MONDAY, MARCH 10, 2014 INTERNATIONAL From Afghan warlord to VP: Fahim dies in Kabul Fahim ‘good and trusted partner’ of UN

KABUL: Afghan Vice-President great mujahid (holy warrior)”. power struggles that have under- Marshal Mohammad Qasim Fahim, Three days of national mourn- mined efforts to develop the war- formerly one of the country’s most ing will begin today, with the torn and impoverished country. Militant splinter groups feared warlords, died of natural national flag flying at half-mast causes yesterday after a turbulent across the country in the middle of ‘Blood on his hands’ life that reflected the country’s election campaigning before Fahim returned as senior vice- threaten Pak peace talks recent past. Fahim, a leader of the polling day on April 5. Fahim president in the 2009 election as Tajik ethnic minority, was senior served as an influential but brutal Karzai sought to broaden his sup- ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has hailed tinue our suicide attacks and armed independent FATA think tank vice-president under President intelligence officer under iconic port base in a policy that was progress in peace talks with the struggle in Pakistan until enforce- researching Pakistan’s restive tribal Hamid Karzai, who will step down rebel commander Ahmad Shah widely seen as appeasing some of country’s main Taleban faction, but ment of sharia,” Asad Mansoor, the area, said he was doubtful about the at elections next month as US-led Massoud, fighting against the most violent men in Afghanistan. attacks claimed by mysterious splin- group’s spokesman, said in the new “splinter” groups. “To me they combat forces pull out of Soviet occupation in 1980s and At the time, the Human Watch ter factions are threatening to statement. “As we belong to are all the same. I don’t see any dif- Afghanistan after 13 years of fight- against the Taleban’s 1996-2001 Rights group described Fahim as undermine the process. The Pakistan’s cities so we will directly ference between Ansar-ul Tehreek-e-Taleban Pakistan (TTP) hit and carry (out) attacks inside Mujahideen, between Ahrar-ul-Hind ing the Taleban. Fahim, who sur- regime. Massoud was killed by an “one of the most notorious war- declared a one-month ceasefire last cities.” and between TTP. They are the same vived at least two assassination Al-Qaeda bomb two days before lords in the country, with the weekend, but that was swiftly fol- The statement described the TTP residing in the same places, sharing attempts, died from complications the 9/11 attacks in the United blood of many Afghans on his lowed by a major attack in as “brothers” but said the group was the same premises,” he told AFP. caused by diabetes and heart States in 2001. hands”. Islamabad and a bloody roadside going its own way and would not be Defence analyst Saad problems, according to officials The Taleban were then ousted in The Essential Field Guide to bombing targeting security forces- bound by the umbrella faction’s Muhammad agreed, saying an who declined to be named. a US-led operation for sheltering Afghanistan released this year said both claimed by dissident groups. orders. Mansoor said Ahrar-ul-Hind attack of the complexity of Aged 56, Fahim was accused of Al-Qaeda and Fahim emerged as a he was accused of being “a semi- Less than 48 hours after the TTP was led by Maulana Umar Qasmi, Monday’s strike on the courts, being a ruthless strongman who leading figure in Afghan politics literate, self-appointed field mar- announced its ceasefire, a gun and though several sources in militant involving several assailants armed shal, and one of the principal suicide bomb assault on an groups said they had not heard this with guns, grenades and suicide obstacles to Afghan unity because Islamabad court complex on name before. vests, suggested an experienced, of his alleged ruthless threats, Monday left 12 dead, the first attack Few details have emerged about well-resourced outfit. “All the suicide beatings and general thuggery”. in the heavily guarded capital since the group, though one militant factories are located in North But the United Nations struck a dif- 2011. It was disowned by the TTP source said many of its members Waziristan and these suicide facto- ferent note yesterday, saying that central command but claimed by a were based in eastern Afghanistan. ries are run jointly by TTP and the Fahim had been “a good and trust- group calling itself Ahrar-ul-Hind, A militant source in North Waziristan Haqqani network,” he told AFP. “How ed partner” of the UN mission in while Wednesday’s roadside bomb- tribal district said Ahrar-ul-Hind was can the TTP deny these suicide Afghanistan. ing in the northwest that killed