India and Pakistan are at daggers drawn since beginning, three wars, other limit strikes and counter strikes are something routine by now. Every then and now both countries conflict around and things get back to normal. In many a cases when election are nearby, on either side, politician tend to gain mileage by creating some puppet show and resulting irreparable losses. When we will keep this thing in our mind, we will conclude that this paper is more a cheap propaganda stunt by writer and those behind him for some political motive.

Apart from this, if we will look at the recommendations, we will easily gather that in majority of cases, the author has based his argument on Utopian elements instead of concrete facts and sounds over ambitious. For my readers,  I am publishing the content here:

Economic destabilisation of the Terror Central is imperative for rooting out terror.

I did not anticipate the huge response my inbox received for the article last week (December 2) slamming Pakistan. Many of those who wrote in have sought concrete steps to tackle the Terror Central. The terror attack on world citizens at Mumbai has created revulsion and outrage all over the world. It is imperative that India seize the opportunity provided to destabilise Pakistan.

A stable Pakistan is not in the interest of world peace, leave alone India. Army controls the country and owns its economy. A significant portion of its GDP is due to army-controlled entities (See Military Inc Inside Pakistan’s Military Economy by Ayesha Siddiqa; OUP; 2007). One can easily say that Pakistan Economy and its Army/ISI are synonymous.

Unless this elementary fact is internalised, we are not going anywhere. This implies we should stop talking of a stable Pakistan since a stable Pakistan means multiple attacks on many more cities of India by that rogue organisation ISI, which is the core of the Pakistan Army and the heart of Pakistan’s economy.

Let us not even assume that Zardari is in control. Poor man – he did not trust his own investigators to probe his wife’s assassination – he wanted Scotland Yard to do the job. Now he blabbers that if his investigators are satisfied, then he will initiate action against terrorists sitting inside Pakistan. Periodically, the Pakistan Army likes to present some useful idiots (as Lenin would have called them) as elected representatives and we swoon over such events.

India should take the following steps to destabilise the economy of Pakistan:

Identify the major export items of Pakistan (like Basmati rice, carpets etc) and provide zero export tax or even subsidise them for export from India. Hurt Pakistan on the export front.

Identify the major countries providing arms to Pakistan and arm twist them. Tell Brazil and Germany (currently planning to supply massive defense items to Pakistan) that it will impact their ability to invest in India. Tell Germany that retail license to Metro will be off and other existing projects will be in jeopardy.

Incidentally, after the arrival of Coke and Pepsi in China, the human rights violations of China are not talked about much by US government organs. Think it is a coincidence? Unless we use our markets to arm-twist arms exporters to Pakistan, we will not achieve our objectives.

Tell American companies that for every 5% increase in FDI limit for them, their government needs to reduce equipping Pakistan by $5 billion. That is real politics, not whining. Let us remember that funds are in desperate search of emerging markets and not the other way about. Let us also remember that international economics is politics by another name.

Create assets to print/distribute their currency widely inside their country. To some extent, Telgi types can be used to outsource this activity. Or just drop their notes in remote areas.

Pressurise IMF to add additional conditionality to the loans given to them or at least do not vote for their loans.

Create assets within Pakistan to destabilise Karachi Stock market – it is already in shambles.

Cricket and Bollywood are the opium of the Indian middle classes. Both have been adequately manipulated/ controlled by the D-company since the eighties. Chase the D-company money in cricket/ Bollywood and punish by burning D-assets in India instead of trying to have them auctioned by the IT department when nobody comes to bid for it.

Provide for capital punishment to those who fund terror and help in that. We have the division in the finance ministry to monitor money laundering, etc. It is important that terror financing is taken seriously and fully integrated into money laundering monitoring systems and this division is provided with much larger budget and human resources. And it should coordinate with RAW.

Encourage and allow scientists/ academicians/ elites of Pakistan to opt for Indian passport and widely publicise that fact since it will hurt their self-respect and dignity. There will be a long queue to get Indian passports — many will jump to get our passport — since they will not be stopped at international airports. It is rumoured that Adnan Sami wants one. Do not give passports to all — make it a prized possession. Let it hurt the army and ISI controlled country. This one step will destroy their identity and self-confidence.

Discourage companies from India from investing in Pakistan, particularly IT companies, till Pakistan stops exporting its own IT (international terrorism).

In all these, it is important that we do not bring in the domestic religious issues. The target is the terror central, namely Pakistan, and if there are elements helping them here then they also should be punished-irrespective of religious labels. If Pakistan is dismantled and the idea of Pakistan is gone, many of our domestic issues will also be sorted out.

