Friday, October 3, 2014
Pakistan : Brother of PM’s aide appointed AIOU VC
Pakistan : Rehman Malik wants parliamentary committee to investigate Arjumand sacking
Pakistan - Zardari, Siraj discuss political situation
Fears that Islamic State will use Yazidi families as 'human shields'
‘Extremism prevention’: Austria to amend century-old law on Islam
Just two years after a lavish ceremony to celebrate the centenary of Austria’s “model” law on Islam, the law is set to be overhauled to ban Muslims from receiving foreign funding and pave the way for a standardised German language version of the Koran. Muslim groups in Austria have expressed disappointment that their government was bowing to “blanket suspicion and mistrust” of the Muslim community.
Muslims make up 6 percent of Austria’s population, and are the second largest religious grouping, after Roman Catholics, in Vienna. Until recently the community enjoyed good relations with their neighbours, but governmental reports on the rise of Islamic militancy have caused nationalist parties to gain ground in the polls in recent months. Around 140 Austrians are understood to have travelled to Syria and Iraq to fight as jihadis, according to Reuters.
“The clear message should be that there is no contradiction between being a faithful Muslim and a proud Austrian,” Foreign Affairs and Integration Minister Sebastian Kurz has told reporters. “If you don't have orderly legal regulation ... this can always bring dangers (of extremism). In this sense, if you like this is maybe a part of prevention.”
Sharia law has “no place here,” he added.
The amended law will prohibit Muslim organisations from receiving foreign funding. One-off grants, such as money left in a will, will be allowed but only if the management of assets is handled in Austria, The Local has reported.
Living subsidies, such as those given to Imams to fund their work will be outlawed. 65 of Austria’s approximately 300 Imams are currently employed by Turkey. They will either have to cease work or find alternative funding.
Muslim organisations will be compelled to teach at least one lesson in German, and community leaders will be dismissed if they have a criminal record. According to the BBC, 60,000 children take part annually in Muslim religion classes in Austria, which are taught in German.
All state-recognised religions, of which Islam is one, will have to offer a standardised German-language version of their doctrines and holy texts, including the Koran. This presents a particular problem for Islam as the draft law bundles together the Sunni, Shi-ite and Alawite traditions. Further issues are created by the fact that Muslims believe the Arabic version of the Koran is the literal word of Allah in Islam, and that any translation constitutes an interpretation.
“If a version of the Koran (in German) comes along as the codified, ultimate (version), then this would contradict the self-conception of Islam,” said Carla Amina Baghajati, spokeswoman for the Islamic Community of Faith in Austria (IGGIO), one of two officially recognised Austrian Islamic organisations.
Speaking more generally about the proposed bill, she said “Among the Muslim base, the law is not seen as a gift for the Eid holiday," referring to the upcoming holiday of Eid-al-Adha.
"(The bill) mirrors in its overtone the spirit of the times we currently perceive, which is marked by blanket suspicion and mistrust against Muslims,” she added, although she is also optimistic that the draft legislation might still be amended.
However, Kurz was dismissive, pointing out that it had been possible to create unified teaching material for Islamic religious studies in Austrian schools. Last month he told an Austrian radio station that countless translations of the Koran had been created, and that it was in the interest of the Muslim community to eliminate possible misunderstandings. German translations of the Koran have previously been made.
Austria’s 102 year old Law on Islam had previously been seen as a symbol of religious tolerance, as it awarded Muslims in Austria the same rights as those given to Christians, Jews and Buddhists, amongst others, making Islam a state-recognised religion.
Speaking in 2012 at a ceremony held to celebrate the law, Omar Al-Rawi, a Vienna City councillor, praised the law for integrating the Muslim community into Austrian life, saying that it made them feel accepted.
“Austria is a model in Europe in dealing with Islam, but the Austrian Muslims are also a European model,” he said. “The Muslims know that with rights there are also obligations and duties. And if you have a lot of rights and benefits, you also have something to lose.
“Austrian Muslims go all over the world saying we are Austrians, we belong to this country that gave us respect and recognition and gave us a lot of benefits that even some Muslim countries don't enjoy. And that is why they are very proud saying that they are Austrians.”
Austria’s President Heinz Fischer called for peaceful and respectful relations, saying that, thanks to their legal status, Austria’s official religions were obliged to “respect and accept the laws of the state”.
http://www.breitbart.com/Breitbart-London/2014/10/03/Austrias-Law-on-Islam-Overhauled-Amid-Growing-Distrust-of-Muslim-Community
US Vice-President Joe Biden blames US allies in Middle East for rise of ISIS
US Vice-President Joe Biden has accused America’s key allies in the Middle East of allowing the rise of the Islamic State (IS), saying they supported extremists with money and weapons in their eagerness to oust the Assad regime in Syria.
America’s “biggest problem” in Syria is its regional allies, Biden told students at the John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum at the Institute of Politics at Harvard University on Thursday.
“Our allies in the region were our largest problem in Syria,” he said, explaining that Turkey, Saudi Arabia and the UAE were “so determined to take down Assad,” that in a sense they started a “proxy Sunni-Shia war” by pouring “hundreds of millions of dollars and tens of thousands of tons of weapons” towards anyone who would fight against Assad.
“And we could not convince our colleagues to stop supplying them,” said Biden, thus disassociating the US from unleashing the civil war in Syria.
“The outcome of such a policy now is more visible,” he said, as it turned out they supplied extremists from Al-Nusra Front and Al-Qaeda.
All of a sudden the regional powers that sponsored anti-Assad rebels awakened to the dawn of a major international security threat in the face of ISIS – now called Islamic State. After being essentially thrown out of Iraq it found open space and territory in eastern Syria and established close ties with the Al-Nusra Front which the US had earlier declared a terrorist group.
Now Washington needs a coalition of Sunni states to fight the Islamic State because “America can't once again go in to Muslim nation and be the aggressor, it has to be led by Sunnis, to attack a Sunni organization [the IS],” Biden said, acknowledging that it is for the first time that the US uses a geopolitical strategy.
“Even if we wanted it to be, it cannot be our fight alone,” Biden said. “This cannot be turned into a US ground war against another Arab nation in the Middle East.”
Video Report - President Obama: "America is a story of progress."
An excerpt from President Obama's remarks on building a new foundation for the American economy at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois on October 2, 2014.
China - Critics lash out at protestors for jeopardizing Hong Kong's future
Critics of different countries have denounced the illegal gatherings of the Occupy Central movement and criticized protestors for resorting to violence and jeopardizing Hong Kong's future.
