial bombardment and artillery shelling were innocent civilians rather than Taliban who are considered to be a STRATEGIC ASSET.

Another story which shows the real motivational force in flourishing terrorism for which military is responsible. In a small village of Jawaki Babu Khel F.R. Kohat only one person named as Murad Khan was working as informer to Talibans. Before the military operation, he took hostage all the male members of that ill-fated village. Even male children were taken hostage by this Taliban informer. He told his fellow villagers that Military will kill them all on the charges of helping Talibans. Military has done it already in other such cases, so due to fear of being killed by military they all left the village, despite the fact that these poor villagers did not help Talibans. So, now all the women in that village of Babu Khel are all alone and not a single male member of a village is there to provide them food and protection. I am sure that the military would have killed those innocent villagers if they would have stayed, as we have been witness to many such abductions, tortures and killings by military. Ironically the same military gave a safe- passage to real Talibans. It means that government is involved in motivating civilians to join hands with terrorists or be prepared to be killed either by Talibans or military. There are hundred of examples of past military operations in which military killed innocent civilians. Taliban also killed innocent civilians on the charges of helping military. In both the cases innocent civilians are the victims.

At the end I would like to comment on the explanations given by my Pashtun brother and Journalist, Salim Safis to his Punjabi counterparts, where he seems to be apologetic about his language and culture. I would like to make it absolutely clear that as Pashtuns we are proud of our language and culture. If some Punjabis are afraid of our language and culture, they should consult a psychiatric. We are not against any language and culture, but we are proud of our heritage be it our language, culture or traditions.

PASHTUN NEO-NATIONALISM AND DIVIDED PAKISTAN ARMY

The recent waves of suicide bombings targeting mostly the army installations in the most sensitive areas like Lahore Cantonment and Model Town, striking first at an office of FIA involved in Anti-terrorism intelligence and investigation killing 50 people and injuring dozens and in second 2 suicide bombers striking the heart of military in Lahore on March 12, 2010, killing at least 57 persons, most of them army personnel, and injuring 136 others. In between these two attacks, Mingora the capital of Swat was again struck by terrorist killing 15 people and injuring a couple of dozens. Seven small intensity explosions have been reported from different parts of Lahore resulting in minor injuries since. I do not know why the Army cannot read the writing on the wall.
By carrying out such suicide attacks against military installations in Punjab and other parts of Pakistan. Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan TTP and its Punjabi affiliates like banned Sipah-i-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP), Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Harkat-ul-Jihad al-Islami have succeeded in creating a divide between the Punjabi officer class and their Punjabi and Pashtun soldiers, weakening their loyalty to the officers. Regarding Frontier Corps (FC), the Pashtuns soldiers have deserted in big numbers in protest against the Punjabi officers actions against civilian Pashtuns. It represent East-Pakistan like situation before the break-up of Pakistan in 1971. As the low-ranking soldiers have been indoctrinated into jihadist ideology by Pakistan Army , now it is very difficult for them to come to terms with the fast changing loyalties of Pakistan military Establishment for the sake earning money from USA.

In my previous articles I have been pointing time and again to the fact that antagonizing Pashtuns by indiscriminately bombing and shelling them will result in dire consequences for the other dominant ethnic groups in the country or even a rebellion against the state of Pakistan will start. This is what is happening now. I have been crying time and again to inform our haughty military elite that America is 11000 miles away from Pashtuns but Punjab is just at our doorstep. If the present trend of genocide of Pashtun continue, the war theatre will soon be shifted from Pashtun areas to Punjab and Karachi. Exactly the same is happening.
Now, time has come when the defenders of Pakistan (Pakistan Army), who claim every now and then that they have conquered South Waziristan, Bajor, Khyber and Kohat (by hoisting Pakistani flag on these territories for the first time in the history of Pakistan), cannot protect themselves in the urban centers of Pakistan like Punjab. Rather than blaming themselves for what they have sown in the tribal areas , they will have to reap, they are blaming the civilian leadership for shortcomings and lapses of security. If Pakistan Army is not capable of defending itself against the terrorists or rather neo-nationalists Pashtuns then how can our poor police protect them.