Will the Indian elite go for the jugular or just light more candles and scream at the formless/ nameless political class before TV cameras? It is going to be a long haul and may be in a decade or so, we can find a solution to our existential crisis of being attacked by barbarians from the West. We need to combine strategy and patience and completely throw to the dustbin the ‘Gujral Doctrine’ by that mumbling Prime Minister about treating younger brothers with equanimity.

The doctrine essentially suggests that if we are slapped on both the cheeks we should feel bad that we do not have a third cheek to show. He, according to security experts, seems to have dismantled our human intelligent assets inside Pakistan, which has resulted in the gory death of thousands of Indian citizens in the last few years. Such is our strategic thinking in this complex world since our political class is not adequately briefed and the elite don’t think through issues. Better to be simple in our talks and vicious in our actions rather than the other way.

Hopefully, this November attack will create a new vibrant India capable of taking care of its own interests.

The writer is professor of finance and control, Indian Institute of Management – Bangalore, and can be reached at vaidya@iimb.ernet.in. Views are personal.

Share This ]]> http://drfarrukhmalik.com/blog/2008/12/10/twelve-steps-to-shock-and-awe-pakistan%e2%80%99s-economy/feed/ 0 http://drfarrukhmalik.com/blog/2008/11/21/pm-gilani-sister-sifarish-letter/ http://drfarrukhmalik.com/blog/2008/11/21/pm-gilani-sister-sifarish-letter/#comments Fri, 21 Nov 2008 14:09:08 +0000 Dr Farrukh Malik http://drfarrukhmalik.com/blog/?p=602 For quite sometime, this letter reportedly from Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani’s sister Mrs. Nargis Makhdoom to Dr. Mukhtiar Ahmed of Higher Education Commission of Pakistan for favoring an employ of his department is…

Pakistan is passing through a difficult phase of its history. BBC reports that Pakistan is facing fiscal pressure due to wider trade deficit in wake of transport strike. The New York Times writes that Foreign exchange reserves have shrunk to $5.7 billion, with only about $3 billion available to cover payments for oil and food. Moreover the foreign exchange has decreased to record. Consequently, Moody’s, the international credit rating agency, cut Pakistan’s credit outlook from “stable” to “negative” on Tuesday, citing dwindling foreign exchange reserves, risks from extremists and high inflation. This situation is increasingly worrisome for political leadership and intelligentsia. In this sorry state of affairs, the formation of Friends of Pakistan by President Asif Ali Zardari is under discussion.

It is being reported that, Friends of Pakistan is a brain child of President Asif Ali Zardari that got materialized on September 26, 2008 with its inaugural ceremony held on the occasion of 63^rd General Assembly Meeting of United Nations Organization.

The idea initially was floated by President Zardari and was finalized in a meeting at 10 Downing Street London between President and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown. In this meeting both the leader agreed upon its launch on the auspicious occasion of UN General Assembly meeting at New York, US and Prime Minister Gordon Brown assured his full support to Pakistan.

It is being quoted by media that inspiration of formation of friends of Pakistan Group came from a similar group named Friends of Afghanistan (FOA) locally named as ‘Dostan Afghanistan’ that is affiliated with National Peace Crops association (NPCA) based in Washington DC, US. National Peace Corps Association was established in 1961 and was incorporated in 1983 and it has 130 affiliate groups working in 134 developing countries. Apart from this two other groups with similar name, ‘Friends of Pakistan’ are functional. One of them is part of Association of Pakistani Professionals and has 40 chapters in US, Canada, Europe and Pakistan. The second group with the name Friends of Pakistan is an affiliate of NPCA like FOA. Here, it is important to note that none of these groups have backing of Government.

In aftermath of dialogue between President Zardari of Pakistan and British PM Brown, the launching ceremony of FOP took place on Friday September 26, 2008 at New York. The ceremony was attended the Foreign Ministers of Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, representatives of China, the European Union, the United Nations, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, British Foreign Secretary David Miliband and Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari. This launch was co-chaired by President Zardari.

Hours latter, a statement from US state department was issued from Chairman of Friends of Pakistan Group. This statement gives the details of agreements that Friends of Pakistan will help Government of Pakistan in five sectors namely, stability, development, border areas, energy and institution building. Further, it was told that the group will meet in month’s time at Abu Dhabi to discuss the measure required to achieve the goal.

Soon after launch, President Zardari, Secretary Rice, Secretary Miliband and UAE Foreign Minister Abdallah bin Zayid Al Nuhayyan spoke with media. “I hope that the President and the Pakistani people were assured today that the international community will be by their side as they take difficult decisions and move toward a more stable and prosperous Pakistan”, Said Secretary Rice. When a question was asked about financial assistance to Pakistan She pointed out the US is engaged with Pakistan through Financial Institution (IMF, WB and ADP). “Every single one of our countries stands shoulder to shoulder with the Government of Pakistan, the democratically elected Government of Pakistan, and the people of Pakistan in their struggle against terrorism which is a threat to them as well as a threat to us.”, remarked Secretary Miliband. “We fully back Pakistan. The UAE has been a very close ally, friend in Pakistan. But we want to further our relationship with Pakistan. We want to show our Pakistani friends and brothers our commitment towards them.” said Foreign Minister Al Nuhayyan. President Zardari thanked the dignitaries, “I look at U.S. support as a blessing. I look at the world support as a blessing to Pakistan.” remarked President Zardari.

‘Friends of Pakistan group’ is under discussion among political analyst at the moment. Questions are being raised about its success. In the first meeting no pledge of grant in aid was promised though Secretary Rice gave a clue that US will not engage with Pakistan directly but will work through international financial institution but this support was conditional too. The conditions Secretary Rice was talking will not be new. Pressure on Pakistan is mounting and it is multicentric. In such a situation I wonder if Pakistan has any other option left except to succumb to the demands of so called ‘Friends of Pakistan’. As President Zardari said that he is not asking them to give us fish but want to learn how to fish but leaning fishing from US and fishing for them can cost a lot because at times they hunt for big Fishes like Laden and Saddam! At the moment, the things are not yet clear and it is no time for prediction. The sky will get cleared once the first meeting is takes place as scheduled in Abu Dhabi.

Audio recording of Dr. Fahmida Mirza taking oath as First Female Speaker of National Assembly

Having taken oath, a chance was offered to key parliamentarians from different parties to speak. The following file is an audio recording of the speech made by Chaudhary Pervaiz Ellahi of Pakistan Muslim League Quaid-e-Azam group.

Audio recording of speech Chaudhary Pervaiz Ellahi on the occasion of oath taking ceremony of Fahmida Mirza

After Chaudhary Pervaiz Ellahi, Makhdoom Ameen Faheem of President Pakistan People Party Parliamentarians expressed his views on the future course of government. Following is the audio recording of Makhdoom Amin Fahim’s speech.

Audio recording of Speech Makhdoom Ameen Faheem on the occasion of oath taking ceremony of Fahmida Mirza

Your comments about this important event and related issues are welcome. Once again, I consider it important to mention that the recordings above are unedited version of proceeding in national assembly the other day as sent on air by Geo News TV Pakistan.

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London 6 January, 2008

Sindhi mothers, sisters, seniors and youngsters!

Asalam-o-Alaikum

After Salam first of all accept my heartiest condolences that one more daughter of Sindh was given a blood bath. Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto is no more in this world as her father was bid a farewell. The children of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Shahnawaz Bhutto and Murtaza Bhutto were martyred and now on December 27, 2007 the heir of mission of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Mohtarma is also martyred. (Ina lillahe wa Ina Allaih Rajioon)

Benazir Bhutto Shaheed was murdered in Rawalpindi……Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was hanged in a controversial decision of the court in Rawalpindi, Shahnawaz Bhutto was martyred abroad…..Murtaza Bhutto was martyred in front of his house. Mahajirs who migrated to Sindh n 1947 did not martyred Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, Shahnawaz Bhutto, Murtaza Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto than why in interior Sindh as well as in Karachi, houses, factories and shops of Mahajirs were burnt? Why innocent workers were burnt alive?

My respected Sindhi Brothers!

