| January 19, 2008 | Saturday | Muharram 09, 1429 |
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War of borrowed idioms
Traffic wardens’ woes
AP1000 nuclear power plants
Army out of politics
Afghan officials’ malice
Citizens’ security: whose responsibility?
UK’s advice
Readers are requested to restrict their comments to a maximum of 400 words. We reserve the right to edit letters for reasons of clarity and space. Letters, including those by e-mail, should carry the complete postal address of the sender. The views expressed in these columns do not necessarily reflect the views of the newspaper.—Editor
It is baffling how 400 Taliban fighters, indicating a battalion-sized force, had overrun and captured the Sararogha Fort. These forts, built by the British, were intended to serve as outposts. The purpose of such forward military bases is to observe insurgent activity, to patrol the area and to block the enemy from threatening the local population.
The Sararogha Fort sits on a ridge overlooking the Razmak-Jandola Road. Given that the insurgents were carrying heavy weaponry, mortars and rocket launchers, it is unlikely that they came on foot. To transport such a force with their munitions would require a convoy of minimum 40 vehicles.
The terrain is rugged – there are patches of pine forest, also some agricultural plots mostly terraced, but for the most part, are rocky. Mean elevation is 2,000m – peaks at 2,200m and valleys at 1,800m. In this time of rain, the area is well watered by torrential streams. As a result, the off-road terrain is ‘unjeepable’ given the rocky, terrace and water obstacles. In all probability, therefore, the Taliban convoy travelled on the main road on the Razmak to Sararogha segment.
As is usual in night operations, the convoy would have waited till sundown and then mobilised -- indicating 5.30pm local time. The attack itself commenced at 9pm, which means they must have arrived at a safe nearby spot around 8pm and begun to regroup and take positions for the assault. This indicates a two-and-a-half hours travel time.
If the 40-odd vehicles travelled in a single convoy from start, then it could well have come out of the pine forested Shawal Mountains that straddle the Afghan border. These mountains can be seen from Razmak and are less than 50 miles from the Sararogha Fort. Alternatively, several smaller convoys of four to five vehicles, hidden in the small residential settlements, could have converged on the main road from different directions. This mode would generate considerable wireless chatter that savvy intelligence can pick up. In either mode, the convoys would be travelling with headlights off except for the lead vehicle — a suspicious thing even for a casual onlooker.
It is baffling that a convoy of 40 vehicles carrying armed Taliban, travelling on the main road for several miles can elude intelligence, roadside checkposts and aerial surveillance.
The operation commenced around 9pm with the Taliban breaching a hole in the wall of the fort using explosives. Even then, the 38 FC personnel held off the invading battalion for six hours. When did the FC HQ receive the first distress signal? Was it communicated to their commander?
Did the commander request for reinforcements for his men in trouble? What is the standard operating procedure in an event of this nature?
As the FC men fought on, was a request sent to the Army Aviation squadrons under the Peshawar Corps to send in the Cobra AH1-F attack helicopters -- eight of which are night-capable (C-NITE equipped)? Did the Ludda Fort nearby receive a distress call requesting artillery fire on the Taliban position? What artillery equipment was available to it and who was going to make the decision? Was it in artillery range and were the Taliban’s coordinates known?
Apart from rescuing the lives of the 38 FC personnel and the morale of all other FC personnel, this was an opportunity to take out 400 Taliban fighters – thereby striking a major blow to their operations in the area.
The Taliban butchered and captured the FC personnel, and after removing ammunition and communications equipment, set the fort on fire and made their way back probably reaching their safe havens before sunrise. Again, nobody saw where the 40 vehicles carrying armed Taliban went, and so they live to fight another day.
This brings us to the question: Are we conducting our national fight against these elements to the best of our abilities? This is the real battle for Pakistan. I would urge Gen Kayani to hold an inquest into this case. I am concerned that in the not too distant future we may be facing a Taliban assault force of brigade strength.
