General Mirza Aslam Beg Former COAS, Pakistan friendsfoundation@live.co.uk Three years back the government decided to “beg and borrow”, to correct the economy and save the country from going into default. They did succeed in achieving the primary objective but this simple answer to the complex issue has created myriad problems as one can judge from the comments of … [Read more...]
بجٹ 2016-17پر ایک نظر
جنرل مرزا اسلم بیگ سابق چیف آف آرمی سٹاف friendsfoundation@live.co.uk تین سال قبل موجودہ حکومت نے ملکی اقتصادیات کو دیوالیہ ہونے سے بچانے کیلئے ‘‘قرض اورامداد’’ کا سہارا لینے کا فیصلہ کیا جس سےبنیادی اہداف کے حصول میں تو حکومت کوجزوی طورپر کامیابی ملی لیکن ابتر اقتصادی صورت حال کو سنبھالنے کیلئے اٹھائے جانے والے اقدامات نے مالی معاملات کو مزیدبگاڑ دیا ہے’ جس کا … [Read more...]
China Pakistan Strategic Pivot
General Mirza Aslam Beg Former COAS Pakistan friendsfoundation@live.co.uk Our defense collaboration with China is exemplary as well as unique. It has helped our armed forces, particularly the land forces; regain their élan after the 1971 debacle. During the early 80s there was a conscious realization of the weaknesses of the Army and the urgent need to develop it on modern … [Read more...]
پاک چین تذویراتی محور (Strategic Pivot)
جنرل مرزا اسلم بیگ سابق چیف آف آرمی سٹاف پاکستان friendsfoundation@live.co.uk چین کے ساتھ ہماری دفاعی شراکت مثالی ہونے کے ساتھ ساتھ منفرد نوعیت کی بھی ہے۔اسی شراکت کی بدولت ہماری مسلح افواج اور بالخصوص پیادہ فوج 1971ء کی جنگ کے بعد اپنا کھویا ہوا مقام حاصل کرنے میں کامیاب ہوئی ہے۔ ہمیں اپنی فوج کی کمزوریوں کو دور کرنے اور مستقبل میں مسلح افواج کو جدید تقاضوں کے … [Read more...]
موجودہ سیاسی کشمکش اور قومی نظریہ حیات
از: جنرل مرزا اسلم بیگ سابق چیف آف آرمی سٹاف پاکستان Email: friendsfoundation@live.co.uk پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی کی پہلی حکومت کے دور میں وزیراعظم ذوالفقار علی بھٹو نے قوم کو متفقہ آئین دیا اور قوم کے نظریہ حیات کا تعین کیا: ‘‘پاکستان کا نظام حکومت جمہوری ہوگا جس کی بنیادیں قرآن و سنہ کے اصولوں پر قائم ہوں گی۔’’ استحکام جمہوریت کیلئے پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی کو ایک مضبوط … [Read more...]
Finally, an honest statement from Afghanistan
Finally, an honest statement from Afghanistan Tariq Saeedi Ashgabat, 27 April 2016 (nCa) --- President Ashraf Ghani of Afghanistan addressed Monday (25 April 2016) a joint session of both houses of the parliament. His speech was an honest statement, serving more than its intended purpose. Even though every sentence of his speech was loaded with anger toward Pakistan, the … [Read more...]
И, наконец, честное заявление от Афганистана
Тарик Саиди Ашхабад, 27 апреля 2016 (nCa) --- Президент Афганистана Ашраф Гани выступил в понедельник (25 апреля 2016 г.) на совместном заседании обеих палат парламента. Его выступление стало честным заявлением, адресованным по прямому назначению. Несмотря на то, xnj каждое предложение из его речи было перегружено гневом по отношению к Пакистану, настоящие намеки были … [Read more...]
Turkmenistan-Pakistan relations: The larger context – Part 2
Tariq Saeedi Ashgabat, 19 March 2016 (nCa) --- The strengthening of Turkmenistan-Pakistan partnership will inevitably encompass and benefit the entire region. This would be the direct result of the overwhelming sets of commonalities that bind the nine countries of the region together: Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan … [Read more...]
Туркмено-Пакистанские отношения: В более широком контексте – Часть 2
Тарик Саиди Ашхабад, 19 марта 2016 (nCa) --- Укрепление Туркмено-Пакистанского партнерства неизбежно охватит весь регион и принесет пользу всему региону. Это стало бы прямым результатом подавляющего большинства общностей, связывающих девять стран региона воедино: Казахстан, Туркменистан, Узбекистан, Кыргызстан, Таджикистан, Иран, Афганистан, Пакистан и Китай. Пакистан … [Read more...]
