Diplomatic channels between Pakistan and India are fully operational, he added in response to a question regarding diplomatic contacts between the two countries. For example, he said the Pakistani High Commissioner in New Delhi was received by the Special Secretary at the External Affairs Ministry at 6.30 p.m.(New Delhi time) while the Indian High Commissioner was received by the Foreign Secretary at 7.00 p.m. (Islamabad time) on Monday.

Similar meetings were held earlier in the week and will continue to be held to exchange views and information on the Mumbai incident, the Spokesman added.

During the meeting with Indian High Commissioner, the Spokesman said, the Foreign Secretary “condemned the barbaric attacks, condoled with the families of the victims and people of India, and reiterated the assurances of our cooperation.” The Foreign Secretary refuted the unsubstantiated allegations by the Indian media of Pakistan’s complicity in the Mumbai incident, the Spokesman added.

The President said Pakistan is worried that suspected foreign involvement in the terrorist attacks on Mumbai will lead to sharp deterioration of relations with India. Referring to the three wars between Pakistan and India in the past, President Zardari further warned that provocation by non-state actors posed the danger of a return to war between the nuclear armed neighbours.

The President urged to stand together to fight out the terrorism as the events in Mumbai tell us that there are ongoing efforts to carry out copycat attacks by militants.-SANA

Addressing a press conference after holding a meeting with Prime Minster Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani here, he said that the future of the South Asian people is attached with the peaceful relation between India and Pakistan; however, he urged the both Pakistani and Indian government not to come under pressure and maintain peace even in the worst situation.

He said that there is no difference between military and political leadership on the issues of national security saying that every body knows that the country is undergoing form a critical time which demands that all decision should be taken with consensus.

He said that PML-N had already rendered its unconditional support to the government but he emphasized that National Security Conference (NSC) must be meaningful and also made it clear that PML-N senior leadership would participate in NSC.

PML-N leader said that he informed the Prime Minister regarding his party’s stance over national security and offered him unconditional support as well adding PML-N believes that Pakistan is an atomic power and no one should be allowed to interfere in the country’ affairs; however, he also demanded of the government to devise a national policy and stand by with it.

He said that all political forces condemned Mumbai attacks but even then Indian government has some proof regarding involvement of any Pakistani then it should hand over to the government instead of intensifying the situation by blaming the country through media trail.

He warned India not to blame Pakistan as it is a collective approach of all Pakistanis including the government and opposition that the country would never be made a puppet of any one for destabilizing any country. To a question, he said that PML-N would not believe in politics of point scoring rather it wanted to strengthen the government on the issues of the national security.

When asked, PML-N leader said that in view of US secretary of state Condo Lisa Rice’ statement, it could be got that US wanted to normalize Indo-Pak relation. He regretted over Karachi incidents as international community even did not condemned it.-SANA

Tying a red thread or cord around the wrist is a Hindu practice and it is unlikely a Muslim, especially one politicized enough to carry out an attack such as this, would observe it. I think this provides more evidence that this was a false flag operation or at least an attack by a non-Muslim group. For more information about the significance of the red thread see wikipedia.

Additionally, the terrorists inside the Nariman House Building were reported to have stocked up on supplies on Wednesday evening, buying not just food items but liquor, among other things, from a local store. Again, it is highly unlikely that a Muslim, let alone a ‘Mujahid’, and especially one politicized enough to carry out such an attack, would consume liquor in normal life, let alone hours before his inevitable ‘martyrdom’.

For the last 6 months the Indian Nation has been in World News Headlines regarding the on going genocide and ethnic cleansing of Christians in the North Eastern State of Orrisa, the Pope, EU and other World leaders have expressed their outrage to the Indian Govt about the brutal killings, rapes and destruction of Christian Churches in Orissa by Fanatical Hindu Terror groups.

The word ‘Hindu Terrorism’ has also popped up in the Media in the last few weeks and leading newspapers like The Times UK and others are actively monitoring Hindutva outfits like the RSS and Bajrang Dal and their activities in Orissa against Christians all this and pressure from activist groups in the UK have led to the RSS and Hindutva Terrorism in Orrisa to be discussed in the UK House Of Lords. Lord Patten (Conservative), with a whole host of Bishops has called on the UK Govt. to protest the killings and genocide and have also discussed a ban on these groups.

The Hindutva terrorism in Orrisa has given India a bad name in the international community, in order to take away the attention from Orissa Hindutva groups may well have engineered these attacks to take the attention away from ‘Hindu Terrorism’ which was reaching world headlines and back to Islamic Terrorism. Its important to point out that in the last week at least 200 bodies have been recovered dumped on a jungle in the state of Orrisa that just shows the magnitude of the killings in the North Eastern State.

