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Indian and Chinese Views at the 2016 BRICS Summit held in Goa
The 2016 BRICS Summit was the eighth annual BRICS summit held on the 15th and 16th of October, 2016 in Goa, India. It was attended by the heads of country or heads of government of the five member countries Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday continued to define Pakistan as the hub of terrorism, telling BRICS leaders’ meeting in Goa that India’s neighbour was the mother ship of the problem. He obliquely disputed Chinese President Xi Jinping’s apparent reluctance to pin the blame on Pakistan, but the Chinese leader responded by seeking political solutions to the hotspots. Indian reports interpreted the reference to hotspots as including the dispute between India and Pakistan over held Kashmir. “There must be no distinction based on artificial and self-serving grounds,” said Mr Modi, a day after President Xi remained firm on blocking India’s bid to get Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar designated as an international terrorist by the United Nations. President Xi, in his 10-minute speech, did not hold back. In an apparent reference to India-held Kashmir, he talked about the need to find a “political solution” to “regional hotspots”. He also called for concrete efforts and multi-pronged approach that addressed both “symptoms and root causes” to global challenges like terrorism — an argument that mirrored Pakistan’s position on Kashmir, local reports observed. Russian President Vladimir Putin, in his remarks, did not mention terrorism at all. With the differences between India and China out in the open — against the backdrop of Delhi’s attempts to isolate Islamabad — the Goa declaration stopped short of mentioning the Uri attack. “We strongly condemn the recent several attacks against some BRICS countries, including that in India,” it said. However, there were five specific paragraphs on terrorism in the 109-para declaration, in which the BRICS members called upon all countries to work together to “expedite” the...
India Expresses Disappointment over Pakistan-Russia Military Cooperation
India has expressed its concern to Russia over the joint military exercise recently held between Islamabad and Moscow, Times of India reported. “We have conveyed our views to Russia that military cooperation with Pakistan which is a country that sponsors terrorism as a matter of state policy is a wrong approach and it will only create further problems,” India’s ambassador to Russia Pankaj Saran said. Saran’s remarks come ahead of a bilateral meeting in Goa on Saturday between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Putin will be arriving in India on October 14 and apart from the bilateral Summit, he will attend the Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa (BRICS) meet on October 16. New Delhi has constantly been conveying its disappointment to Moscow over its joint military cooperation with Pakistan. However, Russia has not given India’s reservations much attention since it holds similar military drills with other countries in the region. India has been struggling to gain support from the world in its efforts to isolate Islamabad in the wake of the Uri base attack — but to no avail. China said on Monday that “no country should pursue its own political gains in the name of counterterrorism” in what India’s jingoist media said appeared to be a reference to New Delhi’s global campaign to get Pakistan declared a ‘pariah’. China’s Vice Foreign Minister Li Baodong said no country should have double standards on terrorism or use it for political gains. Though he didn’t name any country, the Times of India newspaper said Beijing “added insult to injury by accusing New Delhi”. Li was speaking to reporters on President Xi Jinping’s upcoming visit to India for the 8th BRICS summit in Goa on October 15 and 16. The BRICS group of emerging nations includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. “There should be no double standards on terrorism nor should one pursue its own political gains in the name of counterterrorism,” Li said...
Border with Afghanistan Closed After Suicide Attack In Kurram
Authorities have closed three border crossing points with Afghanistan in Kurram tribal region for indefinite period after a suicide attack on a checkpost. The closure of the border has brought bilateral trade between the two countries to a standstill. Eyewitnesses said that long queues of loaded trucks and containers were seen on both sides of the border at Kherlachi and Borki, two major checkposts near the border with Afghanistan in the area. A suicide bomber, reportedly approaching to Kherlachi checkpost from the other side of the border, blew himself up on Friday. Two people including a soldier of Frontier Corps suffered injuries in the attack. Officials said that timely action by the paramilitary soldier averted major catastrophe. The checkpost was immediately closed after the suicide attack. Trucks loaded with different items stranded in the area since Friday Syed Jalal, a local trader, told Dawn by telephone that more than 500 trucks, some loaded with perishable items and poultry, had lined up at Kherlachi and Borki checkposts since Friday. The trader, who exports poultry to Afghanistan via Kherlachi, said that chickens were dying owing to closure of the border. He said that 12 trucks loaded with chickens were stranded at Kherlachi. “Dozens of chickens have already perished despite sprinkling fresh water on the trucks,” said Mr Jalal. He added that a large number of trucks could be seen on the Afghanistan side, waiting for the reopening of the border. Sources said that repatriating Afghan refugees were also stranded in the area. These returning families were on their way to Afghanistan after verification of their documents at the UN voluntary repatriation centers in Peshawar and Nowshera. An official said that checkpost at Teri Mingal, some 30 kilometres west of Parachinar, was closed after suicide attack. Security along the border has been beefed up after the incident. Another official said that border with Afghanistan in Kurram Agency was closed for...
