We created militancy for short term gains: (Pak Prez) Zardari

[InfiniteThoughts]

Source: The Daily News/Rediff

“Let us be truthful to ourselves and make a candid admission of the realities”, Zardari said with reference to an observation that the weakness of the civil bureaucracy had resulted in the emergence of militants and militancy.

Deliberate creation: Militancy and extremism emerged on the national scene and challenged the state not because the civil bureaucracy was weakened and demoralised, but because they were deliberately created and nurtured as a policy to achieve some short-term tactical objectives, he said.

<snip>

Zardari said the concentration of power in any one individual’s hands was against the spirit of democracy and as such good governance and power had to be dispersed. “Too much power, when concentrated in one hand lasts only for a short time. For power to be effectively used for long-lasting public good it must be diffused and dispersed as widely as possible,” the president said.

Read more: http://www.rediff.com/news/report/2009/jul/08/we-created-militancy-for-short-term-gains-zardari.htm

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I think all of us have to applaud Zardari for his honesty in admitting Pakistan's role in the region's militancy. This is a huge admission and a direction changer from Pakistan President. Having identified the problem, i hope Zardari has enough courage to take steps to correct the situation.

These are really interesting times in Pakistan.

Full Interview: http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009\07\08\story_8-7-2009_pg7_1

[formercia]

1. George HW Bush and Congress abandoned Afghanistan

when the Soviets left, causing a power vacuum that led to the rise of the Taliban.

[cosmicone]

4. Only partly true.

The Taliban was founded, trained, financed and armed by the Pakistani military and the ISI under a "strategic depth" policy to station anti-India nuclear missiles in a controlled Afghanistan.

Most of the Taliban fighters were and are active duty Pakistan military. Remember the airlift of Pakistani personnel from Mazar-e-Sharif to save Musharraf's face?

The US winked and nodded when Pakistanis were destroying a democratically elected government in Afghanistan headed by Ahmadshah Masood.

Pakistan is a cancer on the world and needs to be balkanized for peace in the region and elsewhere.

[formercia]

6. The ISI controlled US aid to the 'insurgents.'

I was there and worked with the ISI. The ISI also skimmed about 50% of the aid for their own purposes and gave the rest to the most radical elements.

[cosmicone]

7. The ISI is probably the worst organization

for being controlled and run for the terrorists.

First the ISI installed terrrorists ... now the terrorists are running the ISI and Pakistani army.

[Flaneur]

8. Your rabid views toward Pakistan are duly noted.

How are those Naxalites coming along?

[bananas]

2. Second link mangled

Is this it: Concentration of power in one hand against democracy: Terrorists of today heroes of past: Asif

[InfiniteThoughts]

3. yes it is ... i tried correcting it but couldn't get it right. Thanks.

[cosmicone]

5. I think this is more disingenuous Pakistani theater

to keep aid flowing -- aid that is directed towards purchasing military hardware to be used against India.

If Pakistan is truly serious, it would arrest and hand over AQ Khan to the FBI and Dawood Ibrahim et al to India to be tried in courts of law.

[Flaneur]

9. Of course you do.

But, hey, I'll give you credit: Here is at least one post where you didn't call Pakistan a cancer.

[cosmicone]

10. Pakistan is a cancer .. although Madelene Albright called it

a migraine. It is an illegitimate country created by the nefarious and bitter brits when they were forced to give independence to India.

All Pakistan has done during its existence is have successive military dictatorships, had its ass kicked in several wars, was dismembered when Bangladesh was freed with Indian help, created and supported the Taliban which caused 9/11, operate training camps where terrorists are bred for attacks in UK, Germany, Russia, Kosovo, Bosnia, Dagestan, Kashmir, India, Xin Jiang and Mindanao, hanged Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, stole atomic secrets from the Netherlands to make a crude impact-fission bomb, tried to export that technology to rogue states, made some money from sale and distribution of heroin around the world and consumed a massive amount of aid from various sources.

No accomplishments -- just a rathole.

Are you happy now? :sarcasm: