Jan Achakzai

Jan Achakzai, an Islamabad-based security expert, said that despite challenges, the fact that the ANP brought many different parties on one table was a feat in itself. But, he added, the challenges are immense. The media is not convinced talks with the Taliban will be useful, the civil society is critical of such moves, and ex-army analysts and commentators are angry.   As pointed out by the TTP spokesman, there were no clear roadmaps or goalposts in the final communique. "Apparently, the main stakeholder - the army - was to be taken on board before any possible roadmaps were drawn," Achakzai said. ( Read more):  Report: Hard bargain by Zia Ur Rehman

Pakistan Shias refuse to bury Quetta dead. More than 4,000 Shias in Balochistan capital hold sit-in to demand swift government action against armed Sunni groups. My take on Hazaras' killing in Balochistan in alJazeera package is online now: http://www.aljazeera.com/news/asia/2013/02/201321813486399438.html

Moulana Fazal Rahman, Head of Jamiat Ulema Islam, has gone to vist the Taliban's Office in Qatar, Doha. He has been invited by the Afgahn Taliban, according to reports in Pakistani press. Afghan Taliban's invitation to Moulana Fazal Rahman is  significnat, says politcal commentator Jan Achakzai in interview with the VOA Urdu (Here is the link for the interview):   Moulana visit to Doha significant: Jan Achakzai on VOA Urdu

Jan Achakzai, a political analyst who monitors FATA affairs very closely, said: "The PPA has encouraged political parties to boost their efforts for politicking," "Candidates from various agencies have already started using billboards, sloganeering, pamphlets, and openly showing their political affiliations." Achakzai believes that independent candidates will remain an important factor in the coming elections, but they will be under increasing pressure from opponents backed by political parties. Some independent politicians have already started lobbying for tickets from political parties. (Read more here). http://www.thefridaytimes.com/beta3/tft/article.php?issue=20130208&page=3

Hazaras is a small predominantly shia community in Quetta. Their numbers have been documented about 0.4 to 0.5. millions. But their ranks are swelling as more Afghan refugee Hazaras are joining them in Quetta. Refugee Hazaras are mostly being transported from across the border into Pakistan by the people's smugglers. Quetta is a melting pot of ethnic and sectarian communities leaving side by side in peace for decades, though. Yet today, Hazaras are targeted as Shias. And the main reason is: unfortunately, Quetta/Balochistan has been a battle ground for proxy wars particularly between Iran and Saudi Arabia. Sectarian outfits are not the Taliban but sponsored proxies. Iran has sectarian affinity with Hazaras. Tehran is being suspected of striving to affect demographic changes in Quetta, Ghazni and Kabul in Afghanistan, though Tehran denies these allegations. Hazaras are accused of split loyalties: having religious loyalty to Iran and ethnic loyalty to Afghanistan's centr...

It was a thrill to meet young aspiring women journalists at a training workshop in Islamabad. Their enthusiasm reminded me of my old days when I was about to enter into the journalism back in 1990s after my graduation. It was an advice from a journalist friend who is unfortunately no more in this world, that I acted upon and hence change my life for ever. I owe him a world of gratitude. God bless his soul in eternal peace.

Jan Assakzai, a London-based security analyst from Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (F), said that military option for peace had failed in Fata and Afghanistan and therefore, a new strategy was needed for the purpose.... http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-6-157830-Waziristan-tribesmen-to-move-ICJ-against-drone-hits

1434: In terms of what a second Obama presidency means for Pakistan, Jan Achakzai, the leader of Pakistani right-wing political party Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, tells BBC Urdu: "As long as the Americans are in Afghanistan, which is over the next two years, there won't be any major change in US policy towards Pakistan." 1435: Mr Achakzai continues: "Afterwards, American and Western countries may increase pressure on Pakistan in certain areas about which they have some concerns. First there are Pakistan's nuclear weapons, second terrorism and third is the human rights situation. These are the three areas about which Americans can arm-twist Pakistan. But this will happen only after America reduces its [involvement] in Afghanistan." http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-21117466

Report: Road to martyrdom by Zia Ur Rehman "Jan Achakzai, a senior security analyst, said the geopolitical dynamics of Balochistan were complicated, and the military was currently more focused on dealing with Baloch militants instead of sectarian groups. The provincial government was a scapegoat, he said, and it did not have the power to stop the insurgency or deal with sectarian groups, many of which were proxies of foreign governments". The Friday Times

http://www.qissa-khwani.com/2013/01/united-by-history-divided-by-reality.html?spref=fb&m=1

 After the Paris Talks with other Afghan factions, the Taliban reiterated that they will negotiate with the US and that the current government of Karzai is a puppet regime. They revealed on Tuesday, Dec., 26 to open  Qatar office as HuffPost said: "The Taliban announced that they had reached a preliminary understanding to open the representative office, an unprecedented step toward peace negotiations that might lead to a winding down of the 10-year conflict. The statement did not say when the office would open". The Qatar office is perhaps aimed at conducting talks with the US. The Office will be their address where their envoys will be based. The perception of the Taliban is that the current political system has been carved out by the US. It is Washington that is likely to sustain the political and other  institutions in the post 2014 era. As such they need to engage Washington directly. Shrewdly enough they can still turn around to their followers—without losi...

Pakistani Taliban’s umbrella group, the TTP has conditionally offered to hold negotiations. Ehsan Ullah Ehsan, the spokesman for the TTP, said the TTP had always been ready for negotiations. In a letter to renowned journalist/Anchorperson Saleem Safi, the TTP called for repeal of all laws in Pakistan which are repugnant to Islam and added that the Constitution should be amended in the light of the Quran and Sunnah. Later, Hakeemullah Masood, the TTP Chief, also conformed himself the offer. He also said that the Pakistani government was following foreign dictates and talks would only be possible if the government would have the authority to hold them freely and end participation in the US’s war in Afghanistan. On of the main coalition partners, the ANP’s response was a cautious welcome: the chief of the ANP, Asfanyar Wali Khan, said that talks with the TTP were possible if they renounced violence. The governmnet’s reaction was ambivalent: it initially dismissed the offer by respond...

Paris Talks for Afghan reconciliation, positive step: Jan Achakzai VOA Urdu As just concluded Paris Talks are going to be a helpful step in intra-Afghan reconciliation process, the Taliban are gearing for political dialogue, said Afghan affairs' expert Jan Achakzai while to talking to VOA (Urdu)'s leading Anchorperson Syed Qamar Abbas Jafari.(Abridged version of the interview) .

http://muckrack.com/Jan_Assakzai/interview