A Tribute to PAF Bomber Pilot Nazir "Bill" Latif

 

A Tribute to Pakistan Air Force Martin B-57 Canberra bomber pilot Air Commodore (Retd.) Nazir 'Bill' Latif who successfully led PAF's only bomber wing in 1965 Indo-Pak War. Bill was born on July 10, 1927 and died on June 30, 2011. Best pilots get toughest missions By Air Chief Marshal Jamal A Khan (R) The above quote from John Quirk’s much-read 1962 book about fighter pilots, resurfaced in my mind because it fits perfectly the PAF career of one of its most admired combat commanders, Air Commodore Nazir “Bill” Latif, a Christian officer born in Lahore, who passed into the country’s air history on the last day of June. Any PAF pilot who has commanded a combat squadron (16-24 planes and pilots), a wing (50-70) and an air base (70-120) is considered to have proven to the full his professional credentials through the three toughest career rungs, and is justifiably respected for these marks of distinction among his contemporaries. Bill Latif commanded two squadrons, three wings (two of them twice!) and two air bases (Peshawar and Karachi’s Masroor), an unmatched command performance that brought hundreds of PAF pilots in close contact with this charismatic leader in the air and on ground. He also held the important post of Director of Operations during one of his staff assignments. Remarkably, Bill Latif was never seen even hinting at how good a pilot he was. He commanded respect by automatically undertaking very difficult flying tasks and achieving goals with apparent ease. I with others noted that he always underplayed his exploits and close calls, of which he had many. In the fighter pilots’ inner circles these hair-raising flights were often recounted to re-affirm their infectious belief that even death could be cheated if one kept one’s skills honed and anticipated threats before they materialized.   A young 'Bill' Latif Nazir 'Bill' Latif with a PAF Martin B-57 Canberra bomber. After the outbreak of hostilities with India in 1965, half of PAF'S B-57 force was detached from Mauripur to Peshawar under the Command of Wing Commander Nazir 'Bill' Latif.   A memorable 1965 photo of No. 31 Wing with leader 'Bill' Latif in the middle row centre Photo source: book titled "The Story of the Pakistan Air Force" Aerobatic Bombers - A major air display was held up north at Peshawar on October 27, 1964, at which Air Marshal Omar Dani, C-in-C of the Indonesian Air Force, was the Chief Guest. Amongst the various items on the programme was a 'first' in the world demonstration of formation aerobatics on medium bombers. The four Martin B-57 Canberra bombers were led by Wing Commander Nazir Latif with Squadron Leader Altaf Sheikh and Flight Lieuntenants Basit and Shams as team members. They executed, loops, rolls and wing overs, the first two-manoeuvres being undeard of such a heavy and sluggish aircraft as the B-57, which even singly was not really meant to perform aerobatics. Their precise station keeping throughout the demonstration effectively concealed the intense concentration, physical exertion and tenacity that was required of all the team members - Photo source: book titled "The Story of the Pakistan Air Force"   'Bill' Latif (second from right) In the company of F S Husain, M M Alam, Saiful Azam and other PAF pilots in the sixties Bill Latif (standing in the middle) among PAF pilots and grounds crew men at a base in the sixties Ahsan, Hamid Khawaja and Bill Latif in Lahore                                                            from the album of AVM Hamid Khawaja In the 1965 war, he led the country’s only bomber wing that could penetrate deep into enemy territory and his pilots relentlessly kept the IAF air bases under attack, making a huge contribution to that war’s objectives. In the 1971 war, he commanded the same base from which his wing had flown seven years before, only this time under much more difficult circumstances and competing demands on his planes. Without asking for reinforcements that he knew he would not get (because of concentration for an imminent campaign in the north), Latif and his able fighter wing commander successfully launched a series of air strikes to force the retreat of a very dangerous Indian thrust against Hyderabad. Once again, the fighter and bomber pilots under his command courageously achieved and even exceeded their assigned goals. Latif proudly wore his distinguished service S.Bt. and his S.J., a wartime award for valour. Bill formed and led the world’s only formation aerobatic team on a bomber aircraft, stunning international enthusiasts with his own and his pilots’ skills when he led four B-57 bombers into loops and rolls at a public display in 1964. Bomber planes are seldom built to withstand aerobatic stresses and being much heavier than fighters, they are harder to control precisely through intricate manoeuvres. Latif followed this ‘first’ with another. In 1969, he formed and led the PAF’s first aerobatic team on a supersonic aircraft, the Chinese F-6. Though kind and generous to a fault, Latif as a commander never hesitated calling some of his close friends who served under him to tell them the reasons he had given them adverse reports and what they needed to do to change that assessment. But both outside and during working hours, he remained ever affable, empathetic, humorous and ever full of amusing anecdotes (many in chaste vernacular) that made the air force a very happy community during his time. A few years ago he became victim to a bullet while strolling in Islamabad due to which he lost an eye. In recognition of his outstanding services to the nation’s air arm, the PAF attentively tended to Latif’s medical and related needs on a special directive by the Air Chief, who was also present at his funeral. During the last five years of his life, Bill’s condition needed such caring attention the most. A large number of senior air force officers attended the funeral service of the highly admired Latif, before he was given a hero’s burial in Islamabad. Source: Pakistan Observer

"The Misunderstood Ally" - Sneak peak

 
by FARAZ INAM

Author’s Note
It is an open secret that Pakistan and the USA share a very complicated relationship. While people in Pakistan perceive the USA as the World’s bully, an Israeli ally, an Indian partner, a ‘fair weather friend’ or even a frenemy, Americans perceive Pakistan as the hot bed of fanaticism, untrustworthy, complicated, the birthplace of Islamic fundamentalism and the launch pad of terrorism worldwide.
However, the bottom line is that both need each other because their interests are intertwined. Pakistan needs economic assistance for its much-battered economy, a consequence of entering the ‘war on terror’. Pakistan also needs the USA to meet their security needs vis-à-vis their larger neighbor India. Similarly the USA also needs Pakistan to maintain access to Afghanistan and further to the mineral rich states of Central Asia. Besides, the USA needs to keep Pakistan engaged to maintain security in its own homeland.
After all it was the follies of these two allies that gave birth to the ancestors of the Taliban and Al Qaeda in the Afghan Jehad of the 1980s, then affably known as the ‘Mujahiddin’. Despite the entire riposte by their respective security analysts and armchair alarmist, the bottom line is that the people of both these countries share the same human instincts primarily in social values, religious conservatism and a common desire to live in harmony, to provide a good life for their families through a decent livelihood; a life free from terror, fear and the danger of meeting an unnatural end. Sixty-four years into her existence and the Pakistani nation is facing identity crises.
The voice of the innocent, peace loving and progressive masses has been subdued by a vocal, fanatic, determined, but small minority who otherwise make the bulk of the news from Pakistan; thus signaling a skewed perception of the country to the world. But they have their reasons.

This novel attempts to understand different perceptions that have become extremely deceptive over time. This story attempts to understand different views on sincerity, friendship and loyalty. It is an attempt to recognize that while we all have a common goal we need to reach that goal via mutually acceptable means. ‘The Misunderstood Ally’ may be a novel but the environment it reflects is real.
It’s characters may not be original but the personas they represent are real. The events may not be precise but the motives behind their occurrences are real. The story may not have all the solutions but can help to make the reader understand all the perspectives. So let us understand these perspectives and join our hands together to make this world a better place, where people from all over the world can live a decent life; a life with our loved ones in peace and tranquility.

 















Strand Publishing UK Ltd
 


I’d also like to give you an idea on the main characters of the novel from the following excerpts
 
Dhil, 41, is a pure Commando in form. Strong, well built with deep brown intense eyes, thick black moustache cutting across a hardy facial structure; good looks are now a thing of the past. In fact his current demeanor reflects years of robust lifestyle half of which has been spent in challenging terrains undertaking death-defying missions all in the name of performing his duties for his country. Conscientiously following the Commando tradition of leading his men from the front this almost 2 meter tall Commander stands out among his subordinates acting as their beacon of success thereby enjoying their trust, respect and loyalty. Such is the effect of his commanding personality that his men’s morale is boosted at the mere sight of him and who are then ready to follow him even in the most difficult of missions.
Despite such a strong exterior he still has the heart of a child who needs to confide in a loved one. Who needs to be cajoled and caressed from time to time for him to gain his motivation and encouragement in undertaking his duties. While the men of his Battalion come up to him for their morale boosting, he seeks his emotional support from his wife Rania, whom he lovingly calls ‘Rani’ meaning ‘Queen’ of his heart.

Mullah Baaz Jan, who claims to have counted thirty-six winters from the time he learned to count, has been fighting one enemy or the other since he was an adolescent. Son of a Mujahid (2) his early childhood memories were of his father bearded, with a traditional meter long cloth wrapped around his head, carrying a Kalashnikov assault rifle and bullet belts strapped across his body, heading out on fighting expeditions against the Soviet Army in Khost province of Afghanistan.
He would come back home every time jubilant and triumphant carrying some souvenir or war booty comprising of Soviet fire arm, army boots, clothes, helmet or personal belonging of a soldier. Baaz would be eagerly awaiting his gift, which would be this war booty. By the time he reached 10 he had made a collection of Soviet artifacts. Then one day he saw his father being brought on a stretcher badly injured and fighting for his life. He remembered his father’s last words:
‘Son, you are now the guardian of your mother and siblings and custodian of your motherland. Since centuries we have defended our homeland from foreign invaders be it the British Empire or the Soviet Army. I entrust you to carry on the family legacy of defending your honor, your family and your country. Remember guard your homeland till the last drop of your blood. Prefer death to Dishonor. May Allah be with you’.
These parting words have been resonating in Baaz’s mind for the past 27 years and have charted the course of his life. Just like his father fought the Soviets he feels it his moral duty to fight off the Americans who have now invaded his country, hence honoring his dying father’s last wish.
Special Agent Samantha Albright, 34, is engrossed in conducting a Drone Operation over the Af-Pak border area. The target is the Leadership of LaM and Al Qaeda reported to have gathered in the Union Mosque. Samantha Albright, code named ‘Sam’, is single but claims to be married to her job and country. Belonging to the mid-Eastern State of Arkansas, patriotism runs in her blood. Her family heritage has been to protect America from her enemies. Her grandfather was a soldier of 101 Airborne Brigade in WWII, whereas her father was a Vietnam Veteran.
Her prime objective is to continue the family tradition of making America a safe place to live, free from any fear or terror. She just cannot see her country held hostage by anyone else in the world. Her cold-blooded emotions and motivation to conduct any operation without giving it a second thought makes her an ideal candidate for her present assignment. However, covering such a torrent of emotions is an attractive façade.
She catches the fancy of her male counterparts who although are enamored by her chiseled features, auburn wavy tresses, supported by a statuesque figure, more an outcome of rigorous exercise and disciplined routine rather than any beauty regimen, are afraid to seek her out due to her fiery temper which has given her the nick name of ‘Balls Buster’. In fact it is because of this that she has not maintained a steady long-term relationship in her life. She graduated from Harvard University with a Degree in Law and International Relations just after 9/11 but instead of continuing a career in the same field opted to join the CIA with the desire to follow in her ancestors’ footsteps.
Today is an important day for her and she wants to make sure that the mission is a success.

