Community Action

PAKPAC conducts survey on Kerry-Lugar Berman Bill

A heated discussion is taking place both in Pakistan and amongst Pakistani Americans in USA about the facts, merits , conditionality's and benefits of long awaited the Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act (S.1707) . Allegations have been made by political parties, media, and others on both sides of the issue about the  contents of the bill. To set the record straight PAKPAC is asking its readers to participate in a survey about this bill. Please use the following link to let your voice heard and tell us what you think, and help us to separate facts from myths without any bias. PAKPAC plans to share the findings of this survey with a large number of US Congresspersons in their forthcoming meeting on Oct 20th at Washington DC.

PAKPAC SURVEY OF THE PAKISTANI AMERICAN COMMUNITY ON THE  KERRY-LUGAR/ BERMAN BILL 

Reform the PATRIOT Act by supporting the JUSTICE Act  - Take Action

In the past few weeks, two bills emerged from the Senate Judiciary Committee that would reauthorize some provisions of the PATRIOT Act set to expire this year, while instituting long overdue limits on others. PAKPAC encourages you to call your senators to request that they support the JUSTICE Act.

Introduced by Senators Russ Feingold (D-WI), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Jon Tester (D-MT), Tom Udall (D-NM), Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Daniel Akaka (D-HI) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) on Constitution Day, the JUSTICE Act offers extensive protections for individual privacy and liberty interests. Beyond introducing needed limits on PATRIOT Act provisions, it also revisits portions of the FISA Amendments Act enacted over widespread objections from liberty and privacy advocates.

Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) introduced an alternative bill, the USA PATRIOT Act Sunset Extension Act, with the support of Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Ted Kaufman (D-DE). While Leahy's bill includes some important improvements to PATRIOT Act provisions, its protections for privacy, oversight, and accountability do not go as far as the JUSTICE Act to protect Americans' rights and prevent government abuses.

The JUSTICE Act's reforms include:

• More effective checks on government requests for personal records, including judicial review and requirements that surveillance targets be connected to a security threat;

• Restrictions on "sneak and peek" searches to limit their use to the national security arena;

• Limits on "John Doe" roving wiretaps to prevent their overbroad use as a dragnet authority;

• Changes to the 2008 FISA Amendments Act, such as repealing telecom immunity, preventing "bulk collection" of the international communications, and prohibiting "reverse targeting" of law-abiding Americans.

• Stronger oversight of national security letters, which government reports show have been widely abused.

The JUSTICE Act recognizes that the PATRIOT Act provisions set to expire this year are merely the tip of an iceberg; broader reforms are necessary to curb government abuses and protect the rights of innocent Americans. Contact your senators today to urge their support for the reforms included in the JUSTICE Act.

News

Separating Myth from Fact on The Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act of 2009

The United States wants to transform its relationship with Pakistan into a deeper, broader, long-term strategic engagement with the people of Pakistan.   The Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act (S.1707), also known as the Kerry-Lugar bill, was designed to help turn the page in our bilateral relationship by moving beyond a military relationship to one where the United States engages directly with the people of Pakistan as a true ally and friend.

The heart of this bill gives the people of Pakistan $7.5 billion (Rs. 62,500 crore) over five years (2010-2014) in nonmilitary aid.  This bill should be seen for what it is -- a true sign of U.S. friendship to the people of Pakistan.   The language in the bill was carefully negotiated between Senators Kerry and Lugar and Representative Berman with the concurrence of the U.S. State and Defense Departments.  The bill was passed unanimously on a bipartisan basis by the U.S. Congress in September 2009.

Here is what the bill really does.

MYTH:   The $7.5 billion (Rs. 62, 500 crores) authorized by the bill comes with strings attached for the people of Pakistan.

FACT:  There are no conditions on Pakistan attached to these funds Read More

President Obama wins Noble Peace Prize

PAKPAC congratulates President Barack Obama on his winning and acceptance of 2009 Nobel Peace Prize. President Obama himself says he's "surprised, humbled" and doesn't yet deserve it -- but he's accepted the Prize as a call to action, "to confront the common challenges of the 21st century" together. President Obama is the third US President to win this prestigious award. PAKPAC believes that as recipient of this award so early in his presidency puts immense responsibility on President Obama and his team to bring peaceful resolution to conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan, Middle East and nuclear disarmament.

Across much of the globe, publics give Obama positive ratings, and his election effectively turned around America's negative image in many countries. Still, America's image challenges persist in much of the Muslim world, where enthusiasm for the new president is relatively low. A 25-nation Pew Global Attitudes survey conducted in May-June of this year highlighted the extent of Obama's popularity, especially among many of America's traditional allies in Western Europe. Obama's personal connection to Indonesia -- he lived there for several years as a child -- clearly had an impact on his image there: 71% rated him favorably. However, in other predominantly Muslim countries, views toward Obama were more lukewarm. And in Pakistan -- a nation at the center of foreign policy debates in the United States -- only 13% believe Obama will do the right thing in international affairs.