Not only this the attacks could also have been carried out to have an influence on the outcome of India’s next elections, as the Congress led Govt. is weak and is heavily opposed by most major Hindutva groups .In order to get into power once more through the BJP and to grab the votes of Hindu Nationalists these attacks may well have been engineered at just the right time. The reason for this is that 2 Leading officials who were leading the Investigation into ‘Hindu Terror Cells’ in Mumbai have been killed, it is important at this time to recall the arrest of the Hindu Sadhvi Pragya Thakur she was arrested for the Malegoan blasts and had alleged involvement in making bombs and bomb factories. The ATF Chief leading the investigation Hemant Karkare was killed a few days ago in the Mumbai Terror attacks along with another ATF senior member, Hindu radicals have celebrated his death as a blessing from God and have expressed their gratitude that he is now dead. This is evident from comments left on Indian News Blogs:

‘Pragya’s heartfelt cry and prayer to Hindu Goddess Durga, that might have resulted in the killing of not only Hemant Karkare but also other members of ATS and the Marthi Police manoos.’

‘Death of Hemant Karkare 1 ATS head Hemant Karkare’s demise was welcomed by Hindus as he was trying to create artificial Hindu terrorists’. ATS head Hemant Karkare’s death is due to his illegal and immoral way of detaining a Hindu Sadhvi Pragya.’

This leads us to ask the question as to why the head of a Govt agency who deals not with criminals but with terrorists was killed?IWhere was his security?Body armour?ts easy to say he was shot dead and so on,but would we see Metropolitan Chief Sir Paul Stephenson, on the front line in an attack like this in the UK?

There is the possibility the head of the ATF was killed of due to his exposure of Hindu Terrorism and the arrest of the Sadhvi, Hindutva groups were growing very hostile towards the ATF and their uncovering and use of the word Hindu Terrorism.The BJP/RSS has and continue to actively support the Sadhvi and all the suspects arrested in the Malegaon Blast cases, and they are highly critical of the ATF and its management.

With the attacks being blamed on Islamic Jihadists and Pakistan this may well be used as a reason to crack down on Muslims living within India, and one cannot rule out the chance of another ‘Gujarat 2002′(Genocide) through the Right Wing propaganda of the RSS Hindutva terrorists. In 2002 as well Islamic Fanatics were blamed for the train bombing of Hindus ,but earlier this year it came to light that these attacks were themselves engineered by the Bajrang Dal and RSS ,this attack was used as a reason to attack Muslims and cause communal tensions all this was exposed by the Tehelka Network in an undercover sting operation using hidden cameras and interviews of Hindutva leaders.

The Chinese Official Daily also says that Hindutva may have a hand in this horrific incident

Tehreeek E Kashmir also expresses similar views.

Dal Khalsa UK and the Sikh Community as a whole would like to at this time send its condolences to the families of the victims of this sickening attack on unarmed civilians and tourists who were going about their daily lives only for them to be tragicly ended by the terror of cowards and inhumane terrorists

We hope peace prevails and that the spirit of Humanity shines through these dark days.-SANA

According to TV Channel Hindu extremists have demanded that all Pakistani artists should be stopped from participating in any Indian Programe. The repercussions of the Public opinion made by the Indian Media have started coming out.

In this regard when Shakil Siqqidui was contacted told Pakistan Times that he might come back to Pakistan tomorrow.

Similar things have been noticed for the Cricket players. In an Upcoming series Indian team has refused to come to Pakistan. Pakistani cricket players were present in the Taj Hotel when Mumbai terrorist attacks were conducted. Artists and players have been the ambassadors for the peace. These two artists have been entertaining millions of Indians and have been admired for their out-matched comedy. Despite the fact India claims to be secular; there are extremist forces who are playing their role in deteriorating the circumstances.

Indian Muslim artists including Javed Akhtar a legendary poet in Bollywood and his wife Shabana Aazmi; who has won several international awards for acting and Saif Ali Khan; a leading Actor in Bolly wood could not get house in Mumbai just because they were Muslims. And they have faced criticism in this regard. Similar cases can be quoted in order to reveal the Hindu elements who discriminate even Indian Muslims. Voices have been raises from Indian Civil Society; however India has a rich tradition of questioning, i am sure these things will also be questioned in order to bring the facts out.

Indian Government will play its due role in protecting Pakistani artists, and send them back safely to Pakistan till the circumstances are normalized. It is advisable to curb such elements who are bringing bad name to the secularly

National Security Guards ‘s commander declared the operation completed after over 59 hours of militants’ rampant carnage all over the vintage points in Mumbai, which left nearly 200 dead and over 300 wounded.

However, the Indian media true to its traditional hate postures towards Pakistan lost no time in blaring all those scum, which pointed fingers towards Pakistan and holding it responsible for the tragic incident without any basis and evidences at all.

Indian anchors and analysts appearing on different channels across the country with one voice went on analyzing the incident purely based on the figment of their imaginations in a way that could by all means give the perception of Pakistan’s involvement in it.

Indian media tasked to propagate against Pakistan made out such fake stories that ISI and Pak Army had trained the militants, who were brought to Mumbai in a boat, while the body of one Amar Singh Tandal was also reportedly found in it, who belonged to Pakistan and had remained in Pakistan jail for one year. Sobhaday in Raj Deep Sir Desai show on CNN/IBN said that we know where their campus was.

Following Pakistan Foreign Minister’s press briefing, one anchorman of CNN India in his comments said that Pakistan was providing cover to the involved militants’ groups. One more Indian channel, India TV openly hurled blames on Pakistan for these attacks and dared to say without any proof that attackers had come from Pakistan.

