Ayesha Siddiqa
@iamthedrifter
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Author, senior fellow King's College, London & expert on military affairs, South Asia and politics of Islam anchor ‘Neighbors Talking’
London, England
Joined June 2009
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عمران خانُ میں اگر زرا سی بھی انسانیت ہو تو وہ ان جلسوں کو فورا ختمُ کر کے اس وقت کے اصل مسلۂ پر غور کریں اور لوگوں کو غور کرنے کا موقع دیں۔ پانی کی شدید قلت کی وجہ سے چولستان، تھر اور بلوچستان میں لاکھوں لوگوں کی جان کو خطرہ ہے۔ خدارا اپنے ڈرامے بند کریں
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Bibi the only game in town is being played by those you work for. The Commissioner, DC, DIG & SSP Pindi are never appointed without taking a nod from the GHQ. Suddenly you are trying to give it an international angle
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They say Pak PM called a bunch of anchors and told them the jihadis are bad for Pakistan so they have to go. Isn’t this exactly what Nawaz Sharif said but had to then face Dawn leaks
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A couple of days ago Suhail Warraich sb in an article predicted that MNS will be PM & Shahbaz Sharif CM. Now in their program in Geo his team saying “those who had to do victory speech gone home” wonder if these analysts thought about how people felt
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A prime minister who cannot cast his vote correctly is trying to run an entire country
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The establishment should be considered having gone mad if they try to change results at this stage. Governance and policy making won’t be easy if a government of GHQ’s choice is brought.
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@CMShehbaz
interesting that this philanthropist didn't quietly walk into a Pakistani embassy and denote this money for flood relief. Wonder why?
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Statue of Liberty in Bahria Islamabad. Heard people call it “churail chowk”
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So some Pakistanis are angry with Afghan behaviour in UAE. Not that the behaviour should be condoned but just think what the Afghans must have felt the way we treated them since 1975 - building as a nursery of terrorism & violence 4 strategic ends
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I hope Pakistan’s Parliament gets together to agree that: (a) no chief would ever be given an extension, (b) chiefs once they retire will have to remain on the country for at least a period of 3 years before escaping abroad & (c) declare assets publicly at the time of retirement
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Mian NS’s speech is historic - first time leadership from Punjab has challenged the deep state. What Baluchistan, KP & Sindh used to say is almost being said by Punjab
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Neither does
@murtazasolangi
nor
@asmashirazi
say that the state just got ample chance - 12 days visit of the COAS - to present its side of the story. It’s their low journalistic standards that believe one side can’t present its perspective. Even if we dont agree
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Yesterday, COAS Asim Munir came to address youth in Lahore. These approx 1500 young men/women made to wait for about 3 hrs in fog and cold. Interestingly, despite the friendly power show couldn’t shut voices for IK.
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we need to seriously sit and calculate the cost of keeping these terror outfits. The airspace is closed until March 4th.
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With the choice of caretaker prime minister the establishment has demonstrated that the political system will now be military driven. The gentleman is a product of the national security workshop at the NDU. The army’s long term investment has begun to bear fruit
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ایک شخص کو وزیر اعظم بنانے کیلئے تیار کیا جا رہا ہے
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Khan cannot be categorized as a politician; he is an agitator-entertainer rather than an effective policymaker. From economy and foreign policy to controlling the state – he failed at all counts in his almost 4 years in govt
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This Bajwa leaks indicates how a Lt. General of Pak Army is worth about US$ 100 million or more
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You may agree or disagree with Benazir Bhutto's politics but no one can question her character. Hers is an amazing story of a woman who survived in a male's world with her honor intact. The story of Benazir as a woman is yet to be written by someone
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I was wrong in thinking that Pak military doesn't want to do business with India because it already does. Askari cement has certification from Indian Bureau of Standards to export cement to India. The company has India on its list of clients
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Bhutto came to see Mazari trying to dissuade him from supporting Fatima Jinnah - Bhutto insisted on referring 2 FJ as Budhi and used language that descended to gutter level
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Only fauji boots can
"America or no other country can put pressure on me" Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar ul Haq Kakar
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because he is a hand that feeds all - the military, the PPPP, PMLN, PTI, JUIF, etc, etc
So question to ask is. Why isn’t anyone arresting Malik Riaz?
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By what rule did
#genQamarBajwa
call Us dty Sect State? This is indiscipline and he should be court martialed
@OfficialDGISPR
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اس بیغیرت ملازمہ
#cybthiaRitchie
کو کوئی بتائے کہ اگر بے نظیر بھٹو باکردار عورت نہ ہوتی تو سنتھیا کے مالک بی بی کو کب کے کھا جاتے۔ اس عورت کی شرافت پر انگلی کوئی نہیں اٹھا سکتا۔ نہایت گھٹیا بات کی گئی ہے۔ جنہوں نے کروائی ہے شرم کریں کتنا نیچے گریں گے
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Just wondering which party will the youthias join once Imran Khan is no more? They are not going to disappear so where will they take their anger and frustration?
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A genuine question raised by a Pakistani Christian - they threw budget books at each other that has name of God and the prophet written on it but if a Christian nurse unthinkingly cleans a sticker with the same she is accused of blasphemy and punished - yeh khula tazaad kiyon?
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So can we blame landed feudal when the literate-professional service chiefs turn feudal? How does one calculate the cost of a flight, three land cruisers & staff to lay the red carpet to receive PAF chief in his village in Gujrat?
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From tanks to tractors: Pakistan army taking over 1 million acres of land to grow food
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I argue that while Mianwali airbase is saved the losses are underreported. About 14 aircraft and 35 men were lost in the terror attack
'Pakistan army should leave politics & get back to security. An airbase was just attacked'
Ayesha Siddiqa
@iamthedrifter
, senior fellow at the Department of War Studies at King’s College, London, writes
#ThePrintOpinion
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وزیر اعظم سب سے پہلے یہ تحقیق شروع کریں کے سوئز کیس کس کے حکم سے بند ہوئے اور وہ کون ٹاپ کا وکیل ہے جس کی معاونت کے نتیجے میں پاکستان نے اکثر بیرون ملک کیس ہارے ہیں جس کے نتیجے میں اربوں کا جرمانہ دینا پڑے گا
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PPP should certainly distance itself from Aitzaz Ahsan. What a shameful hussy
PPP’s wall poster of shame. Why doesn’t he formally join Youthia League?
خدا کسی بندے کی آخرت خراب نہ کرے
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Finally, a military man Asad Durrani says that Nawaz Sharif did not have knowledge of the extent of Kargil operation
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1- Drove all the way from London to Oxford to listen to
@MiftahIsmail
at St Antony’s College. former finance minister gave a long and good summary identifying Pakistan problems - elite economy, lack of skilled workers, little trade, education, population, terrorism & extremism
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My Bahawalpur is poorer today! Did we think that hosting Jaishe Muhammad will not have any impact? JeM may not have a direct hand but it represents part of an environment that led to the murder of this professor whose only sin was discussing poets & writers
A Bahawalpur college professor Khalid Hameed was murdered this morning by his student for organizing a Fun Fair and encouraging female students participation
#Bigotry
#Hate
#Murder
@SHABAZGIL
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Question is what was DGISI doing that he couldn't gather the intel regarding what India had planned in Kashmir? Why did it come as a surprise? De-politicization of the military necessary for its sub-institutions to perform
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@ShireenMazari1
While celebrating American defeat have you thought about women in Afghanistan? Taliban stopped girls from going to college in Mazar-e-Sharif. Taliban have entered Kabul but no one is celebrating except you. Haven’t you educated your daughter or would you like to move to Kabul?
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Now that much confusion has been created the federal caretaker interior minister resorts to reciting Quranic verse arguing that be afraid of those that cause dissent. This Asim Munir formula unfortunately won’t work
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@ImranKhanPTI
But Mr illegal prime minister you threw the towel and ran you didn’t even fight. If you had any shame you would have fought the political game and not just the narrative game which your chamchas think you did
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So interesting stuff at Oxford University - AnwarKakar reached out 2
@OxfordUnion
through a student who is bro of current member planning commission to organise 2 lectures one at Islamic center & other at the Uni. 2nd place it was an hour long event about 59 people 60% Paks 1/3
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It’s sad to see politician’s children silencing people when they are the once who should shut up. When govts don’t stop construction around river beds, leaders are not visible and aid takes time to reach it defines governance - poor governance
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Interesting that GHQ is inviting university lecturers to brief on 18th amanedment and presidential form of government. Apparent which house things are cooking
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Does the SC even realise that it has today totally broken its own back - judges that can’t do anything about anyone else incl wayward lawyers now want to defang the Parliament
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مصطفی جانِ رحمت پہ لاکھوں سلام
شمعِ بزمِ ہدایت پہ لاکھوں سلام
مِہرِ چرخِ نبوت پہ روشن دُرود
گلِ باغِ رسالت پہ لاکھوں سلام
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If I were the COAS, I would stay away from public events. Just keep head down and do professional army work. The youth gathering etc is highly slippery slope
Seems like after failure of Kakar to impress youhth, COAS Asim Munir & DG ISI are trying their luck
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#anwaarKakar
LUMS dance is shameless. His main job is hold elections why this media tamasha? But I am impressed because all fauji touts inside or outside the country are now busy attacking the students and defending the military tout
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What a way to arm twist the PPP right before the NFC - unleash Cynthiamissile! Not fond of RehmanMalik at all but it’s not about him or other PPP leaders but about the party that the khakis want 2 push back to get control of the money it seems
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The story killed by Pakistan Press today from DC - A bipartisan group of 10 influential U.S. lawmakers have asked President Donald Trump to raise the issue of human rights abuses in Pakistan with Imran Khan
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UK high court on Malik Riaz case cited: Bahria Town deposited money into Fake Accounts ….revealed that Bahria Town had used ‘artificial’ joint venture instruments and ‘artificial’ real estate gains to disguise ‘kickbacks’ as ostensibly legitimate gains.
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Mian Nawaz Sharif spent his four years in London talking to his favourite paid Pakistani journalists every week. He had little patience for suggestions that he should reach out to others and hear what they say. If his party is to survive he will have to rethink his tactics
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looking at how the caretaker government is cracking down on a single party and creating problems for the other Dr Hassan Askari Rizvi appears to be worse then General Niazi
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Totally stand with Justice Qazi Faez Eesa
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Someone should make Gen. Bajwa accountable for forcing the airline to pay high salary to his sister-in-law and keeping brother employed. This and such other wastage has cost the airline
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According to Aslam Beg (in his book) Pakistan in the process of acquiring a nuclear powered submarine from China. I am sure IMF will like to know the shopping bill during covid times
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Imran Khan is a mix of Modi, Trump, Netanyahu and Kim Jong-a populist leader, determined and egoist, a product of constructed myths.
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سوالُ ہے کہ بلاول اور مریم نے اپنے اپنے والدُکی سیاست سے ہٹ کر کبھی کیا کیا ہے؟ یہ تقریر آنکھوں میں دھول جھونکنے کے موافق ہے کیونکہ بلاول کے پاس نوجوان نسل کو کہنے اور دکھانے کلئے کچہ نہیں۔ ہر وقت پارٹی کی قربانی اور ایک وڈیرے کا روپ۔ اچھا ہو کہ دونوں کچھ نئی بات کریں
زرداری اور نواز ایسے فیصلے کریں کہ آئندہ میرے اور مریم کے لیے سیاست آسان ہو: بلاول بھٹو
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The fact that the CJP has to come out and respond has already brought down his image notches. By the time this crises is over all institutions would stand destroyed
CJP Isa responds to Rawalpindi commissioner’s allegation, calls them ‘baseless’
Follow our live election coverage:
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How cute! Indian soldiers dancing to Pakistani song. The same happens on the other side. Poor men who have to suffer politics at such heights
Indian army jawans enjoying themselves in a high altitude post. Hawa Hawa hai hawa...
