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If Zawahiri is in Pakistan, there will be ‘another US attack or intervention’,‘without Pakistan’s...
The writer is a columnist, a former major of the Pakistan Army and served as press secretary to Benazir Bhutto [email protected]
But first off a tipping of the old hat to the Chief Justice for taking suo motu action as soon as allegations were made against his own son. Having said which, we must immediately recall that the allegations are being made by a not entirely salubrious character, the trillionaire Malik Riaz, him and his men accused at different times of varying crimes ranging from land-grabbing to murder to kidnapping.
We must also recall this man’s large ads in the papers some years ago — it is for the papers to see if printing them was ethical, of course — asking retired and serving “senior” government officials and “senior” journalists to apply for plots at reduced prices in Bahria Town, on forms that would be provided for free. The cheek of the man, for if that was not an open attempt at bribery and corruption, what is?
Incidentally, whilst one had heard of the formidable stable of retired generals he maintains, it was instructive to see photographs of one-time ISPR spin-master, Maj-Gen (retd) Shaukat Sultan, and one-time DG (Internal) of the ISI, the notorious Maj-Gen (retd) Ehtesham Zamir who ran the Commando’s government from behind the scenes (and who confessed to his crimes on TV some years ago) coming out of the Supreme Court, concern writ large on their faces. There are other more senior generals on his payroll, I am told, and who make it convenient for him to deal with the army’s real-estate arm, DHA, to his great advantage.
Be which as it may, it is reprehensible that the blame for the rumour campaign, for no hard evidence has come forth till this writing (forenoon, June 7), has firmly been placed at the government’s door by journalists openly hostile to it. Indeed, as reportedly said by Hamid Mir, the perpetrators could well be those who live in the dark depths of the Deep State who must be mightily upset at the CJ’s aggressive actions on disappearances and killings in Balochistan.
If I was chilled to the bone at Lt-General (retd) Asad Durrani’s assertions re: Dr Shakil Afridi, now removed to an ‘undisclosed location’ to (literally) save his life, I am quaking in my chappals at what my old friend, Munir Akram ‘Dopey’, said in an article published in Dawn on May 27, titled “Shame in Chicago”. Now, Munir is considered by our FO as one of its best and brightest stars, aka the FO’s ‘sheesh nags’ (King cobras for those who do not know this colloquialism). As the title suggests, Munir discusses the cold shoulder given to President Asif Ali Zardari by the US president, and goes on to discuss future US-Pakistani relations with particular references to America’s ever-hardening attitude towards Pakistan.
But what he states in regard to a possible military confrontation between Pakistan and the United States is what makes one reel and almost pass out, as if one had been kicked in the head by a particularly nasty mule. Here is what the ex-ambassador to the UN says: “It is uncertain if either the US or Pakistan has fully thought through the potential consequences of their possible military confrontation. Whatever its weaknesses, Pakistan will be compelled by national sentiment to respond to another US attack or intervention across its borders. A limited ‘engagement’ could escalate rapidly into wide-ranging hostilities. If, during such a crisis, Pakistan’s strategic command believes that the US military strike is aimed to capture or destroy its nuclear and delivery capabilities, it may feel compelled to use rather than lose these capabilities.
“To avoid such a miscalculation, Pakistan’s new nuclear deterrence doctrine, aimed to deter aggression from not only India but also from other sources, needs to be clearly and publicly spelt out. The apocalyptic danger of a military conflict between two (albeit unequal) nuclear powers should be addressed urgently by the international community.
“The US-Nato should accept the measures Pakistan has proposed to avoid another shooting exchange. The US cannot continue to claim the right to strike at will within Pakistan’s territory without Pakistan’s concurrence.” I ask you.
So then, (1) it is a settled matter, what, that it is Pakistan’s ‘strategic command’ (read GHQ), that will decide when to press the trigger and not the elected government (whichever party’s) that represents the will of the people? By golly! And, er, by ‘using’ our bums, will we not guarantee a nuclear holocaust that will make Hiroshima and Nagasaki pale into insignificance? By golly!
(2) The international community should address urgently the apocalyptic danger of a military conflict between two (albeit unequal-Oh, thank you, thank you) nuclear powers? Since exactly when has Pakistan become a POWER please? A hundred or so nuclear warheads make a country as dirt-poor, and ill-run, and energy deficient, and one whose writ does not cover more than half its own land mass a POWER?
