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What Awaits Pakistan's Strongman in Washington?
The Pakistani Army Chief Gen. Raheel Sharif’s Washington visit comes at an extremely critical moment of regional realignments in the neighbourhood. It coincides with an increasingly pro-active Chinese role, spurred by President Xi Jinping’s Corridor politics. By throwing his weight behind the CPEC as the first priority, Xi has clearly marked his preference for Pakistan. This also necessitates an active Chinese political role in the region (read Afghanistan). Many Afghan stakeholders desire China to take the lead. But the disunity within the unity government and the Taliban infighting continues to discourage the Chinese from taking an open position on the Afghan reconciliation. On the other hand, President Obama and his Afghanistan commander John Campbell have also declared Pakistan as “integral to Afghanistan” and once again pinned hopes on Pakistan’s support for the reconciliation process. The US and Chinese administrations are, it seems, cognizant of the competing Indo-Pakistan interests in Afghanistan. The latest US Congressional Research Service report, for instance, clearly speaks of the Indian bid to “deny Pakistan strategic depth in Afghanistan.” While Obama and co want to rely on the Pakistani shoulders, powerful section of the Afghan government remain adamant on denying Pakistan a role in the reconciliation process. Strangely, they want Islamabad to crush the Afghan Taliban, while the rest of the world wants the former to woo them into talks. The US administration still appears fixated on the possible negative consequences of the Pakistani nuclear programme and would want a cap on it. All this turns into a bitter cocktail of wishes. One would assume that Gen. Sharif shall have to deal with all those issues that impinge on the future presence of the US troops in Afghanistan, Indo-Pak relations and the nuclear programme – issues that the civilian government is supposed to be handling. This also places unusual burden on Gen. Sharif because, a) of military’s...
China, Pakistan Fighter Jet finds First Buyer: Media
BEIJING: The JF-17 fighter, jointly developed by China and Pakistan, notched its first sale at the Dubai Air Show and may receive additional orders in the future, the China Daily said on Wednesday, citing a Chinese executive. Aviation Industry Corp of China (AVIC) and Pakistan Aeronautical Complex closed the deal with an unidentified buyer at the airshow, the newspaper said citing an AVIC statement. It did not say when the contract was signed or how many jets were sold. "Several potential buyers have expressed to us their strong intention of introducing the aircraft," Liu Yu, deputy head of AVIC's military aircraft sales division, was quoted as saying. AVIC executives could not be reached immediately for comment. China's weapons exports jumped 143 percent in the five years to 2014 compared to the previous five-year period, but still only account for about 5 percent of the global arms market. Published on http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/china-pakistan-fighter-jet-finds-first-buyer-media/articleshow/49745011.cms
Bihar Elections — Mind your Own Business, Pakistan
Bihar has spoken. A thumping rejection of the Modi doctrine. Should Pakistanis rejoice? Not really. Let the non- BJP Indians relish what seems to be a combination of Nitish Kumar’s good work, the enraged Muslim population and the socio-political revolt by lower caste Hindus. Let India’s democratic and secular fraternity deal with the rifts that have become pronounced within the ruling BJP following the defeat in Bihar and the demeaning remarks by the party General Secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya about Shatrughan Sinha. The sin that the actor-turned-politician had committed was to congratulate Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad Yadav. “A dog runs after the car feeling it’s running because of him, but it’s not. The party doesn’t run because of one man” was how Vijayvargiya ran down Sinha in the aftermath of the BJP’s routing. Elsewhere in London, Britons of Indian-origin are also preparing to protest against the BJP government’s policies and have managed to project the words “Modi not welcome” onto the Parliament building on November 8, days ahead of Modi’s arrival there on November 12. The Awaaz Network — the umbrella organisation of these Indians — plans similar actions to protest “the unleashing of a violent authoritarian agenda that seeks to undermine India’s democratic and secular fabric”. Many Pakistani TV channels lunged at this, out of sheer sadistic pleasure. They also went into an overdrive to applaud the electoral snub that the BJP received in Bihar. Why should our government and media draw pleasure out of this? Is it really worth paying this much attention when we have plenty of things to worry about at home? Pakistan needs to focus more on the causes that continue to taint its image abroad and are a source of internal discord as well. Although the government claims improvement — also backed by statistics — yet most of Fata and parts of Balochistan remain embroiled in conflict. Much of this stems from Pakistan’s own skewed policies that for decades encouraged...
