Ansar Abbasi appeared on yesterday’s episode of Dunya Today to discuss Wikileaks. What could have been an informative and productive discussion of an important event in both national and foreign policy turned into something of a circus, though, as Ansar Abbasi began reciting conspiracy theories instead of actual facts. And from there, his performance only got more bizarre. But where this episode was unfortunately not as informative as it could have been about the topic of Wikileaks, it was quite informative about the guest Ansar Abbasi. About 5 seconds into the second video clip, Dr Moeed Pirzada asks Abbasi, “You said in our last program that Wikileaks is a conspiracy against Pakistan and the Muslims of the world.” Ansar Abbasi replies, “I am still saying the same thing, the exact same thing.” Ansar Abbasi’s Bizarre Performance on Dunya Today http://pakistanmediawatch.com/2010/12/09/ansar-abbasis-bizarre-performance-on-dunya-today/
Now Closely Watch These TV Programs wherein Ansar Abbasi terming these Leaks a Conspiracy and the read the News Reports filed by the same Ansar Abbasi "conveniently" using these very WikiLeaks which he himself declare that "These Leaks are American Conspiracy":) Keep it Up.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan stands insecure as our leadership, both political and military, ruling the country have been exposed by no one else but Washington, to whom our leadership is shown by WikiLeaks to have sold their souls at the cost of national integrity, honour and prestige. Is our fate in safe hands? This is the fundamental questionthat boggles almost every mind in Pakistan as the WikiLeaks bombshell, believed to be deliberately leaked by Washington to attain its designs including chaos in Pakistan, leaves hardly anyone among the leaders here to be trusted. Each and every word of WikiLeaks would be taken as true if Pakistani authorities and leaders, blamed and shamed by these leaks, do not come out with a clear answer. They need to reply, more importantly through their actions, that Pakistan is no more American domain. Otherwise, WikiLeaks precisely proves what was earlier said i.e. Pakistan has been practically reduced from a sovereign state to an American colony as the president, prime minister, top political leaders and even Army chief all have been shown pleasing or taking into confidence the US ambassador — the de facto viceroy of Pakistan — to continue ruling the roost with the blessings of Washington. DG ISI Lt Gen Pasha too crossed the limits of discipline as he is shown by the WikiLeaks to have told US officials that President Asif Ali Zardari was corrupt. The question here arises why did he report such purely internal matter to the Americans. The only exception has been Imran Khan, the man who on the face of Americans has been criticising US policies, drone attacks, the so-called war on terror besides asking for negotiated settlement with Taliban to end extremism and refusing to dance to the tunes of the “real masters” of this unfortunate country. Shame is too little a word to reflect on the portrayed conduct of those ruling Pakistan after one goes through the WikiLeaks, which is expected to heap more dirt on Pakistan as well as the Muslim nations.
Dunya TV-Dunya Today-29-11-2010-1
URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLo8VOup7ZI&feature=player_embedded
What would be more shameful than reading President Asif Ali Zardari as conceding to the Americans, “We are here because of you,” and then assuring Washington, “We won’t act without consulting with you.” To the pleasure of his masters, Zardari committed Pakistan to the war on terror, insisting that it was Pakistan’s own war. Asfandyar Wali too shares the shame by inviting Washington to influence both Nawaz Sharif and Asif Ali Zardari through Jeddah and Dubai to mend fences. Why did he invite three foreign countries in matters purely pertaining to internal politics?
Dunya TV-Dunya Today-29-11-2010-2
URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Np9_QnJLF3k&feature=related
Look at the callousness of Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, who on the issue of drone attacks told Washington, “I don’t care if they (US) do it (carry out drone attacks) as long as they get the right people. We’ll protest in the National Assembly and then ignore it.” The premier had snubbed the interior minister Rehman Malik, who had suggested to the Americans that the Predator attacks should be stopped after the Bajaur operation. Look at the double speak of the PML-N, whose top leadership both Nawaz Sharif and Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan were shown repeatedly assuring the Americans that the PML-N was pro-America. To leave no doubt about his loyalty to the Americans, Nawaz recounted his decision to override his Chief of Army Staff and deploy Pakistani troops to Saudi Arabia in support of the US coalition in the first Gulf War. Here Chaudhry Nisar Khan reminded that it was the PPP and its leaders who were organising street demonstrations against Pakistan joining with the US coalition. Exposing the hypocrisy of the already stinking Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the WikiLeaks revealed that the leader of the country’s most fiercely pro-Taliban religious party, hosted a jovial dinner for Ms Patterson at which the Maulana sought her backing to become the prime minister and expressed a desire to visit America. His lieutenant Abdul Ghafoor Haideri acknowledged that “All important parties in Pakistan had to get the approval of the US (to get power).” Just compare the actions of these Maulanas to what they preach in their speeches. Simply disgraceful!