And which, pray, are the ‘other’ (than India) sources from which Pakistan can expect aggression? I mean I know we are surrounded by enemies but who is being put on notice here please? With a half-million-man army, surely not Iran? Surely not Afghanistan? And China is a deep-as-the-ocean friend. So who? Ah, of course! The United States who we’ll nuke the next time a Salala or an Abbottabad happens! Er, BTW, what US targets will we hit, please?
Well, Dopey old buddy — he taught me the twist to Chubby Checker’s Let’s twist again when I used to virtually live in his gracious home on Golf Road in the GOR Lahore in 1961/62 and his dear mother used to welcome us as her own sons! — you can bet your bottom Cent that if Zawahiri is mucking about in the Land of the Pure, there will be ‘another US attack or intervention’ across our borders! And ‘without Pakistan’s concurrence’!
P.S. Actually the ‘strategic command’ might not have to wait that long — Leon Panetta has already said the US is losing patience with us….
Published In The Express Tribune, June 8th, 2012.
Reader Comments (57)
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Thank God for writing about that OpEd in Dawn. I was shocked that a former ambassador would write what he did and also that Dawn would publish it. Of course freedom of speech is important but crying fire in a crowded hall and causing stampede does not come within the ambit of free speech.
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Er, BTW, what US targets will we hit, please?
Further, even if Pakistan could, say, manage to hit a US aircraft carrier or a couple of destroyers that come around to show our friends that they mean business, retribution is likely to be swift, and disproportionate. Recommend
@ET – you could have just blocked the entire message. This line alone means nothing anyway.
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@BlackJack
At a minimum ET should always indicate when it has edited or censored a part of the posting.
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Both the U.S and Pakistan are into election year and a lot of sabre rattling and noise for public consumption is expected. Hopefully common sense will prevail.Recommend
Mickey, good one, as usual albeit with one caveat. When did Malik Riaz accuse (or make allegations against) Dr. Arsalan? Have I missed something here? Okay, say a large sum of money did change hands between Riaz and Arsalan, so what? Which law has been broken? Bad form, perhaps but illegal? Oh, I see Kamran Khan’s testimony in court today clearly implicates Riaz etc but hang on a second, isn’t that hearsay, and isn’t hearsay inadmissible in court? Once again, which law has been broken and by whom that it necessitated the suo moto action?
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“the perpetrators could well be those who live in the dark depths of the Deep State” wow…just wow, you just lost all your credibility right here (but then that’s not saying much)
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Unlike Shafi saab, Mr. Akram understands that America as a power is finished, and has to give way to the only Islamic nuclear power. US needs Pakistan more than ever to survive.
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Talking of a possible nuclear war with USA ? Just another card Pakistan wants to test if it works and brings something from USA in bargain…
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God bless you and always keep you safe and in good health.Best Regards Sir.
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Judging from their history, and the way they have so efficiently managed to ruin the country, the khaki’s and the collaborating Inc, would finally take us where they really want us to be. The Stone Age. See u there my fellow Flintstones. .
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Yes now this is a partial rebuttal of Amb. Akram’s piece in Dawn. Since only a segment of his Op-ed has been replied to, I take it that Shafi sahib agrees with all of his other assertions? All in all, a better way of disagreeing with someone then character assassinating him and taking that for a rebuttal.
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Kamran Shafi is turning into a caricature of a typical breathless liberal. I am more and more convinced that he is an ISPR/ISI plant to make liberals look like nutters. Much like how Zaid Hamid makes the liberals who argue with him look like nutters.
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@BlackJack: YEs. I have had my posts edited too and it is frustrating. But perhaps yuo are bieng harder on yourself than you should. If the word ‘furter’ is removed, your remaining sentence stands on its own and makes.sense.
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It is important to place Munir Akram’s column and his comments about the US in the context of his experiences in the US. Given that the US was keen to press charges against Akram for beating his girlfriend when he was Pakistan’s ambassador to the UN, his comments should be seen in the context of his humiliation. As such it should be treated with the same contempt as his treatment of women.
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There was a ‘muted’ uproar among certain circles when he was replaced as our UN Rep. by Hussain Haroon. After reading his article in Dawn, I am of the opinion that Munir Akram should have been sacked many, many years ago – In fact it should have been done when we received the news that he got had been picked up the NYPD for a serious physical misdemeanour.
