Community Action

Flooding devastates Pakistan and kills over 800 people

Devastating floods ripped through Pakistan as the death toll has risen to over 800 people, with citizens in Khyber Pekhtunkhwa province the worst hit. Rescue workers from Edhi rescue service estimate that this number could easily rise to 3000. Many of the people who died were carried away when the floodwater swept away their mud houses in Swat Valley, and in the districts of Shangla and Tank. PAKPAC mourns the loss of life and property caused by recent flooding. Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malik said that tourists and residents have been trapped and stranded by the high waters, and they are using all available resources to get to those people. The recent rainfall has broken all records in Pakistan.  Pictures

The United Nations has asked for help with providing emergency shelter, food, drinking water, and sanitation facilities in Pakistan. PAKPAC pleads to Pakistani American Community to help the citizens of Pakistan at their time of need. You can help a charity of your choice, list of charities and their contact information is listed below for your reference.

APWA: http://www.apwapakistan.com/

Behbud Foundation: http://www.behbud.org/

EDHI Foundation: http://www.edhifoundation.com/

Hidaya foundation: http://www.hidaya.org/

House of Charity:  http://www.houseofcharity.com/

Human Development Foundation (HDF): http://www.yespakistan.com/

International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC): http://www.icrc.org/

International Medical Corps: http://www.imcworldwide.org/

IRC - The International Rescue Committee: http://www.theirc.org/

Islamic Relief: http://www.irw.org/

Oxfam: http://www.oxfamamerica.org/

Pakistan Red Crescent Society: http://www.prcs.org.pk/

Sarhad Rural Support Programme: http://www.srsp.org.pk/ 

SARID http://www.sarid.net/

News

Pakistan worst air disaster

The Airbus A321 plane, on a domestic flight from Karachi to Islamabad operated by Airblue, came down in hills just north of Islamabad as it was about to land. All 152 passengers and crew members on board died in the crash. Investigators scouring the wreckage of Pakistan's worst-ever air disaster have found the plane's flight data recorder. Pictures of the crash

PAKPAC sends its deepest condolences to all those who lost loved ones in crash in Islamabad of Air Blue flight . Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims and with all the people of Pakistan at this difficult time. Both President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton have sent condolence messages.

Mapping US drone and Islamic militant attacks in Pakistan

Since January 2009 nearly 2,500 people have been killed in Pakistan as a result of US drones and Islamic militant attacks. The graphics below show how Islamic militant strongholds in the border area close to Afghanistan have been targeted by US drone aircraft, while, at the same time, Islamic militants have carried out attacks across Pakistan. Missile attacks by US drones in Pakistan's tribal areas have more than trebled under the Obama administration, research by the BBC Urdu service shows. Compared with 25 drone strikes between January 2008 and January 2009, there were at least 87 such attacks between President Obama taking office on 20 January 2009 and the end of June 2010. More than 700 people have been killed in such attacks under Mr Obama, compared with slightly fewer than 200 from under his predecessor, George W Bush. Read More

Pakistan's U.N. Ambassador: Afghan War Unwinnable

Abdullah Hussain Haroon, Pakistan's ambassador to the United Nations, spoke to CBS News Foreign Affairs Analyst Pamela Falk Thursday about the thousands of pages of classified U.S. documents released this week by the website WikiLeaks.

Haroon also said U.S. war strategy needs to change for America to win.

"In my personal opinion, the way the war is being fought, it doesn't seem winnable," Haroon said.

The thousands of documents leaked include U.S. military intelligence and field reports revealing that Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence agency armed, trained and financed the Taliban insurgency from 2004 to 2009, fueling American doubts about the Afghan war. Read More

Public Opinion in Pakistan: Concern About Extremist Threat Slips

Pakistanis remain in a grim mood about the state of their country. Overwhelming majorities are dissatisfied with national conditions, unhappy with the nation's economy, and concerned about political corruption and crime. Only one-in-five express a positive view of President Asif Ali Zardari, down from 64% just two years ago, according to a Pew Research report. As Pakistani forces continue to battle extremist groups within the country, nearly all Pakistanis describe terrorism as a very big problem. However, they have grown markedly less concerned that extremists might take control of the country.

