international relations today- (Book 5)

International Relations Today-5 - Dr. Abdul Ruff Colachal

Chapters

Chapter-1: India: Sense of fear, insecurity growing among Muslims!

Chapter-2: Problems of Palestine: PLO factions and fascist Israel!

Chapter-3: Pakistani PM Nawaz Sharif’s fate and Islam!

Chapter-4: India: Future of AAP: Kejriwal under Congress-BJP scanners! Part-1 Chapter-5: India: Future of AAP: Kejriwal under Congress-BJP scanners! Part-2 Chapter-6: India: Future of AAP: Kejriwal under Congress-BJP scanners! Part-3 Chapter-7: India celebrates 70th Independence Day by win in fake joint cricketism!

Chapter-8: Putin reiterates NATO is obsolete and should be dismantled!

Chapter-9: Kashmir for Kashmiris!

Chapter-10: Hiroshima marks 72 years since America’s nuclear attack!

Chapter-11: China’s role in US-North Korea stand-off limited!

Chapter-12: Kashmiris want Kashmir back from India, they ask Indian occupation forces to quit their paradise!!

Chapter-13: Venezuela's Maduro mocks US criticism of democracy!

Chapter-14: Is US-UK special relationship under threat under Trump presidency?

Chapter-15: Justice for Palestine!

1

___________

Chapter-1: India: Sense of fear, insecurity growing among Muslims!

-Dr. Abdul Ruff Colachal ________

Outgoing Vice President of India and outstanding Indian educationalist Hamid Ansari has rightly said that India is fast moving toward a terrocracy as Muslims are being targeted by a powerful section of majority Hindus and there is a feeling of unease and a sense of insecurity among the Muslims in the country, asserting the "ambience of acceptance" is now under threat.

In fact, Muslims in India are being terrorized by Hindutva and related political outfits and some greedy Muslim elements are employed to terrorize the Muslim community.

Dr. Ansari said a sense of insecurity is creeping in as a result of the dominant mood created by some and the resultant intolerance and vigilantism he shared the view of many that intolerance was growing. In hard-hitting remarks during an interview he ascribed the spate of vigilante violence, mob lynchings, beef bans and "Ghar Wapsi" campaigns to a "breakdown of Indian values" and to the "breakdown of the ability of the authorities" to enforce the law. "...and overall, the very fact that the Indianness of any citizen (is) being questioned is a disturbing thought," Ansari said.

By targeting Muslims the Constitutional guarantees for the protection of minorities are being violated by the ruling classes and judiciary has no role in protecting the Muslims from majority attacks, either.

2

Emotional outbursts

A feeling of unease and insecurity is creeping in among Muslims in India, , Vice President Hamid Ansari said in his parting interview to Rajya Sabha TV joining a growing number of leaders who have expressed concerns over attacks on minorities.

Professor Hamid Ansari, whose second five-year term as the Vice-President ended on August 10, made these remarks in the backdrop of incidents of "intolerance" and cow vigilantism. Stating that he had flagged the issue of "intolerance" with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his cabinet colleagues, Ansari, 80, also described the questioning of citizens over their love for India as a "disturbing thought".

Ansari, who completed two terms as vice president on August 10, said that there is a breakdown of Indian values and of the abilities among authorities at different levels in different places to be able to enforce what should be normal law enforcing work. “Overall, the very fact that Indianness of any citizen being questioned is a disturbing thought,” he said in his parting interview to Rajya Sabha TV. Congress president Sonia Gandhi MP raised similar concerns during a speech in Parliament where she urged people to not let “dark forces” diminish India’s core values. Neither Ansari nor Gandhi named any party or individual in particular, but their statements can be seen to allude to the leadership of the Bharatiya Janata Party, which the Congress party and other opposition outfits often accuse of pandering to right-wing Hindu ideologies.

On the August 10 Ansari demitted his Vice Presidential office at Hyderabad House in New Delhi that only Philosopher S Radhakrishnan had occupied as long as 10 years. The BJP government, for obvious political reasons, did not want to elevate him to be the president nor was given another term. He ruled out possibilities of Indian Muslims getting influenced by ISI and such other elements but mentioned that it would be a correct assessment to say that the Muslim community is feeling insecure.