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Well, Pakistan can nuke Afghanistan and all the NATO forces in retaliation. The nuclear doctrine is very clear, By bombing Afghanistan, Pakistan can achieve two goals.End to strategic depth, so the liberals win. End to US hegemony and pride so, the mulla, miltary and middle class morality wins.
Few side advantages, End to afghan conflict, TAPI pipeline dream and pressure, Iran pipeline win win situation. Avenging Japan, Russia, China and Hafiz Saeed. Saddam, Ghaddafi plus OBL.
Of course Kashmir and Palestine problem will instantly solve and both zaid hamid and Imran Khan will play flute.
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@Batman: ““the perpetrators could well be those who live in the dark depths of the Deep State” wow…just wow, you just lost all your credibility right here (but then that’s not saying much)”
That is not his opinion. He is quoting a channle anchor who said that. Reporting of facts should not impact credibility unless the reporting is inaccurate.
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@BlackJack:
Is the target not obvious enough? The American troops in Afghanistan!
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Mickey et al., living in constant fear of death will always be your greatest weakness. This material life is not forever and neither is Pakistan or America. This is not say that one must embrace the culture of death, but to run away from it into the arms of slavery is another form of extremism.
All options remain open in a state’s plan to defend itself.
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Some Pakistanis think that the use of nuclear bombs (bums) is a real option but without thinking consequences. It is a long way to bomb USA. Let us for a moment consider that you throw a bum on India, and if India replies in kind immediately, good, but what if it waits for a day or two? The UN and many powerful countries like China, USA, Russia and EU would not like that a small and weak country (Pakistan) using a powerful weapon. There will be unanimous decision by UN and the powers to defang Pakistan for ever. UN and the powers will attack and occupy Pakistan, divide it in sectors and before leaving make the sectors as independent countries. Please, people like Munir Akram, think seriously before suggesting the use of Pakistani bum.
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@Javaid R. Shami:
Hearsay statements are ADMISSIBLE in civil matters just not in criminal matters.
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Mickey,
Munir is very gifted but his views in this case are over the top and downright absurd. Pakistan and the US are on the verge of a nuclear exchange??!!.
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Thank you Mr Shafi for another to the point, hard hitting, spin and grand-verbosity free article.
And a US vs Pakistan war reminds me of a little punjabi story on the duel between lion and the mouse which didnt end too well for the boastful mouse !!.
But we live in a make-believe delusional world where we have our faith, jawans and nuclear arsenal and when we combine all 3, we have an iron-curtain nation whose defences cannot be breached..!
I bet my bottom dollars that these ‘ghairatmands’ would be the first to squeal the hardest when the going gets tough and US does start playing hard-ball with us.
They dont know whats coming our way..
Haris
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why not?
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@Hari Karnani: Why bring India into this? Pakistan has to understand that India has Anti-ballistic missile system (Defense shield) in place.
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@alamgir Which world do you live in?
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I’ve read many Op Eds by many sorts of Ambassadors from Pakistan. Almost half of them are absurd.
I was shocked reading that Op Ed on Dawn, but even more shocked when I read that guy is an Ambassador representing Pakistan!
Is this the best that Pakistan can offer? People who think their martial prowess is the answer to every problem?
Pakistanis share Indian genes, the same genes which have produced the recent World Champion in Chess Vishwanathan Anand. But, then why is the quality of brain power in Pakistani establishment so abysmal? Did only bad genes migrate from India to Pakistan and corrupted their gene pool. Only if Darwin was present today(Oh wait, he would have been killed by Pakistanis for blaspheming).
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What so wrong about this article by Ambassador Munir? Pakistan has made nuclear weapon for defence purpose. What so wrong in Pakistan using it for self defence in the event of full fledged war? In World War 2, American did the same thing. If American did not do anything wrong, why Pakistan is not justified it for self defence
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@BruteForce: I like many of your posts but this one implying that the gene pool in Pakistan is substandard is disappointing, because I have not oticed such racism in your other posts.
I think the explanation is simple. The values which formed the foundation of the 2 countries are prima facie different. One country was founded on the basis of an exclusivist 2 Nation theory. The other country was established as a secular nation that is trying to establish Unity in Diversity. The widespread intolerance, warrior mentality are direct consequences.
