Is USA Interested In Afghan Peace?

A Common Scene in US Servicemen's Graveyard

US fatalities in Afghanistan by the hands of the Taliban militia stand at at well over 2000 deaths. Two thousand coffins sent back home wrapped in the American flag. Expecting the still standing, sole super power of the world to forgive and forget the loss of it's men and woman (The American casualties caused by the rag tag militia) in the longest battle they ever fought in their history is too much of an ask by any standards. The conception and formation of the Taliban is a product of the United States itself in collaboration with Pakistan during the cold war that eventually became their Frankenstein monster after they cut them loose once they had defeated the might of the Soviet Empire. This Frankenstein, came back to haunt it's makers after three decades of being abandoned in the wild. Although most of the domestic populace in the United States now is of the opinion that Afghanistan is a useless war bringing more misery to America than benefit, but very few are aware of the real reason that the US went into Afghanistan and will stay there for foreseeable future. Al-Qaeda and Bin Laden aside, US has mega strategic interests in maintaining her military presence in Afghanistan, which happens to be the very backyard of China and Russia. Afghanistan also happens to be the gateway to energy rich Central Asia. Supporting the Afghan cause is ensured by the CIA which also generates its unaccounted black funds from the world's largest illegal drug market producing more than 90% of  the global opium produce. The CIA may continue to deny the facts about their drug cartel links terming them as their sources. However the drug money trail does reach the CIA agents on ground in Afghanistan and certain rogue American elements who are working as US Contractors in Afghanistan hired by the CIA. Some basic research through any online search engine will provide endless volumes of references about the age old CIA drug trade links around the globe. How can  anyone expect the CIA not to claim their share in what is  currently the biggest drug market of the globe; Afghanistan. This illegal drug trade of  billions of dollars simply won't be feasible for both the CIA and the Taliban if Afghanistan finds lasting peace. The lucrative mega drug empire in Afghanistan thrives on chaos. In reality, the on ground turf wars in Afghanistan between the US forces led by intelligence spooks, Al-Qaeda, ISIS and Taliban, are fought over the control of  poppy producing areas and the product itself. The Jihad and its philosophy essentially gains legitimacy for the Taliban and other Islamist radical groups while recruiting disillusioned youth subsequently in a thriving mercenaries business funded by the Afghan drug trade. In the end its all about money, whether you want  to believe it or not.  

    

The American Flag wrapped coffins continue to arrive from Afghanistan 

Returning to the million dollar question of:  "Is the US really interested in sustainable peace between their funded Afghan government in Kabul and the Taliban?" For this an assessment of durable peace v war in Afghanistan is necessary to analyse. How would peace affect the USA?  The US backed Kabul government will be sharing power with the Taliban. It would also imply that the US will have to leave Afghanistan vacating the military bases it built after trillions of dollars in overall war expenditures. It would also require the CIA to close its declared and hidden bases and stop ground clandestine operations which are also a lucrative source of non audit-able black money. Above all peace in Afghanistan requires the USA to give a rain check to the Taliban and remaining extremist militant groups. This would look like complete amnesty is being granted to these organisations especially to the serviceman's family and fiends, who know their loved ones died at the hands of these "enemies"   

The rag tag militia that was originally created by the USA itself is defeating them in the ground war being fought in Afghanistan. The primitive army as pictured above is winning and is a cause for global embarrassment for the "US empire" 

Is the price worth it for the USA just for the sake of peace in Afghanistan? The cost would be loosing physical influence over the entire region, forgiving an enemy which brought so much pain and misery to the USA and allied troops and subsequently loosing prestige due to an army of "bandits" as they give the perception of being to the rest of the world. The same bandit's bringing down the entire might of the US Empire as they did to the Soviet's in the past would make the USA look weak and incompetent in the eyes of the entire world. 

The cost is too high for the US to pay for achieving peace with the Taliban or between Taliban and their sponsored government in Kabul. Under the circumstances we may assume that the US will remain a presence in Afghanistan and the region for the foreseeable future. The US made this amply clear with the killing of the Taliban Chief, Mullah Akhtar Mansoor in a drone strike in Pakistan (For details please read: https://whatholdsthefuture.blogspot.com/2016/05/killing-of-mullah-mansoor-impact-on.html).  This killing most recently proved what the "real"  US interest in the Afghan peace process is. The Afghan peace process being sponsored by China, Pakistan, the Afghan government and the US themselves stands defeated. What remains to be seen is how the  Chinese and their friends would respond to this behaviour by the USA and is all together a different ball game. Keep watching..       