Turkmenistan-Pakistan relations: The larger context – Part 1
Tariq Saeedi Ashgabat, 17 March 2016 (nCa) --- President Berdymuhamedov of Turkmenistan, accompanied by a powerful delegation, visited Pakistan, 16-17 March 2016. He had separate talks with the president, the prime minister and the speaker of the parliament of Pakistan. TAPI (Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project) was at the top of the agenda in all … [Read more...]
Туркмено-Пакистанские отношения: В более широком контексте – Часть 1
Тарик Саиди Ашхабад, 17 марта 2016 (nCa) --- Президент Бердымухамедов в сопровождении представительной делегации посетил Пакистан в период с 16 по 17 марта 2016 г. Он провел отдельные переговоры с Президентом, премьер-министром и спикером Парламента Пакистана. Центральное место в повестке дня всех встреч занял проект газопровода ТАПИ (Туркменистан – Афганистан - Пакистан … [Read more...]
“Good Taliban” Sajna Group Blows-Up Army Centerpiece School In Tiarza Right After Gen. Abbasi Visit
Peter Chamberlin Two weeks after the latest Pentagon/CIA assault upon a tribal jirga, and attempt to kill Sajna Mehsud, his group blows-up a highly symbolic, Pak Army-built girls school in S. Waziristan. Why would one of Pakistan’s “good Taliban” stage such an assault upon progress in his own area, especially just one month after the Tiarza Roadopening, after it had been … [Read more...]
Islamabad Heart of Asia Conference
General Mirza Aslam Beg Ex. Chief of Army Staff, Pakistan Email: friendsfoundation@live.co.uk A few months back, Dr. Ikram Azam, reminded me of the book “Pakistan – The Heart of Asia”, by late Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan. The author gave his vision of Pakistan of the future, its geo-strategic importance and the linkages it could create with immediate neighbors and … [Read more...]
اسلام آباد ہارٹ آف ایشیاء کانفرنس
اسلام آباد ہارٹ آف ایشیاء کانفرنس جنرل مرزا اسلم بیگ سابق چیف آف آرمی سٹاف’ پاکستان Email: friendsfoundation@live.co.uk چند ماہ قبل ڈاکٹر اکرام اعظم صاحب نے مجھے مرحوم وزیراعظم پاکستان لیاقت علی خان کی کتاب “Pakistan – The Heart of Asia” یاددلائی’ جس میں مصنف نے خطے میں ہمہ گیراور پر امن بقائے باہمی کے حوالے سےمستقبل میں پاکستان کی جغرافیائی و تذویراتی اہمیت اور قریبی … [Read more...]
عالمی امن کیلئےصدرپیوٹن کی نئی حکمت عملی
جنرل مرزا اسلم بیگ سابق چیف آف آرمی سٹاف’ پاکستان Email: friendsfoundation@live.co.uk شام میں روس کی عسکری مداخلت ایک سوچا سمجھا فیصلہ ہے جو کئی سالوں کی منصوبہ بندی کا نتیجہ ہے۔اس اقدام سے پہلےپیوٹن نے اندرونی مسائل کو حل کیا؛ مسلح افواج کی کارکردگی کو بہتر بنایا اورقریبی پڑوسی ممالک(Near Abroad) کی سلامتی یقینی بنانے کیلئے افغانستان سے دہشت گردی کے خاتمے کا فیصلہ کیا … [Read more...]
Putins Initiative for Global Peace
General Mirza Aslam Beg Former COAS, Pakistan Email: friendsfoundation@live.co.uk Russian military intervention in Syria is a deliberate act, based on years of planning. Putin solved domestic problems; re-juvinated the armed forces; ensured security of the “Near abroad” and reached out to Afghanistan to eliminate the terror threat. The primary objective was, to … [Read more...]
Exclusive interview with General Mirza Aslam Beg
Ashgabat, 13 October 2015 (nCa) --- Here is an exclusive interview with General Mirza Aslam Beg (Retired), who was the chief of the army staff of Pakistan from 1988 to 1991. He is recognized worldwide as an authority on Afghanistan. nCa: Do the Taliban have any ambitions beyond the borders of Afghanistan? General Beg: Afghans have been subjected to foreign aggression, … [Read more...]
