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BILATERAL CONNECTIVITY AND BUSINESSES FRIENDLY POLICIES MUST TO ENSURE ROBUST PAK-AFGHAN RELATIONS: PAK-AFGHAN TRIBAL LEADERS
Robust visa policies for the Pak-Afghan business community and “Business-Friendly” measures will pave the way for enhanced bilateral trade and smuggling prevention, eventually ensuring regional security and prosperity. These recommendations were highlighted by the participants of the 4th Pak-Afghan Tribal Stakeholders Conference, held in Peshawar, Pakistan, convened by the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS). According to the statement issued by the CRSS from Islamabad, Tribal leaders from Pakistan and Afghanistan discussed critical issues affecting the bilateral relations between the two neighboring nations. The meeting depicted a spirit of cooperation and dialogue and sought to enhance understanding and collaboration. A key theme of the meeting was economic cooperation, with discussions centering on trade and infrastructure development. Leaders explored opportunities to bolster economic ties, recognizing the potential for shared prosperity through collaborative projects and initiatives. Afghan participants urged for a more lenient visa policy for Afghan traders, proposing the establishment of a joint mechanism to boost the economy and address security-related issues. The need for streamlined visa procedures, including the initiation of E-Visas or on-arrival visas, was emphasized, while Pakistani delegates advocated for Special Border Passing cards for border communities. Deep concerns were voiced over the declining trade between both countries, with participants discussing restrictions imposed by the Pakistani government on trade. The meeting called for the removal of all trade restrictions, infrastructure development on both sides of the border to enhance connectivity, and the facilitation of smooth flow of goods and services. The implementation of streamlined customs procedures and the reduction of trade barriers were also highlighted, along with the initiation of bilateral trade agreements for mutual economic benefit. Both sides affirmed their...
Xi Jinping reiterates his stance on Taiwan ahead of upcoming elections!
Chinese President Xi Jinping has vowed to resolutely prevent anyone from splitting Taiwan from China in any way. His statement comes just two weeks before Taiwans presidential elections. On 26th December 2023, President Xi Jinping reinforced his longstanding stance in bringing Taiwan under Chinas rule and vowed to resolutely prevent anyone from “splitting Taiwan from China in any way.” (Xinhua News) His statement comes just two weeks before Taiwan elects a new leader in the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections on 13th January. Taiwan has operated as a self-governing island since the end of the Chinese Civil War in 1949, with its own government, currency, and military. Despite strong objections by the Taipei government, China has viewed Taiwan as its own territory. Xi stated, “The complete reunification of our motherland is an overall trend, a righteous cause, and the common aspiration of the people. Our motherland must be reunified, and it will surely be reunified.” Moreover, there has been increased tension with Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen, who is fostering Taiwan's informal ties with the United States. Taiwan has emerged as one of the thorniest issues in US-China relations especially since the then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (in 2022) was hosted by Tsai during a visit to the island. This resulted in China strongly reacting and surrounding the island for days with extensive military exercises and cutting off high-level military communication with the US armed forces. Recently during a meeting in San Francisco last month, Xi also told US President Joe Biden that China’s “reunification” with Taiwan is “unstoppable,” according to China’s Foreign Ministry. China has stated that the Taiwan election is an internal Chinese affair but that the island's people face a choice between war and peace and any attempt by Taiwan seeking independence means war. To escalate things further, the frontrunner to be Taiwan's next president Lai Ching-te from the...
