Islamic Block: Is it Possible?

 

Islamic NATO as a new step towards Ottoman Empire revival

The new organization first targets the Arab world, which Turkey is eager to attract under the “democracy protection” cover.

Turkey is trying to become a more active player in the Near East, voicing ideas which then appear to be alarming, if not dangerous. Complete failure of the foreign policy pushes Ankara to seeking new ways of implementing the “neo-Osmanism”. This, first of all, assumes the endorsement of caliphate and restoration of the following title:

PanARMENIAN.Net – “Sultan (given name) Khan, Sovereign of the House of Osman, Sultan of Sultans, Khan of Khans, Commander of the Faithful and Successor of the Prophet of the Lord of the Universe, Protector of the Holy Cities of Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem”, et cetera, et cetera.

This was not just a detailed listing of the sultan titles. Huge army that conquered vast territories in 400 years including Mecca and Medina, now under rule of Al Saudi dynasty, was of major importance for the Ottoman Empire. Establishment of a new caliphate needs an army as well – united Islamic forces, if possible.

Mustafa Kamalak, chairman of the Turkish Saadet (“Felicity”) Party voiced this idea in Morocco last week. Saadet is the hardliner wing of the former Turkish Refah (“Welfare”) Party, the moderate Eurocentric wing of which is now Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). Kamalak declared that “Islamic NATO” and Islamic peacekeeping forces need to be established urgently.

“Today’s events in Islamic countries again proved that the former Turkish PM Necmettin Erbakan was right in his urge to create Islamic peacekeeping forces. We heartily welcome the awakening in Islamic states and pray for their success. Still, the Western states are trying to benefit from it. We must first push forward unity and integrity, rather than our conflicts,” Kamalak noted.

Former prime minister of Turkey Necmettin Erbakan is known as author of the “universal caliphate” concept. Ideologically, caliphate bases on Islam, while its martial aspect relies on the independent military-political bloc. Erbakan named this bloc the “Islamic peacekeeping forces” and its supporters – the “Islamic NATO”. The North-Atlantic Alliance is facing hard times now; meanwhile, Turkey is increasingly gaining weight entitling it to come up with such statements. No doubt, Azerbaijan will be the first to join the Islamic NATO in case it does emerge. Baku will definitely attempt to thus settle its issues; otherwise, it will lose the second Karabakh war as well if it relies on its own resources.

Pakistan Army Role in Balochistan Development

 

Dr Raja Muhammad Khan

As a geographical pivot of history, Pakistani geopolitical location has always been significant for the global players. Within Pakistan, the Province of Balochistan, has immense geo–strategic significance in the emerging international political and economic order. This God gifted province, has immense natural resources with traditionally proud and strapping manpower. However, its people mostly remained deprived of basic amenities of life. The current crises in Balochistan are centred on two things: first; continuous deprivation and extensive poverty of the Baloch masses compounded by the lack of economic and social development and second; lack of national unity and inter-provincial harmony, further fuelled by external powers through sub-nationalist elements. On its part, Pak Army has made gigantic contributions in the development of the Province, which include development in all sectors viz; education, health, mining, provision of jobs in Army, infrastructural development and other socio-economic development. In the field of education, over 17000 Baloch students have been selected for education in various schools and colleges, run by Pak Army and Frontier Corps. Besides, Pak Army is also imparting education to over 6500 Baloch students in the schools and colleges of Federal Government administered by Pak Army.

India-Pakistan Terrorism: A Fresh Insight

When India debates terrorism, it overlooks important questions. One example: How can Indian Army explosives reach Hindu extremist groups? 

HAMID WAHEED | PakNationalists.net

A ten-page report titled, The Arrest of Abu Jundal: Assessment and Recommendations, published by Institute of Defense Studies and Analysis in New Delhi, India, on 20 July, 2012, and authored by Vivek Chadha, argues that the arrest of Abu Jundal proves to the world community that it is not merely groups like LeT that need to be dealt with expeditiously but so does Pakistan’s sponsorship of terrorist groups which Pakistan allegedly regards as ‘strategic assets.’ 

The report concludes that Pakistan’s growing international isolation indicates the increasing pressure upon it to act against terrorist groups which it considers ‘strategic assets’. 

The report also recommends that India exploit the deterioration in Pakistan’s internal political, economic and security situation to coax it into taking verifiable action against the alleged terrorist infrastructure on its territory. But at the same time, sustained efforts need to be made to reach out to and strengthen moderate sections within Pakistan aimed at increasingly marginalizing the radical voices within its society.  

The Indian report has following five main arguments 

1. Pakistani state agencies were directly involved in the planning and execution of Mumbai attack of 2008. However, details likely to be made available as a result of Abu Jundal’s interrogation could provide irrefutable evidence in this regard
2. Pakistan has been receiving support and aid from Saudi Arabia despite being increasingly isolated in the west
3. The city of Mumbai was held hostage by the ruthless action of the 10 perpetrators and their masters in Pakistan who were directing them
4. The 26/11 attack [not to be confused with the 26/11 attack by US military on a Pakistani border post] indicated that the LeT, operating from Pakistani soil, could not have achieved this dubious distinction without receiving state backing
5. Abu Jundal has revealed that 12 LeT terrorists were trained at camps in Muridke and Thakot in Pakistan, of whom finally 10 were selected for the attack. He has also said that the terrorists “were in constant touch with LeT figurehead Hafiz Saeed and Lakhvi, both of whom used to meet them along with the Pakistan’s spy agency, Inter-Services Intelligence.” 