My idea is to project their views and perception on the “war on terror” and also the various views of their comrades, relatives and friends; as their fates eventually bring them across each other in the story. The blurb of the book is as follows:
“Year 2010 – 11
World is in the grip of “War on Terror”.
Reprisal threats from indigenous forces resisting foreign presence in Afghanistan have made the developed countries wary of extremism in the Muslim world; bringing Islam in clash with the West.
USA, the sole super power and leader of the free world and Pakistan, the sole Muslim nuclear power and teetering citadel of Islam; are two countries on the different edges of this conundrum but their intertwined interests have brought them into an uneasy alliance against the radical forces rising from Afghanistan.
As fanatics threaten revenge attacks on American soil, a gutsy and determined Special Agent, Samantha Albright, lands in the hornet’s nest. As violent suicide bombings increase in Pakistan, a brave and patriotic Army Officer, Lt. Col. Dhilawar Jahangiri, grapples between his personal challenges and call of duty. As CIA initiates independent anti terror operations at Af Pak border, a ruthless and belligerent militant commander, Baaz Jan, fights back for what he feels is right.
In a volatile environment where all forces fight for supremacy, three individuals persevere in their beliefs, embarking on a dauntless journey of valor, sacrifice and self discovery”.
I’d also like to share with you an interesting conversation that ensues between Sam and some other characters in the story. This excerpt would be of particular interest to you since we all have Air Force background. By the way this part like the rest of the novel has been thoroughly researched first.
…….As she gasps for breath trying to lower her temper, Khalid pauses for a while and then softly responds.
“Sam, I've been a combat pilot myself having flown thousands of hours on fighter bombers in which I've made countless bombing runs as part of my training. I'm also now an airline pilot flying the same Boeings that were flown into those Twin Towers. You ask any pilot and he'll tell you that it takes hours and hours of actual flying and formal conversion courses to successfully fly those planes and then hours and hours of training to successfully take those planes into their intended targets. The margin of error is so little at that high speed and low altitude that I feel it could not be done by some rookies who were also busy hijacking the planes at the same time”.
Sam can't believe what she hears. An attempt to completely deny the fact that she had been told repeatedly; she scoffs at Khalid, “so you mean to say that those planes were remote controlled or something!?”
At which Khalid responds, desperately trying to control his voice, “yes indeed I mean to say that Sam. To me there is something much more than meets the eye. Time will tell that this was the biggest conspiracy hatched in the world to bring the two great civilizations at war with each other! Both your and my people are dying for the benefit of somebody else and you guys are just too naïve to understand this conspiracy!”   
Seeing tempers flaring Bilal interjects helplessly in trying to ease the situation, “Okay, Okay time out please. Take it easy guys, what’s wrong!?”……
This novel is full of such incidents where characters clash with each other trying to justify their positions as story unfolds. In my novel, nobody would be right or wrong, hero or villain. The three aforementioned protagonists along with other support characters will get to present their points of view as the plot unveils and it’ll be for the reader to finally decide who is right and who is wrong. There is also action, thrill and drama in the novel depicting various events as the plot unfolds.
Lastly something about the author mentioned in the book
“Faraz Inam is a corporate banker by profession. After a brief stay in the Pakistan Air Force he opted to continue his career in civilian life, obtaining an MBA degree from the prestigious Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) in the process.
Having played major roles in two blockbuster television series in Pakistan in the 90s, Faraz now leads a humble life while working for a bank based in the United Arab Emirates. He currently resides in Dubai with his wife and three children. The Misunderstood Ally is his debut novel”.
 
Wanting to play my little part in this struggle to keep our country’s name high,  I embarked on writing this novel on the current state of affairs in Pakistan and our part in the ‘war on terror’. I’ve been related to military since childhood one way or the other; son of a PAF Officer, an ex-Cadet of PAF myself, having projected the Army on media through two drama series and maintaining contacts with my numerous course-mates in the military; I believe gave me sufficient knowledge and motivation to initiate this project.

Judge, Jury and Executioner

By Maheen Usmani

       

              

Once upon a time we were privileged to have barristers and lawyers like Justice M.R Kayani, Justice A.R Cornelius, Justice Dorab Patel and Mohammed Ali Jinnah- men who were the very embodiment of brilliance, hard work and gravitas. They were circumspect in their personal as well as public dealings and were a credit to the nation.

Now our icons of the past must be turning in their graves at the unsightly spectacle of furious lawyers attacking and ransacking Judge Pervez Ali Shah’s courtroom in Rawalpindi because of their opposition to the death penalty handed down to Salman Taseer’s assassin Mumtaz Qadri.

Aside from the religious sentiments being provoked of such ‘Aashiq e Rasool’ (lovers of the Prophet) amongst the legal fraternity, this situation begs the question: if lawyers themselves do not respect judicial verdicts, then who will? Are they not bound by the tenets of their profession to pay heed to court decisions?

