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“PAKISTAN PAVILION” AT DAVOS
The World Economic Forum (WEF)’s Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland is a major creative force for engaging top leaders from across the world to undertake joint action relating to events for shaping the global, regional and industry agendas. Having attained a reputation for great integrity, WEF is not tied to any political, partisan or national interests, it is “committed to improving the State of the World”.
A GENUINE PAKISTANI GREAT
As its youngest and first ever Pakistani Commander-in-Chief (C-in-C) to head the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) from 1957 to 1965, Air Marshal Asghar Khan is eulogized not only for his professional acumen but also for the national significance he achieved. His vision and honesty, integrity and commitment to his mission were just a few of […]
OUR TRUMP CARD
Because of US sanctions economic assistance has been suspended before, military sales terminated, etc. Reacting to US President Donald Trump’s New Year tweet, Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif vowed the Pakistani audience telling the Wall Street Journal that “we are no longer allies” and that “Washington had turned Islamabad into a whipping boy for its failures […]
STOKING RELIGIOUS SENTIMENTS
The Indian War of Independence (or the 1857 Indian Mutiny as the British call it) did not start as a “War of Independence” by the Indians against their British masters. British East India’s war machine was primarily composed of Indian native troops officered by the British, pure British-manned regiments were a handful in numbers compared to the vast Indian rank and file. The many causes for the war i.e. political, social, economical, military and religious notwithstanding, all that was needed was a spark. This was provided when Indian Hindu sepoys refused to use rifle cartridges suspected to be greased with cow fat that had to be bitten off using their teeth, muslims similarly were led to believe that pig fat was being used. This was unacceptable to the religious feelings of both the Hindus and Muslims respectively.
PREVENTING SLIDE INTO ANARCHY
Once known as the ‘City of Lights’ for its vibrant night life, a good part of Karachi lives in almost darkness, devoid of continuous power. This mega city’s momentum has led the nascent nation’s economy as the financial and commercial hub of Pakistan, Karachi accounting for a lion’s share of Pakistan’s revenue (some even claim 65% to 70%).
LETTING A 100 DAMS BLOOM
For a country blessed with many rivers, the perennial scarcity of water in Pakistan is because of the shortage of storage capacity. While problematic presently, a full blown crisis is not so far in the distant future. While all provinces face shortages of water, Balochistan stands out as the most affected. This looming disaster can […]
THE ACCUSED EXCUSED
Those really guilty are shedding crocodile tears at the judgement pronounced in the Ms Benazir murder case while laughing themselves all the way to their billion dollar sinecures spread all over the world. One must quote extracts from “Taking up the Sword”, (outskirts Press 2013) written book by security professional extraordinary Randall Bennett of the US Diplomatic Service, Regional Security Officer (RSO) in Karachi from 1998 to 2002 and then the Senior RSO in Islamabad from 2007 to 2008. An outstanding individual by any conceivable measure, Randall’s credibility is way above par. Readers can draw their own conclusions about who are the real guilty person/s.
Putin’s Russia
The compelling feedback one gets soon after arriving in Moscow is that whatever reservations the Russians may have about Vladimir Putin’s autocratic style of governance notwithstanding, they are united behind him on Crimea and the Ukraine. In his broken English our driver described with great gusto how Putin had snatched Russia’s Crimea back from foreign hands. This refrain was repeated across the broad spectrum, Russian nationalism stood out loud and clear. There seemed no qualms or second-guessing among the populace about the means Putin was using to raise the country back to its former greatness. On the contrary, there was visible pride in the flexing of the military muscle to assert Russia’s dominance in what they call the “near abroad”. One is reminded about the Crimean War in mid-19th century and Tennyson’s “Charge of the Light Brigade”, with the western sanctions starting to bite the Russian population remains united in “theirs not to reason why, theirs but to do and die.”
Tragedy Waiting to Happen
However security guards were involved, therefore one must look at all the aspects of personal protection afresh, particularly when it involves the security and safety of important persons. There are a lot of books and material about security protection, unfortunately most of these are written by those who have learnt their security as a subject in a classroom and have never put theory into practice. While personal protection is a specialised subject, security professionals are very reluctant to disclose details about the nature and modus operandi of their job mostly because of the confidential nature of their business; at most times they are prevented by law and the rules governing their employment.
Surviving March
As opposed to the 15th of March (the Roman “Ides of March”), the entire month of March seems linked with Pakistan’s destiny. March 23 marks the 1940 Resolution for the muslims of South Asia aspiring for a separate homeland, the fateful Army action in Dhaka in 1971 started late evening of March 25. By early next morning hundreds who had lived for over two decades as patriotic Pakistanis were lying dead in the streets, and were buried as Bangladeshis. March 26 ended the brave and extraordinary experiment to keep the two geographically apart muslim homelands as one entity, Hundreds of thousands died before the formal surgical process was complete nearly nine months later.