State Department is Accepting Applications to Summer 2010 Student Internship Program 

We are pleased to inform you that State Department is now accepting applications for the Summer 2010 Student Internship Program. Please click here (http://careers.state.gov/students/programs.html#SIP) for more information, and to view the vacancy on USAJobs and start the online application process. The deadline to submit completed applications is November 2, 2009.  Applicants must be U.S. citizens and a student in order to be eligible. Please read the vacancy announcement for all eligibility requirements.

Maternal mortality in Pakistan

A young woman, home alone, began bleeding after childbirth. Her husband wasn't there to give her permission to leave the house, as is customary in Pakistan, so she waited for his return.
Once he came home, he carried his dying wife to a health care facility where he soon became a widower.  This is not an uncommon story in Pakistan, according to Dr. Sadiah Ahsan Pal, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology in Karachi. At a recent lunch on Capitol Hill, she discussed the high rate of maternal mortality in Pakistan.
The Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues sponsored the event along with Women's Policy Inc., a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that champions key women's legislative issues, in cooperation with the Global Health Technologies Coalition, a diverse group of nongovernmental organizations. A grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation supported the briefing.
"We are a victim of an unstable political environment," Dr. Ahsan said in an interview after the event. "The past conflict with India [and] the Soviet-Afghan war have adversely affected our already crumbling infrastructure, with millions of refugees who never went back after the war ended." Dr. Ahsan was referring to the Soviet-Afghan war of 1979-89, a conflict between the Soviet Union supporting the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan's Marxist government and the Pakistan-backed Islamist mujahedeen resistance. Read More

Viewpoint

Afghanistan: To Surge or not to Surge Implications for Pakistan and the region - Faiz Rehman

The day after the US House of Representatives passed an historic aid bill for aid to Pakistan, the International Republican Institute (IRI) released a revealing survey, and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, chaired by the co-author of the now controversial Kerry-Lugar bill, Senator John Kerry, invited Pakistan’s former ambassador to the US and the UK Dr. Maleeha Lodhi, currently a fellow at the prestigious Woodrow Wilson Institute in Washington, DC, and two other prominent scholars, Prof. Steve Cole of the New America Foundation and Milt Bearden,  former CIA station chief in Islamabad for their testimonies on US Afghan policy’s implications for Pakistan.

The Obama Administration seems split over how to deal with the escalating violence and increasing Taliban influence and gain of territory in Afghanistan. With the leak of a bleak assessment of the situation in Afghanistan by the top US soldier, Gen.  Stanely  McChrystal,  and his request for 40,000 more US troops for his counter-insurgency operations, the debate over the workable strategy has gained momentum. The other camp, lead by Vice President Joe Biden, not only is in no mood to grant the General’s wish, it is lobbying the President to draw down the number of troops and rely more on predator attacks to eliminate the Al-Qaida and Taliban leadership. This group has been motivated by the recent target killings of the notorious Tehrik-e-Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud and other prominent leaders.

Whatever Obama eventually decides, to surge or not to surge, or maybe a pullout, is a matter of concern for Senator Kerry. The hearing he chaired along with the ranking member Senator Lugar, was designed to bring to light the impact of the US actions in Afghanistan on Pakistan. To quote the exact words of Senator Kerry “the actions we take in Afghanistan will have direct repercussions in Pakistan.”

Most senators at the hearing were anxious to know the Pakistani side of the story.  The hearing revolved around the only Pakistani witness on the panel: Dr. Maleeha Lodhi, her testimony and the answers. Dr. Lodhi vehemently opposed the proposed troops surge and cautioned the US lawmakers over a hasty withdrawal from Afghanistan. Dr. Lodhi’s following five points against the proposed surge received a lot of attention and discussion from the senators. She said:

1) It will lead to a further influx of militants and Al-Qaeda fighters into Pakistan.

2) It will enhance the vulnerability of US-NATO ground supply routes through Pakistan, creating what military strategists call the “battle of the reverse front”. It will also overstretch Pakistan’s forces in having to protect the supply lines.

3) It would produce a spike in violent reprisals on “mainland” Pakistan.

4) It could lead to the influx of more Afghan refugees, with further destabilizing effects in the NWFP and Balochistan.

5) Most importantly, it could erode the present fragile political consensus in Pakistan to fight militancy.

Proposing a third option, she stressed the need for a politico-military strategy which will allow a gradual US withdrawal from Afghanistan.  “A precipitous withdrawal would repeat the strategic mistake of the 1990s when the U.S. abandoned Afghanistan to the chaos that nurtured al-Qaida. Nor should the West risk being trapped in a Vietnam style quagmire, a war without end and with no guarantee of success.”