Contrary to the above Pakistan’s interior minister had strong reservations on Indian investigation system which he termed as unprofessional and non-cooperative.

Pakistan: New Generation Looks for Change

“Allah does not change the condition of people unless first they change themselves.”  (Al-Qura’an, Surah Al-Raad). The challenge of time is clear that the new educated and creative generation of the young Pakistanis should take initiatives to clean the filthy political mess and evolve new public institutions, new political systems to set-in a new culture of change and development to facilitate ANEW BEGINNING – ANEW FUTURE.

By Mahboob A. Khawaja, PhD.

In a knowledge drive global culture of change and human development, progressive nations enthusiastically search for new ideas, people, talents, creative plans and innovative methods to reconstruct the old and obsolete, and rebuild rotten systems and infrastructures with new zeal and ambitions for a new and better future. It is the future that most economically and industrialized competitive nations are geared to imagine and actualize in their national perceptions and economic and political strategic priorities. Alas, Pakistan was victimized by its own egomaniac military and political elite to derail its economic and political advancements for the best of its people.  This traumatic chapter of the history of Pakistan has not been addressed in its proper context.  All the time, the so called hourly paid thinkers and political activists sideline the real problems facing the nation. Many could well be bought and bribed by the foreigners to camouflage the truth. For almost half of the century, the Generals and their by-products:  Bhuttos- Zardaris-Sharifs and Chaudrais have contributed nothing positive to advance the progressive change and development goals of the nation. Economic developments, open trades and social emancipation take shape where creativity and freedom of thoughts and actions are welcomed. As a result, the society develops.  No intelligent businessman would ever invest in a society governed by military Generals or fake political figures pretending to be the political masters. Nations and freedom are articulated and enhanced not by the Generals but rational thinkers, intellectuals and dedicated political leaders, Pakistan had none since Mohammad Ali Jinnah and Liaquat Ali died. The educated generations look for new opportunities to encompass economic and political development, motivation and leadership role models. None is there to assist and encourage the ambitious new generations of Pakistanis to pursue an integrated promising future.

Burma: Generations of Genocide

PKKH Exclusive |  by Atiq Durranni

Burma also known as Myanmar is a country in Southeast Asia, bordered by India, Bangladesh, China, Laos and Thailand. Burma is also the 24th most populous country in the world with over 60.28 million people. Islam is a minority religion in Burma, practiced by 4% of the population, according to the Myanmar official statistics. However, according to a U.S. State Department’s 2006 international religious freedom report, official statistics underestimate the non-Buddhist population which could be as high as 30%.

The Rohingya, or Roh, are the largest Muslim people group in Myanmar. Over 1 million live in Myanmar’s northern Rakhine (Arakan) State, along the border with Bangladesh and the Bay of Bengal. Roh can also be found in Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Thailand and Malaysia. In Myanmar, a majority Buddhist nation, the Roh are more likely to say they are “Muslim” than to identify themselves with a particular ethnicity. There is evidence that Muslims have had a presence in Rakhine State for over 1000 years.

Muslims around the world have shown concern over the recent news of Genocide of the Muslims in Burma, but they don’t realize that it’s not the first time that Muslims have been killed in Burma. Bayat Wi and Bayat Ta were the first Muslims documented in the history of Burma in 1050AD. Bayat Wi was killed by the king because the king was concerned about his strength. Bayat Ta managed to escape to Bagan and took refuge with King Anawratha. He married a girl from Popa with whom he had two sons, the Shwe Byin brothers. His children were also executed by the king because they refused to obey the forced labor order of the king.

Burma’s Monks Call for Muslim Community to be Shunned

The Buddhists have reportedly tried to block humanitarian aid getting to ethnic group.

Monks who played a vital role in Burma’s recent struggle for democracy have been accused of fueling ethnic tensions in the country by calling on people to shun a Muslim community that has suffered decades of abuse.

In a move that has shocked many observers, some monks’ organisations have issued pamphlets telling people not to associate with the Rohingya community, and have blocked humanitarian assistance from reaching them. One leaflet described the Rohingya as “cruel by nature” and claimed it had “plans to exterminate” other ethnic groups.

The outburst against the Rohingya, often described as one of the world’s most oppressed groups, comes after weeks of ethnic violence in the Rakhine state in the west of Burma that has left more than 80 dead and up to 100,000 people living in a situation described as “desperate” by humanitarian organisations. As state-sanctioned abuses against the Muslim community continue, Burma’s president Thein Sein – credited by the international community for ushering in a series of democratic reforms in the country and releasing political prisoners such as Aung San Suu Kyi – has urged neighbouring Bangladesh to take in the Rohingya.