MOAZZAM HUSAIN
Lahore
THIS is with reference to Jawed Naqvi’s well - researched article, ‘A war of borrowed idioms, narrow definitions’ (Jan 14) wherein he has traced the history of assassinations to northern Persia of the 10th Century. However, in order to keep the record straight, certain inaccuracies need to be corrected.
Hassan b. Saba (1034 - 1124) did not just create a sect called Hashishins or Assassins as claimed by Mr Naqvi, but it was a movement whereby the Fedayeens, a bunch of diehards he collected, who after inhaling intoxicant potion of Hashish were prepared to offer lives at the order of the master and who were named by the Crusaders as Assassins and with this appellation they become part of modern lexicon.
It is also historically not correct to say that this esoteric cult was established just to liberate Persia from the control of Seljuks, a Turkic nomad tribe, who with the decline of the Abbasids, whose influence was now confined to Baghdad, gradually rose to power in Khorasan and became master of the vast area spread over from Punjab to Asia minor.
This sect, basically a breakaway fraction of Fatmids: the followers of Nizar (487 AH - 490 AH), the 19th Ismaili Imam was trying to establish a sovereign Ismaili state independent of Egypt. It was after Imam Nizar’s murder that Hassan b. Saba, a staunch adherent, did not accept suzerainty of his brother, Imam Mustaali, who succeeded as 20th head of the sect and escaped to Persia making Persian Ismailis autonomous of Fatimids. He thus became chief proponent (Dai) for the cause of Imam Nizar’s Imamat and established the latter’s successors as overlords of the sect in Persia known as Nizari Imams.
B. Saba’s endeavor was to establish Nizari Ismaili ascendancy in Persia. Incidentally during this period, the Seljuk had gained dominance by reducing the Abbasid caliphs as titular, thus ineffective head of caliphate. This resulted in the rise of Nizari sect in Persia and, thereafter, its influence extended up to Syria Nusayriyya Mountains where they held many hill forts.
The Syrian part under the leadership of the legendry Rashiduddin alias Sinan, popularly known as Shaikh ul Jabal (mistranslated by the Crusaders as ‘Old man of the Mountain’) became independent of Alamut overlordship.
From these vantage positions, these Fedayeens moved freely in the adjacent territories targeting their adversaries at will. Their targets were not only Seljuks Abbasid generals and statesmen or any prominent person who was considered opposing them in achieving their objective. Even Fatimid Caliph Amir b. Mustaali could not save himself from the dagger of an assassin. Sultan Saladin escaped their attack twice just by, hair’s breadth. Famous Frank personality, the marquis Conrad of Montserrat, King of Jerusalem, succumbed to Syrian Fedayeen.
The network of this dread finally was broken down when the stronghold of Alamut was erased by the Mongols in 1257 and Syrian hill forts fell to the Mumuluk Sultan Baybars in 1265.
MANZOOR H. KURESHI
Karachi
IT was a pleasant April morning when the young graduates of Punjab saw their dream for a bright future turning into reality as our top national dailies carried an advertisement by the home ministry of Punjab demanding for the posts of traffic wardens equalled to sub-inspectors and offering a handsome salary of Rs16,000. We were those fortunate ones who were selected successfully.
We thought that now the torn image of the traffic police would improve due to the recruitment of young, fresh and educated people. We forgot, however, that we had to be trained by the old, semi-educated and incompetent drill instructors who did not know how to behave. A drill instructor especially is the living instance at the Punjab Police College, Sihala, where the third badge of traffic wardens is being trained. He always looks angry all the time and addresses the trainees in a very rough tone.
We joined our job on Oct 25 and our training began on Dec 16. Just after 10 days of our training, the nation had to face another black day as Benazir Bhutto was assassinated.
On the early dawn of Dec 28 we were sent to different cities to maintain law and order.
We, who hate the ‘danda’ culture of the police, had to take batons to maintain the so-called law and order because we had no any other alternative.
Ever since we are being exploited by the officials of the Punjab police, we are being used for tasks that we have nothing to do with as we are traffic wardens and not the jawans of the Punjab police. All the trainees who are on duty are also caught in a severe financial problem as we still wait for our maiden pay.
