The sentencing of a total of 85 civilians comes after the Supreme Court’s constitutional bench conditionally allowed military courts to pronounce the verdicts of the under-custody suspects in cases pertaining to the May 9 riots Following today s announcement,
Tarar advocates for militar y trials of ‘mastermind, accomplices’ behind May 9 attacks
Federal Minister for Information Broadcasting National Heritage and Culture Attaullah Tarar has emphasized the need for a military trial of the mastermind and his accomplices behind the May 9 attacks”, following the convictions of those involved in the arson and vandalism Speaking to the media Tarar welcomed the convictions of around 60 individuals by military courts, who were found guilty of participating in attacks on sensitive installations, including Lahore’s Jinnah House, PAF Airbase Mianwali Qila Chakdara and others He described this as a crucial step in ensuring accountability for those who targeted Pakistan s defense infrastructure These individuals were part of a nefarious conspiracy masterminded by the
PTI founder, Tarar stated, calling it a landmark day for Pakistan s justice system He said the conviction strengthens national security upholds the rule of law and sends a clear message that such attacks on defense installations will not be tolerated
He also stressed the significance of the due process followed in the trials, noting that extensive time was spent gathering evidence and ensuring that legal procedures were properly followed
“The accused were afforded the right to a fair trial with access to legal counsel court records and the opportunity to meet their families, he said, adding that the trials adhered to Pakistan s constitutional framework and international standards The minister pointed out that the convicted individuals could still appeal the decision either through the military judicial system or by filing writ petitions in high courts
PTI sets Jan 31 timeframe for ‘logical conclusion’ of talks with govt
apprise the government committee of the timeframe on Jan 2, he added After months of heightened political tensions, the embattled former ruling party and the government finally held their first round of dialogue this week
The inaugural meeting on the government s part was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Thursday denounced the military courts sentencing as unjust and inhuman with its Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan announced to challenge the verdict besides demanding formation of a judicial commission to investigate the events surrounding the May 9 riots and the crackdown on PTI protesters on November 26 His comments came shortly after the military court sentenced
judicial probe into May 9 riots and November 26 late-night crackdown and release of “political prisoners” P T
everyone for all the ill-treatment
PM s Adviser Rana Sanaullah, Senator Irfan Siddiqui, PPP leaders Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Naveed Qamar, and Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) leader Farooq Sattar
Whereas the PTI was represented by former NA
Speaker Asad Qaiser Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC)
Chairman Sahibzada Hamid Raza and Majlis Wahdate-Muslimeen Allama Raja Nasir Abbas
The two sides are set to hold the second session on January 2, when the PTI will present its demands before the government panel in written
The government-PTI talks are being held in the wake of the former ruling party s announcement of a civil disobedience movement if their demands of release of all political prisoners including Khan and the formation of a judicial commission for investigating the May 9 riots and the November 26 incident, go unmet
The jailed former prime minister had last month called on his supporters to launch the anti-government movement by withholding remittances in the first phase
Furthermore he said Imran was ready to forgive the ill-treatments he suffered, including the assassination attempt, for the sake of Pakistan
and
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Xikum who created the statues of the great leaders, saying he had brilliantly caught the spirit of these two legendary figures The prime minister recalled that during his recent visit to China in June this year on the recommendation of the President Xi he went to Xian and had the opportunity to visit the Terra Cotta museum, a symbol of past glorious and heritage PM Shehbaz said Pakistan proudly traced its history to the Indus valley civilisation whose relics were preserved in Mohenjo Daro and Harappa So by these accounts, today s ceremony is very special and unique as we honour the vision and legacies
of our founding fathers who held a common vision of independence justice equity emancipation and self-respect for the two nations he added The prime minister said that hundreds of Pakistani young students were visiting the Chinese universities and was a bridge between the two countries The first batch of agricultural graduate is going to visit China and have education in the field to attain modern techniques and expertise in agriculture to boost production of Pakistan agriculture next month which is yet another step towards our economic cooperation he told Yaun Xikum on the occasion said the greatness of both Quaid-e-
DEL AYS AND SECURIT Y CONCERNS RISK $1B WB FUNDING FOR DASU PROJECT
OGDCL announces successful revival, enhanced production from Pasakhi-5 well in Sindh
increase consumer costs, and stifle innovation Lower spectrum prices, however, would likely result in longterm higher government revenues by fostering a robust telecom sector