six largely composed of Punjabi bombers came from North Fahim was famous for his love paramilitary troops was claimed by Taleban, hailing from Pakistan’s rich- Waziristan? They are the same. TTP of “buzkashi”, the rough and huge- another renegade faction, Ansar-ul- est and most populous province. is the umbrella organization.” ly popular Afghan sport in which Mujahideen. Talks aimed at ending Several eyewitnesses to Security analyst Mehmood Shah, a the TTP’s seven-year insurgency Monday’s attack in Islamabad retired brigadier and former chief of horse-riders wrestle over a head- resumed on Wednesday despite reported hearing the militants security for the tribal areas, shared less dead calf and try to drop the those blows, and on Thursday the speaking Punjabi to one another. It the skepticism. “This is a typical animal into a chalk circle. He government announced it was set- is not yet clear how much traction Taleban style, that they launch an became extremely wealthy and ting up a new committee to acceler- Ahrar-ul-Hind is getting among attack but issue a denial,” he said. used his cash to maintain a large ate the process. But the attacks have Pakistan’s myriad militant factions, Mehsud said the hardline stance stable of buzkashi horses, a move raised fears that the militant move- but one commander in the north- against talks could be fuelled by for- that helped him retain loyal sup- ment is splintering dangerously- west told AFP the group had been in eign fighters including Al-Qaeda port in the Panjshir valley where though several analysts said they touch with four or five outfits. The and Uzbek militants in the tribal dis- he was raised and where the sport suspected the “new” factions were commander said the group had also tricts-known officially as the is closely followed. simply the TTP operating under contacted the remnants of a faction Federally Administered Tribal Areas He also owned extensive prop- another guise. formerly led by Badar Mansoor, the (FATA) — worried a peace deal head of the Pakistan chapter of Al- might close down their boltholes. KABUL: In this file photo, Afghanistan’s Vice-President Field Marshal erty in the capital Kabul, which he ‘Suicide attacks until sharia’ Qaeda who was killed in a US drone “They are the ones who have an Mohammed Qasim attends a press conference. — AP was often accused of obtaining through extortion or corruption. According to militant and gov- strike in February 2012. interest in spoiling the peace in this maintained his own militia forces, during the international military He had not publicly backed any ernment sources, Ahrar-ul-Hind- region, because a peaceful FATA but he also received American sup- and civilian intervention that is candidate in the election and his ”freedom fighters of India”, referring Taleban cover? might not be very convenient to port as Afghanistan struggled for now winding down. With strong death is likely to have a limited to the sub-continent as a whole-was More than 110 people have been stay here,” Mehsud said. stability following the fall of the backing from Washington, Fahim impact on the vote to choose a formed early last month by TTP killed in militant attacks since Prime The militant commander in the Taleban regime in 2001. “With was appointed to the key position successor to Karzai, who is consti- fighters opposed to peace talks. A Minister Nawaz Sharif announced northwest said that aside from extreme sorrow, Marshal of defense minister in 2002, where tutionally barred from standing for written statement from the group talks with the TTP in late January. As strategic or ideological considera- sent to Pakistani media on February a result, some observers have sug- tions, for many militants a peace Mohammad Qasim Fahim, the first he was criticized for appointing a third term in office. Candidates 9 and seen by AFP said it will not gested that the TTP is either unable accord would also have a financial vice-president of Afghanistan, mainly Tajik senior officers and fail- including Zalmai Rassoul and take part in peace talks and will car- to control the various militant impact. “Some of the militant passed away due to an illness,” the ing to build a representative Ashraf Ghani were among those to ry on attacking Pakistani cities, even groups carrying out attacks in groups are involved in kidnapping presidential palace said in a state- national army. He also served as a pay their respects at Fahim’s if the government and TTP reach a Pakistan or insincere-using talks as for ransom and they are earning mil- ment. It said that President Karzai vice-president from 2002-2004, but house, where his body was laid out peace deal. cover to regroup and rearm. lions of rupees. How can they afford expressed his deep condolences was removed by Karzai from both wrapped in an embroidered gold “It is our resolve that we will con- Saifullah Mehsud, who runs the a peace accord?” he said.— AFP over the “loss” of “a patriot and a jobs in 2004 in one of the many robe. — AFP India ready to challenge US for election-spending record