Эксклюзивное интервью с генералом Мирза Аслам Бегом
Ашхабад, 13 октября 2015 (nCa) --- Ниже опубликовано интервью с отставным Генералом Мирза Аслам Бегом, который в период с 1988 по 1991 годы занимал пост начальника штаба вооруженных сил Пакистана. Он является признанным в мире специалистом по афганской тематике. nCa: Имеют ли талибы какие-либо амбиции, распространяющиеся за пределы Афганистана? Генерал Бег: Афганцы … [Read more...]
پاکستان کے حالات حاضرہ پر تبصرہ
جنرل مرزا اسلم بیگ کا انٹرویو سوال : بھارت کنٹرول لائن اور ورکنگ بائنڈری پر دہشت گردی کا مرتکب ہو رہا ہے۔ادھر افغان حکومت بھی الزامات لگائے جا رہی ہے۔ ان حالات میں کراچی آپریشن کا منطقی انجام کیا ہوگا’ کیونکہ کراچی آپریشن کے نتیجے میں دہشت گردی کے ساتھ سیاسی الجھائو بھی پیدا ہو ا ہے جواب: دہشت گردی کے خلاف اس جنگ کے کئی پہلو ہیں جو ایک دوسرے سے مربوط ہیں۔ پاکستان میں دہشت … [Read more...]
بھارت کی دھمکیوں کا جواب ہمارے پاس موجود ہے
جنرل مرزا اسلم بیگ سابق چیف آف آرمی سٹاف پاکستان Email: friendsfoundation@live.co.uk آج ہم یوم دفاع کی پچاسویں سالگرہ منا رہے ہیں لیکن ہمارا ملک اندرونی و بیرونی خطرات کی زد میں ہے۔ایک طرف ہم مغربی سرحدوں پردہشت گردی کے خلاف جنگ لڑ رہے ہیں تو دوسری جانب بھارت نےمغربی سرحدوں پر بلاجواز کشیدگی کی فضا پیدا کر کے ہمارے مسائل میں اضافہ کیا ہے۔ ہمیں معلوم ہے کہ اس … [Read more...]
Turkmenistan begins engineering and survey work on 215-km segment of TAPI in its territory
Ashgabat, 4 September 2015 (nCa) --- Turkmenistan has started the engineering and survey work on the 215-km segment of TAPI that will pass through its territory. A commentary circulated Thursday by TDH, the official news agency of Turkmenistan says that the institute of oil and gas of the state concern Turkmengaz had begun a series of technical and geological studies for the … [Read more...]
Туркменистан приступил к инженерно-изыскательным работам на 215-километровом сегменте трубопровода ТАПИ на своей территории
Ашхабад, 4 сентября 2015 (nCa) --- Туркменистан приступил к инженерно-изыскательным работам на 215-километровом сегменте трубопровода ТАПИ, который пройдет через территорию страны. Как сообщает государственное информационное агентство ТДХ, специалисты Института нефти и газа Государственной корпорации «Туркменгаз» приступили к техническим и геологическим исследованиям на … [Read more...]
TAPI opts for self propulsion – Turkmenistan to lead consortium
nCa News and Commentary Ashgabat, 7 August 2015 (nCa) --- In a historic choice Thursday, Turkmenistan decided to act as the consortium leader for TAPI, the pipeline project that will transport Turkmen gas to Pakistan and India through the territory of Afghanistan. During the 22nd meeting of the steering committee of TAPI, a ministerial level body empowered to take executive … [Read more...]
پاکستان اور افغانستان کی قومی سلامتی کے تقاضے
جنرل مرزا اسلم بیگ سابق چیف آف آرمی سٹاف پاکستان Email" friendsfoundation@live.co.uk پاکستان اور افغانستان کے مابین ڈیورنڈ لائن کو بین الاقوامی سرحد کی حیثیت حاصل ہے لیکن یہ لائن کبھی بھی چالیس ملین پختون قوم‘ جس کا تقریبأ ساٹھ فیصدپاکستان میں مقیم ہے‘ کو تقسیم نہیں کرسکی۔یہی تاریخی حقیقت ہے کہ پختون اکثریت افغانستا ن کے معاملات میں فیصلہ کن کردار کی حامل رہی ہے جس کی … [Read more...]
Pak-Afghan Security Imperatives
General Mirza Aslam Beg The Durand Line forms the international border between Pakistan and Afghanistan, but it does not divide the Pakhtuns, a nation of over forty million, with sixty percent of them residing in Pakistan. Historically, this majority has maintained strong influence over the affairs of Afghanistan. No ruler at Kabul could govern without their support and … [Read more...]
