Do Supplements Work? (JR 182)

Do Supplements Work? (JR 182)

Introduction

Vitamins and minerals are essential nutrients, such as iron, calcium and vitamin C that your body needs in small amounts to work properly. The global dietary supplements industry is worth an estimated $133 billion. Over-the-counter vitamins, minerals and nutritional supplements don’t provide much — if any — additional health benefits if you’re already eating a well-balanced diet. Vitamins themselves are essential to our bodies and contribute to growth, digestion, nerve function and a whole host of other things. “Our diet should be what’s supplying all of the nutrients that our body needs. That being said, we need to be eating a variety of foods. There is no one major miracle food that supplies absolutely everything.”

Take apples and oranges for example. Apples supply nearly a quarter of your daily fiber but not much by way of vitamin C. An orange, on the other hand, provides a fair amount of fiber and almost your entire amount of daily vitamin C. Different types of fruits give us different benefits. In that same vein, seafood offers health perks that fruit doesn’t have, vegetables are unique from grains and so forth. By incorporating variety into a well-rounded diet, you’re able to get the nutrients you need — no vitamin-infused gummy necessary. The only exception is vitamin D. We can’t get enough of the “sunshine vitamin” from the food we eat, and our bodies rely on sun exposure to make enough of it.

For decades, it was assumed that multivitamins were critical to overall health. Vitamin C to "boost your immune system", Vitamin A to protect your vision, Vitamin B to keep you energized.Not only do you already get these ingredients from the food you eat, but studies suggest that consuming them in excess can actually cause harm. A large 2011 study of close to 39,000 older women over 25 years found that women who took them in the long term actually had a higher overall risk of death than those who did not.

Why most supplements don’t work

While multis do contain practically every nutrient on the planet in a convenient little pill, that doesn’t mean they’re as effective as eating a diverse diet.“Multivitamins can have nutrients like calcium and iron in them that don’t absorb well together; it all takes you back to thinking about food as your best resource.” Along with pairing ingredients that don’t play well together, vitamin manufacturers are guilty of luring in buyers with misleading claims.

Supplement companies often market their vitamins as being nutritionally complete, but if you really take a look at the labels, many times they’re not even close. On the opposite end, certain supplements might say they provide 400 percent of your daily vitamin C, leading you to think you’re getting four times the nutritional boost each day. But that’s simply not the case. “Your body hits tissue saturation at some point, after that, you’re just feeding the salmon out in the sound.”

Large number of women over 50 is taking calcium supplements to strengthen their bones. But calcium supplements are now linked to an in-creased risk for heart attacks. And calcium isn’t the only supplement that’s come into question. You do need more calcium as you age. But, the problem is your body can’t process the large amounts found in supplements. The best way to get it is in doses less than 500 mg—like the calcium you’ll get by enjoying three fat-free or low-fat servings of milk, cheese, or yogurt throughout the day. If you don’t do dairy – go for non-dairy sources made from soy or almonds, or fill up on kale and broccoli.

. Millions of people take omega 3 pills for heart and brain health benefits. But the latest research shows you may not get these amazing health benefits. For example, daily doses of up to 4,800 milligrams of EPA and/or DHA (types of omega-3 fatty acids) per day showed no heart health benefits. Even a full gram of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation did nothing to reduce the number of cardiovascular events in high-risk patients. Scientists now say that omega-3 supplements may increase men’s risk for prostate cancer by 71%! You’re better off getting omega-3s from foods instead of supplements. Research shows that you can reduce your risk of dying from heart disease by 36% when you get those omega-3s by eating fish regularly. Research links the benefits of omega-3s to the treatment of depression and Alzheimer’s disease. Take omega-3. For many people, these golden capsules are a way to get the essential fatty acids we are told our bodies need without having to consume oily fish. Yet recent studies indicate that – unlike eating fish – taking omega-3 or fish oil supplements does nothing to reduce your risk of heart disease, stroke or early death.

 Supplemental vitamin E

 Vitamin E supplements may not provide the same benefit as eating foods rich in vitamin E, and it too, may increase the risk of prostate cancer. CLA (conjugated linoleic acid)—the popular weight loss supplement that’s also said to prevent diabetes and cancer—may actually increase harmful cholesterol levels. Even daily multivitamins may be a waste of your hard-earned money.  A recent review of scientific trials found the evidence that fish oil pills protect the heart was flimsy at best.

When taking a vitamin can help

Despite all this, there are certain situations when bending the no-supplements rule makes sense if you simply can’t get all the nutrients you need from your diet alone.

While you’re ideally soaking up a few minutes of midday sun throughout the year to make enough vitamin D, that’s simply not possible during winter in some places above 35 degrees latitude. The problem isn’t just overcast skies — it’s that the sun isn’t able to get high enough during winter months for its UVB rays to penetrate the atmosphere. “If your shadow is longer than you are tall, you aren’t making vitamin D, even if you go out and sunbathe on a sunny January day,”  

There are also people who  need to avoid sun exposure for medical reasons, as well as people who spend most of the day inside and aren’t able to get their daily sun allotment. In these situations,   taking a vitamin D supplement year-round can help ensure you’re staying topped up on the sunshine vitamin. Talk with your doctor to see how much you should take.