Surely, discipline and dignity are the two essential pillars upholding a major state institution like the judiciary. Far from being censured and suspended for their ridiculous behaviour, the District Bar Association has asked for Judge Pervez Ali Shah’s transfer because “it can create a law and order situation.” Lawyer Farooq Sulehria has proclaimed that lawyers would boycott Shah’s court because of the “unacceptable” sentencing.

Now this is mind boggling stuff. Lawyers are refusing to accept a judicial verdict because it collides with their personal religious beliefs. How then can they profess to be custodians of justice and the epitome of neutrality and objectivity? Why is the Bar Association kowtowing to such obnoxious behaviour? Are they too lily-liver’d to rein in frenzied members, or do they also believe in their “cause?”

Based on TV interviews and statements, it has been established time and again that Salman Taseer did not say anything against the Prophet (pbuh), but in fact he said he respected the Prophet like all Muslims. Taseer expressed support for blasphemy convict Asiya Bibi and opposed the implementation of the blasphemy law since the majority of the cases so far have been motivated by enmity. Hence, Mumtaz Qadri’s justification of blasphemy for murdering the late governor in cold blood does not stand in court. How low lawyers can stoop to grind their own axes was visible during the case when Salman Taseer was subjected to a disgraceful character assassination because the case for the defence was so weak. What do a man’s marriages or lifestyle have to do with his murder?

Naturally, members of religious parties have been hailing Qadri as their hero at massive rallies, because they are indoctrinated, immune to logic and after all this is their bread and butter. But since when have lawyers joined these militants who have blood in their eyes and froth on their lips?
In retrospect, there are bittersweet memories of the Lawyers Movement which galvanised Pakistan in 2009.

These very same lawyers and their Chief Justice garnered support from almost all Pakistanis because people applauded the courage of one man to stand up to a system in front of which so many have caved in. Lawyers were garlanded and cheered as they marched for justice through the sweltering heat. When the Chief Justice was restored, there were celebrations galore and an overwhelming camaraderie brought on by “peoples’ power”. How ironic then that today when another brave man has stood up for truth and justice, he has been hounded out of office by his very own colleagues.

Justice Pervez Ali Shah saw the frenzy of the religious right every day during the closed door hearing in the high security Adiyala prison as trucks of supporters shouted full throated slogans and embraced Qadri. The judge knew there would be hell to pay if he did not release Qadri. Yet he upheld the dignity of his office by giving the right verdict: guilty as charged. How ironic then that instead of supporting their valiant colleague, lawyers are showering rose petals on Qadri and kicking apart Shah’s courtroom.

It beggars the mind that things in Pakistan have come to such a sorry pass. Increasingly, it seems that it is no longer a country for sane men. Even the cleric who led Salman Taseer’s funeral prayers has been forced to flee the country after constant threats to his life. Taseer’s son, Shahbaz, who appeared in court for the prosecution, has been missing for more than a month and there are reports of his release being sought in exchange for freedom for Qadri. Who then can blame the Taseer family for their guarded silence after the guilty verdict?

When the death penalty was handed down in the Sialkot lynching case, it seemed like a ray of light on the dark horizon and justice for the bereaved family of Muneeb and Mughees. One was jolted back to grim reality when the main culprit, SHO Rana Ilyas, who was filmed during the lynching, was given bail when he filed an appeal with the Lahore High Court. One may well ask whither justice then for the aggrieved in Pakistan?

Another puzzling question is why do we express so much concern about the rights of Muslims in other countries, be it Palestine, Syria, Bahrain, Kashmir or India? How well are we treating our fellow Muslims in Pakistan? All one needs to ostracize, maim or kill another here is to have him or her declared an Ahmadi or a blasphemer or a member of a religious minority.. take your pick.. and self appointed standard bearers of Islam pop up like magic, wielding axes, guns and batons and hurling abuses.

This vile madness is consuming us all and making us a stranger to one another. Our diversity should be our strength, not our weakness. To add to the maelstrom of disease, natural disaster, corruption and inertia devouring Pakistan, one can add that justice has also become a commodity to be bartered and many of it’s practitioners are truly a disgrace to the noble profession. To have dispensers of justice applauding murderers is truly the stuff of nightmares.

Dr Rehman Malik

 

From the Newspaper

REHMAN Malik is probably the most mobile and visible minister of the federal cabinet. He has been bravely at the centre of several odd situations, mostly relating to terrorism. Yet he has found the time to help his government and party cut crucial political deals. All his efforts had until now gone unrewarded by the public; instead, he had drawn the wrath of his detractors for his alleged inability to perform his duties as interior minister. In recent times, doubts had been cast over his role with regard to the violence in Karachi. Against this background, a beaming Mr Malik receiving an honorary doctorate from none other than the Karachi University on Tuesday makes so much sense. It signifies Karachi`s recognition of his services.

Doctor Know

The problem, a minor one, is that as a former intelligence man, Mr Malik appears to be permanently wedded to mystery wherever he goes. In this particular instance, members of KU`s academic staff have been left searching for clues to the interior minister`s qualification for the doctorate. The award has come at a time when the term of the current vice chancellor of the university is about to end. It is the Sindh governor, who, as the chancellor of the university, has conferred the degree on Mr Malik, while, as per convention, it is the syndicate at an institute that nominates personalities deserving of such an honour. Then, if the doctorate has been awarded without consulting the syndicate or the academic council of the university, there may follow a debate about whether this is against the basic idea of academic freedom. This last one is perhaps the most crucial of all questions and it will be in everyone`s interest that the responsibility for explaining the situation does not, once again, fall on the shoulders of Mr Malik.

