Life in Islamabad, Pt. 1

" Don't -- lived here this time eighteen months we just crossed every year and last week and what what you -- Today is it's. It's very -- because you with the time change the United States ten hours -- ago. -- I really don't even start to work. Technically it's only about 5:6 o'clock at night semis. Which is canonized that's when things are -- like it in nice day were in joy and explore. Islamabad and seems. Pretty place and become much more dangerous but there mountains and -- incidents during the days in the eyes. But you know on the importance of the hours -- more -- in the Tibetans. You say it's nice that since we've it's like one checkpoint. Checkpoint. And I've seen so many people as Felix over the place Hewitt. Typically go to vacation. Definitely not and I definitely look at Islam through. Rose tinted lenses because that's that's an. History here in the starting right after 9/11 I've seen in so many different stages. And the states now is the worst I've seen it with checkpoints. And -- And security situation it's all about that I have not experienced since 2001 and almost every other data more checkpoints or another threat level or another attack in. We we have security -- this. And I have everyplace I go people tell us and would not my place but just be careful. You have to be mean it's yet that Eisner back here and it's it's a bit. It becomes tiring but also. After he's done it for such a long time it becomes second nature. There's certain places you avoid certain times you avoid going to certain places. Like today right now it's it's Friday prayer times obviously this market is not as busy as would normally be but. That's probably one of the best times to go because it's just not as crowded. Net when there's a crowd is more likely to be someone who wants a lot of damage says that's when you're likely see the the is searching kill lot of people exactly and that's the way it seems seems that this evolution of attacks over the last month. Has been done yet to styles attacked him strategic. A tax to assassinate someone or to penetrate into the facility or. A bombings for mass casualty in -- was silent for so this past week so. Yet you kind of go off hours to markets for that reason specifically but then also when it comes at a specific it's you don't really. Spent too much time on the American Embassy announcement this time around via. Military facilities or the the government buildings here just because those are gonna be high profile attacks."

" Well that may be be now we indices giant tax attacks it with some -- we've heard about the other day where about a hundred people were killed. They've also got the Danny Pearl situation you let alone journalists to let you know gay and that it has very bad -- are as strategically targeted -- whatever. But so it doesn't you know I don't feel particularly safe. You know for someone coming here alone either -- journalist right -- not and that's the."

" And then there's there's a distinct but fairly small journalist community here international tennis journalist community here and we're tight and yes we're competitive but we're tight because it's. Like he said citing the --"

" Daniel Pearl situation. They if they if any journalist based here now. Says that there is. That that isn't at the back of their head Daniel pearl's case is now on the back of their head they're lying to you mean because when you think of how horrific that was. There's no we can get it out of your mind so one thing we do to help each other. -- the journalists here we talk to each other we talked about security threats if I've heard something that may be. Colleague yet another nauert has heard of you know I make sure that they know exactly what I know when it comes to security. Now protecting yourself the best. And it sounds very very simple and -- like giving away and he any trade secrets here is to be as low profiles possible."

" hard as we look rather conspicuous now mean frankly as I haven't seen a lot of women around here the other way and by the way right now and again I think it's. Most the time you'll see that many Clinton women women or children a lot of times but bored today and right now because it's Friday and it's -- time. So that's why we're not saying much right now many right now but on Islam but is it's a little bit more. Nixed sizes are saved and say like a shower. Or any of the more conservative cities areas season conservative areas. Here it's a little bit more mixed but yet know even in the best situation during normal times. It won't be the next that you see in the west finally well. This is a place called -- supermarket it's. There are a lot of clothing shops do what we started at the around the corner there's a food market in -- and you can just pull up your car. And guys -- come with a plastic laminated menus and you can sit there and now you can order food you can sit there. If you come here -- Thursday night or later tonight like maybe three or four hours from now it'll be bustling. But again that's it was unsafe. That's an expensive debt and that's -- decided to come here now but I mean here it's hit everything from you know. Counterfeit Levi jeans to who these tables and only full of dvds. CDs and music. And so it's it's of normally very bustling market in its. -- super is down in just between -- at six and at seven. Area in Islamabad which are very secure areas. A lot of foreigners do that and then that part of town but lately. We've been giving a lot of threats about. Coming to supermarket to -- super and also there's another market and the others at a town called supermarket. And just because of these threats it's as you're talking up before. Every time you go out the morning -- ice cream if you wanna get in of the dvd you have to go to that. That. Weighing of options -- to I really need that right now because it's a risk to go out so that's one thing that has really changed. Personal lives here is because this. Degradation of the security situation you have to make choices when it comes even just you know normal things like going out to. To grab something to eat. Listen to in the area have been diminished his area of its Wal-Mart checkpoints to mean is it is that all -- on the water's edge just where I'm. It's all over his own but I think more concentrated in areas that you have been in. Like the hotel you're staying at its very close to where the where the government the main government buildings are so obvious you can see much more high concentration of checkpoints but they are all over the city now and and -- weakness because you've landed therefore any comment he came in their are even more checkpoints. On the perimeter of the city when you come in from the -- away from the horror. And from showers there much more stringent check points and those have steadily increased since since I've been there. And we need. The best part of act so to speak -- this Islamabad is -- a bubble in the country -- do what happens when you get outside of Islamabad. It's so different I can't even begin to explain one of one of our. Favorite cities to go to -- war and it's about a four hour drive and -- violent. Southeast from here and the Punjabi that's them biggest province and in Pakistan and it's -- is on budget and Punjab province going east. And the countryside in the farmland is beautiful massive yaks plowing. Rice fields and and safe. That part is safe I mean Punjabi depends on you know where you go because there's been a lot more extremist cells uncovered there but. You know it's it's farmland so you're not you're definitely stick out his. Besides."