 Newborn babies

Newborn babies should get a vitamin K injection shortly after birth. This prevents something called vitamin K deficiency bleeding, a form of uncontrolled bleeding in the brain or intestines. Placenta transfer of vitamin K from mama to baby in utero is poor, and babies aren’t able to get enough from breast milk alone.

 Pregnant woman

 Expecting moms need more folic acid, omega-3 fatty acids, iron and other nutrients than other women do to aid the healthy development of their little one. For that reason, many doctors recommend that pregnant women take a prenatal vitamin. All women thinking of having a baby should have a folic acid supplement, as should any pregnant woman up to week 12 of her pregnancy. Folic acid can help to prevent neural tube defects such as spina bifida.

Vitamin D supplements

Some groups of the population are at greater risk of not getting enough vitamin D, and the Department of Health recommends these people take daily vitamin D supplements.

These groups are:

All babies from birth to 1 year of age (including breastfed babies, and formula-fed babies who have less than 500ml a day of infant formula) 

All children aged 1 to 4 years old   

People who are not often exposed to the sun – for example, people who are frail or housebound, are in an institution such as a care home, or usually wear clothes that cover up most of their skin when outdoors

For the rest of the population, everyone over the age of 5 years (including pregnant and breastfeeding women) is advised to consider taking a daily supplement containing 10 micrograms of vitamin D.

But most people aged 5 years and above will probably get enough vitamin D from sunlight in the summer (late March/early April to the end of September), so you might choose not to take a vitamin D supplement during these months.

Supplements containing vitamins A, C and D

All children aged 6 months to 5 years should take a supplement containing vitamins A, C and D. This is a precaution because growing children may not get enough of these vitamins, especially those not eating a varied diet – for example, fussy eaters.  Your GP may also recommend supplements if you need them for a medical condition. For example, you may be prescribed iron supplements to treat iron deficiency anaemia.

If you’re taking certain medications

Some prescribed medications can affect your ability to absorb or produce certain nutrients. For example, a popular diabetes drug is known to cause a vitamin B12 deficiency. In situations like this,   it’s important to understand the side effects of your medications and to ask your doctor if taking a supplement can help.

People on vegetarian or on dietary restrictions

“If you’re eating a few specific foods and not getting a variety or if you’re eliminating a whole group of foods, then yes, you might need a supplement,”. Vegetarians, for example, might be deficient in vitamin B12 because it occurs mostly in animal products like fish, meat, poultry, eggs and dairy products. Although there are plenty of vegan-friendly foods fortified with B12, taking a supplement is another option. Even if you have dietary restrictions causing you to avoid certain types of foods, it’s still best to chat with your doctor or a dietitian to find natural, food-based ways to stay healthy.

Antioxidants:

 An excess of these has been linked to an increased risk of certain cancers, and you can eat berries instead. Vitamins A, C, and E are antioxidants found in plentiful form in many fruits - especially berries - and veggies, and they've been touted for their alleged ability to protect against cancer.

But studies suggest that when taken in excess, antioxidants can actually be harmful. A large, long-term study of male smokers found that those who regularly took Vitamin A were more likely to get lung cancer than those who didn't.

And a 2007 review of trials of several different types of antioxidant supplements put it this way: "Treatment with beta carotene, vitamin A, and vitamin E may increase mortality."

Vitamin C:

Vitamin C supplements probably won't help you get over your cold, and you can eat citrus fruits instead.  Plus, mega doses of 2,000 milligrams or more can raise your risk of painful kidney stones. So get your Vitamin C from your food instead. Strawberries are packed with the nutrient.

Vitamin B3:

 Skip it and eat salmon, tuna, or beets instead. For years, Vitamin B3 was promoted to treat everything from Alzheimer's to heart disease. But recent studies have called for an end  to the over-prescription of the nutrient. A large 2014 study of more than 25,000 people with heart disease found that putting people on long-acting doses of Vitamin B3 to raise their levels of 'good', or HDL, cholesterol didn't reduce the incidence of heart attacks, strokes, or deaths. Plus, people in the study who took the B3 supplements were more likely than those taking a placebo to develop infections, liver problems, and internal bleeding.

Probiotics:  .

Probiotics - pricey bacterial supplements that can cost upward of $1 per pill but are found naturally in smaller amounts in yogurt and other fermented foods - have become a big business with a market of roughly US$23.1 billionin 2012. The idea behind them is simple: Support the trillions of bacteria blossoming in our gut which we know play a crucial role in regulating our health.  .

Zinc:

Take it - it's one of the only ingredients linked to shortening a cold. Unlike Vitamin C, which studies have found likely does nothing to prevent or treat the common cold; zinc may actually be worth it. The mineral seems to interfere with the replication of rhinoviruses, the bugs that cause the common cold.

In a 2011 review of studies of people who'd recently gotten sick, researchers looked at those who'd started taking zinc and compared them with those who just took a placebo. The ones on the zinc had shorter colds and less severe symptoms.

