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Politics : Idea Of The Day -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: BubbaFred who wrote (41123)	10/20/2001 11:33:17 PM
From: BubbaFred	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 50167

Pakistan gets around $ 800 million as fiscal support: Shaukat app.com.pk ISLAMABAD, Oct 20 (APP): Finance Minister, Shaukat Aziz said Saturday, the country has so far secured commitments in cash Grants worth $ 800 million as fiscal support from various countries including UK, EU, Japan, US and Canada. Pakistan may have an estimated impact of upto $ 2 billion in terms of fiscal position, balance of payment and privatization proceeds during the current fiscal, in the wake of situation after September 11 incident, he told a press conference. The Minister informed that the cash in grants commitments included around $ 40 million - UK, $ 45 million - EU, $ 25 million - Japan, $ 673 million - USA ( including $ 600 m for budgetary support and $ 73 m for police reforms) and the rest from Canada. He clarified this amount does not include the amounts announced for Afghan refugee assistance, adding, around $ 700 million have so far been announced, acceding the $ 600 million amount as appealed by the UN Secretary General in this respect. The Minister said, these $ 700 million will be used by the UNHCR, who are making local purchase of food items like wheat etc. Besides, the Finance Minister said, Canada and UK have converted their bilateral debt of $ 285 million and around $ 38 million, respectively into SWAP (for use in social sector like health, education etc.), giving Pakistan a debt relief. Regarding the prospects of debt relief from other countries, Shaukat Aziz said, we are engaged in dialogue with bilateral creditors, seeking debt relief keeping in view the objectives of addressing problems like fiscal space, social sector development and poverty reduction and, adding, the process is expected to end during the Paris Club meeting by December or January. Speaking on the country's debt situation, the Finance Minister told the newsmen that Pakistan owes a total of around $ 37 billion external debt by September 30, 2001 including $ 15.4 billion - multilateral debt (IMF, WB, ADB, IDB etc.) and $ 12.5 billion - bilateral debt. The bilateral debt of $ 12.5 billion included $ 5.083 billion -Japan, $ 3 billion - USA, $ 1 billion - France, $ 1 billion - Germany, $ 318 million - Canada, $ 175 million - Italy, $ 738 million - Korea, $ 127 million - Sweden, $ 103 million - Russia, $ 88 million - Netherlands and $ 353 million from others. Out of the $ 12.5 billion bilateral debt, $ 12 billion is Paris Club related debt and $ 0.5 billion is Non-Paris Club debt, he added. Besides, the Finance Minister said, short term banking sector debt amounts to $ 751 million, private sector debt is to the tune of $ 2.1 billion and $ 5 billion are in terms of other external liabilities such as sureties and bonds in lieu of dollars etc.

To: BubbaFred who wrote (41123)	10/21/2001 5:21:46 AM
From: IQBAL LATIF	Respond to of 50167

Bubba, this was a post I wrote..with benefit of hindsight.. and please note the roles that I described for the countries like mine that was under lot of suspicion.. now see how it actually is shaping up.. analysis without hindsight is useless.. Posted by: Ike Latif In reply to: Ike Latif who wrote msg# 518 Date: 9/11/2001 1:41:18 PM Post # of 905 Who is behind this attack? I express my deepest condolences to people who lost there near one in this tragedy. However, we need to look amidst this tragedy the persons who has their signature on this and we need to discuss what needs to be done, are we secure after spending billion in gadgetry that fails in face of a terrorist attack, this can be only weeded out by ground intelligence and networks that US neglected since last 10 years. If US had proper intelligence US could have been lucky this time too. Although Al-Quaida group of Laden has denied responsibility but only one person comes in my mind like Laden who has the means and mindset to destroy US interests with the kind of vehemence, violence and ugliness that it requires to plan this. Since 1993 they swear to destroy the towers, the plan was to bomb one so that other may fall as a collateral damage. This is a declaration of war on US and has to be dealt in a manner that requires surgical removal of the basic problem; it will require greatest amount of coordination with US allies in the area. The symbols of human hatred that are behind this crime would have to root out. Once the local disgruntled elements are ruled out and if it is not a well planned attempt by the elements of Arkansas or Waco groups who could have in desperation or revenge planned this, (the only reason I put my weight little bit behind this theory is the reason of domestic flights been taken over although the suicidal nature points me to jihad groups led by Laden.) I would in terms of pin pointing responsibility consider Laden as top suspect and that followed by the some splinter crazy group out of to avenge Waco or Arkansas martyr as they call him, trailing this list of human haters will be Hamas and Iraq. For Laden US needs to see the activity out of his base in Afghanistan, if such a well coordinated destructive plan could have been carried out on broad day light this is failure of US intelligence, how could their destructive co-ordination could have continued which points me to satellites and other gear and CIA was unaware, this is absolutely an act of war and as such should be dealt as such by cornering these groups wherever they are and whatever is the cost, without this the cutting of the tentacles of such groups that can devastate US the life would be never the same. Should US be more isolationists, no it should not, it is now clearly indicated that we are across the Atlantic are as much connected to the world as the world is to us. If this can succeed why could a Nuclear Bomb not make it way to US, I would think that Intelligence Agencies failed big time here. I would like USA to open up it communications and contacts by creating outposts and fringes where Islamic threat of extremism is increasing, US CIA operatives in key countries like Pakistan on the fringe of Afghanistan who could have forewarned such a attack are far less than what they were in cold wars and Afghan wars day. Afghan war never finished but we do not have operatives or local structure to infiltrate communication between the terrorist organizations. Allied relationships should be developed and Osama cutoff from moving out ASAP. The investigation will reveal the characters soon as passengers list will be helpful, the commonality of criminals background by cross reference will reveal the organization that has a hand in this, the profiles will be buried somewhere in CIA computers (unfortunately too late) or may be it is the work of fresh new start ups however whatever it is the US stands today bruised but it is the tests like this that nations come out stronger, instead of being feeling down think of the befallen poor US citizens and pray for them, for greatness of nations sometime these bloodsheds are ingredients to make nation hood stronger and create that sense of unity and facing adversity together. US is united today in grief and sorrow but a great nation like US will be greater as we all learn lesson from this tragedy, the blood of the innocents spilled today will not be lost, the cannibalistic attitude of some should not make us feel that world is falling, it is time to regroup in unity pray and swear to fight the adversity and threat together, cowards will never be able to avoid these threats we need to eliminate them and make the world and US a secure place to live for our children. Iqbal Latif