Ansari, the only two-term vice president after S Radhakrishnan, also voice advice for Muslim community. “Do not create for one self or one’s fellow beings an imaginary situation which is centuries back, when things were very different. The challenges today are challenges of development, what are the requirements for development; you keep up with the times, educate yourself, and compete...”

3

To a poser on the situation in Jammu Kashmir, Ansari said, "the problem has always primarily been a political problem. And it has to be addressed politically."

He agreed to a suggestion that politicians are ducking the problem. "That's my impression. And I m not the only one in the country...when young boys and girls come out on to the streets and throw stones day after day, week after week, month after month, it's something to worry about because they are our children, they are our citizens." "Something is obviously going wrong. What exactly, I am not the final word on it, but I think there are enough people in the country who are worried about it. Eminent people belonging to different political persuasions and their worry must be taken on board," the Vice President said.

Muslim community terrorized, alienated

In the interview, Vice President Ansari referred to incidents of lynching and 'ghar wapsi' and alleged killings of rationalists as a "breakdown of Indian values, breakdown of the ability of the authorities at different levels in different places to be able to enforce what should be normal law enforcing work and over all the very fact that Indianness of any citizen being questioned is a disturbing thought." "Yes it is a correct assessment," Ansari said agreed with the assessment that the Muslim community is apprehensive and that it was feeling insecure as a result of the kind of comments made against them. "Yes it is a correct assessment, from all I hear from different quarters, the country; I heard the same thing in Bangalore, I have heard from other parts of the country, I hear more about it in north India, there is a feeling of unease, a sense of insecurity is creeping in," he said.

Ansari was of the view that while tolerance is a good virtue, it is not a sufficient virtue. "...therefore you have to take the next step and go from tolerance to acceptance," he said. Asked whether he felt that the Muslims are "beginning to feel that they are not wanted", Ansari said, "I would not go that far, there is a sense of insecurity." Attacks on Muslims and lynching of Muslims directly say that.

He said India is a plural society that has for centuries, not just seventy years, has lived in a certain "ambience of acceptance" which is now "under threat". He was of the view that the propensity to be able to assert your nationalism day-in and dayout is "unnecessary". "I am an Indian and that is it," he said.

Asked in an interview why he thought Indian values were "suddenly" breaking down, Vice-President Hamid Ansari answered: "Because we are a plural society that for centuries, not for 70 years, has lived in a certain ambience of acceptance." He said this acceptance was "under threat". "This propensity to be 4

able to assert your nationalism day in and day out is unnecessary. I am an Indian and that is it," he told Rajya Sabha TV.

Referring to the incidents of lynching and ‘ghar wapsi’ and killings of rationalists as a “breakdown of Indian values”, Ansari said, “breakdown of the ability of the authorities at different levels in different places to be able to enforce what should be normal law enforcing work and over all the very fact that Indianness of any citizen being questioned is a disturbing thought.”

On being asked if he agreed with the assessment that the Muslim community is apprehensive and that it was feeling insecure as a result of the kind of comments made against them, Ansari said, “Yes it is a correct assessment, from all I hear from different quarters, the country; I heard the same thing in Bangalore, I have heard from other parts of the country, I hear more about in north India, there is a feeling of unease, a sense of insecurity is creeping in,” “There is a sense of insecurity,” said Ansari, adding that India is a plural society that for centuries, not for seventy years, has lived in a certain “ambience of acceptance” which is now under threat. The Vice President viewed that the propensity to be able to assert your nationalism day in and day out is “unnecessary”. “I am an Indian and that is it.”

Regarding the issues of tolerance, he mentioned that while tolerance is a good virtue, it is not a sufficient virtue. “…therefore you have to take the next step and go from tolerance to acceptance,” he said. At an event in Bengaluru on Sunday, Ansari said the “version of nationalism” that places cultural commitments at its core promotes intolerance and arrogant patriotism.

He said the issue of Triple Talaq is a social aberration and the reform, if any at all, has to come from within the community leaders of political other parties and religions need not interfere in the personal matters of Muslims. “The religious requirement is crystal clear, emphatic, there are no two views about it but patriarchy, social customs has all crept into it to create a situation which is highly undesirable.”

