Two Weeks of Conflict in the Middle East

 

It’s been about 15 days of fighting now.  Over 828 Palestinians are
dead of which 235 were children, 92 women and 62 elderly.  On Israel’s
side, 13 civilians and 10 soldiers have died.

This pointless brutality must stop.  The UN continues to call for a
cease fire.  Is it possible that Israel and Hamas may finally listen
and obey?  Israel claims that the operation is in its final days.
Hamas is still firing rockets into Southern Israel, down from the
50-30 range from 2 weeks ago to about 17 today.

The past 2 weeks have brought many conflictiing stories.  After the
air raids, Israel started an all out ground offensive on Hamas.  This
brought the onslaught of many Palestinians.  January 6th, Israel
bombed a UN school which was sheltering many Palestinians, mainly
children.  The UN had done its part and informed the Israelis of the
school’s coordinates.  The Israelis claim that there were Hamas
militants firing from the school and so they retaliated.  Witnesses
claim there were no Hamas militants and Chris Gunness, a spokesman for
the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) said that they are
99.9% sure that there were no such militants at the school.  The UN
run agency made vital atempts to investigate and seek the truth where
as the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) did not send troops to the school
for any such investigation.  But they claimed that two of Hamas’
militants, Iman and Hassan Abu Askar, were killed in the school. Since
the UNRWA lost aid workers, they annouced a halt to provide any aid.
What an absolute mess.  Loss of life based on miscommunication or loss
of life due to carelessness.

Regardless of who’s claims are correct or not, Pakistanis for Peace
stands for peace.  We want to see an end to the bloodshed.  Death and
destruction for either side is not the answer.

2009
01/12
CATEGORY
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India accuses Pakistani government agencies for Mumbai Attacks

 

India today accused Pakistan and more specifically Pakistani government agencies such as the spy agency ISI (Inter Services Intelligence) for complicity in the Mumbai attacks in November of 2008 that killed more than 170 people. Prime Minsister of India, Manmohan Singh, said that the Mumbai attacks must have had some official support from the Pakistani government. He also accused Pakistan of  “whipping up war hysteria” with its citizens by having war exercises and being on a high state of readiness.

Speaking to a meeting of chief ministers of various Indian states, Mr Singh said that the  “sophistication and military precision of the attack it must have had the support of some official agencies in Pakistan”.

India says the men who carried out the attack were from the Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), which according to some analysts has longstanding links with Pakistan’s top spy agency, ISI.

Both LeT and Pakistan have denied any involvement in the attacks.

On Monday, Delhi handed to Islamabad evidence on the attacks said to include the interrogation of the surviving gunman, details of phone conversations between the attackers and weapons information.

The Pakistani High Commissioner in Delhi, said on Tuesday: “India has given us some material, we are examining it. There is no question of rejection or otherwise.” Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani promised to punish any Pakistani citizens if any “credible evidence” was found against them.

It remains to be seen if the evidence presented to Pakistan by the Indian government has enough proof to implicate any Pakistani citizens or even any Pakistani government involvement in the Mumbai attacks. As is often the case, the two sides trade accusations whenever there is attacks in their own countries. Too often Pakistan blames India and Indian government agencies in attacks that have happened inside Pakistan. Similarly, the Indian government has accused Pakistan in many other attacks in its borders such as the attacks at the Indian Parliment in 2001.

Unfortunately, the accusations of involvement by both sides in attacks of terror in each other’s territory is not new. The lack of trust and understanding between two neighbors who share more than just a long border is disheartening. Nowhere else in the world are there two border countries who have weapons of mass destruction and a lit fuse away from total mutual anhilation. Even North and South Korea have thousands of US troops and UN monitors helping prevent an accidental all out war whereas India and Pakistan have no such controls in place. Another incident like the Mumbai attacks can lead to an all out war that South Asia and the world can ill afford.

We would like to see Pakistan and India resolve their main dispute, namely Kashmir. Until the Kashmir issue is resolved, the accusations traded between the two countries and the constant mistrust between the two nations will continue and get worse. The people of India and Pakistan share the same language, culture, race, and customs. The difference in religious beliefs should not be such a dividing factor that it has been since partition in 1947 of the sub-continent. We hope and pray that the leaders of the two countries come to a realization during the aftermath of these horrible attacks in Mumbai that the only real solution between the two nations is peace as war is NOT an option considering the nuclear weapons that both countries possess. One can only hope that the leaders of the two countries come to this realization before it is too late.

Reported by Manzer Munir in Orlando, FL, USA.

2009
01/07
CATEGORY
Manzer Munir
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Pakistan moves troops from Afghan border to Indian border

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The US government today acknowledged that Pakistan has began shifting troops from Afghanistan border on its west to the east and the long border with India due to heightened tensions between the two countries following the Mumbai blasts of last month. There are confirmed reports inside Pakistan of the elevated national security concerns within Pakistan as well as sightings of Pakistan Air Force (PAF) jets seen patroling the border over Lahore Pakistan using US made F-16’s. US commanders in Afghanistan are worried that Pakistani troops going to the Indian border will leave them undermanned in helping fight the insurgency within Afghanistan.