NEW DELHI: Indian politicians are er transparency advocates say the 7 million rupees ($114,000) on cam- expected to spend around $5 billion main contenders have built up large paigns for a parliament seat but the on campaigning for elections next war chests. real cost of winning is about 10 times month - a sum second only to the “This election spending largesse that, thanks to spending on rallies, most expensive US presidential cam- will help to boost Indian consump- fuel and media campaigns that often paign of all time - in a splurge that tion expenditure over the second include payments for coverage. could give India’s floundering econo- quarter of 2014, but this will be a Indian politicians regularly bribe vot- my a temporary boost. India’s cam- temporary spike,” said Rajiv Biswas, ers with cash payouts or alcohol to paign spend, which can include cash the Asia-Pacific chief economist at secure their support. Recent state stuffed in envelopes as well as multi- IHS Global Insight. India’s projected elections have seen innovations such million-dollar ad campaigns, has campaign spending is only rivaled by as getting money to voters via been estimated at 300 billion rupees the $7 billion spent by candidates, mobile phone credit and envelopes ($4.9 billion) by the Centre for Media parties and support groups in the of cash delivered in morning papers. Studies, which tracks spending. 2012 US presidential race, the world’s In the last three years, election That is triple the expenditure the most expensive, according to data authorities seized from politicians a centre said was spent on electioneer- provided by the US election commis- total of about $32.65 million in the ing in the last national poll in 2009 - sion. form of concealed cash, some if it partly a reflection of a high-octane Spending on previous Indian elec- stashed in helicopters, milk trucks campaign by pro-business opposi- tions have benefited a wide range of and even funeral vans, a former elec- tion candidate for prime minister, businesses, from media groups and tion commissioner said. Narendra Modi, who started nation- advertisers that rake in campaign-ad The dates for the month-long wide rallies and advertising last year. revenues to consumer-based firms election starting on April 7 were “They started much before, and they that capitalize indirectly on the over- announced last week, with polls are also focusing on states where all jump in spending, such as motor- staggered in nine stages to help they are traditionally not strong. They bike manufacturers and brewers like security forces prevent polling booth are leaving no area untouched,” said United Spirits. India’s advertising fraud. Despite evidence of vote-buy- N Bhaskara Rao, chairman of the industry expects to see an $800 mil- ing, India’s elections are now largely Centre for Media Studies. lion injection during the election sea- seen as free and fair on polling day. The campaign spending for this son, according to an outlook by the However, chief election commission- election could give a boost to the country’s largest local agency, er VS Sampath said on Wednesday economy, which has been heading Madison Media. That should benefit he was worried about “money pow- for its longest slump since the 1980s. media firms, such as DB Corp, which er” - heavy spending and the use of Economists have forecast a second owns the high-circulation Hindi lan- illegal funds to influence the out- year of growth below 5 percent in guage daily Dainik Bhaskar. come. The Centre for Media Studies’ the financial year ending this month. spending projections are based on Candidate and party funding in India Cash hidden in newspapers analyses of rising costs in local and is opaque and the source of much of Much of India’s campaign spend state elections in the past five years. the spending is hard to ascertain, but will remain in its thriving black econ- It also surveys voters on prevalence the Centre for Media Studies and oth- omy. Rules allow candidates to spend of bribes. —Reuters

SILIGURI: An Indian laborer sifts colored powder, known as ‘gulal’, to be used during the forthcoming spring festi- val of Holi, inside a factory at Fulbari village on the outskirts of Siliguri yesterday. Holi, the popular Hindu spring festival of colors is observed in India on March 16 this year. — AFP