The former Pakistani ambassador who clarified at the outset that she was speaking as a Pakistani citizen and not representing the government of Pakistan criticized the focus on the military solution. She said the political strategy should be the central thrust. She proposed a dialogue with those elements of Taliban which in her words “can be de-coupled from Al Qaeda.” She said the Afghan leaders have often spoken about national reconciliation but what has been missing is “a political framework within which serious negotiations can be pursued and meaningful incentives offered to the insurgents.”

The most interesting part of the hearing, however, was not the presentation of the written testimonies but a lengthy question-and-answer session.  The senators were genuinely concerned over the possible fallout for Pakistan with the US policy in Afghanistan.  

Some senators, however, questioned Pakistan’s commitment to fight the Taliban and asked about their regrouping in Quetta. Dr. Maleeha Lodhi said the Afghan refugee camps have existed in Quetta since the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. A hush fell over the chamber when in response to a question from Senator Bob Crocker, she said that Pakistan cannot “Sabira and Shatila” the camps in Quetta. She also lamented Washington’s indifference toward the Kashmir issue and linked improvement in Afghan situation with the  lingering global Muslim issues, to be specific, Palestine, Kashmir, Afghanistan, and even Iraq. The senators repeatedly asked the panelists about the right course of action for the US to control the situation in Afghanistan. Senator Kerry dispelled the notion that there is any talk in the US policy circles about pulling out of Afghanistan.

As the hearing was in progress, the International Republican Institute released the results of a public opinion survey recently conducted in Pakistan. Senator Kerry did not mention the IRI survey, but did show concern over an alarming level of unpopularity for US actions in Pakistan and in the region. Much to the chagrin of the authors of the Kerry-Lugar bill, eighty percent Pakistanis have rejected US aid to Pakistan. But the most striking sentiment which was quoted by Senator Kerry in his opening remarks came from another survey done by the Pew Institute which showed that the most Pakistanis believe that not India, not Taliban but the United States is the biggest threat to their country’s integrity. A cursory look at the results of both surveys is a testimony to US policy failures in the region. After billions of dollars in aid, sophisticated military equipment, massive funding of the social causes, hundreds of high profile visits both ways, and public diplomacy exercises, alas the US cannot enjoy a decent level of respect among the Pakistanis much less win their hearts and minds. This grand failure perhaps requires another Senate hearing!

Fundraiser

Event for Senator Dodd - Oct 18th

PAKPAC President Saud Anwar is holding a fundraiser for Senator Chris Dodd on Sunday Oct 18th  in South Windsor Ct. For more details about participating in this event please call 860 478 2992

Events & Activities

PAKPAC Event on Capital Hill -Oct 20th

United States and Pakistan Enhanced Partnership Role of the Pakistani American Community

Hotel Accommodation Please email ed@pakpac.net for hotel requirements. PAKPAC has negotiated a group rate of $199 per room (plus applicable taxes) for limited rooms at Crystal Gateway Marriott, 1700 Jefferson Davis Highway,  Arlington, VA. Hotel is easily accessible by metro from Reagan Airport or Capital Hill

Tuesday October 20^th, 2009

Room 2247, Rayburn House office Building, Capital Hill

Washington DC

Only pre registered guests allowed

Free for Pre-Registered People
(Limited Space) Register through this link

SESSION I 8:30-11:30 AM

Showcasing the Pakistani American Community Supported Projects

Audience for this session: Pakistani American Community, Members of the State Department, USAID representatives, Office of Ambassador Holbrooke, Staff and Representatives of House and Senate Foreign Relation Committees. Ambassador Holbrooke, Ambassador Robyn Raphel, Mr. James Beaver Invited but not confirmed yet)

Opening Remarks –10 mins

HUMAN DEVELOPMENT –Presentations by 6 NGO’s

EDUCATION BASED PROJECTS - Presentations by 3 NGO’s

HEALTH CARE BASED PROJECTS –Presentations by 7 NGO’s

FOR PROFIT PROJECTS –Presentations by 2 NGO’s

Concluding remarks by USAID & State Department Officials

SESSION II 11:30-2:30 PM

Lunch

Discussion with US legislators on Kerry-Lugar Berman bill

Confirmed attendance by 15 Senators & Congresspersons (awaiting confirmations from others)

Speeches by Dignitaries

 We request that the community members join in invite their respective legislators to this session: Invitation Letter 

SESSION III 2:30-4 PM

Pakistani American Community Meeting with the US Agencies: Separating Perceptions from Realities

Meeting and Panel Discussions with Officials from Department of Justice, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Transport, State Department, FBI, TSA, USCIS & Others

Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee discusses Kerry-Lugar bill  with PAKPAC BOD Faiz Rehman

PAKPAC board member Faiz Rehman met with Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee in her chamber this week. In the meeting with her senior staff and later with the congresswoman, Mr. Rehman exchanged views on the Kerry-Lugar bill and the reaction over it in Pakistan. The role of media in shaping the public opinion in Pakistan featured prominently in the discussion and how to address the major disconnect between the US policy makers and the public opinion in Pakistan.  Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee agreed to be proactive on this subject and take the lead in bridging the gap between the two nations. Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee is the founding co-chair of the Congressional Pakistan Caucus. Mr. Rehman has worked closely with the congresswoman and her staff during the formation of the Caucus in 2004.