NERA s managing director stated during the National Broadband Network Forum 2024 NERA highlighted that Pakistan’s mobile telecom sector is among the most spectrum-starved globally Telecom operators in the country operate 55,000 towers, with only 15% connected via fiber optic backhaul, which is critical for 4G and 5G networks Smartphone adoption also remains a challenge with only 1% of phones on networks being 5G-capable although this percentage is higher in urban areas High smartphone prices, driven by inflation and import taxes, hinder adoption
NERA emphasized the need for incentivizing investment in fiber optic infrastructure and easing deployment processes It underscored the need to accelerate smartphone penetration to maximize the economic benefits of digital connectivity, such as access to financial and government services
According to the GSMA Mobile Connectivity Index 2023, Pakistan ranks the lowest in South Asia in spectrum allocation Factors contributing to this include auction delays high base prices dollar-pegged costs and limited demand
FBR refuses to share tax data with provinces over agri tax dispute
Corporation (-4 73%) Conversely key gainers included Pakistan Goldleaf (+10 02%), TRG Pakistan (+9 87%) Pakistan General Insurance (+3 86%), Nestle Pakistan (+2 75%), and United Bank Limited (+2 67%) In terms of index-point contributions, major draggers were Fauji Fertilizer (-259 05 points) Oil & Gas Development Company (-227 58 points) Pakistan Petroleum Limited (-191 25 points) Mari Petroleum (167 91 points), and Lucky Cement (149 94 points) Meanwhile, stocks that provided some support included UBL (+157 25 points) TRG (+79 60 points) MCB Bank (+60 11 points) Pakistan General Insurance (+18 04 points) and Nestle Pakistan (+14 85 points) On Tuesday, the Pakistan Stock Exchange experienced significant volatility, swinging in both directions before ending sharply lower amid rollover and year-end selling pressure The benchmark KSE-100
Another 60 PTI suppor ters sentenced by militar y cour ts to 2-10 years
cident Khuram Liaqat s/o Liaqat Ali Shahid 4 years rigorous imprisonment, involved in Multan Cantt Checkpost incident
Zakir Hussain s/o Shah Faisal, 7 years rigorous imprisonment, involved in Chakdara Fort incident
Ameen Shah s/o Mashter Khan 9 years
rigorous imprisonment involved in Bannu Cantt incident
Fahim Sajid s/o Muhammad Khan, 8 years rigorous imprisonment, involved in PAF Base Mianwali incident
Hamza Sharif s/o Muhammad Azam 2 years rigorous imprisonment involved in ISI Office Faisalabad incident
Muhammad Arslan s/o Muhammad Siraj, 7 years rigorous imprisonment, involved in Jinnah House incident
Muhammad Umair s/o Abdul Sattar, 6 years rigorous imprisonment involved in Jinnah House incident Noman Shah s/o Mehmood Ahmad Shah 4 years rigorous imprisonment involved in Jinnah House incident
Ikram Ullah s/o Khanzada Khan, 9 years rigorous imprisonment, involved in Bannu Cantt incident Muhammad Ahmed s/o Muhammad Nazir 2 years rigorous imprisonment involved in Rahwali Gate Gujaranwala
incident
Pirzada Mian Muhammad Ishaq Bhutta s/o Pirzada Mian Qamar ud Dind Bhutta, 3 years rigorous imprisonment, involved in Multan Cantt Checkpost incident
Muhammad Abdullah s/o Kanwar
Ashraf Khan 4 years rigorous imprison-
ment involved in GHQ attack
attack incident
Syed Hassan Shah s/o Asif Hussain
Shah 9 years rigorous imprisonment involved in GHQ attack incident
Ali Hussain s/o Khalil ur Rehman 7 years rigorous imprisonment, involved in AIMH Rawalpindi attack incident
Zahid Khan s/o Muhammad Nabi, 2 years rigorous imprisonment involved in PRC Mardan incident
Sohrab Khan s/o Riaz Khan 4 years rig-
orous imprisonment involved in HQ Dir
Scouts Timergara incident
Brig (Retd) Javed Akram s/o Chaudhary Muhammad Akarm, 6 years rigorous imprisonment, involved in Jinnah House in-
Amjad Ali s/o Manzoor Ahmed, 2 years rigorous imprisonment, involved in ISI Office Faisalabad incident
Muhammad Raheem s/o Naeem Khan 6 years rigorous imprisonment involved in Jinnah House incident
Ehsan Ullah Khan s/o Najeeb Ullah
Khan, 10 years rigorous imprisonment, involved in PAF Base Mianwali incident
Muneeb Ahmed s/o Naveed Ahmed Butt, 2 years rigorous imprisonment involved in Rahwali Gate Gujaranwala incident
Muhammad Ali s/o Muhammad Boota
2 years rigorous imprisonment involved in ISI Office Faisalabad incident
Sami Ullah s/o Meer dad Khan 2 years
rigorous imprisonment involved in Bannu Cantt incident
Mian Muhammad Akram Usman s/o Mian Muhammad Usman, 2 years rigorous imprisonment, involved in Jinnah House incident
Mudassir Hafiz s/o Hafeez Ullah 6 years rigorous imprisonment involved in Jinnah House incident
Sajjad Ahmed s/o Muhammad Iqbal, 4 years rigorous imprisonment, involved in Jinnah House incident
Khizar Hayat s/o Umar Qiyaz Khan 9 years rigorous imprisonment involved in Bannu Cantt incident Muhammad Nawaz s/o Abdul Samad 2 years rigorous imprisonment, involved in Rahwali Gate Gujaranwala incident
Muhammad Bilal s/o Muhammad Afzal, 4 years rigorous imprisonment involved in PAF Base Mianwali incident Muhammad Suleman s/o Said Ghani Jan
2 years rigorous imprisonment involved in HQ Dir Scouts Timergara incident
Asad Ullah Durani s/o Badshah Zada, 4 years rigorous imprisonment, involved in HQ Dir Scouts Timergara incident
Ikram Ullah s/o Shah Zaman 4 years rigorous imprisonment involved in Chakdara Fort incident
Muhammad Farrukh s/o Shams Tabriz, 5 years rigorous imprisonment, involved in ISI Office Faisalabad incident