Star News channel in their run race for propaganda against Pakistan tried to be more creative and discovered one Chacha Rahman as mastermind of the attacks and claimed that he was Lashkar-e-Taiyyaba commander from Karachi.

Zee TV also joining in the propaganda blamed that the militants were supplied arms and weapons from Karachi and in its effort to remain one-up straightaway blamed Pakistan Navy assisting elements involved in the attacks.

Indian leaders’ problems known to all that they are trying to hide their weaknesses and utter intelligence failures and find it safe putting blames on Pakistan, but the Indian media should have behaved responsibly in view of the delicate situation emanating after the attacks, which much to the saner elements’ disappointment, it miserably failed.-SANA

Interestingly both Indian and Pakistanis commented and i concluded everyone want peace. But There were varied point of views came on the screen by both sides. I’ll base y article on the basis of those conversations.

Indian Channels are spreading a war hysteria not only in the India but CNN and BBC SKY news are following the same tune. Without any proves Indian media started disseminating just after five hours that Pakistan and ISI is involved in this Mumbai mayhem. For people of Pakistan it was strange thing that without any preliminary investigations how can media is so sure that Pakistan or its any of the organization is behind planing Mumbai terrorist attacks. According to one group of intelligentsia in Pakistan; Mumbai Terrorist attacks have been conducted in order to make ISI impotent. Because there have been evidences revealing that there are Anti-US and Pro-US groups present within ISI. In last few months the role of ISI has been seriously criticized; there were demands to ban the political wing of ISI, America has accused ISI for promoting and helping Talibans in Pakistan.

Pakistani Government reaction was little lenient; even Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani has consented to send ISI Chief to India for investigation. People in Pakistan reacted negatively for sending ISI Chief to India. They were of the point of view that information should be shared on state to state basis but not on Chief of any organization should be sent to answer something that presumably was said that done by the same organization.

Indian Media was bringing out the facts and denying within next half an hour; even the accused terrorist captured labeled as Pakistani was later proven Indian citizen. Thanks GOD Indian Government has denied the reumours spread by the Indian Media that there has been any forces mobilization ordered by government.

Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani contacted all leaders of the political parties and civil society, who assured him of their full support. Whenever anything happens either in India or Pakistan; both countries pointing fingers towards each other and their securities agencies are brought on the hit list. It is Marriot or Taj ; both sides start a blame game and mainly the media plays scams in this regard and manipulate the facts. India put its Airforce on high alert and hen the Service Chief was called on by the head of state to discuss the situation that gave an impression that India is going to impose war on Pakistan. Pakistan Army said Sunday it found no solid evidence of unusual military movement by India at international border. DG Inter Services Public Relations Maj. Gen Athar Abbas while talking to newsmen said that Pakistan Army is ready for national defense and to tackle any untoward situation at western border. Abbas said that Army is closely monitoring the Indian military movements at international border and no unusual activity was witnessed so far. He advised nation not to worry over India’s reported ambitions. Pakistani media established counter opinion that we Pakistanis should be ready for war, though there are elements who do not want war but peace; and they promoted they hope for the best but be ready for worst and unity was demanded with the various fractions of the society.

Replying to my comment one American Suzanne Bowen said that media insinuate facts to generate ads; this is media that spread misconceptions among governments and on mass level develops opinion either in favour or against. So did the media did in Pakistan.

One of the group in Pakistan has been asking had Pakistani government or ISI been involved in masterminding Mumbai terrorists attacks and killing innocent people.. Can they be so silly to have their ID cards in their pockets and keeping their boats stand there (Indian reports have been saying that the terrorists came from Karachi through boats) ..

According to them Pakistan is being targeted for sure.. they question who can be the beneficiary of this whole situation? Is it Pakistan that is already engaged and fighting on its western borders with militants on pretext of war on terror and US drones are attacking and throwing missiles violating Pakistani territory.. Who does not want peace in Sub-Continent? who is looking for entering into Pakistani soils?

They question about the manner the whole Mumbai Terrorist attacks were engineered and terrorists were doing reminded the Indian underworld movies .. same drama, same style and same operations.. The way they ere engaged in it; gave an impression that those people have support from inside; and defence analyst comment that such operations can not be conducted without the inner support.. They ask that India have not provided any audio visual evidences that can prove that Pakistan was involved. Aaj kamran Khan k Saath show has revealed that Indian Army was busy in the exercise while these boats escaped so easily and terrorists found their way who were not acquainted with India.

A group of people question the Congress the ruling party is losing its strength n the country and Indian elections are going to be held in.. Where BJP can get benefit out of this situation too.. they comment not to be only judgmental and speculative .. They emphasis that there is need to be rational and propagate that we are neighbours and want to live peacefully..

Pakistan is giving SO SO So positive signals to India that offered cooperation in probing the whole matter? Religious extremists like Nerander Moodi and other (fundamentalists) are harming ultimately Indian politics to just get their vested interests served and killing innocent Muslims and Christians.

Kavita Chhibber wrote in one of her emails “It is really sad. I want Pakistan to thrive and be a successful economy so the people of Pakistan thrive. At the end whether its Bombay or the Marriot burning in Pakistan, its the innocent civilians who get hurt.” She told me that she was going to comment on the media hype in her upcoming issue of online magazine, a lot of it misrepresentation and hearsay.