(Humanitarian Bulletin Afghanistan) A Million Afghans on the Move: Seven Ways to Avert a Crisis
A recent surge of tens of thousands of Afghan families returning from Pakistan, spurred by increasing incidents of detention, forced evictions, police raids and harassment, signals a possible humanitarian crisis for Afghanistan in the coming months. Since the beginning of the year, IOM and UNHCR recorded 182,669 undocumented Afghans and deportees and 207,236 refugees returning to Afghanistan from Pakistan. However, these numbers have dramatically accelerated since mid-July. For example,in the period 1-8 October,more than 50,000 refugee and undocumented returneeswere recorded, suggestingthe current totals could be just the tip of the iceberg. Many families returning were forced to leave quickly, with little time to properly sell assets, and are often arriving with few possessions. Combined with the fact that many have lived in Pakistan for decades, and have few, if any, family connections left in Afghanistan, a large number need humanitarian assistance. These returns join an ever-growing number of internally displaced people (IDPs) in Afghanistan, with more than 286,381 Afghans forced to flee their homes due to conflict in 2016 alone. When added to the large volume of returns from Pakistan, OCHA projects that by the year-end, over one million people will be “on the move” inside Afghanistan and across borders. These numbers far exceed projections for this year – and therefore outstrip the current resources of the humanitarian community to meet the increased needs. With winter fast approaching, and many returnee families indicating they intend to return to urban centres, such Kabul and Jalalabad, that already struggle to deliver basic services, acute humanitarian emergency needs are a real possibility. Nevertheless, we can still avert a crisis. On 7 September, the humanitarian community launched a Flash Appeal for US$152 million to address the acute humanitarian needs of the unanticipated number of people “on the move” in Afghanistan until the end of 2016,...
Secretary General Guterres
MR António Guterres is the perfect pick for the “most impossible job in the world”. I had the pleasure of meeting him when I headed UNAMI in Baghdad and was much impressed by the ability, humanity, commitment and determination he brought to the achievement of his challenging tasks as head of the UNHCR. To be endorsed so quickly and unanimously by the UN Security Council in such a fractured international milieu speaks volumes for the respect Guterres personally commands. He has demonstrated those rare qualities of heart and mind that he will need more than ever as he takes up his new responsibilities on Jan 1, 2017. Many of those who applaud and welcome him today may well become inclined to hold him responsible for their own policy lapses (including failure to consult him) tomorrow. The responsibilities of the UN secretary general (UNSG) are listed in Chapter 15 of the UN Charter, particularly Articles 97-101. His job description is “the chief administration officer (CAO) of the (UN) Organisation”. But it is much more than that. The long-serving Russian permanent representative (PR) in New York, Vitaly Churkin, observed “the secretary general does not control the Security Council; the Security Council controls itself”. This is a reality which can represent a significant constraint, and sometimes a major obstacle for a secretary general content to be little more than a CAO. The current US PR, Samantha Powers, in her UN General Assembly address noted the UN will need to do much more than before to contribute to a peaceful world. Interestingly, a predecessor of hers, John Bolton, insisted the UNSG should stick to being a CAO instead of worrying about the legality or legitimacy of US actions around the world! Despite Powers’ welcoming remarks, Bolton more accurately defines the US attitude towards the role of the UNSG except when it comes to commenting on the actions of its adversaries. To be fair, other powers behave similarly. Nevertheless, Guterres appears...