Waqas Ali s/o Muhammad Ashraf, 6 years rigorous imprisonment involved in Jinnah House incident
Ameer Zohaib s/o Nazeer Ahmed
Sheikh 4 years rigorous imprisonment involved in Jinnah House incident
Farhad Khan s/o Shahid Hussain, 7 years rigorous imprisonment, involved in AIMH Rawalpindi incident
Izzat Khan s/o Awal Khan 2 years rigor-
ous imprisonment involved in HQ Dir Scouts Timergara incident
Asher Butt s/o Muhammad Arshad Butt, 2 years rigorous imprisonment, involved in Rahwali Gate Gujaranwala incident
Saqlain Haider s/o Rafiullah Khan 9 years rigorous imprisonment involved in Bannu Cantt incident
Muhammad Salman s/o Zahid Nisar 2 years rigorous imprisonment, involved in
ISI Office Faisalabad incident
Hamid Ali s/o Syed Hadi Shah 3 years rigorous imprisonment, involved in Multan Cantt Checkpost incident
Muhammad Waqas s/o Malik Muhammad Khalil, 2 years rigorous imprisonment involved in Rahwali Gate Gujaranwala incident
Izzat Gul s/o Mirdat Khan 9 years rigorous imprisonment, involved in Bannu Cantt incident
Haider Majeed s/o Muhammad Majeed, 2 years rigorous imprisonment, involved in Jinnah House incident Gp Capt Viqas Ahmed Mohsin (Retd) s/o Bashir Ahmed Mohsin 2 years rigorous imprisonment involved in Jinnah House incident Muhammad Ilyas s/o Muhammad Fazal Haleem, 2 years rigorous imprisonment, involved in HQ Dir Scouts Timergara incident Muhammad Ayaz s/o Sahibzada Khan 2 years rigorous imprisonment involved in Main Gate FC Cantt Peshawar incident Raees Ahmed s/o Khaista Rehman, 4 years rigorous imprisonment, involved in Chakdara Fort incident Gohar Rehman s/o Gul Rehman 7 years rigorous imprisonment involved in Chakdara Fort incident Naik Muhammad s/o Nasrullah Jan, 9 years rigorous imprisonment, involved in Bannu Cantt incident Fahad Imran s/o Muhammad Imran Shahid 9 years rigorous imprisonment involved in ISI Office Faisalabad incident Sufayan Idrees s/o Idrees Ahmed 2 years rigorous imprisonment involved in Rahwali Gate Gujaranwala incident Raheem Ullah s/o Bait Ullah, 9 years rigorous imprisonment, involved in Bannu Cantt incident Khalid Nawaz s/o Hamid Khan 9 years rigorous imprisonment involved in Bannu Cantt incident The trial of 9th May accused under military custody, has hereby been concluded under the relevant laws The Nation Government and the Armed Forces remain steadfast in their commitment to upholding justice and ensuring that the inviolable writ of the state is maintained, the ISPR said
COMMENT
Going green
A repor t and a seminar show how crucial a carbon market will be
AD A P T I N G to climate change is no easy task, but it seems that Pakistan is trying to make a fist of it It seems its very lack of development will serve it well, because the challenge before it is not to convert existing industries to lower emissions, but to set up new industries with them in the first place This would enable the earning of carbon credits which could be sold on the Voluntary Carbon Credit Market A report ‘Net-Zero Waves: The Path to Building A Trusted Carbon Market in Pakistan’ says that the country has 27 projects in various stages which would earn it carbon credits All of this demands that a voluntary credit mechanism be set up which followed best practices for monitoring, verification and reporting, coupled with AI-driven platforms which could manage emissions data efficiently
At the same time, speakers at a seminar in Islamabad ‘Business Case for Decarbonisation in Pakistan’ showed that decarbonization could be good business, provided that carbon markets allowed the development of a win-win situation where reducing emissions became good business There is a wider context as well: Pakistan is well-placed to become a regional centre for a carbon credit market It therefore makes sense for it to educate its population so that enough would be available to man the ITdriven market
However one of the important things to remember about the whole process While Pakistan may meet its emission goals for 2030 it will mean nothing if other countries do not It is unfortunate but true that the climate change crisis is beyond the power of any single nation, or even a group of nations, to solve the crisis Therefore, Pakistan must wield its diplomatic clout, low as it might be, to the biggest polluting countries, whether they be unwavering friends like China, or constantly sniping at us, like the USA, and urge upon them the need to pollute less This is not a problem that any one country can solve, or is responsible for It requires the cooperation of all nations Thus governments, and not just Pakistani governments, must learn to think of the consequences of their actions on neighbours, on the globe as a whole, rather than just in their narrow national frameworks That is the ultimate lesson of both the report and the seminar
Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor
M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit
Talking as a tactic
something What? That would be difficult to answer
but a rejection of the mainstream political parties was one of them