“In recent days, monks have emerged in a leading role to enforce denial of humanitarian assistance to Muslims, in support of policy statements by politicians,” said Chris Lewa, director of the Arakan project, a regional NGO. “A member of a humanitarian agency in Sittwe told me that some monks were posted near Muslim displacement camps, checking on and turning away people they suspected would visit for assistance.”

The Drone Saga

PKKH Exclusive | by Mariam Shah

The post 9/11 countering terror episode has seen some of the worst human rights violations in the history of mankind. USA while planning, devising and executing its counter-terror strategies, went beyond countering terror, violating the international humanitarian law and human rights in Afghanistan, Iraq and even in Pakistan. Detentions centers, inhumane behavior of US/NATO troops, civilian killings and drone attacks, these all have received a wide range of condemnation and criticism from across the globe, particularly from humanitarian organizations.

If we take the US invasions and policies as a belligerent and aggressive course of action, we will come to know that the US has poorly failed to contain terrorism; rather the US policies have spread hatred among the suffering masses. Bush went on declaring his invasion of Afghanistan as self-defense and it is very evident that what is happening in Afghanistan is not self-defense; this can be retaliation but not self-defense.

For their own “secret” purposes US has devised new strategies to spread fear and terror especially in Pakistan. The drone attacks are one of the few tactics of the United States. The first drone attack by USA was launched in 2004 in South Waziristan agency and till now there is no stop to these deadly steel birds. An indiscriminate killing of individuals is done through drone attacks, as I am sure drones cannot detect the element of “terrorism” in the targeted individual. After many years, somehow the drone attacks have gain the international attention and few of the human rights organization have highlighted this issue. The main reason of their criticism is that they fire indiscriminately and no one can imagine the amount of destruction and psychological strain they cause to the local people.

Pakistan Army’s Janbaz Trooper

MashAllah, he is from the elite of the elite, the Janbaz special forces trooper of Pak army. He has just come out of a fierce firefight with the TTP insurgents …

MashAllah, he is from the elite of the elite, the Janbaz special forces trooper of Pak army. He has just come out of a fierce firefight with the CIA + RAW backed TTP insurgents, some where along the Pak Afghan border.

Wounded seriously on his chest and head, look at the peace, calm and serenity on his face for defending Pak Sarzameen with dignity and courage! Masha’Allah, May Allah shower infinite barakah and khair upon these sons of Pak army who are silently facing death everyday to defend our honor, faith and land without any expectation of reward /acknowledgement.

By Allah, these sons are the finest souls Ummat e Rasul (Sallallaho Elahe Wasalam) has produced and are a source of Izzat for the entire millat! We stand with our sons and brothers in uniform and swear once again to live and die with dignity and honor. US, NATO, India, TTP, BLA and SAFMA can go to hell!

PAKISTAN ZINDABAD

Time to Correct our Political Aberrations

March 1979, General Zia ul Haque directed his Corps Commanders to ascertain the likely reaction of the officers and the troops, if Bhutto was hanged, as per Supreme Court’s verdict. I was commanding 14 Division at Okara and was called for the meeting at Multan. Giving my views on the subject, I said:

By General Mirza Aslam Beg

“Hanging of Bhutto would be an unwise act, which could cause very serious “political aberrations”, difficult to correct. He better be sent into exile, to buy his time. As regards the reaction of my troops, I am not sure, because facing the violent mob would be my company and battalion commanders, and it would be difficult for them to shoot at their own kith and kin, as it had happened in 1977, at Lahore. My troops are trained to fight the enemy and not their own people.”

The Corps Commander lost his cool, called-off the meeting, and directed his Chief of Staff, Brigadier (now General) Hamid Gul: “I do not want this officer in my formation. Connect me to the Chief and I will have him removed from command,” Brigadier Hamid Gul pleaded: “Sir, you asked for General Beg’s opinion and he gave his candid views. Removing him from command, may not be appropriate at this moment. You may like to apprise the Chief and let him decide.” The Corps Commander paused for a while and said “OK put up the report.”

Post-2014 Afghanistan

By Dr Qaisar Rashid

Instead of preparing itself for the role of a sole external power in Afghanistan, Pakistan must prefer Afghanistan to be a shared politico-economic responsibility of regional and international players

The Afghan-war theatre is still alive. In 2010, in an effort to synchronise with the troop-withdrawal scheme of the NATO, the US announced that it would pull out its troops from Afghanistan in July 2011 to be completed by the end of 2014. Recently, Afghanistan has been declared a major non-NATO ally of the US. The developments in and out of Afghanistan, whether it is the Bonn Conferences or the Tokyo Conference, are sending two clear messages to Pakistan.

First, the world may not abandon Afghanistan at the sole mercy of the Taliban. The US-NATO coalition (or at least the US and UK) is determined to have its minimum presence in Afghanistan to support the local regime and ward off another 9/11. In post-2014 Afghanistan, the Taliban may be a part of a broad-based (representative) government in Kabul instead of hosting the national show single-handedly. For the Taliban, one of the pre-requisites of joining the government in Kabul is to shun al Qaeda forever.