Ajit Doval-The Devil's Advocate

AJIT KUMAR DOVAL

He is the great Indian spy master as they call him. He is highly decorated irrespective of being a civilian. He started as a Police officer and rose to be the head of Indian premier intelligence agency. His experiences made him a hero in his own rights. He claimed to have lived in the arch rival country, Pakistan as an under cover agent for seven years. He is currently the National Security Adviser (NSA) to the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He is the devil's advocate for he executed his plan to give Pakistan a taste of their own medicine by hiring the Taliban mercenaries and putting Pakistan to fire. His endeavors as such have burned and killed hundreds of thousands of innocent Pakistani civilians. He makes his devil's doctrine no secret from the world while he lectured the (SASTRA) university students in India on how to tackle Pakistan through his policy of investing in Pakistani created Taliban mercenaries. He simply suggested to double the money where Pakistan puts it, and make the international ideological mercenaries aka Taliban attack and destroy the Pakistani state. He considers it to be reverse engineering through the use of more money then Pakistan could ever match. Ironically his doctrine worked in favour of Doval, while Pakistan burned like never before by the hands of it's own Frankenstein now commissioned by the Indian money. Ajit Doval added yet another feather to his cap, but at the expense of earning the title he's being referred to over here.
 (For Details : http://whatholdsthefuture.blogspot.com/2015/01/indians-playing-with-fire-repercussions.html)           

A Spy Master or just another Career Bureaucrat ?

Ajit Kumar Doval is in fact a career bureaucrat who became what he is by the virtue of his line of service being an efficient police officer who later joined the intelligence bureau and followed a strict career oriented lifestyle. His career path took him places and afforded him the opportunity to create the myths about him as they are told. Like all career oriented executive class Indian officers he acted strictly on the philosophies and teachings of the dead man who still haunts the Indian sub continent now called South Asia. He follows CHANKIYA like all his peers who is the Indian Machiavelli. CHANKIYA's works are taught in the Indian civil services academy till date teaching the managers of India in statecraft, diplomacy and clandestine activities. Ajit Kumar Doval has been part of the same grooming process and for his career orientation naturally took the crazy dead man as some would call him a bit too seriously.
(For Details:-  http://whatholdsthefuture.blogspot.com/2012/07/imprints-of-dead-man-on-south-asia.html )

Ajit Doval's much glorified mythical status is created by deceptively boasting his role as an undercover spy in Pakistan for seven years where he was in fact the head of security for Indian diplomatic mission being a Police services officer. Ajit Kumar Doval's only one lie as such tells the story of the remaining myths. Such stories are created all the time on paper citations to earn awards and honours by similar typical military and civil bureaucrats. Ajit Doval is as career aspiring a bureaucrat as the next man, as his successes in his career may be attributed to the team that he managed or was a part of. Ajit Kumar Doval can be easily termed as a paper tiger as they call them in the subcontinent. This overrated paper tiger is responsible for more bloodshed in South Asia then any of his contemporaries could have ever accomplished. He is also, more cunning then the rest of them for he pledged his loyalties to the RSS for ensuring his rise to power after retirement from government service. RSS is the militant wing of the Indian ruling party BJP and that is the latest stair case Doval used to take him to his present assignment as the Indian NSA. No wonder he finds it easy to play the devilish game he's best at so openly and comfortably for his demonic doctrine is bought easily by the Hindu fundamentalist ex RSS and their ultra nationalistic ideals. Having said that,  Ajit Doval, is still a mere Babu(clerk) who became the myth he is for nationalists in India desperately needed Hindu heroes as such after the recent rise of Hindu Nationalism in India which allowed Narendra Modi to come into power . It was the same mindset which gave Modi a clear chit over the massacre of thousands of Muslims under his direct watch in the infamous Gujrat riots in India. 
(For Details: http://whatholdsthefuture.blogspot.com/2015/11/the-rise-of-hindu-fundamentalist.html)

Narendra Modi Brought Him Back From The Cold For A Reason

 While the moderate Indian narrative is that they choose Modi irrespective of his tainted human rights records for the promise of economic revival of India on his Gujrat economic model, which he is now delivering upon. Modi still needed to retain Hindu nationalistic extremists support to deliver upon the promises he made to his Indian vote bank by hook or through crook. For all such reasons and more he hired his trusted extremist Hindu fundamentalist colleague Ajit Kumar Doval from the cadres of his parent organisation, RSS, which not only recommended but ensured Doval's position in the power corridors of Delhi for carrying out the dictation of RSS Head Quarters which runs the present Indian security policy in essence. Ajit Doval in the meantime sells his same old story being the Babu he is carrying out the orders of his bosses which happens to be RSS now.