TH AT the PTI and the government have begun talks is something of a boon reflecting the depths to which Pakistan politics have sunk It also reflects both the government’s feeling that it cannot bring stability to the country without some sort of agreement with the PTI and the PTI’s that it cannot achieve its immediate goals without talking to the government That talks are happening are an indication of the government s success The PTI has itself overcome its objections to talks, which centred on three issues: First, the government consists of thieves and dacoits Second, the government has not come to office by winning elections but by an unholy alliance with the establishment Third talks must be held with the establishment in particular the military establishment not with the government because it cannot deliver anything By engaging in talks, the PTI may not have changed its mind about the government s being a bunch of thieves and dacoits, or about being robbed at election time, but it has tacitly conceded that the government can deliver something It may feel that its only means of negotiating with the establishment as it wants to do is by talking to the government It has conceded the government agency and at least the ability to communicate the PTI s demands the establishment, with which it is supposed to be hand in glove
It can also be assumed that the PTI has been conveyed that it cannot talk to the establishment though it may simply be that these talks are ‘public talks’ meant to conceal private talks The government side seems to be somewhat hesitant about these talks with Senator Irfan Siddiqui, one of the negotiators, having gone on record as saying that PTI founder Imran Khan could sabotage the talks This is not really an angry statement It reflects past experience Some of the initial reaction to the talks decision among PML(N) supporters might explain why The ill-concealed glee that was displayed that the PTI had climbed down from its uncompromising stance might explain Imran s reluctance to talk Imran had made it a selling point that he did not talk to looters and plunderers He had portrayed himself as so uncompromising a crusader against evil politicians that he would not even talk to them
Talking to them might mean compromising with some of his base This might show that traditional politicians are seen as exploitative, transactional and able to talk the hind leg off a donkey Thus, speaking with them is seen as not just contaminating, but also unwise Enough people had realized that their relationship with their representatives was transactional for them to want to replace it with a better relationship With Imran? Yes but only if he didn t become one of them
But if the PTI does talk to the forces of evil, where is the poor loyalist supposed to go? He is left with loyalty to Imran This is not going to be enough for many After all Imran was supposed to stand for
A fragile global order
TUS Presidential election resulted in the victory of Donald Trump who secured the presidency once again, the international scenario is more likely to be shifted dramatically, especially concerning the RussiaUkraine war and the Middle East Trump’s “America First” policy which centered on reducing US involvement in global conflicts and focusing on domestic interests would likely lead to a reevaluation of US support for Ukraine During his previous presidency, Trump questioned the extent of US aid to NATO allies and was often critical of foreign entanglements A return to office could signal a reduction in military support for Ukraine potentially weakening its position in the face of Russian aggression This shift would have significant consequences for NATO, as European countries might need to take on more responsibility in supporting Ukraine, potentially leading to more regional tensions On the Middle East front, Trump’s presidency was marked by strong support for Israel especially with the Abraham Accords which normalized relations between Israel and several Arab nations A second Trump term would likely intensify US-
Neither the PPP nor the PML(N) supporter has got such a problem Both have talked to the other, concluded a Charter of Democracy, and are presently in alliance Whatever damage the parties were supposed to have suffered they have as their leaders have constantly expressed a desire to talk to the PTI there is hardly any objection
One of the concomitants of talks is the cessation of actions The PTI has found itself stymied on two fronts Now that Mr Justice Mansoor Ali Shah will not become Chief Justice, its hopes from the courts have faded On the other hand, such is the nature of the cases against Imran and others that prosecutions have been failing on appellate courts The problem the government faces is that courts demand evidence Even if the judge is morally convinced, he can only rule on the evidence that has been placed before him It has thus become difficult to keep on holding Imran The postponements of the decision in the Al-Qadir Trust Reference to a date beyond the next meeting of the committee meeting on January 2 Transparently the verdict is being held off till then That case not only involves Imran but also his wife, who had earlier been arrested, but was only recently bailed He is not the only person in legal trouble KP CM Ali Amin Gandapur was absent from the meeting, which was explained away by a Cabinet meeting he had to attend but he is also wanted in both May 9 cases as well as the November 26 rally Leader of the Opposition Gohar Ayub was also absent appearing in
All conflicts end with talks, even wars Even the 1971 surrender in East Pakistan was preceded the evening before by talks Even World War II was ended by the signing of surrenders, first by the Germans, then the Japanese, but in each case preceded by talks just before . Though the PTI disdained talking to thieves and dacoits, it took par t in talks with them, in the shape of parliamentary debates. Previously, it had refused to talk to the government without Imran being released.
