Swat Valley: The Forgotten of Pakistan

Last year was the first year in many that the Swat Valley of Pakistan had hope for a brighter future. After being completely inundated with Taliban militants for many years the Pakistani government finally stepped in and repossessed the Swat Valley. But there were many casualties of the Taliban occupancy, many people died and over 150 schools were destroyed. In 2009 Swat Valley residents had faith that the Pakistani government would finally assist them in rebuilding the schools that were destroyed; but this year faith has turned to discouragement and resentment. The government, although promising to help with the rebuilding, has left Swat residents in shambles, saying they will begin the rebuilding in two year when they have proper engineers who have been able to design earthquake resistant buildings. This feels like a pile of broken promises to Swat residents who believe “the lack of any visible progress has fed the frustrations” (New York Times). Aid organizations have helped by constructing basic tents in order for schooling to be able to continue, but these tents have reached over 100 degrees F and there is no water to alleviate the blistering conditions. Students have expressed their fear of going to school because of heat and because there is no place for them to sit and study.

            Currently, wealthy land lords of the Swat Valley in Pakistan have taken matters into their own hands, helping with new school construction with money from their own pocket books. One land owner in particular has given up his farming business and focused his energy towards the schools that need rebuilding. He has made small changes to the horrific conditions of the mat-shift schools, but he is hoping for more assistance in the near future in order to make lasting affects. Help needs to come from the local government and from aid organizations (which are currently hesitant to give money considering the corruption of the Pakistani government). Schools need to be rebuilt in order to help secure the future of Swat Valley in Pakistan.

Work Cited

Pakistan’s Swat Valley Lags in Rebuilding- NY Times.com   

President Obama Shifts Support towards India

President Obama has been in India during the past week in order to discuss strategic planning between the United States and India. The talks have taken a turn for the better for India/US relations, but where does that leave Pakistan? Although these talks have involved India and US there are some direct implications that will effect Pakistan/US relations. US is now going to have greater support for Indian policies and initiatives, starting with supporting India’s desire to have a permanent UN seat. Obama has stated that he believes India is quickly becoming a “defining partner” (BBC) for the US, and this shows “how much Pakistan has slipped down the list of American friends in the region” (BBC). But this does not mean the US has cut ties with Pakistan completely, in fact President Obama did defend Pakistan/US relations when talking with Indian officials. Obama also encouraged an opening of dialogue between India and Pakistan, insinuating only Pakistan and India could solve their deep rooted problems which have and still involve the Kashmir land territory.

            This talk with India will not be the end of relations between Pakistan and the US because United States has vested interest in controlling Taliban and militant issues through the Pakistani government. US has given Pakistan billions of dollars in aid with the assurance it is being used to combat militants moving from Afghanistan into Pakistan. But these talks with India do show US is shifting its focus in hope of creating a more stable relationship in the area.


Works Cited
Obama confirms US Strategic Shift toards India, BBC, Paul Reynolds

German Nun Ruth Pfau; Pakistan's Mother Teresa?

There is one woman who has dedicated her life to people in need, and in particular people in need within the Pakistani borders. German nun Ruth Pfau is working tirelessly to help the victims that have been displaced because of the flood that hit Pakistan earlier this year. She has been setting up temporary shelters, schools and food distribution stations, hoping to ease the pain during these trying times. She has been listening to the pleas of the victims, helping them receive the aid they need, powdered milk, salt and chili. According to one source her arrival “has been a Godsend for them, the forgotten of the floods” (BBC). But Pfau’s history in Pakistan is not limited to helping in this most recent disaster; she has been in there since the early 1960’s when she established a medical facility for those suffering from leprosy. After receiving her degree in medicine in Russia in 1958 she joined a Catholic Order and wanted to go to India but ended up in Pakistan by accident and has been there since. The leprosy clinic started as make-shift housing structures and has since grown to a building with 80 floors, and hundreds of permanent staff and volunteers. She says that she attributes a lot of her success to the role the Pakistan government has played in supporting her actions and initiatives. She looks at the situation between her and the government as “a Pakistani marriage. It was an arranged marriage because it was necessary. We always and only fought with each other. But we never could go in for divorce because we had too many children" (BBC). She has established trust with the government and now she is focusing her attention on the flood victims and is making a tremendous difference in many people’s lives.

Work Cited

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-11666299

City of Kurram in Pakistan Creates a Blockade Against Taliban

Kurram, an anti Taliban tribe in the northern part of Pakistan has set up a blockade against Taliban militants. They believe this blockade is causing strife between their Turi people and the Pakistani government. Kurram is strategically positioned within Pakistan and its decision to block the Taliban from moving freely between Pakistan to Afghanistan effects Taliban involvement in their political initiatives. There has been contention between the Turi people of Kurram and the Taliban for a very long time. This conflict is rooted in the different sects of Islam that the two peoples practice. The Turi people practice the Shia branch of Islam while the Taliban are dedicated to the Sunni branch, and while these sects are still forms of Islam, they differ enough in practice to make the situation between these two groups difficult and sometimes violent. The Taliban needs to use Kurram as an access point from Pakistan into Afghanistan and with the Turi people putting their foot down, ending all movement that involves Taliban militants there is obvious tension created. Adding to the complexity of the situation is the fact that the Turi people of Kurram “suspect the [Pakistan] government is pressuring the Turis to meet Taliban demands to cross their land” (BBC). This pressure from the Pakistan government in combination with the pressure from the Taliban is making Kurram surrounded with forces that disagree with their actions.