President AJK Raja Zulqurnain on Sunday said that the master minds of Marriott Hotel blast and Mumbai attacks wanted to rollback on going dialogue process between Pakistan and India on Kashmir issue. Everyone has condemned and condoled to the bereaved ones on the precious loss of human lives in the attacks on Mumbai. Prime Minster AJK Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan Strongly rejected Indian media’s allegations regarding placement of the terrorist camp in AJK and termed it as baseless saying more than 42 foreign NGOs are working in the area but they never even gave a hint about it. He also urged Pakistani leadership to be united to face the time of calamity and on his part, AJK PM assured the leadership and the nation that Kashmir would ready to sacrifice their lives for the country.

To a question, he said that the issue to compensate Pakistan in terms of the water was far away to be resolved, however, the commission would examine the situation and then the decision would be taken. He further said that the delegation visit to Pakistan is a routine business.

Meanwhile, the commission visited Head Mirala to observe the water measuring instruments. It is pertinent to mention that Indian delegation is visiting Pakistan in a time when India was threatening Pakistan for dir consequences against Mumbai attacks.

Syed Jammat Ali shah, head of Pakistan Indus Water Commission was also present on the occasion. However, the delegation would leave for India on 1st December (today).-SANA

He termed Indian expected adventure as a move against US President-elect Barack Obama’s vision of sustaining peace in the region. Attique said that Kashmiris had been suffering for last 61 years form Indian state terrorism as it was evident that more than 0.6 million people were killed during the period.

However, he strongly condemned Mumbai attacks and condoled to the bereaved ones on the loss of human lives. Attique Strongly rejected Indian media’s allegations regarding placement of the terrorist camp in AJK and termed it as baseless saying more than 42 foreign NGOs are working in the area but they never even gave a hint about it. He also urged Pakistani leadership to be united to face the time of calamity and on his part, AJK PM assured the leadership and the nation that Kashmir would ready to sacrifice their lives for the country. To a question, he said that he held discussion with Prime Minster Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on the evolving situation of the region and on the behalf of the people of AJK he assured the PM their full support at every level.

Mumbai attack conspiracy to rollback Indo-Pak dialogue
President AJK Raja Zulqurnain on Sunday said that the master minds of Marriott Hotel blast and Mumbai attacks wanted to rollback on going dialogue process between Pakistan and India on Kashmir issue. Taking to media men at his residence “Haft Chinnar” here, he said that India should avoid blame game in order to foil attempts of the peace enemies; however, he strongly rejected Indian allegations regarding involvement of Pakistan in Mumbai attacks and termed them as baseless.

He also condemned Mumbai blast. The President urged United Nations (UN), international community to take notice of Indian state terrorism in Occupied Kashmir saying they had been suffering form Indian tyranny for last many decades. India violating international laws occupied the part of Kashmir when the people wanted to be the part of Pakistan even its then Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru promised before the world that the people of Kashmir would be given the right of self determination as soon as the circumstances attained normalcy but India did not fulfill its Father of the Nation’s pledges even after passing 61 years.

He said that it was an eye opener fact for UN and other human rights champion countries. He vowed that Kashmiris would be fighting against unfair Indian occupation and for completion of Pakistan till last breath. He urged Pakistani leadership to be united to face the challenging time.-SANA

Fear, bred by insecurity, can have two political consequences, one of which can be very beneficial to any government. George Bush remained President of the United States for eight years, quite against the odds, because he managed to exploit the American voter’s fear of Al Qaeda terrorists. However, he could not have won re-election on rhetoric alone. He had been able to keep a basic commitment. He might have angered the rest of the world, and irritated half of his own country, but he had kept America safe after 9/11.

Fear and insecurity will always instigate anger. It is a question of whom the anger is directed against. Americans concentrated their anger on Al Qaeda because they did not feel betrayed by their own government. They forgave George Bush a hundred vices because he displayed a single virtue.

Indian anger is bursting over in two directions. There is a passionate revulsion against terrorists of course. This was evident in Mumbai when citizens came out of their homes to cheer the heroic commandos who had delivered them from evil. But their second anger was also evident in their chants and slogans. Their impromptu slogans in praise of the motherland were punctuated with slogans demanding an end to Congress rule. The Indian voter is livid at the Congress-led governments in Maharashtra and Delhi because it feels betrayed by those it has elected to power. The voter no longer has much by way of expectation from any government. But if a government cannot deliver, ever, on security, then it is time to pull it down. If the Mumbai outrage had been a first incident, the voter would have given the government a second chance and more. But this government in Delhi has exhausted all its chances.

All fear/anger is not the same. The Indian Muslim voter is both afraid and angry as well, but his sentiments are trapped in confusion. He is angry with the terrorist for using Islam and his problems as an excuse for shocking violence and thereby making him vulnerable. He is afraid of his vulnerability to government retribution: a shamefaced Andhra Pradesh government is handing out Rs 35,000 to each innocent it picked up and tortured. And he is afraid of retribution at the popular level, motivated by leaders of radical Hindu outfits. His vote, therefore, could reflect this confusion. A part of the Muslim vote, possibly a large part, could rush back to the comfort zone of the Congress not because the Congress has done anyone any good but because it is considered less worse than the BJP. A strong section of the Muslim vote will go to third parties, like Mayawati’s BSP. And there may be other Muslim voters who will stay at home or vote for Muslim candidates who have no chance of winning. Wasting a vote is a means of showing no confidence in any of the parties on the slate.

The credibility of politicians has taken a hammering in the past week. Television anchors found, some to their shock and others to their happy surprise, that viewers did not want to see the faces of politicians during the long, continuous coverage of the siege at Taj, Oberoi-Trident and Nariman House. Politicians in government got the message quickly enough, and stayed home after a few statements that proved to be either premature, wrong or utterly stupid. Opposition politicians do not have to do anything except keep quiet. Those who could not keep quiet felt the whiplash of public reaction. But in any situation of this sort, it is the government that suffers the loss, since the voter cannot blame the Opposition for negligent, ineffectual and clueless governance. In these days of circulating SMS mobilisation, one crude SMS reflected the shifting mood. It described Manmohan Singh as “Noman” Singh.

If the Congress loses the popular vote in the Assembly elections, then it has no one to blame but itself. Dr Manmohan Singh regularly advertises his close friendship with Bush. All the pictures display a fawning admiring look on Dr Singh’s face whenever he is in the company of Bush. Couldn’t he have learnt from Bush how to win an election by manipulating fear?

The Delhi Congress is clearly worried that it will lose because of Mumbai. On the morning of the vote, it took out expensive full-page ads trying to suggest that attacks such as these had happened during the BJP’s time in power as well, as indeed they had. What the advertisement naturally could not mention was the frequency; or the absence of accountability either in the apprehension of the guilty, or among those at the highest levels of power who should take responsibility. In any case, the voter punished the BJP with five years of exile because of its sins of omission and commission. It won’t punish the BJP twice. Only those in office can commit a crime that deserves punishment.

A second SMS I received points out a baffling coincidence. I have not had time to check all the dates of disasters in recent memory, but find no reason to consider them untrue. “The Gujarat earthquake occurred on 26 January, the tsunami on 26 December, Godhra on 26 February, the Gujarat floods on 26 June, the Mumbai train havoc on 26 July and the terrorists struck last week in Mumbai on 26 November.”
I suppose that rules out any future election on the 26th of any month.

We are in a state of war, covert operations in FATA and Balochistan on part of Raw, and this is not a conspiracy theory, evidence suggests that this is happening unfortunately, suggest that. 14 embassies just along our western borders suggest that as well. No other country has that many embassies in any country. Fortresses are what these are. We are being cornered. Yes we have our plate full that needs attending. We have issues we have to address, but those propagating today and playing innocent need to have a reality check too. I am all for diplomacy, I am all for a non military approach but I can assure you they are not, as much as they would say they are. Why is it that when we analyze we are reminded of the afghan war, did problems start there? No they did not. Date them back to when the whole thing began, Let us go revisit 1947. Lets remember Redcliff, let us talk about Junagarh, Allahabad and then Kashmir.

If things are all that great across the border why are there 17 separatist movements in all corners, North West, North East, the entire South. Home grown and yet when they can’t deliver to their own people. Playing the Pakistan card and the export of terrorism seems to be the only hiding place. I am not taking anything away from our leaders either, but its time facts are set straight and people stand corrected.

Stop flooding us for a change when you have excess of water, and stop pushing us towards a drought when you need that very water. Oh is that not why the mere mention of Redcliff makes their establishment run a million miles away. Were there any acts of terrorism then? Had anyone heard of them, or was aware with the term even? Oh that’s the excuse behind raping Kashmiri mothers and sisters.

Junagarh, Our biggest military Arsenal, why was a straight line drawn, Mr Redcliff again, the state had voted to be with Pakistan, I wonder was it to terrorize us that we can be taken over when pleased. The escalation on part of Indian army a few months later proved what intentions were behind that.

Allahabad, Oh lets crush them economically. So that is where the root cause lies. How many more, I can go on forever. But to some only the past twenty years matter. No one just stands up one day and says lets do something that radical. These people are human beings too, what makes them so radicalized? We treat animals with more compassion, sedate and rehabilitate, and just over rule these individuals as some alien species, they are human beings.

Issues need attending to across the border just as much as on this side. Those of you who may feel offended, please don’t as what I hear offends me too but facts are facts and the distortion on part of information feeders wont change a thing. Anyone who wishes to go head on, can do nothing, will gain nothing. Absolutely nothing.

The Americans need to be taken into consideration here too. When in war it’s Pakistan, so that’s the Bush administration, when pushing the economy forward its India, ladies and gentlemen, I give you Barak Obama. This could well be a special show for him. There was one Clinton too if you recall.

And I wonder if it took the terrorists 4 months to mark every place as the Intelligence Chief said, better than the forces there, even the layouts of the hotel, why were they on boats that were found yesterday. Contradiction, or lack of intelligence there somewhere, in those statements. Or are things being made up, as time goes along based on public reaction.

7 UK based boys, two passports found on the two arrested. What covert operation would overlook that, and who needs those documents on a boat. Or perhaps they arrived by air and those who leapt are covering their negligence playing the Pakistan card. Why Blame Pakistan, blame the British then.