Israel relations while potentially undermining efforts to mediate peace between Israel and the Palestinians Trump s foreign policy could also take a more isolationist turn, with more focus on diplomacy and less on military intervention in regions deemed critical to US interests
The international situation in late 2024 presents a volatile combination of conflicts and shifting alliances The Russia-Ukraine war continues to dominate Europe s security concerns, with little indication of a peaceful resolution in the near future In the Middle East, the IsraelHamas conflict shows no sign of de-escalating, with the humanitarian crisis threatening to destabilize the region further Also the recent sudden toppling of the Assad family has opened up a new platform as it is early to say where all of this will take turn either stability or another chaos Meanwhile, the return of Donald Trump to the US presidency may lead to significant changes in US foreign policy particularly with regard to its support for Ukraine Israel and involvement of the USA in the Middle East
These events are interconnected by the complex interplay of power, diplomacy, and humanitarian concerns The world stands at a precarious crossroads, and the actions taken by global powers in the coming months will determine whether a more stable international order is achievable or if tensions will continue to escalate
The writer can be reached at muhammadgzaib@gmail com
These events are interconnected by the complex interplay of power, diplomacy, and humanitarian concerns. The world stands at a precarious crossroads, and the actions taken by global powers in the coming months will determine whether a more stable international order is achievable or if tensions will continue to escalate
Secure sur fing
Can China counter US arms sales to Taiwan?
But China s response to these military alliances is economic and infrastructure development and making alliances with resourceful countries in all continents to ensure regular supply of raw material to fuel China’s enormous economy by pursuing President Xi’s win-win philosophy China has established global infrastructure port and mineral exploration alliances through its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) In Asia, it has built roads, railways, and ports like Gwadar (Pakistan) and Hambantota (Sri Lanka), while investing in minerals in Afghanistan and Central Asia In Africa China has developed railways highways ports like Djibouti and Kenya s Lamu Port and mines for cobalt and copper in the DRC and Zambia In Europe it funds rail links (such as the Budapest-Belgrade railway), ports like Piraeus (Greece), and rare earth processing in Eastern Europe In Latin America it builds highways and railways invests in ports in Panama and Argentina and mines lithium and iron ore in Chile and Brazil In Oceania it focuses on Pacific Island infrastructure, ports, and mining in Australia and Papua New Guinea Interestingly, although China is investing trillions of dollars in development projects across continents but emphasizes a policy of non-interference presenting itself as a partner that respects sovereignty and refrains from meddling in domestic politics It does not form military alliances, meddle in internal politics, or involve itself in the internal conflicts of its allied countries This non-interventionist approach also includes staying clear of internal matters in these states In contrast the USA is perceived as more openly involved in the internal affairs of its allies, often justified under the banner
of promoting democracy, human rights, and free markets This includes imposing conditions on aid providing direct political support or pressuring allies to align with its foreign policy objectives and is viewed as intrusive and undermining sovereignty
Thus, China is often seen as a pragmatic economic partner with strategic conditions, while the USA is regarded as a political and military ally that expects ideological and policy alignment
In a hypothetical situation if China reversde its policy of restraint and strategic tolerance and with a view to counterbalance the USA s policy to arm Taiwan, if China starts openly supporting Puerto Rico, perhaps the USA will not tolerate this Chinese intervention and this would perceived as a direct challenge to its influence in its backyard leading to a strong response
Domestically Puerto Rican independence movements could gain momentum, causing political unrest and division Militarily, the USA would reinforce its presence in the Caribbean escalating tensions with China and risking a confrontation
For the region and China this scenario would create profound consequences The Caribbean could become a proxy battleground, destabilizing smaller nations and forcing them to choose sides, with economic and political fallout across Latin America China’s involvement risks overreach provoking a strong US response and alienating regional allies wary of external interference
Globally the confrontation could lead to a new Cold War dynamic, with heightened militarization in both the Caribbean and Indo-Pacific regions While China might expose US vulnerabilities it would also face significant diplomatic and economic pushback diverting resources from its primary focus on Taiwan and the Asia-Pacific Given the potential for escalating ten-
sions and global instability both China and the USA should seriously reevaluate their policy toward Taiwan and adopt a more balanced approach that prioritizes dialogue over provocation While supporting Taiwan’s democratic aspirations is important overt actions that appear to challenge China’s sovereignty risk triggering a dangerous cycle of countermeasures such as potential Chinese interference in Puerto Rico or elsewhere, that could destabilize multiple regions Instead of a confrontational stance, the U S should focus on fostering regional stability through multilateral diplomacy reducing militarization and encouraging peaceful coexistence between Taiwan and China A restrained and pragmatic approach would not only prevent unnecessary con-
Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) the AUKUS pact between the USA UK and Australia and strengthening bilateral security agreements with allies like the Philippines, Japan, and South Korea