Hence the type of people who have been successful in public roles in Pakistan also reflect the same mindset.
Pakistanis are extremely successful in IMF, World Bank and also in MNCs like Citigroup – so this issue is completely unrelated to an inferior gene pool.
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Pakistan wants to Nuke US with kiloton weapons and risk getting retaliated by Megaton thermonuclear weapons??????? let us, in India, hope that the wind in Pakistan blows westwards
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@Taimoor Ashraf:
If you say so, but still what law was broken?
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@gp65
I cannot blame BruteForce on this as I too have been trying to find a rational reason for such irrational and absurd actions and comments emanating from Pakistan. It makes no sense at all, why would anyone in their correct senses be eager to provoke a war with US as Pakistan has been trying to do for some time now. Not just a war, a Nuclear war to boot. Plus the entire establishment seem to be tying themself into knots by giving contradictory statements. Why oh Why???
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@alamgir:
Are you on some kind of medication???
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Now I know why Pakistan has been testing its missiles every second day. Now does the combined distance of missiles equals that from Karachi to NY? I guess some more missiles still need to be fired!
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Mr. Kamran Shafi have you heard the saying “like father like son”!?
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@ Sameer
“What so wrong in Pakistan using it for self defence in the event of full fledged war? In World War 2, American did the same thing. If American did not do anything wrong, why Pakistan is not justified it for self defence”
Americans did the same thing in World war -2, when others had no such bombs, and so there was no chance of a retribution. Here, our opponents have bigger, better and more bombs. So, it will be fool-hardy to go that route. Moreover, we need to take good lessons from others, not the bad ones. Americans doing something wrong in WW-II, doesn’t justify that Pakistan too should follow-suit.
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@Tony singh
oye challya dont know nothing ally means america so dont worry america not gonna do that
he is so concerned about izrael and ancester europe…
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@Irfan:
No one can send us to stoneage except ourselves. In any case, living in tthe stone age is definitely better compared to the living like rats in current times.You have to stand up to US at some stage otherwise they treat you like a door mat which they have demonstrated tiem and again. Recommend
@gp65:
You misunderstood. I was trying to make a completely different point.
I was only alluding to the system where people with good abilities don’t get the right jobs
I see this trend where irrational people end up taking important positions in Pakistan. That is what I meant. Recommend
Fantastic Article as usual from KS!
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Leon Panetta, always had a big mouth even when he was just a congressman.There are people over here in this election season who believe that the incompetence of the US forces in Afghanistan is so glaring, that, they jump the gun and can’t distinguish between the insurgents and civilians, recent killing of civilians in Afghanistan is not making them any Friends. To hide their embarrassment they blame Pakistan for all the ills they are doing or facing in Afghanistan, most of the Americans and certainly Kansans want to leave Afghanistan the sooner the better, they see no end in sight and no victory either.The question I ask why the Americans could find Osama or Dr.Zawahiri and not us, it is time for ISI and others to double their efforts and find Dr.Zawahiri before they find him and cause another embarrassment to the nation.Recommend
This augurs bad foreboding to people of Pakistan and indicates that Pakistani elite does not have the capacity to think clearly and does not have a rational approach to problems facing the country.
Did this diplomat really think that the US would be restrained in its approach if Pakistan tries to use the nuclear option against US?
Wars are caused when the weaker party overestimates its strengths and plays the poker game with weak cards at hand. Pakistan played this game in 1972 and lost. It seems that Pakistani elite has not learn its lessons from history.
“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”(George Santayana, philosopher, essayist, poet, and novelist, in his Reason in Common Sense, The Life of Reason, Vol.1,)
Pakistani elite has lived in the world of myth making and illusions for past 60 years and things have come to roost now
http://outlookindia.com/article.aspx?264218Recommend
As usual a great Op Ed, thanks for publishing it ET. My earlier comments were all censored. Here is another attempt.
The rightwing believes that they can defeat another super power after defeating the USSR. They forget it was the US money via SA, or Pakistan and all the arms and global jihadi’s help. Now they do not have any such support and havens in another country. In addition they have to cope against drones. Recommend
@Mirza:
“The rightwing believes that they can defeat another super power after defeating the USSR. They forget it was the US money via SA, or Pakistan and all the arms and global jihadi’s help. Now they do not have any such support and havens in another country. In addition they have to cope against drones.”