As a Pakistani American with family and friends in both India and Pakistan, I am very concerned. Not only because they have nuclear weapons aimed at each other and share a huge border! But also because it is against our vital interests in the US to see south Asia explode and much of East and West Asia as well as parts of Europe affected by a nuclear holucast caused by an all out war between the two nations.

Furthermore, we need Pakistan to continue to help our American troops and personnel in Afghanistan fighting the Taliban and Bin Laden’s boys and do not need the Pakistanis to lose their focus on the war in Afghanistan against the terrorists on Pakistan’s west border with Afghanistan. So, India to the east sharing a huge border and Afghanistan to the west with another war going on over there, it is too much even for one of the largest armies in the world (Pakistan) to deal with considering how easily India could win a war with Pakistan. It would obviously come at a very very steep price and God Willing incoming president Obama and secretary of state Hillary Clinton will be up to the job of diffusing the most dangerous situation in the world when it comes to Pakistan and India.

Please check back often for near daily updates on the situation from a grassroots level as we at Pakistanis for Peace have friends on the ground in both countries monitoring the situation. Website Pakistanisforpeace.com launching soon where this blog will be integrated. Until then, please continue to visit us here at wordpress.

https://pakistanisforpeace.wordpress.com

Also, join us on Facebook under groups: Pakistanis for Peace.

Thanks and lets pray for peace on Earth or at least in some very dangerous places! Ameen.

2008
12/27
CATEGORY
India
Nuclear
Pakistan
Peace
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Kashmir- The wedge beteween India and Pakistan

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The troubled history between India and Pakistan can be traced back to the partition of the subcontinent back in 1947. At the time of the independence of the two countries from Britian, it was decided that the majority of the lands where Muslims lived, would become the country of Pakistan and the remaining Hindu majority states would be a part of India. Therefore the map of the present day countries reflects these boundaries. Except for Kashmir. This was and is a Muslim majority state within pre-independence India. As per the partition guidelines, Kashmir should have become a part of Muslim majority Pakistan. Islamabad said Kashmir should have become part of Pakistan in 1947 because of the province’s Muslim majority.
In October 1947, Pakistani-backed tribesmen invaded Kashmir.

The ruler of the state of Kashmir at the time, a Hindu, turned to India for help and agreed to sign over some of his powers in return for military support and a UN-supervised referendum. However, India reneged on its promise and the referendum never happened.

The first Indo-Pakistani war started with the October 1947 incursion and the arrival of Indian forces in Kashmir to repel the Pakistanis.

The conflict ended in January 1949. A ceasefire line – now known as the Line of Control – was agreed and the UN recommended a referendum on accession. Again, the referendum allowing the Kashmiris to decide on their own fate never materialized.

A 2nd war between the two nations broke out again in 1965 over Kashmir after a Pakistani offensive across the line of control.

Recently there was another near all out war, known as the Kargil conflict, this was an armed conflict between India and Pakistan that took place between May and July 1999 in the Kargil district of Kashmir. The cause of the war was the infiltration of Pakistani soldiers and Kashmiri militants into positions on the Indian side of the Line of Control.
Fortunately the conflict was defused and an all out war was avoided.

fast forward to the recent attacks on Mumbai and the carnage left by the terrorists and deaths of many people. The main reason for the tensions and conflict between the two countries and even the recent attacks goes back to the Kashmir issue. The two countries and the people of this area will never have peace unless and until the issue of Kashmir is resolved. We propose that there be a referrendum and let the people of Kashmir decide whether they want to be with India, Pakistan or independent. If that is not a favorable solution to both sides, then at the very least allow for an autonomous zone with open borders that allows relatives on both sides to come and go. Only a peaceful solution to Kashmir can rid the area of violence and terrorism and we at Pakistanis for Peace support a peaceful solution to this long simmering conflict.

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2008
12/24
CATEGORY
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India Pull out of Pakistan Cricket Tour for 2009

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Well we have received news today that the Indian cricket team will not be touring Pakistan in early 2009. They were due to arrive in Pakistan on 4 January 2009 for three Tests, five one-day games and a Twenty20 international. But due to the request of the Indian government, the Indian cricket board canceled the Tour of Pakistan.

Pakistan’s cricket board issued a statement stating that they were disappointed with the decision of the Indian cricket board and that they are not fully surprised by it.

Indian sports minister MS Gill made the final call on cancelling the tour, with the government’s Ministry of External Affairs having already refused permission for a junior hockey team to travel to Pakistan.

“We received a communication from the government stating that in the present circumstances, it is not feasible to tour Pakistan,” said Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) official Ratnakar Shetty.