                                                                        Works Cited

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-11625216

Aid From the U.S. Going to Pakistan to Help Fight Extremists

The Obama administration is finalizing a “security assistance package” (CNN) which will provide Pakistan with almost 2 billion dollars over the next five years to help with combating militant extremists on the Afghan border. This package is intended to help Pakistan make major military purchases which will include helicopters, “weapons systems and equipment to intercept communication” (CNN). Pakistan has been assisting in the fight against Taliban members but recently Pakistani forces have been spread thin due to relief efforts put into place after the floods this summer that ravaged over two thirds of the countries fertile land. The floods in combination with Pakistan having its own battles to fight, in particularly those against India, have left little man power and technology to guard borders and track militants. This is why the United States has come up with a guarantee for large sums of money over the next five years; promising funds in exchange for military aid. Of course there are strings attached, Pakistan must assure this 2 billion goes towards assisting in fighting militants “it can’t be diverted to other threats” (CNN) states one U.S. senior official. With this money there are going to be greater expectations placed on Pakistan to stamp out some of the threatening extremists that have been roaming across borders, hiding out and finding safe havens. Talks about the security package will take place this week in Washington. Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton as well as Defense Secretary, Robert Gates will meet with Pakistan Foreign Minister, Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Pakistan military chief, Gen, Ashfaq Parvez Kayani in order to talk about logistics and expectations.

Works Cited

http://afghanistan.blogs.cnn.com/2010/10/19/sources-u-s-finalizing-aid-package-           to-help-pakistan-fight-extremists/?iref=allsearch

10/4/10

Pakistan officials are currently exercising their sovereignty by recently closing Pakistan’s boarders to U.S and NATO supply troops heading towards Afghanistan. Pakistan closed it’s boarders on Thursday because of the recent drone and helicopter strikes which have killed many Pakistani officials and boarder control officers. The drone strikes have been building the tension between U.S and Pakistan during the past two weeks and it was not until recently that the U.S took responsibility for the drone strikes. According to the New York Times, “the border closing, and the exceptional series of strikes by piloted aircraft, signaled a general increase in tensions between Pakistan and the United States” (NYT). The boarder closing is causing problems for NATO and U.S because of the closed access of the transportation of supplies which need to be moved to Afghanistan. Over 29 NATO supply trucks moving through Pakistan territory towards Afghanistan have been lit on fire and destroyed causing troops in Afghanistan to struggle, waiting for the much needed supplies. BBC news reports that, “NATO supplies have little or no security. Islamabad police chief Kalim Imam said the entire supply operation was "very vulnerable" to such attacks” (BBC News). The attacks are the result of Taliban militants protesting the U.S air strikes and it does not look like they are going to cease “until the supplies have completely stopped” (BBC). Because of the attacks NATO supply lorries are being forced to take a different route to Afghanistan, they “are currently brought into northern Afghanistan via Uzbekistan and Tajikistan but the spokesman declined to say which northern route was being considered” (BBC). Until an agreement can be met it seems as though tensions will continue to run high between U.S, NATO and Pakistani officials resulting in a continuation of the boarder closing.

Works Cited

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/01/world/asia/01peshawar.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-11463490

09/21/10

In recent news coming out of Pakistan we have politically charged violence that has been the cause of 18 deaths. There were also reports of a school bus that rolled over into a river, leaving at least 15 Pakistani students dead. And finally, Pakistani Ambassador, Husain Haqqani visited Salt Lake on Tuesday, September 14^th in order to thank the LSD church for the money it donated for flood recovery.

            The politically charged violence happened Sunday and Monday in the city of Karachi and was the result of the death of Imran Farooq of the Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) on Thursday in London. According to one CNN report the MQM is, “one of the largest parties in Pakistan [and] is part of President Asif Ali Zardari’s ruling coalition” (CNN). The death of MQM’s spokesperson created unrest in the country and caused riots to break out at the funeral and into the next few days. The riots were targeted towards the MQM’s apposing political group; the Awami National Party (ANP). These two groups have had a long history of negative encounters, in fact, “both parties have been engaged in bloody battles” (CNN) for many years based on political schisms.

In other news out of Pakistan BBC reports on the crash of a school bus in the Pakistan-controlled area of Kashmir. “The incident took place in Garhi Dupatta area, some 16km (9.9 miles) south-east of the regional capital Muzaffarabad” (BBC) and it is believed the bus driver lost control and rolled into the river. So far 15 bodies have been recovered out of the 30-35 students and teachers that were said to be onboard. Unfortunately vehicle events like these are common due to the terrible conditions of the roads because of the 2005 earthquakes that happened in the area. The search for bodies will continue, but little more can be done at this time.

Finally, looking at local events we see that we had a personal visit from the Pakistani Ambassador, Husain Haqqani to Salt Lake City this past week. Haqqani was here on Tuesday, September 14^th in order to extend a personal thanks to the LDS community for its generous donation towards flood relief. The church donated over 3 million dollars in the form of food and supplies which is being distributed to displaced Pakistani citizens in the effected areas. Haqqani stated that there is a lot of work still to be done but that progress is being made.

                                                               
Works Cited

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-11380723

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/09/21/pakistan.target.killings/