Pakistan to hand over 2,281 Acres of Gwadar’s Free Trade Zone to Chinese
ISLAMABAD: In a landmark ceremony, Pakistani authorities will formally hand over 2,281 acres of Gwadar Port’s free trade zone to the Chinese Oversees Ports Holding Company Ltd (COPHCL) on November 11 on a 43-year lease. The ceremony will be held in Gwadar on Wednesday and will be attended by the Chinese delegation headed by Vice Chairman of National Development and Reform Commission Wang Xiaodao, who has already arrived in Pakistan. Ripe for investment: Vast opportunities in AJK The Chinese delegation comprises of all top level officials of the Chinese government and leaders of private companies. The Pakistani delegation will be led by Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Reform Ahsan Iqbal. The event will also be attended by Balochistan Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik and Federal Minister for Ports and Shipping Kamran Michal, said a senior official of the ministry.The government has already declared Gwadar port a free trade zone for the next 23 years. The officer said that in this regard, a high level meeting of both authorities will be held in Karachi on November 12 to complete the formalities. COPHCL will execute the port’s affairs through its three main companies including Gwadar International Terminal (GIT), Gwadar Marine Services Ltd and Gwadar Freezone Company Ltd. Grand scheme: Govt to spend Rs26b on Gwadar airport upgrade GIT will also be responsible for the port’s operations by handling business related matters. Gwadar Marine Service Ltd, will look at the port’s operation by providing allied services and Gwadar Freezone Company will look after affairs of the free zone area by developing and providing allied facilities to the investment companies in the free zone area. After the formal handover of the free trade zone, all business affairs of the port will be carried out by Chinese authorities. The officer said that Pakistan has delivered its end of the bargain and now it is upto the Chinese authorities to show their commitment. Additionally,...
Pakistan to hand over 2,281 Acres of Gwadar's Free Trade Zone to Chinese
ISLAMABAD: In a landmark ceremony, Pakistani authorities will formally hand over 2,281 acres of Gwadar Port’s free trade zone to the Chinese Oversees Ports Holding Company Ltd (COPHCL) on November 11 on a 43-year lease. The ceremony will be held in Gwadar on Wednesday and will be attended by the Chinese delegation headed by Vice Chairman of National Development and Reform Commission Wang Xiaodao, who has already arrived in Pakistan. Ripe for investment: Vast opportunities in AJK The Chinese delegation comprises of all top level officials of the Chinese government and leaders of private companies. The Pakistani delegation will be led by Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Reform Ahsan Iqbal. The event will also be attended by Balochistan Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik and Federal Minister for Ports and Shipping Kamran Michal, said a senior official of the ministry.The government has already declared Gwadar port a free trade zone for the next 23 years. The officer said that in this regard, a high level meeting of both authorities will be held in Karachi on November 12 to complete the formalities. COPHCL will execute the port’s affairs through its three main companies including Gwadar International Terminal (GIT), Gwadar Marine Services Ltd and Gwadar Freezone Company Ltd. Grand scheme: Govt to spend Rs26b on Gwadar airport upgrade GIT will also be responsible for the port’s operations by handling business related matters. Gwadar Marine Service Ltd, will look at the port’s operation by providing allied services and Gwadar Freezone Company will look after affairs of the free zone area by developing and providing allied facilities to the investment companies in the free zone area. After the formal handover of the free trade zone, all business affairs of the port will be carried out by Chinese authorities. The officer said that Pakistan has delivered its end of the bargain and now it is upto the Chinese authorities to show their commitment. Additionally,...
