Fighting for Bin Laden a Frontline Special

A special report -- in the wake of Osama bin Laden's death, FRONTLINE takes you inside two fronts of the fight against Al Qaeda and the Taliban

Fallout from Bin Laden's Death and What Did Pakistan Know?

Fallout from the death of Osama bin Laden continues to ripple throughout the world. Bin Laden's burial at sea has been criticized, even though that's a far better fate than the nearly 3,000 who were murdered at the World Trade Center. Some criticize that the US was too respectful, while others claim the US was not respectful enough. To me, that says that the US got it right - and I believe that the burial at sea was necessary to eliminate any possibility that his burial site could be treated as a rallying point.

As new details of the raid continue to leak out, the real questions are being pointed in the direction of Pakistan. What did they know and when did they know that bin Laden was living large in their country?

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari submitted an op-ed in the Washington Post today in response to the US mission that killed Osama bin Laden in the town of Abbotabad, just miles from the Pakistani capital of Islamabad.

Let us be frank. Pakistan has paid an enormous price for its stand against terrorism. More of our soldiers have died than all of NATO’s casualties combined. Two thousand police officers, as many as 30,000 innocent civilians and a generation of social progress for our people have been lost. And for me, justice against bin Laden was not just political; it was also personal, as the terrorists murdered our greatest leader, the mother of my children. Twice he tried to assassinate my wife. In 1989 he poured $50 million into a no-confidence vote to topple her first government. She said that she was bin Laden’s worst nightmare — a democratically elected, progressive, moderate, pluralistic female leader. She was right, and she paid for it with her life.

Some in the U.S. press have suggested that Pakistan lacked vitality in its pursuit of terrorism, or worse yet that we were disingenuous and actually protected the terrorists we claimed to be pursuing. Such baseless speculation may make exciting cable news, but it doesn’t reflect fact. Pakistan had as much reason to despise al-Qaeda as any nation. The war on terrorism is as much Pakistan’s war as as it is America’s. And though it may have started with bin Laden, the forces of modernity and moderation remain under serious threat.

My government endorses the words of President Obama and appreciates the credit he gave us Sunday night for the successful operation in Khyber Pakhtunkhawa. We also applaud and endorse the words of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton that we must “press forward, bolstering our partnerships, strengthening our networks, investing in a positive vision of peace and progress, and relentlessly pursuing the murderers who target innocent people.” We have not yet won this war, but we now clearly can see the beginning of the end, and the kind of South and Central Asia that lies in our future.

Only hours after bin Laden’s death, the Taliban reacted by blaming the government of Pakistan and calling for retribution against its leaders, and specifically against me as the nation’s president. We will not be intimidated. Pakistan has never been and never will be the hotbed of fanaticism that is often described by the media.

Zardari is in a real tough position right now. He's got to simultaneously defend his country from claims that he was harboring al Qaeda's top dog, claiming that he was providing assistance (unidentified and uncorroborated by US officials who have studiously stated that they shared no aspects of this mission with any other country, including Pakistan), and has to be worried that the Islamists will try to topple his government because of its existing ties with the US (a belief that the government is complicit with the US even if there was no actual). Given the way that Pakistanis love their conspiracy theories (even more than the nutjobs who think Osama wasn't real, wasn't killed, or any permutation thereof), all kinds of speculation is rampant in Pakistan right now over what Pakistan's government knew and when did they know of it.

Fact is, no one really knows what the Pakistani government knew about bin Laden's location, but it is highly suspicious that he was able to live in relative comfort in a compound just yards from the country's military academy and where military personnel go to retire. It is plausible that members of the military or the ISI were complicit in keeping bin Laden's whereabouts hidden but it once again indicates the difficulty of trusting the Pakistani government to reveal key details. Those questions are being asked by members of Congress on both sides of the aisle - and they have good reason to ask those questions. Similar questions are being asked by other countries, including the UK.

Zardari is right to state that his country has been ravaged by Islamic terrorists, particularly Taliban and al Qaeda. Yet, each time the Pakistani government (whether under Zardari or his predecessor, Pervez Musharraf) cracks down, it doesn't go far enough to eliminate the threat. It does just enough - anything more and the Islamists in the Pakistani government (Parliament, military, ISI) would thwart further action.

He further claims that radical Islamist parties make up a small fraction of his government, but that overlooks those other groups that lean towards radicalism and who do not condone crackdowns against the Islamists.