Vitamin E:

 Skip it - an excess has been linked to an increased risk of certain cancers, and you can eat spinach instead. The antioxidant Vitamin E was popularized for its alleged ability to protect against cancer. But a large 2011 study of close to 36,000 men found that the risk of prostate cancer actually increased among the men taking Vitamin E compared to the men taking a placebo. And a 2005 study linked high doses of Vitamin E with an overall higher risk of death. So if you're looking for more Vitamin E, make yourself a fresh spinach salad and skip the pill. Dark greens like spinach are rich with this stuff.

Folic acid:

 Take it if you're pregnant, or if you might want to get pregnant. Folic acid is a B vitamin which our bodies use to make new cells. The National Institutes of Health recommends that women who are currently pregnant or who want to get pregnant take 400 micrograms of folic acid daily because their bodies demand more of this key nutrient when they are carrying a growing fetus. Additionally, several large studies have linked folic acid supplementation before and during pregnancy with decreased rates of neural-tube defects, serious and life-threatening birth defects of the baby's brain, spine, or spinal cord.    

Role of supplements

 Supplements were never meant to be food substitutes the way some marketers sell them today. Supplements were intended to be exactly what their name says: a “supplement,” or addition, to your already healthy diet. When scientists first isolated vitamins and nutrients in foods that were essential to normal health and vitality, as well as disease prevention, they thought the magic was in the nutrient alone—allowing sales of specific supplements to skyrocket. But we now know nutrients don’t work alone. They work with your body, and the whole food to bring you life saving health benefits.

Take broccoli. It’s loaded with a phytochemical called isothiocyanates. (  it’s linked to a lower incidence of tumors). But you’d never get the same benefit by taking a supplement, because without the enzyme found in whole broccoli sprouts your body absorbs about 8 times less of the tumor-fighting nutrient.

Look at vitamin E. Eat foods rich in this vitamin and you’ll help fight age-related diseases like cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, and heart disease. But as a supplement it won’t deliver. That’s because supplemental, synthetic forms of vitamin E only contain one chemical compound—fat soluble, alpha tocopherol. However, the natural forms of vitamin E found in foods, contain four types of tocopherol and four tocotrienol compounds.

And the latest research also suggests that many nutrients, plant chemicals and even dietary fiber join forces and work together to bring you more health benefits than they do alone. Lab studies show that tomatoes help block cancer development. But combine tomatoes and broccoli together and you reduce cancer risk even more!

Diet

 Healthy bacteria in your gut use dietary fiber and resistant starch (a type of fiber in dried beans) to produce a fatty acid that seems to protect colon cells from cancer. Some foods are so powerful, research shows they can actually deactivate carcinogens or cause abnormal cells to self-destruct. They’re called phytochemicals and they’re found in garlic, broccoli, and other cruciferous veggies. Other recommendations related to dietary control and prevention  of disease are:

·         The easiest way to avoid diabetes—drink water! Just two glasses a day reduced chances of developing high blood sugar by 28%.

·         What to eat to help beat osteoporosis, breast cancer, pump up your heart health, and get relief from menopause!

·         Nutrient not found in your body that you need to protect your eyesight as you age! Especially helpful at keeping your macula and lens healthy. (You’ll find it in pistachios and spinach…)

·         Popular yogurt that cheats you out of 30% of calcium (and it’s usually more expensive!)

·         Run away from breast cancer. New studies show postmenopausal women with high physical activity levels have a 14% lower risk of developing breast cancer.

Although lots of people will try to convince you carbs are bad for your health, did you know filling up on whole grains can slash risk of heart disease by up to 30%?  

·         People from Asia typically don’t get wrinkles until they are in their 50s? The secret may be soy. It turns out that genistein—an isoflavone and antioxidant found primarily in soybeans, helps guard the skin against sun damage. Scientists think the high amount of soy in their diet helps to fight wrinkles.

·         You gain a lot—when you lose just a little? It turns out, you don’t have to fit into your skinny jeans or look great in a bikini to reap big benefits from weight loss. Losing just 10% of body weight slashed the risk of getting type 2 diabetes up to 58%! And the health benefits of losing lasted up to 10 years even if you gain the weight back!

·         Trans fats (like those found in baked goods and some margarines) can shrink your brain? Seniors with high levels of trans fats in their blood scored poorly on tests and scans showed their brains were actually smaller—a trait linked to Alzheimer’s disease. However, seniors with higher levels of vitamins B, C, D, and E, and those with higher omega-3 fatty acids scored well on the same tests and had larger brains.

·         Excess body fat is especially dangerous after menopause? Excess fat actually sends out chemical signals that increase your risk for certain types of cancer—including breast cancer.

·         Probiotics won’t work unless you have enough live bacteria in your system? By eating foods like fiber (a prebiotic), you help guarantee that disease-fighting probiotics can survive the acidity of your stomach and make it to your large intestine where they do their work.  

The UN Day: Refocus on Pakistan’s Peacekeeping Role By Sajjad Shaukat (JR 181 SS 53)

The UN Day: Refocus on Pakistan’s Peacekeeping Role By Sajjad Shaukat (JR181SS53)

Each year, United Nations Day is celebrated on May 29. On this day in 1945, the United Nations (UN) came into force when the five permanent members of the Security Council ratified its charter This followed a declaration by the UN General Assembly in 1947 which designated 29th of May as United Nations Day, by proclaiming that the day would be instrumental in making people aware of the aims and achievements of the United Nations and to gain their support for its work.

