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

To: IQBAL LATIF who wrote (44662)	9/22/2003 2:47:43 AM
From: IQBAL LATIF	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 50167

Pakistan, a troubled ally-NYT EDITORIAL <Punch line of NYT- ''Fighting terrorism effectively requires allies untainted by terror.'' so who are those NYT is talking about France or Germany who are diplomatically humiliating US every day in UN or other Arab countries where only lip service to eliminate terror is paid? On one hand liberal approach of NYT questions most of the actions of the present US government, they ask ‘are they even sane bunch’ on the other where US can get some help to remove the US soldiers out of the firing line and out of media coverage the nations who are ready allies are being asked to be converted to new targets, much as we like Mush to target the elements of terror the distance achieved so far and nest of terror being neutralised is a great achievement, the recent arrest of followers of Hanbali is recent example, leave Pakistan in global isolation and you have another tinderbox on hand, the populace in Afghanistan, or Iraq or Pakistan at large is not responsible for these actions it is the silent majority who has been hijacked by the militant right and in all cases the implication of long drawn cold war on our region cannot be forgotten, in case of Pakistan at least a sane man and his regime are trying to put in order a system through which the tentacles of global terrorism are being cut dry, NYT has a one liner ''Fighting terrorism effectively requires allies untainted by terror.'' And replace it by ‘whom’ in that region, will India do the job? -Ike > Pakistan was not directly involved in the events of 9/11, but its international standing and the reputation of its leader, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, were thoroughly transformed in the wake of the terrorist attacks two years ago. By abruptly switching sides in Afghanistan and letting Washington use Pakistani bases to fight the Taliban, General Musharraf managed, in weeks, to lift Pakistan’s status in Washington from pariah to strategic partner. Yet beneath the surface of Washington’s new closeness with Islamabad, mutual suspicions continue to fester. Neither country has fully delivered what the other expected, though America’s shortcomings and Pakistan’s are scarcely equivalent. The Bush administration has withheld trade benefits Pakistan deserves. General Musharraf has failed to sever all links with international terrorism. During the cold war, Pakistan’s geography and anti-Communism made it an American favorite. After that, relations began to sour. Washington grew increasingly unhappy over Pakistan’s strong support for the Taliban, links with Kashmiri terrorists and covert development of nuclear weapons. Then, in 1999, General Musharraf overthrew a democratically elected government. For a brief time after General Musharraf’s switch on Afghanistan, there seemed a chance for a healthier relationship. In breaking with the Taliban, the general stood up to some of the most troubling forces in Pakistani society, including military intelligence leaders and Islamic fundamentalists. He promised a timely return to democracy and announced he would expel foreign fundamentalists. His actions fell short of his words. In return for his help in Afghanistan, General Musharraf hoped that Washington would grant broad relief from the protectionist American import quotas that stifle Pakistan’s textile and apparel industry, the country’s largest industrial employer and main exporter to the United States. Instead, only selective bonuses have been offered, many for products Pakistan does not produce in large quantities. Unlike the military aid Washington has offered, freer trade in textiles would benefit Pakistan’s weak economy and struggling factory workers. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s behavior has fallen well short of what Americans are entitled to expect from an ally in the war on terrorism. Although it has cooperated in the arrest of some leaders of Al Qaeda, Pakistan has never adequately sealed the Afghan border. That made it possible for key Qaeda fugitives to escape and now allows Pakistani recruits to join a reviving Taliban. Pakistan still provides Kashmiri terrorists with sanctuary and access to areas bordering Indian-ruled territory. Wresting Kashmir away from India remains an open goal of Pakistani policy, with violence considered a legitimate tool. Pakistan has behaved extremely irresponsibly with respect to nuclear weapons. American experts believe it may have helped both North Korea and Iran develop nuclear weapons technology. Pakistan’s own nuclear weapons are thought to be under General Musharraf’s control, but in a country whose history has been scarred by repeated military coups, that is not totally reassuring. Democracy remains a distant mirage. Pakistan’s help in Afghanistan, though less than ideal, is still needed. Now Washington is hoping General Musharraf will contribute Pakistani peacekeeping troops to Iraq. If that can be done under a United Nations flag, it makes sense. Otherwise, America must look for ways to reduce its dependence on General Musharraf. Fighting terrorism effectively requires allies untainted by terror. —NYT, Sept 21

To: IQBAL LATIF who wrote (44662)	9/23/2003 2:19:07 PM
From: IQBAL LATIF	Respond to of 50167

SA agree to tour Pakistan on revised itinerary (Updated at 1820 PST) Karachi and Peshawar are out of the itinerary;;<after cancellation of SA tour to Pakistan, instead of calling the South Africans coward the need of putting our house in order is the wake up call, we cannot behead people in front of cameras and accept world to overlook it- take action if you need teams to come-Ike> DURBAN: South Africa's tour to Pakistan will go ahead after the hosts offered a revised itinerary, the United Cricket Board of South Africa (UCBSA) said on Tuesday. "It has been decided in principle that the tour will go ahead," UCBSA spokesman Moabi Litheko told Reuters. He said the decision was taken at a meeting of the management committee of Cricket South Africa in Johannesburg. South Africa captain Graeme Smith and coach Eric Simons also attended the meeting. The Pakistan tour was given a final go-ahead last week, but the UCBSA then decided to call it off because of a bomb blast in Karachi on Friday.