The military Establishment should think a bit for a while as if the present targeting of the Army convoys and military installations is not the revenge attacks of dignified Pashtuns nationalists whose honor has been trampled by Pakistan Military rather than Talibans. In Pakistani war theatre, the addition of this new neo-nationalist Pashtuns insurgency cannot be ignored, which is solely based on a well know Pashtun tradition, BADAL (revenge).

Qazi Hussain Ahmad in his recent article published in the Jhang newspaper, has rightly described the Pashtun traditions of Pashtunwali and Badal (REVENVGE), by giving two famous examples from Pashtun history. But ironically , we learn from history that we never learn from history.

Gahzi Nadir Khan, the father of famous and longest serving King Zahir Shah of Afghanistan, was killed by an ordinary young students of Hubaibiya College in Kabul in front of heavy security. The reason was that the security forces of the king dis-honored his mother and he was determined to take revenge for that.

Pashtuns go to any length in defense of their women folk and their history is replete with many daring examples. Ajab Khan Afridi, was made a legend, when he lifted Miss Ellis the daughter of British Deputy Commissioner to revenge the dis-honoring of his family. In March 1923, the Frontier Constabulary, with the help of regular British troops, raided Ajab Khan's village in Dara Adam Khel. The troops searched his house and according to certain reports women were subjected to search and insult. He succeeded in lifting Miss Ellis from her house despite heavy security and the dangerous Alsatians dogs guarding the fortress like house. But as a real Afridi Pashtun and a MAN OF HONOR, he did not dis-respected her. Rather he treated her with such respect and honor that still she remember him for his courage, bravely and respect for women.

I personally encountered a young student studying in a college in Rawalpindi, who was abandoning his studies and leaving for his village in Waziristan to take revenge of his killed brother who was killed in a military operation. When asked how he will recognize who killed his brother, does he know his enemy, he flatly replied that army killed his brother and he is going to take revenge from Pakistan Army.

I really doubt that Pakistani army knows about the traditions of Pashtuns and they know about the future consequences. It is clear like a day light that in all the recently conducted suicide attacks or targeted killing Army is the main target. What ever explanation presented, the reality is that some Pashtuns are taking the revenge for dis-honoring the Pashtun mothers sisters and wives.

I totally agree with Nazir Naji that Pashtun nationalist sentiments are on rise and in near future the Pashtuns are expected to raise arms against Pakistani state. I would like to add that neo-nationalist Pashtuns have already started a fight for their independence.

Second, nothing has been done to rehabilitate the refugees in Swat. Not a single house, hospital, school and other infra-structure has been re-built to provide relief to the people of Swat. nothing is done to provide shelter and food to the more than one million FATA refugees that are stranded in different parts of Pakistan. Even other international organization like International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) and UN have been barred from helping the FATA refugees. The results will be very dangerous for this negligence of Pakistani state particularly Pakistan Army, which is specialist in destruction, which can abduct, torture and kill the people which can only destroy the properties but cannot rehabilitate the civilians.

Tallat Hussain asserts in his 12 March live discussion on AJJ news that the bombs that exploded in Lahore on the night of 12 March were fire crackers. While reporting from an area where Pakistani military is involved in the so-called war on terror, it is naïve to here from him that it is not possible for army to conduct operations against Terrorists in Urban centers like Lahore, Faisalabad and Karachi. I would like to ask him a simple question, on what logic the military operation in Swat was started? If Swat is not a settled urban area? Why, long range artillery, helicopter gunships and bomber jets were used against innocent civilians in Swat?

For him it is normal to violate all international norms and conventions at one area because that is inhabited by another race like Pashtuns but when it comes to the urban centers where Punjabis live it becomes the responsibility of the civilian institutions like police to conduct operations. Why these double standards are adopted for Pashtuns?

At the end, the suggestion of Mr. Salim Safi for ANP leadership to make a deal with PML (N) on the issue of the change of the name of PAKHTUNKHWA with the construction of Kalabagh Dam is really stupid, damaging for Pashtun interests and unacceptable. Times have come for independence of Pashtun nation rather than bargaining for pity thing like the change of the name of their land. Only a Pashtun out of mind, can present such suggestion to inundate its whole populations for the interests of Punjab, who is bent upon torturing and killing innocent Pashtuns and supporting Talibans. Bye the way, will he explain as to what benefits Pashtun will receive by the construction of Kalabagh Dam?? Does he know the extent of damage that its construction will bring on the families living for centuries, the whole infra-structure and ancient cites which are an ancient heritage of Pashtuns?