 Ajit Doval by following his dangerous policies, is only lowering the Pakistani nuclear threshold endangering the entire region, exposing it to a nuclear holocaust. It is only natural for Pakistan to increase reliance on her nuclear arsenal while its threshold diminishes with every effective blow on her state apparatus and conventional war machinery by the mercenaries hired by Doval using the Indian public money. As for the insurgency in Kashmir supported by Pakistan is concerned, it was ceased and taken a U turn upon by Pakistani President Gen Musharraf in 2004 under intense US pressure. Ajit Doval's devilish strategy flourished using the same ideological mercenaries Pakistan decommissioned and ceased to support in Kashmir. Ajit Doval used the same militants by hiring them through Afghans to be used against Pakistan instead. The policy worked well for Doval and his bosses only to be blunted in last few years by an all out offensive by the Pakistani security establishment targeting these mercenaries ruthlessly across the country. Those who escaped the Pakistani military onslaught are now either in hiding or at Afghanistan where they are afforded refuge in a largely ungoverned country.

It would be only pragmatic to conclude that Ajit Kumar Doval's devil's advocacy in the shape of publicly boasting highly confrontational clandestine policy towards Pakistan backfired for India. It created further trouble for Indian state security from across the borders making India less secure then before as seen during the "Pathankot Air Base Attack". The cost of Doval's glory hunting attitude resulted in the loss of Indian Armed Forces personal's life at Pathankot while the same behaviour makes it possible for anti India extremist organizations to thrive in Pakistan and elsewhere creating a certain threat to the lives of ordinary Indian citizens. Ajit's boastful public proclamations of hiring mercenaries to conduct terrorism in neighbouring country also ashamed the world's largest democracy by being branded as an irresponsible state having a big mouthed NSA like him. Little do the world know that he is no more then an overrated cop seeking his place in history at the any cost whatsoever.  

              

 
 

Future of Asian Economy

In a world of business competitiveness, the future of global and regional economies depend upon interconnectivity through the most accessible and economical routes.

Pakistan sits in the most populous region of the world fast becoming the future of global economy being in the middle of Asia Pacific. Pakistan is the only country which can connect the mega economies of China and India with the emerging markets like Iran, Middle East and Central Asia through the most economical and fastest ground and sea links.

Pakistan also holds the keys to most accessible energy corridors to both China and India. Hence, stability in Pakistan may directly benefit the entire region, in particular China, India and Iran.

The anti state forces at play in Pakistan are only working to hinder the realization of entire region's economic destiny. The future belongs to economic integration by connecting regional economies through Pakistan.

Peace through conflict resolution is the the only way forward. However, to achieve it, the general population of the region, especially India and Pakistan needs to realize the potential of joining hands and working through their differences.

Leadership in both India and Pakistan use the hatred for other to avoid bringing up real issues haunting the lives of common folks in both the countries. The same leadership needs to realize that by linking with the global economy through most economical and already established routes, an economical revolution may take place, which would drastically enhance the lives of poor people in both countries. It's time we let go of petty politics and work together for a better future claiming the rightful share of South Asian subcontinent in the global economy. The hate mongers won't shut up over night, but the sheer size of the economic progress will force them to tone down and ultimately their voices and actions would stop having an impact in both countries.

What Do We Need To Learn from China-Future of CPEC

While China embarks upon her 46 billion US Dollar investment/soft loan towards the Pakistan China Economic Corridor (CPEC), they have simultaneously also pledged a 62 billion US Dollar investment into Iran taking further steps towards the realization of the "Road and Belt" initiative of Chinese President Xi Jingping. At the same time China maintains an annual bilateral trade of more then 70 billion US dollars with India as per official figures of Indian government's Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence & Statistics for the year 2014 alone with investments of almost 64 billion US dollars in India. (http://www.indianembassy.org.cn/DynamicContent.aspx?MenuId=97&SubMenuId=0) 

In his last visit to India, President Xi Jingping signed an investment of 20 billion US dollars in infrastructure development projects in India which are well under way. 

