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US express concern over Hafiz Saeed's public appearances
State Department issues statement, urging Pakistan to uphold international sanctions on JuD.
US concerned about the JuD chief's public appearances recently, particulary the DPC rallies. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
WASHINGTON: The US State Department has raised concerns about Jamaatud Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed’s public appearances, including at the Difa-e-Pakistan Council (DPC) rally held in Karachi earlier this week.
The State Department issued a brief press release on Thursday, In response to a question submitted earlier in the week, which said that, “Lashkar-e-Taiba and its front group Jamaatud Dawa, is internationally sanctioned because of its associations with al Qaeda. We have and continue to urge the Government of Pakistan to uphold its obligations in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1267/1989.”
The release further stated that the UN resolution “calls for all countries to freeze assets of sanctioned groups, prevent the transfer of arms to them, and prevent sanctioned individuals from entering or transiting their territories.”
JuD has been functioning in the country as a religious and charity organisation. Post Mumbai attacks in 2008, the organisation was declared a terrorist organisation by the West, UN and India.
Talking to Express News, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) senior leader Liaquat Baloch said that the DPC opposed the sanctions. He said that certain organisations, which were a part of the council, had been wrongly banned by a dictator, hinting at former President Pervez Musharraf.
Baloch justified his claim by saying the if a certain exile agreement – with former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif – and the NRO by the same dictator had been declared illegal, why should this ban be considered valid.
Reader Comments (98)
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Forget the International laws, these are our strategic assets. How can we control them? We do not believe in International laws and obligations.
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US just can’t shut up
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Since the genuine political parties have tried to become independent of the establishment, these ‘Difa-e-Pakistan’ goons have ‘mysteriously’ turned up to put pressure on genuine political parties.
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Mr. Liaquat Baloch, two wrongs do not make a right.
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This is going to get interesting. Both Hafiz Saeed and Gen. Pasha have been summoned by the US courts in connection with the Mumbai attacks. Establishment formed and promoted Difa-e-Pakistan as a pressure group to somehow avoid their appearance in US courts. But Difa-e-Pakistan is growing out of control of the Establishment and Hamid Gul is openly criticizing the Army.
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Maybe US State Dept should provide evidence to the Pakistani courts ensuring a fool proof conviction of Hafiz Saeed. After all, azad adalyia is supreme no?
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hmmmm he is good person i think….
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How can Pakistan ever raise the issue of Kashmir at the UN when it hosts controversial jihadis like Hafiz Saeed in the open? And that too year after year? Isn’t this a blatant disregard of UN Security Council Resolutions?
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A timely reminder to Pakistan to chose a path of peaceful coexistance.
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Mr Sam is forgetting that all these people were not as dangerous before it invaded two countries illegally over a decade ago. Mr Sam also thinks that what it does, does not have consequences. Mr Sam will be Mr Sam.
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We only quote International Law when the issue is related to Kashmir or water rights.
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Since when has Pakistan cared about obeying UN rules?
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yes im concerned too. does anyone have any reply?
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Can US just shut up and mind its own business?
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US always concerned for those who are patriotic and raise voice for Kashmir.
Why US never condemn BLA, BRA and TTP. Offcourse they are serving US purpose in the region
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When people like Imran Khan show their suport, in absentia, by sending PTI Representative to this ‘Difa-e-Pakistan’ monster/s then no wonder that International Community gets alarmed. I’d say let India sort out this Hafiz and take care of this problem before it’s too late.
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Pakistan tells the world to give us trade-not-aid, while we make a mockery of the standards of justice and law by allowing public forums to organizations like DPC to spread their hate.
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I don’t know why some simpletons consider Hafiz Saeed a hero when the only effect Bombay attacks had was to send the Kashmir issue to the back and gave India the eternal excuse to not discuss Kashmir issue on the pretext that Pakistan is not tackling the terrorism issue.
What is it, a sort of Stockholm syndrome that the same people who hurt us we feel sympathy with them?
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No links to Mumbai attack have been proven, but who cares he is a Muslim with a beard and speaks against Amercian interests in the region, so must be condemned, gulty or not.
Lets be honest ‘liberals’ and do away with the practice of ‘selective amnesia’. Look at Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan and then there is Iran. Do not see the darker clouds developing over the regionbecause of Us presence; the mental and physical effects on innocent people at the receiving end of drone strikes; the effect of depleted uranium in the region. Of course you cannot, becasue most of you ‘liberals’ do not live in the area.
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@Roflcopter:
You’re usually even louder and more absurd than a typical Mullah. Put the stones down. There’s no woman who spoke out of turn and you’re in a glass house.