Dunya TV-Dunya Today-29-11-2010-3
URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OX-BN32GKmA&feature=related
Interior minister Rehman Malik is referred to as a frequent and co-operative interlocutor, who professes his support for cooperation with the United States. No less shocking is the way the Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani has been opening his heart and mind before the Americans, including the US ambassador. Otherwise giving the impression of being a man of few words, the Army chief spoke before the Americans against President Zardari and opposition leader Nawaz Sharif, and also talked of getting resignation from the president and tailoring democracy to his sweet choice. He also hinted at supporting Asfandyar Wali Khan, the leader of the Awami National Party, as the new president. Kayani even made it clear to Ms Patterson, the former US ambassador, that regardless of how much he disliked Zardari, he distrusted Nawaz even more. Such hobnobbing of the military chief with any foreign diplomat or official, what to talk of Americans, is undoubtedly a violation of discipline and breach of his oath. Unluckily, we have a tainted president, tainted prime minister and tainted political leaders otherwise this is a fit case of seeking explanation from the Army chief.
Dunya TV-Dunya Today-29-11-2010-4
URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZqZiwSg6U4&feature=related
With such leadership, both political and military, Pakistan’s future is really bleak. Whom should we trust? Who is free from the US influence? Can we become a sovereign nation? Can we take our own decisions? Why do we have more faith in Washington than in God? How could we save Pakistan from being destabilised after reading what our president, prime minister, political leaders and Army chief have said to a minnow American — Anne Patterson? With such leadership, how can we tackle the problem of terrorism? Who would save us from disgrace and shame? One hardly has any answer to the above questions. Our irony is that our leaders are leading us to shame like never before. What option do they have to undo what they have brought for this country and its people? Resignations and stepping down from their respective public and political offices is one option. Another option is to say a firm no to the American drone attacks, cut the Nato supply line, revisit our policy on US’s so-called war on terror, halt all military operations inside Pakistan, open up dialogue with the local Taliban leaders to bring to an end terrorism and desist from dancing to the tunes of Americans. Otherwise these leaks, containing truths and half-truths all suiting Washington but embarrassing others, are bound to create more mistrust and chaos in the country, which is the actual design of those having leaked it from Washington. REFERENCE: After the WikiLeaks deluge By Ansar Abbasi Thursday, December 02, 2010 http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=2415&Cat=13
ISLAMABAD: Against his public perception of being an anti-American, Maulana Fazlur Rehman is reflected in a cable released by WikiLeaks as a frequent and cooperative American interlocutor, who professes his support for cooperation with the United States. The JUI-F leader has been described in the secret US cable as “more politician than mulla”, and “a frequent and cooperative interlocutor” with the post (US Embassy Islamabad). The Maulana is also shown as professing his “support for cooperation with the United States.” US embassy’s CDA Peter Bodde wrote in his April 3, 2008 cable, released by WikiLeaks, that Rehman, more politician than mulla, has been a prominent and legitimate figure in Pakistani politics since the 1980s. He “has publicly denounced terrorist attacks, but prefers to use negotiations rather than military force against militants. Although he is known to have contacts with Taliban and their sympathisers, he has negotiated with religious militants on the government’s behalf, garnering him criticism from the more hard-line religious sectors.”
Dunya TV-Dunya Today-08-12-2010-1
URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fF_J6O7XO4&feature=related
The primary purpose of the message was to request the FBI to recall information about Fazlur Rehman, which indicated that an individual “Fasilur Rehman” believed to be associated with Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) is behind the March 2008 bombing in Islamabad. The cable said that the information suggests that Fasilur Rehman refers to political party leader Fazlur Rehman of the JUI-F. The embassy “requests that FBI recall this information from all hardcopy and database records due to discrepancies and errors in the report.” It noted that prominent Pakistan politician Fazlur Rehman is not associated with the JI, but instead leads his own political party, the JUI-F. From 2002-2007, the two parties allied with other religious parties in the coalition Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA). However, the JUI-F and JI retained separate leadership structures as well as separate political objectives and methods, it said.
Dunya TV-Dunya Today-08-12-2010-2
URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ON3xL5xy-Tg&feature=related
The cable said that Fazlur Rehman’s JUI-F is a conservative Deobandi religious party that has recently joined the new Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) led government. The JI is a religious party that appeals to a narrow sector of the educated, conservative urban middle class. JI, which has a vibrant student wing, began as a movement for social change based on Sharia. “The JI party policy does not support violence as a means to achieve their political agenda, however, the party quietly has supported Jihad in Afghanistan and Kashmir by providing recruits from their student corps. The party does not support violence perpetuated within Pakistan, such as the recent attack on the restaurant in Islamabad. In addition, Fasilur Rehman and Fazlur Rehman are extremely common Pakistani names, making it impossible to accurately identify the individual with the prominent JUI-F politician.”
