I worry that my account may be removed because of my critique of India’s policies & actions in #Kashmir.
Also believe that social media, already blacked out by India in Kashmir, is crucial for global discourse & truth-telling.
However, because of India’s leverage - & location of many regional media offices there, including @twitter’s - critics of Delhi’s #Kashmir policy will be/are being silenced.
That defies the transnational spirit & ethos of social media in general - and @twitter’s, too, one hopes.
To be clear: I will continue to report/comment on the Indian government & its polarising, right-wing leadership - and/or Pakistan, with its praetorian deep state, for that matter. And/or on Iran’s dictatorial regime. And/or on Afghanistan’s corrupt narco-state. I will not stop.
After all, this is my region. As a Pakistani, I will always be a South Asian - professionally & ethnically. Hegemony of one state / censorship from another will be defied.
I thank @twitter for updating me, but will challenge this move, if it is made, via legal & other means.
- Sajid Mir is an alleged Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operator
- Had $5 million reward on his head
- Was convicted in a Chicago court in 2011
- Pak claimed he was untraceable or dead for years
- India & others voted against Pak at last year's FATF plenary for inaction
- Now, his arrest has led Pak being eased off by FATF (depending on "on site" visit over summer)
- Arrest a part of Pak's drive to normalize ties with US & India
How was the arrest made?
#SajidMir's voice signature was gained through monitoring and analysis of the Pakistani communications system.
This was shared with Pakistan by an FATF member-state.
Pakistan was handed the actionable intelligence and compelled to take action.
This #DGISI business needs a book, and a prayer, but here are my two cents.
The ISI, when seen from a strictly military perspective, is possibly the largest and most powerful formation in Pakistan.
It has a three-star Lieutenant General running at least six (6) two-star Major Generals and their wings.
Traditionally, PakMil Lieutenant Generals, when they get to command positions, lead a Corps (yes, they get to be a part of the famous/infamous "Corps Commanders Conference").
However, most Corp Commanders have, on average, two to three Major Generals, each with a Division, reporting to them.
Sure, some corps / formations are larger than others (e.g. Kashmir-centric X Corps is huge when compared to the smaller Quetta-based Southern Command).
As news of the Taliban’s first military takeover of a provincial capital after 20 years of fighting is breaking, here’s a thread [I hope to evolve] about what Washington is thinking about Afghanistan.
There are two schools in Washington for Afghanistan: the first thinks that the Taliban are doing whatever they’re doing to gain leverage in the peace process; that if Ashraf Ghani relents, then the talks will lead to a some kind of power sharing agreement.
This school believes that the Taliban are more savvy than they seem; that they will not gun for a total military takeover & risk pariah status; that current military gains are actually brinksmanship & that Ghani must relent. This school thinks that, ultimately, talking will work.
THREAD: Is China heading towards CT/COIN in Afghanistan?
Early July, FM Wang Yi [before attack on Chinese engineers in Pak] said Beijing wants to:
"effectively contain spillover of Afghanistan's security risks, and ensure overall stability in the region." fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/zxxx_6…
Late July, post Dasu attack, Beijing started hyphenating Afghanistan with Pak attack. Asked "all parties concerned in Afghanistan to fully observe the ceasefire" but also vowed to "severely punish the perpetrators [of the attack on Chinese engineers]."
Over the weekend, promoting itself as lead proponent of peace, Beijing indicated that it has successfully signed on Pakistan as a helper in Afghan peace process:
"Pakistan is willing to work closely with China to push forward Afghanistan's peace"
In an unexpected electoral setback which is shocking, even by #Pakistan's turbulent standards, cricketer-turned-prime minister #ImranKhan faces a crucial #VoteOfConfidence.
Here's a look at @ImranKhanPTI's political career, spanning over two decades.
Propelled by his celebrity & supported by his (now former) wife @Jemima_Khan, Khan's early political career saw him adopt the role of international activist. Here, in 1997, he's on a tour of South Africa with then-President Nelson Mandela.
Philanthropy would form the basis of his politics. The Shaukat Khanum, Pakistan's first cancer research hospital, would be inspired by his mother's demise & become his showcase for organizational change. Months before her own death in 1997, Princess Diana would help raise funds.