Threat to nationalism and unity

RSS-BJP duo employs the “patriotism” to insult Muslims as if Hindus are extra patriots. They want Hindu votes to come to power. They don’t mind another division of the nation to make India a “pure” Hindu nation. . At an event in Bengaluru in the South, Vice President Ansari said that the "version of nationalism" that places cultural commitments at its core "promotes intolerance" and arrogant patriotism. Responding to a question on comments made by some BJP leaders related to minorities, he said he would not talk about people in politics or about political parties. "But to me, every time such a comment appeared or came to my 5

knowledge; I mean my first reaction was that the person is ignorant and that he is prejudiced and he does not fit into the framework that India has always prided to itself on, which is to be an accommodative society," he said.

Ansari was asked a question on his lecture at the National Law School in Bengaluru earlier this month where he said rejuvenating secularism’s basic principles was becoming a challenge. There is a feeling of unease, a sense of insecurity is creeping in,” he told journalist Karan Thapar during the interview after being asked to reflect on his statement in Bengaluru.

Asked specifically about his speech in which he spoke about a nationalism with cultural commitments at its core being perceived as the most conservative and illiberal form of nationalism, and whether the remark was about the mood of the country in 2017, he replied: "Oh, absolutely." And he agreed he had felt a personal need to underline that this need to keep proving one's patriotism, and the intolerance it made for, was unhealthy: "Yes. And I am not the only one in the country; a great many people feel the same way." Asked if he had shared these apprehensions with the PM or the government, he replied: "Yes... But what passes between the Vice-President and the PM in the nature of things must remain in the domain of privileged information."

The outgoing vice president also ruled out the possibility of Indian Muslims being influenced by militant outfits.

Political reactions

Ansari said that he shared his apprehensions to the Prime Minister and other cabinet ministers, but refused to divulge details of their interaction on the plank that “what passes between the vice president and the Prime Minister in the nature of things must remain in the domain of privileged conversation.” Asked in an interview on Rajya Sabha TV whether he shared his concerns with the prime minister, Ansari, who is also the Rajya Sabha Chairman, said that he had.

"Yes...yes. But what passes between the Vice President and the Prime Minister in the nature of things must remain in the domain of privileged conversation," said.

He said that he has also flagged the issue with other union ministers. "Well, there is always an explanation and there is always a reason. Now it is a matter of judgment, whether you accept the explanation, you accept the reasoning and its rationale," he said when asked about the response of the government.

Anti-Muslim forces like BJP-RSS cannot digest plain criticism of Hindutva mischief and never admit that they have created a dirty sense of uneasy and insecurity of for Indian Muslims, His comments drew criticism from the BJP, with 6

party general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya questioning if Ansari was looking for “political shelter” after retirement. In fact, that is how the BJP and RSS add members into their fold who speak against Islam and Muslims or for a Hindutva nation, and promote them for big positions.

Professor Ansari’s comments about the feeling of unease and a sense of insecurity creeping in among the Muslims in the country against the current backdrop of intolerance and vigilante violence drew criticism from the BJP, with party general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya questioning if Ansari was looking for “political shelter” after retirement.

Ansari’s successor Venkaiah Naidu, who was sworn in on Friday also criticized Ansari, seemingly responded to the comments, dismissing them as “political propaganda”. “Some people are saying minorities are insecure... Compared to the entire world, minorities are safer and secure in India and they get their due,” Naidu said.

A day after outgoing vice president Hamid Ansari said Muslims were feeling insecure, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he (Ansari) will be free to pursue his “core thinking” once he demits office. In the Rajya Sabha, where Ansari was given a farewell on his last day in office, Modi hailed his role in the past 10 years and said Ansari had tried his best to live up to it.

Meanwhile, former union minister Venkaiah Naidu has been elected as his successor and Ansari thinks that the nature of the job of chairman of Rajya Sabha will dictate the response and there is no reason why the Opposition will not get a fair deal under Naidu’s chairmanship Ansari’s successor an RSS operative Venkaiah Naidu, who was sworn in on Friday, seemingly responded to the comments, dismissing them as “political propaganda”. “Some people are saying minorities are insecure... Compared to the entire world, minorities are safer and secure in India and they get their due,” Naidu said.

Ghar wapsi, anti-beef and cow worshiping for Hindu votes, lynching of Muslims in the streets by Hindutva criminals – are not propaganda!

PM Modi praised outgoing Vice-President Hamid Ansari for his track record in public service. With Ansari chairing his last session in the Rajya Sabha, Modi led the tributes as Upper House members expressed their heartfelt gratitude and congratulated the political veteran on his efficient contributions.

