Pakistani Military Developments/feb-june 09

Pintu

New Member
Joined
Mar 22, 2009
Messages
12,082
Likes
348
This was an old report that can serve as an eye opener that amount of corruption in the Military led regime of Gen. Musharraf , where General's own National Accountability Bureau faced corruption charge itself.

http://www.satribune.com/archives/sep28_oct10_03/P1_nab.htm




Musharraf's NAB Itself Faces Corruption Charges for Gobbling up Millions

Special SAT Report

ISLAMABAD: General Pervez Musharraf’s main arm-twisting tool, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), is itself being investigated for a mega fraud into the use and safe-keeping of hundreds of millions of rupees recovered from criminals and plunderers through plea bargains.

The Chief NAB Investigator, who has been pitching a number of international institutions for netting Opposition politicians, including Benazir Bhutto in the Swiss courts, is facing a reference accused of embezzlement of hundreds of millions of rupees of plea bargain money on which the NAB officials have been gobbling up mark ups in private accounts.

According to the NAB website, during past three years the NAB has entered into 181 cases of plea-bargain through accepted court process and recovered an amount of US$36 million, out of the total amount recovered of over US$1.5 billion. The entire process of this recovery has been effected through accountability courts with defendants who pleaded guilty and who besides paying the said amount stand debarred from holding public office for ten years along with other disqualifications.

But the NAB top brass, also facing charges of involvement in this case, is attempting to hush up the inquiry.

Over the past two years or so, these officials have been retaining the plea bargain money extracted from politicians and bureaucrats for allowing them out-of-court settlement in cases framed against them. The biggest of these was the case of Admiral Mansur ul Haq, the former Navy Chief, who coughed up over US$ 7 million.

The recovered money has been kept in the NAB officials’ private bank accounts though their details have been noted secretly at the NAB headquarters in Islamabad. The money is largely spent on "sources" and informants who assist the NAB in netting the people listed on account of political and other affiliation to organizations that are active against the military government.

Officials "tasking" these sources and informants to projects normally draw up the "targets" and budget the sending with the prior permission of Chief Investigator Financial Crimes, NAB.

The man on this assignment, Talat Ghumman, a former Union Bank official engaged by the NAB for carrying out investigations against the "targets" is now reported to be in trouble on account of a recent fraud based on misuse of the plea bargain money.

NAB insiders revealed to SA Tribunethat about three months ago there was panic at the NAB headquarters over a tiny piece of news item appearing in an Islamabad Urdu daily that indicated some "hanky panky" at NAB in handling the plea bargain money.

"They started an inquiry at the highest levels to determine as to who leaked the lead to the newspaper. This inquiry was inconclusive when the NAB top bosses directed the relevant sections of the Bureau to draft a court reference against the staff that had been keeping the plea bargain money in their accounts. This reference is currently being drafted, but it is not clear whether they would actually send it to the court", said a NAB official.

He added that the reference framing was ordered as the government (may be high military hierarchy) came to know of the fraud through the news item and asked the NAB chief, Gen Munir Hafiz, to look into the matter.

Talat Ghumman is reported to have deferred sending of the reference to the court, according to NAB sources. They added that Ghumman, who happens to be second only to the NAB chief, told his boss that he himself wanted to first conclude an in-house inquiry on what actually happened.
Sources claim that it was him who had initially proposed to NAB that such private accounts be run to keep the plea bargain money and NAB informants protected from scrutiny.

He is already facing FIA inquiry into his own bank accounts as he is known to be one of the top spendthrifts in the federal capital, throwing parties on regular basis at which the country’s elite is reportedly offered all kinds of "ayyashi" (perverse pleasures), including strip dances by professionals from the red-light areas of the country.

Running private bank accounts on the plea bargain money that is retained by the NAB for funding investigations is illegal in the first place, and the surfacing of a fraud based on extracting mark up on this money has shaken the entire edifice of the institution that was basically set up to prevent and help punish financial frauds in the country.

Once it becomes known that NAB has been conducting itself at this sorry level, the investigations it has carried out against politicians would be running into jeopardy on credibility grounds.

