Obama Singh.

Love, something I don't know about at all .....but it does have a feature that is truly amazing. And that is its ability to make one fall for countless objects in one's life. These days I have developed a thing for the smooth and eloquent adresses delivered by many a diplomats and leaders.

Holbroke, Hilary Clinton and our very own Foriegn Minister Qureshi all possess this quality. As they say ...there is always something to learn from every one.

It was interesting to see Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh , who is by the way a doctor....speak at the formal welcome given to him by the handsome and very tanned President Obama of the United States. (Italian leader Silvio Berlesconi known for his humour termed Obama so). Dr. Singh gave very interesting pauses each time he said " Me and my wife..." in his address. I guess that's nice material for the witty to come up with some Sardar Ji jokes.

Both leaders gave eloquent enough speeches...loaded with heavy duty classical rhetoric. Civilian Nuclear Energy Deal, Climate Change, a greener environment, Education initiative which will be called Singh Obama or Obama Singh initiative and high tech exports to India are just some of the issues that were seen talked about in their addresses. Surprisingly they totally steered clear of Terrorism and peace and stability in South Asia.

But my moment of surprise was momentary because the first Indian journalist when given a chance by Dr. Singh, came up with the typical Indian insecurity that they feel ever since the creation of Pakistan....She asked if Obama administration was doing anything about the miliatry aid that Pakistan receives from US and then terrorises India with it!

In reply to the simplistic question ..I was surprised again to find Mr. Obama point out the successes that the Pakistan Miliatry was achieving in South Waziristan and Swat and clearly hinted at aid continuing for Pakistan but directed towards improving the social indicators.

Thats an altogether a different issue and opinion that if the national money plundered by NRO beneficiaries could be brought back, there wouldn't be any need for Kerry Lugar aid bill.

I don't know and probably will never find out if Mr. Obama gave a piece of his mind to Dr. Singh on India's activities in Afghanistan! but he did say that India had made significant contributions to Afghanistan.

Analysts in our country are of the view that U.S could use its leverage in the region to get Pakistan's concerns across to Indians. This visit coming around the anniversary of Mumbai attacks was just the right time to do that.And that was slightly reflected in Mr. Obama's response to the journalist and in the expression on Dr. Singh's other wise poker face.

After all the entire globe could benefit if Pakistan and India went hand in hand.

EYE WITNESS

Two cars screach pass by me today as I try to cross the road in a neighbourhood of this city where I live in at present. I clear my myself out of their way...what I see is a luxury car trying to side the smaller car, still from a luxury brand in our country but a common man's car abroad, on the side of the road.

The smaller car does finally pull up when the driver I believe spotted a security guard standing in front of a small shop.

The man in the bigger car gets out. He also has two kids in the back seat. Hw hurriedly walks upto the driver seat window of the smaller car saying: " I'm not going to eat you!"

The other party who has pulled down its window by now replies: "You are misbehaving with me!"

A very small gathering of onlookers try and position themselves for a better view of the ' scene'.

The party in the smaller car is a woman...and its none other than the renowned model Aminah Haq!

The man says: "Why are you running away after hitting my car? Atleast have the courtesy to stop!!"

Aminah Haq replies: You are married and are still misbehaving with another woman! ( what an interesting stance of her's!)

Then she feels a little brave for some reason and goes on to say something that really works in our country: " You don't know, who you are harassing! You are harassing Mustafa Khar's daughtr.I am Mustafa Khar's daughter".

The must also be someone's son so he goes on to say:"Let me call the police"!

Aminah Haq hits back:"No, I will call the police"!

That's when fancy mobile hand sets come out but apparently both of them do not have the police numbers...because during this the man gets back in his car and Aminah Haq pulls up her window and both zoom away!

Since they had pulled up in front of a slums market area located within a very posh locality of the city, the onlookers had nop symapthy with either party.

One of them did say in Punjabi though: " Shukr ay meray tay gaddi nai chaar diti madam nay".

I dont know what happened after that. Did Ms. Haq totally run away? Was she able to use her father's influence at the police station? But did she ever end up with the Police Wallahs in the first place? Did the man decide that the persuit was usefless because of Mr. Khar being the father of the offender? Did he have a bigger connection , perhaps someone who was still in the Government?

All these questions are relevant given the way rule of law prevails in the country. It also hints at the social thread weave of society...because a woman who has a name and recognitionof her own, and is picture of women empowernment on the nascent media in Pakistan-still needs to give the reference of her father to save herself.

I mean she could have said: "Youdon't know who you are misbehaving with! I am Aminah Haq".

But Alexandra Kerry wouldn't have gotten away after driving in a drunken state in LA, even on shouting out that she was Senator Kerry's daughter.

Tha's why I love Naomi Campbell...she simply spat at the security guard at Heathrow who insisted on going through her luggage. No questions. No Answers!

WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH................

It is said that : " When the going gets tough, the tough get going".

But where? In circles?


Fear and anxiety is growing among Pakistanis!. If you are interested in more , you might want to follow the link below:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8306350.stm

No prizes for guessing that it originally appeared on the BBC World Website.

DISCOURSE

So now I am reminded of the Irish Village, a cafe in Dubai ....well I never wanted to review any restaurant on this space but I have to admit it was a place that totally transcends the expectation that its name might create for the visitor....Ok a bad example but let me tell you that even the toilets in the bar were without any wash....that speaks for the mangement's drive to give an authentic taste of Ireland!

The baby potatoes were nice, people who were either too engrosed in their conversations or too high to talk and so could only sing or laugh to the live guitar strings being plucked by a singer I really don't know about, were equally interesting.. you surely could make the most of Dubai's sultry evenings there.....

Normally its very easy for me not to overhear conversations going on around me. Either I donot have the ear or don't have the craft. But at times there is that compelling topic that wakes me up from my day dreaming in cafes.

"Did you do the Istikhaara( consulting GOD through Prayer before making a decision) before getting married?" asks one man to the other sitting across him.

Both nearly the same age around 35. Looking like boss and subordinate sitting across each other in a cafe here in Lahore that has tables placed very close to each other. People supposed to be elite frequent it.

The one being questioned hastily answers: "I didn't but the girl's side did it"....the look in his eyes saying "its too late now!".

But the man asking the question , who appeared to have mastered tackling marital affairs - his demeanour suggested that he had accepted to travel the rocky roads that many say wedlocks put one on. But he wouldn't budge and would continue to give others some strange food for thought.

I donot know why they created it? It has put us into so much trouble....believe me I haven't bought a Canali suit for two years now ...that's why I don't live here....This man , on the wrong side of 40, telling a woman who he addressed as madam frequently....and she was indifferent to the insults being hurled at her country ( Pakistan) munching on her battered fries....

Day dreaming is so much better than to over hear people say stuff that one would not want to hear.

BRAVO!!

Was this a security lapse? This is probably now the worst and an irrelevant question that could be put to any security official after a terror attack.

As the luxury cab that I have rented, reaches the toll plaza to enter Islamabad, the police man covering his mouth with a scarf to protect against the chilli morning breeze of the city, directs us to halt on the side. He then questions the driver. Later its my turn. With great respect and politeness he asks me where I came from and where I was going. He then checks the boot of the car. And then we are clear to enter Islamabad. At least three other policemen watch from a distance. They are trying to check each and every vehicle in a similar way.

What if another car came from behind and blew up killing everyone there? Would it be a security lapse? Every one was there trying to do their job.

I saw a similar situation at another check point near blue area at night. Each and every car was being checked as far as possible. Of course its impractical to check the boot and bonnet of every vehicle.

But I did see many people behaving irritated at the police men. Actually some gratitude should be shown towards these brave men who literally are in the direct line of fire. Trying to protect the citizens, when they clearly know in their hearts the approaching vehicle they are asking to pull up could be a bomb!

No country in the world faces a law and order problem similar to what we face. Given the kind of funds, training and equipment available to our security personnel, the job they are doing is commendable.

Show some empathy .

M.I.A

M.I.A.......that's what I will be in the next two days as I get a quick escape to Islamabad......I hear its going to be really cold there.....although I am not a big fan of the chill, but I guess it would be nice to feel the fresh cold of the city. Am expecting security checks that make me feel like a criminal but being a responsible citizen that I think I am, I will brave them with a smile.

By the way Sabi was also described as being M.I.A , as no trace of her could be found after the joint Afghan- Australian troop patrol was ambushed in Uruzgan back in the September of 2008. Since then there was no sign of her( Labrador female dog). She is excellent at sniffing but recently she was found in one piece in the country . That was a great morale booster for the Australian troops , who have sent her back.

Oh and yes.....Missing In Action! thats what M.I.A stands for!

Gilgit Baltistan- A Backgrounder

Gilgit Baltistan goes to the first ever polls in its history today starting at 8 in the morning to select a legislative assembly. In this backgrounder I take a look at what makes this Election in Gilgit –Baltistan so interesting!

Introduction
Gilgit – Baltistan was previously known as Northern Areas. Northern Areas were a part of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir, which is that part of the state of Kashmir which is under the administrative control of Pakistan. Gilgit –Baltistan (Northern Areas) are a legal and constitutional part of the State of Kashmir, which itself has been a source of major dispute between Pakistan and India.

Gilgit-Baltistan borders the Wakhan corridor of Afghanistan to the northwest, China's Uygur Autonomous Region of Xinjiang to the northeast, the Indian-controlled state of Jammu and Kashmir to the south and southeast, the Pakistani-controlled state of Azad Jammu and Kashmir to the south, and Pakistan's North-West Frontier Province to the west.