@adgpi
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By bringing treason charges against
@cyalm
and even the former prime minister the current government has turned itself into a hybrid-martial law regime. There was nothing treasonous that was mentioned in the interview
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Can CynthiaRitchie & her paymasters see how Lahore welcomed Benazir Bhutto in 1988. Her name is there in annals of history as a woman of awesome strength in world politics, esp the Muslim world. No one will remember her detractors
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Speaking to a friend from the Buzdar tribe about selection of Punjab chief minister he remarked "could only have happened due to istakhara"
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۱۹۶۵-۲۰۰۳ تک پنجاب اور ڈیرہ اسماعیل خان میں فوج کو الاٹ کی گئے زمیں
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Today on 26/11/2021 the U.K. High Court dismissed the appeal of Malik Riaz Hussain and his son Ali Riaz against cancellation of their 10 yrs multiple visa by the Home Office for probably involvement in corruption
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#GenQamarBajwa
should be held immediately accountable 4 calling US dty Sect of state. What signal is he sending asking a junior officer 4 help with the IMF. He clearly doesn’t know how IMF or State Dept or White House work. Bajwa should be sacked immediately
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Just watched Trump-Imran presser - Trump avoided every question on Kashmir doesn't look like he will attend to the issue despite the PM and journalists tried hard to catch his attention
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But Mr prime minister Pakistanis are made to stand on separate line on foreign airports not because they beg but due to terrorism
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اگر پاکستانی نظام اور عدالتوں کو اداروں کی عزت کا اتنا خیالُ ہے تو ایمان مزاری
@ImaanZHazir
کے بجائے عمران خان کو اندر دیں جو کہ جرنیلوں کے خلاف ہے
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Today’s gathering in Larkana it was the first time in 13 yrs that a tribute was paid to BiBi which she deserved.
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پہلی دفع ہے پنجاب نے آنٹی اسٹبلشمنٹ ووٹ دیا اور بلوچستان نے اسٹبلشمنٹ کے حق میں
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U.K. High Court revokes Malik Riaz & son visa: “having regard 2 UKs commitment 2 combat corruption & financial crime, I believe that your exclusion from UK is conducive to the public good due to your conduct, character and associations.”
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Why would ISI conduct an inquiry when they are the people behind the mess?
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But what the hell did he achieve to deserve this award? Negotiating a position abroad while he still served as COAS and leaving as soon as he retired?
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What’s even the relevance of this post? Australia won 6th time, India has won twice. Teams win and lose why this issue?
Thank you
#ImranKhan
for leading
#TeamPakistan
to victory in 1992… for lifting the Cricket WorldCup. Unforgettable moments
#CricketWorldCup2023
#CricketWorldCup1992
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Dangerous thing is that now NADRA has gone under control of GHQ because a serving general heads it
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Indeed striking 400km inside a territory through both missile and drone is a matter of concern but raises question about level of alertness of our own forces. This again looks like either a case of inefficiency or sleeping on the wheel. I don’t think Pak army that asleep
Iran’s aggression directed at Pakistani territory is fully consistent with its wider behaviour as a revisionist and expansionist regime.
Pakistan’s response so far is exactly what it should be. The Iranians are looking to provoke an unecessary reaction.
The real risk right
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ایک دوست نے کہا “جو جڈیشری راؤ انور پر ہوتی نہیں ڈال سکتی وہ جنرل باجوہ کا کیا کر سکے گی”
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Benazir Bhutto was a brave and honorable woman. She struggled 2 reset the course of Pakistan's foreign policy, amazingly intelligent without any arrogance about her. Anyone, who has met her once wouldn't be able to forget her
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On one hand
@ImranKhanPTI
writes letter to Modi asking for resumption of dialogue, on the other, the boys have started campaign against Its own citizens like
@GulBukhari
accusing her of working against Pak 4 India launching videos against Modi so how does one check intent
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"One thing is clear: the three time prime minister, who was never allowed to complete his full term in office in the past, seems to have not learnt any lesson from his own history and is happy to accept a helping hand from the establishment."