Since its creation, Pakistan has played a significant role as UN member, in bringing peace through active diplomatic, moral and material support in various regions of the world. Therefore, this very day also reminds Pakistan Armed Forces role in UN peacekeeping measures, during war and peace time.

Pakistan Armed Forces are considered the best organized institution, and are highly respected in the country, as since the founding of Pakistan, its military has played a key role in holding the state together, promoting a feeling of nationhood and providing a bastion of selfless service.

Today, Pakistan’s position as one of the largest troop contributing country in the world with one of the highest peacekeepers’ casualty figure is testimony to its commitment and endeavors towards promoting the noble cause of global peace. It is not easy to achieve peace in world’s conflict ridden areas. But Pakistan Army’s history is replete with sacrifices, services to humanity and promoting collective security for human prosperity.

In this regard, Pakistan is a big player in UN peacekeeping forces. Pakistan joined the United Nations on September 30, 1947. Since 1960, it has been actively involved in most of the UN peacekeeping missions. Major contributions of Pakistan Army are in Congo, Liberia Somalia, Ivory Coast, Western Sahara, Sierra Leone, Bosnia, Kosovo, Georgia, East Timor Haiti etc. Even, at present, more than 8200 troops of Pakistan Army are engaged in different peacekeeping missions across various volatile countries.

The performance of Pakistani peacekeepers has been recognized worldwide by several world leaders including those of the UN. An undeniable professional standing of Pakistani forces has made them the passion of every special representative of Secretary General and Force Commander in each of UN peacekeeping operations. In this respect, Pakistan’s dedication towards UN has been acknowledged by UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon who himself visited Pakistan and inaugurated the Center for International Peace and Stability (CIPS) on 13 August 2013 and praised Pakistan’s efforts in UN peacekeeping missions.

However, Pakistan has participated in 41 UN missions in 23 states where total 142,542 Pakistani personnel engaged, taking start from UN Congo Operation in 1960. Pak army delivered its services there, and contributed in ordnance, transport and staff. It is still present in Congo, and provided a Battalion Group comprising one infantry battalion and supporting elements.

For maintaining and monitoring ceasefire during transition of West Irian from Dutch rule to Indonesians, Pakistan contributed 1500 infantry troops from October 3, 1962 to April 30, 1963. In a rare acknowledgement of excellent role done, Chinese Premier Chou-En-Lai had said, “The only example in United Nation’s history, when United Nations force had gone in…performed its role honestly and came out, was Pakistan’s military contingent to Indonesia.”

Besides, Pakistan’s contribution was in United Nations Yemen Observer Mission (UNYOM) as a military observer from January to September 1964. Yemen entered into a state of civil war in 1962. To ensure that this conflict did not escalate into global incident, the UN set up its Yemen Observation Mission. And, United Nations Transition Assistance Group in Namibia (UNTAG) was established to assist the special representative of the UN Secretary General to ensure the early independence of Namibia through free and fair elections, and to carry out a number of other duties. For the purpose, 20 military observers from Pak Army performed their duties from April 1, 1989 to March 21, 1990 in Namibia.

Notably, Pak Army played a positive role in the Middle East, and was on forefront for peace restoration. United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observer Mission (UNIKOM) was set up in April 1991, following the forced withdrawal of Iraqi forces from Kuwait. Its task was to monitor the demilitarized zone along the Iraq-Kuwait border and deter border violations. Pakistani forces which helped continuing their services there from April 1991 to 2003 were assigned the most difficult area in the north of Kuwait city—reclamation of Bubiyan Island was also entrusted to them. The operation was carried out by a task force of Pakistan Army Engineers. The professionalism and dedication displayed by this force was praised at international level.

While, inside the United Nations Transitional Authority on Cambodia (UNTAC), the Pakistan’s military forces carried out peacekeeping operations in the most thorny and remote areas during the period-May 1992 to August 1993. They overcame enormous logistic and operational problems, and proved their courage and determination by defending themselves and those for whom they were sent. Coping with the odds, they handled crisis after crisis and persuaded the warring factions to lay down their arms.

And on the request of the UN in Latin America under the United Nations Mission in Haiti (UNMIH), Pakistan provided one infantry battalion, ‘PAKBAT’ which arrived in Haiti in March 1995 and was deployed in Cape Haitien—the area faced extremely volatile security situation and was also the hotbed of political agitation. ‘PAKBAT’ discharged its duties with an extensive patrolling program, covering various regions there.

Nevertheless, Pakistan’s army has worked in difficult terrains and situations for the global peace. Now, inside the country, although Pakistan Armed Forces are facing a tough situation in wake of war against terrorism, yet they are contributing to global peace and prosperity; having still a large number of their presence in various parts of the world.

Now, the major powers must abandon their false propaganda against Pakistan and its Armed Forces, as the latter did more in response of international demand of world peace.