Last year, at a time when the Pakistani military was taking action against Taliban forces in the Swat Valley within 100 miles of the nation's capital, 69% were very or somewhat worried about extremist groups taking control of Pakistan. Today, just 51% express concern about an extremist takeover. More specifically, Pakistanis also feel less threatened by the Taliban and much less by al Qaeda. Last year, 73% rated the Taliban a serious threat, compared with 54% now. Roughly six-in-ten (61%) considered al Qaeda a serious threat last year; now, just 38% feel this way. Nonetheless, both the Taliban and al Qaeda remain unpopular among Pakistanis -- 65% give the Taliban an unfavorable rating and 53% feel this way about al Qaeda. Negative views toward these groups have become a little less prevalent over the past year, while positive views have crept up slightly.

Still, opinions are much more negative today than was the case two years ago, when roughly one-third expressed an unfavorable view of both groups, one-quarter gave them a positive rating and four-in-ten offered no opinion. Read More

Secretary Clinton Interview with Maria Usman of CBS

QUESTION: Madam Secretary, thank you so much for sitting down with us today.

SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you.

QUESTION: I’d like to start talking about Afghanistan. A number of members of Congress and journalists are now saying that it’s time to get out of Afghanistan because the war there is unwinnable. How do you respond to that?

SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, with due – with great respect, I respond that that is not the view of the President or myself or this Administration. We believe that in the last 18 months we have established a strategy that has great chances of success. The President has committed, as you know, many more American troops. We have redoubled our efforts working with the Afghans to improve and field a much more professional military. We think that we now are putting into place the pieces of a successful strategy.

Now, Americans – and I understand this, being one – are often very impatient, but I think it’s important in our dealings in Afghanistan to commit to an enduring relationship that will certainly go far beyond whatever the military involvement is, but also to commit to seeing through the military strategy that has been adopted. Read More

Judge Blocks Key Sections of Arizona's anti Immigration Law

On July 28th, one day before Arizona's Senate Bill 1070 was to go into effect, a federal judge blocked some of its most controversial sections. U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton ruled that although the bill would still go into effect on July 29th, some of the bill's sections should be put on hold until courts can resolve the related issues. Blocked provisions include those that would require officers to check a person's immigration status while enforcing other laws, those that would require immigrants to carry their documents at all times and those that made it illegal for undocumented workers to seek jobs in public places. [READ MORE]

The End Racial Profiling Act of 2010 introduced in the US Congress

PAKPAC welcomes the introduction of H.R. 5748, End Racial Profiling Act of 2010 (ERPA).  House Judiciary Chairman John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) and Judiciary Subcommittee on Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) introduced the bill on July 15, the bill currently has nearly 60 co-sponsors.  ADC supports the introduction and passage of ERPA and thanks Chairman Conyers and Congressman Nadler for introducing the legislation.  PAKPAC, along with its coalition partners, has been working towards such legislation for the past decade. This legislation includes various measures, including:

·                     Prohibiting profiling based on race, religion, national origin, and ethnicity by federal, state, and local law enforcement (including in the transportation context and interviews at the border)

·                     Establishing requirements for law enforcement to collect data, provide anti-profiling trainings, and develop a complaint mechanism for affected individuals

·                     Allowing the Department of Justice to withhold grants to entities that fail to comply with the law and provide funding to these seeking to eliminate the practice of profiling

·                     Allowing affected individuals to seek redress in court

PAKPAC asks Community members to take a few simple steps to support this historic piece of legislation:

Send a message to your member of Congress asking for their support of ERPA [READ MORE]

Viewpoint

Little choice but to depend on Pakistan's help in Afghanistan – David Ignatius

In the almost nine years the United States has been fighting in Afghanistan, any thoughtful person who follows the war has had a recurring worry: Can America rely on Pakistan? Can our allies in that turbulent country close the Taliban's havens along the border? And, for that matter, are the Pakistanis really trying? The massive disclosure of war-related documents this week by Wikileaks raised a number of questions, but none more important than the Pakistan conundrum. Although the Obama administration has played down the leaks in general, senior officials agree that Pakistan's ability to close the sanctuaries is an absolutely crucial issue. "These safe havens are a big question mark in terms of our success rate," Gen. Jim Jones, the national security adviser, said in an interview Tuesday at the White House. He noted that the Taliban and its affiliates have used these havens to arm, train, regroup and gather intelligence -- confounding U.S. strategy. Read More