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So DGIPR said that nothing will be done against PTM if the movement remains peaceful so then why kill Arman Luni? Very tragic and unforgivable
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After victory in Kabul JeM has started to talk about Kashmir again. Looks like after the 2 victories: USSR & US now it is India’s turn
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وزیر اعظم کو چاہئے کے جو پندرہ ارب کے کچھ بھگ کا نقصان جسٹس چودھری نے ریکو ڈک کے کیس میں کروایا ہے اس کے پیسے تو اس سے لیں اور جو 600-700 ملین ڈالر کا کیس نیب ہاری ہے اس کا بھی پتہ لگوائیں کون زمیندار تھا
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The SC have 9 hrs to PTI lawyers. Sadly, there were 7 lawyers from PTI side versus 1 from ECP. The 7 somehow were ill prepared and only used populist tactics in the court rather than argue the case. Naturally, the case was lost
Looks like Pakistan’s Supreme Court has driven a final stake through the heart of Imran Khan’s chances of staging a comeback in next month’s elections.
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@betterpakistan
Ahsan Iqbal sb seems like you central Punjabis don’t think about South Punjab and majority of lower class voters who also voted for Khan. It’s not a matter of middle class or a particular class here. People are just tired of lazy politics of traditional parties & u keep ears shut
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So Maj. Gen Faisal Naseer of ISI in 2006 as major talked about using 'psycho-socio' means to fight terrorism. One of his suggestions was to make military personnel intellectually sound and religiously motivated to win hearts & minds. Must have rethought his strategy
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So very interesting buzz across the FO grapevine - Maleeha Lodhi name is being seriously considered by the PDM govt 4 ambassador 2 US. If true then seems we are living through hybridity 2.0 & no lessons learnt. Bilateral with US can change through new ideas not spent cartridge
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No harm in dreaming but this doesn't make sense at all
I do not pretend to be an expert in freight or logistics but I’m struggling to wrap my head around the economics of this corridor.
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کہتے ہیں برے سیاستدانوں کی وجہ سے فوج برسر اقتدار آتی ہے۔ کیکن یہ کیا؟ امریکی فوج تو ایسا نہیں کر رہی گو کہ ٹرمپ ایک شدید نالائق صدر ہے۔ اور فوج کی بے چینی کے ان کو ان معاملات میں گھسیٹا جا رہا ہے اسکی بازگشت سنائی دے رہی ہے۔ کیا پنڈی جی ایچ کیو تک آواز پہنچی؟
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So General Bajwa has decided not to let IK go alone to the US - Pak military leadership likely to be in US during PM visit | Top Story | | Karachi
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پاکستان بچاتے بچاتے لگتا ہے اب صرف بحریہ ٹاؤن بچائیں گے۔ بحریہ ٹاؤن کی سلامتی شدید خطرے میں ہے۔ اسلئے تمام جہاز، توپیں اور بحری جہاز اس کی سلامتی پر مامور کئے جائیں
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Recently met a staunch PTI supporter in U.K. noticed that the hatred and fire in his eyes while hearing gentle criticism of IK made me wonder what will happen if Khan fails these people will set things on fire out of frustration and hatred of rest of Pak that didn’t support IK
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The problem with dictators is that the longer they live after retirement the greater they reveal their follies
General Musharraf openly declaring that the 2003 PML-Q government was formed through the manipulation of dirty politicians by the agencies.
People who still pine for him need to have themselves checked.
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اس وقت ضرورت ہے کہ سیاسی پارٹیاں سب مل کر محسن داوڑ کے استحصال کے خلاف بولیں۔ اگر آج نہیں کر سکے تو کبھی نہیں کر پائیں گے
محسن داوڑ نے کہا: ’حکومت بھی نہیں، جو اصل حکومت ہے، اور جو ریاست کے اوپر ریاست ہے یہ ان کا ہی فیصلہ ہے۔ اس معاملے میں وزیر اعلیٰ بھی بے بس ہیں اور پوری بیوروکریسی بھی بے بس ہے۔'
#AllowMohsinDawarToLead
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Hearing Rahul Gandhi today at LSE I realised
@BBhuttoZardari
has grtr courage. Notwithstanding inability of both & role of establishment in Pak Bilawal still criticised terrorism and Taliban. Rahul couldn’t open his mouth against Hindutva
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An untouchable woman won a senate seat - congrats Pakistan - may all its untouchable minorities win their rights
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Leaders cannot be picked up unconstitutionally UN must take notice - United Nation Security Consil : Justice for Ali Wazir - Sign the Petition! via
@Change
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