PAKISTAN NEEDS BOOKS NOT GUNS

PAKISTAN NEEDS BOOKS NOT GUNS

Terror attacks continue in Pakistan despite a dialogue process that started last month ago between PM Pakistani’s government and Taliban. While the Taliban is the largest militant outfit, there are at least 50 other groups suspected of carrying out terrorist operations in Pakistan. Should talks with the Taliban break down, leaders will likely be left with no choice other than launching a significant military operation in the insurgency hit tribal areas many of these factions call home. The negotiation process was severely damaged earlier week after a Pakistan Taliban faction admitted that on Sunday it had executed 23 soldiers who had been held in the tribal regions since 2010.

Pm of Pakistan strongly condemned the killings and warned that such incidents were having a negative impact on peace talks. According the announcement of PM of Pakistan these talks were a last chance, and the Pakistan army is indeed poised to launch a full scale operation against militant sanctuaries in North Waziristan if given a green signal by the government of Pakistan. While a military operation against extremists could form part of a counterterrorism strategy, it will not counter the rise of extremism. To do this the government of Pakistan needs a new strategy that emphasizes education and development in the tribal areas.

Sympathy for the extremists is permeating mainstream society. Mehsud, who was responsible for slaughtering thousands of Pakistani citizens, has been hailed as a hero and a martyr by some leading Islamist political parties. It seems all that the drone strikes that killed him achieved was a further radicalization of the religious groups and rightist parties in Pakistan. Drone hit tribal areas that were once merely a sanctuary for the militants have become rich recruiting groups.

The extremists sees glory in suicide bombings and attacks on girls schools and polio vaccination workers. This mindset has been nurtured rather than damaged by the campaign of US drone strikes. This mindset guarantees a heavenly reward for killing innocent people.

The best way to combat extremism is to educate people in the least-developed areas. Enlightened religious scholars should come forward to show people Islam’s true face as a religion of  peace and tolerance. The government of Pakistan could invest in tribal areas to improve socio-economic conditions there and create job opportunities. The region needs a Marshall plan from international donors that emphasizes fast track development of the region not drones that spread violence and hatred. 

Malala Urge to Educate Syria Children

Malala urges support to educate Syria refugee children

Malala Yousafzai who survived being shot in the head by the Taliban, urged the world on Wednesday to help Syrian refugee children receive proper education.

There are still so many girls and children who cannot go to school, Malala said as she visited a school in northern Jordan’s refugee camp.

I think the whole community outside, the international community, should help these children, she said in a vide posted on the United nations refugee agency of UNHCR.

Someone wants to become a doctor, someone wants to become an engineer and someone wants to become a journalist etc.

Malala’s visit was very important to me because she is a girl who faced a lot of difficulties at any early age in her society. So she is interested in education because education is the most important thing, said 16 years old Maisun a Syrian girl who accompanied Malala on her visit.

Malala who is now 16 years old and was nominated for the last for Nobel Peace prize, talked to a Syrian school children and attended classes.

Having Malala here is really key to highlight. That we need to offer as many opportunities as we can for children to access formal schools, to access informal education and get the psychological support that they need now before they become adults.

According to the United Nations 80 schools in Jordan hold classes for Syrians in the afternoon, leaving 25 percent of the nearly 140000 Syrian school aged children across the kingdom not in classes.

In this regards, the Malala Fund is already teaming up with Save the Children to build a new school and expand an existing one for the refugees in Jordan, home to more than 500000 Syrians who have fled the war in their country.

Malala who now lives in Britain following extensive medical treatment, was shot by a Taliban gunman in 2012 over her outspoken views on education for girls in her home region of northwest Pakistan.  