Gilgit-Baltistan is administratively divided into two divisions which, in turn, are divided into seven districts, including the twoBaltistan districts of Skardu and Ghanche and the five Gilgit districts of Gilgit, Ghizer, Diamer, Astore, and Hunza-Nagar. The two main political centres are Gilgit and Skardu.

The High Court of Justice Abdul Majid Malik had declared that the legal and constitutional position of these areas had not changed and they were part of Jammu and Kashmir.

Government Decision
The Prime Minister announced earlier this year that the Northern Areas will have a province like status, will be given full autonomy and will have a Governor and Chief minister.

Federal Information Minister Kamar Zamaan Kaira was later appointed as the Governor of Gilgit Baltistan who after assuming this office, in his first press conference announced that election to the legislative assembly would be held on November 12, 2009.

In September this year, the President signed the Gilgit Baltistan Empowerment and Self Governance Order 2009.

The Government decision invited lots of criticism from Azad Kashmir but appreciation from the PML-N, the opposition party in the National Assembly.

Controversy Surrounding the Decision
This decision of the Government that it claims is in line with the local people’s demands- created quite a controversy in Azad Kashmir. The top brass there maintains that this decision tantamounts to dividing the state of Kashmir ignoring UN Council resolutions. The Kashmiri leaders complained that they should have been taken into confidence.

Their fears on division of Kashmir were further strengthened when India following the foot steps of Pakistan Government, formulated a separate administrative set up for Laddakh on its side of Kashmir.

Some organizations held protests against the Government of Pakistan’s announcements. Others argued that this decision should have been reached after a thorough debate in the Parliament.

There is a strong sentiment that people of Azad Kashmir have a feeling of not only loosing their brothers and sisters but also natural resources as a result of this decision.


The People of Gilgit Baltistan
Majority of the people in Gilgit Baltistan are financially reasonable. This is mainly because of agricultural income and business activity with China. Some are also employed in the public and private sector. However there is no quota reserved for them for jobs but in the education sector, they have reserved seats.

Gulshan Bano, a university graduate living and working in Lahore, who still goes back to Gilgit to meet her family, tells me that tourism in the area is a major contributor towards the incomes of the locals. The area is picturesque. But she tells me that locals do not get many jobs because the literacy rate is low and people from other parts of the country come and get their jobs. There is no local broadcast media. Health care needs attention because for every 6000 people there is just 1 doctor available in the 25 hospitals operating in the area. She feels bad that there is no post graduate facility available in the entire Gilgit Baltistan.

She speaks fondly of Prince Karim Agha Khan’s developmental effort in the area. His foundation tries to serve everyone from top to bottom. He had the roads widened in Musharraf’s area. Also, the quality of work is way above government standards. She feels the Prince would have no objection neither to the entire decision regarding the fate of the area nor the election.

Political Parties and Their Promises
The 99 candidates of ten political parties are taking part in the elections among which 23 belong to PPP, MQM (18), PML-N (15), PML-Q(14), ANP(4), JUI-F (3), Tahreek-e-Insaaf (2), Jamaat-e-Islami (1) and 6 candidates of Gilgit-Baltistan Democratic Alliance. The number of independent candidates is 165. Three women are contesting polls on general seats. Two women belonged to PML-Q whereas one is independent candidate.

PPP has a strong chance because it has a Government in the centre. The Prime Minister himself made many promises such as giving international status to the airport in the area and fixing minimum salary for government employees at 6,500 rupees.

But MQM takes the cake when it comes to making promises. They have promised to give Gilgit Baltistan the status of a province, a promise that all other political parties have shied away from. MQM therefore has a strong chance of causing a major upset.

Marvi Memon of PML-Q, daughter of Nisar Memon and an ardent tourist of the Northern Areas could be a favourite by vurtue of being a woman and succeeding in winning sympathies of the simple people of Gilgit Baltistan.

Learning from the Past
Independent candidates, who indulge in local politics, win the most seats. This was seen in 2004. They then form an alliance with the political party that has a Government in the centre. The same trend is expected to be seen this time around as well.

Election 2009 Statistics
Registered Voters: 717,286
Constituencies: 23
Polling Stations: 1022
Sensitive Stations: 119
Voting time: 8 am-4 pm

Election in one constituency (LA-19 Ghazar) has been postponed because of the death of the candidate. Rangers and Scouts have also been deployed to provide security.

Marhaba!

It was interesting to watch Prism being broadcast tonight from Abu Dhabi . It brought back so many memories...thankfully all were sweet. They have Sheikh Zayed mosque in their back ground and will use its shot at the night once it is beautifully illuminated. Its quite wow I think.