Nonetheless, in pursuance of Pakistan Army’s unwavering commitment towards international peace, 130 Pakistani soldiers have sacrificed their lives. In this connection, Pakistan Armed Forces’ positive role in the UN peacekeeping measures reflects Pakistan’s desire to see the principles of human dignity, freedom and self-determination.

Sajjad Shaukat writes on international affairs and is author of the book: US vs Islamic Militants, Invisible Balance of Power: Dangerous Shift in International Relations

Email: sajjad_logic@yahoo.com

Pakistan’s Conventional Response to India and Re-Establishing Nuclear Deterence By Sajjad Shaukat JR 180 SS 52

Pakistan’s Conventional Response to India and Re-Establishing Nuclear Deterence By Sajjad Shaukat JR180SS52

Very tension escalated rapidly between India and Pakistan when on February 27, this year, in response to the Indian so-called pre-emptive air strike near the town of Balakot, close to the border with Pakistan’s sector of Kashmir, Pakistan Air Force (PAF) shot down two Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter jets and launched aerial strikes at six targets in the Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK).

Addressing a press conference on the same day, Director General of Pakistan Army’s media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Maj-Gen. Asif Ghafoor said that Pakistan Air Force have conducted aerial strikes across the Line of Control (LoC) from Pakistani airspace and shot down two Indian aircraft. One of the two Indian air force pilots was taken into custody.

Regarding Indian surgical strike, Maj-Gen. Asif Ghafoor explained: “There are only mud-brick homes. There is no madrassas. There isn’t even a concrete house…Two of the dried mud structures were damaged in the explosions…No one has been killed, no one has been seriously hurt…Indian planes crossed into the Muzafarabad sector of Pakistani-side of Kashmir…Pakistan scrambled its warplanes and the Indian jets released their payload in haste near Balakot.”

Afterwards, journalists visited the targeted site of Balakot and Islamabad also released a video which exposed the false statements of New Delhi that IAF fighters targeted the camp of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and killed 350 militants.

In the aftermath of the false flag terror attack at Pulwama, truth about India’s surgical strikes unmasked, when India top civil and military leaders failed in providing any evidence in this respect.

However, the myth of Indian surgical strike was further exposed, when DG of ISPR Maj-Gen. Asif Ghaffor, while referring to the statement of Indian India’s External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj who admitted on April 18, 2019 that no Pakistani soldier or citizen died in the air strike carried out by IAF across the border in Balakot, stated on April 19, 2019: “After India finally admitted that their so-called air strike carried on February 26 in Balakot caused no deaths and casualties…Hopefully, so will be about other false Indian claims [such as] surgical strike of 2016, denial of shooting down of two Indian Air Force [IAF] jets by Pakistan Air Force and claims about F16…Better late than never.”

While Indian and Pakistani militaries stared at each other after 48 hours of a hot air show over the lofty mountains of disputed Kashmir, the world watched with breathlessness, as two nuclear armed neighbours slugged it out. The Cold War military strategy espoused by General Andre Beaufre and Lawrence Freedman as well as many who followed, had established that nuclear weapons were primarily for deterrence and there could be no nuclear strategy which may be applied in wartime; however they, probably, had not catered for a modern day Hitler like Indian Prime Miniser Narendra Modi, operating in post truth era.

Despite being predictable, the Indo-Pak military standoff has raised new questions and highlighted the efficacy of conventional military deterrence to forestall a nuclear Armageddon.

In this regard, first is the escalation ladder, despite previous thinking on Indian side that they could manage the escalation ladder on a more predictable and gradual slope, current events after February 26, 2019 which have clearly indicated that the slope was neither predictable nor gradual, it was almost vertical. Events on the emerging steep slope climbed so fast that in first 48 hours, India resorted to strategic posturing, and as stated by Pakistani leadership, India conveyed the intent of missile strikes.

 

Pakistan responded in the same coin and jumped the escalation ladder by many rungs to show intent of retaliating with more missiles.  Doval-Modi circus pushed by some foreign powers and few jingoistic Generals in Indian military did not realize that they had brought South Asia on the brink of a nuclear Armageddon within 48 hours of the first skirmish.

How could Indian headhonchos in South Block and Raksha Mantralaya contemplate such a drastic move? This is a million dollar question.

While leaders of the Indian extremist party RSS and insane Indian Generals are boasting about calling Pakistan’s nuclear bluff and are trying to justify their reckless strategy, they may now sit down and think about how Pakistan’s conventional response and re-established nuclear deterrence within 48 hours.

Islamabad also displayed her ability to fulfill the intent of politico-military leadership—do remember Prime Minister Imran Khan’s words, “Pakistan will not think once, Pakistan will Retaliate…History tells us that wars are full of miscalculation. My question is that given the weapons [Nuclear] we have can we afford miscalculation.”

Besides, this displayed capability through Pakistan Air Force’s (PAF) counter strike which has also established the new norms in South Asia, irrespective of the bravado and threat of use of force, Pakistan will not only retaliate to Indian aggression but also dominate the escalation ladder through full spectrum of deterrence.

In fact, jingoistic cabal gathered under the RSS ideology; what do you do with a narcissist Modi or likes of Major-Gen. GD Bakshi, when you have intentionally built a mob of millions nurtured through RSS warmongering. Current political leadership in India has put the absurd republic on a hate train with a one way ticket to a nuclear crevasse. 

