Proposal to Break Pakistan

Proposal to Break Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: The US administration has floated a proposal before Pakistani authorities to hold referendum in the NWFP regarding its future, informed sources confided to The Post on Friday. The sources said the US administration had asked Pakistan to decide the troubled-area of the NWFP through referendum either it go with Pakistan or emerge as an independent province. Before taking positions along the Pak-Afghan border, General Mullen who visited Pakistan last week floated this proposal before the Pakistani authorities. However, the authorities refused the proposal straight away and conveyed a strong message before the visiting US General that the government of Pakistan would resolve the issue through its own description. Meanwhile, local Taliban also joined hands with Pakistani forces against US forces which also sent a strong message to the US administration that people of the NWFP were not wishing for independent state. The Awami National Party-led province is, however, looking for changing the name of province according to the desire of locals.

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Alarming facts:

Few days back I saw a documentary of Talat Hussain (The famous Pakistani Journalist). He was conducting survey of markets of areas adjacent to Afghan border. He showed shops thronged with products especially FMCGs which were:

1. Smuggled directly from Afghanistan or Iran

2. Bought from Pakistani cities but routed through Iran or Afghanistan because the highways joining these areas are troubled due to ongoing war between local Talibans & Pakistani militia.

Fuel was also being brought from these two countries because its cheaper than the one the get Pakistan.

During the interview, shopkeepers, customers & general public expressed their frustration about Pakistani government over its negligence to facilitate them with basic amenities. Few extremists also said that when they have to rely on Afghanistan for all their basic needs, then why don’t the govt. let join Afghanistan.

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“The Nations who forget their history, their geographical boundaries are changed very soon.”

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US warns Iran on missile threat

Some of the missiles tested on Wednesday could reach Israel

The US has said it will not hesitate to defend its interests and those of its allies as Iran continues missile tests.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the US had increased its security in the region and Iran should not be "confused" about US capabilities.

Iran tested missiles on Wednesday that could reach Israel, and on Thursday carried out further tests.

Meanwhile French energy giant Total has said it will not invest in Iran because it is too politically risky.

New tests

Condoleezza Rice was speaking during a visit to Georgia.

She said: "We take very strongly our obligation to defend our allies and we intend to do that.

"In the Gulf area, the United States has enhanced its security capacity, its security presence and we are working closely with all our allies... to make [sure] they are capable of defending themselves."

The Iranian military said on Thursday its Revolutionary Guards had carried out further medium- and long-range missile tests overnight.

The tests included the first night test of the Shahab-3 missile, said to have a range of 2,000km (1,240 miles), along with shore-to-sea, surface-to-surface and sea-to-air missiles, state media reported.

The BBC's Jon Leyne in Tehran says this appears another gesture of defiance following the international condemnation of Wednesday's tests. Media reports appeared to be delivered as a matter of pride.

Today we would be taking too much political risk to invest in Iran because people will say: 'Total will do anything for money' Christophe de Margerie Chief Executive, Total

Ms Rice said it was about time Iran "got on the right side of the international community".

The first test of the updated Shahab-3 missile, which could strike Israel, was on Wednesday.

Gen Hoseyn Salami, the Guards' air force commander, said the tests demonstrated Iran's "resolve and might against enemies who in recent weeks have threatened Iran with harsh language".

State media quoted him as saying: "Our hands are always on the trigger and our missiles are ready for launch."

William Burns, the top official handling Iranian issues at the US state department, said the launch was "very disturbing, provocative and reckless".

'Big blow'

Meanwhile, the head of Total, Christophe de Margerie, told the Financial Times the company's planned development of the huge South Pars gas field in southern Iran would not go ahead.

"Today we would be taking too much political risk to invest in Iran because people will say: 'Total will do anything for money'," he said.

Total was the last major Western energy group to have seriously considered investing in the country's huge gas reserves.

Analysts say the move will be a big blow to the Iranian energy industry.

It means Iran is now unlikely to significantly increase its gas exports until late into the next decade, they add.

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