The Opposition politicians in Pakistan have been complaining against NAB for its dubious conduct wherein it spent millions to trumped up cases against them to publicly malign them and damage their reputation.

The writer of this report is a former senior bureaucrat who remained part of NAB investigations till recently
 

Rage

DFI TEAM
Senior Member
Joined
Feb 23, 2009
Messages
5,419
Likes
1,001
Commandos dropped into Fazlullah den

By Hameedulah Khan & Haleem Asad
Tuesday, 12 May, 2009 | 11:45 PM PST |


It was the first time helicopter borne troops had landed in
Swat since the offensive began last week. — File



MINGORA / TIMERGARA: The military operation in Swat entered a crucial stage on Tuesday when commando units were dropped by helicopters on mountains around the Taliban headquarters in Peochar, said to be the hideout of the chieftain of militants in the region, Maulana Fazlullah.

Official sources said that a fleet of at least 13 helicopters flew over the Peochar valley and dropped commandos on mountains as the army intensified its offensive in the region.

People in adjoining Dir also reported seeing several helicopters hovering over the area and dropping commandos on hills in Niag Darra, Karo Darra and Turmang Darra areas.

According to sources, around 1,200 troops backed by tanks and artillery reached Turmang Darra in Upper Dir. Planes and helicopters flew over the area.

About the Peochar action, the military’s Swat Media Centre said: ‘Jetfighters and helicopter gunships shelled the region before dropping special services group (SSG) personnel in the region.’

Local people said ground forces moved towards the area which is considered to be ‘rear base’ of militants. Besides Maulana Fazlullah, his close lieutenants Muslim Khan, Shah Dawran, Mehmood Khan and Ibne Amin are also said to be based there.

Peochar, surrounded by dense forests, is a strategic location with several training camps, centres for suicide bombers, arms depots, torture cells, private jails where kidnapped people and ‘prisoners’ are kept, ‘courts’ and offices.

Taliban’s shura held its meetings in Peochar and issued directives to militants in the district and other parts of Malakand region.

Officials said four militants were killed when helicopters gunships shelled their positions in Imamdheri. Militant hideouts in Malam Jabba were also attacked.

The district headquarters of Mingora is still under the control of Taliban. They are patrolling the streets and holding positions on rooftops.

Power, water, and gas supply to the whole district remained disconnected, adding to the misery of local people. Government employees are yet to receive salary for March because all banks are closed.

In Shangla, a child and another non-combatant were killed and five other people were injured in Jabbar area adjacent to Malam Jabba. About 250 displaced families arrived in Lelonai area of Shangla which has been under curfew for 48 hours.

At least 11 militants were killed and nine others injured during a search operation and troops cleared the area from Chakdara to Gaddar. Four suspected militants were arrested.

Troops took positions on rooftops along the Timergara-Peshawar road. A security man was killed and another injured in Osakai area.

Sources said 40 to 45 bodies were lying in the premises of the Government Degree College in Gulabad which had been occupied by militants and shelled by security forces.A soldier was killed and a lieutenant injured in a clash near Gulabad.

Troops advanced to Tendodag, a stronghold of the Taliban, after taking control of the GT Road.

Two paramilitary soldiers — Amjad of Mohamand Riffles and Javed of Dir Scouts — were shot dead in Chakdara for violating curfew. They were going to Peshawar and Swat to resume duty. Another man was injured.

Security forces also took control of Hayaseri and set up a military camp there.


DAWN.COM | Provinces | Commandos dropped into Fazlullah den
 

Rage

DFI TEAM
Senior Member
Joined
Feb 23, 2009
Messages
5,419
Likes
1,001
Anyone think their commandos look like a bunch of emaciated hunchbacks? Maximize the picture for a better look-see.
 

Su-47

Regular Member
Joined
Apr 20, 2009
Messages
282
Likes
40
Commandos dropped into Fazlullah den

By Hameedulah Khan & Haleem Asad
Tuesday, 12 May, 2009 | 11:45 PM PST |


It was the first time helicopter borne troops had landed in
Swat since the offensive began last week. — File

I have seen that same pic a few years ago. It is a pic to show the FN F-2000, the assault rifle they are carrying. Now are they using the same pic to show their current offensive?