The protests in Hong Kong's busiest areas since Sept. 28 have led to serious traffic disruption, temporary closure of schools and banks, and slumps in the benchmark Hang Seng Index, impacting the region's economic prosperity and social stability.
Martin Jacques, a Guardian columnist, wrote a commentary titled "China is Hong Kong's future - not its enemy" on Wednesday.
He said in the commentary that it should be remembered that for 155 years until its handover to China in 1997, Hong Kong had been a British colony, forcibly taken from China at the end of the first Opium War.
All its 28 governors under the colonial rule were appointed by the British authority, Jacques said, adding that democracy was actually introduced to Hong Kong by the Chinese government.
In 1997, the latter adopted the Basic Law, which included the commitment that the chief executive of Hong Kong will be elected by universal suffrage in 2017.
Over the last 17 years since the handover, China has honored its commitment to the principle of "one country, two systems."
Pierre Picard, an expert on China from the University of Paris-VIII, told Xinhua on Wednesday that some Western countries used double standards on the Occupy Central movement and interfered in China's internal affairs, which was "astonishing."
What should be concerned about is that why the Occupy Central happened three years before 2017 and who use it to undermine the democratic process of Hong Kong and the stability of China, Picard said.
He stressed that people should be wary of the real motives of the Occupy Central organizers.
Fang Yan, a critic in New York, said the Occupy Central organizers oppose to list "love China, love Hong Kong" as a requirement for Hong Kong's chief executive candidates.
These organizers intend to get rid of the leadership of the central government with the support of foreign powers and try to turn Hong Kong into a certain kind of independent political entity.
Fang said since Hong Kong's return to China, the mainland and Hong Kong have been closely linked, sharing weal and woe. Hong Kong not only needs support and assistance from the central government, but cooperation with other provinces and municipalities in various areas.
If one who does not love China were elected as Hong Kong's chief executive, the very first victim would be Hong Kong itself, Fang added.
Pakistan : Asif Ali Zardari to celebrate Eid in Lahore
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Asif Ali Zardari will arrive here in Lahore on Friday afternoon and will celebrate Eid-ul-Azha in the city as well, ARY News reports.
According to party sources, Zardari will stay at Bilawal House in Lahore for a week and will celebrate the joyous occasion in the city.
He will also meet the party leaders and activists during his stay in Lahore.
Sources further said that a series of party meetings are scheduled in which the former and present party officials will be present. The party strategies will be discussed in the party sessions as well.
- See more at: http://arynews.tv/en/zardari-to-celebrate-eid-in-lahore/#sthash.jWzO5Ti0.dpuf
In Historic Homeland, Pakistan's Sikhs Live Under Constant Threat
Every time someone walks into his pharmacy in the volatile Pakistani city of Peshawar, Amarjeet Singh prepares for the worst. "I don't know if it's a customer or an assailant who will reach out for his gun," Amarjeet, a member of Pakistan's tiny Sikh minority, told Reuters. Easily recognized because of their colorful turbans, members of Pakistan's Sikh community say they have been singled out and attacked increasingly in the South Asian nation where radical Islamist militants see them as infidels. Their plight highlights a growing atmosphere of intolerance in a country long plagued by sectarian violence. Like Shi'ite Muslims, Christians and other minorities, Sikhs live in a paranoid and hostile world where every stranger is assumed to be an attacker. Many Sikhs see Pakistan as the place where their religion began: the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak, was born in 1469 in a small village near the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore. Wearing a large pink turban and sitting cross-legged in his shop, Amarjeet, 40, said the community was so afraid that most people stopped showing up for prayers in the traditional Sikh place of worship - the Gurdwara, or the gateway to the guru. "I have run this business for last 22 years. Never in my life have I experienced such insecurity," he said. "Around 60 percent of our shops are closed due to security concerns. Many parents are not sending their children to schools." Last month, Harjeet Singh, another Sikh shopkeeper, was shot dead at his herbal medicine shop in Peshawar, near Pakistan's border with Afghanistan which is home to most of the country's 40,000 strong Sikh community. Peshawar, a sprawling and chaotic city of 3.8 million lies in a conservative region awash with radical Islamist ideology. Pamphlets praising Islamic State, a group fighting to set up a global Islamic caliphate, have recently appeared. According to police, at least eight Sikhs have been killed in the past year and a half - the first ever recorded sectarian killings of Sikhs in Pakistani history. HISTORIC ROOTS Sikhs have a long and colorful history in Pakistan. Originally persecuted by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in the 17th century, they fled to the remote mountains on what is now the Pakistan-Afghan border and settled among Pashtun tribes. Sikhs have praised their Pashtun hosts for allowing them to hide in their lands thanks to the tribal principle of sanctuary but growing instability in the region has changed the picture. At least 500 Sikh families have recently migrated to Peshawar due to a military operation against Taliban militants in the North Waziristan region on the Afghan border. "They were forced to leave their established businesses ... They were also doing well in Peshawar until the latest wave of attacks," said Haroon Sarab Diyal, chairman of the All Pakistan Hindu Rights Movement, a group advocating Hindu and Sikh rights. "Sikh are not sending their children to schools, especially boys who stand out due to their head dress." A multi-story shopping mall in Peshawar, Orakzai Plaza, where Sikhs own a range of shops, stands abandoned after Sikhs closed their businesses for security reasons. Senior police officer Najeeb-ur-Rehman said police were regularly patrolling Sikh areas and were deployed at the main temple, its facade, painted in a light golden color, shining gently in the sun above a narrow maze of dusty alleys. "Pakistan is land of the pure for us, it is the birth place of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism. It's our mother land, we love this soil. Why are we being targeted here?" asked Sardar Charanjit Singh, a Sikh elder. "People are very frightened, it's a time of sorrow for us." Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/r-in-historic-homeland-pakistans-sikhs-live-under-constant-threat-2014-10#ixzz3F58G49fxBY SYED RAZA HASSAN
Bombing in Pakistan and a Wave of Attempts Point to a New Drive by Militants