Most of us have given up our lunch as we cannot afford it. We are not allowed to go to our homes as leaves are banned till the 10th of Moharram. Where should we get money from as our parents are also fed up with our expenses? In three months, we have spent more than Rs50,000.
We request the higher authorities of the home ministry to arrange for our salaries. We also request the authorities that if they want to revive and improve the police image, they should first appoint competent, sober and qualified drill and law instructors because without good teachers there will be no good police officers.
TRAFFIC WARDENS
Punjab Police College, Sihala
HERE is a tip for all those whose slogan is ‘Pakistan First’: China is going fully nuclear by the year 2015, with work starting on projects with AP1000 — and no, AP1000 is not something that has a share in the hideous arms race; AP1000 is the latest in line to its predecessor AP600 and they both are nuclear power plants.
In the spring of 2007 China National Nuclear Corp. selected the Westinghouse/Shaw consortium to build four nuclear reactors for an estimated $8 billion, the largest International nuclear contract in history.
The AP1000 is attractive because it is:
— The safest, most advanced, yet proven nuclear power plant currently available in the worldwide marketplace.
— Based on standard Westinghouse pressurised water reactor technology that has achieved more than 2,500 reactor years of highly successful operation.
— An 1100M we design that is ideal for providing base load-generating capacity.
— Modular in design, promoting ready standardisation and high construction quality.
— Economical to construct and maintain (due to less concrete and steel and fewer components and systems).
— Designed to promote ease of operation (features most advanced instrumentation and control in the industry).
Today, Westinghouse technology is the basis for approximately one-half of the worl-d’s operating nuclear plants, including 60 per cent of those in the US.
The plants, if Pakistan ever had them, will greatly increase Pakistan’s ability to generate significant additional base load electricity in a clean, safe and economical manner.
Westinghouse is a group company of Toshiba Corp. Footnote: No, I do not know anyone working with Westinghouse.
I am not on Westinghouse’s payroll. Westinghouse is not going to benefit me in anyway if the government of Pakistan took a wise step in choosing their technology. I did all this research only because I am a Pakistani, and for me the slogan ‘Pakistan First’ means ‘Pakistan First’.
ZILL-E-REHMAN KHAN NIAZI
Islamabad
RECENTLY, a letter by the military chief, Gen Pervaiz Kayani, to his officers has been discussed in the Pakistani media, where, according to reports, Gen Kayani requested his officers not to intervene in the political process.
Without confirming the contents of the letter, Maj-Gen Athar Abbas, the newly-nominated director-general of the ISPR, confirmed the existence of such a letter in his talk to the international news agency on Jan 15. It is surely a step in the right direction.
However, in my humble opinion, this is not the time to celebrate and jump to happy conclusions, because (a) although Gen Abbas confirmed the existence of such a letter, he refused to comment on it for very understandable reasons.
So one cannot be sure what the real message is construed from the letter, (b) after the assassination of Gen Zia, the new chief gave similar statements which gave the impression to the people that the Army may be implying that it would stay out of politics.
However, later developments showed that the Army was very much involved in manipulating the political landscape of Pakistan and (c) even if one believes that the contents of the chief’s letter is very similar to what is being widely reported, it is not known, however, as to how many of his colleagues really support him and believe what our new chief believes.
Only time will be able to answer these questions and concerns.
MISBAH AZAM
Phoenix, USA
ACCORDING to a report, Afghan officials are giving loaded statements such as that the Al Qaeda and Taliban leaders are operating ‘outside the country’. The war on terror ‘should know no borders’ and the international community should address the ‘root causes of terrorism – wherever they are’ (Jan 10).
These officials weave hints and suggestions but, writer Jason Straziuso of the Associated Press notes that their meaning is becoming clear. Afghanistan would be more than happy for US forces to attack Taliban and Al Qaeda safe havens in Pakistan.
That may be their way of thanking Pakistan for the gigantic favour it had done to extricate their country from Soviet occupation of the 1980s but they must remember a few facts. First, that even the world’s most powerful country despite all its resources, has not been able to keep millions of South American and other illegal immigrants from entering its territory. Nor has it been able to contain the militants in Iraq. Similarly, the USSR forces had found it impossible to stop the mujahideen from crossing the Pakistan - Afghan border.