China will continue normal economic cooperation with Russia, oppose unilateral sanctions and ‘long-arm jurisdiction’: Foreign Ministry
Normal economic and trade cooperation between China and Russia on the basis of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit should not be subject to interference or restrictions by any third party, Mao Ning, a spokesperson for China's Foreign Ministry, told a press conference on Tuesday. Mao made the remarks when asked whether Chinese oil and gas giants CNOOC and China National Petroleum Corp had left Russia's Arctic LNG-2 project, after Russian media reported that foreign shareholders in a project controlled by Russia's Novatek, suspended the participation due to the West's sanctions on Russia. Mao noted that sanctions and pressure haven't proven to be solutions, but had instead caused a negative spillover effect. China has consistently opposed unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction that have no basis in international law and no mandate from the UN Security Council, she said. "China and Russia will continue to engage in normal economic and trade cooperation in the spirit of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit," she said. The Arctic LNG-2 project is a landmark project for China-Russia energy cooperation. According to the Xinhua News Agency, Chinese companies have participated in the Yamal liquefied natural gas project in Arctic Russia and the Arctic LNG-2 project, the two largest of the kind in Russia. China-Russia energy cooperation is the centerpiece of bilateral economic and trade ties in recent years. Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang on December 15 called for enhanced high-quality energy cooperation with Russia at the 20th meeting of the China-Russia Energy Cooperation Committee, Xinhua reported. Ding called on the two sides to consolidate energy trade and mutually beneficial cooperation, promote the construction and stable operation of oil and gas projects, and build nuclear energy projects with high standards and high quality. The two sides should actively expand new areas and directions of energy cooperation, deepen cooperation on renewable...
Top China and U.S. military leaders hold first meeting in more than a year
General Liu Zhenli, chief of staff of the Central Military Commission's Joint Staff Department, spoke with his United States counterpart, General Charles Brown, Jr., chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The two nations' heads of state reached an important consensus on resuming communication and exchanges between the two militaries. General Liu Zhenli, Chief of Staff of the Central Military Commission's Joint Staff Department, spoke with his United States counterpart, General Charles Brown, Jr., Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, via a video link on Thursday, according to a news release from China's Ministry of National Defense. Liu said that during the San Francisco meeting, the two nations' heads of state reached an important consensus on resuming communication and exchanges between the two militaries. The armed forces of both sides should carry out exchanges and cooperation based on equality and respect and work together to help stabilize and improve bilateral relations. The Chinese general said that to develop sound, stable, and sustainable military-to-military relations, an important prerequisite is that the US side must have a correct understanding of China and should earnestly respect China's core interests and major concerns. He added that major efforts should be made to advance practical cooperation and enhance mutual understanding. Liu stressed that the Taiwan question is purely China's internal affair, which brooks no external interference, and the Chinese military will resolutely defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity. He also said that the US side should respect China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea, be cautious with words and deeds, and take concrete actions to safeguard regional peace and stability as well as the overall soundness of China-US relations. “Gen. Brown discussed the importance of working together to responsibly manage competition, avoid miscalculations, and maintain...
China blasts the U.S. over its $300m Military Sale to Taiwan
China has expressed its disaffection to the deal and vowed to take countermeasures against relevant companies involved in arms sales transfer to the Chinese-claimed island. Such provocations by the U.S. administration only widen the distrust level between the two superpowers as it is apparent that neither the United States nor China would budge on the subject of Taiwan’s sovereignty. On December 15, 2023, the U.S. State Department approved a $300 million sale of military equipment to Taiwan to bolster the island’s defenses against any Chinese provocation. The sale was for follow-on life cycle support to maintain Taiwan’s Command, Control, Communications, and Computers, or C4 capabilities, according to the Pentagon’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency. The assistance will increase Taiwan’s ability to “meet current and future threats by enhancing operational readiness” and sustain existing C4 capabilities that allow for the secure flow of tactical information, it added. (Reuters) As reported by Taiwan’s presidential office, the contract is the 12th arms transfer to Taipei by President Joe Biden’s administration, displaying the significance that the U.S. government places on the island’s military needs. In response to this, the Chinese Foreign Ministry (Dec 18, 2023) denounced and expressed their disaffection to the deal and vowed to take countermeasures against relevant enterprises/companies involved in arms sales transfer to the Chinese-claimed island. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin stated, “The Taiwan question is a matter of China’s internal affairs and allows no external interference,” Wang told reporters. “No matter how many weapons the U.S. provides to the Taiwan region, it will neither stop the historical process of China’s reunification nor shake the firm will of the Chinese people to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity,” he added. Furthermore, he stated that by announcing another arms sale to China’s Taiwan region,...
FIVE Chinese Principles of Peaceful Co-existence
The Five Principles of Peaceful Co-Existence by China have been accepted and adopted by the overwhelming majority of developing countries, and have an increasing impact worldwide. China will always be steadfast in its pursuit of peaceful development. China supports other nations, especially emerging nations, and strongly maintains its interests in security, prosperity, and sovereignty. The Five Principles of Peaceful Co-Existence are mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence. These ideas were first put forward by then-Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai on 31 December 1953 when he met an Indian Government Delegation. In June 1954, Premier Zhou visited India and Burma (now Myanmar). The joint Statement of the Prime Ministers of China and India issued on 28 June and the Joint Statement of the Prime Ministers of China and Burma issued on 29 June both affirmed that the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-Existence as guiding principles in their bilateral relations and then the Five Principles were formally proposed as the norms for handling international relations. In 1955 the Asian-African Conference convened in Bandung, Indonesia adopted Ten Principles for conducting international relations, inside which the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-Existence were included. Hereafter, in the process of the third-world countries seeking a fairer international political and economic order, the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-Existence have been accepted and adopted by the overwhelming majority of the developing countries, and have an increasing impact all over the world. In 1970, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted the “Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Co-operation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations”. This declaration included the content of the FIVE...
BRI deal boosts cooperation between China, Arab states
Beijing has signed cooperation documents on the Belt and Road Initiative with all 22 Arab nations and the League of Arab States, after such a deal was reached between China and Jordan last week. The latest memorandum of understanding was signed by Chen Chuandong, Chinese ambassador to Jordan, and Zeina Toukan, Jordan's minister of planning and international cooperation, in the Jordanian capital Amman on Nov 29. The ambassador said the signing of the memorandum will strengthen the alignment between the BRI and Jordan's Economic Modernization Vision. "It will promote policy coordination, infrastructure connectivity, unimpeded trade, financial integration and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, thus providing an action guide for deepening practical cooperation in various fields," Chen said. Speaking at a regular news briefing in Beijing on Wednesday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said the BRI has become an important international public good and a platform for international cooperation that provides strong support for building a China-Arab community with a shared future. "Looking ahead, China hopes to work with Arab countries to promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation by building a route that leads to development and happiness for the Chinese and Arab people as well as affinity among them," Wang said. Referring to China and Arab countries as "natural partners" to jointly build the BRI, the spokesman said the two sides have made remarkable achievements since the initiative was put forward a decade ago. According to the ministry, trade volume between China and Arab countries has doubled compared to the figure 10 years ago, exceeding $430 billion last year. More than 200 large-scale cooperation projects under the BRI framework have been implemented, with its results benefiting 2 billion people on both sides. The Article originally appeared in www.chinadaily.com.cn Dec 07, 2023 Original Link
Regulated Refugee Policy and Bilateral Dialogues Must to Normalize Ties: Pak-Afghan Tribal Leaders
A regulated refugee policy and periodic return of undocumented and displaced Afghans could have prevented the current refugee crisis and the increased tension between Pakistan and Afghanistan resulting from this policy shift. This observation was made by the participants of the 3rd Pak-Afghan Tribal Stakeholders Conference, held in Quetta, Pakistan, convened by the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS). Hailing from the Spin Boldak and Chaman border regions, the chieftains and community influencers collectively called for the formulation and implementation of policies to strengthen bilateral relations and address common challenges. The participants acknowledged the shared problems faced by both countries and urged more steps to be taken, focusing on unresolved issues. "I believe that we should move past petty grievances to improve relations and address more crucial problems that need our utmost attention, i.e., sending the undocumented Afghans back home with dignity and their rehabilitation," said a Pakistani participant. Another added that there has been undue backlash against Pakistan because of this policy. "Would any of our neighboring countries or those in the West ever take migrants who are undocumented/illegal? It must be remembered that Pakistan still has a great number of Afghan refugees that are documented. A country that has long been grappling with its own domestic issues still comes forward and offers help to the Afghans in need – sadly the world forgets favors as such," he noted. Trade and economic issues also took center stage during the discussions. Highlighting the potential for increased trade volume between the two nations, it was noted that 5 to 8 thousand people from the Chaman border engage in daily business activities, benefiting the livelihoods of thousands of families. "The new visa policy will certainly affect this trend. Hence, the governments and the international community need to create alternative business opportunities for...
Middle East conflict exposes hypocrisy, moral corrosion of countries: experts
The conflict in the Middle East has exposed the hypocrisy and moral corrosion of countries fuelled by transactional and self-serving interests. This notion was echoed at a roundtable on “Middle East conflict: evolving geopolitical dynamics” organised by the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS). Diplomats, scholars and policy and civil-military experts evaluated the response of the Arab and Muslim world, economic and regional security implications of the conflict, the role of the United States and China and prospects for conflict-resolution. Former ambassador Tasneem Aslam said the current turmoil in Gaza was not something that occurred overnight but was, in fact, the consequence of “persistent humiliation, dehumanisation and marginalisation of the Palestinians”. “This war - aimed at the systematic elimination of Palestinians from their homeland - will only lead to greater instability in the Middle East while severely impacting countries like Egypt and others too,” she said. Highlighting a turning point in the history of global politics, the seasoned envoy added, “This conflict has shaken the conscience of people around the world. Now it is not just Arabs and Muslims vs Israelis and Jews. This war resonates with the African-Americans, Latinos, the enlightened generation of Jews living abroad, and all those groups who have faced decades-long persecution and injustice.” Recognising the broader geopolitical dynamics at play, former ambassador Riffat Masood added, “The world must look at and understand this conflict in the context of Iran-US rivalry. Their historical role necessitates their inclusion and active role in the discourse for the peaceful resolution of this conflict.” She noted that a gradual shift in Arab nations’ ties toward Israel, and the involvement of Russia and China in the Middle East - subsequently threatening the US’ sway in the region - has played a key role in exacerbating the conflict. “Modern democracies around the world,...
Trim LNG Imports to Revitalize National Economy: A Trailblazing Proposal to Pakistan’s COAS
Engineer Arshad H. Abbasi, a visionary in the energy sector and CRSS advisory board member, pioneers a groundbreaking plan, addressed to the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), to cut back on Pakistan’s LNG dependency, heralding a new era of eco-friendly and fiscal progress for the country. Dear Chief of Army Staff, Syed Asim Munir Ahmed Shah HI (M), I trust this letter finds you in good health and high spirits. I am writing to draw your attention to a viable and pragmatic plan to address Pakistan's critical gas shortage, a matter of immense importance for our nation's economic stability. As the head of the 'Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC),' tasked with addressing economic challenges, you are well aware of the precarious state of Pakistan's energy sector. The circular debt in the energy sector, currently standing at Rs 4,500 billion without interest payments, poses a significant threat to our economy. Recently, the government announced a substantial increase in gas tariffs, reaching 193% for households and various economic sectors, as a measure to mitigate the circular debt in the entire energy sector. The finance minister announced on November 15, 2022, that gas prices will rise in January 2024 as a result of Pakistan informing the IMF about the power tariff review. Because industrialists are expected to adjust their product prices to pass on the impact of high costs to end-consumers, this unprecedented hike in gas tariffs will accelerate the already high inflation to 24.5% in the current fiscal year. With only 72% self-sufficiency in domestic gas production and a yearly decline of 7% in natural gas production, the import of LNG has become necessary to meet the growing demand. In October 2023 alone, $355 million worth of LNG was imported to bridge this gap. In light of this challenging scenario, I propose an innovative solution that can substantially reduce the costs of LNG imports. Through a single click, I can immediately cut these costs by at...
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I am also a member of National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting. Recently, we held a meeting with the Director General of Radio Pakistan and we told them to initiate such local programs (like Constituency Hour) in regional languages to educate and inform people. Even Indian Radio can be heard in FATA which is being used for propaganda purposes and must be closed. Therefore, we should launch some standard and quality programs like CRSS that will change the taste of the listeners.