A day after outgoing vice president Hamid Ansari said Muslims were feeling insecure, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he (Ansari) will be free to pursue his “core thinking” once he demits office. In his remarks in the Rajya Sabha, where Ansari was given a farewell on his last day in office, Modi hailed his role in the past 10 years and said Ansari had tried his best to live up to it.

7

Prime Minister Modi referred to the 100 years of public life of Ansari’s forefathers and said they were aligned with the Congress and Khilafat Movement.

The Khilafat Movement, launched by Muslim clergy in India to protest against the threat to Islamic Caliphate following the defeat of Turkey at the hands of Britain in World War I, was supported by Mahatma Gandhi and has been seen as among the factors which contributed to the growth of separatist consciousness among the community which led to the country's partition in 1947. In an interview to Rajya Sabha TV, Ansari struck a note of caution, warning that Muslims in the country are feeling insecure amid a sense of growing intolerance - "the ambience of acceptance" is at risk Modi recalled Ansari’s diplomatic career during which he spent many years in West Asia and his role on retirement as the Vice Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University and as the Chairman of Minorities Commission. “Many years of your life were spent in that circle. You stayed in that atmosphere, with that thinking and debating with those people. After retirement your engagement mostly remained the same. “...But in the last 10 years, you had a different responsibility. Every moment was spent in the ambit of Constitution and running Rajya Sabha. You tried your best to run it. “Maybe there was some uneasiness within you. But from now onwards, you will not face that difficulty. You will also feel free and work, think and speak according to your core thinking.”

Responding to a question on comments made by some BJP leaders related to minorities, he said he would not talk about political people or political parties. “But to me, every time such a comment appeared or came to my knowledge; I mean my first reaction was that, A: the person is ignorant, B: that he is prejudiced and C: he does not fit into the framework that India has always prided to itself on, which is to be accommodative society,” he said.

Replying to a question on some BJP leaders comments related to minorities, he aid he would not talk about political people or political parties. “But to me, every time such a comment appeared or came to my knowledge; I mean my first reaction was that, A: the person is ignorant, B: that he is prejudiced and C: he does not fit into the framework that India has always prided to itself on, which is to be accommodative society,” he said.

Ansari also described the questioning of Indianness of citizens as a “disturbing thought.”Asked in an interview to Karan Thapar on Rajya Sabha TV whether he shared his concerns with the prime minister, Ansari replied in the affirmative. “Yes…yes. But what passes between the Vice President and the Prime Minister in the nature of things must remain in the domain of privileged conversation,” the ex officio chairman of Rajya Sabha said. Regarding the government’s response, he said, “Well, there is always an explanation and there is always a reason. Now it is a matter of judgment, whether you accept the explanation, you accept the reasoning and its rationale,” he said.

Profile 8

Hamid Ansari was born to Mohammad Abdul Aziz Ansari and Aasiya Begum in Calcutta (now Kolkata), West Bengal, India on 1 April 1937 though his family belongs to Ghazipur in Uttar Pradesh. Ansari is the grandson of a brother of former Congress President Mukhtar Ahmad Ansari, a leader of the Indian independence movement. He is the grand nephew of Dr. Mukhtar Ahmad Ansari, the former President of the INC (Indian National Congress) and also the founder of Jamia Millia Islamia- now federal university.

Ansari studied at St. Edward's School, Shimla, St. Xavier's College, Kolkata and Aligarh Muslim University where he completed an MA in Political Science in 1959. He started his career as Officer in the Indian Foreign Service in 1961. He was Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations, Indian High Commissioner to Australia and Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, Afghanistan, Iran and Saudi Arabia. He was awarded the Padma Shree in 1984. He was also Professor & Vice-Chancellor of the Aligarh Muslim University from May 2000 to March 2002. He is known for his role in ensuring compensation to the victims of the Gujarat riots and pushing for a complete re-look into the relief and rehabilitation for riot victims since 1984.