(http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-29249268)

Indian Prime Minister in response visited China and signed 24 different agreements of wide ranging co-operation with China worth around 10 billion US dollars.

(http://www.ndtv.com/cheat-sheet/24-agreements-signed-between-india-and-china-during-pm-modis-visit-763246)

 This indicates the growth of the bilateral relations between both the world's top growing economies. For China it's all good business and India is playing ball and reaping unlimited benefits for it's citizens. It also indicates that irrespective of fighting an all out war among themselves in 1962 and various other skirmishes and political brawls, both China and India are mature economies, which give priority to business foremost and setting aside traditional rivalries which may be competed on separate grounds. India's seriousness in improving bilateral relations with China are evident due to her principal stance in direct opposition of USA to support Chinese position on South China Sea issue. 

China is the biggest foreign debt holder of the US economy in the world. This practically manifests both Chinese and US economies as inter-dependent on each other. Irrespective of the realist school of thought's offensive aspirations about a war between the sole superpower of the world and the emerging super power that is US and China, the actual chances of any such encounter is almost non-existent. Both powers will remain engaged in a proxy cold conflict in a war for influence around the globe but will stop short of an open confrontation for that would mean the global economic meltdown which either countries can't afford. The current Chinese bilateral trade ties with the US stand at a staggering 103,159.2 million US dollars in 2016.

(https://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/balance/c5700.html) 

China following its consistent policy initiative starting in 1999 called the "Go Global Strategy" has successfully diversified her investments around the world spearheaded by the Chinese flagship enterprises. These investments are equally distributed between the east and west making the host countries a partner with China in progress and trade which entails stakes of host countries and China embedded as one. An example is the recent Chinese investments in the UK worth 11.7 billion Pounds Sterling from 2005 to 2013 while China envisages another 105 billion Pounds Sterling in infrastructure development in the UK by 2025. 

 (http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/501808f6-5b89-11e4-b68a-00144feab7de.html)    

The point of above debate and figures is to understand the phenomenon of making "Brand China" and the insight into the marketing of this brand around the world, promoting China's soft image in direct contradiction to her popular image fabricated by the western corporate media exploiting Chinese human rights atrocities within China. Chinese global business strategy is based on shared interests with partner countries which has recently focused on connecting Europe with the Asia Pacific region. The complete world acknowledges Asia Pacific to be the future of global business and China is using the huge amount of investment at her disposal to connect the future of global economy with Europe drastically curtailing dependence on sea routes which is predominantly controlled by the USA. China in one go is out to remodel the entire way of doing business, free of the superpower influences, cutting the US hegemony to size without any armed conflict. China has been thus far able to create this mega business empire by keeping business as business and a cup of tea as a cup of tea. Meaning, China strictly differentiates between trade relations and political rivalries at global stage and so far it is a marvelous success story. China seemingly remains oblivious of it's opposition's vocal critique on her controversial domestic and foreign policies, while continuing business as usual with the same countries. As a result China has been able to grow steadily and expand her influence in Euro-Asia in particular with an ever increasing hold on Africa.              

IRON SILK ROAD

Coming back to the CPEC, it is worth mentioning that the CPEC is just one of the important tentacles called the Southern Corridor of China's grand "One Belt One Road" initiative under President Xi Jingping. This planned, so called New Silk Route's southern corridor as shown in the above map (Blue Colour) is being built incorporating complete South East Asia, South Asia and Middle East linking it to Europe. While Pakistan remains the most important link of this route connecting the  deep sea port of Gawader to mainland China through CPEC, the same route includes India and Iran as a part of the southern corridor. It must be noted that China for this southern corridor alone has already pledged 128 billion US dollars in infrastructure investments in Iran, Pakistan and India amounting to 62, 46 and 20 billion US dollars respectively.