Sabawoon Showcase: Importance of Agriculture and the Insaaf Food Security Program
November 9, 2015, Peshawar: The Center for Research and Security Studies’ (CRSS) flagship radio program Sabawoon’s latest episode was about the importance of agriculture and the Insaaf Food Security program (IFS). The IFS is an initiative taken by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government to help farmers through a variety of interventions. The discussion in the program was about free seeds distributed to the farmers, the role of kissan (farmer) councilors in agriculture, transparency in seed distribution, wheat production in KP, marketing of vegetables, and the role of monitoring/advisory services by the agriculture department. The IFS has faced political interference in the past, which was also a part of the discussion. The program aired on Monday under the theme of “Jarga Marraka” (public dialogue). Two guests took part in the program, Mr. Qiyas Bahadur, Director General, Agriculture Extension, KP and Mr. Aziz Buneri, a senior journalist. A report from Charsadda highlighted the programs central theme. The report shared views of the district Nazim of Charsadda, farmers and locals about the distribution of seeds under the IFS of the KP government. Fahad Khan, District Nazim, Charsadda said, “It is a good initiative taken by the KP government, but we still need to provide the farmers more seeds and other facilities.” Six callers took part in the live program. They appreciated the KP governments initiative and requested to make the seed distribution transparent. They also said that this should be extended to the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). A caller on the show, Hussain Afridi, said, “This program will help the farmers in improving agriculture production but this is limited to KP only. FATA is mostly dependent on KP for agricultural products so it would ease the buden on KP if this is extended to FATA.” Another caller, Hanif Khan, said, “The government should make the food distribution system transparent and it should be without political...
Chinese Team due Next Week to Discuss CPEC Security
Islamabad - Security of world’s highest strategic highway - the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) - will be discussed by a high level Chinese military delegation with Pakistani authorities in Islamabad next week, sources said yesterday. “All the modalities related to the security of multibillion dollars project that envisages a modern road network linking Pakistan’s deep sea Gwadar port with Chinese border town Kashghar will be discussed next week,” a senior government official told The Nation. Speaking on condition of anonymity, the official said a high level delegation of Peoples Army from China is schedule to visit Pakistan to discuss the project, especially its security. Pakistan Army has already created a full-fledged security division to look after the security of the project to be completed by 2030, which would cut significant time in transportation of goods from China to Gwadar port. He declined to share exact schedule of the Chinese delegation but said that media will be duly informed about purpose and outcome of their visit. On its part, Pakistan government is working day in and day out to complete a dual carriageway on western alignment of the project starting from Gwadar port upcountry to Kohistan district by December 2016, and a dual carriageway up to Chinese border town Kashghar in due course. This would be followed by four to six lane parallel motorways as an alternate to be connected by other motorways/ highways throughout Pakistan. Shipping executives say CPEC will help boost trade through this silk route and cut significant time in transportation of cargo containers from China to Pakistan in few days rather than a month to ship a container through Chinese seaports to Karachi ports. They believed that CPEC will benefit not only China and Pakistan but also other regional countries, as Gwadar port will serve as transhipment hub for Central Asia and West Asia. Gwadar port was built with the Chinese assistance and its operations were handed to a...
China Lauds Pakistan’s Role in Afghan Peace Process
ISLAMABAD: Chinese Special Envoy for Afghanistan Ambassador Deng Xijun has lauded Pakistan’s efforts in facilitating peace and reconciliation efforts in Afghanistan. During a meeting with Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs (SAPM) Syed Tariq Fatemi at the Foreign Ministry on Friday, matters related to bilateral relations with special focus on peace and stability in Afghanistan came under discussion. “Ambassador Deng Xijun lauded Pakistan’s role in facilitating peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan and commended Pakistan’s concerted efforts and huge sacrifices, in the fight against terrorism,” the foreign ministry said in a statement. Xijun’s first visit to Islamabad, after being appointed as special envoy for Afghanistan, comes at a time when Pakistan is pushing for the revival of the peace talks between the Afghan government and Taliban. Time not ‘opportune’ for Afghan peace talks: Sartaj Aziz The Chinese envoy also reassured Pakistan of his country’s continued efforts to address common challenges faced by the region. Highlighting Pakistan’s role in facilitating Afghan-led and Afghan-owned reconciliation process, Fatemi underscored that “peace in Afghanistan is vital for the peace and stability of the entire region.” While emphasising on Pakistan’s and China’s convergent interests and shared goals vis-à-vis Afghanistan, Fatemi welcomed China’s growing engagement with Afghanistan and also lauded its efforts for peace and development in the war-torn country. The two also discussed the forthcoming Ministerial Meeting of Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process, which will be held in Islamabad next month, and reaffirmed their commitment to work closely for its success. Kabul issues tepid response to Nawaz’s latest offer The Chinese Foreign Ministry announced on Wednesday that Xijun has recently been invited as the special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan “to promote peace and reconciliation in the war-torn country.” Xijun, who just ended his...