Kayani, a man for many seasons – Shuja Nawaz

In a timely though perhaps overly dramatic move, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani of Pakistan announced last night on national television the extension of army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani for another three years beyond November this year, when his first term was to end. Timely, since any further delay in announcing it would have led to further speculation and confusion about what was to happen. Dramatic, since the normal manner would have been a press release from the Inter Services Relations Directorate. But then this is Pakistan and anything to do with the army chief makes headlines. And this announcement further strengthens the view that the army continues to be a key player even as democracy struggles to establish itself in a country that has been ruled for more than half its life by the military. This is the first time a civilian government has extended an army chief for a full term. In the past, extensions have been either short, given by military rulers to themselves or, in the case of the first military ruler, Ayub Khan, to an ineffectual army chief with no independent power base. Benazir Bhutto sought to break with tradition when she offered an extension to General Abdul Waheed in 1996 but he refused it. Kayani took pains to convey the impression that he would not seek an extension nor negotiate for one. It appears that the government made him an offer he could not refuse. Read More

Unchecked growth in intelligence agencies raises troubling questions -  Adil E. Shamoo

Future Activities

Join a National Conference Call on Lawful Election Activities

Muslim Advocates in partnership with Alliance for Justice (AFJ) will hold a conference call on lawful election activities by mosques and 501(c)(3) entities on Tuesday, August 3, 2010.  Board members, officers, and imams, as well as lawyers who advise mosques and nonprofit entities, are strongly encouraged to participate. Muslim Advocates and AFJ have jointly published an advisory to educate American Muslim public charities and mosques about IRS limitations on election activities.  Violations of the IRS rules could jeopardize an organization's 501(c)(3) status. 

Muslim community leaders are encouraged to participate in this conference call with legal experts to learn more about election activities.  Led by lawyers with Muslim Advocates and AFJ, the call will take place August 3rd at 11 am PST/ 1 pm CST/ 2 pm EST.  Please register for the upcoming call. Click here to read the advisory. Click here to join the conference call on Tuesday, August 3rd 

United States Agency for International Development’s efforts in Pakistan

Pakistan Open House: 2:00 – 4:00 PM Friday, August 13, 2010 at Mezzanine Conference Room, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20523. RSVP by Wednesday, August 11, to Alison Salisbury at ASalisbury@usaid.gov

Watch live-streaming video of the August Army Leader Forum

Join Ambassador Akbar Ahmed, Chair of Islamic Studies at American University and former High Commissioner of Pakistan to Great Britain, at the next Army Leader Forum. Ambassador Ahmed's lecture is titled, "The U.S., the Afghanistan-Pakistan Theater and the Way Forward."

When/Where: Monday, Aug. 2, 2010, from 11 a.m. to noon, Pentagon Auditorium, Room BH650. To view the live stream of the presentation, click HERE.

Events & Activities

For more information write to ed@pakpac.net or call 202 558 6404

PAKPAC proposes programs to curb radicalization

The Pakistani-American Public Affairs Committee’s Executive Director Irfan Malik and Past President Dr. Saud Anwar had a meeting with National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC).  This meeting also included meeting with Michael Leiter, Director of the National Counterterrorism Center along with Chief of Global Engagement Group, as well as, with Deputy Chief of Global Engagement Group.

The meeting was focused on discussion about violent extremism and identifying ways of countering violent extremism. An overview of the role of the community leadership was discussed along with awareness brief on some of the potential threats and the current modes of operation of terrorist groups.

Pakistani-American Public Affairs Committee Foundation has been focused on helping identify, manage and partner with various organizations, as well as, law enforcement to help in better understanding and also managing the violent extremism challenge.