Pakistan barely maintains control over the frontier provinces, which are overrun with Taliban and have hosted al Qaeda for years on end. Efforts to thwart the Taliban have met with mixed success - and the body count among Pakistani soldiers is quite high and

The country can't align itself too greatly with the US for fear of assassinations or coups to install a more Islamist government, but doing nothing allows the Islamists free reign in the frontier provinces.

The question of what Pakistan knew and who knew might be revealed in the treasure trove of intel captured by the special forces team that carried out the mission. They recovered numerous computers, hard drives, thumb drives, and other intel that can be critical to unraveling the logistical network and other contacts, as well as identifying other key members and locations. It could also shed light on other planned or contemplated targets.

Bin Laden's death may also result in a reappraisal of ongoing military operations by the ISAF in Afghanistan, including the possible withdrawal of troops earlier than 2014. I think that would be a serious mistake, considering that al Qaeda and the Taliban remain a serious threat, and allowing them safe haven is a mistake.

Posted bylawhawk

Suicide Car Bomber Kills 11 In Khost City Of Afghanistan

Khost Province, Afghanistan

By ONE Liners Agency

AFGHANISTAN NEWS – At least 11 people were killed in the eastern Afghanistan at the city of Khost when a suicide car bomber suddenly attacked a police checkpoint in a crowded area of the city.

The attack was principally targeted a police checkpoint, which failed but killed 11 people and left many wounded because it was located in a crowded area.

It is reported that police became wary when a car was approaching to them and opened fire on the driver. Eventually the driver who was armed with bombs blew himself up. The city is already restless because of continuous attack by Taliban militants.

Afghan police has reported that nine civilians, three of them women and two policemen had been killed in the attack. There are many injured and no official report is given so far.

Reports said the blast sent a thick plume of black smoke into the air.

"It was very powerful. It shook Khost city," the Associated Press quoted the police chief as saying. He said security forces had surrounded the area and ambulances were taking the injured to hospital.

Police blamed the attack on Taliban militants who previously targeted police checkpoints and created massive disturbance. Earlier in a similar incidence a suicide attack was carried out the police headquarters in the southern city of Kandahar on 12 February killed 19 people, including 15 policemen.

Thousands Of Pakistanis flee From Homes Amidst Militant Operation

By BOB Goswami

PAKISTAN NEWS - The fierce battle between Pakistani military and militant groups in the tribal region of Mohmand forced civilians to evacuate the place and took shelter in temporary camps.

In the recent times Pakistani troops have been using heavy weapons and helicopters to wipe out suspected militant position and that has caused heavy toll on the local residents. It is reported that the region Mohmand, on the border with Afghanistan has been serving as a safe den for the Taliban and al-Qaeda militants.

"We are targeting militant hideouts there," military spokesman Maj-Gen Athar Abbas confirmed.

The army called the operation a ‘search and clearance operation’ and reported to kill at least 70 militants.

In this battle civilians are greatly distressed by sudden bombarding and firing. A local administration told that residents displaced from Safi, Pindiali and Baizai districts to temporary camps. People are deeply feared about mines and other hazards and moved to safer places. Officials stated that total of displaced civilians were almost 25,000.

There are camps in the Nahaquai area and Danishkool, 40 and 25 km respectively from Ghalanai. Official report says at least 22,000 people have been registered in the two camps in last few days. Other than that people have also sought shelter in schools and government buildings.

In the recent times Mohmand area has been heavily disturbed by militant activities relative to other tribal areas in Pakistan. In recent weeks, terrorists have underwent shelling at dozen schools and assailed checkpoints.

Anderson Cooper to Interview Paul Refsdal

CNN’s ‘Taliban’ Exposes Lives and Motives of Fighters

Documentary Debuts Saturday, Dec. 11 at 8:00pm ET & PT on CNN/U.S.