Having said that, it is only naive of the Pakistanis to pursue a policy of confrontation in it's region, may it be with India or Iran. The future of the entire region is linked to its economy which will be driven by trillions of dollars of Chinese investments in future off-course spearheaded by the CPEC. The CPEC and it's success is critical for Pakistan, it is the key to her survival on the international stage with China being the only remaining partner Pakistan has, which has any global influence. If Pakistan wishes CPEC to be a success as per the Chinese vision, then Pakistan must learn a lesson or two from China and revisit her personality driven reactionary policies. Pakistan requires to listen to the various think tanks it commissions and make more forums as such for formulating long standing policies, that must never be allowed to be tailored as per the whims of different personality driven objectives as is the practice in place in Pakistan. While Pakistani security concerns are genuine, they must not be allowed to overshadow the economic development in the region being undertaken by China as the CPEC as it's flagship. Pakistan will only gain strategic clout and economic influence over her neighbours by providing them a link to the CPEC through which they may be mutually connected as well. The resultant tariffs will provide the Pakistani economy with the much needed boost and it will all eventually fit in with the original designs of the principal sponsor of Pakistan, that is China. The CPEC's success depend upon regional co-operation, not confrontation. By providing ground access to neighbouring countries, Pakistan will only raise their direct stakes in the stability and security of Pakistan.    

THE MOST POWERFUL FORCE EVER KNOWN ON THIS PLANET IS HUMAN COOPERATION-A FORCE FOR CONSTRUCTION AND DESTRUCTION.

(Jonathan Haidt)         

    

Killing of Mullah Mansoor-Impact On Pakistan&Region

With the killing of the Taliban Commander Mullah Akhtar Mansoor in Pakistan by a US drone strike, the security calculus in the region will be slightly disturbed and move in the favour of forces unfriendly to Pakistan and it's influence in the region. It is said that Pakistan had substantial influence over Mullah Mansoor's actions, giving weight to the international perception that he was Pakistan's man. While Pakistan failed to bring Mullah Mansoor towards peace talks with the Afghan government in time. Subsequently the US through a drone strike ended his life while he was travelling from Iran into Pakistan, on his way to Afghanistan. Media reports suggest that Mullah Mansoor was living in Pakistan with a different identity and also held properties. It obviously indicates and validates the general perception that Pakistani intelligence had influence over Mullah Mansoor. On one hand, the killing of Mullah Mansoor has seriously curtailed the Pakistani influence on the Afghan Taliban, which was critical for bringing them to peace talks through the Quadrilateral Contact Group(QCG) comprising of US. Afghanistan, China and Pakistan. On the other hand, a huge question marks is put over the Pakistani states role in providing refuge to international terrorists.

Under the current security policy of Pakistan, the Pakistani state is serious in playing its major role to broker peace between the Afghan Taliban and the Afghan government in Kabul, which is supported by the international community being the closest example of an organized state governance entity acceptable on the international stage. However, there are two factors at play in sabotaging this policy of Pakistan. Foremost is the Indian-Afghan intelligence alliance working ferociously to counter the Pakistani influence in Afghanistan for which they are willing to go to any extent. Secondly, Pakistan's own house does not seem to be in order, where border control is loose and obtaining residence in Pakistan using money is child's play for anyone, in particular for Afghan nationals, who are living and working in Pakistan and use Pakistani passports to travel and work abroad. Playing the double game won't help Pakistan anymore as no one can ride in two boats for too long.

The first reason for sabotaging Pakistani efforts for peace in Afghanistan, which was spearheaded by the powerful Pakistani Army Chief himself is a result of a game to obtain strategic influence by two arch rivals in South Asia. The second reason is a mix of corruption, inefficiency, lack of ground checks by Pakistani government organizations but above all the cost of  the Pakistani hospitality that was given to the Afghans ever since the cold war. (Also read "Cost of Hospitality" http://whatholdsthefuture.blogspot.com/2012/07/cost-of-hospitality.html )

