The Pakistan Update

By Najam Sethi

On initial appearances, the first high-level bilateral talks between India and Pakistan since November 2008 weren’t a success. When the two foreign secretaries convened in New Delhi on Feb. 25, at times it was as if they were at different meetings. The Indians tried to focus on terrorism sponsored from within Pakistan, while the Pakistanis wanted a broader dialogue. In the end, there was no noteworthy result. But appearances in this case are deceiving. This meeting is likely to prove more successful than many expect.

That’s because interests on both sides are at last correctly aligned to give talks a shot at success. For India, it has been a matter of reaching several conclusions at the same time. First, New Delhi has failed to browbeat Islamabad into steps like cracking down on Lashkar-e-Taiba, the terrorist group responsible for the Nov. 2008 Mumbai attacks. Indian saber rattling alone hasn’t done the trick, just as in 2002 when India’s armed forces tried but failed to intimidate Pakistan into halting the flow of jihadis into the Indian-controlled part of Kashmir.

At the same time, the United States has been pressing New Delhi to reduce tensions along the Pakistani border. (more…)

Tags: Afghanistan, Asif Zardari, Bilateral Talks, Featured, Hillary Clinton, ISI, Islamabad, jihadis, Manmohan Singh, Military establishment, Mumbai Attacks, Nawaz Sharif, New Delhi, Pak-India Relations, pakistan india talks, Pakistan Update, Pervez Musharraf, SAARC, Taliban, Terrorism, USA

Posted in Blog, India, News | 1,172 Comments »

There’s a special genre of publication that caters exclusively to excitable, starstruck young women. “Tiger Beat”, “Bop” and “16″ are fluffy magazines tailored to satisfy the swoony dreams of adolescents as they fantasize about the teen idol de jour.

The packaging of a fantasy is an art in and of itself cleverly crafted by publicists, ambitious stage parents and cynical editors. The formula is fairly simple.  The performer must always be portrayed as single and wholesome. Marriage, homosexuality, bizarre personality quirks, poor grooming, violent tendencies, psychological issues, consumption of alcohol and/or drugs and smoking must be concealed at all costs lest the fantasy, and possibly a career, go up in smoke. Chastity rings a la Jonas Brothers are a big plus.  The star has to be accessible but always slightly out of reach, cute but never sexual, perfectly behaved….and rather bland.  Attracting and keeping the attention of young female fans, who tend to be fickle when it comes to the cuties they admire, is easier said than done.

But it’s impossible to put off the inevitable.  The girls realize they’re at a puppet show when they see the strings. The star turns out to be a regular guy. (more…)

Tags: Barack Obama, bill clinton, Campaign 2012, Democracy, democrats, Election campaign 2008, Featured, Hillary Clinton, John McCain, Newspapers, Presidential Candidates, Republicans, TV channels, us media, Votes

Posted in The Ballot Box | 2,304 Comments »

A Republican political consultant and spin doctor once gave a young reporter a piece of advice.  ”When dealing with a politician think like a lion tamer.  Have you ever asked yourself why a lion tamer goes into the ring with a loaded gun at his side? That’s because he knows that even though he’s been around the same lion day after day – and may even have raised the creature since it was a cub – he realizes that at the end of the day the lion is still a lion.”

No doubt working with and around politicians is a risky business.  Consider the tawdry, never-ending saga of John Edwards and his merry band of enablers, chief among whom is former Edwards aide Andrew Young, now out baying for blood.

Young and his wife appeared on ABC’s 20/20 recently to empty the X-rated clown car. (more…)

Tags: bill clinton, Democracy, Featured, Hillary Clinton, john edwards, national enquirer, Obama, sarah palin, US, us media

Posted in The Ballot Box | 2,499 Comments »

By Donna Miles

NATO’s top military commander expressed confidence that the critical pieces are being put into place to make 2010 a turning point for Afghanistan’s future.

Navy Adm. James G. Stavridis, who participated in the Jan. 28 International Conference on Afghanistan in London as part of the NATO delegation, said he’s seeing the international community coming together in an unprecedented way to ensure the new strategy succeeds.

“For the first time, there is universal international focus on taking Afghanistan to the next step,” he said, noting representation by 60 nations and 19 other international organizations at the conference and additional commitments of troops, trainers and political, economic and development aid.

These components are critical to the comprehensive approach needed for Afghanistan’s long-term success, he said during a joint Pentagon Channel and American Forces Press Service interview. (more…)

Tags: Afghanistan, Al Qaeda, Ban Ki Moon, Hamid Karzai, Hillary Clinton, London Conference, NATO, Pakistan Army, Taliban, UN, War on Terror

Posted in Afghanistan, Around | 587 Comments »

By Aima Khosa

Since Hillary Clinton’s visit to Pakistan, much has been said and written about the consequences of this trip on the Pakistan-US relations – which at best can be described as the epitome of a love-hate relationship. Scholars and analysts alike have argued back and forth over the technicalities of this relationship. However, very little can be found on the ‘real’ relationship.

Much has been written about the diplomats and the foreign ministers and presidents and governments.  But what about the people?

When Hillary Clinton came to Pakistan, it was the upper middle class of the Pakistani society, the educated, politically aware people who were interested in this visit. They were wary, some downright pessimistic – others hopeful. The majority view, however, was that this was just a feel-good trip. Obama had sent to Pakistan a womanly figure – one whose impression on the Pakistanis is of an intelligent woman who appeals to people because of her charm – to woo the people into accepting the bitter pill of US policies and swallowing it without much protest.

(more…)

Tags: Hillary Clinton, Pakistan, US

Posted in Blog | 2,369 Comments »

QUESTION: The first question is in relation to the point you were discussing earlier, your visit to Pakistan. You went to mosque, you went to a (inaudible), you talked to students, you went to a police office where people were killed, you went to the museum of Iqbal, the man who (inaudible) Pakistan’s area. It was deemed in Pakistani media as a courageous act, your outreach. Even those who were critical of U.S. policy were appreciative of your courage and giving a message to the Pakistani leadership also.

What were the signs of hope, that in all that process, you saw in Pakistan?

SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, first, the resilience and the courage of the Pakistani people. Everywhere I went, I met people who are speaking out and standing up and working hard, and that was extremely moving to me. I also felt like both the civilian government and the military leadership understood that the threat they faced had to be addressed.

(more…)

Tags: Afghanistan, Hassan Abbas, Hillary Clinton, Pakistan, Secretary Clinton, United States

Posted in Blog, Transcripts | 2,136 Comments »