CNN's Taliban takes you behind enemy lines, and face-to-face with the men our troops are fighting. The Taliban are a violent enemy that have killed hundreds of American troops in Afghanistan since 2001. Despite a nearly ten-year war with the Taliban, most Americans know little about how they fight and live – until now.
In Taliban, CNN anchor Anderson Cooper debriefs Norwegian journalist Paul Refsdal about his unprecedented filming behind enemy lines in Afghanistan. No Western journalist has ever spent as much time with the Taliban, with as unrestricted access, as Refsdal.
CNN’s Taliban reveals the enemy at war – preparing weapons, planning attacks, and interacting with their families and fellow fighters. Refsdal risked his life to capture these never-before-seen images, and ended up being kidnapped. His harrowing escape is also documented in the film.
Cooper presses Refsdal about why he put his life in jeopardy to film the Taliban. Refsdal said, “The problem has been with the – the people [journalists] who meet the Taliban, they stay for one hour, and they ask the Taliban to...go around arranging some kind of training...And you have one commander with his face covered...to see the real Taliban, you have to stay for a while...”
The one-hour documentary, Taliban, debuts Saturday, Dec. 11 at 8:00p.m. ET and PT on CNN. It will air on CNN International in late December.
A multimedia report including historical timelines of the Taliban and the country of Afghanistan, video excerpts from the documentary, and an interview with journalist and Guerilla Reporter author Paul Refsdal can be found at www.cnn.com/taliban after Wednesday, Dec. 8.
Taliban was produced and filmed in Afghanistan by Paul Refsdal, produced for CNN by Jennifer Hyde and Ken Shiffman, and edited by Cliff Hackel. Bud Bultman is managing editor for this production. Scott Matthews is the director of CNN’s Special Investigations and Documentaries unit.

All content, unless otherwise cited, is © All Things CNN and may not be used without consent of the blog administrator.

C.I.A Drone Attacks In Pakistan To Curb Taliban

By ETHAN Markoff

PAKISTAN NEWS - C.I.A has rapidly increased drone attacks in Pakistan to thwart Taliban. According to American officials, C.I.A has drastically increased its bombing campaign in the mountainous terrain of Pakistan. The campaign is aimed to cripple the Taliban stronghold in the region, Talibans are main rival of American soldiers in Afghanistan and plan attack against U.S troops.

The C.I.A has begun its bombing campaigns as a covert war where it attacks with armed drone aircraft. In a single month it has launched 20 attacks and made strategic plan to cripple the terrorist’s plots from militant based in Pakistan.

The increasing air strikes reflect the frustration of Afghanistan and U.S on Pakistan government less aggressive move to thwart the militants from the country's western mountains. The U.S officials have alleged Pakistan to neglect military operations inside North Waziristan, which is considered as a stronghold of Taliban militants.

Besides C.I.A air strikes, the area is continuously bombarded with U.S helicopters air strikes that estimated killed at least 50 militants in the region. The militant group called Haqqani network believed to attack against American troops was targeted by the U.S air strikes.

However, Pakistan strongly criticized the helicopter attacks, arguing that it against NATO’s mandate, which says the military action, must not reach beyond the Afghanistan border.

Gen. David H. Petraeus, the top American commander in Afghanistan recently warned Pakistani commanders they would launch ground operations in Pakistan tribal areas if Pakistan didn’t take a constructive action against militants.

“Petraeus wants to turn up the heat on the safe havens,” said one senior administration official, explaining the sharp increase in drone strikes. “He has pointed out to the Pakistanis that they could do more.”


Pakistani officials have angrily criticized the helicopter attacks, saying that NATO’s mandate in Afghanistan does not extend across the border in Pakistan.

As evidence of the growing frustration of American officials, Gen. David H. Petraeus, the top American commander in Afghanistan, has recently issued veiled warnings to top Pakistani commanders that the United States could launch unilateral ground operations in the tribal areas should Pakistan refuse to dismantle the militant networks in North Waziristan, according to American officials.

“Petraeus wants to turn up the heat on the safe havens,” said one senior administration official, explaining the sharp increase in drone strikes. “He has pointed out to the Pakistanis that they could do more.”

It is feared that escalating air strikes by C.I.A could stimulate the resentment in Muslim world against Americans. A recent attempt to detonate a truck filled with explosive in Times Square was an implication of C.I.A bombing campaign.

U.S Soldiers Accused Of Murdering Afghan Civilians

By ETHAN Markoff

AFGHANISTAN NEWS - Putting a question mark on efforts by the United States to thrash Taliban forces from the Afghanistan. In an effort the Afghan civilians were accused to be killed by 5 U.S soldiers. The incident will potentially dismantle the attempts of U.S to win support among Afghani people in fighting Taliban.

Five members of an Army Stryker brigade from Joint Base Lewis-McChord have been accused of brutally ambushed three Afghan civilians with grenades and rifle fire. The incident has raised eyebrows how the U.S army treats civilian in the battles.

The father of one of the soldiers said to the journalists that his son told him through Facebook about the murders, and consequently tried to inform the officials about it. He also said his son had been threatened by his unit. However, the army turned a deaf ear to the appeal.

“Nobody listened,” he said.

Five soldiers named Specialist Winfield, Staff Sgt. Calvin R. Gibbs, Specialist Michael S. Wagnon II, Pfc. Andrew H Holmes Specialist Jeremy N. Morlock are accused of killing three Afghan civilians.