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Since when did terrorists like Hafiz Saeed become Pakistan’s assets?
Oh, my God!
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US has got no right of meddling in our internal matters. By the way…. readers should also know that Hafiz Saeed has been acquitted of all the charges by our SC (as far as my knowledge goes), so US should learn to respect that…. and SHUT UP!!!
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Hafiz Saeed is a hero of Pakistan !!
He speaks with a soft voice but carries a big stick.
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Why the delay in honoring Mr Hafeez Saeed with Pakistan’s highest honor ‘nishan-e-Pakistan’. Why the delay ? Whats the issue ?
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Which two countries? One of them was attacked by official support of our military in exchange for dollars. The same military which allegedly supports these organisations. Something is not right here.
btw the other country was attacked with the help of our lords Saudi Arabia and other gulf states. May be Hafiz Saeed should direct his anger rat them instead of gaining their support.
Lastly how is Hafis Saeed a Punjabi more concerned for Kashmiris, Afghans and Iraqis than Kashmiris, Afghans and Iraqis themselves? This is just a money making scheme in the name of Jihad. Btw most of those blowing up bombs in the west are also Punjabis; not Iraqis or Afghanis. Something to think about.
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of course defending pakistan is a crime.
america killed dozens of children in afghanistan yesterday, again.
did the brown noses on this board bother to comment.
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@STRIVER:
I assume that you do live in the affected area?
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@Babloo:
I agree 100% with you. The history tells us that the people who were honoured with ‘nishan-e-Pakistan’ often are forced to apologize publicly followed by their house arrest!
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People like Hafiz Saeed must be eliminated in open. And same must be the fate of ASWJ,Sunni Tehreek and LeJ leaders.
BTW here’s a link from Times of India.The news is same but one can esily see the amount of abusive comments over there without any proper management and moderation. I guess Shahid Afridi was damn right about Indian media.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/US-concern-over-terrorist-mentor-Hafiz-Saeeds-presence-at-Pak-rally/articleshow/11920930.cms
I guess TOi completely ignored any news about Karachi Literature Festival too.
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US on behalf of India.
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This man is ” Honey Comb” of our establishment. One can easily find scores of retired personnel and other retired high profile civilian officers hands in gloves with him or his organization. He is ”Kohinoor Diamond” and Line B of our valuables.
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@T:
Sir, is this the same Court that was supposed to uphold the Constitution but nevertheless sent every elected Government packing on Military orders, that you are talking about ? By any chance is it the same independent Court that sent the PM to the gallows, on what charge may I innocently ask ?
This Court has an illustrious record and reputation across the Globe, my friend.
The World is going GREEN with envy !
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I have no love for Mr Saeed, but he has a right to voice his opinions and his beliefs, a fact which seems alien to the USG. And the sanctions regime is a joke.
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Why does US has meddle into everything?when they do wrong nobody say anything.they are the mastersters of this worldRecommend
If laskhar-e-taiba can hold the public rallies in the name of JUD, soon expect al-qaeda with a proxy name, holding a Jalsa at Islamabad !!!
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@Adil:
Thanks for the wonderful TOI link, thanks again !
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@Apnakarachi:
Similarly, Pakistan on behalf of Lashkar-e-Taiba (a good terrorist in your books).
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Pakistan has a choice – either punish and make an example of Hafiz or …
It is very difficult to stop a nation that is hellbent on suicide – we may even provide some help.
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US has no threats from people of country, where they holding a series of drone strikes and killing innocent lives in the name of fight against terrorism. But they are scared of one creature and that is MEN OF GOD (ALLAH).
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@ Huma why you are afraid of Hafiz Sb?
why US is too much concerned? Why US is not concerned about Bal Thakray and other Hindu extremist? US has developed Muslim Phobia & black sheeps among us are supporting this world assassin (USA)
why we don,t discuss christianism,Hinduism & rest of religions is there only Muslims & Islam US has got phobia of.
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@T:
“US has got no right of meddling in our internal matters. By the way…. readers should also know that Hafiz Saeed has been acquitted of all the charges by our SC (as far as my knowledge goes), so US should learn to respect that…. and SHUT UP!!!”
Aafia Siddiqui was convicted in a US court, so Pakistan should learn to respect that … AND SHUT UP!!!
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For all those asking the US to mind its own business. Remember, US citizens were mercilessly murdered during the 26/11 attacks. It is minding its business.