Ansari was the first person to be re-elected as Indian VP after Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan in 1957. He also presently serves as President of the Indian Institute of Public Administration, Chancellor of Pondicherry University and the President of the Indian Council of World Affairs. Ansari worked as an ambassador and served as the Vice-Chancellor of the Aligarh Muslim University from 2000 to 2002.[2] Later he was Chairman of the National Commission for Minorities from 2006 to 2007. He was elected as the Vice-President of India on 10 August 2007 and took office on 11 August 2007. He was reelected on 7 August 2012 His second term ended in August 2017 since he decided not to run for a third term in the 2017 vice-presidential election. Upon the inauguration of Ram Nath Kovind as President of India in 2017, Ansari became the first Indian Vice-President to serve during the terms of three presidents. Longest served Indian vice president Ansari became the chairman of India's National Commission for Minorities (NCM) on 6 March 2006. In June 2007, Ansari, in his capacity as NCM chairman, upheld the decision of St. Stephens College to earmark a small percentage of seats for Dalit Christians. He resigned as NCM chairman soon after his nomination for the post of India's Vice-President.

On 20 July 2007, Ansari was named by the UPA-Left, the ruling coalition in India, as its candidate for the post of Vice-President for the upcoming election.

Ansari secured 455 votes, and won the election by a margin of 233 votes against his nearest rival Najma Heptullah of BJP who is now Governor of Manipur state.

Hamid Ansari was re-elected for the second term on 7 August 2012, defeating the NDA's nominee Jaswant Singh former Finance, External Affairs and Defence minister as well as former Leader of Opposition by a margin of 252 votes. According to the Constitution of India, Ansari, as Vice-President of the Republic, also serves ex officio as Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. Ansari was a member of the Congress before being nominated Vice President in 2007.

9

Career After completing his Master's degree from the Aligarh Muslim University, Ansari worked as a lecturer in AMU for two years. He then wrote a UPSC exam and secured the 4th rank. He joined the Indian Foreign Service as a diplomat in 1961. He served the country as an IFS officer in various countries. He served as ambassador to United Arab Emirates from 1976 to 1980 and as Chief of Protocol, Government of India from 1980-1985.

Scholar

Ansari is a West Asia scholar and has written on the Palestinian issue and taken positions inconvenient to the Indian official line on Iraq and Iran. He questioned India’s vote in the International Atomic Energy Agency on Iran’s nuclear programme where India voted against Iran. He said that though the Indian Government claimed to have acted on "its own judgment," this was not borne out by facts Ansari feels that there is a sense of unease among Indian Muslims. He said this on the last day of his tenure as the Vice President of India, one of the highest constitutional posts in the country. [ Ansari quoted, "The language used by the Pope sounds like that of his 12th-Century counterpart who ordered the crusades...

It surprises me because the Vatican has a very comprehensive relationship with the Muslim world." – 15 September 2006, as Chairman of the Minorities Commission of India, on the Pope Benedict XVI Islam controversy In his illustrious career that spun over forty-five years, Mohammad Hamid Ansari has worked in various disciplines in the offices of the Government of India.

He is a seasoned writer in various news dailies and other print media. He is also a Padma Shri awardee. Read on to know more about the life and accomplishments of Mohammad Hamid Ansari.

Later, he rendered his services in Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia and Iran. He also served as the Vice Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University from 2000 to 2002. He was also a writer in different news papers on various issues. In 2006, he was appointed the Chairman of the National Commission for Minorities. He was also appointed the Chairman of the Petroleum Ministry's Advisory Committee on Oil Diplomacy for Energy Security. He also served as Chairman of the "Confidence Building Measures across Segments of Society in the State". This was group a created to focus on issues in Jammu and Kashmir.

Ansari served as a co-chairman of the India-U.K. Round Table Conference and also as a member of the National Security Advisory Board. Ansari is a permanent representative to the United Nations (UN) and is also a trustee of the Bapu Sadbhavana and Shiksha Trust. On March 2007, he surrendered the charge of Vice-Chancellorship of the Aligarh Muslim University and went back to New Delhi to lead a life of retirement.

10

Contribution

Ansari played a vital role in distributing compensation to the Gujarat riot victims. He also backed a thorough re-look into the rehabilitation of all the riot victims since 1984. He wrote numerous articles on the west Asian crises. His article named "Alternative Approaches to West Asian Crises", (The Hindu, May 5, 2006), stressed upon the need for the progress of Iran, Iraq and Palestine. In an article named "Et EU, India," (Outlook, October 10, 2005), Ansari was sceptical about India's vote in the International Atomic Energy Agency on Iran's nuclear programme. He also edited the book "Twenty Years after the Islamic Revolution".