We also need to know that some countries are providing ill advice to warmongers in Indian establishment, as to why they pushed Modi and Indian military establishment into a military confrontation with Pakistan? Whatever the larger design, one thing is certain that these countries have no worry on possibility of things getting out of control. If the aim was to embarrass Pakistani military and create an environment of Indian hegemony in the region, they have badly failed and Indian leadership must realize that it was Indian military which got embarrassed. Now same countries are pointing figures at Indian inability to project herself as a counter weight to China and become the Sheriff in Indo-Pacific—main arguments being that Indian arsenal is obsolete, the military needs more fire power, may be to entice India into a weapon buying spree. Modi’s desperate remarks that “if Rafale was there, the outcome would have been different”, is a slap on the face of Indian military leadership-the 3^rd largest military in the world.

It is noteworthy that the fear factor, being paddled by likes of Gen. GD Bakshi is about rise of Taliban in Afghanistan and how it will squeeze space for New Delhi in the region. India had invested billions of dollars in Afghanistan to create disproportionate space and launch her indirect maneuver against Pakistan on the premise of the so-called Doval doctrine. Indian anti- Pakistan policy makers feel that their maneuver has not only been checked, but will be rolled back completely, some like Gen. Bakshi also project that loss of strategic space in Afghanistan will start affecting the Occupied Kashmir and Kashmir freedom movement will become more emboldened.

Another important factor which has emerged out of these ongoing crises is the public pressure on leadership calling for immediate action. It appeared as if entire region has become a theatre of absurdity where emotionally charges public through social media gossip and anger started affecting decision making by politico-military leadership. Public sloganeering and barbershop gossip became a strong driver for a narcissist Modi to use such irresponsible rhetoric like “Ghuss ke maren gay”. Did the international community realize that Modi was behaving like a vagabond in these crises of gigantic proportions and this ignoramus and ninny heading the MAD (Modi-Ajit-Doval) circus has become a serious threat to regional and international peace? Can this cabal of warmongering besots be entrusted with reins of the so called “biggest democracy in the world”, armed with Nukes?

Nevertheless, saner voices within India and international community must realize that when you condone misplaced swashbuckling and lunacy of a modern day Hitler and encourage RSS goons due to corporate interests, and when you look the other way on human rights abuse of 12 million innocent Kashmiris in the Indian Occupied Kashmir, this MAD circus will think it has gained legitimacy for anything.

It is mentionable that South Asia has become a spectacular hippodrome, where 1.75 billion people have become frenzied spectators for their own extinction. Surveys done by Indian media asked some absurd questions after February 26  ‘Tree Strike’ by Indian Air force, one option was “Dill mange More” and 70% Bhakts responded in favor of it. These hate train drivers like Gen. GD Bakshi and Arnab Goswami pampered by RSS political goons have brought South Asia closer to a nuclear winter.

For Pakistani public and especially those who keep on questioning the defence forces for getting so-called ‘disproportionate share of budget’, these crises have a basic lesson. Conventional deterrence and preparation for war is essential, as it is the only recipe to ward off the threat of a nuclear war in South Asia. If Indian military and Modi are crying like babies for more funds and Rafale aircrafts, despite the fact that current defence allocation stands at almost 60 billion dollars, as to why Pakistani military is criticized for a fair share of defence budget which is seven times lesser than Indian allocation.

Short stories, Videos by Zeenat Hussain (JR 179 MH 09)

Short stories, Videos by  Zeenat Hussain (JR179MH09)

https://youtu.be/sCz2zSNPQao  An ungrateful person is never happy.

https://youtu.be/qjR-090dxjI , the evil Spirit

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1kac03_rescue-on-the-sea_lifestyle, Rescue on the Sea

RESCUE ON THE SEA

                                                                                                                                                         

Very little has been written about the ancient coastal people of Lyari – the irrepressible Makranis – who take their name from the Makran coast of Sindh and, Balochistan, which also indicates a common history of the two provinces; the Makran coast constitutes the South-East of Iran and the South-West of Pakistan; a 1,000 km stretch along the Gulf of Oman from RA’s (cape) Al-Kuh, Iran (West of Jask), to the Lasbela District of Pakistan (near Karachi). The Makran coast is on the Arabian Sea, to the North-West of Quetta in Balochistan.

The following is a story of one such coastal village:

Children on   bare - back camels, watch   the   sea, its   vastness spanning even beyond the grasp of their eyes. Fishermen on the beach watch the sky, like the city dwellers read their newspapers first thing in the morning. Through the knots of their nets hanging on the line, they seem to predict the weather. This exercise determines whether they should take a boat out or not on the deep sea, for their daily expedition to catch fish. The air is filled with the smell of rancid water that is due to the deposits of oil, resulting in decayed and dead sea-life. Music, which is a part of their lives, plays in the background. The sounds are a fusion of musical cultures from the Middle East, Indo-Pakistan and Africa.