As for the US is concerned, u shud b thankful the US didnt urge the Security Council to declare Pak a Terror State.Recommend
@Mirza
im reading your comments since you started posting here. Analysis which is about your comments made me to believe that you are not a Pakistani in fact. So im not stopping you and i can’t to post here. But an advice if you want to show your hate and release your frustration against Pakistan or you want your job to be done by your state or employee to do this then you should use your real name, Which should be Ajay,Vijay,Sundeep,Karan,etc.
Thanks.Recommend
though america is not in favour of pakistan but i think it will be good for pakistan future to keep this parties away from politics since these are terrorist parties working here in pakistan .they talk about islam where they are killing innocent people and non guilty persons . the current government of pakistan should bann them ,and do not allow them to appear in public like this .
it will destory our country ,i doubt that they are workng for america secretly and we will suffer if didnt acted upon this .
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@qadir Khan
im reading your comments since you started posting here. Analysis which is about your comments made me to believe that you are not a Pakistani in fact.
Qadir Khan I totally agree with you. Mirza talks sense, so he cannot be a Pakistani
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@qadir khan:
And why can’t he be a “Mirza”? Just because he calls spade a spade? Is that being too much for a muslim or a Pakistani muslim?
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@qadir khan
you should use your real name, Which should be Ajay,Vijay,Sundeep,Karan,etc.
There are more muslims in India than in Pakistans. In fact there are more TRUE Muslims in India than Pakistan and Arab countries put together
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Say NO to Terrorism, Say NO to Terrorists!!
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If Hafiz Sayeed has any distant connection to 26/11 attacks then he should be taken to task by Pakistan. But no watertight evidences were found against him which is a must for prosecution in Pakistan’s unbiased judicial system. Whatever be his role in anti-US activities, he has made a great contribution to welfare in Pakistan in his capacity as the leader of a well-known religious and charity organization. Thousands of disillusioned youth have found good employment and a motivation in life through his devotional work. I have heard that Yemen, Suadi Arabia, Nigeria, Afghanistan and Congo are outsourcing many valuable job assignments to his multinational venture.
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Hafiz sb u are acquitted by the Courts of Pakistan, dont worry let them burn in their own hatred
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Why US has concern over it??? Itz amazing. What about Pakistan’s concerns over US interference in Baluchistan and Indian occupied Kashmir issues.
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Very very sorry for Pakistan. When people like Liaqut Baloch and hafiz saeed speak for Pakistan, what credibility is left. They are making our destruction fast. No saner element has the courage to speak the truth and tell the people of Pakistan that we can only survive if we respect the international laws.
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@Salahuddin:
See where ever you have violence in majority of cases there is a Muslim connection, then why would anyone talk of other religions.
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Bal Thakrey must be very happy! without commiting any terror act he is able to match hafiz saeed.
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I can hear a drone.
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@Adil:
FYI must i tell you that there is no moderation on TOI site. just post your comment and in a matter of minutes it will appear no matter what you write.
this is the precise reason why even news like “HUSBAND KILLED BY WIFE’S PARAMOUR” can attract comments in access of 400 within matter of few hours, whereas even the most discussed topic on tribune attract around 150 comments, and that too in days.
actually this is some reason why some indians visit pak news websites, for there’s value to our comment and they are seriously discussed, in india we have a problem of plenty, i guess.
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Guantanamo Bay is nearly empty. PAK can send these guys anytime.
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@Mirza:
Strategic Assets…….just wait for a Drone and shew…..strategic assets are 6 ft below the ground…….be a modern Pakistani; the fact is your strategic assets have given you a begging bowl and you can not survive even for a month if aids are not provided!!!!! Strategic Assets!!!!
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@DB:
“Maybe US State Dept should provide evidence to the Pakistani courts ensuring a fool proof conviction of Hafiz Saeed. After all, azad adalyia is supreme no? “
The US will supply the evidence with a special ops. raid like they did in the Bin Laden case.
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@STRIVER:
“No links to Mumbai attack have been proven, but who cares he is a Muslim with a beard and speaks against Amercian interests in the region, so must be condemned, gulty or not.”
The last I heard, Hafeez Saeed was still the big boss of the Let / JuD, that has proven to have carried out the Mumbai attacks. LeT never takes on this big a project without the approval of the big boss. So, by extension, he is as guilty as his LeT deputies who masterminded the terror attack,
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What “International Laws” we believe in “Shariah Laws”! He is an ASSET of no VALUE!
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But its ok for US to give weapons and money to Israel with which they kill and occupy palistinians?
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US referring to UN resolutions !! .. Ha! What a shame! Same US didn’t bother of security council resolutions when it attacked Iraq and killed millions there .. and now they are asking us to respect UN resolutions .. Indeed, UN is nothing but a tool to legalise American aggression against the Muslims.