Dunya TV-Dunya Today-08-12-2010-3
URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NP6ODWl-hLM&feature=related
In an earlier cable, the WikiLeaks showed the Maulana approaching the then US Ambassador Anne Patterson to become the Prime Minister. It was revealed that the leader of the country’s most fiercely pro-Taliban religious party, hosted a jovial dinner for Patterson at which the Maulana sought her backing to become prime minister and expressed a desire to visit America. Maulana-like Maulana’s lieutenant Abdul Ghafoor Haideri acknowledged that “All important parties in Pakistan had to get the approval of the US (to get power).” REFERENCE: Fazl keeps regular contact with US embassy, says cable By Ansar Abbasi Tuesday, December 07, 2010 http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=2507&Cat=13
ISLAMABAD: Amidst the on-going revelations of WikiLeaks, unimpressive denials and lame excuses would not work. Living in a state of denial and shying away from the past mistakes, which our civilian and military leaders have made, would hurt Pakistan more than before. Since fault-lines have been identified almost everywhere and in every key office that matters in our executive and amongst politicians, so talking of proceedings against anyone would mean nothing. Even if what is disclosed by the WikiLeaks is proved, thinking of removing all those named and blamed is not possible. In such a situation the only possible way forward is to rethink our existing strategies to evolve better ones. For our secure future, it is vital to be serious at least now before it is too late. Let bygones be bygones and re-assess the whole situation, take serious accounts of these leaks, understand the conspiracy, fill in the missing dots, see how smartly the Americans have been using our top men and shamelessly sponsoring divisions, to evolve a well thought-out mechanism where such irresponsible things do not happen again and our enemies or those disguising as our “friends” do not do treacherous things with us again. These leaks also reveal that the institutionalized policy making capacity lacks here and things are being run on person-to-person basis in a manner where one hand does not know what the other hand is doing.
Dunya TV-Dunya Today-08-12-2010-4
URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8jMwKlEf9I&feature=related
The WikiLeaks’ exposures could be used as an opportunity to ensure that we are not befooled so effortlessly again. The leaks of US missions’ cables should be treated as valuable asset in order to learn from our own mistakes and for understanding the tricks and trades of Washington’s diplomacy that has appeared more like a spying work than anything else. Although much less than even one percent of the US State Department’s leaks have been shared with the media as yet, still a lot has already appeared to see the dirty aspects of the American foreign policy vis a vis Pakistan- the so-called American ally.
Example one: In view of the already known fact that the condemned NRO was promulgated by General Musharraf following the intervention of United States and its globally known poodle state-United Kingdom, now WikiLeaks reveal that MQM had told Interior Minister Abdur Rehman Malik that both the US and the UK had urged the party to oppose the NRO- the move that led the government to withdraw the legislation from parliamentary consideration and placed the future of President Asif Ali Zardari at risk. Example two: Despite the historic struggle of the people of Pakistan for the restoration of the independent judiciary led by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, it was the then US Ambassador Anne Patterson, who had tried to influence the PML-N Chief Nawaz Sharif to stop demanding for the restoration of the Chief Justice of Pakistan. However, Nawaz Sharif did not bow to the American dictate and successfully led the March 2009 long march that made history for Pakistan.
Example three: Holbrooke, Obama’s special envoy on Afghanistan and Pakistan, and apparently a great sympathizer of Islamabad is reported by the WikiLeaks to have told New Delhi that Washington support’s Indian schemes for Afghanistan and does not care about Pakistan’s concerns. Holbrook also talked to Indians of tensions between President Zardari, Army Chief, Nawaz Sharif and others but conveniently overlooked what has been the Americans’ role in these divisions as reflected by the WikiLeaks disclosures. To protect Indian interest in Afghanistan, Washington has been pressing Pakistan to be harsh on Afghan Taliban meaning thereby to create enemy Afghanistan for Pakistan to make the latter vulnerable on both its eastern and western borders.
Some serious research into the revelation of the WikiLeaks would unveil a lot more. Those blamed to have shared their secrets with the Americans are also required to be interviewed to get to know the right context of their reported utterances. It would also be vital to know if the Americans to whom our leaders opened up their hearts, prompted them to say how they have been recorded in the cables. In view of these experiences, the government and the parliament are duty bound to formulate a new protocol for the interaction of our rulers, officials (both military and civilians) and even key politicians with the foreign dignitaries and diplomats. Like what the Americans did, every word of such interactions should be minuted though could be kept confidential. Such records should be made part of the official record. It would help checking unnecessary utterances on part of our officials and holders of public office besides keeping all concerned government authorities aware of what is said to whom in the government and army.
Meanwhile thanks to the WikiLeaks for identifying at least two authorizations, given to the Americans by Pakistan authorities despite such actions clearly crossing redline and breaching the sovereignty of Pakistan. Firstly, Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani’s permission to the Americans to continue with the drone attacks till the time they get their target. Secondly, the Pakistan Army’s permission to the American Special Forces to join Pak-Army operation in tribal areas. Both these authorizations are too much to be swallowed by any independent nation. It is better to reverse both to win back the sovereignty of Pakistan. Otherwise it may not bother Gilani much but Pakistan Army would definitely lose the confidence and trust of the people of Pakistan, which must not happen. REFERENCE: Reversing the crossed red lines is imperative By Ansar Abbasi Monday, December 06, 2010 http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=2487&Cat=13
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