            The shells on the beach look like the abandoned toenails of the old fishermen, and they are more beautiful there, than on the foot. The broken wings, the sand-logged crabs, a woman’s lonely shoe, a rusty toy damaged beyond recognition, the plank or sail from a doomed boat, all lay sprawled on the beach, each with a story behind it, cleansed and sterilized by the salt and iodine in the great hospital of the sea. In the night, the light from the tower was but a spot against the background of the sky and spectacular cliffs.

            The weather beaten villager’s munched dates from the interior while watching holidaymakers trying to teach their children to swim, like fish to water, amidst the shouts and screams of the children who are already submerged in the waters. The steps of the ladies faltered as they approached the sea, clad in shalwar kameezes filled with the wind, the Shalwar Kameez itself a deterrent for swimming.

            The story told here is that of a villager who because of his sharp sense of hearing helped in the rescue of a drowning man. The villager was alone and as he had no family to fend for, hence he had no responsibilities to drain his energy. Somehow he had also preserved his youth, which he owed to mother nature. Religion that usually comes into the house with the presence of a woman was lacking in his and he was quite oblivious of it.

            One evening when it was well after ten and the moon was full with black clouds scudding in ordered masses across the sky, he was still sitting on his wall, all alone. A cool wind suddenly sighed from an unexpected quarter and in its wake was a noise like that from a distant cavalry charge. His razor sharp ears picked up the sound. His brow creased up as his eyes searched the distance. He hobbled to his neighbours house and banged on the door of his traditional mud-hut – the two men, though natural life-guards, knew thoroughly all that was written in the books about rescue on the seas. The coastal blacks were descendants of imported slaves – the fishermen being known as the Meds and the seamen as the Koras – when there was no response; he banged on the door again. A groggy fellow soon appeared. He pointed towards the horizon and mumbled something in the Makranic dialect. The man’s eyes tried to see beyond the direction of the location being pointed at. A boat in trouble, he thought aloud. Without wasting any time they woke the other men.

            A rule of the sea states, that half the purchase price of the vessel of the sea is given to the rescue party. This prize money was quite a temptation, but since it was always dangerous the case required to be argued, all hands knew that the proposed journey was perilous.

            The village women all having gathered on the beach, saw their men disappear, reappear, disappear, reappear and finally disappear into the darkness. They were now a tiny speck in the vast vista of the sea – the ocean that is open to all and merciful to none, that which threatens even when it seems to yield, pitiless always to weakness.

            Many of the Makrani women now worked as domestic servants in Karachi; they were also experts in the art of massaging any mother and child    after    birth.   Their   traditional   long   dresses with   hand-woven

Embroidery gave them a distinct ‘folk’ touch, separating them from the typical Karachiites. The skirt-like look, with its wide circumference, and the loose shalwar could be compared to the costumes of the pathan and Kabuli women.

            The men in the rescue boat changed sides, so as not to tip the balance of the boat as the surf sprayed them from head to toe. The taste of salt lingered in their mouths during the voyage. They were not bothered by their appearance. On the contrary, they felt no different from when they started out dry.

            Suddenly, a dark object was thrown at them on the crest of a wave. It was a man. They held on to the poor fellow and eventually succeeded in dragging him aboard. Nobody felt sorry that this time, there was no prize. They rowed back to their village.

            Couples fought with each other to offer hospitality to this half dead man; and they almost came to blows in their struggle for this visa to heaven.

            They fetched a doctor from a nearby village, while the women sat all around him wearing their beads. The doctor was a Karachiite who had been sent to the village to serve them. The doctor prompted the man to speak. The man said, “Mahganj” very faintly. Repeated attempts, received the same response. The diagnosis stated that he was a victim of a traumatic shock and was suffering from amnesia, which meant a loss of memory, if only temporarily.    

            The Priest, who was also a member of the village council, was also summoned, as was the case in other similar incidents. “What’s going on here?” he asked one of the ladies. “A miracle” said all the ladies together. The Makrani women are predominantly Muslim.

            The Priest was briefed about the rescue and what followed. Being

 an elderly fellow, he recalled that a girl by the name of ‘Mahganj’ had been registered in the mosque some eighteen years ago.

            Now, it was easy to put two and two together. The man they found was associated with Mahganj and was discovered as belonging to the same village as her’s.  He was also supposed to marry her.

            Mahganj was the granddaughter of the village tailor. Thus it was decided that the man be taken back to the same village that he originated from. Similar surroundings would help to revive his memory, it was hoped.

            A therapist was hired from the city and surely, slowly though, his memory came back in bits and pieces. Mahganj’s presence always evoked a response in the man, so strong was the bond of love. His memory did eventually return, which in turn led to their marriage. They led a happy married life.

 

Revisited the Swat Operation By Sajjad Shaukat (JR 178 SS 51)

Revisited the Swat Operation By Sajjad Shaukat (JR178SS51)

The Swat Operation which started on May 16, 2009 still remains in the mind of every patriot Pakistani. The area occupied by the terrorists was successfully cleared by Pakistan’s Armed Forces.

In this regard, Swat peace accord was signed on February 15, 2009 between the government and the militants led by Sufi Muhammad, head of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). It was agreed to establish Nizam-e-Adl in Malakand Division and Kohistan District of Hazara in return for Maulvi Fazlullah (Sufi’s son-in-law) led militants, surrendering arms and refraining from all sorts of violent acts. Meanwhile, National Assembly had passed the Nizam-e-Adl Regulation.

