All roads lead to Pakistan

[Syed Saleem Shahzad]

Very much like Taliban-led insurgents have surrounded the Afghan capital Kabul, militants have stepped up their operations around Islamabad and its twin city, Rawalpindi, the military headquarters.


In telephone calls to the media, a militant claimed the attacks were part of a "campaign against infidels" and he promised two more operations a week in the country if the United States did not stop Predator drone missile strikes on Pakistani territory.


The weekend's strikes are a stark reminder of the escalating militancy in the country ahead of the visit, scheduled for Monday, of the chairman of the United States Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, and US envoy for Pakistan and Afghanistan Richard Holbrooke.


They are due to discuss with Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kiani and the government a joint strategy to eliminate the leadership of the Taliban and al-Qaeda. It appears that militants and Washington have chosen Pakistan as their new field on which to wrestle.


Asia Times Online has learnt that the US officials want broader and more direct participation of their civilian officials in Pakistan, without the intervention of the Pakistan armed forces or the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).


Pakistani President Asif Zardari, the Pakistani ambassador in Washington, Husain Haqqani, and Holbrooke recently discussed a mechanism for new rules of engagement, at a secret meeting in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. The parties decided on the issues on which the Pakistan army would be taken on board, and on those that would be dealt with separately through the Pakistani Ministry of Interior and the government of Pakistan.


This plan will raise the US's involvement in Pakistan to an all-time high, possibly including clandestine special operations, beside stepped-up intelligence-sharing.


A section of influential American military thinkers, however, believe that US over-involvement has already caused a severe erosion of US influence in the Middle East and South Asia, and that if the present cycle of involvement is not curtailed, it could be disastrous for American interests. Top jihadi circles close to Taliban leader Mullah Omar have also boasted that the more the American involvement, the more the jihadi plans will succeed.


The Pakistani security forces have so far failed to break militant networks, although they uncovered a safe house in Attock (a town in Punjab province near North-West Frontier Province) following the attack in Lahore on the Sri Lankan cricket team early last month. This implies that the militants have established various active cells all around Islamabad and other important cities of Punjab from where the ruling civil and military establishment comes.


The Chakwal area, where Sunday's attack on the mosque occurred, is where the bulk of the army's personnel comes from, and to date such incidents have been rare.


The new wave of attacks targeting Islamabad and Punjab - the nation's largest province - are not aimed at destroying Pakistan or to setting up a Taliban-style government. Rather, the attacks aim to force Pakistan to be neutral in the "war on terror", leaving the militants and the Americans to settle their dispute in Afghanistan alone.


This is unlikely at present, as mentioned above, because the US is increasing its influence in Pakistan by directly overseeing operations to eliminate al-Qaeda and militants by bypassing the ISI. Again, as mentioned, this carries with it dangers.


Colonel Douglas MacGregor (retired), in a paper presented to the US National Defense University on April 2, emphasized:

# The US can and should avoid direct involvement in most 21st-century conflicts. When conflicts or crises involve US forces, the use of American military power should be limited or terminated before the cumulative human and political costs defeat the original purpose of the US military action.

# The principal strategic purpose for which US armed forces will fight in the 21st century involves securing American prosperity, and where necessary, extending American security to geographical areas vital to US and allied prosperity. Douglas argued that prolonged military involvements only erodes US influence and entices other regional players to meddle.


This strategy does not change America's policy stance on Islamist terrorism. The exportation of Islamist terrorism against the US and its allies must remain a permanent red line in US national military strategy. Governments that knowingly harbor terrorist groups must reckon with the very high probability that they will be subject to attack. However, long-term, large-scale American military occupations, even to ostensibly train


indigenous forces to be mirror images of ourselves, are unwise and should be avoided.


Iranian interests gained prominence in Baghdad because Tehran's agents of influence wear an indigenous face while America's agents wear foreign uniforms and carry guns. And Iran will remain the dominant actor in Iraq so long as it maintains even the thinnest veil of concealment behind the facade of the [Nuri] Maliki government and its successors.


The growing US involvement in the region is seen in a different light in jihadi circles, as renowned jihadi leader Abdullah Shah Mazhar told Asia Times Online:


Mullah Omar says one thing very clearly. There is no need to seek advancement in technology to counter the US. They are far superior. Suppose we go one step ahead in technology, they would already be ahead by several steps to counter us. The better strategy is to keep them engaged in our style of warfare, keep them engaged in these rocks and mountains and let them drain.


The US has already run up a bill of US$700 billion for its wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Adding Pakistan as a new theater will only add to this cost. And in return, it will lead to growing influence for Russia, China and Iran - and last but not least, the militants.


Syed Saleem Shahzad is Asia Times Online's Pakistan Bureau Chief.

[Mubashir]

Where did you get the impression that Allah will change the whole world to Muslims?


Thanks.

[Shoaib]

Please read!!!


IS THIS THE END OF THE WORLD?March 10th, 2009

IS THE END OF THE WORLD NEAR? NO WAY!


Q. Quite a few respected viewers keep asking if the Last Day (Qiyamah) is upon us now.


A. Dr. Shabbir says,

“ABSOLUTELY NOT - NOT AT ALL!”


Q. Wow! What? Is he a prophet, a messenger, an apostle? Doesn’t the Qur’an say?


72:26 (Allah is the) Knower of the Unseen (and the future), and He makes known to none His secret,

72:27 Except as He wills to a Messenger whom He has elected, and to him He reveals from the past and the future, and ensures that the revelation is guarded. [God Himself guards the Perfected Final revelation, hence no more apostles will come. Al-Quran is now the Messenger for all times.15:9]


So, has Shabbir gone crazy?