Search FN F-2000 on wikipedia. You might come across this pic. Here is the description under the pic

The team from the Pakistani air force makes their way to the first sector of the security forces combat arms event course during Air Mobility Command's Rodeo 2007 at Fort Lewis, Wash., July 23, 2007. The course tested competitors on their small arms firing, low crawling and running with more than 50 pounds of combat gear. Rodeo 2007 is a readiness competition of U.S. and international mobility air forces and focuses on improving war fighting capabilities.


Can't they use some real pics from the offensive? This seems to be an example of bad journalism.
 

Rage

DFI TEAM
Senior Member
Joined
Feb 23, 2009
Messages
5,419
Likes
1,001
Map Shows Pakistan Taliban Spread

Last updated at 11:01 GMT, Wednesday, 13 May 2009


A map produced by the BBC suggests only 38% of Pakistan's North West Frontier Province (NWFP) and surrounding areas is under full government control.

The map, compiled by the BBC's Urdu language service, was based on local research and correspondent reports as well as conversations with officials.

It shows the Taleban strengthening their hold across the north-west.

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari rejected the findings, telling the BBC it was an "incorrect survey".

Pakistan conflict map

The map illustrates the Taliban's spreading strength in Pakistan's
north-west, something both army and government officials have vowed to combat


He was speaking after talks in London with UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who pledged £12m ($18m) in humanitarian aid for north-west Pakistan.

Mr Zardari said the two countries were united in fighting the threat to their countries' democratic way of life, and also repeated assurances that his country's arsenal was in safe hands.

There was an international outcry recently when the militants moved into Buner district, just 100km (67 miles) from Islamabad.

Pakistan has continued its military offensive to regain control of the region, and has reported the deaths of 11 militants in the Swat valley in the past 24 hours.

Residents trapped in Mingora, the main town in Swat, told AFP news agency by telephone that militants had planted mines and were digging trenches.

"People are becoming mentally ill, our senses have shut down, children and woman are crying, please tell the government to pull us out of here," said one shopkeeper, who did not want to give his name.

"Forget the lack of electricity and other problems, the Taleban are everywhere and heavy exchanges of fire are routine at night."


Mapping lawlessness

The report the BBC map was based on covered the 24 districts of NWFP and the seven tribal agencies and six frontier regions of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).

The researchers analysed reports from BBC Urdu correspondents over the past 18 months, backed up by conversations with local officials, police officers and journalists.

They concluded that in 24% of the region, the civilian government no longer had authority and Taleban commanders had taken over administrative controls.

Either the Taleban were in complete control or the military were engaged in operations to flush them out.

Another 38% of the region was deemed to have a permanent Taleban presence, meaning militants had established rural bases which were restricting local government activities and seriously compromising local administration.


Thousands attended a Taleban rally in Mingora just before the offensive


In those areas - three districts in FATA and 11 in NWFP - the Taleban had repeatedly shown their capability to strike at will, says the report.

Militants had made their presence felt by carrying out periodic attacks on girls' schools, music shops, police stations and government buildings.

The map gives a snapshot of the current situation. However continuing fighting between Pakistani troops and the Taleban means the situation on the ground could change in the future.

The Pakistani army's spokesman, Gen Athar Abbas, rejected the BBC map as "grossly exaggerated".

"The ground situation doesn't give any indicator of such influence or control of Taleban in this area," he told the BBC in Rawalpindi.


Thousands flee

The region is notorious for its lack of law and order, so the researchers applied a series of rules to differentiate Taleban activity from general lawlessness.

The incidents had to be of a recurring nature, there had to be an official recognition of Taleban presence, Taleban militants must have appointed local "commanders" and religious schools sympathetic to the militants must be operating in the area.

Pakistan has been stepping up its campaign against the Taleban in the north-west.

Tens of thousands of people have fled from the region to escape the fighting.

The research also indicates areas to which researchers believe Taleban-style militancy may further spread inside Pakistan.