" Something's -- did it. I even sign things. Put a price cut raise this to do is this a million plays is full of fifty. In order big he's short -- finalists in the man. My city's only six told them it tolls and fees. And this one will be played if foreigners -- been but I put daylight but this 1150. Rupees."

" Yes yes yes if it's. Well good luck semi semi producer of many entries we my ability to use something. Hey -- Something might need. And -- that bugs look and I'm. All right so I have invented the -- northwest -- Yeah I have actually is which is where the war is really going on in earnest."

" In earnest it is Vince you by shore. Which is in the northern part of the traveler's -- the tribal areas that are on the along the border with Afghanistan and any of the north west frontier province. On the call the settled areas and have been to both the tribal areas. As a foreigner you have to give permission to land their big signs even when you come close to and then he and he's just a private securities."

" You private security. Again -- pentagon does that. Got to look at."

" Again there audience."

" if there is. It's a lot of -- that he's just hired security -- higher security. I think it is because these are Jewish shops this kind of at the jewelry section doing gold section. So even though everything is certain of these though between our security business since. And some of compounds in the city people have armed security guards to but it. What's in these guys were from big companies to get paid much and are heard stories of them selling ammunition because not enough money -- eat so it's. Security is clearly -- partners themselves. And weighed about these guys oh yes. My my wife had a what is your strategy you with the first price they give you. Knock at least half off and then if you really giving you cannot and other. But I am horrible at negotiating."

" Nice Johnson. Where the petition and asked if this means that."

" Where -- get your shot."

" Some initial on this -- from -- This story. How much. Fun fifty. Fifty. But last. -- lost if if it is they're personable of this moment. Yes. -- Gallagher declined. Then presented that what is this the Pakistani. Worth of for a."

" Yeah they -- from Pakistan. Nothing Pakistan is Italy was this. Well. I didn't any hear from Pakistan. We -- Pakistan will I need some from Pakistan bison eggs and visiting anytime in Pakistan in anything from Pakistan."

" This must be something from Pakistan. And that. China needs."

" Maybe through the United States. You do."

" I attended. Where is said Kerry carried."

" And and."

" His biography we have oozes -- this man right here he's found what he's been huge star here is."

" Huge huge huge cricket stopping mass I."

" Joan Joan they must definitely definitely key. -- play it would buy it and 80s90s I think and became involved in the cricket board here and things and then. He married a British woman he was he's known as a Playboy throughout his whole career. And very popular with the British women airing a British woman they got divorced but he now runs political party. So he's been involved in the political process here is an elected elected office. Hum he has I believe he has yet I'm not certain and the as a political party in and they some as members I think if they receive. I have not seen him he's now they say it's -- investment in the and not yet I was and fortunately I had the I was invited to a big dinner of fundraising -- house couple weeks ago but. With the news it's been going on united very have very little time for social it's the seat here in Paxson needs. Pakistanis have towards Americans. Not so did. And it's an -- and resentment trying to. Recent reason because -- what I say recently and you know over the eight years and I've been kind of coming back and forth to Pakistan. This is this is the worst it's been quite frankly and it's. It goes through all the different classes as well like before maybe. Say right after 9/11. There you know maybe kind of that the middle class in the upper class. They just didn't really have that they can opinion about the United States yet. But lower classes to because they've -- propaganda or. Extremist -- saying you know 9/11 was just an excuse to the United States coming here. But I'm now that goes the route I mean I think a lot of pakistanis now. Believe that. Conflict it's going on now in South Waziristan is a proxy for the United States that the only reason the Pakistani army is down there now. Is because the United States -- to do it and it's. And it battles because I have. I love talking politics and and and -- have been talking to -- talking politics Pakistani politics to Americans and Pakistani politics to pakistanis. And did the anti American sentiment now is the highest. I've. Witnessed experience and since -- island."

" Whether Susan a lot of controversy over this resent. AP think Kerry Lugar aid bill that attractive things -- read the newspaper said that they felt that pakistanis felt it was insulting that the Americans put strings attached to which are essentially. This is where we think we this where we want you spend the money."

" Right and it's that is. That through. Fuel on the fire I think that there was there was simmering anti American sentiment -- just. Based on the on them the way the military Pakistan has some -- in his view the military was reacting to pressure from the United States but then the Kerry Lugar bill. It was I think the way you can. Most actually put it. There was such misperceptions about what the bill was all about in Pakistan and I think there. And of course you know that this happens United States as well but political leaders use that for their own personal gain and really really fan the fires of resentment about this bill and resentment United States for their own personal -- for their own political parties game."

" The -- the -- We're supposedly. At the political leaders are really on board initially some of them."

" With these did the administration most definitely it's these current administration yes the current administration most definitely. Presents a -- prime minister -- they are any here that ended there was kind of like on the other side of that. The story but there always. Part. The support for the bill we've lost here. --"

" we did today we. What it. Is."

" Then it."

" Should -- them. One of our miners. -- I think that I that I if I."