If you wanted to take revenge from the killers, why you took revenge from innocent people? Those who are lovers of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto, why didn’t they take revenge from those who cheered and distributed sweets on the martyrdom of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. On December 27, 2007 after martyrdom of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto I was out of my senses and my tears were not stopping while listening to the news on media again and again and in all my interviews to media, the ones I was obliged to give, you can listen to the recording, you will find that Altaf Hussain was the only son of Sindh (who is not considered one by many Sindhis) who said in his every interview that don’t use the words killed or murdered use the word martyred, a martyr daughter of a martyr father was martyred, a martyr daughter of a martyr father was martyred…… a martyr daughter of a martyr father was martyred. These were the true emotions in the heart of Altaf Hussain and while saying these words, the tears of sorrow were being shed from the eyes of Altaf Hussain…..At international secretariat of MQM, every eye was shedding tears and same feelings were prevalent…..First of all MQM announced the three days of mourning and stopped the election campaign. One the other hand the real lovers of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto were shedding tears out of grief. Here I want to ask a question from the worker of Peoples Party that you swear upon God that you found how many of high level leaders shedding tears like the workers, how many leaders were in extreme sorrow? If yes you would have found them worrying about the question of the party leadership About who will be the chairman of the party? Who will lead and continue the mission of Shaheed Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto Shaheed? On the Soyem (third day of death) of Benazir, workers of the party on one hand were in a state of great grief and were weeping and on the other hand the high level leadership was busy in exchanges and were smiling.

My Sindhi people!

The one sad aspect was of son of Murtaza Bhutto Shaheed Zulfiqar Bhutto junior and daughter Fatima Bhutto who along with their mother were not able to find even a place to sit and not one was there to offer sympathy to them. They were not Mahajirs but they were blood of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, why they were treated with reluctance on such a sad event? Is this treat was from Altaf Hussain or MQM?

Reader! Here I want to bring one thing in notice that when Murtaza Bhutto was coming to Pakistan from Syria I talked to him on phone and advised him that he should not return to Pakistan. I told Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto about it too in our conversation on October 19, 2007. Today many nationalist are trying to become sympathizers of Sindhi nation, did they ever took revenge of Zulfiqar Bhutto Shaheed? Or they broke their relations with the murderers of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto? They even did not shed tear on the death of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, if they would have, at least we would have something to be called as crocodile tears.

Respected Sindhi people!

Since 1997 our communication was broken with Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and all our communications were indirect. At last in her last days we came to this conclusion that we will not fall to the conspiracies and will not be used in the hands of selfish elements because we all are the residents of Sindh and our lives and deaths are related to motherland Sindh.

My Sindhi people!

When Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto reached Karachi on October 18, 2007, same day suicide attack was launched against her caravan I mean procession in which more than 150 people were killed I mean martyred. Same day I called Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto in Bilawal house but was not able to talk to her. Next day, I mean October 19, 2007, I was able to talk to her for quite sometime record of the telephone call is available and in that conversation she said that they have understood that we have got to move together. Already have faced harms due to conspiracies and misunderstandings. She said that when she will come to London she will meet me. I requested her to move with caution. Alas! I was not able to talk to her again and if I would have been able to, I would have given her advice to run the party from abroad. Besides, our this conversation on telephone was much better from the previous ones and was in a cordial atmosphere. I on her death called Makhdoom Ameen Fahim and Asif Ali Zardari too and offered condolences to them.

My Sindhi brother!

Did Altaf Hussain, being son of Sindh, ever trade the cause of Sindh? The way MQM took stand on the matters of NFC award and Kala Bagh dam, did any of the nationalists ever took such a stand?

My Sindhi people!

Altaf Hussain is son of Sindh he is not old I mean ancient Sindhi, middle Sindhi or new Sindhi whose life, death, eating, earning is all related to Sindh, do you still consider Altaf Hussain and Mahajirs as Sindhi who speak urdu? If not than all the notable and leading person should unanimously declare that Mahajirs who migrated and whose life and death is associated with Sindh will are not related to Sindh.

My Sindhi people!

What harm was caused to the murderers of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto by burning the house, shops and factories of people of a particular group I mean Urdu speaking people? On the other hand properties of people belonging to other nations Sindhi, Balouch, Punjabi, Siraiki, Pakhton and others who are part of MQM were also burnt what harm it inflicted on the assassins of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto?

In last, I want to appeal to my Sindhi brother, mothers, sisters and seniors to come forward and play a role in ending this discrimination because the enemies of Sindh want to see this linguistic strife continue and stay gaining favors out of it by ruling the Sindh. May Allah accept the martyrdom of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and rest her soul in peace in the name of Martyr of Karbala, Panjatan Pak and saints, Ameen. May Allah accept my act of appeal for patience in presence of the entire terrorist activity too. Ameen

My personal opinion

In my view this letter is more to the workers and supporters of MQM than Sindhis and the motive behind this letter is forth coming election. It appears as if Mr. Altaf Hussain want to sensitize his workers and supporters that their survival is under question and in order to insure safety of their life and property they need to bring MQM in power.