WH O remembers Pham-thi-Toi? She survived the My Lai massacre in 1968 Six of her relatives did not She was compelled to move to a refugee camp despite the danger of land mines One blew off her limbs Nearly a year later, after being fitted with prostheses in an American Quaker-run rehab center for maimed Vietnamese civilians she returned and opened a small shop In April 1972 South Vietnamese soldiers fired into the camp Bullets tore into her stomach Having cheated death twice this young woman was now among the millions of Southeast Asians killed in one of the most brutal wars of the 20th century One may not expect to read such stories in diplomatic history Still the human face of war stares at you throughout “Fire and Rain ” Carolyn Eisenberg’s 2024 Bancroft Prize-winning study of the lies deception and earth-shattering violence that propelled President Richard Nixon s prosecution of the wars in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia The connection is critical because battlefield realities influenced decision-makers, who then tried to shape reality to their liking Ms Eisenberg is a noted historian and critic of U S foreign policy who all those decades ago was a campus anti-war activist Her moral compass continues to inform her scholarship Brimming with insights from thousands of declassified documents and telephone transcripts, this book is a damning rendering of not only Nixon and his national security adviser Henry Kissinger but also the national security state that made possible their policy of prolonging a lost war The deaths of countless Southeast Asians may have mattered little to a White House bent on deceiving the public To Ms Eisenberg however it would
be impossible to convey the sheer criminality of their actions without reference to the discomfiting consequences Published to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Paris Peace Accords “Fire and Rain” also evokes Nixon’s resignation half a century ago for the crimes of Watergate
The author links Watergate and Vietnam because the creation of the plumbers had largely been inspired by the desire to suppress antiwar criticism Yet apart from the particulars, there was something deeper at work because the secretiveness and lies, which had been a feature of previous administrations had assumed epic proportions the ordinary processes of national security decision-making had been torn loose from any institutional moorings Ms Eisenberg writes Nixon and Kissinger concealed from Congress the bombing of Cambodia for 14 months from March 1969 Then, they hid the plans for the invasion of Cambodia from the secretaries of the state and the defense While insisting that the U S could not betray an ally in Saigon Kissinger later promised Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai that after the war the administration would begin withdrawing U S forces from Taiwan a supposed ally without having run this idea past Congress, the Taiwanese or anyone else who might object to such a betrayal
To secure “peace with honor,” the emotionally volatile Nixon and Kissinger repeatedly sought military escalation even as U S troop withdrawals accelerated Their weapon of choice became the B-52 bomber deployed with no regard for civilians Let s brutalize them Kissinger said referring to the Linebacker II raids in late 1972 when peace was in the offing The year before, Nixon instructed his right-hand man to inform Hanoi that he would “finish off the g place Just knock the [expletive] out of them ”
The president and national security adviser portrayed in these pages are storms of contradictions Angry and autocratic in private Nixon remained a master political manipulator in public His televised addresses about Vietnam and detente with China and Russia convinced most Americans he was a peacemaker The 1972 election results confirmed it; Democrat George McGovern, a staunch opponent of the war carried one state And Kissinger who endlessly emphasized the importance of U S “credibility” in the Cold War pleaded with Soviet and Chinese communists to pressure the North Vietnamese to make concessions in the secret peace talks
Even without declassified transcripts, the contradiction existed in plain sight: If Nixon and Kissinger were exchanging toasts with communist leaders in Moscow and Beijing why did the killing in Southeast Asia continue?”
Ms Eisenberg asks Because they were desperate to secure a face-saving deal to extract the country from Vietnam Nixon and Kissinger got away with it The governments they claimed to have supported in South Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos did not survive In the summer of 1974, the House impeachers voted against Article IV, charging the president with the secret bombing of Cambodia Kissinger ’s reputation as a statesman soared He remained unrepentant until his death last November at age
100 In this sobering account Ms Eisenberg reminds us of their calamitous failures At the time, it was widely recognized that the Nixon administration’s policy in Southeast Asia had been disastrous Lamentably, the self-serving belief that the freedom and security of people worldwide depended on U S military might somehow survive she concludes Martin Di Caro hosts the History as It Happens podcast at The Washington Times
Scott Anthony ’s fascinating new book, The Stor y of British Propaganda Film, challenges conventional assumptions about government ‘marketing’
TH E Nazis have four fighting services declared a film produced by the British Ministry of Information in 1941: Land, sea, air and PROPAGANDA ” The aptly-titled Film as a Weapon went on to argue that “by press, radio and film the legend of [the Nazi] dictatorship was established and that press radio and film can help our armed forces to kill that legend and reassert the lesson of democracy This wartime paean to the power of media is typical of how we understand propaganda today – as something states did during the great wars of the distant past, not as something in which they still indulge Scott Anthony’s fascinating and subversive new book The Story of British Propaganda Film challenges those comfortable assumptions It would have been easy enough to write a book about British propaganda which limited itself to the two world wars Anthony begins there, locating the origins of modern propaganda in the mobilisation of British society that began in 1914 and he does a fine job of exploring how cinema was used in the interwar period then after 1939 to manage the populace This was he argued the heroic phase of British propaganda used to fight two wars and herald the arrival of the welfare state The Crown Film Unit, for instance, produced two films about the Blitz, London Can Take It! (1940) and Christmas Under Fire (1941) These were slick journalistic and saccharine – perfect for their intended American targets whom Britain hoped to woo into taking up arms After hostilities ceased Humphrey Jennings produced films such as A Diary for Timothy (1945) and Cumberland Story (1947), which celebrated the National Insurance Act and the nationalisation of the coal industry (respectively) What Anthony sees uniting these various efforts was a shared commitment by artists intellectuals and activists [to] utilising media technology to create cross-class enthusiasm for an idea of Britain as a modern democratic state It would have been easy enough to write about British propaganda limited to the two world wars, but Anthony’s analysis doesn’t end there Instead he claims that a second “total” phase followed in the late 1950s aimed at soothing the psychological stress and dislocation of modern life Propaganda efforts were no longer limited to communicating with the people on specific issues such as rationing or conscription Instead, it became the default mode of communication between the authorities and us Where the citizen had once been seen as a friend of the state s benevolent efforts to improve society now Anthony writes they were – and still are – seen more as erratic patients who could not be trusted to take the government s medicine This view might seem paranoid, but Anthony has the receipts “Communication” is now