The NCTC leadership’s congratulated Pakistani American Community in CT, PAACT and PAKPAC for their recent successful conference on this issue.  Further meeting with NCTC, FBI, as well as, Department of Homeland Security, as well as, legislative branches of government’s members, are planned in the coming weeks to further clarify boundaries of collaboration and identify preventive strategies.  We have made good progress on a proposal for a project to enable Muslim Americans to counter the violent extremist narrative online without the concern or fear that such action will be misunderstood by law enforcement officials; we will circulate a draft of that proposal to you within ten days.

Meeting with Assistant Secretary Defense

PAKPAC and other Pakistani American Leaders met with Assistant Secretary Defense for Public Affairs Douglas Williams at Pentagon. This meeting was facilitated by Mr. Riaz and Nayyera Haq. Community Leaders and Activists shared various projects that they are working within the Community with a goal to make the Pakistani American Community proud citizens of Unites States of America.  Areas of public –private partnership were discussed alogwith support from US corporations for Community efforts to empower them. ASD Williams agreed to meet with the Community in the next three months to come up with Community initiated programs and projects.

PAKPAC to partner with White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders

PAKPAC Executive Director Irfan Malik met with Kiran Ahuja Executive Director White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to discuss areas where PAKPAC can partner with the White House Initiative. The areas of common interest that were discussed were small business, entrepreneurship initiatives, education, bullying at schools, information sharing between the two groups about upcoming programs, and community concerns, increased interaction between Pakistani American Community and other Asian Communities, increased representation of Pakistani American Community in the White House Initiative efforts.

PAKPAC sponsors fundraiser for Delegate Saqib Ali

Assad Akhtar hosted a fundraiser for Delegate Saqib Ali running for a Senate seat in the Maryland Assembly in Washington DC. . The event was sponsored by many Pakistani organizations and individuals including PAKPAC. Congressmen Keith Ellison and Andre Carson were special guests, over 50 other guests attended the event. Saqib a rising star of eth Pakistani American Community has provided our community with a voice in the Maryland House of Delegates over the past four years and will have even more ability to do so as a Maryland State Senator.  We need to demonstrate that we value his hard work and help him advance to the Senate by supporting his campaign. Remember if Saqib wins it will be seen as victory for our community moving up one of our best young candidates.....BUT if he loses we will be seen as community that can not properly support even a great public servant like Saqib.  Please click here to contribute to Saqib’s campaign. To learn more about Saqib’s campaign and agenda click on the video below. 

or click http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyVZd_COU6c

PAKPAC President Mohammed Suleman receives Life time Achievement Award

At the Kemcaana Alumni Dinner held at the Gaylord Resort, Grapevine Texas, Dr Mohammed Suleman was given the Lifetime Achievement award for his services to Kemcaana and Appna and also for his contribution to his local community.

PAKPAC Sponsored De Radicalization Conference in Connecticut

PAKPAC sponsored a day long international conference on de-radicalization. Read more about Conference proceedings

Conference proceedings can be viewed at   DERADICALIZATION CONFERENCE VIDEOS  or  http://www.pakpac.net/deradicalization_Conf_videos.htm

Immigration

USCIS Expands Payment Options at All Domestic Offices 

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that beginning October 1, 2010, domestic offices and U.S. territories, including the U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam, will no longer accept cash payment.  Eliminating the acceptance of cash will reduce USCIS operating costs.  As an alternative to cash, our customers may pay using checks (including personal checks), money orders, and credit cards.  Checks and money orders must be made payable to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.  Processing of your application will not be affected by the use of an alternative payment method. USCIS accepts credit cards in all Field Offices that accept payments.  Accepted cards include Visa®, Mastercard®, American Express®, and Discover® Network. USCIS International Operations offices, located in embassies internationally, may continue to accept cash.  For more information on USCIS payment options, visit www.uscis.gov.

Announcement

Program Grants

The application for designation as an Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPISI) will be open from July 9 - August 9, 2010.  The AANAPISI program provides grants to eligible institutions to enable them to improve their academic quality, increase effectiveness and self sufficiency, and strengthen capacity to contribute substantially to building higher education resources for the Nation.  Institutions must obtain designation before they can apply for grants. The grant application is a separate process and will happen after the designation application.