The charges echo similar cases in Iraq, when U.S Marines were charged for murdering Iraqi civilians. Also, in another case, the soldiers were convicted of raping a 14-year-old girl and killing her and her family.

Iran Woman Stoning Case Invites International Outcry

By MALILA Harris

IRAN NEWS - Sakineh Mohammadi-Ashtiani, the Iranian woman whose death sentence by stoning shook the international world and incited global outcry against the horrible executions.

It is reported that in the recent times only Iran executed this harrowing punishment, and not in any Islamic country where Islamic sharia law is practiced. The press reports say at least five people were executed by stoning in recent years allegedly for adultery and fornication.

"It's actually not very widely used across the Middle East and Islamic world... even in Iran," said Malcolm Smart of Amnesty International.

The right activists blamed that stoning mostly singles out women. They call it an abhorrent punishment and against the law of humanity.

The 43-year-old Sakineh Mohammadi-Ashtiani, who was a mother of two, found guilty by the Islamic court for extra martial sex. However, the case is still under review though the sentence has already put a fear quotient in the family.

Her son, Sajjad feared that she might be executed after the end of Ramadan.

Under the international pressure and outcry within home, the government is delaying the execution. However, two radical islamic rebellions - The Taliban in Afghanistan and the Shebab in Somalia are smoothly implementing the terrible punishment.

The extrajudicial "honour Killing" stoning is not only prevalent in Muslims but continues among non-Muslims in conservative societies such as Pakistan, Iraq and India.

In Iraq a minorty Kurdish Yazidi 17-year-old girl was stoned to death because she eloped with her Sunni Muslim boyfriend.

In India last May, an eloped Hindu couples from different castes were captured by relatives of woman's family and eventually stoned to death.

In traditional Islamic law stoning explicitly embedded as a legal punishment, implementing on crimes adultery or sexual misconduct. According to an Islamic website, in the teachings of Mohammed it is mentioned that the prophet himself stoned the married adulterer and adulteress to death. According to them, this is enough evidence to make the punishment proven and authentic, and certainly not debatable.
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India's Own Conservative Incest Story
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Karzai Asks Taliban Leader To Lend Hand For Peace Process

Hamid Karzai

By ONE Liners Agency

AFGHANISTAN News - Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai marked his Id-al-Fitr with an optimistic note, asking Taliban Leader Mullah Muhammad Omar to join the peace process.

In turn, Mullah Omar's message issued for the Id was inflexible, blaming American forces who were ignoring the peace process and about to leave the nation.

The president's address came after prayers for Id at the mosque on the presidential palace grounds and an official statement said that the President wanted Taliban leader to support the peace process and cease the blood shed, leaving several innocent citizens die everyday.

“The President once again called on Mullah Muhammad Omar, the Taliban, and other angry Afghans, to honor Id by joining the peace process and stop killing our brothers and harming civilians.” An official statement said.

The recent threats to burn the Koran by a Florida pastor naturally invited uncomfortable rage in Mr. Karzai and in his note he also criticized the move. In a respectful tone he affirmed that burning holy book would not harm the book because Koran already secured in every Muslim's heart and mind. He urged to stop disrespect the holy book that has been inspiring innumerable people through out the ages.

Mullah Omar on the other hand remarked that the victory of Islamic nations over infidels was certain. He said in a fiery tone that the invaders were on the verge of leaving Afghanistan and it was a victory.

Deadly Harvest: Afghanistan Opium Cultivation Poses Challenges

AFGHANISTAN - Since the Taliban abolition in Afghanistan, insurgency is picking up steam. Adding insult to the injury, unparalleled augmentation of opium poppy cultivation throws challenges to anti-drug organizations. A U.N report says that a significant (almost 14%) percentage of Afghan population is involved in poppy cultivation and more than 80 percent of world’s opium is cultivated along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.

Three years back US and UK had launched a big project to stop the cultivation, or least minimized it in Afghanistan. The much fanfare efforts have borne a little result. According to a report published three years back, Afghanistan alone produces 8,200 tonnes of opium in a year. The agricultural lands of poppy cultivation have also increased from 165,000 hectares to 193,000 hectares (2007 UNODC report).

A report said that Helmand province where still Taliban holds grip, is a major area of narcotic trade and cultivation. The demand of drugs in west gives a lucrative opportunity to Afghan farmers. An Afghan farmer can expect to earn $4,600 a hectare annually if he cultivates opium poppy. Comparing to wheat cultivation, a farmer can earn a meager $530 a year.