It is clearly evident that Pakistan promised the world community more then it could deliver once they took upon themselves to bring the Afghan Taliban to the table for peace talks and make them agree to long standing peace in Afghanistan. Pakistan bargained for more then they could handle with its security forces already stretched to their limits domestically fighting an insurgency. The kind of influence Pakistan once exerted over the Afghan Taliban was lost in majority if not in totality the day the Pakistani state provided military bases to the US Forces which attacked Taliban governed Afghanistan post 9/11. The same phenomenon resulted in the creation of the Pakistani Taliban (TTP) who waged a war within Pakistan targeting the Pakistani state for providing logistic support to the US for attacking Afghanistan. This "war within" bled Pakistan almost dry. Pakistan played the price of siding with the international community led by US post 9/11 through hundreds and thousands of human casualties and billions of dollars of loss to her economy. Under this duress and for the fear of total collapse Pakistan unwittingly decided not to crack down on the Afghan Taliban ,whose loss of support meant an uncontrollable situation in Pakistan. Pakistani security establishments wrongfully calculated that the Afghan Taliban would contain the Pakistani Taliban fighting the Pakistani state from Afghanistan and would also provide them leverage of strategic control in Afghanistan where India was making an unprecedented ingress. The Pakistani state could have maintained their control on the Afghan Taliban without supporting them. This is clear because of the economic and logistical dependency they have always had on Pakistan. The Afghan Taliban literally did nothing to contain the Pakistani Taliban fighting a war of attrition with Pakistan. However, the Afghan Taliban used Pakistani grounds to acquire logistics support to wage a war against the US/ISAF in Afghanistan making Pakistan look like an accomplice in the crime in the eyes of the international community. India cashed upon this situation and on one hand supported the Pakistani Taliban financially waging a war in Pakistan from Afghanistan while on the other side strengthening their hold in Afghanistan by providing legitimate financial and technical support to the Afghan state and in the process, gaining the trust of the Afghans.

The Pakistani state, in a reactionary policy ,seems to have conducted a damage control exercise by making sincere efforts in bringing the Afghan Taliban to terms for striking an enduring peace deal with Afghan government. The current security establishment led by Gen Raheel Sharif and his Intelligence Chief Gen Rizwan (DG ISI) believed that a stable Afghanistan is highly in the interest of Pakistan for which all out efforts were made by them in the last couple of years only to be blunted by the Indian-Afghan intelligence alliance which is trusted much more by the Americans in comparison to their Pakistani counterparts for obvious reasons.

Having said that, the killing of Mullah Mansoor in essence resembles loss of just another pawn in the game. Pawns are there to be sacrificed as others are present to replace their position. However, this game in the long run can only bring disastrous results for the entire region as playing with fire has hazardous consequences.

Moving forward Pakistan is left with very limited choices where they may retain relevance in the international community by co-operating to control and put a leash on the Afghan Taliban with the same ferocity they are taking upon the Pakistani Taliban.

Pakistan still holds the keys to the landlocked Afghanistan providing them with the easiest, economical and most workable access to the rest of the world. Playing upon this strategical advantage and being the bread basket of Afghanistan, Pakistan can still repair it's ties with the country and at some stage in the future by providing land access to India into Afghanistan on favourable terms, become a permanent partner in regional progress and a key element in the regional economy.                              

        

Nawaz Sharif's Standing In The Military

Before coming to the specific subject it would be worth clarifying that the Pakistani military is a more democratic institution than any other in the country where good discipline still reigns supreme. Military and democracy are two opposing entities but the Pakistani military brass manage their affairs through a detailed and deliberate system run by internal organizations providing regular pulse of the troops and young officers to the higher command. This pulse report is a major factor in decision making by the top brass of the military who have the broader picture and other sensitive information also in perspective to which troops and young officers are not privy to. Final arbitrator in all decisions are the services chiefs and once a decision is made, it is never questioned but followed with the above mentioned knowledge well known by the men who are tasked to accomplish respective orders. This procedure is part of the Pakistani military culture and as Mao Zedong stated:

"an army without culture is a dull-witted army and a dull-witted army can not defeat the enemy." 

 The system is not perfect as it's ultimately a personality oriented mechanism but it's still the best running and functional system in the nuclear armed Islamic republic, providing it the much desired stability and sustainability in the international nation state systems. This system controls the arsenal of Armageddon and commands maximum leverage in the power dynamics of Pakistan. It best suits the managers of this system to keep it running the way it's going on for well over six decades since gaining independence from the British Raj. Within this time period Pakistani military ruled directly most of the time and indirectly for the rest. The only time the military was restricted to its respective domain was the brief period rite after independence when honest and dedicated politicians ruled the country selflessly and their only priority was nation building and public welfare. The other time was when a self styled revolutionary Z A Bhutto ruled after Pakistan lost half of its eastern wing due to an unbalanced war with India. Z A Bhutto in his revolutionary yet rash rule destroyed the Pakistani economy by nationalizing the entire private industrial complex in the country, but his popular image afforded him to sustain his rule. However, he was eventually hanged to death for political murders, but that only became possible because he challenged the military and even insulted the officers corps in an effort to "put them in their place."  Bhutto seriously miscalculated his popularity in his bid to take over absolute power in a country where military closely monitors the moral authority of the rulers based on their governance. This same moral authority is directly proportional to their leverage of control over the military establishment in Pakistan, who are the real power brokers of the "deep state". The same procedure and control allowed the Pakistani Army to kick out Nawaz Sharif in the past; once indirectly and later directly from power.