Amid a wave of bombing attempts in this northwestern Pakistani city on Thursday, a bomb rigged to a timer exploded inside a passenger van, killing seven and wounding six, the police said. Although the attack was the only one of eight attempted bombings to succeed here, the police said, the mass of attempts pointed to a concerted effort by militants to intensify their attacks on government targets. “The bombs were intended to destroy an electrical tower, and to target police and a convoy of the law enforcement agencies,” said Shafqat Malik, the head of the Peshawar bomb disposal unit, noting that the bombs all had “a level of sophistication.” “The bomb that went off was to target civilians. Imagine what would have happened, had they all gone off,” he said. “Today was the worst day in my professional career.” The van that was bombed was set to carry passengers to Parachinar, the main town in the Kurram tribal region. In an interview, a policeman investigating the case, Ejaz Khan, said that a man had left two bags in the van, then asked the driver to wait for him while he went to bring more passengers. The bomb, with roughly 10 pounds of explosives, went off after he left. Although Kurram has in the past been a center of sectarian violence between Sunnis and minority Shiites, police officials said it was more likely that the bombing was a randomly chosen terrorist act rather than a targeted killing. “People are heading home for Eid holidays,” Mr. Khan said, referring to the Eid al-Adha festival this weekend. “There is a lot of rush. No one could have known which passenger was heading where.” A senior police superintendent, Najib Bhagvi, suspected that Pakistani Taliban militants were behind the attacks. That organization, along with some of its allies and splinter groups, has come under increasing pressure since the start of a military offensive against militant bases in North Waziristan in June. “Peshawar is heating up, and this is the blow back of the operation in Waziristan,” Mr. Bhagvi said. “All the terrorist outfits, including Al Qaeda, have joined forces and are hitting back.” Peshawar has seen a surge in militant attacks this year, particularly against the police. Twenty-five policemen have been killed since January, including a police inspector who was shot dead outside his house on Thursday. Mr. Malik, the bomb squad commander, worried that more attacks were sure to come. “Tough days are ahead,” he said.By ISMAIL KHAN
The Islamic State's Potential Recruits in Pakistan
By Kiran Nazish
There is evidence that the terrorist outfit is actively recruiting fighters in the troubled country.Tanned, green-eyed, long-bearded Pashtun crossing the border from Afghanistan have never been so feared in Peshawar, the capital city of the North West Frontier Province of Pakistan. Through history this region has been one of the busiest in Central Asia, connecting travelers, traders and storytellers to India and beyond. But the recent decade has been agonizing for local Pashtun, with their identity and geography appropriated by militant groups like al-Qaeda and the Taliban, as well as their various factions in the region. This week brought the biggest blow yet, when the formidable Islamic State (IS, also known as ISIS and ISIL) was discovered openly recruiting in the city. Local fighters in Peshawar and FATA were seen to be showing around about a dozen men who had crossed over from Afghanistan to Pakistan to promote the cause of the caliphate. These men in turn distributed hundreds of pamphlets in Peshawar and its environs. For fighters and militant commanders in Pakistan, the Islamic State is an object of awe. Most militants, individually and in groups, romanticize the idea of Islam and sharia spreading across the world. In essence, the idea and ideals of a unified caliphate has aroused jihadists everywhere, multiplying the Islamic State’s following in Pakistan and Afghanistan much more rapidly than was achieved even by heavyweights like the Taliban and al-Qaeda. Amanullah Khan, a former professor at Peshawar University who worked for many years trying to de-radicalize youth, said that IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is an appealing figure for young followers with a jihadi mentality, with his background as an Islamic scholar playing a stronger bonding role for impressionable youth. Unlike Osama Bin Laden and Aymen al-Zawahiri, respectively an engineer and doctor, jihadists who were less immersed in knowledge of Islam, Baghdadi offers both a traditional Islamic education and an abundant jihadist resume. “That legitimacy can definitely turn a lot of al-Qaeda and Taliban supporters in the region, and in fact it is already happening,” says Khan. With at least 48 known jihadist groups in Pakistan, IS would seem to have plenty of potential to grow within the country. Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, a banned militant group that wants to establish Pakistan as a Sunni Muslim state, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, and offshoots of al-Qaeda and the Haqqani Network are just a few of these groups. The Pakistan military has long been accused of providing opportunities, logistics and sponsorship to these groups in exchange for their proxy services. With the popularity of right-wing religious parties swelling in every city, Pakistan has become a hotbed for new recruits. IS is now tapping these resources, and given Pakistan’s porous borders with its neighbors, it could give the group the foothold it needs to establish a presence in South Asia. Operation Zarb-e-Azb, the military operation in North Waziristan, has displaced more than one million local civilians from the region, yet the army has still not been able to decisively defeat the militants it was targeting. In fact, recent reports suggest that most top commanders of both Haqqani and Pakistani Taliban left Waziristan prior to the operation. Some crossed the border and escaped into Afghanistan, while others scattered to relocate in the north of the country in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, or in Karachi in the south. The Pakistani military recently claimed that had 901 militants had been killed in the Waziristan operation, but these figures are refuted by local sources as well as militant groups themselves, who claim to have escaped the operation. And in fact the government has not been able to identify the militants it says it has killed. At any rate, the Pakistan Taliban has been able to re group. More disturbingly, Omar Khalid Khorasani – a former Pakistan Taliban leader who has strong links with both al-Qaeda and its leader Zawahiri – has apparently now established a new group called Jamat-ul-Ahrar, which he insists is the “real Taliban” in Pakistan. According to Khorasani, more than eighty percent of Taliban fighters and commanders from different regions and militant groups across the country have joined his new outfit, which is a staunch supporter of the Islamic State. Recent weeks have offered Pakistan’s militants a unique opportunity, with the country in the grip of political instability. The struggle between elected Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and politician Imran Khan – a former cricketer best known these days for his ability to orchestrate mobs – has shaken this fragile democracy. Both the media and state shifted their focus from jihadist developments, allowing the militants to regroup. According to at least a dozen sources in Peshawar, including fighters who say they have returned from Syria, IS has been recruiting in Pakistan for some time. Many fighters from anti-Shia militant groups in Pakistan sign up, and were initially tasked to fight the Assad regime. In Sistan and Dasht, two regions in Balochistan bordering Iran – Balochistan is Pakistan’s largest province with its own ongoing separatist movement – locals have found wall markings with similar messages. According to a few local Baloch, there are more than a hundred militants from Lashkar-e-Jhangvi and other anti-Shia groups in these areas. Although evidence of these activities was present before, they passed largely unremarked until IS began to advertise publicly. Local reporters who might have been familiar with the recruiting avoided reporting out of fear for their lives. All this now means that collaboration is possible between some of the most hardline and unbending regional groups in Pakistan and IS in the Middle East. And the most striking and high-profile support that IS may be able to count on in Pakistan comes from Jamat-ul-Ahrar, the newly formed group. Ehsanullah Ehsan, spokesperson for Jamat-ul-Ahrar, is clear on the group’s plans to fight along with the Islamic Caliphate, “We consider every mujahid (fighter for Jihad) as our brother.” He added, “Islam is a religion of peace. We want implementation of this system. We’ll continue our armed struggle until we implement Shari’ah in Pakistan.” With hardline groups in Pakistan offering safe haven for the Islamic State in this region, while simultaneously pursuing their own local goals, and with younger fighters and groups inspired to join the cause of the caliphate, the security situation looks set to deteriorate not just in Pakistan but throughout the region. The Pakistani military has failed five times since 2007 to crush the jihadist groups. Now, commanders who say they have left al-Qaeda and sworn allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi may form a force that is beyond the military’s ability to contain.