Dengue: The 2nd Phase Of Bio-War In Afro-Asia

“Weapons of mass destruction be atomic, biological or chemical, if the
west holds them its moral but with the non-white countries or Muslim world
its inhuman.” Raja Mujtaba

By Adeela Naureen – Opinion Maker

So called civilized nations have no scruples!

Before the readers label me as conspiracy theorist, I would recommend them to
go through or scan two important books, Six-Legged Soldiers: Using Insects
as Weapons of War by Jaffrey A Lockwood and Biohazard: The Chilling True
Story of the Largest Covert Biological Weapons Program in the World by
Ken Alibek and Stephan Handlemen. If you don’t have time to do that, do it the
easiest way and search Wikipedia. You may be surprised to know that Dengue
was part of US secret Biological warfare program right from after the 2nd World
War.

As per Wikipedia, “When the U.S. biological warfare program ended in 1969 it
had developed seven mass-produced, battle-ready biological weapons in the
form of agents that cause: anthrax, tularemia, brucellosis, Q-fever, VEE, and
botulism. In addition Staphylococcal Enterotoxin B was produced as an
incapacitating agent.

In addition to the agents that were ready to be used the
U.S. program conducted research into the weaponization of more than 20 other
agents. They included: smallpox, EEE and WEE, AHF, Hantavirus, BHF, Lassa
fever, glanders, melioidosis, plague, yellow fever, psittacosis, typhus, dengue
fever, Rift Valley fever (RVF), CHIKV, late blight of potato, rinderpest, Newcastle
disease, bird flu, and the toxin ricin. Besides the numerous pathogens that afflict
human beings, the U.S. had developed an arsenal of anti-agriculture biological
agents.

These included rye stem rust spores (stored at Edgewood Arsenal,
1951–1957), wheat stem rust spores (stored at the same facility 1962 – 1969),
and the causative agent of rice blast (stored at Fort Detrick 1965 – 1966).A U.S.
facility at Fort Terry primarily focused on anti-animal biological agents. The first
agent that was a candidate for development was foot and mouth disease (FMD).
Besides FMD, five other top secret biological weapons projects were
commissioned on Plum Island.The other four programs researched included
RVF, rinderpest, African swine fever, plus eleven miscellaneous exotic animal
diseases.

The eleven miscellaneous pathogens were: Blue tongue virus, bovine
influenza, bovine virus diarrhea (BVD), fowl plague, goat pneumonitis,
mycobacteria, "N" virus, Newcastle disease, sheep pox, Teschers disease, and
vesicular stomatitis. Work on delivery systems for the U.S. bio-weapons arsenal
led to the first mass-produced biological weapon in 1952, the M33 cluster bomb.

The M33's sub-munition, the pipe bomb like, cylindrical M114 bomb, was also
completed and battle-ready by 1952. Other delivery systems researched and at
least partially developed during the 1950s included the E77 balloon bomb and
the E86 cluster bomb. The peak of U.S. biological weapons delivery system
development came during the 1960s. Production of cluster bomb sub-muntions
began to shift from the cylindrical bomblets to spherical bomblets, which had a
larger coverage area.

Welcome to the world of Bio-War in Afro- Asia and where the spread of sudden
and hitherto-fore unknown diseases and biological catastrophe is becoming the
order of the day. If you look at the sequence of events in last decades or so, you
will find a set pattern where Asia and Africa is constantly engaged in fighting one
catastrophe after the other. Can you recall names like the SAARS virus, Bird Flu,
Ebola Virus, HIV, Hepatitis C, and even Swine Flu.

With the entry of US led coalition into West Asia and Middle East, the remote test labs of Continental US like Lawrence Livermore and Plum Island are no more required to do the testing
and storage, these weapon systems can be conveniently hidden and used in the
vast spaces of Afghanistan, Balochistan and the Libyan Sahara and rest of
Africa. The NGOs and organization like Backwater who claim to be on
humanitarian and security missions can conveniently befool the general public as
well as naïve governments and unleash the new war in Afro Asian region.

Why has outbreak of these biological diseases become so rampant in the regions
where the West has special interests? And why has the developing world
become vulnerable to these outbreaks despite advances in science and
technology? Why does the developing world depend upon vaccines and
antidotes which are produced very late after the outbreak has taken its due toll?
And who produces these vaccines and antidotes at exuberant costs to the
developing world?

These are some of the important questions requiring attention
of peoples at the helm of affairs in the developing world. Africa, Asia and Latin
American countries like Mexico are the future of the world, where demographic
strength is likely to make these as power hubs in the next decades or so. With
the western world losing the demographic battle all over, as well as finding its
hold slipping in the economic and political affairs, Bio-War may be a better
approach in the new realm of use of Non-Kinetic means against current and
potential adversaries.

A track of Dengue outbreak in Pakistan may be interesting as it has originated
from the port of Karachi and two strategic junction points, Pakistan-Iran-
Afghanistan junction near Nimroz province of Afghanistan and Pakistan-China-
Afghanistan junction from Badakhshan province. If we think that the US led
Coalition was only supporting terrorism in Pakistan through her bogey of TTP
then we are too naïve to underestimate their capability and reach.                                                  

All kind of Kinetic and Non-Kinetic means at the disposal of US led Coalition may have
been tested, employed as well as kept ready for use in Afghanistan; drones and
TTP are just the Kinetic Part. This should lead us to soul searching as well as
taking effective security measures for good health of Pakistan and her people.
Probably the second phase of Bio-War has been unleashed against Afro-Asian
region.