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Lots of Indians accumulating here…with their agenda!I am only concerned
about the Indian`s channels working against Pakistan and spoiling our youth
…..USA is concerned about Hafiz Saeed just because he is trying to keep
this nation alive..n, u the Indian! u have ur own fantasy and history….
U r incurable when it comes to Kashmir!Mumbai attacks were just another
9/11,Only uncle butcher knows the best!SalamRecommend
Look at US blatantly supporting what India wants.
Who are they to tell us who can make a public appearance and who cannot. Hafiz Saeed is a hero for the majority of Pakistanis, they can do nothing about it.
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Seems most in this thread have ignored Charity work which JuD has done, in a bad governed state any charitable organization must be appreciated.
Everybody is mourning about Mumbai attacks, Pak courts have so far not convicted JuD in that, Indian courts have done that. Why not India take this to International court?
and what about samjhota express attacks, who was responsible, JuD?
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@Diggvijay Singh
“I have heard that Yemen, Suadi Arabia, Nigeria, Afghanistan and Congo are outsourcing many valuable job assignments to his multinational venture.”
And what are these valuable job assignments? suicide missions? I think the day has come that Pakistani’s as well as Indian’s take ‘Relegious Organizations’ with a pinch of salt and treat them with suspicion. I fail to see why any philanthropic activity should be related with any religion. In India we are surely moving towards non-religious leaders, we no longer neither the extremists nor the minority appeasers. Those politics are now on the wane. I dare say Pakistani awan is far away from that. I wouldnt expect it either since the education system is highly skewed in favour of one particular religion and a key postulate of that religion is that no other religion exists. Sad.
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So Mr.Sam has lost the war in Afghanistan and Taliban has proved their Governece then how can mr.sam control the JUD.
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@Ubaid
Such baseless comments are what stokes the India-Pakistan trust deficit. If you think Indian Channels work against Pak and spoil their youth, and that indians live in a fantasy, and that indians are incurable about kashmir, and that mumbai attacks were just another 9/11 (i assume you have bought into the absurd 9/11 conspiracy theory), i can say the following…
what is spoiling your youth is the madrasa education which gives them a skewed and one-sided, extremist world view, indians live in a fantasy just as much as pakistani awam lives believing pakistan has not failed as a state since its independence, and about mumbai attacks i would just say please be sensitive, there might be people here who have experienced it first hand and actually seen Ajmal Kasab with a gun in his hand with their own two eyes.
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@all those whining about UN:
Yes because the US is the role model of upholding international laws and respect for the UN right??
For US only those extremists that work for him like in Afghan War those are friends and if they dare to go against him than they are terrorists of the worst kind. First Saddam was Rumsfeld bestfriend in 1980′s then all of a sudden in 2003 they remembered he was a murderous dictator, Same thing with Gaddhafi and Hosni Mubarak. Same with the terrorists and other extremists. One moment they lie in the UN about Iraqs WMD, then bomb the whole of Iraq without UN approval and then find no WMD at all.
The US creates its own headaches, this is not our problem this is yours. Stop following dumb policies in the first place which backfire 20 years later. If you do foreign policy in a principle fair manner you wont have these issues cropping up every now and then.
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@qadir Khan
You feel any name that resembles a Hindu name can go against Pakistan ? No brother .. Why you don’t think that any muslim from India with a surname of Khan can go against Pakistan ? I will give you the answer…and it is…Indian Muslims feel themselves Indian first then a muslim. BDW, I know the fact of the matter is you have been taught to be muslim first then a baloch, pashtu, pathan, sindhi…etc secondly and third, a Pakistani.Recommend
@Salahuddin:
why we don,t discuss christianism,Hinduism & rest of religions is there only Muslims & Islam
how many of them left in Pakistan to discuss?
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Maybe it time for them to send drone to next dpc meeting. It solve a lot of this country problems.
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he is a brave muslim soldier and we must proud of him !!!
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@waqas:
right bro
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@Diggvijay Singh: haha.. best comment… Look at this country’s English educated social media savvy population supporting the terrorist who creates problem for other countries…
If he kills pakistani, i don’t care but he has no right to kill Indians… clean-up this mess as soon as possible otherwise keep waiting for gods to come and help you.
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@Adil: TOI does not believe in moderations. India is an open society . You can speak and write whatever you want. India only censor seditious voices. And yes bcoz of some mullahs objections indian court had summoned some internet companies and told them to remove things against islam..these mullahs create a lot of problem all over the world…lol..