The Gag Real continues and unfolds further in more amusing ways than we can digest. Lets wake up.

The crisis, that began Wednesday night and lasted through Friday, dominates conversation, newspaper headlines, television coverage and Internet chatter on indigenous websites and e-mail lists run by Pakistanis at home and abroad.

As a frontline state in United States’ global ‘war on terror’ Pakistan is only too well acquainted with the effects of terrorism, with such attacks in the country having more than doubled and the number of deaths quadrupling from 2006 to 2007, according to a report released in May by the U.S. State Department.

However, even the most high profile attack in Pakistan which destroyed the Marriott Hotel in the capital Islamabad on Sep. 20, that some analysts termed Pakistan’s ‘9/11′, pales in comparison to the events in Mumbai that have claimed over 155 lives already, that many are now calling India’s ‘9/11′.

A group of at least 25 men armed with assault rifles and handgrenades attacked 10 sites in Mumbai and then barricaded themselves inside two of the city’s finest luxury hotels, the heritage Taj Mahal and the Oberoi Trident, as well as a building housing a Jewish centre.

By the time commando squads flushed out the buildings, 155 people lay dead, among them eight foreigners. The final death toll may well reach 200, according to officials.

There has been widespread condemnation in Pakistan against the violence in Mumbai, from ordinary people and non-government organisations as well as from the Pakistan government which has offered “complete cooperation” and support to India to fight the menace.

The Mumbai attacks, hitting in the midst of the fifth round of the ongoing composite dialogue between India and Pakistan, are likely to have wide-ranging repercussions for India and Pakistan relations and for the international community at large.

Analysts note that such attacks tend to take place whenever the South Asian neighbours are engaged in talks and peace initiatives. Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi had barely started his four-day visit to New Delhi to review the dialogue process when the attacks took place.

Pakistan and India tend to blame each other for terrorist activities within their borders, although over the past year they have been less quick to point fingers. This time too, New Delhi did not immediately blame Pakistan, but later claimed to have arrested a militant with Pakistani links. The Pakistan government has strongly denied involvement.

Commentators in Pakistan point to the huge intelligence failure in India to detect the amassing of arms and training that have enabled such a large number of militants to hold Mumbai hostage for over two days now. They also criticise New Delhi’s apparent reluctance to look within India’s own borders at its various indigenous insurgencies.

“All of India’s intelligence agencies have failed,” comments Farrukh Saleem, who heads the Centre for Research and Security Studies, an independent think tank in Islamabad, “The most critical element in their collective failure is their overwhelming focus on Pakistan-based militant groups.”

He believes that the intensity of this focus has allowed India’s home-grown militant entities “to spread like wildfire” that, according to South Asia Terrorism Portal, afflicts at least 231 of India’s 608 districts.

These insurgent and terrorist movements include three distinct types, “left-wing extremist, separatist and religious”, wrote Saleem in a front page analysis in daily The News on Nov. 28. “In 2006, a total of 2,765 Indians died in terrorism-related violence (that same year, 1,471 Pakistanis died similarly).”

Another analyst, who declining to be named, suggests that South Asian countries band together for joint military operations in the areas known to be breeding grounds for militancy against the guerrilla groups operating in different areas in the region.

In New Delhi, Qureshi stressed that India and Pakistan are both victims of terrorism. He said there was a need to strengthen the Joint Anti-Terror Mechanism and “revisit our strategies for peace and security of the region.”

“Terrorism is a global phenomenon. We in Pakistan deal with it on a daily basis,” Qureshi said. “We will have to join all our resources to fight the menace.”

In an unprecedented gesture, Islamabad agreed to send its intelligence chief Lt. Gen. Ahmed Shujaa Pasha, the new director general of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) to India at Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s request.

Pakistan’s civilian government in another groundbreaking move has recently disbanded the political wing of the ISI, often blamed for fomenting political trouble in the country and abroad.

“I feel a great fear that (the Mumbai violence) will adversely affect Pakistan and India relations,” prominent Karachi-based feminist poet and writer Attiya Dawood told IPS. “I can’t say whether Pakistan is involved or not, but whoever is involved, it is not the ordinary people of Pakistan, like myself, or my daughters. We are with our Indian brothers and sisters in their pain and sorrow.”

Dawood said she is still in shock from the events in Mumbai, a city she has often visited. “Such a beautiful city, so many people’s livelihoods and so much art and culture associated with it… It is so painful to see what is happening there. I watch the television coverage and remember standing at one of those spots watching street theatre…”

Others, like Karachi-based businessman Tahir Siddiqui, believe that events in Mumbai will force greater cooperation not only between India and Pakistan but also between other countries engaged in combating terrorism.

“Pakistan can’t afford to open any more fronts,” Siddiqui told IPS. “We have to cooperate in this fight. I think any support within Pakistan to militants will decrease significantly now, including in Kashmir.”

He added that the situation in Mumbai is “basically the symptom of a larger problem – the imperialist world’s continuing support to dictatorial regimes across the Muslim world, from Indonesia to Morocco. This lack of democracy marginalises people and holds back development. This is a wake-up call to address these issues.”

