Black Water (XE) in Pakistan

[A1Kaid]

Black Water - Christian Crusaders, Eric Prince, and the rise of the World's most powerful Private Army...

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Friends or foes!

Muhammad Jamil

In the words of Henry Kissinger, America is dangerous for its friends and foes alike.

Keeping with this tradition, America became ‘non-aligned’ and even stopped economic and military aid to Pakistan – intertwined in military pacts with the West and bilateral agreement with the US. It is because of ditching its friends and allies that America today stands alienated and even hated in many countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America. At the present Pakistan is an ally in war on terror, and there is common perception that America cannot win this war without Pakistan’s support but its attitude towards Pakistan is not at all commendable. America in fact is losing its economic and military strength, and it is in this backdrop that Iran is not willing to budge an inch from its right to enrich uranium, and Israel rejects American demand to stop construction of Jewish settlements. US army in Afghanistan is virtually not doing anything, and the interesting part is that sole super power has to give contracts for its army’s support and security.

Knowing full well that Pakistan is capable of dealing with terrorists, the US has brought in notorious Blackwater newly christened Xe LLC. America should stop outsourcing security so far as Pakistan is concerned otherwise the relations between Pakistan and the US may become strained. Reports abound that Xe LLC has recruited Pushtans from Peshawar and other areas of NWFP and is now busy recruiting Punjabi and Urdu speaking persons for the reasons unknown to the nation or even the ruling elite. When in first week of July 2009, local English daily carried a report that the American diplomats in Islamabad keep roaming free on the city roads armed with guns and revolvers in the cars with fake number plates. But it was brushed aside by the Minister for Interior Rehman Malik saying that there was no cause of alarm.

The report said that in many cases they were caught by the capital’s police but were let off for diplomatic immunity. Earlier in February 2009, a Pakistan TV channel had aired a report which began with the statement that Interior ministry issued a notification to all provinces and police and intelligence agencies to keep an eye on the suspect activities of Blackwater’s personnel ( now Xe LLC) in Pakistan. This meant that the government and the interior ministry had the knowledge about the activities of Blackwater’s mercenary army, as diplomats would not carry guns. Their presence near sensitive installations of Pakistan like FIA building, sub-headquarter at Ghazi near Tarbela Dam, Sihala near Kahuta and other such places is a cause for concern. There are many questions in the minds of people of Pakistan. First of all, who has allowed the US to hire private contractors under the guise of protecting the US embassy staff?

Secondly, what right they have to leave Islamabad and visit Peshawar and some places in FATA without seeking permission from the government? Finally, what is it that has hamstrung authorities from putting curbs on the delinquent diplomats or private contractor’s employees and letting them flout the diplomatic norms and protocols with impunity? If the US embassy staff has security concerns, they should ask the government, as it is the responsibility of government to protect the diplomats in Pakistan. And it has no right to ‘outsource’ the security to private contractor or any other country because private contractor Xe has in its staff retired army personnel from other countries in addition to US citizens.

Since June 2009 there were rumours that US has hired the services of former Blackwater Worldwide with its new name Xe Services LLC apparently for the security of its diplomats in Pakistan, but there seems to be a lot more than what meets the eye. Looking at the role of the Blackwater mercenary army in Iraq and Afghanistan, one is inclined to conclude that the US has some ulterior motives in hiring their services in Pakistan. After the US bought scores of acres land in Islamabad, there is a perception that the US will construct a base to monitor Pakistan’s nuclear assets and also keep vigil over other neighbouring countries. US ambassador Anne Patterson however refuted such accusations that more than one thousand marines would be based in Islamabad, and said that there would be only 15 marines to 20 marines to protect the Embassy and its staff. But why all of a sudden, the US is moving with such a fast pace? Meanwhile, Chinese ambassador in Pakistan has expressed concerns over extension of US embassy and other activities of diplomatic personnel and induction of mysterious characters ie Xe personnel.

In November 2008, the US State Department found that hundreds of automatic weapons meant for this organization ended up on country’s black market. Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki refused to accept the mercenary army of the Xe, and its members were reportedly sent to Pakistan. After having been exposed, Black water announced on February 13, 2009, that it would operate under the new name “Xe”. A spokesman for the company stated that it feels the Blackwater name is too closely associated with the company’s work in Iraq. It has to be understood that changing the name will not change the character of the organization, when it has the same top management team and job description for its employees. Pakistan government should tell the US in unequivocal terms that it would not accept the controversial mercenary army in Pakistan.

It is unfortunate that despite vows to help Pakistan fight terrorism, the US takes certain actions that create doubts in the minds of Pakistanis. On Thursday, a local English daily carried news that the US had sent a team to Pakistan to review the reimbursement system under Coalition Support Funds. In a written reply to Senate Armed Services Committee, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Admiral Mike Mullen said the team was sent to review the Coalition Support Funds, which provided reimbursement to Pakistan for expense incurred while conducting operations in the anti-terror war. Coalition Support Funds, he said, are a key element towards meeting US objectives in the Pak-Afghan strategy. “We continue to work with the Pakistan military to improve CSF processes, and ensure appropriate accountability and transparency for CSF,” he added.