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Waqas, You call him brave by killing 187 innocent people in Mumbai! Just think if your relatives would have died there. Don’t be so heartless.
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@Ubaid: Indian channels are spoiling your youth… Biggest joke of the year… Why don’t you ban all contacts with Indians ??… We respect and love your artist and will keep listening to their beautiful song. we don’t hate good things.But we hate your support to terrorists who create problem for other countries.. I don’t care about your internal sectarian and minority killings.. bcoz in next 25 years you would easily kill them all… But you have no right to kill citizen of other countries… That’s it !!!
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@INDIANmuslim:
then why not you go to pakistan and settle there with your family ? you can find more person like this.
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How about US granting citizenship to Shakeel Afridi, who is committed a crime in Pakistan?
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Pakistan should abide by international laws and resolution.a banned outfit has no right to demonstrate.
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The US is only trying to save Pakistan from itself.
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This guy is bad news for the peace of the country. He should be taken out.
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DPC iz funding by itself World Imperial likely they funded Taliban during Cold War. Through funding DPC, Imperialist World want to show Pakistan az ‘Mullah’istaan’ in d world so that they can get feedback to attack the country in legal and human rights. Cold War is running now but its character’s changed. This Cold War is for implementation of ‘New World Order’ and against the Socialism due to failure of Capitalism as it failed to catch hunger. Thx.
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As a recipient of more than $60 billion in aid from the USA since the inception of Pakistan, I think the U.S. is justified in expressing concern over this shady character being seen in public.
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@Adil: BTW here’s a link from Times of India.The news is same but one can esily see the amount of abusive comments over there without any proper management and moderation. I guess Shahid Afridi was damn right about Indian media.
Mr. Adil, we enjoy freedom of speech in India unlike your country where people like Taseer are killed with impunity and free thinkers like Hasan Nisar are routinely labeled Indian agents.
There are people who misuse that freedom by posting hateful content but that does not mean we should give up on individuals’ rights.
Sincerely!
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We are HELL BENT & probably have a DEATH WISH in destroying ourself! Sad & extremely pathetic situation.
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@Ubaid: Look at your history text books and you will see what fantasy really means. A nation and whole generation created and based on lies, deception, hatred and high inferiority complex will eventually fail. All others have just to wait and watch until you become the very reason for your own demise.
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@Sara Khan:
“How about US granting citizenship to Shakeel Afridi, who is committed a crime in Pakistan?”
Pakistani government, the army and the ISI have been vehemently maintaining that they had no role in hiding and aiding Bin Laden in Pakistan.
So, how is it a crime for someone to tell the Americans that a most wanted person they had been seeking has been hiding in a certain place? I would agree with you that it would be a “crime” if it was the official stated policy of the Pakistani government to provide hiding place to Osama.Recommend
Mind your own business US leaders!!!!!!Now the facts,times and ground realities have been changed and you are loosing your temper day by day by facing the most ever worst defeat in Afghanistan against the Taliban.
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@Mirza Where is your international law when it comes to the drone attacks, which is direct violation of international borders. Here you would argue, Might is right.
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Drones strikes must be extenede to inner cities to take these terrorists out as our government does not have the backbone to take care of its own problems
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HAFIZ SAEED IS THE HERO OF PAKISTAN ,WE ARE WITH U AMERICA AND UN IS NOTHING ISLAM AND PAKISTAN ZINDABAD
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@double standards watch:
A lesson for you. Do not start a war that you do not intend to win if the loss matters.
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@Ansari:
Actually the US did get the UN to approve Iraq. Recommend
@Indian:
“Indian channels are spoiling your youth… Biggest joke of the year… Why don’t you ban all contacts with Indians ??… We respect and love your artist and will keep listening to their beautiful song. we don’t hate good things.But we hate your support to terrorists who create problem for other countries.. I don’t care about your internal sectarian and minority killings.. bcoz in next 25 years you would easily kill them all… But you have no right to kill citizen of other countries… That’s it !!!”
You are right on your stance here but did any Pakistani say you ever to respect and love our artists?
And as far as you said “we hate your support to terrorism which creates problems for the other countries”.Would you like to explain here that Indian brutal and cruel forces are killing innocent Kashmiris in Indian Occupied Kashmir and spreading state and military terrorism in Indian Occupied Kashmir.What about all this!!!!!!!
In the near past some Hindus burnt a church.What about all this!!!!!
Extremist Hindus martyred Babri mosque.What about all this!!!!!!
Samjhota Express was burnt by extremist Hindus in which most of the innocent muslims were burnt.What about all this!!!!!!!!
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Longlive DPC..
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