This time Pakistan seems serious to tackle Jehadi terrorism

With terrorist threat reaching its doorsteps, Pakistani government, this time seems to be really serious to take the Jihadi terror network head on.

With bomb explosions and suicide attacks receiving from all over the place, the state of Pakistan is facing great existential threat now. All major cities of Pakistan like Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, and Islamabad are literally living under the threat of an impeding terrorist attack. Schools are closed, fearing suicide attacks. After the last blast, Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani chaired a high-level meeting. It was attended by Cabinet Ministers, Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and ISI chief Lt. Gen. Shuja Pasha, Chief Ministers and senior officials of all four provinces. The reasons for Pakistan’s mortal danger is not far to seek.


The Pakistan’s strategy of nurturing terrorism on its both sides has failed it miserably. On the afghan side, part of Taliban has turned hostile. The Pashthun instincts of independence is coming back to haunt Pakistan in its North eastern frontier province. On the Kashmir front the terrorists, taught to target India is hitting at the root of Pakistani establishment. The strategy of bleed India by thousand cuts has boomeranged on Pakistan.

The ISI doesn’t know what to do now. The country is confused where to stand now. The strategic depth, Pakistan sought is becoming strategic headache now. Primes assets have become the principal adversaries. The military wants the money from America. Still it wants to cling to the independence of Pakistani state. Americans are never known to give dollars without conditions. Establishment is divided over the Kerry-Lugar aid bill, passed by the US Congress which sets tough new restrictions on the military aid provided by the US to Pakistan. It is also calls for the assurance Obama administration that the fund will not impact “balance of power in the region".

Now knowing that, any more dilly dallying on terror front even destroys the very foundation of nation state, Pakistani army, the real custodians of its sovereignty is taking substantial measures to eliminate the terror machine. But it remains to be seen, how far and how extent it will go to neutralize the monster , it has helped to conceive, rear and mature.

Will Rahul Gandhi ever become the Prime minister of India?

The plus points of the man are discussed in detail already. The minuses of the icon are cleverly hidden by the media managers. Our political commentator, Vincheng looks into the details.

What is working for Rahul Gandhi
He is the son of Rajeev Gandhi and Sonya Gandhi. He represents congress party which is India’s largest political party with pan Indian base.
He is charming and has smile on his eyes.
He has good education to back up
He can hold fort before world leaders on account of his pedigree and presence of mind
He is secular to the core. (For example, He stated that Indian flag is his religion)
Age is on his side
He has a potent arsenal in Priyanka Gandhi, on whom he can bank in the moment of crisis
The appeal of Rahul Gandhi is pan Indian. That way, he is a national leader in real sense of the term. After Atal Bihari Vajpayee, a vacuum exists in Indian politics as far national leader with all India appeal is concerned. (Of course, Sonya Gandhi is a national leader)
He appears to have a vision for the country
He blends city based political campaigns with rural offensive

Things that work against Rahul Gandhi

The hinterlands of central India are on the boil. Radial groups are strengthened now, which may rewrite the future political landscape of country. Naxalite foothold in states like Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, West Bengal , Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Bihar and Maharashtra can have far reaching consequences for future politics of the country.

His security considerations may force him to stop his people to people contact. This may affect his campaign potential.

His marriage in future, if it is with any foreign national (Spanish girlfriend Veronique, often erroneously described as Juanita and Columbian)) may affect his chances

There is every possibility if coterie developing around him and there are allegations already that he is influenced by select few

Indian political has a strange patronage system of working. That may run against Rahul’s bold and straight forward approach

Politics needs lot of balancing and compromises. How extent Rahul Gandhi can manage that is still a question.

India is full of holy cows so that honest comment on any social, political, historical personalities may ruin careers. A person like Rahul may find it difficult to walk through this minefield of sensitivities.