Talks and Ceasefire

Talks and ceasefire

It is not just talking to the enemy that makes these negotiations controversial. It is about to talking to those who consider themselves  more powerful than the state and its security apparatus built to secure the nation against such aggressors. We have been talking but we have been killed right, left and centre. It is as if nothing is working. It is just the Taliban holding sway over the country. The government of Pakistan on the other hand, deferential as usual following every attack, announces a temporary suspension of talks unless the Taliban stop their attack.  But hardly a day passes by without registering an attack. With the latest terrorist episode wherein 23 FC soldiers were heinously beheaded and allowed to rot on the roadside talks have been silenced, and not just for a while but until the Taliban give up killing. The Mullah community sitting on the fence is certainly hopeful about the resumption of talks and have asked the government to develop a keener understanding of the mensal state of the Taliban. The Taliban claim the soldiers have been killing in retaliation. The Taliban blames the security forces for killing their people in custody. Prior to this the killing of police officers in Karachi was also claimed by the Taliban to have been carried out to avenge the killing of women, children and others from the Taliban by the security forces in the war – torn areas, especially Peshawar and FATA . every attack if owned by the Taliban is now attributed to a reaction to an action of the government that had rubbed the Taliban the wrong way. So far the pattern of attacks has been consistent however the pattern of taking responsibility for the attacks has not. Operating in the country now every time a new Taliban group is claimed to be messing with the state. It is another story if the government in its attempt to get false relief thinks that those talking to it are not directly involved. This is the old mythology once again of bad Taliban. Following the gruesome killing of the FC soldiers the government of Pakistan  apparently wearing a stern face has said to the Taliban to either follow the ceasefire option or forget about the talks. The Taliban have made  innumerable promises to stop the war, especially when the talks are in progress. every promise has been broken unabashedly. The Taliban’s tactics are obvious and speak for themselves. If only the government were to open its eyes and see the glaringly obvious truth. They have used the talks as camouflage before as well to regroup and regain strength. The time buying formula had been used ever since with the Afghanistan cauldron coming to a new pass, and their brethren set to get an imminent position of strength there.

At last the government of Pakistan has failed to read the pulse of the times accurately. No one suggests that talks should be forsaken completely. Negotiations have always been used simultaneously with fighting to eventually seal peace deals. The prerequisite for such an outcome through is the intelligent use of force, wherever and whenever required.

One hopes the meeting between the PM and the army chief of Pakistan has taken full measure of the situation especially when the other side is so determined not to hold back.

Seasonal Flu

 Signs of a seasonal flu

Most of us flue is nothing more serious than a few days on the sofa with the latest box – set. But it is also a killer, carrying off thousands of mostly elderly people every year. And among younger people, especially children, it can cause high fever, requiring hospitalization and lead to latter complications such as ear infections. While most healthy people can see it off with a hot drink and a dose of paracetamol, it is not a virus to be trifled with.

There is also its apparently endless capacity for mutation to consider. The swine flu pandemic though less severe than expected, nonetheless claimed more than 1000 lives in the winters of 2010 and among them pregnant women. Now a new lethal strain with a high death rate has emerged in China causing widespread alarm. So far all recorded cases including 65 deaths – have been linked with exposure to poultry and there is no evidence of sustained human – to human transmission, which could trigger a new global pandemic. But the threat is real and the need for vigilance constant. So too is the need for a flu vaccine that provides effective long term protection for all age groups against all strains of the virus still a distant dream.

As things currently stand flue vaccines have to be reformulated every year on the basis of an educated guess by scientists who attempt to match it with the strains of the virus likely to be circulating that season. And because the virus mutates rapidly scientists don’t always get it right. The vaccine made for the winter of 2011-12 was a particularly poor match researchers estimated it shortened the illness by half a day but did not reduce the number of people hospitalized. Even in a good year, the vaccine provides limited protection, perhaps around 60 percent in healthy adults and half that in over 65.

In England plans are under way to extend the annual flue vaccination from over 65 pregnant women and the chronically sick to all school age children who are through to be the main spreaders of the virus. If successful that is likely to reduce the impact of the winder flue still further. That should be a cause for celebration. But the threat from a mutated strain causing a global pandemic will remain.

While the demise of seasonal flue can only be welcome we should not forget the power of this simple virus of wreak havoc on a global scale and we can only urge the vaccine industry to redouble its efforts in the search for a more reliable defence against it.

Military Operation Against Taliban

PAKISTAN MILITARY OPERATION AGAINST TALIBAN

In a clear sign of losing patience, the government of Pakistan has said that now it has authorized the army to give a befitting reply in their defence to the terrorist- though it stopped short of formally announcing an operation against Taliban following peace talks launched by PM of Pakistan because of killing of 30 FC soldiers kidnapped and killed by Taliban.

The first attempt to negotiate peace was sabotaged by the US with a drone attack, and added that government launched the second bid for resolution of the issue and made contacts with the other side through a dialogue committee. Though Taliban agreed for talks but the terrorist attacks continued unabated. Despite empowering the security forces to retaliate to any terrorist acts with full  might the government of Pakistan has kept the doors for talks open. Our doors are open for those who believe in peace and dialogue and want to shun the path of violence.

On the other hand the Taliban groups who are willing for dialogue should isolate themselves from those involved in terrorist activities and violence but the government of Pakistan was willing to talk to those who surrender themselves and accept write of the government.