He played a significant role in distributing compensation to the Gujarat riot victims.

Even after his retirement from the IFS, he worked as a visiting professor at the Centre for West Asian and African Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University and the Academy for Third World Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi. Ansari's deep interest in west Asian affairs saw him taking positions that were inconvenient to the stands of Indian officials on matters concerning Iran and Iraq.

Timeline 1937 - Was born in Kolkata, India 1959 - M.A. (Political Science) from Aligarh Muslim University (AMU). 1959-61 - Worked as a Lecturer in the Department of Political Science, AMU. 1961 - Joined the Indian Foreign Service, by securing 4th rank. 1976-80 - Worked as an Ambassador in United Arab Emirates (UAE). 1980-85 - Worked as the Chief of Protocol Officer, Government of India. 1984 - Was awarded the Padma Shri 1985-1989 - Worked as the High Commissioner to Australia. 1989-1990 - Worked as an Ambassador to Afghanistan. 1990-1992 Worked as an Ambassador to Iran. 1993-1995 - Was a Permanent Representative to the UN, New York. 1995-1999 - Served as an Ambassador to Saudi Arabia.

1999-2000 - Served as a visiting professor, Centre for West Asian and African Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 2000-2002 - Served as the ViceChancellor, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 2002-2006 - Distinguished Fellow at the Observer Research Foundation, New Delhi 2003-2005 - Served as the visiting professor, Academy for Third World Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi 20042006 - Was made Co-Chairman, India-U.K, Round Table Conference 2004-2006 Member, National Security Advisory Board 2004-2005 - Was made Chairman, Advisory Committee for Oil Diplomacy, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas 2006 - Chairman, Working Group on "Confidence building measures across segments of society in the State", established by the second Round Table Conference with the Prime Minister, Jammu and Kashmir issue, held at Srinagar. 2007-Present Becomes the Vice-President of India and ex officio Chairman, Rajya Sabha

Observation 11

A vicious venomous air is spread across India that makes the innocent Hindus hate Muslims, kill then to appease their masters. In fact the seeds of such anti-Muslim venom were sown by the Congress and other so-called secular parties letting the RSS-VJP to target Muslims for Hindu votes.

In fact, The Congress party which keeps the saffron on top of its party flag, wanted to make the Hindutva parties to thrive in the country as the top political outfits and to control the government and rule the Indian society.

That has indeed happened RSS operatives are now Indian PM, President and Vice President and federal and many sate governments are now in the hands of RSS-BJP - and the credit for all this goes to Congress party.

Had Ansari seriously tried, Kashmir would have become a soverign once again to pursue its rightful interests freely. But he was supposed to uphold the status quo of the government position so that smooth relationship could be maintained between Hyderabad House and PMO. Kashmiris are not lucky enough.

Their struggle hopefully would achieve that objective.

Ansari's painful words certainly made a lot of people think about fate of Indian secularism as there is concern now about genuine secular principles of India.

He was speaking on the issues of cow vigilante attacks, mob lynchings and people not shouting "Bharat Mata Ki Jai" being told to leave the country.

It is unfortunate and even ugly that the RSS-BJP elements foolishly question the patriotism of Indian Muslims as a cheap technique of wooing the Hindutva minded people to support the BJP and vote for the party.

It is obnoxious to see that today the Indian political parties especially the saffron wings, try to reform Islam while creating all criminal problems for them.

They use prominent and “aspiring� Muslims to achieve their anti-Islamic objectives.

Above all, Ansari is a great humanist. Even as Vice President of India he could try to help the affected individuals but the system does not let the beneficiaries to get the lawful benefits as the government agencies create obstructions to his actions. The argument only the government is supposed to decide to help anybody or deny any body justice. In Indian system President and Vice President are not above the PM and h they cannot direct the government or PM. Unfortunately, the government agencies and the very system has not allowed Professor Ansari to serve the cause of Indian Muslims and Islam in a befitting manner.

---------------------

12

Chapter-2: Problems of Palestine: PLO factions and fascist Israel!

-Dr. Abdul Ruff Colachal _____

Can Abbas achieve full sovereignty from Israel with UN help this year? Will the UNSC and its veto lords finally make the Palestine state a reality? Will Trump use his trump card in favor of Palestine?