Americans Ignore To Target Terrorists Beyond Afghan Borders: Karzai
The former Afghan President Hamid Karzai has said the Americans are ignoring to target the terrorists beyond the Afghan borders, accusing the United States for playing double game in Afghanistan. In interview with the Russia Today, Karzai said the Americans are ignoring the pleas by the Afghans to target extremism beyond the Afghan borders, emphasizing that the US should admit it failed its mission to bring peace and security to Afghanistan. Karzai further added that the United States must seek help from the big neighbors of Afghanistan, including Russia, China, India, and Iran and find ways of addressing the issue of radicalism with these countries, insisting that these countries are also affected. According to Karzai, Pakistan should also be engaged in a manner to help ease to compete against extremism. However, he said the US and Pakistan lack interest in stopping Afghan war and stall progress of Afghan peace talks. The former Afghan President also added that Taliban can’t be defeated in war and only peace talks can bring the civil strife of the Afghan nation to an end. He said the Afghan people can reconcile with Taliban emphasizing that ‘they are Afghans like us but poppy growing is a real curse’. Karzai also warned the Taliban group that they will not be able to overrun the whole country and will manage to seize a few provincial capitals. The other issues the former President pointed were Pakistan’s desire dominance in Afghanistan and US drone strikes that prevent in seeking peace and are making Taliban fight harder instead of forcing them to start talks. US, Pakistan interests determine Afghan events: Karzai Former president Hamid Karzai also said that American and Pakistani interests and the two countries’ relations with India determine events in the war-torn Afghanistan. “I think a combination... of the two, of the US interests in the region and Pakistani interests in Afghanistan and the nature of their relations with India has been determining...
Govt Lifts Ban on Nepalis Working In Afghanistan
Oct 17, 2016- The government has lifted a travel ban on Nepali security guards going to work in Afghanistan, hardly two months after the Kabul suicide attack that claimed the lives of 13 Nepali guards working for the Canadian embassy. On June 23, three days after the deadly attack, the then KP Sharma Oli-led government had stopped issuing permits to Nepalis to work in the war-torn country amid a public outrage. Officials at the Department of Foreign Employment (DoFE) said the decision was taken before Dashain based on the recommendation of concerned stakeholders including migrant workers. “Many people suggested that the ban should be lifted as there is no more threat as perceived,” said Pudasaini. “The government lifted the ban as suggestion came from several quarters that the deadly incident was a result of circumstances.” The embassies in Kathmandu of the United States and Canada had also suggested lifting the ban, he said. DoFE officials said permits would be issued to Nepalis going to work in the Green Zone with full assurance of workers’ safety and security from the employers. Green Zone loosely refers to selected employers including the United Nations, NATO allies and western missions. Pudasaini said that the employers willing to hire Nepali guards would have to comply with the security measures suggested by the government. According to him, the employers should ensure that workers’ residence is located at the duty premises or if the residence is outside of the station, there should be strong security measures to transport the workers to and fro. Officials at the Ministry of Labour and Employment (MoLE) said the ban was lifted based on the recommendation of a high-level committee formed to analyse the security situation of the Nepali workers in Afghanistan. The committee recommended sending Nepalis as migrant workers to Afghanistan only after safety assurances and residence on the work premises by the hiring companies. MoLE officials also hinted at...
Reconciliation and Dialogue Key to Regional Peace: Sartaj Aziz
India is trying to score political points and divert attention from the Kashmir issue. The fact of the matter is that Pakistan has made remarkable progress in the last few years against the menace of terrorism. The armed forces have destroyed infrastructure, and decimated the enemy hideouts. A clean-up operation is being coordinated by through various intelligence-led operations across the country. These remarks were made by the National Advisor on Foreign Affairs, the honorable Mr. Sartaj Aziz, while speaking to a Chinese delegation from the China Association for Friendship (CAF), here on invitation from the Center for Research and Security Studies. The CAF delegation is in Pakistan for four days for a people to people exchange of ideas and improved coordination between the two countries. The contingent is led by Mr. Chen Shaoxin, Deputy Secretary General of CAF and bolstered by prominent scholars, professors and researchers. Mr. Sartaj Aziz also said that the anti-terrorism operation has taken special care to completely eliminate any members or infrastructure of the East Turkmenistan Islamic Movement (ETIM) presence in Pakistan. “Enemies of China are enemies of Pakistan”, he said. “We cannot and will not allow them any refuge in Pakistan. Speaking on Pakistan’s strategy moving forward, he said that the state is following a three-pronged strategy. First, Pakistan is strictly following a policy of non-interference. Second, Pakistan is determined not to allow any part of its soil to be used for the nefarious purposes of terrorism. Finally, Pakistan is keen to promote reconciliation and dialogue to facilitate peace in the region, especially in the Afghanistan peace process. He also said that Pakistan cannot accept the Indian dominance narrative perpetrated by a very vocal and aggressive Modi government. “Even if we cannot immediately solve Kashmir, it does not mean we cannot talk about it. We have to come to the table, and keep talking about political...
Will China Be Able to Sort out Pakistan and Afghanistan’s Differences?
Last week at the Brussels Conference, Afghanistan won financial pledges worth $15.2 billion until 2020, including half a million dollars from Pakistan. Though quite encouraging, the pledges at the Conference fall short of $4 billion annual target set in 2012 at the Tokyo conference. Since 2002, Washington alone has handed out $115 billion to Kabul while the rest of the world gave away $15 billion. Afghanistan’s 80% budget is financed by foreign aid. The country seems to have marginally improved in terms of institutions building, infrastructure and security. But its bureaucracy remains in shambles, while political infighting and widespread corruption has taken a toll on an average Afghan. The unexpectedly high pledges in times of global turmoil and donor fatigue won’t be easy to materialise without solid clampdown against corruption and human trafficking. Afghans form the largest group of asylum seekers entering the EU territories in tens of thousands, majority of whom failed to get the refugee status. EU conditioned its $1.5 billion aid to Afghanistan’s progress in anti-corruption and return of failed asylum seekers. “We’re buying four more years for Afghanistan,” said EU special representative Franz-Michael Mellbin in the Conference. Afghan officials have downplayed the preconditions of the pledged assistance. Afghan security forces remain demoralised with insider attacks and desertions. From Northern provinces, such as Kunduz, the central region of Uruzgan, to eastern and southern areas, Afghanistan is faced with resurgent Taliban. And amid erosion of the writ of the state, gains from Kabul’s recent peace deal with Hizb-i-Islami appear miniscule. For almost a year, Afghanistan has abandoned bids for politically negotiating settlements with Taliban through the Quadrilateral Coordination Group (QCG) forum. Kabul will sooner than later have to shun its hardline policy and return to QCG process. Not only are its resources shrinking amid mounting challenges,...
Taliban Struggling Financially Since Mansour’s Death: RS
The Taliban appear to be facing financial pressure since the death of their former leader Mullah Akhtar Mansour, who was more adept at managing money, Charles Cleveland, a spokesman for NATO's Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan said. he evidence we've seen of that is an increase in their taxes to locals as they move through," Cleveland said at a press conference Wednesday in Kabul. "We believe that the death of Mullah Mansour certainly contributed to that as well." Mansour, who was killed in a U.S. drone strike in Pakistan's Balochistan province in May, had financial acumen that, along with his involvement in the narcotics trade, helped grow the group's war chest, Cleveland said. "It was a good harvest and we did expect the Taliban to be flush with money, but since that time of course Mansour was killed and we have seen this evidence, in particular the taxes being raised on the local population," he said. The financial pressure could be affecting Taliban operational readiness. But Cleveland acknowledged the insurgent group manages to offset some of that pressure through their field operations against Afghan security forces. "Of course what we've also seen is that they will raid a checkpoint and they kind of restock some of their supplies as well," Cleveland added. This comes while the insurgents have increased their attacks in different parts of the country recently - especially in Helmand, Uruzgan, Farah and Kunduz provinces. This article originally appeared on www.mobile.tolonews.com, October 13, 2016. Original link. Disclaimer: Views expressed in the article are not necessarily supported by CRSS.
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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.