Pakistan Forum is an Independent Open Forum to Discuss Political, Economic and Social Issues
South Korea’s National Assembly has ratified a free trade deal with India that promises to slash tariffs on goods and services between two of the Asia’s biggest economies. The bill will officially be known as Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.
The Bill is passed by a margin of 192-0, with five abstentions in the 298-seat National Assembly. The two countries will abolish or cut tariffs for 90 percent of Indian goods in terms of value and 85 percent of South Korean products.
Following are the top 10 countries from the visitors come to Pakistan Forum website.
Pakistan.
United States.
United Kingdom.
India.
Canada.
Spain.
United Arab Emirates.
Saudi Arabia.
Australia.
Russian Federation.
Wall Street Journal reported today quoting Pakistani security officials that Laskar-e-Tayaba has confessed they were involved in Mumbai attacks.
Last month Pakistani security police arrested Mr. Zarrar Shah a top Lashkar commander in Pakistani controlled Kashmir. According to Pakistani sources Mr. Shah confessed the group had a role in these attacks. He admitted he was one of the key planners of the operation and talked to attackers during the rampage giving them advice to keep them focused. This phone call was intercepted by US intelligence. When this phone recording may have been played there was no room for Pakistan and Mr. Shah to refute the allegation that Pakistani territory was used in this attack.
This disclosure now will put international pressure on Pakistan to accept that attacks were originated from its territory.
During all this time Pakistan has been insisting India should provide evidence about Pakistan’s involvement. US, Britain and India have always been saying Lashkar-e-Tayaba is involved. That means India and US have better intelleginece about Pakistan than the government of Pakistan or Mr. Zardari thinks the international community will believe him.
How much coordination Pakistan’s different agencies have among themselves here is something you would like to read.
Farhat Ullah Babar a spokeman for Asif Ali Zardari said on Tuesday he is not aware of investigation proving any link between Lashkar and Mumbai attacks. He further said “The Interior Ministry has not been furnished any evidence about this investigation”.
Now the million dollar question is, will Pakistan do anything against these Islamic extremeists. If history is any indication then expect nothing. But the difference this time is that US, British, India and Pakistan’s traditional allies will put pressure on Pakistan to take action.
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is visiting Qatar now a days. He met with Amir of Qatar Shaikh Hamad bin Khanlifa Al Thani in Doha today. They discussed bilateral relations and ways to enhance cooperation among the two countires.
During this visit Indian and Qatari defense ministers signed a defence cooperation deal which an Indian official stated as “just short of stationing troops”. The agreement includes joint training excercises, cooperation on counter terrorism intelligence and maritime security.
Gulf states have realised that India is the new name of power in South East Asia and they started developing relations with India. They already had very close economic and defense relations with India for many many years. As far as Pakistan is concerned it is a dead horse.
The only thing Pakistan is known now in the world is religious hatred, Islamic extremism and terrorism.
Press Trust of India has reported that on October 27, 2008 Pakistani troops fired rocket-propelled grenades and mortars at Indian posts along Line of Control in Kashmir state. According to this news 10 shells were fired in a half-hour period in the Poonch District. No casualties were reported. Pakistan has not reported or commented on any such incident. Should we consider this incident anything significant? This is may be too early to say. Zardari was seeking good relations with India. In such situation starting such activities means what? Did Indians attack Pakistan and now they are blaming Pakistan.
I don’t know. However, such skirmishes are rountine things on Line of Control but the timings do not match with the intentions of both countries.
