Anatomy
of October 19 Blasts
Columnist
ADNAN GILL conducts a post mortem of the
Oct 19 bomb blasts
and finds that there are more questions
than answers.
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The way the Pakistani
government covers up every single bomb
attack by declaring that it was an action
of suicide bomber has become a regular
theme. Mostly people buy the government’s
version with little or no questions asked.
Fortunately for us, and unfortunately
for the establishment, the October 19
twin-bombing attacks (allegedly) on Pakistan
People’s Party (PPP) leader Benazir
Bhutto were captured by numerous private
TV cameras and by the print-media photographers.
Most of these videos and still-photographs
which are available on the Internet for
the public to view potentially suggest
a cover-up going up to the highest levels.
If one were to study these videos (widely
available on YouTube) and the still-photographs
(available among others on AP, AFP, Reuters,
and the Daily Dawn’s websites) one
can argue that the nation has been once
again misguided by the establishment,
because pictures tell a story totally
contradictory to what the latter wants
us to believe. The contradictions are
so shockingly obvious that it suggests
that either the establishment likes to
mock our intelligence, or its agents tasked
to disseminate its story of suicide-bombers
are highly incompetent because even a
10th grade student with a basic knowledge
of laws-of-physics can put together the
sequence of events that took place on
October 19. The motives behind the establishment’s
possible cover up are a subject of another
debate, so for now, first we will lay
down some facts, circumstantial evidence,
and ground rules to evaluate the evidence.........more
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Indo-US
Nuclear Deal
Columnist
ZAFAR NAWAZ JASPAL argues that the Indo-US
nuclear deal would be perilous for the
nuclear nonproliferation regime and dangerous
for South Asian strategic equilibrium.
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Prime Minister Manmohan Singh considers the controversial
Indo-US nuclear deal imperative for cementing
Washington-Delhi Strategic Partnership,
despite the opposition of his coalition
partners. He is endeavoring to surpass
external and internal restraints and put
the nuclear deal into operation as soon
as possible. The Singh government, therefore,
is softening the internal and external
resentment. It is busy in cultivating
a consensus in the internal politics of
India, especially in the ruling United
Progressive Alliance to implement the
nuclear deal. Simultaneously, the Singh
government, with the assistance of Washington
has also been lobbying for amending the
nuclear nonproliferation regime norms
to ensure uninterrupted nuclear business
between India and the United States.
The nuclear deal is a contested issue
in Indian and Global politics but notwithstanding
the same there are ample chances that
it would be operational by the original
time frame of 2008.1 Press reports manifest
that PM Singh has been doing his best
to muster support from the Left parties’
parliamentarians in Lok Sabha and Rajya
Sabha. To this end he stated, “What
we have done with the US, it is an honorable
deal, it is good for India, and it is
good for the world. But we are in the
realm of politics, and within our coalition,
there are differing perceptions.”2
His Congress colleagues have intensified
their efforts to allay the apprehensions
of the Left allies over the agreement.........more
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China:
Emerging Partner of SAARC
Columnist GHULAM
ALI looks at the positive regional impact
of China's gaining Observer status in
SAARC.
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In
1985, seven South Asian countries (Bangladesh,
Bhutan, India, Pakistan, Maldives, Nepal,
and Sri Lanka) gathered at Dhaka and
laid the foundation of South Asian Association
for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) with
an aim at improving the quality of life
of their people. In the subsequent two
decades, however, the organization failed
in achieving any meaningful progress.
The inter-state conflicts between India
and Bangladesh, India and Nepal, Nepal
and Bhutan and at the top between India
and Pakistan over Kashmir, dominated
SAARC agendas, thus blocking developments
towards regional integration. Resultantly,
the region remained economically backward.
The inter-state trade of the region
could not exceed 4 percent and the region
as a whole contributed only 1 percent
in world trade. About 40 percent of
the region’s population lives
below the poverty line. The Organization
in its various sessions approved a number
of committees and agreements ranging
from trade promotion under South Asian
Free Trade Association (SAFTA) to cultural
interactions but yet SAARC is among
the most ineffective regional organizations.1
Parallel with SAARC, the European Union
(EU) and Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (ASEAN) emerged as powerful
organizations which have been transforming
the fate of their peoples...........more
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