Pakistan : PML N's government targeting Christian asylum seekers in South and South East Asia: A Report
The Central Secretariat of Pakistan Christian Congress PCC has issued a press note here today condemning conspiracy of ruling party Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz Group PML (N) in federation and Punjab Province to target Pakistani Christian asylum seekers in Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Thailand who fled from Pakistan for safety of their lives after Muslim mob attacks on their life and property in Punjab.
There are more than 9 thousand Pakistani Christian asylum seekers in Thailand and 2-3 thousands in Malaysia and Sri Lanka respectively.
The government of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz PML (N) hatched a conspiracy and engaged one Christian Federal Minister who was selected on PML (N) in parliament to participate in every official function of High Commission of Sri Lanka in Islamabad which can be witnessed on viewing official website of Sri Lankan High Commission.
The Pakistan government provided logistic support to Sri Lanka to defeat Tamil Tigers and establish writ in Tamil majority areas. With support of Pakistan, hundreds and thousands of innocent Tamils were killed by Sri Lanka army.
As Pakistan and Sri Lanka are not signatories of International Criminal Court ICC, therefore one super power used Pakistan to transfer deadly weapons to Sri Lanka to kill Tamil innocent population to avoid any charges of genocide and crime against humanity.
The gathering of Pakistani Christian asylum seekers in Sri Lanka and their applications to UNHCR was never appreciated by government of Pakistan and government of Punjab which are of PML (N).
PML (N) Christian federal Minister was provided huge funds by Intelligence Bureau IB to send delegates of some Bishops and NGO,s to Colombo to collect data of Christian asylum seekers in Sri Lanka to prove that Pakistani Christian asylum seekers were not oppressed or persecuted in Pakistan.
After collection of data of Pakistani Christian asylum seekers in Sri Lanka, the government of Pakistan found that cases submitted with UNHCR by Christians are genuine, the government of Pakistan pressed upon Sri Lankan government to end entry on arrival for Pakistani nationals and to impose visa requirements in return of its support to kill innocent Tamil population.
There for in June 2014, Sri Lanka impose Visa requirements on Pakistani nationals revoking entry on arrival but still it fell short on demand of deportation of Pakistani asylum seekers. On which Sri Lankan government started arresting Pakistani asylum seekers on health issues blaming that these asylum seekers are spreading malaria diseases.
Another Christian Minister in Punjab Government which is also led by Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz Group PML (N) also played role against Christian asylum seekers in South and South East Asia.
It is learned by Pakistan Christian Post sources that profiles collected by PML (N) government of Christian asylum seekers have been forwarded to UNHCR with fake documents prepared by Intelligence Bureau of Pakistan to prove that cases submitted are not true.
The Christian asylum seekers sold their properties to flee from Pakistan for safety of life which Christian Federal Minister, Christian Provincial Minister, some Christian NGO workers and few Christian religious leaders want to target and their deportation to Pakistan from those respective states in which they have applied for asylum with UNHCR.
Pakistan's Shia Genocide - SUC Leader Warns Govt. Over Release Of Takfiri Terrorists
shiapost.comAllama Shahenshah Naqvi, central leader of Shia Ulema Council, has warned the government that Shiites would not accept the release of the takfiri terrorists involved in Shia genocide. “Government, it seems, to have surrendered to the takfiri fanatics’ demand for release of their terrorist comrades but we alert the government not to release a single terrorist,” he said speaking at a press conference. Allama Jafar Subhani, Allama Abid Raza Irfani, Maulana Roohullah and Maulana Karamuddin Waziri were also present. He said that government banned takfiri terrorist groups and now held talks with the banned group’s ringleaders. He asked if it would help establish rule of law. He condemned the timidity of Sindh government against the ferocious terrorists. “Should the rulers accept the pressure of protest and sit-in by takfiris for release of the terrorists, then we make it clear to the government that we too shall come out on streets and stage sit-in to pressure the government not to release the terrorists,” he maintained. Allama Shahenshah Naqvi demanded that Operation Zarb-e-Azb should be expanded to every nook and corner of the country. He urged the Sindh Government to crush terrorist network through security agencies instead of striking deal with them.
UK: Celebrities urge PM to help mentaly ill man jailed in Pakistan for blasphemy
CELEBRITIES have added their voices to calls for Prime Minister David Cameron to intervene in the case of Edinburgh grandfather Mohammad Asghar, who was shot in a Pakistani prison.The Leith grocer – who is being held after being sentenced to death on blasphemy charges – now has backing from Stephen Fry, Frankie Boyle and David Morrissey. Campaigners are urging the UK Government to do all it can to help bring the 70-year-old, who suffers from severe mental illness, back to this country. Mr Asghar was shot in Adiala prison in Rawalpindi last week, reportedly by a police officer or prison guard. He is currently in intensive care, but concerns have been raised for his safety by legal charity Reprieve after it was revealed the Pakistani authorities planned to return him to the jail. Reprieve said people accused or convicted of blasphemy in Pakistan face a high level of risk from attacks by religious extremists. Mr Asghar’s daughter, Jasmine, has called on Mr Cameron to help ensure that as soon as he is well enough to travel, he is brought back to the UK. That call was echoed by Stephen Fry, who tweeted: “Govt must not let mentally ill Brit Mohammad Asghar be returned to prison. They must do all they can to get him home.” Comedian Frankie Boyle tweeted: “70yo Scotsman Mohammad Asghar shot, under death sentence for blasphemy, surely government should get him home.” Al Murray urged his followers to sign a 38 Degrees petition for the Prime Minister to bring Mr Asghar home, saying it “means a lot to me”. And in a newspaper article, David Morrissey wrote: “It is surely not too much to ask that the British government exert every political sinew to protect him at this desperate stage.” Scottish External Affairs Minister Humza Yousaf said ministers at Holyrood were “extremely concerned” and were doing all in their power to ensure Mr Asghar’s health, safety and security. He said First Minister Alex Salmond had “directly intervened in this case” and had held face-to-face talks with Muhammad Sarwar, the governor of the Punjab, the region of Pakistan where Mr Asghar is being held.