Indo-US Nexus -The Name of the Game
General Mirza Aslam Beg The factors determining the geo-political dynamics of our region have a name. It is Modi’s concept of ‘Act Asia’ and Obama’s idea of ‘Pivot to Asia’. In fact both the concepts eminate from their failed post 9/11 Afghanistan policies: The 2005 Indo-US Strategic Partnership was aimed at establishing Indian hegemony over the territories from Afghanistan to … [Read more...]
TAPI technical group, steering committee to meet in Ashgabat
nCa News and Commentary Ashgabat, 5 July 2014 (nCa) --- The Technical Working Group of TAPI (Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project) will meet in Ashgabat, 6-7 July 2014. This would be followed by the meeting of the Steering Committee, 8-18 July 2014. The agenda covers several important issues including the refining of the roadmap, creation of the … [Read more...]
Has democracy failed in Pakistan?
[Backlog post -- Article received on 6 November 2013] Nadeem M Qureshi Whenever there are elections the people who get elected and sit in Pakistan’s assemblies do not deserve to be there. They tend to be, in the rural areas, feudal landlords or the descendants of long deceased holy men called ‘peers’. And in the cities they are usually neighbourhood thugs. In both cases they … [Read more...]
John Kerry – The Game Changer!!
[Backlog post] General Mirza Aslam Beg For the last several years the United States had been seeking a respectable exit from Afghanistan, as the end game was nearing in 2013-14. Various options were exercised to determine a suitable course of action, but failed. It was John Kerry, a war veteran and an astute diplomat, who in a short period of few months, was able to strike a … [Read more...]
Политизация проекта ТАПИ
Тарик Саиди Ашхабад, 31 октября 2013 (nCa) --- Заимствовав устаревшее сравнение, можно сказать, что проект трубопровода ТАПИ по отношению к ослабшим и удрученным Штатам, является некой спасательной шлюпкой для пассажиров тонущего корабля. Отступление под храбрым эвфемизмом вывода войск выглядит серьезным и важным. Старые добрые США, не желая отказаться от своей опоры в … [Read more...]
Politicization of TAPI
Tariq Saeedi Ashgabat, 31 October 2013 (nCa) --- Borrowing a tired simile, TAPI is to a drained and dispirited USA what a lifeboat is to the passengers of a sinking ship. The retreat under the brave euphemism of withdrawal is looming large. The good old US of A, loath to give up its toehold in Central Asia, seems desperate for any fig leave to justify its continued presence … [Read more...]
Peace with Taliban – “What has to be, has to be”
General Mirza Aslam Beg There has been a spate of criticism, by a particular lobby in Pakistan, of PAC decision for dialogue with the Taliban for peace. In the same context, I would particularly refer to the comments made by Najam Sethi, in his article titled, بقا کی جنگ یا تباہ کن امن (Fight for Survival or yield to Destructive Peace), published in daily Jang dated October … [Read more...]
Poor paying with their lives for fizzy drinks
Nadeem M Qureshi Travel through rural Pakistan and two things will strike you. One is heart rending poverty. And the other is hospitality. Visitors are greeted with warmth and selfless generosity. The poorest of the poor will immediately call for ‘paani' for their visitors. Paani means water in Urdu. But in the local lexicon it has come to mean a bottled fizzy drink. And … [Read more...]
Billions of Rupees needed to rebuild Dera Bugti
Kiyya Qadir Baloch Islamabad- Though the previous Balochistan government received a lion's share of funds under the NFC Award, the fate of Dera Bugti people remained unchanged and the insurgency-hit district is giving a deserted look. No new schools, colleges, learning centres, roads or health centres were established after Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti’s assassination and the … [Read more...]
A new system for Pakistan
Nadeem M Qureshi That the political system in Pakistan needs changing is indisputable. The ‘Whitehall’ model has failed to deliver. Elections routinely bring into parliament the incompetent, insincere and corrupt. They come for the spoils. As ministers, they loot from the exchequer in the form of kickbacks and bribes. As members of parliament, they loot from public works funds … [Read more...]
Fighting terror: Why leadership matters
Nadeem M Qureshi In the post September 11 world much has been said and written about terrorism. The 2001 events in New York had nothing to do with Pakistan. But since that time, a series of poor decisions at multiple levels, in and outside Pakistan, have put the country squarely in the eye of an expanding maelstrom of terrorism. Is it now possible to still these swirling … [Read more...]
Conspiracy Behind Coup in Egypt
General Mirza Aslam Beg The “Evil Nexus of three As and O” struck Egypt and overthrew the elected government of President Morsi. We in Pakistan have had suffered such afflictions in the past and therefore our sense of loss for democracy in Egypt, is greater. The “Evil Nexus of three As and O” stand for America, Army, Adlia (Judiciary) and O for the Opportunists of sorts. What … [Read more...]