I would conclude by referring to Ed Regis’ famous book, The Biology of Doom,
it talks of US, Russian, German and Japanese Biological Warfare programmes
between 1930 and 1980,when the so called civilized nations were busy in testing
and mass production of Biological Weapons to destroy humanity in a Non-Kinetic
War, a war which would cripple generations and unleash such diseases and
viruses against humans, animals and crops that even Hitler’s scorched Earth
policy would look like a child’s play. Thirty years have passed since The Biology
of Doom appeared in the book stores, the evil in humans have progressed a lot
after 1980; today, Biological Weapons combined with Economic Wars and Media
Wars can devastate Nations and Continent without the detection of the
aggressor.

It is high time for the developing world to call this bluff of the west and
join in a global jihad to get rid of Non-Kinetic Warriors hidden behind the façade
of humanity and democracy.

CIA instigating mutiny in the Pakistani army

By M K Bhadrakumar

 

The unthinkable is happening. The United States

is confronting the Pakistani military leadership of General Parvez Kayani. An

extremely dangerous course to destabilise Pakistan is commencing. Can the

outcome be any different than in Iran in 1979? But then, the Americans are

like Bourbons; they never learn from their mistakes.

 

The NYT report today is unprecedented.

 

The report quotes US officials not less than 7 times, which is extraordinary,

including “an American military official involved with Pakistan for many

years”; “a senior American official”, etc. The dispatch is cleverly drafted to

convey the impression that a number of Pakistanis have been spoken to, but

reading between the lines, conceivably, these could also probably have been

indirect attribution by the American sources. A careful reading, in fact,

suggests that the dispatch is almost entirely based on deep briefing by some

top US intelligence official with great access to records relating to the most

highly sensitive US interactions with the Pak army leadership and who was

briefing on the basis of instructions from the highest level of the US

intelligence apparatus.

 

The report no doubt underscores that the US intelligence penetration of the

Pak defence forces goes very deep. It is no

joke to get a Pakistani officer taking part in an exclusive briefing by Kayani

at the National Defence University to share his notes with the US

interlocutors – unless he is their “mole”. This is like a morality play for we

Indians, too, where the US intelligence penetration is ever broadening and

deepening.

Quite obviously, the birds are coming to

roost. Pakistani military is paying the price for the big access it provided

to the US to interact with its officer corps within the framework of their

so-called “strategic partnership”. The Americans are now literally holding the

Pakistani army by its jugular veins. This should serve as a big warning for

all militaries of developing countries like India (which is also developing

intensive “mil-to-mil” ties with the US). In our country at least, it is even

terribly unfashionable to speak anymore of CIA activities. The NYT story flags

in no uncertain terms that although Cold War is over, history has not

ended.

 

What are the objectives behind the NYT story?

 

In sum, any whichever way we look at it, they all are highly diabolic. One, US

is rubbishing army chief Parvez Kayani and ISI head Shuja Pasha who at one

time were its own blue-eyed boys and whose successful careers and

post-retirement extensions in service the Americans carefully choreographed

fostered with a pliant civilian leadership in Islamabad, but now when the

crunch time comes, the folks are not “delivering”. In American culture, as

they say, there is nothing like free lunch.

The Americans are livid that their hefty “investment” has turned out to be

a waste in every sense. And. it was a very painstakingly arranged investment, too.

In short, the Americans finally realise that they might have made a miscalculation

about Kayani when they promoted his career.

 

Two, US intelligence estimation is that things can only go from bad to worse in

US-Pakistan relations from now onward.

All that is possible to slavage the relationship has been attempted. John Kerry,

Hillary Clinton, Mike Mullen – the so-called “friends of Pakistan” in the

Barack Obama administration – have all come to Islamabad and turned on the

charm offensive. But nothing worked. Then came CIA boss Leon Panetta with a

deal that like Marlon Brando said in the movie Godfather, Americans thought

the Pakistanis cannot afford to say ‘No’ to, but to their utter dismay, Kayani

showed him the door.

The Americans realise that Kayani is fighting

for his own survival – and so is Pasha – and that makes him jettison his

“pro-American” mindset and harmonise quickly with the overwhelming opinion

within the army, which is that the Americans pose a danger to Pakistan’s

national security and it is about time that the military leadership draws a

red line. Put simply, Pakistan fears that the Americans are out to grab their

nuclear stockpile. Pakistani people and the military expect Kayani to

disengage from the US-led Afghan war and instead pursue an independent course

in terms of the country’s perceived legitimate interests.

 

Three, there is a US attempt to exploit the growing indiscipline within the

Pak army and, if possible, to trigger a mutiny, which will bog down the army

leadership in a serious “domestic” crisis

that leaves no time for them for the foreseeable future to play any forceful

role in Afghanistan. In turn, it leaves the Americans a free hand to pursue

their own agenda. Time is of the essence of the matter and the US desperately

wants direct access to the Taliban leadership so as to strike a deal with them

without the ISI or Hamid Karzai coming in between.