The report found that, based on current perceptions of religiously motivated violence, there were strong indications that in 47% of Punjab Province there was a high likelihood of an increase in Taleban militancy in the near future.

The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says that while the research indicates the strength of the Taleban in the region, the various factions and groups are only loosely co-ordinated.

Observers have warned against overstating the existence of one unified insurgency against the state, says our correspondent.


BBC NEWS | South Asia | Map shows Pakistan Taleban spread
 

A.V.

New Member
Joined
Feb 16, 2009
Messages
6,503
Likes
1,157
Pakistan To Test-Fire Italian Air Defense Missiles

ROME - Pakistan will test-fire next spring the Spada 2000 air defense system it has acquired from MBDA Italia, officials at the Italian firm said.

The test-firing, which will be staged in Pakistan in the first half of 2010, will follow the delivery in February of the first of 10 Spada batteries ordered by Pakistan for 415 million euros ($565.1 million) in 2007.

"We aim to deliver all 10 of the batteries within 36 months of the test-firing, that is to say by 2013," said Antonio Perfetti, CEO of MBDA Italia, which is the Finmeccanica-owned Italian operation within the European missile house MBDA.

Operated by Italy and Spain, each Spada 2000 system features two firing sections, each containing two to four missile launchers, each hosting six Aspide 2000 missiles. The missiles have an intercept range of more than 20 kilometers.

Since the contract became operational in February 2008, MBDA has launched the construction of facilities in Karachi for maintenance on the systems.

The set-up forms part of an offset arrangement on the sale, which Perfetti said had been "important" to winning the contract.

Two facilities are being prepared, one for maintenance of the Spada system and a second for guidance system testing and maintenance of the Aspide missiles, both completed in February.

Training of Pakistani technicians will start this year, while Pakistani military officials visited MBDA in Italy last week to follow progress, part of a cycle of visits.

Perfetti said the Italian military was continuing to act as liaison with the customer. A second MBDA official added that the Italian Air Force had already helped prove the effectiveness of the system in 2005 when it staged eight test-launches at its Salto di Quirra range for visiting Pakistani officials.


source :-- defence news . com
 

A.V.

New Member
Joined
Feb 16, 2009
Messages
6,503
Likes
1,157
here are the details from the mbda site

SPADA 2000

Ground based air defence missile system

SPADA 2000 is an advanced, ground based missile system capable of operating in dense ECM environments to provide all weather, day and night area defence against combat aircraft and incoming missiles.

It is a development from the original Skyguard/Aspide system and now benefits from the increased engagement range of the powerful ASPIDE 2000 missile as well as the increased detection range and track management capabilities of the new Detection Centre.

SPADA 2000 is integrated within a shelter system allowing for both tactical and strategic mobility, including air-transportability from a C130 transport aircraft. The basic configuration of the SPADA 2000 system consists of a Detection Centre, two Firing Sections (expandable to four) each with two Missile Launchers. Each Missile Launcher houses six ready-to-fire ASPIDE 2000 missiles.

The operational performance of the ASPIDE 2000 missile allows it to engage air threats at ranges well beyond other VSHORAD missiles and engage attacking aircraft before they can release their standoff rocket-propelled missiles or intercepting these missiles once released. This upgrade of the original ASPIDE missile embodies the latest electronic features to improve its guidance characteristics and effectiveness in heavy clutter and ECM environments. ASPIDE 2000 is compatible with all systems currently using the ASPIDE multi-role missile by the simple application of a cost-effective modification kit. Similarly, all existing ASPIDE multi-role missiles can be retrofitted to the ASPIDE 2000 configuration with only marginal costs. Logistic support remains unchanged.

Characteristics of the ASPIDE 2000 missile

Intercept Range:…in excess of 20 Km
Speed:……………High Supersonic
Guidance:………..semi-active radar homing


Programme status

First configuration SPADA systems were delivered in the late 1980s to the Italian Air Force and have since undergone a modernisation and improvement programme.