But the US is procrastinating on reimbursement of expenses Pakistan incurs in connection with war on terror vis-à-vis logistics - fuel, food, material and other items for 100000 Pakistani troops deployed on Pak-Afghan border. US ambassador Anne Paterson said the other day that the US has given $3 billion to the government during the last 12 months, which has been refuted by the finance minister Shaukat Tarin. According to him the US has not given less than $1 billion. In fact, the US has held up payment of $1.6 billion being reimbursement against payments made during the last 14 months. Obama administration should realize that the US is spending hundreds of billions of dollars in Iraq and Afghanistan, whereas it reminds Pakistan day in and day out that the US has increased its aid three-fold though Kerry-Lugar bill has yet to be passed and implemented. The US should review its policy towards Pakistan, and if it cannot afford to continue war on terror then it should plan an exit strategy from Afghanistan.

[silentkiller]

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[Xeric]

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[Jana]

Black water and other diseases

By Dr Rasheed Hasan Khan


To a physician, the mention of black water is bound to ring alarm bells because this is a particularly virulent form of malaria which is mostly fatal. For those familiar with the American invasion of Iraq the name also rings alarm bells because this is the name of a particularly virulent gang of mercenaries operating under the directions of the CIA. The notorious ‘contractors’ were responsible for numerous atrocities in that country.

Now the Blackwater is here in Pakistan as media reports suggest. And its presence is associated with the proposed expansion of the US embassy in Islamabad which is billed to become the largest communication complex in the world. To provide security to the installation, the reports say, the services of 1,000 US marines and Blackwater operatives have been acquired. They have started arriving in Pakistan but the US embassy spokespersons deny presence of Blackwater in Pakistan and equally in denial is Shah Mahmood Qureshi.

Syed Zafar Ali Shah, the PML-N MNA, has revealed that a large number of houses being acquired on rent in Islamabad were being turned into fortified bunkers. Footage of the buildings concerned was also shown. Whatever the extent of the foreign presence, it cannot remain a secret for long, as was the case with Badaber airbase during the Ayub regime.

The question is: why is such a huge facility being built here in Pakistan? Americans say it is to facilitate the war against terror and also to manage increased load of work after socio-economic assistance begins to reach here. If this is true one wonders why the Chinese ambassador had to state that he was concerned at the increasing US influence in Pakistan. Such statements are rare in China's diplomatic practice.

Out of the proposed US aid to Pakistan for the year 2008-9, one billion dollars out of $1.8 billion, have been earmarked for the proposed extension of the US embassy. And there are reasons for the construction of a 'mini-Pentagon' in Pakistan. Firstly, the cornerstone of American global policy remains the containment of China. To accomplish it, it is necessary to bring together the countries of South Asia, West Asia and South-East Asia and the Central Asian countries in this alliance.

Secondly, both India and Pakistan are nuclear powers and the US policy makers feel that there should not only be a new equation between the two but they want to monitor their ‘nuclear assets’ from a close range. Thirdly, the need to coordinate the international effort on the ‘war against terror’ provides an explanation acceptable to the world. The US government knows that an installation of this kind would require a large force of personnel. Hence, the Blackwater.

Few people in Pakistan are aware about this organisation. Thanks for its dirty role in Iraq, it has already received worldwide notoriety. The Blackwater are hardened mercenaries and are expected to protect American headquarters and also carry out search and destroy operations anywhere in Pakistan. Blackwater Worldwide is now known as Xe [pronounced as zi'] Services LLC. It was founded in 1997 as BlackWater USA by Eric Prince and Al Clark. Based in the US state of North Carolina, Xe operates a training camp which the company claims is the largest in the world. Here the company trains more than 40,000 people a year, mostly from the US or foreign military and police services.

Currently, there are about sixty large security contractors [read mercenary organisations] operating in the US. Xe is one of three largest security contractors of the State department [read CIA].


Since Pakistan joined the US camp, Pakistani soil has been a base for covert operations. Ayub regime provided an airbase at Badaber near Peshawar, to CIA for the use of U-2 planes. These planes used to make regular overflights across the Soviet Union beyond the range of Soviet anti-aircraft guns, using onboard cameras and recorders to monitor Soviet communication and military deployment. Gary Power's U-2 was shot down with a missile over the Soviet Union. This exposed the whole operation to the world.

Gen Ziaul Haq provided the US with training camps and aided the effort to hijack the Afghan liberation struggle and turn it into an Islamic jihad, led by Osama bin Laden whose names are now anathema to US and its allies. During Benazir’s second term, the Pakistani establishment at the behest of the US organised the Taliban. After 9/11 the government led by Gen. Pervez Musharraf bowed down and accepted the unjust demands of US government.