 

The prime US objective is that Taliban should somehow come to a compromise

with them on the single most crucial issue of

permanent US military bases in Afghanistan. The negotiations over the

strategic partnership agreement with Karzai’s government are at a critical

point. The Taliban leadership of Mullah Omar robustly opposes the US proposal

to set up American and NATO bases on their country. The Americans are willing

to take the Taliban off the UN’s sanctions list and allow them to be part of

mainstream Afghan political life, including in the top echelons of leadership,

provided Mullah Omar and the Quetta Shura agree to play ball.

The US tried its damnest to get Kayani to bring

the Taliban to the reconciliation path. When these attempts failed, they tried

to establish direct contact with the Taliban leadership. But ISI has been

constantly frustrating the US intelligence activities in this direction and

reminding the US to stick to earlier pledges that Pakistan would have a key

role in the negotiations with the Taliban. The CIA and Pentagon have concluded

that so long as the Pakistani military leadership remains stubborn, they

cannot advance their agenda in Afghanistan.

 

Now, how do you get Kayani and the ISI to back

off? The US knows the style of functioning of the Pakistani military. The army

chief essentially works within a collegium of the 9 corps commanders. Thus, US

has concluded that it also has to tackle the collegium. The only way is to set

the army’s house on fire so that the generals get distracted by the

fire-dousing and the massive repair work and housecleaning that they will be

called upon to undertake as top priority for months if not years to come. To

rebuild a national institution like the armed forces takes years and

decades.

 

Four, the US won’t mind if Kayani is forced to

step aside from his position and the Pakistani military leadership breaks up

in disarray, as it opens up windows of opportunities to have Kayani and Pasha

replaced by more “dependable” people – Uncle Sam’s own men. There is every

possibility that the US has been grooming its favourites within the Pak army

corps for all contingencies. Pakistan is too important as a “key non-NATO

ally”. The CIA is greatly experienced in masterminding coup d-etat, including

“in-house” coup d’etat.

Almost all the best and the brightest Pak

army officers have passed through the US military academies at one time or

another. Given the sub-continent’s middle class mindset and post-modern

cultural ethos, elites in civil or military life take it for granted that US

backing is a useful asset for furthering career. The officers easily succumb

to US intelligence entrapment. Many such “sleepers” should be existing there

within the Pak army officer corps.

 

The big question remains: has someone in

Washington thought through the game plan to tame the Pakistani military? The

heart of the matter is that there is virulent “anti-Americanism” within the

Pak armed forces. Very often it overlaps with Islamist sympathies. Old-style

left wing “anti-Americanism” is almost non-existent in the Pakistani armed

forces – as in Ayaz Amir’s time. These tendencies in the military are almost

completely in sync with the overwhelming public opinion in the country as

well.

 

Over the past 3 decades at least, Pakistani

army officers have come to be recruited almost entirely from the lower middle

class – as in our country – and not from the landed aristocracy as in the

earlier decades up to the 1970s. These social strata are quintessentially

right wing in their ideology, nationalistic, and steeped in religiosity that

often becomes indistinguishable from militant religious faith.

Given the overall economic crisis in Pakistan

and the utterly discredited Pakistani political class (as a whole) and

countless other social inequities and tensions building up in an overall

climate of cascading violence and great uncertainties about the future gnawing

the mind of the average Pakistani today, a lurch toward extreme right wing

Islamist path is quite possible. The ingredients in Pakistan are almost

nearing those prevailing in Iran in the Shah’s era.

 

The major difference so far has been that

Pakistan has an armed forces “rooted in the soil” as a national institution,

which the public respected to the point of revering it, which on its part,

sincerely or not, also claimed to be the Praetorian Guards of the Pakistani

state. Now, in life, destroying comes very easy. Unless the Americans have

some very bright ideas about how to go about nation-building in Pakistan,

going by their track record in neighbouring Afghanistan, their present course

to discredit the military and incite its disintegration or weakening at the

present crisis point, is fraught with immense dangers.

 

The instability in the region may suit the US’

geo-strategy for consolidating its (and NATO’s) military presence in the

region but it will be a highly self-centred, almost cynical, perspective to

take on the problem, which has dangerous, almost explosive, potential for

regional security. Also, who it is that is in charge of the Pakistan policy in

Washington today, we do not know. To my mind, Obama administration doesn’t

have a clue since Richard Holbrooke passed away as to how to handle Pakistan.

The disturbing news in recent weeks has

been that all the old “Pakistan hands” in the USG have left the Obama

administration. It seems there has been a steady exodus of officials who knew

and understood how Pakistan works, and the depletion is almost one hundred

percent. That leaves an open field for the CIA to set the

policies.

 

The CIA boss Leon Panetta (who is tipped as

defense secretary) is an experienced and ambitious politico who knows how to

pull the wires in the Washington jungle – and, to boot it, he has an Italian

name. He is unlikely to forgive and forget the humiliation he suffered in

Rawalpindi last Friday. The NYT story suggests that it is not in his blood if

he doesn’t settle scores with the Rawalpindi crowd. If Marlon Brando were

around, he would agree.

 

Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar was a career diplomat in the Indian

Foreign Service. His assignments included the Soviet Union, South Korea, Sri

Lanka, Germany, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Kuwait and

Turkey.