The U.N has triggered an alarm over the drug trafficking along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border and asking foreign forces to wrestle against the peril.

“Since drug trafficking and insurgency alive off each other, the foreign military forces operating in Afghanistan have a vested interest in supporting counter-narcotics operations” UNODC Executive Director said.

The Taliban has a stronghold on the drugs trafficking. Like insurgent groups and guerilla forces in other parts of the world, the Taliban considers the taxing of revenues from the drug trade a legitimate tactic to fight the occupation forces. One of the biggest markets for heroin is the affluent West. But the easy availability of the drug has also helped it find new markets in neighboring countries.

According to UNODC report, opium production kills directly or indirectly over one hundred thousand people worldwide. The report said that most of these deaths would occur in China, India and South-East Asia. The addiction rates in Central Asian countries are said to be rising say that Taliban fighters are much better paid and motivated than the Afghan army personnel.

A CALL TO ACTION

I have heard nothing of this either in the Canadian media (currently obsessed with the Olympics) or the American media (as always, obsessed with America).  I did find this collage of news stories on YouTube.



I am annoyed. Why has not some unilateral action been taken by the Sikhs? These shaheeds are our brothers, this is our fight. We are absolute idiots if we expect satisfaction either from the government of Pakistan or from our dear friends in the government of India.

Truthfully, I expect nothing of the Akal Takht or the SGPC, but where is Damdami Taksal and Hazoor Takht. They boast of their weapons and their Sikh spirit. They kill innocent goats for their "Tilak of Blood," but seem as unwilling as the rest of the Sikhs of the region to actually do anything.

Do I have to jump on my winged horse and fly to Punjab and rally the troops myself?! I certainly hope not, as I have no winged horse and with my partially paralysed vocal chords can hardly speak above a whisper. 

 Earlier, I wrote

 THE SIKHS ARE BACK!!!

I pray I am right.

As a lone individual with grave physical disabilities, there's little I can do myself. 


 
I ask my sisters and brothers to rise up as one to end this menace once and for all. Let us forget our differences and stand united against these earthly demons and handle the situation as our forefathers and foremothers would have.

We can always go back to our infighting after the battle is won.

First published in Sikh Philosophy Network. 

Wings courtesy of rubyblossom

THE SIKHS ARE BACK!!

"When your enemy has you flat on your back, his boot on your face, his knife at your throat and his gun cocked at your temple, you laugh at him.  "Ha!  You can kill me, but you can't defeat me."  That's chardi kala.  That's what it means to be a Sikh."

By now we have all heard about our Sikh brothers being beheaded by the taliban in Pakistan.  The more it changes, the more it stays the same.

Perhaps they will next start bricking up young children?

First published in Sikh Philosophy Network.

From this latest article it seems that they really could have saved their lives by converting. And they refused. Let's let the world know:
 

THE SIKHS ARE BACK!

Three Sikhs beheaded by Pak Taliban

Mon, Feb 22 06:08 AM

Three Sikh men were said to have been beheaded by Taliban groups in the FATA area of Pakistan and their heads sent to a gurudwara in Peshawar.

According to information available with India late this evening, one of the Sikhs has been identified as Jaspal Singh. He and his two friends were residents of Badi near Peshawar.

(Late tonight, a PTI report from Pakistan quoted sources as saying there was confusion on the exact numbers, that two men had been beheaded and others were being held hostage. It said the body of Jaspal Singh was found in Khyber while that of Mahal Singh was found in Orakzai Agency. Gurvinder Singh and Gurjit Singh, the sources said, were among those being held captive.)

The men had gone to the FATA area for some work but were held by Taliban groups who apparently asked them to convert to Islam. Sources said the information so far suggests that the men resisted the order and were then beheaded.

Later, their heads were sent to Bhai Joga Singh Gurudwara in Peshawar. The incident has shocked the small Sikh community in Peshawar.

This attack, sources said, comes in the backdrop of repeated threats to the Sikh community there to convert if they wanted to stay on. India has in the past taken up the issue of security of Hindus and Sikhs in Pakistan. While the Pakistan government has been committed to providing security to minority groups, this incident has certainly made matters far more dangerous and sensitive.

The Haqqani group and factions of the Quetta Shura along with the Pakistan Taliban are active in these parts of Pakistan which border Afghanistan.

Last year, Taliban militants took over shops and homes of 35 Sikh families and arrested community leaders in Ferozkhel, Orakzai Agency.