But, by transgressing the peace pack, Taliban re-initiated their previous practice of beheadings, kidnappings, attacks on the check posts of the security forces etc. In Swat, their anti-social, anti-Islam and inhuman tactics such as attacks on government buildings, girls’ school, video shops and police stations, using car suicide bombers had also been destabilizing Pakistan. In some regions, particularly in Swat, Taliban leaders had created states within the state, and had been involved in a number of crimes such as drug-smuggling, forced marriages, hostage-takings for ransom and car-snatching. Moreover, by setting aside the terms of the peace agreement, the Taliban equipped with heavy weapons started making checkpoints, strengthening their position in Swat and Dir. They refused to renounce arms, and even entered Buner.

In these adverse circumstances, the military operations were re-conducted to restore peace in these affected areas, and to get rid the innocent people of the brutalities of the Taliban. Overwhelming public, belonging to every province of Pakistan and all the segments of society supported the Swat and Malakand military operations, as majority of the people are against the Taliban style of Sharia. An all-parties conference (APC) vowed to unite the nation against insurgency in these regions, pledging to end terror.

In this respect, in May 16, 2009, Pakistan’s Armed Forces started military operation in Swat. And, within less than three months, Pakistan’s forces successfully ejected the well-trained and well-armed Taliban militants out of Buner, Dir, Swat and other adjoining areas. By sacrificing their lives, our forces killed and captured thousands of the militants—breaking their backbone by eliminating their control and command structure. Reports suggested that tens thousands of the Taliban had fled Afghanistan.

It is mentionable that during the Swat Operation, the TTP militants had been supported by some foreign secret agencies, especially Indian RAW. Through their well-established networks in Afghanistan, they were sending arms and weapons to the Swat-based terrorists with a view to weakening Pakistan which is the only nuclear country in the Islamic World.

In fact, the different war between Pakistan’s Armed Forces and the TTP insurgents in Swat was simply a ‘clash of wills’ between two entities. Military thinkers agree that although the physical force will determine the type and scale of war, yet it is the ‘will to fight’ or ‘moral force’ that determines the outcome of war. Clausewitz puts it this way, “One might say that the physical force seems little more than the wooden hilt, while moral factors are the precious metal, the real weapon.”

In his book, “Fighting Power: German and U.S. Army Performance, 1939-1945”, Creveld identifies the elements of ‘moral force’, whom he calls “fighting power, the willingness to fight and the readiness, if necessary, to die.” The greater these elements, the less vulnerable an armed force will be to demoralization. ‘Moral force’, then, is the crucial factor in determining the combat power of any belligerent.

During the successful military operation, retreat of the Taliban from Swat has proved that such elements like ‘will to fight’ and ‘moral force’ have been more noted in Pakistan’s Armed Forces who have exerted psychological impact of causing fear and shock, resulting into demoralization among the Taliban militants.

Nevertheless, there are various causes which demoralized the insurgents of Swat. Firstly, high ‘moral force’ and ‘will to fight’ coupled with strong determination and cohesiveness as noted in Pakistan’s Armed Forces played a key role in expelling Taliban out of Swat. In this regard, airstrikes by Pakistan Air Force targeted their strongholds. And during street to street fighting, without bothering for their lives, and by air-dropping commandos at the risky places, our forces made a great headway in disrupting the Taliban supply routes. They besieged them at various hotspots, rendering them unable to send reinforcements to their fighters. Secondly, morale of Pak Army was very high. Thirdly, local people started denying the Taliban sanctuaries, and disrupted their links with each other. Fourthly, general masses of Swat opposed the brutal acts of these terrorists which compelled them to leave their houses. They came to know that under the cover of Islamic laws—terror, not Sharia was militants’ real agenda. Hence, they were misusing Jihad which does not allow suicide attacks in killing their own Muslim brethren.

Although terrorists have again started subversive activities, yet these are on small scale, as compared to the past, because the main networks of various militant outfits have been broken by the ongoing military operations Zarb-e-Azb and Radd-ul-Fasaad.

As a matter of fact, Pakistan’s Armed Forces have successfully broken the backbone and organized capability of terrorists to launch well thought-out attacks against the government assets. Terrorism will finally be totally eliminated from Pakistan. It appears, as if the militants have lost major grounds, and in severe frustration, they are trying to create some kind of so-called pressure on the government and the Armed Forces which have castigated them to put up strong resistance.

It is notable that when the heavy-armed Taliban entered Swat, Dir and Buner, on April 23, 2009, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had stated that Pakistan’s nuclear weapons could fall into the hands of terrorists. But, when Pakistan’s Armed Forces ejected the Taliban insurgents out of the affected areas, then American high officials including Ms. Clinton had admired the capabilities of Pak Army.

We can conclude that it was because the ‘moral force’ of Pakistan’s Armed Forces, which defeated the insurgents of Swat.

Sajjad Shaukat writes on international affairs and is author of the book: US vs Islamic Militants, Invisible Balance of Power: Dangerous Shift in International Relations

Email: sajjad_logic@yahoo.com