The basic eligibility for AANAPISIs are:

-                      Have at least 10% Asian American and Pacific Islander student enrollment at the time of application

-                      Have low educational and general expenditures (there are waivers for schools that do not meet this requirement)

-                      Have the requisite enrollment of needy students (at least 50% of degree-seeking students receive Federal financial aid)

-                      Be legally authorized to award bachelors degrees or a community college and be accredited by a nationally or state recognized accrediting agency. Please refer to the AANAPISI notice from the Federal Register for more details.

Job Postings

State Department:

U.S. Department of State is seeking to hire highly skilled and motivated United States citizens to serve our nation. Please visit http://careers.state.gov/ap-jobs for more information about qualifications, the selection process, compensation and benefits, etc. Applicants must be U.S. citizens able to obtain the required security, medical, and ethics clearances currently following positions are open:

·                     PRT Public Diplomacy Officer: Deadline 8/2/2010

·                     Provincial Reconstruction Team Advisor (Afghanistan): Deadline 8/4/2010

·                     Provincial Reconstruction Team Senior Advisor (Afghanistan): Deadline 8/4/2010

·                     PRT Senior Governance Specialist (Afghanistan): Deadline 8/4/2010

·                     PRT Senior Rule of Law Advisor (Afghanistan): Deadline 8/4/2010

·                     PRT Rule of Law Advisor (Afghanistan) : Deadline 8/4/2010

·                     Lead Project Coordinator/ICOR (Afghanistan): Deadline 8/11/2010

·                     Program Manager Deadline 8/11/10

·                     Supervisory, Human Resources Specialist  Deadline 8/11/10

·                     Supervisory, Human Resources Specialist Deadline 8/4/10

USAID:

The Global Health Program is seeking a Health Advisor for Pakistan (in addition to an Advisor for Afghanistan) to work with USAID: Please visit link for more details  http://www.ghfp.net/currentopenings.fsp Please send all fellowship-related inquiries to ghfprecruitment@ghfp.net ; Closing date 8/16/10

Dean, LUMS School of Science and Engineering

LUMS University invites nominations and applications for the position of Dean in the new School of Science and Engineering (SSE). LUMS is Pakistan's premier private university, founded in 1986 and renowned for the quality and impact of its graduates. Its 100-acre campus in suburban Lahore, Pakistan's cultural capital provides world-class educational and residential facilities.   This appointment is for an initial three-year term beginning July 1, 2011, or on a mutually agreeable date. A concurrent faculty appointment, either term or permanent, will provide a base for continuing active personal scholarship. Internationally recognized scholars with a strong research background are especially encouraged to apply. Applications and nominations, including a letter describing the candidate qualifications and accomplishments, should be sent to the Chair of the Dean Search Committee. Applicants should provide Curriculum Vitae. Applicants and nominators are strongly encouraged to communicate by email to Chair, Dean Search Committee; Email: ssedeansearch@lums.edu.pk

Fellowship at LUMS

The Babar Ali Fellowship at LUMS University ( http://www.lums.edu.pk/) provides successful applicants with the opportunity to work at Pakistan's best university and experience life in Lahore, Pakistan's vibrant center of culture.  LUMS invites applicants from a wide range of educational backgrounds, though all must have at least a bachelor's degree.  Since the Fellowship is designed to expose Americans to Pakistan and South Asia, applicants should have some interest in the area, though this interest need not be apparent from previous activities or studies.  The Fellowship is a one-year position. Those interested in the position should submit a 500-word statement of interest and a one-page résumé. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until November 1^st, 2010.  For further information, please contact Hina Jawid (hinaj@lums.edu.pk).

Fulbright Scholars

Applications and nominations will be reviewed on an ongoing basis, starting September 10, 2010, and continue until this position is filled. The core Fulbright Scholar Program sends 800 U.S. faculty and professionals abroad each year. Grantees lecture and conduct research in a wide variety of academic and professional fields. The Fulbright Program is sponsored by the United States Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Under a cooperative agreement with the Bureau, the Council for International Exchange of Scholars (CIES) assists in the administration of the Fulbright Scholar Program for faculty and professionals. More information

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

Council on Foreign Relations

Heritage Foundation

Middle East Institute

SAIS

Woodrow Wilson Center