Father of a slain Pakistani Army Officer kisses the forehead of the Army chief  putting his trust in him like the majority of  Pakistan's  population that take their military as the last line of defence against all enemies foreign and within 

Pakistan military holds tight control and their fair share in the power dynamics of Pakistan and jealously guard them. This is supported by popular public sentiment in the country. The Pakistani military's organizational strength and the ability to lay down their lives for their country, in the highest officers to men killed in combat ratio around the world, affords them the moral authority and public popularity and acceptance of their unconventional hold on power dynamics of Pakistan. The Pakistani military has become very comfortable with this arrangement and the only challenge to their hold in these power dynamics can be a leader with moral authority or a revolutionary mindset.

Nawaz Sharif is (almost unanimously) hated to the core by the junior leadership of the military due to the corruption allegations against his family, especially in the aftermath of the panama papers scandal. The same feelings of disgust and mistrust against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif are in the junior leadership, who directly command the troops and portray their feelings to the higher command. This forced the powerful Chief of Pakistani Army Gen Raheel Sharif to directly confront the Prime Minister Raheel Sharif (No Relation) a few days ago. Gen Raheel told Nawaz Sharif to expedite the accountability process and solve the panama papers crisis without further delay. This direct confrontation at the PM House in Islamabad was widely circulated in the national media which gave the young military leadership assurance that their higher command is doing something to resolve their apprehensions about the current civilian leadership.

Having said that, the point to be noted is that firstly the military top brass does not wish to derail the democratic process in the country which is still in its infancy. International opinion is also averse to direct military rule and the brass knows it too well to take any rash action against the civilian government. The current arrangements as stated regarding the power dynamics of Pakistan only suit the military brass. Hence, the Pakistani security establishment will not directly intervene and take over the government like in the past until and unless the federation of Pakistan is at stake due to anarchy, chaos or any other lethal factor. The Pakistani security establishment will keep on facilitating the democratic  process in the country until the time that it either self corrects or self destructs. However, it is the military brass's desire to allow the course of law take place at it's natural pace in regards to the corruption charges faced by Mr Nawaz Sharif by the Pakistani judicial system.

 Nawaz Sharif has however lost all respect and moral stature within his country's military who don't take him seriously anymore and consider him for to be the protector of the corrupt to the core political class fighting to retain their looted riches at public expense whilst continuing to plunder. In the meantime the current power dynamics of the country won't change until the Pakistani public with more than 70% turnout predominantly votes in a civilian leadership with strength of character which gives them the moral authority to challenge the military's hold in the dynamics of the country. Until such a time, what seems to remain the order of the day in Pakistan, in the words of  the legendary Chinese leader Mao Zedong:

" Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun."

 Mao Zedong

KASHMIR FREEDOM STRUGGLE-BACK WITH A BANG

Kashmiris civilian uprisings in Indian held Kashmir waving Pakistani flags 

 The Indian Prime Minister's bribe of 12 billion US dollars did not do the trick for Indian establishment to buy Kashmir's loyalties. Indian administration is hell bent on extinguishing the Kashmir freedom movement which has seen a recent indigenous resurgence led by highly educated youth from well to do respectable Kashmiri families taking up arms against the Indian tyranny. Indian administered Kashmir has been ruled ruthlessly by the Indian state which committed hundreds of thousands of some recorded and mostly unaccounted for,human rights violations including rapes, torture, murder and mass killings of Kashmiri's. India deployed almost half of her military numbering over five hundred thousand to quell the legitimate voices of Kashmir. These military forces have been given unlimited power through the draconian law called the Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA). Under the auspices of AFSPA, Indian Army and paramilitary forces played havoc with the lives of Kashmiris, who still refuse to budge down and accept the Indian occupation of their lands. The stark contrast between the lives of Indian and Pakistani administered Kashmir is a point in case which never ceases the desire of Indian held Kashmir to break the chains of slavery and join their counterparts on the Pakistani side. While Pakistan administered Kashmir is a model of human development with comprehensive rights for her citizens, Indian held Kashmir bled feverishly due to the scars of decades of militancy and state atrocities which include severe human rights violations.