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It was in the dargah compound of Ajmer when our phones started buzzing with friends and relatives wanting to share grief on the loss of a woman who was both loved and hated but never ignored. This was the typical winter dusk and we were returning from a soulful traditional dua-i-roshnayee (pre-sunset prayer) where candles are lit in remembrance of the much revered Khawaja. Amidst frantic phone calls from grieving friends, the shock was cushioned in the mystical atmosphere as one reaffirmed that God’s will was above everything. But the aching sense of loss for Pakistan haunted us despite the calming effect of Ajmer.

It was this strong faith in God and in her mission that brought Benazir Bhutto back to Pakistan after an exile of nearly a decade. She returned despite the knowledge that she was on borrowed time; and there were heinous elements who wanted to physically eliminate her. Benazir was a lover of the mystics and had visited Ajmer thrice as we found out from the deeply-shocked residents of this small medieval town. Coming from Sindh, the land of the Sufis and poets, Bhutto was a devotee of Khawaja Ghareeb Nawaz. Like a true Bhutto she was not afraid of death as the believers consider it to be ordained by God in the first place. But the truth is that she is no more; and this is hard to reconcile with.

One cannot miss the symbolism of the location where Bhutto was killed. The place, Liaquat Bagh, is named after Pakistan’s first prime minister who was also shot here. The reasons for his death are still not known other than the simple imperative that in Pakistan, legitimate politicians need to be eliminated. This tragic place in Rawalpindi is also not far from the place where Benazir’s father was hanged in 1979; and whose legacy refuses to go away.

At least in Benazir’s case, the battle lines were clearer. A patently violent brand of political Islam masking itself as anti-imperial and aided by powerful elements within the Pakistani establishment is hell-bent on destroying Pakistan’s political and social fabric. Contrary to what many believe, this embedded dysfunction is above all a threat to Pakistan and its burgeoning population. The region and the world come next. In India, the comparisons between Rajiv and Benazir have been unavoidable as the two countries have suffered from the endemic violence, dynastic politics and a symbiotic relationship defined by cyclical political turbulence.

Today’s subcontinent has all but forgotten the tolerant and inclusive Islam that was practised by the Sufis and which in large measure shapes the belief system of a vast of majority of Muslims and non-Muslims alike. This is what the militancy and its official backers are now set out to achieve but they forget that centuries of tradition of peace and inclusion can be dented but cannot be reversed.

Bhutto’s mass appeal remained a formidable challenge to the Pakistani establishment that failed to undo the legacy of people-centred politics for three decades. The Bhutto brand of politics came about without the manipulations of the bureaucratic steel-frame that shaped Pakistani politics, often in tandem with foreign interests. Benazir’s return in October showed that her popular support was intact despite the corruption charges, trials — real and media-led – and continued impression of incompetence and opportunism in a culture of misogyny and violence against women. Her worst opponents could not deny her dazzling articulation and grasp of global politics. And, now like her father she also demonstrated an uncanny sense of history, of seizing the moment and dying for the cause of political process in the militarized Pakistan.

This fearlessness of death is a Sufi trait as death is just another phase in our journeys and struggles. The inclusive and multicultural legacy of the Sufis is endangered by the rise of militant Islam and politics of elimination. Benazir Bhutto had drawn on this legacy and in her death we are reminded of the urgency to revisit and build on that legacy.

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The transcript will follow the link to audio recording:

The audio recording of the poem in voice of Moen Akhtar can be heard by clicking here

Bacha Bacha Borha Borha hal hamara janay ha
Vote nahin data par ghar pa aa jata wo khanay ha

Lahori pehchan na pai dosri bar aaye hain
Mian Sahab kaisa hain ab Jeddah Sara Janay ha

Seat adjustment aise hoye aik seat pa ab do bathain ga
Kaisa ghusain ga ab ik sofay ma wo he bachara janay ha

Wana FATA ki polling ka hal batain kaisa tumhay
Vote parain ya hon ga dhamakay sirf Hazara janay ha

Phir sa Wazeer-e-Azam hoga kon bhala is dharte
Mush ko koi Khabar he nahi ha Bush bechara janay ha

Qazi ki ankhoon ma hain ansoo
Fazloo bolay ko ko ko

Kaisa Mukhalif Leader ha ya
Ik ik tara janay ha

Chaudry chup hain cycle par aur kehta ha har voter sa
Lahori na manay par Gujrat to sara janay ha

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