We cannot take away the right of self defence from our security forces. They will not hesitate to take action in self-defence if they come under attack; it also directed the security forces to give a befitting reply in their defence to the terrorist. They will be paid back in their own coin. Our forces have every right to defend themselves and respond to terrorists with full might.

As a result, after getting permission from PM of Pakistan, Pakistan Air Force fighter jets bombed suspected terrorists hideouts in the tribal belts on the afghan border on Thursday, killing at least 40 people, according to the officials. Pakistan security forces first raid confirmed by security officials came early Thursday when jets bombed several locations including a compound in the town of Mir Ali and surrounding parts of North Wazirstan. There are confirmed reports of 20 terrorists including foreigners killed in these airstrikes by military operation. A huge cache of arms and ammunition has also been destroyed. The strikes were in retaliation for recent Taliban attacks. 

World Powers Nuclear Deal with Iran

IRAN, WORLD POWERS SEEK NUCLEAR DEAL.

Nuclear talks between Iran and world powers move to the next level on Tuesday as negotiators begin work on an ambitious lasting accord to silence for good fears about Tehran’s atomic ambitions.

Success might help put Iran and Washington on the road to normalizing relations 35 years bear fruit in other areas, not least in Syria. Failure could lead to conflict.

Expectation were not high, however ahead of the scheduled three-day Vienna meeting between Iran and the United States, China, Russia, Britain, France and Germany, expected to be the first in a series of tricky encounters.

It is probably as likely that we won’t get an agreement as it is that we will in Vienna for the talks.

But these negotiations are the best chance we have ever had for diplomacy to solve this most pressing of national security challenges.

Iran has long been suspected of seeking nuclear weapons, despite its denials, while the United States and Israel-widely assumed to have a formidable nuclear arsenal itself – have never ruled out military action.

Under this accord which took effect on January 20, Iran scaled back certain nuclear activities in exchange for minor relief from painful sanctions and a promise of no new sanctions.

For the first time the west accepted Iran enriching uranium, a process producing nuclear fuel but potentially also material for a bomb having previously demanded a total suspension.

But the freeze only lasts until July 20 although it can be extended and experts say that success in Geneva came at the price of postponing discussion on the really difficult issues.  

Under the comprehensive solution that the parties aim to sew up by November the six powers want Iran to scale back permanently or at least for a very long time its nuclear programme.

This might include closing the Fordo facility, slashing the number of centrifuges enriching uranium, cutting the stockpile of fissile material and altering a new reactor being built at Arak.

This plus much tighter UN inspections would not remove entirely Iran’s capability to get the bomb but would make it substantially more difficult. According to US president, it would be impossible.

In exchanging all UN security council US and EU sanctions on Iran – which are costing it billion of dollars every week in lost oil revenues, wreaking havoc on the economy – would be lifted.

The US president has to contend with members of Congress threatening more sanctions and demanding with Israel – that nothing short of a total dismantlement of Iran’s nuclear facilities will do.

Iranian President meanwhile shoes election in 2013 has helped thaw relations with the West, is already on thin ice with hardliners seeking to turn Khamenei against him. 

China Gives Aids For Nuclear Plants.

China will provide 6.5$ billion aids for nuclear plants.

 It is said that China will provide 6.5$ billion aids for nuclear power plants on soft terms, which will help Pakistan to make a substantial improvement in its dire electrical power shortage problems.

Earlier People Republic of China has also provided similar loan terms for the Chashma nuclear power plants and for Pakistan Energy commission. According to the official, the classic case of a win-win situation for both parties, adding for China, it is a profitable investment that also contributes to its industrial development. Such investments by vendor countries are not unusual for example, Russia is financing the entire cost of the plant that it is providing to turkey and has also  promised to finance a planned nuclear power plant for Bangladesh.

in nuclear technology, China is now well on the way to assuming the mantle of world leader and at present 29 nuclear power plants are under construction there by far the largest in any country. China is also making its presence felt in the international nuclear power arena. Recently experts from China were invited to provide technical advice and guidance for the new nuclear power projects that have been initiated in the United States.

The Americans owners of the upcoming plants have also set  up offices in Shanghai to enable their own workers to learn directly from the greater and more recent Chinese experience in the latest techniques in nuclear power technology. Chinese companies have also entered  into a joint international venture to set  up nuclear power plants in the United Kingdom. In Pakistan the first unit at Chashma imported from China  has been working efficiently for the past 14  years and the second has been doing well for  more than two years. Construction of two more units is proceeding smoothly and is several months ahead of schedule, official concluded.