First phase system improvements (SPADA 2000) started in 1996 and concluded in 1999 with delivery to the Spanish Air Force where the system is now in service. In 2003, second phase improvements (SPADA 2000 PLUS) to the launcher, C2, FCC and radar commenced and have now been completed.

SPADA 2000 is in service with the Italian and Spanish Armed Forces and has recently been ordered by an export customer.

SPADA 2000, air defence system, missile, air missile - MBDA
 

Vinod2070

मध्यस्थ
Ambassador
Joined
Feb 22, 2009
Messages
2,557
Likes
115
WORLD VIEW

Fareed Zakaria

Change We Can’t Believe In











Pakistan's military has lost every conventional war. It's far better at guerrilla wars.

Published May 2, 2009

From the magazine issue dated May 18, 2009













Finally, we are told, the Pakistani military has gotten serious about the threat that militants pose to its country. The Army is now fighting back for real, sending troops to dislodge the jihadists who had spread out of the Swat Valley. We hear this from Pakistani commanders, of course, but also from civilian leaders as well as from U.S. officials, including the secretary of defense, Robert Gates. In an interview with me for CNN, Gates said, "I think the movement of the Taliban so close to Islamabad was a real wake-up call for them."


Maybe. It was only a few years ago that Husain Haqqani, a former Pakistani diplomat who recently became ambassador to Washington, wrote a brilliant book arguing that the Pakistani government—despite public and private claims to the contrary—continued "to make a distinction between 'terrorists' … and 'freedom fighters' (the officially preferred label … for Kashmiri militants)." He added: "The Musharraf government also remains tolerant of remnants of Afghanistan's Taliban regime, hoping to use them in resuscitating Pakistan's influence in Afghanistan." The Pakistani military's world view—that it is surrounded by dangers and needs to be active in destabilizing its neighbors— remains central to Pakistan's basic strategy.




While President Musharraf broke with the overt and large-scale support that the military provides to the militant groups, and there have continued to be some moves against some jihadists, there is no evidence of a campaign to rid Pakistan of these groups. The leaders of the Afghan Taliban, headed up by Mullah Mohammed Omar, still work actively out of Quetta. The Army has never launched serious campaigns against the main Taliban-allied groups led by Gulbuddin Hekmatyar or Jalaluddin Haqqani, both of whose networks are active in Pakistan. The group responsible for the Mumbai attacks, Lashkar-e-Taiba, has evaded any punishment, morphing in name and form but still operating in plain sight in Lahore. Even now, after allowing the Taliban to get within 60 miles of the capital, the Pakistani military has deployed only a few thousand troops to confront them, leaving the bulk of its million-man Army in the east, presumably in case India suddenly invades. And when the Army does attack the Taliban, as it did a couple of years ago in the same Swat Valley, it bombs, declares victory and withdraws—and the jihadists return.


The rise of Islamic militants in Pakistan is not, Ambassador Haqqani writes, "the inadvertent outcome of some governments." It is "rooted in history and [is] a consistent policy of the Pakistani state." The author describes how, from its early years, the Pakistani military developed "a strategic commitment to jihadi ideology." It used Islam to mobilize the country and Army in every conflict with India. A textbook case was the 1965 war, when Pakistan's state-controlled media "generated a frenzy of jihad," complete with stories of heroic suicide missions, martyrdom and divine help.


Pakistan was created as an Islamic state, with a population that shared little geographically, ethnically and linguistically. The country's rulers have maintained power using religion as an ideology. And then the region's geopolitics—the tensions with India and the battle against the Soviet Union in Afghanistan—helped create deep links between the Pakistani military and Islamic militant groups. The Pakistani military has lost the wars it has fought via traditional means. But running guerrilla operations—against the Soviets, the Indians and the Afghans—has proved an extremely cost-effective way to keep its neighbors off balance.


Has this all changed? The ambassador's book, "Pakistan: Between Mosque and Military," marshals strong evidence that, at least until recently, the Pakistani military made the pretense of arresting militants in order to get funds from Washington. But it never shut down the networks. "From the point of view of Pakistan's Islamists and their backers in the ISI [Pakistan's military intelligence]," Haqqani writes, "jihad is on hold but not yet over. Pakistan still has an unfinished agenda in Afghanistan and Kashmir."