Pakistan : 2,000 political activists killed in the last eight years in Balochistan
The ongoing crisis — that in effect is a low-intensity war — in Balochistan continues to take lives on all sides. There are estimated to be around 2,000 political activists killed in the last eight years. Some of that number have simply ‘disappeared’ and are presumed dead, others are found by the roadsides riddled with bullets whilst yet others turn up in gunny sacks, sometimes dismembered, at others decomposed beyond the point of easy identification. One such instance occurred on September 24 when two sacks containing human remains were found near Rakshan Nadi in the western Panjgur district. Nationalist party workers quickly proclaimed the remains to be of party workers.
The blame game started immediately, and as there is never any conclusive investigation of the killings in Balochistan, nor a successful hunt for the killers and consequently no prosecution, blame is hurled indiscriminately with or without foundation. Baloch nationalists invariably blame the government agencies and entities, and in places where the insurgency is hot — such as Panjgur — there are frequent clashes between security forces and Baloch nationalist and separatist groups. The government has commented that some neighbouring countries are involved. Rival groups also clash between themselves, adding much confusion as to who is doing what to whom and why. Inasmuch as anything is clear the entire province is touched by violence and decades of distrust — indeed outright betrayal on occasion — and virtually nowhere can be considered safe and secure. Sectarian killings are common, and doctors and teachers regularly gunned down. Innocents are caught in the crossfire or die as ‘collateral damage’ in bombings. Both the provincial and federal governments are unable or unwilling to get a grip of a resolution to the many and complex disputes that can be owned by all stakeholders, and it is difficult not to conclude that there is an artificial state of ‘managed instability’ in the province.
Express Tribune
Pakistan : Zardari, Sirajul Haq likely to meet in Lahore today
Sources have revealed that former President of Pakistan and co-chairperson of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) is likely to meet with Jamat-e-Islami (JI) chief Sirajul Haq today at his headquarter in Mansura, Lahore.
Sirajul Haq has confirmed that there has been an initial contact between the two leaders. However, the meeting has not been finalized yet.
Asif Ali Zardari is traveling to Lahore to meet with Sirajul Haq today in the evening. Both leaders are expected to discuss the current political crisis in Pakistan whereas would also review the administrative activities.
Pakistan's 2013 Election - Probe finds irregularities in NA-125 ( Khawaja Saad Rafiq ) polls: report
Soaring numbers: Dengue patients in Pindi surge to 65
The Express TribuneThere has been a 48 per cent increase in the number of dengue patients in the Rawalpindi District as compared to the numbers recorded last year till October. Data collected by The Express Tribune from the allied hospitals and the District Health Department reveals that till October last year, there were 44 confirmed cases of dengue whereas this year the number of patients has soared to 65. District Dengue Surveillance Coordinator Dr Ehsan Ghani stated that the majority of cases reported this year are residents of the cantonment area. “Almost 80 per cent out of the total number of cases reported from Rawalpindi are from the Cantonment area; a part of the city that does not fall under the jurisdiction of the health department,” he elaborated. He further stated that the majority of the rest of the cases—from places that do fall under the department’s jurisdiction—23 have been reported from Rawal Town. “Even last year the majority of dengue fever cases were reported from the union council of Rawal Town. Discrepancies in numbers Though the number of dengue patients has considerably risen, reports from the allied hospitals and health department are contradictory. According to a consolidated report complied by Holy Family Hospital (HFH) In-charge Infectious Diseases Dr Javed Hayyat, 65 patients have been confirmed for dengue in three public hospitals of the city this year. In contrast Ghani says 56 cases have so far been confirmed. In this regard, Hayyat said he has “complied the data of the patients that have been registered in three public hospitals along with three other patients who do not fall under the district”. Whereas, Dr Ghani asserts that they have been compiling the records and the latest count of patient add up to 56. Another possible case in capital A patient suspected of having contracted dengue has been admitted to the Polyclinic hospital. According to Dr Tanveer Malik, emergency in-charge of the hospital, the patient was brought in two days back with high fever, bleeding and acute muscular ache. “His medical report is due within a day or so,” said Malik, adding that his case would become clear only after the results come in. Currently, one person has been confirmed to have contracted the disease in the capital.
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Thursday, October 2, 2014
HK protests challenge supreme power organ: People's Daily
US to ‘Roll Back’ Sanctions Against Russia if It Fulfills Minsk Agreement
US ready to lift some of the sanctions against Russia if the ceasefire agreement reached in Minsk is observed, US Assistant Secretary of State, Victoria Nuland stated.
"When the Minsk agreement is fully implemented, we can and will begin to roll back some sanctions. It is in Russia's hands when that day comes," Nuland said.
US diplomat repeated the US stance that Ukrainian side observes the ceasefire.
"Ukraine is fulfilling its commitments under the September 5 Minsk agreements - it passed amnesty legislation, a special status law for the east, and is working with Russia to demarcate the special status zone," Nuland stressed.
The Ukrainian conflict saw a deterioration of Russia's relations with the West, as western politicians and media continued accusing Russia of providing aid to independence supporters, a claim Moscow repeatedly denied.
Russia, however, played a vital role in the deescalation of the crisis. Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed a peace plan to resolve the conflict two days before Kiev and the eastern regions of Ukraine reached a ceasefire agreement on September 5 in Belorussian capital Minsk.
The European Union and the United States have been hitting Russia with sanctions over Moscow’s alleged role in the Ukrainian crisis. Western sanctions have targeted Russia’s largest banks, energy and defense companies, as well as some individuals.
Chinese FM calls for non-interference in China's internal affairs
Hong Kong affairs are China's internal affairs and all countries should respect China's sovereignty, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here on Wednesday.
Wang said this when he stressed the Chinese government's position on Hong Kong's current situation during his meetings with U.S. leaders at the White House and the State Department.
"This is also a basic principle governing international relations," the Chinese minister said.
The illegal "Occupy Central" movement started off early Sunday morning at the Government Headquarters in Admiralty in downtown Hong Kong, followed by mass protests in Central, Causeway Bay and Mongkok, leading to serious traffic disruptions and school closures.
"I believe for any country, for any society, no one will allow those illegal acts that violate public order," Wang said.