Express news service

So we climb into our Time Machine and go into the future: 

Vaisakhi, 1041 Nanakshahi (2510 CE):

Children , let me tell you about the ancient days, 500 years ago. It had been a difficult time for us Sikhs. Only about 25 years earlier, the army of India had attacked Harimandir Sahib in Amritsar - No, no, Inderjeet, this was before Khalistan had been freed and Amritsar was in the old country of India - Anyway, untold numbers were killed then and later that year, Mrs. Gandhi had been executed by us Sikhs.


This was followed by the genocide of the Sikh Quam all over India (except in Bengal, but that's another story). So it was a difficult time. There followed years of persecution in Punjab and I'm afraid many Sikhs were much disheartened, their chardi kala hibernating. Then one day in 541, a couple months before Vaisakhi, some Singhs were kidnapped by a group of Mughals called Taliban. They were offered the choice: Convert or die!


One day later, their heads were delivered to the gurudwara in Peshawar. My children, that was the beginning of the Great Rebirth of the Sikh Nation, when we all woke up, reclaimed our chardi kala and returned to being Sikhs of the Guru once more...






So now we sit here in our capital each year and remember and celebrate and enjoy our great land.

HOW TO TELL A SIKH FROM A TALIBAN, ILLUSTRATED EDITION

Before I start, let me say that in writing about the Taliban, I am not indicting the Muslim community, which has many good, upright adherents, some of whom I am honoured to include among my friends. Please do not construct anything I say about Taliban to apply to the millions of Muslims who are peaceful, constructive and valued citizens of countries all over the world.

Do to a certain shallow, outward physical resemblance to some Muslim extremists, our Sikh community has been under attack since the 9/11 terrorist attacks by those who don't know any better. Now events in Pakistan, where the Taliban has attacked the Sikhs of the SWAT Valley, forcing them out of their homes, make a comparison of the two groups mandatory for anyone who really wants to understand world events. (And to stop picking on innocent Sikhs, as well.)


First, what exactly happened in Pakistan? The government there has effectively turned over control of a region in the north of the country, the SWAT Valley, over to the Taliban. In a region of this valley called Orakzai live - or rather lived - a few Sikh families. These were poor Sikh farmers who had lived in peace with their neighbours for generations, who had chosen to stay in Pakistan when most Sikhs left to move to India in the Partition of 1948. These are people with few material resources who clearly love their homes and simple way of life.




These were destroyed when the Taliban demanded that they pay a tax on non
Muslims, called a Jaziya. I have read that jaziya was originally paid by nonMuslims in lieu of military service. I have also read that it was originally a financial inducement to convert to Islam. Whatever the original purpose, in this instance, it is clearly simple extortion, not unlike "protection money" paid by business owners to organised crime to insure that the Mob will leave their businesses alone.

The amount demanded by the Taliban, was beyond the means of the community and when it was not paid, the houses of the Sikhs were razed and Sikh businesses were occupied. The Sikhs, seeing yet another massacre looming, fled with little more than the clothes on their backs and a few meager possessions.

In summary:

Lahore: The Taliban has expelled at least 50 Sikh families from the
Orakzai Agency in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) after
they failed to pay 'Jazia'. The Taliban had demanded 12 million rupees ($242,840, GBP 161,271)
as protection money from the Sikhs, who have living in the region from
hundred of years, but they could arrange only 6.7 million rupees.($135,586, GBP 87,355)

Later, it was reported that the extremists occupied houses and shops
of the Sikhs in Qasim Khel and Feroz Khel areas of the Agency and
auctioned their valuables for 0.8 million rupees ( $16,190, GBP 10,750), The Daily Times
reports. Earlier, the Taliban had also demolished houses belonging to
the Sikh community in the region.

The Taliban's Orakzai Agency chief Hakeemullah Mehsud ordered the
demolition of the houses after the Sikhs failed to meet a deadline
fixed for payment.

Having established, I hope, that Sikhs are not Muslim extremists, who then are Sikhs? Briefly, a Sikh is a follower of Sikhi or Sikhism, a panentheistic (look it up!), monotheistic religion that originated in Punjab, in what is now northeastern India and southwestern Pakistan. Rather than summarise the beliefs, which is really beyond the scope of this article, I suggest you go to about.Sikhism and look around. It's interesting and educational.
The religion sprung up and developed at a time when Mughals (Muslims) had imposed a brutal dictatorship on the people of part of what is now called "the Asian subcontinent," that is India and Pakistan. I will now compare some aspects of Taliban and Sikhs.
Since people are generally more visual than verbal, I have included a picture gallery of major differences between the two groups below.
There is a certain superficial physical resemblance. The men of both groups grow beards and wear turbans. The majority of members of both groups are brown. The Taliban, however, are by and large Arabs, with Middle Eastern origins.   I stand corrected.  The Taliban are, by and large Pushtans of Afghan origins.  Although there is a growing number of Sikhs of European and African descent, most Sikhs today are still either
Punjabis or descendants of Punjabis.