102 Madrassas Sealed for Stoking Sectarianism
The interior ministry told lawmakers on Wednesday that it has sealed 102 Islamic seminaries for fanning extremism. Moreover, it has also frozen Rs1 billion in funds of proscribed militant groups. The law enforcement agencies (LEAs) have sealed the seminaries for sponsoring terrorism or extremism, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan told the National Assembly in a written reply to a question raised by PPP MNA Shahida Rehmani. This year, the government has closed down 87 madrassas in Sindh and 13 in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, he said. Two seminaries have been sealed in Punjab where a number of students were found in contact with banned groups. The LEAs have also identified 190 seminaries that receive funds from abroad. Curbing terror financing As part of the strategy to choke terror financing, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has frozen Rs1 billion in 126 accounts linked to proscribed organisations. Further, the LEAs have recovered Rs251.2 million in cash which was being traded through Hawala and Hundi. The government also recovered Rs19.77 million from suspects involved in the 2004 ‘Chowk Yadgar Operation’ in Peshawar. Losses in War on Terror Nisar said the war on terror has cost Pakistan Rs118.4 billion since 2001. Replying to a question from PTI’s Dr Shireen Mazari, he said Fata had suffered the most, with losses worth Rs68.5 billion. Sindh was a distant second suffering loss worth Rs16.5 billion. Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa has suffered losses worth Rs15 billion, while Punjab has suffered Rs13.4 billion in losses, he added. Balochistan has suffered losses worth Rs4.3 billion, Gilgit-Baltistan Rs358.1 million, and AJK Rs12.6 million. Banned groups The government has put 7,923 people in the fourth schedule in addition to including the names of 188 hardcore militants on the Exit Control List. Movement of 2,081 hardcore militants has also been restricted. Similarly, the government has registered 1,026 cases, while 230 terror suspects have been arrested. Hate speech One of the...
Afghan Civil Society Delegates meet prominent Pakistani Experts from Media and Development Sector
As part of the interactions with the broader civil society of Pakistan within the framework of ‘Beyond Boundaries-Track II initiative”, the Afghan Civil Society delegation met with Mr. Hamid Mir (prominent journalist/GEO tv anchor) and Mr. Haroon Sharif (Advisor to World Bank, Regional Economic Cooperation South Asia) in Islamabad today. The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss the role of media in peacebuilding and the kind of contributions media on both sides can make to build positive perceptions about the two countries. The Afghan visitors invited Mr. Hamid Mir to conduct shows in Kabul which they think could help bring the two people together. Mr. Haroon Sharif provided an overview of the state of international investments in the region. He noted that despite the volatile conditions in Afghanistan, investments by the World Bank, Asian Development Bank and other multilateral donors had risen to $ four billion in the last three years. The Afghan delegation was here to participate in a two-day Track II meeting under "Beyond Boundaries", a Pak-Afghan initiative under the aegis of CRSS, supported by Duran Consultants, Kabul. The Pakistan-Afghanistan Track II meeting in Islamabad is part of a series of seven such meetings. The next meeting of Pak-Afghan Civil Society group as well as of the Regional Security Group will be held in Kabul during December.
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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.