Qamar Bashir
U S W E A P O N R Y W O N ’ T B E M A G I C S T R AW
T O S AV E D P P A U T H O R I T I E S , S AY S C H I N A
the US to seriously reconsider its dangerous actions in space stop provocations that lead to space confrontation, and stop spreading false narratives, so that it can contribute to maintaining lasting peace and security in space, said Zhang
A Legac y of S truggle for Democrac y
BASHIR RIAZ
Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto s death anniversary will be marked this year amidst another situation of political uncertainty in Pakistan A few days before her assassination, she had vowed to protect her country from nefarious plans of terrorists Extremist elements wanted to target Pakistan’s sovereignty Despite knowing the danger and threat to her life Shaheed BB wanted to be among her people and she wanted to be a part of the democratic process She believed that democracy was the best revenge Her enemies were cowards, afraid of her strength She was targeted on the eve of December 27th, 2007, and assassinated She chose to gave her life leaving behind a legacy of incredible struggle for democracy Her sacrifice left a vacuum in Pakistan s politics and left a permanent mark in the hearts of the people of Pakistan
Shaheed BB is one of those leaders who raised her voice against martial law General Zia imposed martial law on July 5, 1977 During that time, she came to Lahore with her brother Shahnawaz Bhutto and stayed with Begum Nadra Khakwani Shaheed BB opposed the dictatorship with great courage and people appreciated her for that She gave me an interview at that time which re-
flects her pollical acumen
The first question I asked was “You are a great admirer of your father ’s work When you heard that the government has been toppled by a military dictator what was your immediate reaction? She said that her parents were already informed at 2 AM and she came to know about it slightly later at 3 AM
There was a feeling of regret It was not personal regret, but it was a sense of regret at the good work of Pakistan People’s Party being disrupted After Pakistan was split into two it was a difficult time But despite these challenges the civilian government convinced India to return 5 000 square miles of Pakistani territory and 90 000 prisoners of war Then there was the second Islamic Summit that was held in Lahore that was also hosted by a civilian government
About her father ’s reaction, she said, he wasn’t even worried about us, but he was worried about his country In response to a question about different foreign lobbies working against her father she said that there were a number of reasons for international conspiracies against him He wanted to unite the Arab world and wanted them to become aware of their strength in unity He also wanted to bring together the developing world, uniting them against exploitation by imperial powers and they
did not appreciate this Some people did not like this at all that someone in Pakistan was striving to fight them on all these fronts Politics demands sacrifice Begum Bhutto mentioned this is an interview that after becoming the First Lady she had to give up her family life She also said that it affected children who had to be away from paternal love and attention Benazir Bhutto understood these challenges but she believed that growing up in such an environment gave her political consciousness It empowered her to participate in political debates and be prepared for political struggles She said that in politics we have to be careful about our words that they don t hurt anyone or do not become a cause for complain It is by chance that some are born in affluent households while others are born in poor households But poverty should not be anyone’s destiny, and we must work together to fight poverty in our country
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is now following in the footsteps of his mother carrying forward her mission of serving the people along with his sister Aseefa Bhutto Zardari who is currently the First Lady of Pakistan
Behind the Curtain with Oneebulah Khan: A Conversation with the Mind Behind OuKcreative
CORPORATE CORNER
SNGPL clarifies recent claims regarding closure of
When Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto returned
rected that the pace of development work in
new sectors must be accelerated to ensure timely completion and possession Regarding Sector C-14 Chair-
man CDA Muhammad Ali Randhawa instructed that development activities be expedited and possession must be handed over before the payment of the final installment The meeting was briefed that over 85% of road infrastructure and more than 35% of drainage and sewerage works in the sector have already been completed Chairman CDA Muhammad Ali Randhawa also reviewed progress on Sectors C-15 and C-16 and directed that all hurdles in their development be removed on a priority basis He stressed the need for addressing legal aspects and resolving Built-Up Property (BUP) issues without delay In relation to Sector I-12, Chairman CDA Muhammad Ali Randhawa directed to initiate the process of handing over possession to allottees at the earliest During the briefing, it was revealed that 78% of development work in the sector has
been completed while the remaining development work will also be completed in the coming months The progress of Sector E-12 was also evaluated during the meeting Chairman CDA Muhammad Ali Randhawa was informed that substantial development work has been completed in Sub-sectors E-12/2 and E-12/1 He directed Member Estate to devise a comprehensive solution for resolving Built-Up Property (BUP) issues in Sector E-12
Chairman CDA further instructed the swift resolution of issues related to Sectors C-13 D-13 E-13 and F-13, urging the Engineering and Estate Wings to remove all obstacles hindering the development of these sectors He assured that he would personally visit these sectors soon to oversee the progress and ensure timely resolution of issues impending de-
KARACHI:
