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Pakistan: the change of guard

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By K.N. Pandita

After completing six years in service that included three year extension, General Perez Kayani passed on the baton to his successor General Raheel Sharif in an imposing military ceremony in Rawalpindi, Islamabad. Apparently the event does not signify any marked change in the military-civilian relations and fundamentals of these relations may not be affected conspicuously.

Out-going General Kayani will be credited for not attempting to topple the elected civilian government during his tenure. Of course there did arise situations a couple of times when General Kayani had to intervene and show the civilian regime its proper place. However, those instances were of very limited repercussions and the then ruling PPP government did not take hard posture.   Continue Reading…

Sitting with fingers crossed

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By K.N. Pandita

A question of increasing disquietude, not only for the administration – civilian and military – but also for the entire nation is what will be the security scenario of the region lying beyond our north-western border once the US-led NATO troops begin to withdraw from Afghanistan in 2014.

NATO withdrawal will begin in a situation in which remnants of Afghan Taliban-al Qaeda combine are still potently capable of reassembling. Anti-American Pakistani Taliban (TTP), besides other known radical Islamist groups in Pakistan, is making common cause with them.   Continue Reading…

Prisoners of apologetic politics

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By K.N. Pandita

Hurriyatis met with Sartaj Aziz in New Delhi. They have been meeting whosoever invites them from Pakistan. They have met with ambassadors, ministers, secretaries and also the ISI chief in the past. Present meeting is nothing extraordinary.

Some of the separatists have shared platform with Hafiz Saeed and Salahud-Din, the standard bearers of jihadist terror. It is the history of Kashmiris to expect others to fight their battle.   Continue Reading…

Drone attacks diplomacy

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K.N. Pandita

Killing of TTP chief Hikmatuallah Mehsud along with five more commanders of TTP in a recent American drone attack has triggered a new debate in Pakistani political circles.

Baitullah Mehsud, the predecessor of Hikmatullah and the founder of Tehrik-e-Taliban-i-Pakistan (TTP), a confederate of Al-Qaeda-Afghan Taliban and also in liaison with Haqqani and Hekmatyar terrorist groups was killed in drone attack in 2009.   Continue Reading…