Taliban discriminate against women in many ways: imposing Muslim dress which completely covers her, denies her education, restricts her movements so she is not allowed to go outside unless accompanied by a male relative. (I wonder what happens to a woman who has no male relatives?)
Sikhi teaches that men and women are equals. In fact, the Sikh Rehat Maryada - the Sikh Code of Conduct - forbids a woman to cover her face.

Here is an example of Sikh music, a sort of hymn called a kirtan. Notice that it has a happy sound and is a joy to hear! Also notice that it is sung by a woman!
.

I cannot give an example of Taliban music, since the Taliban ban music entirely, even to the point of killing songbirds when they controlled Afghanistan.
I cannot give a current example of Sikh government, since the Sikh Empire (1799-1849) governed by Maharaja Ranjit Singh is no longer around. However, two big differences between Sikh rule at that time and Taliban rule now are that capital punishment did not exist in the Sikh Empire, while it is common among the Taliban. And a huge difference, different religions were not only tolerated in the Sikh Empire but were actually respected, while the Taliban not only lack respect or tolerance for other religions, but also condemn all other forms of Islam, their own religion.
But enough of words. I have written enough to tell about the differences, now a few pictures to show the differences.

Note: Should anyone wish to reproduce this post, I will be happy to send you the html to make it easy for you. Just leave your e-mail in a comment or e-mail me at simayanan [at] gmail [dot] com. MHK

KHALISTAN ALERT! The Taliban Threaten West Punjab

I'm sorry to break into your weekend fun, but something really big and alarming has come up.

Today on CNN, I heard a most upsetting story. It seems that the Taliban in Pakistan have not only taken over the Swat Valley and forced their nonMuslim tax, called jizya, on Sikhs there, but much more alarming, they have made inroads in West Punjab. This is very serious.

When it comes to draconian oppression, the Taliban are masters! Imagine Punjab with no music, no dance, no colourful women, no joy. We all know that Punjabi celebrations can get out of hand. Weddings, especially are way too big, way too showy, way too expensive. But -

Can you imagine being flogged for going to one?





Can you imagine having your feet cut off for dancing at one?



Can you imagine a long, torturous prison sentence for singing at one?



Or - should you be a woman - execution for even expressing a desire to go to one?



That is the dark, joyless world of the Taliban.


That is the Punjab of the Taliban.

"After it rains, there's a rainbow and all of the colours are black...

Nothing but the dead and dying back in my little town..."
That's a song, but you better not sing it!



I have no idea what we can do about this, but I know it must be stopped. We are the chardi kala people, remember? We cannot allow this land to be turned into a no-laugh zone. The first step is to be aware. This is from today's New York Times:

MILITANTS THREATEN PAKISTAN'S POPULOUS HEART

April 14, 2009

By SABRINA TAVERNISE, RICHARD A. OPPEL Jr. and ERIC SCHMITT

This article was reported by Sabrina Tavernise, Richard A. Oppel Jr. and Eric Schmitt and written by Ms. Tavernise.

DERA GHAZI KHAN, Pakistan — Taliban insurgents are teaming up with local militant groups to make inroads in Punjab, the province that is home to more than half of Pakistanis, reinvigorating an alliance that Pakistani and American authorities say poses a serious risk to the stability of the country.

The deadly assault in March in Lahore, Punjab's capital, against the Sri Lankan cricket team, and the bombing last fall of the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad, the national capital, were only the most spectacular examples of the joint campaign, they said.

Now police officials, local residents and analysts warn that if the government does not take decisive action, these dusty, impoverished fringes of Punjab could be the next areas facing the insurgency. American intelligence and counterterrorism officials also said they viewed the developments with alarm.

"I don't think a lot of people understand the gravity of the issue," said a senior police official in Punjab, who declined to be idenfitied because he was discussing threats to the state. "If you want to destabilize Pakistan, you have to destabilize Punjab."

As American drone attacks disrupt strongholds of the Taliban and Al Qaeda in the tribal areas, the insurgents are striking deeper into Pakistan — both in retaliation and in search of new havens.