ANTI-TERROR OPERATIONS IN BORDER AREAS DRIVEN BY SECURIT Y THREATS: FO RESPONDS TO AFGHANISTAN
Major martyred, 13 terrorists neutralised in three KP IBOs
A Pakistan Army Major was martyred while 13 Khariji terrorists were killed during three intelligence-based operations conducted in separate areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa the military s media wing said on Thursday A statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that three security operations were carried out in the wee hours of Thursday in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
“The security forces conducted an intelligencebased operation was conducted in general area Jani Khel Bannu District on the reported presence of khwarij the statement read adding that two terrorists were killed during the operation
In the second operation, which took place in Noth Waziristan, “five khwarij were effectively neutralised by security forces ” The ISPR added that eight terrorists were also injured in the operation
However during the fire exchange 31-year-old Major Muhammad Awais who was leading his troops from the front, having fought gallantly, paid the ultimate sacrifice and embraced shahadat (martyrdom), the statement read
Meanwhile in the third operation in South Waziristan six terrorists were killed after being engaged by security forces Eight others were injured in the encounter, the ISPR said Sanitisation operations are being carried out to eliminate any other kharji found in the area as security forces of Pakistan are determined to wipe out the menace of terrorism and such sacrifices of our brave soldiers further strengthen our resolve the statement said Yesterday, thirteen terrorists were killed during fire exchange with security forces in an intelligence-based operation (IBO) conducted in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s South Waziristan district, the military’s media wing reported on Wednesday A statement by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that the security forces conducted the intelligence-based operation (IBO) in general area Sararogha South Waziristan District The operation was conducted following reports about the presence of khwarij on December 24-25
The ISPR said security forces effectively engaged “khwarij location as a result of which 13 khwarij were sent to hell” Killed khwarij remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities against the security forces as well as killing of innocent civilians the military said
Pakistan has witnessed a sharp surge in the number of attacks targeting security forces and other law enforcement agencies, particularly in Balochistan and KP, after the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) broke a ceasefire agreement with the government in 2022 According to the interior ministry in the past 10 months 948 out of 1 566 terrorism incidents reported occurred in KP resulting in 583 deaths (out of a total of 924 martyrdom) PM LAUDS SECURITY FORCES FOR SUCCESSFUL OPERATION
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday lauded the security forces for successful operations against the Khawariji terrorists in Bannu and North and South Waziristan
He appreciated the security forces for eliminating 13 Khawariji terrorists in these operations He paid tribute to Major Muhammad Awais of Pakistan army for embracing martyrdom while countering the terrorists in North Waziristan
He prayed for the elevation of ranks of martyred Major Awais in heaven and condoled with the bereaved family He said the whole nation saluted martyred Major Awais and was determined to eradicate terrorism in all forms
Chakwal She appeared in court at the hearing and provided the necessary surety bonds to obtain interim bail Former first lady Bushra Bibi left the court premises after the bail was granted, and her next court appearance is set for mid-January Her counsel, Faisal Malik argued that the cases registered against Bushra Bibi are ‘politically
Underscoring the importance of relationship between the bench and the bar the Chief Justice of Pakistan Mr Justice Yahya Afridi has emphasized that the judiciary relies on the bar s assistance in providing justice He stated this while talking to a wide range of representatives various bodies of law fraternity her at the SCP premises Thursday As part of his drive to broaden consultations with key stakeholders and take their views on improving services delivery the Chief Justice met with several Bar Associations including Supreme Court Bar Association AJK Muzaffarabad High Court Bar Association Multan, Bar Associations of Sahiwal Division i e District Bar Associations of Sahiwal, Okara, Pak-Patan, Tehsil Bar Associations of Arifwala, Renala Khurd and Depalpur District Bar Association of Tank (KP) and Advocates from Afridi Tribe
The CJP reiterated that under the principle of the trichotomy of powers the judiciary is entrusted with interpreting the law and safeguarding the fundamental rights of the people as enshrined in the Constitution of Pakistan
The CJP called upon the legal fraternity to rise to the challenges of time in ensuring timely and effective dispensation of justice
The Chief Justice shared with visiting lawyers his insights from his recent visits to the farthest districts of various provinces He highlighted the Ghotki Judicial Complex as a benchmark for its exemplary facilities and infrastructure reflecting the potential for other regions to follow suit in creating robust judicial facilities
Recognizing the pivotal role of the legal fra-
ternity within the justice system the Chief Justice stressed that collaboration with lawyers is essential for ensuring efficient justice To strengthen the professional capacity of lawyers he announced that the Federal Judicial Academy will offer specialized training programs, equipping legal practitioners with enhanced skills to better serve the public
In a move to support bar councils the Chief Justice revealed that the Law and Justice Commission under its Access to Justice program will disburse Rupees One million to Bar Associations applying for specific facilities This initiative aims to address critical needs within bar associations and improve their operational capacity
The Chief Justice also assured the High Court Bar Association Multan for the provision of video link facilities so as to reduce logistical challenges and improving efficiency Additionally, he committed to resolving the c
(AJK) Bar, ensuring the swift delivery of justice in the region
The Chief Justice reaffirmed his dedication to improving the justice system across the country emphasizing that sustainable progress requires the collective efforts of all stakeholders
This initiative is part of his broader vision to enhance access to justice and strengthen the judicial framework at all levels