Immigration

USCIS Naturalization Test Fully Implemented

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is reminding the public that beginning Oct. 1, all citizenship applicants must take the new naturalization test, regardless of when they filed their Application for Naturalization (Form N-400).

Religious Freedom

Muslim Advocates Issues Hajj Travel Advisory

With this year's Hajj (religious pilgrimage) season fast approaching, Muslim Advocates would like to remind all Muslim Americans -- and Hajj and other overseas travelers, in particular -- about issues you may encounter when traveling abroad.  Searches and interrogations by Customs & Border Protection ("CBP") officials are possible upon your return to the U.S., especially to the extent your travel plans include visits to Saudi Arabia and other Muslim countries.

 As you prepare for the trip, follow these steps:

1.       View our 15-minute training video - available online in five languages (English, Arabic, Farsi, Somali and Urdu): Got Rights? Protecting Yourself Your Family at Home and at the Airport.  It will help you learn about the common experiences at the airport, as well as your rights and how to assert them.

2.       Download and print our 1-page reference guide to carry with you during travels.

3.       When returning from Hajj, pack your Zamzam water in your checked baggage.  Please note that federal authorities require all packages containing over 3 oz of liquids to be placed in checked baggage.  Click here more information.

4.       Finally, when you return to the U.S., please share with us any stories of stops, searches or interrogations that you encounter at the airport.

Future Activities

PAKPAC joins in to organize a Conference at Yale University, “The South Asian Muslim Identity: Reviving the Consciousness" -Oct 25th   

The event will take place on Sunday, the 25th of October, 2009 at 12 noon till 230 PM EST. at the at the Linsly Chitterden Hall Room 102: Yale University, at 63 High Street, New Haven, CT 06520.  

The intent of this event is to discuss with the groups of South Asian American Muslims including Bangaldeshi, Indian and Pakistani Americans about their historical identity, their common heritage and the inherent pluralism, and respect for all, that traditionally flowed in the hearts and minds of people of South Asia.

The conference will explore the various factors and influences beyond the social fabric challenges in the “Home Countries” and in United States which may have led to some loss of this identity. Such loss may have led to a lower capacity of tolerance and mutual respect in this current era.

This conference will also converse on the challenges the South Asian American Muslims students face in college campuses nowadays when they have to maintain a balance in academia, while being offered a different new identity by religious groups in these most formative years.

The speakers at the conference include, Azi Hussain, Vice President Preventive Diplomacy, International Center for Religion and Diplomacy, Washington DC,  Hassan Abbas, a Bernard Schwartz Fellow at the Asia Society, NY, Fiazan Haq, Professor, Cora P. Maloney College ay SUNY  Buffalo, NY,  Professor Zareena Grewal of Yale University, CT.

PAKPAC recommends the community members to register soon. The Conference attendance is free. LINK

PAKPAC joins in to sponsor an International Relations Conference, titled, “United States- Pakistan: Foreign Relations- The Way Forward”

Harvard Extension International Relations Club and Harvard International Relations Council are organizing this Conference at the Harvard University Longwood Campus.

Congressman John F. Tierney and Pakistani Ambassador to the U.S. Husain Haqqani will deliver Keynote speeches at U.S.-Pak Foreign Relations Conference. The event will take place on 17th of October, 2009 at Harvard University Longwood Campus at 915 AM. At the Joseph B. Martin Conference Center, Harvard University Medical School, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 02115

The intent of this event is to strengthen bilateral ties, discuss foreign policy, promote cooperation in the fields of commerce, health, law enforcement, and above all pave the way for ideological discourse. Information Secretary PML-N Ahsan Iqbal, Harvard fellow Hassan Abbas, famous media anchor Hamid Mir, Director General Health Pakistan, Dr. Rashid Jooma, Dr. Nadeem Afridi, MD Tom Gaziano, and Chief Editor Daily, Jang Mahmood Sham are some of the leading panelists of this conference.

As the seating is limited, PAKPAC recommends the community members to register soon. The ticket price includes lunch and parking. More information regarding the conference can be obtained via the following link: www.uspakconference.com

Upcoming Seminars at Think Tanks

To get information about future seminars and events relating to US-Pakistan relations, please visit the following websites

Atlantic Council

Brookings Institution

Heritage Foundation

Middle East Institute

SAIS

LINKS

US News

Congressional News

Pakistan News

World News