Likewise, the US - led coalition has failed to prevent the border crossings. So, how can Pakistan be expected to do that, given the most difficult terrain and its very limited resources? As far as Al Qaeda and other militants are concerned, our forces have killed and captured more than 700 of them, which exceeds that of the other allies. We have also lost more than 1,000 troops in the process, which is greater than the combined losses of the other allies.
Second, who is growing the poppy in and smuggling opium and heroin out of Afghanistan? This problem had dropped to zero during the Taliban regime in Kabul. The inability of the western and Afghan forces to fulfil their responsibilities must not be hung around Islamabad’s neck.
Third, Mulla Omar and his commanders are all Afghan, as are the ordinary Taliban, who had taken over nearly 90 per cent of the country. This shows it is totally an Afghan movement and blame cannot be laid on us. Even until a year or so before 9/11, Washington had been providing financial aid to them. Where was the problem then?
Fourth, the kidnapping of western, Japanese and Korean troops or civilians that has been witnessed from time to time happened in Afghanistan and not Pakistan, which again proves that Afghan Taliban operations are confined to our northern neighbour. I remember that many Pakistani human rights workers and correspondents writing to Dawn had been appealing to the Taliban to release them. Thus, there is no support for such acts over here. As far as the Taliban’s fight against the occupying forces is concerned, it is their country and their prerogative to oppose it. The Pakistan government has incurred the anger of most Pakistanis by supporting the US war on terror and the occupation of Islamic lands.
Therefore, it is nothing but malice and a refusal to face reality and the shortcomings of the western and Afghan forces battling the militants that are the major factors involved. Pakistan would itself not have mounted violence and terrorism if it hadn’t decided to join the US militarism. It is in the Afghans’ own interest to negotiate a peace deal with the Taliban, as even Mr Karzai and other Afghan leaders appear to have realised by now.
Bearing ill will towards the neighbour that has been doing more for the Afghans than any other country won’t help in any way but only worsen the strife by destabilising Pakistan. One doesn’t know whether these officials belong to the so-called Northern Alliance but they must remember that we had given refuge to all Afghans —Pashtuns, Hazaras, Uzbeks, and Tajiks — without discrimination. Thus, they, too, mustn’t try to hurt Pakistan.
M. P. CHISHTI
Karachi
HOW considerate the government is can be seen by the taxes that it has consistently loaded/levied on the unfortunate citizens of Pakistan.
I have just received a bill from a local security agency for the year 2008 amounting to Rs8,000, plus Rs2,700 extra for federal excise duty at 15 per cent.
When the government cannot assure the citizens their safety, what right has it to tax the citizens who have to make their own arrangements and ensure their security through private security agencies?
Every day several banks, commercial institutions, and private homes are blatantly looted without the hope of any of the criminals being caught.
How long will the government throttle the citizens with their highhanded taxes? After all, the overburdened slaves also revolted in the Roman Empire. It is time for the people to rise and take up the matter in the newspapers before they are totally suffocated and unceremoniously overburdened by these unjust taxes.
If the government wants more revenue, it should reduce its enormous defence budget by 25 to 30 per cent and save the citizens from these government-imposed hardships.
M. AFZAL
Karachi
IT has been reportedly said and believed that a suicide bomber cannot be stopped from blowing himself up and that it’s almost impossible to avert a suicide bombing. I partially agree with this notion. In my humble understanding, it is possible to avert a suicide bomber who is spotted/suspected at any scene.
In the UK, the police use taser guns to stop criminals from running away. The same could be applied to these bombers when they are spotted/suspected.
We mostly hear cases where a suicide bomber is denied access at a security barrier and then he blows himself up. These taser guns can be used to stun the potential bomber, which could save hundreds of innocent lives.
The UK has offered assistance to Pakistan in tackling the issue of suicide bombings. I would request the government of Pakistan to take advantage of such technologies and apply them for the wider benefit of the country.
A. AHMED
London
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