PAKISTAN-STATE SPONSORED TORTURE AND TERRORISM

PAKISTANI POLICE BEATING AND TORTURING YOUNG BOYS JUST LIKE TALIBANS OF SWAT
I was appalled to see the brutality of Punjab Police denuding, lashing and torturing 7 persons including boys as young as 14 years old in broad day light in front of cameras in Chiniot District. The scene of this brutality reminds me of Talibans of Swat when they were beating a young women in front of a crowed. The only difference between the two scenes was that at Swat the Talibans were wearing ordinary clothes and turbans on their heads while in Chiniot, the Punjabi Talibans were in the Police Uniforms. The Punjabi Police Talibans were even more brutal than Swati Talibans. The lashing was even harsher and was conducted professionally to exert maximum pain on the victims.

The whole Pakistani nation rose against the torture of a women by Talibans fanatics in Swat last year and rightly so. Pak Army took the role of Muhammed Bin Qasim and saved the Swati people from the brutalities of Talibans. I do not know what happened with that poor girl who was the victim of Taliban brutality. We do not know whether she was provided justice or not? We do not know whether the Talib who was lashing the women is punished for that crime? No such thing has happened. Of course, on contrary the Pakistani army killed more civilians in that operation Rah-e-Nijat or Rah-e-Rast in South Waziristan which is proved beyond doubt by the un-earthing of mass graves and the dead bodies of innocent people appearing now and then in different parts of the country speak volumes of the atrocities committed by rogue Pak Army. More than 3 million people from Swat and adjoining areas were made refugees in their own country. The homes, schools, hospitals and all infra-structure was destroyed not by Talibans but Pakistan Army. Still people are waiting for restoration of basic services but uniformed fanatics who are expert in destruction are not capable enough to provide the poor Swati some kind of relief. But the naive people of Swat supported it as lesser evil than the bigger one.

Is it not a right time for the nation of the Pak to raise voice against these uniformed police Talibans and take them to justice. This type of torture is customary in Punjab and it has been happening with impunity since the so-called independence of Pakistan in 1947. I personally believe that Punjab is completely Talibanised. Punjabi Talibans whether in police or army uniforms are involved in abductions, tortures and killings of civilians. The time is ripe for another military operation in Punjab with the name RAH-E-HAQ. This name should not be mis-interpreted with Zia- ul-Haq. But one way or another he was responsible for the Talibanisation of Pakistan. I do not know who is capable to conduct this operation RAH-E-HAQ? Only Judiciary seems to be in the right position to start this operation and it has already played its first round in which it was forced to take a strategic retreat in 2007 when the famous Commando General Pervez Musharaf wrapped up the whole judiciary and imposed a unique Emergency on its own government. Judiciary under the leadership of Chaudri Iftikhar Ahmad had to go to the court of general public to return to its present position of strength and esteem. I hope all the so-called Human Rights groups and organisations will support Supreme court to take sue moto action against these rogue elements in police, army and other institutions of civil bureaucracy. If at this critical moment the Judiciary of Pakistan failed, then United States and its Allies in Afghanistan will have every right to come to the resuce of the people of Pakistan from these fanatics in Uniforms.

The reason for the removal of the Judges last time was also due to the INTERVENTION OF THE JUDICIARY IN THE MISSING PERSONS CASE for which by and large the military was and is responsible and even now the military establishment is trying to malign the image of the judiciary in a co-ordinated manner through journalists on the pay-rolls of military establishment. Even today Pak Military Establishment is planning to wrap up the judiciary to stop it from the present judicial activism which is expected to be turning towards military generals whether retired or in-service in the near future.

I have simple question, is there any plan under consideration to launch a military operation on the same pattern and scale against these Punjabi Talibans whether in ordinary traditional clothes and turbans in MURIDKEY and southern Punjab or in unifroms in police stations and army barracks. While the Talibans in Swat or FATA are a problem , the clean-shaved Talibans in Pak military uniforms are the source of the problem and if West is interested to root-out the source of terrorism and extremism in Pakistan and Afghanistan, they should look towards Punjab rather than wasting time in Swat or FATA. All the patrons and leaders of Talibans are in Punjab.