Abu Dhabi is a nice place to be in. Its quite different. But every place has its issues. Nothing is like peaches and creme. That reminds me of Mrs. Britto , who use to look at me in disbelief every night I returned from work , looking tired I guess, used to ask me if everything was ok? when evrytime my answer was in the affirmarive!

"Life is not a bed of roses ....I tell you , yes? I have spent 25 years here...You think its a bed of roses"

Real Problem

It was such a long day today. There was less news breaking . A relief that no terror attack took place today. News papers were all crazy about the NRO. There is however a high level meeting going on in the Presidency as I write these lines......and that could be about NRO. Government has decided not to table NRO in the parliament. Apparently no political party wants to make things simpler. Opoosition's role has been criticised in some quarters but even that criticisim was politically motivated because those people neither belonged to the Government and neither the opposition.

If you look at the people on the roads they are all busy trying to make ends meet. They brave traffic jams, feel happy if they find flour at a cheaper rate and sugar , something we took for granted since the creation of Pakistan is now a luxury for them . We are also short of thousands of megawatts of energy.......schools in Lahore have been closed down again till November 8.

Theres another set of people too....who have a hardtime figuring out which caffe to eat at and if they should have coffe brewed with Brazilian coffee beans.

So, Is Black Water a problem or not being able to get your hands on cinema tickets to the latest Indian movie.

SACRIFICES

It is very hard at least in these days to celebrate the successes that Pakistan Military is achieving in South Waziristan.

As three children waited impatiently with their mother in their car, two terrorists blew themselves up in the parking lot in the Shalimar plaza in the heart of Rawalpindi. The area is in the vicinity of GHQ which just weeks ago had come under a fierce militant attack. Later in the evening, Babu Sabu interchange came under suicide attack in which a constable gave his life to save the lives of many who live in Lahore that the west describes as the cultural hub of Pakistan.

Listen to any government high up and they would conveniently tell you these attacks indicate the frustration of militants as the army breaks their back in operations against them. But they do not realize how scared the citizens of the country feel out on the streets. Our brothers and sisters (IDPs) fled their homes to help authorities achieve their goal.

India never misses an opportunity to create unrest in Pakistan but according to many senior personnel India does not have the ability to cause terror in cities in Pakistan.
All of this relates to Pakistan’s own fight against militancy, something that one keeps on hearing about ever since the Path of Deliverance began.

But how can one ignore what the west thinks about Pakistan’s efforts to root out terrorism. After all we are assured and reassured time again that we are a very close friend of United States in the fight against terrorism. Richard Holbrook had right at the onset of the Operation Rah e Nijaat had said that United States did not have definitive answers as to how the Operation was progressing. But what he did know was that the target was not Al Qaeda because Al Qaeda was a shadowy group of people who were on the move. US indifference was further cemented by Hilary Clinton’s statements suggesting that Pakistani authorities knew where Al Qaeda was in Pakistan and if they didn’t that US couldn’t buy that!

The case of Indian sponsorship of terrorism in Pakistan should be brought to the fore in the international arena so that they realize the role Pakistan is playing not only in countering its conventional threat that now makes it self available on western borders but also continues to be an effective partner in the global hunt for Al Qaeda going on for eight years now!

BIG MENU

It did come as a surprise to find out that Mc Donalds was bidding adieu to Iceland. The element of surprise was that the fast food chain was leaving a country that was ranked as the most developed country in the world by United Nations Human Development Index. Come the global economic meltdown, and the country could no longer afford to serve Big Macs to its citizens living in its capital Reykjavik. Importing ingredients from Germany was no longer possible for an economy with a failed banking system.

And I am sure that Iceland is at a better relation with the USA than Pakistan is with the super power. However US secretary of State coming to Pakistan and expressing her views on Pakistan knowing but not telling where Al Qaeda’s leaders are hiding in its territory , irks many. The Kerry Lugar assistance package also remains a matter of concern for majority of the people in the country and they continue to criticize those who present a realistic view that we do need US assistance in order to survive. Sections of the press in the country feel triumphant that a seasoned diplomat like Ms. Clinton was given a tough time by the journalists but I wonder if they also give a thought to the fact that many students in Lahore who got a life time opportunity to be in a session with Ms. Clinton were left spell bound when they were put a retaliatory question by the lady if they knew how much assistance had the US pledged for the IDPs of Malakand. No one wants to take a look within.

Icelanders will not miss the US fast food. They will continue to get fast food because the ex franchise owner of Mc Donalds in their country has decided to give them fast food that will have the locally produced Haddock in patty and local yoghurt as dressing to make it sumptuous.
And while you might remain confused and insecure about how US is going to treat Pakistan next, savour each and every bite of the Chicken or beef Big Mac at your nearest outlet.