The book concludes by telling how Pakistan's military has used the threat from these militant groups to maintain power, delegitimize the civilian government and—most crucial of all—keep aid flowing from the United States. And the book's author has now joined in this great game. Last week Ambassador Haqqani wrote an op-ed claiming that Pakistan was fighting these militant groups vigorously. The only problem, he explained, was that Washington was reluctant to provide the weapons, training and funds Pakistan needs. He has become a character out of the pages of his own book.


In truth, Haqqani is a smart and honorable man with an impossible job. In its first months, Pakistan's democratic government has been overruled by the generals every time it has asserted its authority. If Washington hopes to change Pakistan's world view, it will have to take a much tougher line with the military while supporting the country's civilian leaders, whose vision of Pakistan's national interests is broader and less paranoid, and envisions more cooperation with its neighbors. The $15 billion Biden-Lugar bill, designed to help develop Pakistan's civil society, is a big step in that direction.


Perhaps, as Haqqani's op-ed implies, the strategy of the past six decades has suddenly changed. But I recall what Warren Buffett once called the four most dangerous words in investing: "This time it's different."
© 2009
Zakaria: Has Pakistan's Army Changed Its Stripes? | Newsweek Voices - Fareed Zakaria | Newsweek.com
 

SATISH

DFI Technocrat
Ambassador
Joined
Mar 7, 2009
Messages
2,038
Likes
303
Country flag
US gives another free pass to Pak nuclear program - US - World - The Times of India

The United States has again given what virtually amounts to a free pass to Pakistan's India-specific nuclear weapons program, washing
its hands off reports by its own military and intelligence that Islamabad is rapidly expanding its arsenal, while insisting it will ensure US aid is not spent on the country's nuclear program.

A phalanx of American officials sprang to the defense of questionable US policy on Pakistan on Monday after reports over the weekend confirmed that Islamabad was accelerating its fissile material production, and the consequent concern in sections of the administration and Congress over whether billions of dollars of US aid would indirectly help underwrite the expanded program.

Most of the batting for Pakistan was done at the State Department, but the Director of the CIA, Leon Panetta, and America's highest ranking general, Admiral Mike Mullen, also stepped up during their day's engagements to certify the security of Pakistan's nuclear weapons and the firewall between US aid and the nuclear program, even as Congress tied up loose ends clear an immediate $ 2 billion aid package this week, the first of many tranches over the next decade.

"I'm not going to address the issue of whether or not the Pakistanis are increasing their nuclear capability," State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said on Monday, deferring to Admiral Mullen (who last week confirmed the expansion), while adding, "We're going to work closely with the Government of Pakistan to make sure that the money is spent for the specific purposes that the US Congress had in mind."

As reported in this paper last week, US experts have expressed consternation that Pakistan is being allowed expand its nuclear weapons program "without as much as a reproach."

Pressed to explain why the administration thought the aid would not help the expanding program when money was essentially fungible (exchangeable in the sense of freeing up domestic resources for the nuclear program), Kelly said he wouldn't link the two issues: the idea of providing an assistance package and the fact that Pakistan has a nuclear capability.

"We shouldn't make this connection, because this assistance package is for very specific purposes... I don't see necessarily a connection between the two...We're going to make sure that the package is well spent," Kelly said.

"We take our responsibility as custodians of appropriated funds very seriously. We're going to work closely with the Government of Pakistan to ensure that this money goes to the purposes to which they're intended," he added.

((But the questions about Pakistan's accelerating nuclear weapons program just wouldn't go away at the daily briefing.

Question : So we can – can we just go back to the Pakistan nuclear arsenal? I wasn't sure in your initial answer whether you said that the United States opposes Pakistan increasing the size of...

Kelly : No, I didn't say that. I hope I didn't say that. I simply stated a fact, that Pakistan has a nuclear capability and that we shouldn't draw any links between the issues of our assistance package and their nuclear capability.

Question: Does the United States oppose the idea of Pakistan increasing the size of its nuclear arsenal?

Kelly: I think I referred you back to the Joint Chiefs of Staff on that.

Question: And what you referred us to the Joint Chiefs of Staff on was the question of whether or not it is, in fact, expanding its nuclear arsenal. And the chairman was quite explicit in stating that Pakistan is, in fact, expanding its arsenal. The question that Charlie's asking, which I'm seeking to follow up on, is whether or not the US believes that to be a good thing.

Kelly: I'm not going to comment on that, I'm afraid.

Question: Why not?

Kelly: It's just – I don't think it's my place right now to comment on the issue of whether or not it's a good thing if they expand their nuclear capability.

Question: The Department has been very vocal in stating what things Pakistan must do in order to contribute to stability, which you just identified as a key goal of ours. So what should prevent you from addressing whether or not the expansion of a nuclear arsenal would or would not contribute to stability?

Kelly: I'll just say that we are working very closely with the Government of Pakistan – with the elected Government of Pakistan. We have this joint effort, as I said before, to help them deal with the instability within their borders, and help them deal with the threat of extremism within their borders. But, you know, it's – I'm not going to speculate on their intentions, whether they're increasing it or not increasing. These are intelligence matters and I'm just not going to make a comment on it.))

Elsewhere in the administration, there were similar calls to delink the aid package from Pakistan's nuclear program. Avoiding the fungibility argument, Admiral Mullen told a Washington think-tank on Monday that he was "not aware of any US aid that has gone toward nuclear weapons, save that which is very focused... on improving their security. Which is exactly what we'd like and they've done that."

He was referring to the $ 100 million that the previous Bush administration gave to enhance Pakistan's nuclear weapons security, about which some US officials say they have no idea where and how it was spent.
 
Joined
Feb 16, 2009
Messages
29,797
Likes
48,276
Country flag
what did anyone expect they were also rewarded for their nuclear proliferation, IRAN will be/is a nuclear weapon state thanks to Pakistan and more will follow.
 

nitesh

Mob Control Manager
Senior Member
Joined
Feb 12, 2009
Messages
7,550
Likes
1,307
must read, Pakistani military is just doing on thing, genocide:

BBC NEWS | South Asia | Eyewitnesses: Inside Swat

Except for some parts of the GT (Grand Trunk) road, some mountain tops and the circuit house in Mingora, all of Swat is under the control of the Taliban.
I keep moving around, and in several places I have seen army checkpoints with a Taliban checkpoint nearby.

However, neither side engages the other, and even helicopters and jets are not called in to attack the Taliban positions. :mornin:
I also don't understand who the operation is aimed against.

A majority of the people who have been killed here are civilians.


This is not an operation, it is a drama. Swat's people cannot be made fools of.
 

Daredevil

On Vacation!
Super Mod
Joined
Apr 5, 2009
Messages
11,615
Likes
5,772
Pakistan has 60 nuclear warheads: US report

28 May 2009, 0557 hrs IST, PTI


WASHINGTON: Pakistan with about 60 nuclear warheads; primarily targeted towards India, is continuing production of fissile material for weapons and adding to its weapons production facilities and delivery vehicles, a US Congressional report has said. ( Watch )

The latest report by Congressional Research Service (CRS) - a research wing of the US Congress which prepares reports for Congressmen - has confirmed the recent statements and media reports that Pakistan was expanding its nuclear arsenal.

"Pakistan's nuclear arsenal consists of approximately 60 nuclear warheads. It continues fissile material production for weapons, and is adding to its weapons production facilities and delivery vehicles," said the report "Pakistan's Nuclear Weapons: Proliferation and Security issues", which was issued for the media.

Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, at a Congressional hearing on May 14 had confirmed that the US has "evidence" that Pakistan is expanding its nuclear arsenal. Also, a similar report was published in 'The New York Times' early this month.

Pakistan stores its warheads unassembled with the fissile core separate from non-nuclear explosives, and these are stored separately from their delivery vehicles, it said.

Pakistan has 60 nuclear warheads: US report - US - World - The Times of India
 

Latest Replies

Global Defence

New threads

Articles

Top