Such questions do trouble the humanity today.

USA and Israel can jointly spoil anything good happening in the world. That is indeed their nature of branded democracy being imposed on the globe as compulsory law.

No American can be a true democrat or socialist or humanist- he or she can only advance occupational tactics and imperialist agenda of Bush family.

Unfinished task Over 500,000 Jewish settlers live in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, according to United Nations figures. The settlements are considered illegal by the United Nations, and West Bank territory is considered occupied territory by the International Court of Justice. The West Bank has been occupied by Israel since 1967.

Hamas had won the general poll in 2007 but under pressure from USA and Israel Fatah refused to accept the popular verdict. Abbas and his Fatah movement are more popular in the West Bank than in the Gaza Strip, which has tended to be dominated by their Islamist rival Hamas.

Former PLO leader has left behind an unfinished task: sovereignty and freedom for Palestinians from Zionist yoke so that the people of Palestine could live without the Zionist fear in peace for prosperity. The incumbent leader of Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO or PA) Mahmoud Abbas is making strenuous efforts to achieve that object and has made big headway in that direction against the terror will of US-Israeli fascist twins. . .

At the outset one fact should be stressed here. Israel considers and treats every Palestinians a slave or prisoner and therefore takes liberty to deal with them as it pleases. Abbas cannot ask nuclear Israel to surrender sovereignty. Palestinians cannot fight tiny but mighty Israel and win sovereignty mainly because the 13

Pentagon and even NATO rogue state would fight on the Zionist side. So, the legal UN route is the best and credible way and the Abbas s going by that route and made tremendous progress.

The struggle of Palestinians for freedom and sovereignty has along painful history with fascist Israel trying all error techniques and USA to put down brutally the urge to achieve independence. Former PLO leader Yasir Arafat fought for the Palestine cause and did everything that was asked by USA and Israel but he knew was fooled by well dressed USA and he died an unhappy man unable to get sovereignty for his people.

Deadly factions World is watching Fatah-Hamas infightings as well as Israeli attacks on Palestinians with curiosity- nothing more. It cannot do anything to help Palestinians get their lost nation.

The two-faction dirty fight is harming the cause of much delayed soverign nation. Not only Israel and USA but even factions within PLO are also delaying in resolving the world’s worst human crisis.

Division of Palestinians s into two factions, Fatah and Hamas, is one of disasters but major achievements of US-Israel terror twins in West Asia and these factions are busy fighting each other, making the Israeli efforts to crush the PLO movement fairly easy.

But Fatah-Has faction continue to attack each other, denying their right to visit the Gaza and West Bank Interestingly, thus Palestinians now face two sets of enemies- fascist Israeli military and Fatah-Hamas fighters.

A divided house cannot be taken seriously even by the Intentional community which sees them as insane fellows. USA and Israel use the Fatah faction led by Abbas as their chief tool to keep the PLO a weak, deadly divided house. Yet, PLO ( now PA) has achieved one major milestone in the struggle for sovereignty- a defacto membership of UN which guarantees eventual full membership to enjoy all privileges and right s as a member of UN. Zionism

Zionism means crime and as a fascist sickness it has spread worldwide but concentrated in Mideast as USA-UK terror twins carved out Israel from Palestine by forcing the Palestinians out or getting them killed. Israel then began its expansionist attacks and genocides in Palestine with the support of USA and UK 14

Only now UK takes a dramatically new position deviating from the known USA-Israeli positions on Palestine as it supported the Palestine cause in UN Assembly, annoying the Zionist regime and its powerful Mossad.

Zionism practices racism and segregation as the backbone policy to control Palestine. Israel has already built a wall between Gaza and Israel to punish the Palestinians. And now Israel plans to build an underground barrier along its Egyptian border near the Gaza Strip ostensibly to prevent the militants of Daesh (outlawed in Russia) operating on the Sinai Peninsula from digging tunnels into Israel. It will be a continuation of the barrier currently being constructed around the Gaza Strip with an estimated cost of $940 million, which is expected to be completed within a year and a half. The new plan outlines a 0.6-mile extension of the barrier toward the south of the enclave and the possibility of building a 1.8-mile subterranean wall along the border.