This capitulation was the commencement of the creeping, silent invasion of Pakistan by Americans. Five air bases were provided to the US forces. The Pakistan army was deployed along the western border and the tribal areas. Military action was employed as a first option in the tribal areas leaving no room for an alternative course of action when the military operation failed.

Pakistan army's casualties were in thousands. Obeying the order to ‘do more’ opened the flood gates of death and destruction throughout the length and breadth of Pakistan. Finally, the US policy has succeeded. Their war had become ours
http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/...diseases-qs-02

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Rehman to quit if Blackwater found to be operating in country

SEHIRSH WASIF & ISHFAQULLAH SHAWL

ISLAMABAD (November 22 2009): Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Saturday categorically declared that he would resign the ministership if Blackwater was found to be operating in Pakistan. When asked Senator Talha Mehmood has disclosed that the outfit is now called 'Xe', Rehman said: "I have time and again told that Blackwater is not operating in Pakistan and if anyone proves it I will resign."

Talking to media after attending the meeting of Senate Standing Committee on Interior with Senator Talha Mehmood in the chair, Rehman dispelled the impression about the presence of Blackwater in the country saying that no such organisation is present in the country. However, pervious government had allowed DynCorp, a contractor to US forces, to assist in transportation of goods from Pakistan to Afghanistan, he added. Malik said he had a meeting with security agencies and home secretaries as to how to regularise the presence of DynCorp and bring it within the ambit of law.

Answering question regarding import of scanners to foil terror attacks in the country, he said: "Explosive scanners have reached Karachi and a team of Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) would supervise the clearance process of these scanners from the customs." He said a team of concerned FIA officials would soon visit Karachi to co-ordinate with the customs officials for speedy clearance of scanners.

Responding to question, Malik said that a meeting with the Chinese Ambassador was held recently regarding arrival of mobile explosive scanners from China. "I will soon send C-13 aircraft to China to bring the mobile scanners to Pakistan," he added. To another query regarding the continuous terrorist attacks in Peshawar, he said due to the ongoing military operation in South Waziristan, Swat and Malakand the terrorists were on the run and hence gathered in the surrounding areas of Peshawar.

Malik announced that soon the government would start operation in Darra Adam Khel, Kohat and Bara to flush out terrorists. In the wake of recent relentless suicide bomb blasts in Peshawar, the operation has become imperative, he said. Malik told media the government is sending the reinforcement to South Waziristan to take the ongoing military onslaught against terrorists to its logical conclusion.

Malik said the government has given additional force to Peshawar and introducing new security system, dispatching security equipment that also include mobile scanners. To a question regarding the international reports claiming the presence of Afghan Taliban leader Mulla Umer in Pakistan, Rehman Malik said that there was no truth in it.

"If they have the information about the whereabouts of Mulla Umer, they should provide us and we will take action and bring Mulla to task," he said adding that these are fabricated rumors to cause confusion. He said there is no need to pay attention over such news as first they talked about the presence of Taliban Shoora in Quetta and now they are giving fabricated reports of Mulla Omer's presence in Karachi.

About the visit of Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Chief Leon Panetta to Pakistan, Malik said Pakistan has categorically asked him to stop interference in Balochistan from Afghanistan. Malik said he had a separate meeting with the CIA chief in which he had protested over cross border infiltration.

Answering question regarding Dr Aafia Siddiqui case, he said a two-member team would soon visit the US and meet her to ascertain as to how she was abducted and where she remained during her detention. Malik said he had constituted a committee comprising officials from the FIA and police to investigate abduction of Dr Aafia. "As far as it is in our knowledge she was abducted from Karachi while she was going somewhere in a taxi. Later when she opened her eyes she was in Afghanistan. Afterwards she was sent to USA," Malik added.

Malik said he would take up Dr Aafia's issue with international Human Rights organisations adding that he has also requested the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to take up this issue with the US authorities. To another question, Malik said that so far 75 terrorists have been arrested which also include the mastermind of major terrorist attacks in the capital.

Earlier, the Standing Committee on Interior decided to pass a resolution for Dr Aafia case and would move it to the Ministry of Law and Justice. The committee directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to negotiate with the US authorities and allow Farha, a family friend of Dr Aafia to assist her in her case. The committee said it will visit Karachi to meet the relatives of Dr Aafia and other concerned.

It was decided that first the government would focus on release of Dr Aafia and then investigate her detention. Dr Fouzia, sister of Dr Aafia informed the committee that for last five years she made several attempts to get an FIR lodged against the abduction of her sister but she was harassed by top police officials and was asked not to do it. Senator Almas Perveen, Senator Haji Mohammad Adeel, Senator Mir Israrullah Khan, Senator Begum Najma Hameed, Senior officials of the Ministry of Interior, Law and Justices, Foreign Office and law enforcement agencies also attended the meeting.

[rising.pakistan]

and we all are sleeping :(((