On a personal level, what can citizens do? ‘Resist fear!’ advocated Islamabad-based peace activist Shahid Fiaz in an email to friends in India and Pakistan. “I know how it feels when your cities are attacked. After the Marriot Hotel bombing and continued suicide bombings around the country, people go out less - markets and restaurants have a deserted look.”

Fiaz, who is on the National Council of the Pakistan-India People’s Forum for Peace and Democracy (PIPFPD), the largest people-to-people initiative between the two countries, told IPS that fear is what the terrorists want to achieve. “We need to come out and resist and tell terrorists that these are our cities, we own our cities and we are not scared!”

“We in Pakistan understand and share the pain, anger and grief of the people of India, as we are also victims of terrorism including daily suicide bombings in one part of the country or the other,” said Iqbal Haider, co-chairman of the independent Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) and a former federal minister for law and human rights.

“Instead of accusing each other, which will only help the real terrorists, the need of the hour is unity and understanding among the people of our region. We need to make concerted efforts to defeat the nefarious aims of these terrorists and eradicate these extremist religious militants or mafias from every nook and corner of South Asia.”

In the final analysis, what is certain is that there will be no progress towards peace without determined political will.

Pakistan Times is grateful to Azhar Masood; who has sent this article after seeking permission from Ms. Beena Sarwar specially for the readers of Pakistan Times.

The Foreign Minister said that it is in the interest of both Pakistan and India to lower the tension and avoid blame game instead of mud-slinging; however, the both countries would have to join hands to deal with the menace of terrorism, as the government attached highest importance to friendly and good neighborly relations as they are essential for regional peace and stability, he stated.

He said that Pakistan has offered unconditional support and assistance to India to un-earth the hands behind the barbaric act of violence and terrorism in Mumbai; he, however, made it clear that Indians have not sought immediate cooperation as they themselves have no clear of idea of what happened.

He said that the terrorism is a common threat to both the nations and we stand shoulder to shoulder to the Indian people to defeat this common enemy and defeat this menace. The Foreign Minister said that the people and all state institutions of Pakistan stands united against terrorism and extend their fully moral and material support to the Indian government and the Indian people.

The cabinet decided that all political forces would be taken into confidence and in this regard Prime Minister, Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani has already approached the leadership of PML (N) and PML (Q), he added. He said the government would put across its point of view before political leadership both in and outside parliament so as to be ready for any eventuality.

He told a questioner that there was complete harmony between the government and the armed forces and they are in consultation on the latest situation. He said that the cabinet unanimously condemned the barbaric act of terrorism in Mumbai and it offered its condolences to the government of India, people of India and the bereaved families.

The cabinet appealed to the people of Pakistan to maintain unity in this challenging time. Asked why the Government felt it necessary to convene a special cabinet meeting on the issue, the Foreign Minister said it is a serious situation and Indians feels it is 9/11 for them and being a responsible elected government, they cannot remain oblivious to the seriousness of the situation.

However, the cabinet in its meeting discussed in detail the evolving situation after the Mumbai incident. The Foreign Minister returned from New Delhi on Saturday morning gave in-camera briefing to the cabinet. National Security Advisor Mahmood Ali Durrani and Advisor on Interior Rehman Malik were also present on the occasion.-SANA

A consensus was sought in the meeting not to let the Pakistan’s land use for terrorism and to continue war against militancy and extremism at all fronts. The three leaders condemned the Mumbai incidents and renewed the offer of Pakistan’s cooperation in investigating in to these. Meeting also discussed the issue of proposed visit of ISI chief’s representative to India.-SANA

“I think the statesmanlike thing for India to do and for Pakistan to do is to work together, make sure we find who is responsible for this and work together to eliminate terrorism all the way from Kabul to Kolkota,” he added.

Pakistan, under the democratic leadership, stands for transparent relationship with the international community, he stated emphatically, while rejecting insinuations suggesting any Pakistani involvement in the Mumbai attacks. “I can say without any equivocation that no element of Pakistan’s state or government was involved in these attacks,”

He said the attacks are the actions of non state actors and stressed “India and Pakistan should not go at each other verbally or in any other way, it’s time for us to unite in the war against terror.“We are both victims and our heart goes out to our neighbors we in Pakistan know how it feels to be a victim of terrorism, our president (Asif Ali Zardari) himself knows having lost his wife (former prime minister Benazir Bhutto) to terrorism last year,” he added.

Haqqani reminded the channel that Pakistan has a new democratic government and history tells that democracies do not fight each other. “What we do not need right now is an argument about Pakistan and India’s troubled relationship of the past. What we do know is that Pakistan has been working very hard at normalizing relations with India”.

And, in fact, our foreign minister was in India the very day that this terrorist incident started, as part of an effort to normalize relations. “So without going into the history of our relationship, it is important to understand that Pakistan wants nothing but good relations with India and we will work together in fighting the menace of terrorism just as we have started working with our other neighbor Afghanistan. And we all know that that has borne very good fruit in the recent past.”

On the offer of a senior Pakistan intelligence official traveling to India, he said the important thing is that Pakistan’s intelligence service wants to show and Pakistan’s government wants to that “we are willing to work together with India.“We have a new leadership; our military, our intelligence services and our elected government all want a transparent relationship with the world. We do not want anyone to feel that we are withholding anything we know about anybody”.