"We believe that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region's government has the capability to properly handle the current situation in accordance with the law," he added.
Hong Kong Chief Executive C Y Leung Tuesday urged "Occupy Central" organizers to end the protests immediately, saying the movement has been affecting Hong Kong people's daily lives.
Cherish Hong Kong's development, maintain long-term prosperity
The illegal gatherings of the Occupy Central movement instigated by some people in Hong Kong do not promote democratic and constitutional development in the special administrative region. Instead, they are ruining it.
Occupy Central has triggered protests in Hong Kong's busiest areas for days since Sept. 28, leading to serious traffic disruption, temporary closures of schools and banks, and a slump in the benchmark Hang Seng Index, impacting the region's economic development and international reputation.
The illegal activities have undermined rule of law, which is Hong Kong's core value and one of its foundations.
The Aug. 31 decision made by the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee on Hong Kong's electoral system is in line with the Basic Law and has heeded opinions from all walks of life in Hong Kong, thus carrying unshakable legal status and force.
The decision granted universal suffrage in the selection of the HKSAR's chief executive on the basis of nomination by a "broadly representative" committee.
A commentary carried by Thursday's People's Daily, the flagship newspaper of the Communist Party of China (CPC), said Occupy Central has put the political appeals of a handful of people above the law and hijacked the public opinion of Hong Kong for private ends.
It is understandable that different people may have different ideas about a desirable reform package. The government respects the people's rights to express their views.
The public is encouraged to express its aspirations peacefully, rationally and lawfully, and to respect and accommodate different views in society.
Occupy Central, however, is not a form of communication, but confrontation.
It will not force the central government to back down.
The movement shakes the core values of Hong Kong and its spirit of rule of law, disrupts social order, and hinders the realization of the prospective chief executive election through "one person, one vote" in 2017.
When meeting with a Hong Kong delegation late last month, Chinese President Xi Jinping said the central government's basic principle and policy toward Hong Kong has not changed and will not change.
The central government will unswervingly implement the policy of "One Country, Two Systems" and the Basic Law, and support the steady development of democracy in Hong Kong, Xi said.
As the "constitutional foundation" for implementing universal suffrage in the chief executive election, the NPC decision complies with Hong Kong's realities and is conducive to safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development and the region's long-term stability and prosperity.
People from all circles in Hong Kong should value the region's steady development and work to support the regional government's efforts to maintain social stability and ensure sound constitutional development.
Hong Kong must capitalize on "One Country", "Two Systems"
Hong Kong Chief Executive C Y Leung Wednesday said to sustain its development, Hong Kong must capitalize on the combined advantages of "One Country" and "Two Systems", which also fully applies to Hong Kong's constitutional development.
Speaking at the National Day reception, Leung said the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress has adopted a decision on issues relating to the selection of the Chief Executive (CE) by universal suffrage, confirming that the CE can be elected through "one person, one vote" from 2017 onward.
"It is understandable that different people may have different ideas about a desirable reform package. But it is definitely better to have universal suffrage than not. It is definitely better to have the CE elected by five million eligible voters than by 1,200 people," he said.
Leung hoped that all sectors of the community will work with the government in a peaceful, lawful, rational and pragmatic manner to duly complete the subsequent consultation and legislative work, and make a big step forward in our constitutional development.
The chief executive also noted that Under "One Country", Hong Kong has the staunch support of the country for its development, while the huge Mainland market presents the city with numerous career opportunities.
While under "Two Systems", Hong Kong's legal and financial systems are different from that of the Mainland, which are more familiar to overseas businesses and professionals and have attracted many foreign enterprises to set up their businesses here.
Besides economic development, the combined advantages of "One Country" and "Two Systems" also come into play in areas such as culture, arts, education and scientific research, he added.
"Hong Kong and the Mainland are closely linked in their development. We must work hand in hand to make the Chinese dream come true," Leung said, quoting a passage from the Conclusion of the White Paper, which says: "Continuously enriching and developing the practice of 'one country, two systems' in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and maintaining long-term prosperity and stability in the region are an integral part of the Chinese dream. "
"It is also a necessary requirement for improving and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics and promoting the modernization of the national governance system and governing capability."
A flag-raising ceremony was also held Wednesday morning at Golden Bauhinia Square to mark the 65th National Day. Leung joined some 2,500 people at the ceremony including invited guest, senior government officials, and members of the public.
Saudi Arabia, Iran and the (Great Game) in Yemen
YemenOnlineIt would be an understatement to say that the internal power politics at play in Yemen are among the oldest, most complex and most dynamic in the Middle East. What heretofore was a struggling and weak Sunni-led central government barely holding onto power while engaged in simultaneous and perpetual conflicts with a myriad of actors, has crumbled as of a week ago. Ongoing tribal disputes with no resolution in sight, secessionist movements in both the north and south, and being in the unfortunate position of serving as home base for Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), have all fed fuel to the fire. Two of those conflicts, however, one internal and the other external, are closely related, and have come to the forefront of both domestic and regional politics in light of recent events. The first is the decade-long insurgency fought against the Houthi rebels, a Shia minority in the north who just last week toppled the central government and appear set, at least for now, to assume much greater power. However, many unanswered questions remain as to how the country will ultimately be governed, and by whom. The second, and more significant clash from a geopolitical standpoint involves two external actors, and has potentially far reaching regional repercussions that can alter the balance of power equation in the Middle East for years to come. Strategic rivalry Reminiscent of the "Great Game" played out in Afghanistan between Great Britain and Russia more than a hundred years ago, Saudi Arabia and Iran are engaged in their own decades-long strategic rivalry for power and influence in the Middle East, stretching from the Mediterranean Sea to the Gulf and Arabian Sea. It is built mostly along sectarian and ideological lines - Saudi Arabia as the leader of the Sunni Muslim world, and Iran as the leader of the Shia Muslim world. While recent high-level discussions between the Saudi and Iranian foreign ministers would suggest a possible thawing in their cold relations, the fact of the matter is, too much bad blood exists between them for any meaningful, long-term rapprochement, at least in the near-term. The more likely state of affairs is that they are simply reassessing their strategies, taking into account all the events in the region, and preparing their next moves on the Middle East chessboard. In playing their Great Game, Saudi Arabia and Iran have engaged in a series of proxy wars to undermine each other, some hot and some cold, throughout the Middle East. In Lebanon, it's the Iran-backed Hezbollah. In Syria, it's the longtime Iran-backed Assad regime. In Iraq, it's an Iran-backed Shia government which