Through the eyes of a three year old

by Farhan Ansari

When I sit here today, recollecting the images from my childhood the earliest memories which have left any worthwhile prints on my mid were those of the war of 1965. I was only three, at the time. My father (then Squadron leader Saeed Ansari) was a pilot in active service and carrying out his flying duties from PAF base Masroor (Mauripur as it was called then) in Karachi. I have vivid memories of living in an apartment style officers’ family accommodation. Ours must have been located at the first floor, as I remember we rushed downstairs many times a day during the war. This manoeuvre usually followed a loud noise of a siren and the sound of airplanes. The roar of several airplanes starting up together at dusk was very unique and produced a deafening noise that I can still hear, almost half a century later. I remember my mother and her friends notably Auntie Rafi (wife of squadron leader Rais Rafi) standing outside the house and counting the number of aiplanes flying past our house as their husbands ascended into the skies. They gazed the black silhouettes of the aircraft, till they disappeared into the red horizon of the September sky.

The next scene I can see is that all the wives (of the Pilots) were sitting in the ‘drawing room’ not on the sofas but on a white bed sheet spread on the carpet. All the ladies were either reading the Quran or doing Tasbeeh. It was like a night vigil. It was like their lives were hanging in the balance. It was like a Russian roulette. There was a high chance that one of the men might not return. This pattern repeated night after night after night. I also remember there were times of bouts of laughter followed by long periods of silence. It is now easy to understand why the euphoric episodes during times of extreme stress.

I used to ask my mother when Papa would come back. I was given explanation in a very adult style conversation, that Papa had gone to kill the Hindus and he would come home when he had finished them. I was quite O.K with that explanation. Half an hour later I asked again ‘How many Hindus are left now’. The deafening silence in the room was broken by the faint sound of aircraft approaching from a distance. This had a mixed reaction of joy and anxiety. The ladies would start dialing the squadron headquarters to get information, if all of the pilots had returned safely. A uniform smile across everybody’s face meant that all of them were back. It is also absolutely clear in my memory that my mother would grab me up in her arms and rush towards the road where the squadron bus would drop the pilots to their residence. I remember my father had to walk a short distance from the drop off point to reach home. I remember him wearing his flying attire (coverall) with an additional item, which was a pistol tucked in a holster like a cowboy. This was for his own defense in case he was shot down behind enemy lines.

Six years later in 1971, it was a similar story as far as the families were concerned but this time I was older, I was almost nine. I was petrified of the war. I was more aware of what was going on. There was TV in almost every house broadcasting national songs followed by news and more national songs followed by more news. I could hear my mother crying many a times after hearing the news, as often the names of the Shaheeds announced, were very close family friends with whom my parents has spent good part of their lives in the Air Force. At the time I was too young to understand why these wars were happening, I was satisfied with the holding the belief that we Muslims were winning everything. Little did I realize that there are no winners in wars.

Many years later, I entered the medical field as a doctor and decided to take up surgery as a Profession. This career path took me to Europe, the Middle east, the Far East and Australia. I found that the world had truly become a ‘global village’. I interacted with nationalities from all over. In this day and age any international hospital of any worth has a multinational staff. That includes Indians as well. I interacted with them professionally as well as socially. I found them to be excellent human beings. They laugh like us, cry like us and have all the emotions just like us. In fact having worked as a doctor in eight countries spread over five continents I can almost say that I have operated on every race on earth. Believe me, they all are exactly the same when I opened them up. To put it mildly, ‘it is the same cake with a different icing’.

Few years ago when I was working as a surgeon in Australia, one of my Indian surgeon colleagues invited me to his house for dinner while his mother was visiting him from India and he very much wanted me and my family to taste the ‘Puris’ and Aloo bhaji’ made by his mother's hands. We went for dinner at their place and enjoyed their hospitality par excellence. During the course of the evening we were exchanging various views about Indian customs and Pakistani customs etc, etc and everybody was laughing and enjoying . Then my Indian colleague’s mother told us that her husband was a Pilot in the Indian Air Force and she could recall the 1965 war. Her husband was posted at the Halwara Indian air base. She said ‘I can never forget how terrified we used to be when the Pakistani airplanes used to come at night and drop their bombs. Rajneesh (pointing to my Indian surgeon colleague) was only three at the time and he used to clutch to my neck with fright upon hearing the thunder of the dropping bombs. In the line of duty my father and his colleagues carried out several attacks over the Halwara air base and pounded that air base with bombs as hard as they could. I told her of our suffering on the other side of the border was not much different where a young mother was bracing another three year old who was impatiently waiting for his father. In war there are no winners. It was very strange that two little boys from similar backgrounds on opposite sides of a conflict, per chance grew up to choose the same profession and decades later, meeting each other at an entirely different level.

Whenever I press my rewind button and see these scenes again, and analyze now, sitting in times when I am older and hopefully a bit wiser. I am able to fill in gaps and make sense of many things that were blurred at the time. However, I am sad to say that we as Pakistani people have forgotten our past. We have dispensed with memories of our mistakes as well as ‘our finest hours’. We are just like a rudderless ship caught in a storm in the midst of a rough sea. Look at where India is today and where are we. I don’t know who, how or when did someone sow the seeds of hatred among people inhabiting the troubled colonies of Karachi and other places. These were the people who have lived in relative harmony for years.

This is not much different to how things started in East Pakistan which led to its dismemberment. The basic ingredient here is the same, ‘Seeds of hatred’. When the nation is busy fighting internal insurgencies, it becomes vulnerable to the prying eyes of opportunists. People have no reluctance today, talking about their demands for half a dozen new provinces in Pakistan. It is not rocket science to put these all these on-going events together, and make an intelligent prediction of what we are heading for.

The author is Chief of Surgery at a leading hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.