Then how come the combined forces and resources of world’s 48 most powerful countries along with the sole superpower USA could not completely defeat the Afghan freedom fighters (Taliban) after 11 years long war. Only USA spent over a trillion dollar and lost thousands of soldiers in this war so far.
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An ex ambassador with all his experience in International Affairs is a fool, for his experience counts to zero BUT the armchair analysts and keyboard gangsters above have all the wisdom. Maybe we should appoint everyone above to the FO instead
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@Lala Gee:
Then how come the combined forces and resources of world’s 48 most powerful countries along with the sole superpower USA could not completely defeat the Afghan freedom fighters (Taliban) after 11 years long war. Only USA spent over a trillion dollar and lost thousands of soldiers in this war so far.
Answer is simple and very much visible that our army is supporting them. and still providing them ammo and men power and shelter, being ally they might have shared information of allied forces…….. every other terrorist is killed on Pakistani soil. Look at Bannu jail break, there is lot to say but ET may not like that…
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Our soldiers are the finest in the world.. It’s officers like Kamran Shafi who caused defeats like East Pakistan on the battlefield.
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@SM:
Please explain how the “finest in the world” lost all four wars with INDIA!
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@numbersnumbers
We are losing count, You missed out Siachen
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@Lala Gee
The moment US killed Osama, they won the war
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@numbersnumbers:
We lost the 1971 war only because of bad leadership.. 1965 and 1948 were not defeats.. They were draws.
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@Lala Gee @Seema
You fight a war for strategic goal.You can win a war and you can still lose out in the final strategic goal of war as famous Vietnamese General Giap said.
Afghans with the help of Pakistanis, Saudis and Americans may have overthrown the communist regime and driven out the Soviets .But did they achieve any strategic goal ?
Pakistan and Afghanistan have paid a heavy price for its involvement as a proxy with internal destabilization , increased drug addicts , Talibinization of huge sections of its population ,civil war and increased centrifugal forces in their polity.
Withdrawal of Soviets and Americans did not and will not give any strategic advantages to Pakistan or Afghanistan . The final answer is will Taliban be able to capture power in Afghanistan and rule it? The answer is unequivocally no.
It is totally offensive to call Taliban as freedom fighters. They are not fighting for the interest of more than half of population (women)
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@Lala Gee @Seema
You fight a war for strategic goal.You can win a war and you can still lose out in the final strategic goal of war as famous Vietnamese General Giap said.
Afghans with the help of Pakistanis, Saudis and Americans may have overthrown the communist regime and driven out the Soviets .But did they achieve any strategic goal ?
Pakistan and Afghanistan have paid a heavy price for its involvement as a proxy with internal destabilization , increased drug addicts , Talibinization of huge sections of its population ,civil war and increased centrifugal forces in their polity.
Withdrawal of Soviets and Americans did not and will not give any strategic advantages to Pakistan or Afghanistan . The final answer is will Taliban be able to capture power in Afghanistan and rule it? The answer is unequivocally no.
It is totally offensive to call Taliban as freedom fighters. They are not fighting for the interest of more than half of population (women)Recommend
@SM
“We lost the 1971 war only because of bad leadership.. 1965 and 1948 were not defeats.. They were draws.”
Wars are fought with strategic political goals. The outcome of the war is judged by as to whether involved party achieved its objective irrespective of the outcome on the ground.
In 1948 Pakistan did not achieve its objective of forcing the Maharaja to accede the state
In 1965 Pakistan did not achieve its objective of annexing Jammu and Kashmir with the help of internal rebellion. The status quo remained unchanged
During Kargil misadventure Pakistan could not change the military status quo .
In 1965, 1971, and Kargil the Pakistani Generals were decision makers and failed in envisaging broader political strategic goals . Decision to make and conduct war cannot be left in hands of generals alone . Pakistani polity failed in leaving the decision in hands of generals with grave repercussions
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@Cautious:
“At a minimum ET should always indicate when it has edited or censored a part of the posting.”
Agree totally.
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Kamran Sahib, please, can we talk about dogs, especially Labradors including yours. I love animals, all animals but I’ve always loved dogs even more, and ‘labs’ very especially. And I honestly think that they are better then any two legged creature that God ever created—-especially the kind that exist here in Pakistan, you know what I mean.
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