Privatization a panacea?
Nadeem M. Qureshi Privatization was made fashionable by Britain’s Margaret Thatcher in the 1980’s. The sale, during her reign as Prime Minister, of poorly performing state enterprises to the private sector was widely lauded. Acolytes included global financial institutions such as the World Bank and the IMF as well as then US President Ronald Reagan. It seems Pakistan’s … [Read more...]
PIA: On a wing and a prayer
Nadeem M Qureshi Pakistan International Airlines, the national flag carrier of Pakistan, once a source of pride for the whole nation, is in trouble. Over the last five years it has reported cumulative losses of Rs. 160 billion – this is three times the amount Pakistan spends every year on education. Financial woes aside, service has suffered. Flights are routinely delayed. … [Read more...]
Babar Awan visits Bugti refugees camp, demanded safe restoration of IDPs
Kiyya Qadir Baloch Islamabad- Pakistan People’s Party law maker Babar Awan visited Bugti refugees camp in Islamabad here on Sunday and extended support to the refugees and also demanded chief justice of Pakistan to play his role for restoring Bugti refugees in their areas. Babar Awan on this occasion said country's survival was impossible without rule of law and urged that … [Read more...]
IDP protest after hospital administration refrain to handover dead body to deceased family
Kiyya Qadir Baloch Islamabad: Hunger strike of Dera Bugti affectees is continuing for the last four days outside Al-Shifa international hospital for getting the dead body of their one fellow, who died on July 3 in the same hospital but the administration refused to hand over the dead body to Dera Bugti affectees which may lead them to hold guns again as the government seems … [Read more...]
Balochistan government to face enormous challenges
Kiyya Qadir Baloch Islamabad- As Dr. Abdul Malik Baloch, A medical doctor by profession, belonging to a middle-class and educated family of Kech completed seven days of his government has to face enormous challenges from militants and power holder from Rawalpindi. People viewed the recent Quetta bombing and attack on Quaid-I-Azam residency in Ziarat as a part of a … [Read more...]
International Arms Trade Treaty and the West
Jameel-ur-Rehman Baloch The West celebrates the milestone signing of the International Arms Trade Treaty, the one which keeps the major powers baffled, US is restrained from singing in order to wait and vigilantly watch the developments that how the world reacts to the treaty whilst China and Russia seem to stay in a denial mode indefinitely. Yet, the signatories, almost 1/3 … [Read more...]
TAT Rail – A Photo Essay
Ashgabat, 7 June 2013 (nCa) --- Just some photos of the launching ceremony of TAT Rail at Atamurat on 5 June 2013: … [Read more...]
Urdu article by General Aslam Beg
PML N mulls over option for nominating Balochistan’s CM
Kiyya Qadir Baloch Islamabad --- Having been completely victorious party in center, the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML N) has emerged as the majority party in the war torn province of Balochistan too where according to official results it had got 9 seats out of 51 whereas the party has ballooned to 15 MPAs after six independent members joined its rank. Pukhtunkhwa Milli … [Read more...]
Time for a diplomatic fight back
Jameel-ur-Rehman Baloch Nawaz Sharif’s exchange of dialogue with his Chinese counterpart who is on his latest visit to Pakistan over extending a helping hand in proliferating Civil Nuclear Technology is a judicious move in the right direction; something which if executed will rehabilitate the persisting energy crunch of Pakistan. Yes, an unqualified Chinese assistance is … [Read more...]
Journalists’ tragedy in Pakistani Balochistan
Kiyya Qadir Baloch Balochistan, territorially the largest province of Pakistan, has become a hotbed of insurgency, sectarian linked killings, acts of kidnapping for ransom, tribal feuds and numerous other issues, which require vigilant reporting and communication to the world. The journalists in Balochistan have been performing their duties with utmost honesty and sometimes … [Read more...]
The Landmark Elections 2013
General Mirza Aslam Beg The verdict of 11th May 2013, by the Pakistani voters, has demolished several myths, establishing new realities which promise a brighter future for Pakistan, emerging from the depths of sorrow and sacrifices of decades and the sufferings at the hands of a corrupt and incompetent government, which almost shook the very foundation of the country. The myth … [Read more...]
Musharraff was sent to Pakistan under a plan – Urdu article by General Aslam Beg
General Aslam Beg is one of the most authoritative analysts in Pakistan. He can be reached at friendsfoundation@live.co.uk … [Read more...]