A. Probably not. And he is no more than a life-long student.


The problem with Shabbir is that he sets up his convictions on the Infallible Divine Authority. As of 2008 CE, the Final Testament, Al-Qur’an, has not prevailed yet, nor is the Benevolent Qur’anic System in place anywhere in the world. In other words, the Kingdom of God on earth is conspicuous by its absence.


[Incidentally and fortunately, the scourge of the Mullah-peddled “Islamic” Shari’ah is on the run, getting a thorough intellectual beating around the globe. We can hear the death-rattle of the Number Two Islam.]


Now let’s look at the Qur’an. Much has to happen first.


9:32 They seek to extinguish God’s light (the Quran) by their utterances. But God will not allow this to pass, for He has willed to spread His light in all its fullness even though the rejecters may detest it.


9:33 He is the One Who has sent His Messenger with guidance and the True Religion (The Divinely Prescribed System of Life), that He may cause it to prevail over all religions and systems of life, even though the idolaters may detest it.


[5:3, 9:31-33, 13:31, 14:48, 18:48, 41:53, 48:28, 51:20-21, 61:8-9. The Quranic Deen will prevail over all religions. This refers to Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Zoroastrianism and all other forms of religion, including the sects that are now present in the name of Islam. Please remember that no sect can be considered Islamic. DEEN in the Sight of God is nothing but Al-Islam (5:3). But next to religions, the Quranic System of Life will also dominate and prevail over all manmade political and social systems such as Communism, Secular Democracy, Despotism, Theocracy, Monarchy, all “isms” such as “Humanism” Socialism, Idol worship in any form, Sufism and Capitalism. This will happen as humanity, after the centuries old, protracted toil of trial and error will come to intellectually realize and accept the Supremacy of the Final Testament, Al-Quran]


13:31 ... As for those who reject the Divine laws in nature: Disasters will not cease to strike them for their deeds, even close to their homes until the promise of God come to pass. Surely, God never fails in His promise.


[Mankind have been devising various political and socio-economic systems in search for the best as they have been doing. Those systems will keep collapsing and they will keep suffering far and close to their towns and homes. Then, ultimately, they will realize that the Quran offers the solutions to all the problems humanity faces at any given time. 5:3, 9:31-33, 10:100, 13:31,14:48, 18:48, 41:53, 48:28, 51:20-21, 61:9. The Quran is intended to move hearts, not mountains. 6:7, 6:25, 6:112, 15:14-15, 17:90-93]


14:48 The Day will come when this earth will be replaced with a new earth, and the heavens too will be replaced and they will come forth to God, the One, the Dominating.

[And before that, as the caravan of humanity journeys forward, people will witness a total metamorphosis in their political and social systems, a brand new environment where the Universal law of the One Mighty, Dominating God will prevail. 9:31-33, 13:31,14:48, 18:48, 41:53, 48:28, 51:20-21, 61:9]


41:53 In time We will show them Our signs in the utmost Horizons and within themselves, so that it will become clear to them that this Quran is certainly the truth. Is it not enough for them to know that your Lord is Witness to all things (including this proclamation)? [9:31-33, 13:31, 14:48, 18:48, 41:53, 48:28, 51:20-21, 61:9]

48:28 He is the One Who has sent His Messenger with Enlightenment and the Religion of truth that He may cause it to prevail over all other systems of life. God is Sufficient as Witness (to this Pronouncement). [9:31-33, 13:31,14:48, 18:48, 41:53, 48:28, 51:20-21, 61:9]


61:8 They aim to put out God’s light with their mouths (utterances), but God has willed to spread His light in all its fullness, however hateful this may be to the deniers.


61:9 He is the One Who has sent forth His Messenger with the guidance, and the Religion of truth, that He may make it prevail over all religions (and other systems of life) however hateful this may be to those who ascribe partners to Him. [9:31-33, 13:31, 14:48, 18:48, 41:53, 48:28, 51:20-21, 61:9]


Now see that the road to our fervently besought destination has already been lighted.


5:3 This Day, I have perfected your Religion for you, completed My favor upon you, and chosen for you AI-Islam (Submission to Divine commands that ensures universal peace) as the System of Life.


Note: On an individual basis, the Akhirah (Hereafter) is closer than we think. Think, how near is death! And the moment we die, we go into a state of prolonged sleep with thousands of years passing like a single second. [36:51-52]


A HADITH in line with the Book: The exalted Prophet is reported to have said that the Hereafter of a person begins immediately with death. This makes perfect sense in the light of 36:51-52.


36:51 And when the Trumpet is blown, out of their disintegrated states to their Lord they will run. [Ajdaath = Bodily remains = Physical remains in the graves or scattered anywhere = Disintegrated states]

36:52 They will say, “Oh, woe to us! Who has awakened us from our beds of sleep? This is what the Beneficent promised, and the Messengers spoke the truth.” [Marqad = Bed of sleep = Resting place. These two verses strongly dismiss the clergy-peddled false concept of punishment in the grave. And how would God punish people after death before the Day of Judgment. Moreover, many kinds of suffering (‘Azaab) are named in the Quran, but not once is mentioned ‘Azaabil Qabr’]

Considering the above:

33:63 People ask you about the Hour. Say, “The knowledge of that rests with God alone. You should know (that for your purposes) the Hour may be near?”