Telltale signs of creeping militancy abound in a belt of towns and villages near here that a reporter visited last week. Militants have gained strength considerably in the district of Dera Ghazi Khan, which is a gateway both to Taliban-controlled areas and the heart of Punjab, the police and local residents say. Many were terrified.

Some villages, just north of here, are so deeply infiltrated by militants that they are already considered no-go zones by their neighbors.

In at least five towns in southern and western Punjab, including the midsize hub of Multan, barber shops, music stores and Internet cafes offensive to the militants' strict interpretation of Islam have received threats. Traditional ceremonies that include drumming and dancing have been halted in some areas. Hard-line ideologues have addressed large crowds to push their idea of Islamic revolution. Sectarian attacks, dormant here since the 1990s, have erupted once again.

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Osama in Pakistan, says US Vice President

PAKISTAN & AFGHANISTAN NEWS: Joe Biden, US Vice President said that the Taliban and al-Qaida leaders are hiding in Pakistan's tribal areas, where the US is fighting a war on terror. Even Osama bin Laden is hiding there he said in an interview to CNN.

Biden said, "In the FATA, the western part of Pakistan in the mountains on the Afghan border, that is a war on terror. That's where al-Qaida lives. That's where bin Laden is. That's where the most radicalized part of the Taliban is"

He also added, "The situation we have as it relates to problems that exist in other parts of the world, they aren't all related to terror," while replying to a question that if the
the Obama administration has stopped use of the phrase "global war on terror."

The vice president asserted there is a war on terror. He said that terror is a legitimate threat. It is a threat which comes from al-Qaida and all other organisations that have morphed off of al-Qaida, but there are other interests that the government have beyond merely - for example, the crisis in the Middle East is not at all a global war on terror. But it matters to the US mightily whether or not to end up with an accommodation between the Israelis and the Palestinians," he said.

Joe Biden said Obama administration is fully concerned that al-Qaida has reconstituted itself under the administration of in the mountain regions on the border of Afghanistan and Pakistan.

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Labels: Osama in Pakistan says US Vice President, Osama Bin Laden, Joe Biden, Vice President of USA, Pakistan News

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Baitullah Mehsud claimed responsibility for New York shootout

PAKISTAN NEWS (inserts news from New York): Baitullah Mehsud, the Pakistani Taliban leader today claimed responsibility for a shooting incident yesterday at an immigration services office in New York that claimed 14 lives.

Baitullah Mehsud claimed that the attack was launched by a Pakistani man and one another unidentified man.

Baitullah Mehsud said, "I accept responsibility. They were my men. I gave them orders in reaction to US drone attacks." He said this through telephone from an undisclosed location.

Chief of Tehrik-e-Taliban (Pakistan) warned by saying, "such attacks would continue" to avenge missile strikes by US drones in tribal areas and "brutalities in Palestine."

Baitullah Mehsud also mentioned that he had said a few days ago that his militants would carry out attacks on the soil of America.

This claim by Baitullah Mehsud came hours after a US drone attack in North Waziristan tribal agency that killed 13 people. The drone attack also killed women and children.

New York News: About yesterday gunman attack in New York, authorities in New York said that a man armed with two handguns killed 13 people at an immigration services centre there before turning the gun on himself. The gunman was believed to be of Vietnamese-origin.

Also Read: BREAKING NEWS FROM NEW YORK (NY): Gunman takes hostages in NY state

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Labels: Baitullah Mehsud claimed responsibility for New York shootout, New York Hostage Crisis, New York News, Pakistan News, Taliban News

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Pak suspects Taliban in Lahore police academy terror attack

PAKISTAN NEWS: Baitullah Mehsud, Pakistani Taliban leader was suspected of carrying out an attack on a police academy today in Lahore (Paistan) said Interior Ministry head Rehman Malik.

Rehman Malik also said in a news conference today that one of the suspects of the attack in the Lahore police academy was an Afghan.

This terror attack in Lahore was for the second time in a month. Heavily armed gunmen stormed a police academy in Lahore killing at least 27 policemen in an 8-hour siege. In this 4 terrorists had been shot dead and 6 captured alive by the security forces.

Paramilitary Major Farhat Ali told to the media, "We hope to finish the operation within 40 minutes to an hour," at the site after the commandos took control of the complex of the police academy.

Earlier the Interior Ministry chief Rehman Malik told to the media that 52 police were wounded in the attack but gave no word on the number killed.

Governor of Punjab province, Salman Taseer, told to the media that authorities had reports of 4 people confirmed killed.

Labels: Pak suspects Taliban in Lahore police academy terror attack, Pakistan Crisis, Pakistan News, Rahman Malik, Terrorist

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