“And so India and Pakistan will work together. A high level official will travel to India so that we can find out what India knows about these terrorists and share with them anything that they want to know about individuals or groups about which India seeks information in this particular act.”

He refused to speculate what group might have been behind the Mumbai attacks but felt it could be somebody either al Qaeda inspired or al Qaeda related because attacking the innocent and creating terror is the modus operandi of the militant organization. “And basically, we must remember that terrorists are nobody’s friend, they are not Pakistan’s friends, they are not India’s friends and they are certainly not the international community’s friends.”-SANA

He said evidences shown that Indian intelligence RAW and Israeli agency MOSAD were involved in the tragic incident to hood wink the real issues of atrocities of Indian security forces killing Muslims in occupied Jammu and Kashmir as well as other Muslims led areas of the India.

Shuja said the major death toll was included American, German, Britain, Italian and other European countries which have created a severe sense of insecurity but the Indian security agencies could not get released the other hostage persons from the clutches of the terrorist despite a lapse of four days.

He said Indian and Israeli intelligence network is also operating training campaign in Afghanistan to imparting training of terrorism and suicidal bombings to the youth for their onward deployment along the Pak-Afghan boarders and other tribal belts within the jurisdiction of Pakistan.

Shuja Khanzada also strongly reacted over the frequent suicidal attempts and air strikes of NATO Forces with in the territory of Pakistan targeting the innocent tribal people without any of their fault. He stressed upon the American administration and its allied forces to withhold the air and infantry strikes on the Pakistani people recognizing the consensus resolution adopted by the Pakistani parliament.

He also asked the newly elect American President Barrak Obama to come forward for his influence as a large number of Pakistani communities have also been reposed their complete confidence over his leadership and heavily mandated during his presidential elections, he added.-SANA

It is a big attack on Indian psyche which will severely damage the 1.2 trillion economy which is already under intense pressure due to global crunch. Overseas investors have pulled out a record 15 billion from the stock market and the flight of capital as well as foreign investors continues, said Dr. Murtaza Mughal, President, Pakistan Economy Watch.

The attacks are bound to hurt morale and sectors like tourism, hospitality, IT etc. The growth rate may decline by 3.5 per cent causing economy to limp. “The incident will increase cost of doing business and security expenditures will be an extra burden on economy,” he said adding that the negative impact of the attacks will be much more than the September’s Marriott Hotel bombing in Islamabad. “The development has emerged as a new challenge for America and US many not be able to concentrate on economy,” said Dr. Murtaza Mughal.

New Delhi should put its own house in order before blaming others
The terror attacks can define new dimensions in the war against terror and has potential to push Indian policy makers to review the foreign policy as well as that of systematic exploitation of religious minorities including Muslims, Jain Community, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists and Dalits etc. “How can New Delhi blame Pakistan when it has over 120 militant movements in northeast alone,” asked Dr. Murtaza Mughal adding that Hindu fundamentalism will land this country into more troubles.

India always concentrates on Muslims while Hindu rightwing RSS, Shiv Sena, Vishwa Hindu Parishad and others who push Brahmanism have been allowed to play havoc with minorities, especially Muslims. India cannot deny the birth of many homegrown terror outfits. She should deal with it on its own. The policy to blame Pakistan soon after any incident will not help any country in the region but terrorists. Empty talk of non- violence is not going to work forever and the world knows the reality behind rhetoric.-DSANA

Talking to a private TV channel, Gul said that President Asif Zardari replaced US first envoy former president Pervez Musharraf as he is doing whatever his boss demanding. He said all allegations leveled by India in past had proven wrong as even its on duty Colonel was found involved in the terrorist incidents; however, he demanded of India to excuse first to Pakistan about those allegations.

Hameed Gul said that some civilians ISI officials should be sent to India if it was necessary. Answering a question, he said that there was no agreement between Pakistan and India which mandates ISI officials to visit India. Hameed Gul said that Indian extremist Hindus after conducting the Bombay attack successfully given a message to US new-elect President Barrack Obama to stay away from the Kashmir dispute as well as Indian scholars were started to raise their voices in the favour of Kashmiris freedom struggle and Bombay attacks were conducted to suppress those voices.-SANA

He said that the way militants entered into the hotels and executed their plan in extremist Hindus like Bal Thakrey and Narender Modi’s area it seemed impossible without internal support adding these people had grudge with Muslims and wanted to defame them all over the world.

He said that the militants were named as Dakan Mujahedeen and it was particularly ridicules when neither their demands were brought to surface nor their target was clear. He said that India is habitual to accuse Pakistan whenever any mishap takes place as in the case of Samjhota Express but it could not prove the allegations and in Maligaon incident Indian Col. Srikanth Proat was later found guilty.

He feared that India would deploy its army on the boarders, like 2002 when a bloody incident took place on December 13, 2001 out side Indian parliament, to curb Kashmiris’ freedom movement and deprive Pakistan of its atomic assets saying it would be in-competency of the government if India gets success in its plane.

To a question, he said that US wanted to see Indian army in Afghanistan to disintegrate the country as new maps used to publish form US showing divided Pakistan in different four parts. When asked, the blockage of water and make the country knee down before IMF was a part of pre-planned trick.-SANA