Meanwhile, he denied that the decision could damage the next Cricket World Cup, which is meant to be jointly hosted by India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

“It will not affect the 2011 World Cup as that is a different tournament,” he said.
We still maintain sport should not be mixed with politics he said.

It is pretty hard to argue with the decision made by India. You can not play friendly sports matches with a country that may be directly or indirectly involved and responsible for the deaths of many people. Although this cricket diplomacy has been lauded in the past for helping improve relations between the two countries, it is fairly obvious to see why the Indian government reacted this way.

We at Pakistanis for Peace believe that although these games help strengthen the relations between the two countries, it makes absolutely no sense that during this time of crisis the two countries proceed with the matches without resolving some basic sense of security and peace between the two nations. We hope that due to the horrific attacks in Mumbai recently, both countries sit down in earnest and work on a long term peaceful solution to their issues, mainly Kashmir. Only then can the citizens of both countries truly enjoy peace and prosperity and an occasional cricket match between the cricket mad countries.

2008
12/18
CATEGORY
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Poll

2008
12/15
CATEGORY
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Pakistanis for Peace

A little over two weeks have passed since the attacks in Mumbai, India. Since then there has been new information presented to Pakistani authorities providing evidence that militant extremist groups inside Pakistan were involved in planning and carrying out the attacks. Although at this time it is unlikely that a full scale war will break out between India and Pakistan, It is assumed that India may be considering several options including strategic attacks inside Pakistan where these groups are operating and have their camps. Combined with the American bombings inside Pakistan’s border with Afghanistan, this is exactly the sort of thing the army has feared. Having two borders to worry about in addition to unrest within the country due to the lack of safety and security for citizens and foreigners alike makes it a very difficult time to be the head of the army as is General Kiyani.

From the attacks that happened in India 2 weeks ago, arose a small but determined movement within the Pakistani community inside Pakistan and abroad where 3-6 million people of Pakistani origin live around the world. Pakistanis for Peace stared as a group on Facebook into an idea for a global forum for Pakistani and non Pakistani people to come together and demand a change for peace with India. We are tired of seeing Muslims killing Muslims because one is Shia and one is Sunni. We are tired seeing death and destruction brought to every corner of our beautiful country. First it was Peshawer during the Afghan-Russian war. Then the bombs and attacks happened frequently in Karachi. Finally Lahore and other cities were engulfed in constant violence. And now finally even Islamabad is not left untouched with the recent violence at the Lal Masjid and more recently with the horrific destruction of the Islamabad Marriott. Most importantly, decent and law abiding Pakistanis and Overseas Pakistanis are sick and tired of having to feel embarassed when we now have to tell someone when we first meet them about where we are from. A sample conversation goes like this: “Hi, nice to meet you. I am So and so.” “Where am I from?” “I am originally from Pakistan. Oh and by the way, no I am not a terrorist, I am one of the nice guys from Pakistan you never hear about”

Honestly, it should never come to that in real life. But it really has. Many Pakistanis who have never left the country do not know what it is like to go outside Pakistan. Especially to Europe or North America. We are looked upon with more suspicion now than ever. In a recent survey done in the United Kingdom, the average person assumed that Pakistan was either the country most responsible for terrorism around the world or was in the top 5 of countries listed by the survey respondant. It is a damn shame and I for one as a Pakistani American am going to do everything I can to get people inside and outside Pakistan to join us in our quest to bring a normalization of relations between India and Pakistan. Over 60 years of hostility has now only made things that much more dangerous for the neighborhood. We are both nuclear armed nations and with rampant corruption in both countries, poverty and extremist groups and terrorists makes it a very volatile situation with a very dangerous outcome. It is time for peace. Unconditional and uncontested. The people of both nations are demanding it. Now there is a momement within Pakistan and the Pakistani community. The silent majority is standing up and demanding peace. India and the world need to know that there are Pakistanis who are as determined about peace as the terrorists are about terror. The nations needs to understand that Pakistanis for Peace because Pakistan is for Peace.

This blog started as an idea on Facebook and is set up so that we can discuss the current situation from a peaceful Pakistani prespective. Keep checking for daily updates. And Please also join us on Facebook for a vibrant discussion as a group member and help support peace between India and Pakistan as well as in the Middle East and around the world!

2008
12/15
CATEGORY
Uncategorized
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A Movement Begins

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Welcome to Pakistanis for Peace. A group founded on Facebook for Pakistanis united against terrorism and extremism and united in their quest for immediate and lasting peace between India and Pakistan specifically but also around the world in general. Also you may visit us at our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=37793413510

Thanks for visiting. And remember the next time someone asks you how come Muslims or Pakistanis don’t do enough speak up against terrorism and  violence perperterated by Mulsims or Pakistanis, please tell them that there are groups and individuals out there such as http://www.Pakistanisforpeace.com and together with your help they will be as vigilant about peace as the terrorists are about terror. Pakistanis for Peace because Pakistan is for Peace.

2008
12/15
CATEGORY
India
Pakistan
Peace
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