Kashmir is an unfinished agenda of the partition of Indian subcontinent from the British rule in 1947. Both arch rivals India and Pakistan claim their right on Kashmir while Kashmir remains divided between them to date separated by a line of control brokered through the UNO based on the physical occupation of Kashmir by both states in 1948. The UNO charter calls for a public plebiscite to determine the fate of Kashmiris. However, India is scared to death for any such plebiscite to take place, because of the obvious results and continues to suppress the Kashmiris on their side of the line of control through any means possible. This Indian attitude saw endless rights violations and heart wrenching atrocities against the Kashmiris by the Indian state over six decades of illegitimate occupation under the UNO charter.

Pakistan supported the armed insurgency in Kashmir starting in the 80s until 2004 when General Pervaiz Musharraf under the US/Western pressure took a U turn on supporting the armed insurgency in Kashmir. This U turn by Pakistan provided India with a desperately required breather. Indian state was allowed thus to consolidate its hold on Kashmir while diverting the huge funds being spent on the counter insurgency towards the economic revival of India in the post cold war era. India accepted to fully embrace the capitalist camp bringing her rich dividends while the Kashmir cause was pushed under the carpet by the powerful Indian state and more so in a shameful display of biased policies by the globally influential Indian media. A sham puppet democratic governance was introduced in Kashmir by the Indian state which was never taken seriously by the Kashmiris. On the other hand the democratic process in the Pakistani administered Kashmir not only progressed gaining popular acceptance and participation but remained uninterrupted irrespective of the various military coups in the Pakistani mainland. This comparison further disillusions the Kashmiris towards the high handed Indian rule in the beautiful valley filled with decades of blood and fire causing immense sufferings to the innocent population demanding their just rights. In recent times, the Indian state exercised restraint after the Pakistani U turn in supporting insurgency in Indian held Kashmir, but the scars of decades long Indian atrocities are too deep to be healed by any cosmetic surgery for this is exactly what the Indian state aspires to do.

Burhan Muzaffar Wani, an engineer by profession and his highly educated compatriots fighting for the freedom of their motherland from the atrocious Indian Rule-True face of the Kashmirs insurgency

Kashmir youth with highly educated and financially stable backgrounds are joining indigenous militant organizations in Kashmir fighting the Indian state demanding freedom of plebiscite acknowledged by the United Nations Organization. This is a direct result of Indian state policies where thousands of Kashmiris are still missing, believed to be killed. Whats more worrisome for the Indian state is the fact that influential moderate Kashmiris so far supporting the Indian rule in the hope of a settlement of the issue through dialogue as promised by the Indian rulers are now supporting the armed insurgency. These prominent Kashmiris including senior lawyers and politicians are terming the recent wave of indigenous armed insurgency by the well educated Kashmir youth as their legal right under the UNO human rights charter while left with no other alternative resolution of their just demands. In the meantime Indian desperate efforts at cosmetically repairing the issue while ignoring the essential question of freedom from repressive rule is failing at every level. Foreign Policy in its article published on May 5th, 2016, titled "India is Losing Kashmir" notes that India is at one hand loosing the public support in Kashmir in an unprecedented manner while the Indian government policies are only further alienating the Kashmirs populace giving boast to the civilian uprisings.

Indian state simply doesn't have an answer to the Kashmiris freedom demands other then throwing in wads of cash, information and media blackout, killing the freedom fighters and globally crying wolf  by pointing fingers at Pakistan.

No matter what the Indian state decides to do, the Kashmir question requires an answer addressing the questions of freedom fighters. Granting autonomy to the Indian held Kashmir on the model of Pakistan is the only solution viable under the circumstances whether India likes it or not. Free trade and movement between both sides of Kashmir divided between India and Pakistan granting complete local autonomy to the Indian side on present Pakistani model while defence policy remains under the control of respective parent state provides the only viable solution to the Kashmir issue which may well be acceptable by all belligerents. This solution would not only ease the tensions in the nuclear armed South Asian states with three all out wars already under their belts but would prove beneficial in enhancing stability promoting trade and commerce in the entire region benefiting the common people inhibiting the most populated region of the world.