was, prior to the US invasion in 2003, solidly in the Sunni camp. In Bahrain and the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, Iran works behind the scenes to undermine those governments through the Shia communities, a threat Saudi Arabia takes so seriously that they sent military forces into Bahrain in 2011 to help quell the Shia uprising there. And then there is Yemen. While it is debatable as to how involved they were in supporting the Houthi uprising, the sudden turn of events on the ground there does play favourably into Iran’s hand. But why? Iran's long-term strategic interest in Yemen is simple. Located on the southwestern tip of the Gulf peninsula, Yemen is a poorly governed, fractious country straddling Saudi Arabia's southern border, which can be likened to a sieve in terms of ancient smuggling routes still used by those wanting to covertly enter the kingdom. And with a population that is 35 percent Shia, Yemen could serve as a potentially friendly base of operations in Iran's rivalry against Saudi Arabia. For Iran, easier access to Yemen means easier access to Saudi Arabia. But is that really Iran's intent? Weapons smuggling In a March 2012 article, The New York Times cited claims by unnamed US military and intelligence officials that the Quds Force, an elite arm of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IGRC) was smuggling significant quantities of AK-47, rocket propelled grenades, and other arms to Houthi rebels in Yemen. And in January 2013, a cache of weapons seized from a ship off the coast of Yemen was reported by CNN to have Iranian markings. It included surface-to-air missiles, C-4 explosives, and other weapons, all allegedly destined for the Houthis. For Saudi Arabia, which shares a porous 1,770km southern border with Yemen, the stakes there are high. According to a November 2013 article by Middle East Voices, Saudi intelligence officials consider Yemen to be the weakest security link in the Gulf and "easy prey for Tehran to penetrate and manipulate". The Saudi-Yemen border also serves as the primary point of infiltration for AQAP, which is still considered the biggest terrorist threat to the kingdom. For both those very reasons, the Saudis have been providing significant financial and military support to Yemen’s central government, and even conducted their own ground and air strikes against the Houthis and AQAP on the Yemen side of the border. The Saudis are still reeling from the loss of their of long time ally, Ali Abdullah Saleh, who was forced to step down as Yemen's president in 2011. From the Saudi perspective, Yemen has been on a downward spiral ever since. Last week, a New York Times article on the recent rebel gains in Yemen, quoted Ibrahim Sharqieh, a researcher at the Brookings Institute in Doha, as saying: "In the regional cold war, this has strengthened the position of the Iranians. For the Saudis, the Houthis arriving in Sanaa is definitely not good news." As an indication of Iran's newfound influence in Yemen, Reuters reported last week that three IRGC and two Lebanese Hezbollah operatives held captive there had been released since the Houthis came to power. And just yesterday, Asharq Al-Awsat reported that IRGC and Lebanese Hezbollah operatives are actively engaged with Houthi rebels to boost their control in Yemen's capital city of Sanaa. Line in the sand So what does this mean? Is Yemen really that important to Saudi Arabia and Iran? The short answer is yes, and each side seems prepared to draw their proverbial line in the sand. For Saudi Arabia, what happens south of their border is a matter of grave national security, particularly now that the future of Yemen is in question. They cannot allow instability there to give Iran a solid foothold on the peninsula or AQAP free movement northwards. Iran's line in the sand is Iraq and Syria. Both those countries serve as buffers between Iran and the Sunni Middle East, so having stable and dependable Shia-led governments in each serves as a strategic objective that is non-negotiable for Iran. Which brings up the Yemen card, a strategic bargaining chip that Iran may now be holding vis-a-vis the sudden rise of the Houthis and anticipated domestic chaos that is sure to plague the country for the foreseeable future. By playing it, Iran would seek to pressure the Saudis to tread lightly in Iraq and Syria or risk a concerted effort to further undermine them from their southern border. The question now is, will the Saudis make their stand in Yemen or blink? And so the Great Game goes on.
Islamic State committing 'staggering' crimes in Iraq: U.N. report
Islamic State insurgents in Iraq have carried out mass executions, abducted women and girls as sex slaves, and used child soldiers in what may amount to systematic war crimes that demand prosecution, the United Nations said on Thursday. In a report based on 500 interviews with witnesses, also said Iraqi government air strikes on the Sunni Muslim militants had caused "significant civilian deaths" by hitting villages, a school and hospitals in violation of international law. At least 9,347 civilians had been killed and 17,386 wounded so far this year through September, well over half of them since the Islamist insurgents also known as ISIL and ISIS began seizing large parts of northern Iraq in early June, the report said. "The array of violations and abuses perpetrated by ISIL and associated armed groups is staggering, and many of their acts may amount to war crimes or crimes against humanity," said U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad al Hussein. In a statement, he called again for the Baghdad government to join the International Criminal Court, saying the Hague court was set up to prosecute such massive abuses and direct targeting of civilians on the basis of their religious or ethnic group. Islamist forces have committed gross human rights violations and violence of an "increasing sectarian nature" against groups including Christians, Yazidis and Shi'ite Muslims in a widening conflict that has forced 1.8 million Iraqis to flee their homes, according to the 29-page report by the U.N. Human Rights Office and the U.N. Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI). "These include attacks directly targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure, executions and other targeted killings of civilians, abductions, rape and other forms of sexual and physical violence perpetrated against women and children, forced recruitment of children, destruction or desecration of places of religious or cultural significance, wanton destruction and looting of property, and denial of fundamental freedoms." FEMALE "SEX SLAVES" In a single massacre on June 12, the report said, about 1,500 Iraqi soldiers and security officers from the former U.S. Camp Speicher military base in Salahuddin province were captured and killed by Islamic State fighters. However, the bodies have not been exhumed and the precise toll is not known. No one disputes that Iraqi military recruits were led off the base near Tikrit unarmed and then machinegunned in their hundreds into mass graves by Islamic State, whose fighters boasted of the killings on the Internet. Women have been treated particularly harshly, the report said: "ISIL (has) attacked and killed female doctors, lawyers, among other professionals." In August, it said, ISIL took 450-500 women and girls to the Tal Afar citadel in Iraq's Nineveh region where "150 unmarried girls and women, predominantly from the Yazidi and Christian communities, were reportedly transported to Syria, either to be given to ISIL fighters as a reward or to be sold as sex slaves". Islamic State pushed on with its assault on a Syrian border town on Thursday despite coalition air strikes meant to weaken them, sending thousands more Kurdish refugees into Turkey and dragging Ankara deeper into the conflict. Islamic State and allied groups have attacked and destroyed places of religious and cultural significance in Iraq that do not conform to its "takfiri" doctrine, the U.N. report said, referring to the beliefs of Sunni militants who justify their violence by branding others as apostates. But the report also voiced deep concern at violations committed by the Baghdad government and allied fighters, including air strikes and shelling that may not have distinguished between military targets and civilian areas.BY STEPHANIE NEBEHAY
Iran warns Turkey against aggravating regional tensions
Iran warned neighbouring Turkey Thursday against doing anything that might aggravate tensions in the region, after the parliament in Ankara voted to authorise military intervention in Syria and Iraq.
Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif spoke by telephone with his Turkish counterpart, Mevlut Cavusoglu, and "criticised the method chosen to fight terrorism, expressing concern about any action that might aggravate the situation," state news agency IRNA reported.
"In the current situation, the countries of the region must act with responsibility and avoid aggravating" matters, he added.
Earlier Thursday, Turkish MPs voted to allow the use of armed forces against jihadists of the Islamic State (IS) group in Syria and Iraq, both of which border Turkey.
However, the one-year mandate is very broad in scope and in no way commits Turkey to sending troops into Syria and Iraq.
The government has said it will decide on concrete steps after winning authorisation, with many analysts expecting a cautious approach.
Iran supports President Bashar al-Assad in Syria's more than three-year-old civil war, while Turkey backs rebels seeking to overthrow him.
Read more: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2014/Oct-02/272822-iran-warns-turkey-against-aggravating-regional-tensions.ashx?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter#ixzz3F16iJgZJ
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EBOLA - How To Protect Yourself Against Ebola
This week saw the first confirmed case of Ebola virus within the United States, the latest development in an outbreak that has already claimed over 3,000 lives. Here are some ways you can protect yourself against this deadly disease:Boil all bodily fluids before consumption. Regularly examine your DNA under an electron microscope for any indication that Ebola has attached itself to your cell membranes. Recognize the symptoms of Ebola, which include fever, chills, and developing symptoms too late to do anything about them. Cover the nose and mouth of Ebola patients when they sneeze to avoid spreading germs. Avoid eating bat soup, which is actually pretty sound advice whether there’s an ongoing Ebola outbreak or not. Ebola can only be spread once patients are symptomatic, so if you believe you’ve been exposed, get all your errands and public trips out of the way before your symptoms start showing. Be sure to stay up to date on developments by signing up for the official CDC phone tree. Try being born one of the 15 percent of rural Gabonese citizens with natural immunity to the virus. Give billions of dollars to pharmaceutical companies. If you see a suspicious-looking filamentous virus particle roughly one micron in length, stay away. Continue following lifelong plan of avoiding Dallas, TX at all costs.
New Afghanistan pact means America's longest war will last until at least 2024
Spencer Ackerman
Bilateral security deal ensures that President Obama will pass off the Afghanistan war and his new war in Iraq and Syria to his successor.The longest war in American history will last at least another decade, according to the terms of a garrisoning deal for US forces signed by the new Afghanistan government on Tuesday. Long awaited and much desired by an anxious US military, the deal guarantees that US and Nato troops will not have to withdraw by year’s end, and permits their stay “until the end of 2024 and beyond.” The entry into force of the deal ensures that Barack Obama, elected president in 2008 on a wave of anti-war sentiment, will pass off both the Afghanistan war and his new war in Iraq and Syria to his successor. In 2010, his vice-president, Joe Biden, publicly vowed the US would be “totally out” of Afghanistan “come hell or high water, by 2014.” Obama called Tuesday “a historic day” for the US and Afghanistan, as the security pact, which puts US troops beyond the reach of Afghan law, “will help advance our shared interests and the long-term security of Afghanistan.” The primary explicit purpose of the deal, known as the Bilateral Security Agreement, is to permit the US to continue training Afghanistan’s roughly 350,000 security forces, which the US and Nato have built from scratch. But with domestic US political acrimony swirling over the rise of the Islamic State (Isis) after the 2011 US withdrawal from Iraq, the accord is also a hedge against the resurgence of the Taliban and a recognition that 13 years of bloody, expensive war have failed to vanquish the insurgency. Any earlier termination of the deal must occur by mutual consent, ensuring a US veto in the event of an about-face by newly inaugurated President Ghani or his successor. Ghani’s predecessor, Hamid Karzai, incensed the Obama administration by refusing to sign the basing deal, rebuking the country that installed him as Afghanistan’s leader after the US drove the Taliban from Kabul in 2001. Ghani also agreed to a garrisoning accord with Nato forces, known as a Status of Forces Agreement. Nato has agreed to fund Afghanistan’s soldiers and police through 2017. Under the Bilateral Security Agreement’s annexes, the US military will have access to nine major land and airbases, to include the massive airfields at Bagram, Jalalabad and Kandahar, staging areas not only for air operations in Afghanistan but the US drone strikes that continue across the border in tribal Pakistan. The additional bases – in Kabul, Mazar-i-Sharif, Herat, Helmand, Gardez and Shindand – ensure the reach of the US military throughout Afghanistan. US defense leaders greeted the signing of the accord with enthusiasm. “These agreements will enable American and coalition troops to continue to help strengthen Afghan forces, counter terrorist threats, and advance regional security,” said Defense secretary Chuck Hagel. “Our partnership is an important one, and as we prepare to transition to a traditional security cooperation mission in the coming years, we remain committed to providing the necessary support to our Afghan partners and, in particular, to their national security forces,” said General Lloyd Austin, commander of US forces in the Middle East and South Asia. In May, Obama pledged to reduce the US troop presence to 9,800 through most of 2015, ahead of what he called a “normal embassy presence” by the end of his presidency. Yet he hedged by saying the US will continue to conduct counterterrorism operations in Afghanistan, a less visible mission than the training of Afghan forces. Nothing in the bilateral deal prevents a US president from ramping troop levels back up. The accord’s terms “acknowledge that US military operations to defeat al-Qaida and its affiliates may be appropriate in the common fight against terrorism.” The “intention” of future counter-terrorism missions in Afghanistan is to partner US and Afghan forces together, with the goal of placing the Afghans in the lead, similar to the broader training mission. In 2013, Rolling Stone released a video showing Afghan forces that the US relies upon for counter-terrorism torturing a detainee. In a September 25 letter to Ghani, Human Rights Watch urged the new president to end the “widespread impunity for members of the security forces responsible for serious violations of human rights in Afghanistan.”
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