Racist Israel has built a strong wall between Gaza Strip and Israel and keeps attacking the Palestinians. Israel and Egypt jointly created terror blockades around Gaza Strip to besiege and squeeze the Palestinians not letting them go out of Gaza strip. Palestinians developed secret tunnel system to get essential goods, including food stuff from outside. A network of secret tunnels used for smuggling essentials and military purposes stretches from the southern and northern tips of the Gaza Strip, which has been under a blockade imposed by Israel since in 2007.

Occasionally Israel opens the blockades to let Palestinians for hours go out and buy the stuff nearby. For years, Israel has been attempting to deal with these underground tunnels, which are used by “terrorists” to penetrate into the Jewish state and stage attacks against civilians. Last year Israeli military attacked the Gaza strip and bombed the tunnels. In June, Israel announced plans to build concrete walls that lay dozens of feet underground to prevent Hamas “militants” from entering the Jewish State's territory.

Fascist Israeli authorities decided to close the Taba border crossing between Israel and Egypt due to the threat of the possible terror attack in the Sinai Peninsula after Sunday's deadly attacks in northern Egyptian cities of Tanta and Alexandria. Egyptian security forces have been unable to maintain absolute control in the Sinai area. Israeli citizens will not be allowed to enter Egypt through the Taba border crossing after Sunday's deadly attacks in northern Egyptian cities of Tanta and Alexandria; however those already in the peninsula will be permitted to return to the country.

On July 21, Arab neighborhoods around the Old City of Jerusalem saw violent clashes between Israeli police and Muslims, who were gathered to pray in the AlAqsa mosque at the Temple Mount. Muslims refused to go through the metal detectors at the holy site's entrance, which had been installed after the July 14 attack at the holy site. The attack claimed the lives of two Israeli police officers.

In order to put an end to violence, which has so far left at least four Palestinian killed and dozens more injured, Israel has reportedly decided to remove the metal detectors and security cameras from the Temple Mount.

15

Such measures would only damage "tolerance" between different religious groups."I hope that in the near future everything will return to normal," the prime minister added.

Fatah-Hamas unity talks The urgency for the Fatah-Hamas unity talks is more than of Israel Palestine talks but Abbas and Hamas do not take that seriously though the world see a twin nation existing in the tine Palestine and that would any time begin a war to dislodge the other. This attitude does not augur well for their intention, if any, for a soverign Palestine.

Off and on the so-called unity talks take place between Fatah and Hamas maybe as a pure formality but never got started properly. This is due to two reasons: one, Fatah lets itself being controlled by Israel and USA; and two, the Hamas is obstructionist as it doubts secret deal between Abbas and Israel.

Thus the Fatah-Hamas and Israel-PLO dramas go side by side and the talks are not taking place earnestly. There have been no talks between Israel and the Palestinians for three years and although Trump visited Abbas in May and shook his hand, he said an agreement between the two sides would be "one of the toughest deals of all" to broker.

The conflict between Hamas and Fatah escalated in 2007, leading to a split and Hamas’ takeover of the Gaza Strip. Repeated attempts have been made by regional forces to achieve reconciliation between the two parties, but all efforts have so far failed. In January, Fatah and Hamas agreed to form a unity government after a three-day talk in Moscow; however no further success has been achieved so far. Earlier this week, media reported that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas held talks with a Hamas delegation on possible reconciliation in Ramallah.

Recently, Palestine's Hamas movement said it unveiled a new initiative aimed at reaching reconciliation with Fatah, the Ramallah-based leading faction of the PLO, amid crisis which erupted around the Temple Mount in Jerusalem following Israel's decision to impose restrictions on access to the Al-Aqsa mosque. On last Wednesday, Salah al-Bardawil, a member of Hamas’s influential political bureau said that the new push for intra-Palestinian reconciliation was necessary due to "the voices of the Palestinian masses who revolted in Jerusalem and won the Battle of the Al-Aqsa Gates."

The initiative envisages Hamas' readiness to dissolve an administrative committee that it established in March and which coordinates the activity of Gaza's public institutions, as soon as the unity government assumes office in the Gaza Strip. Fatah has repeatedly called for committee's dissolution, claiming that it prevents the unity government from operating in the area.

16

Israel is not bothered that it has been accused of besieging Mahmoud Abbas, the President of the Palestinian Authority, within the walls of the city of Ramallah.

Abbas has been blamed by Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu for increased tensions in Jerusalem. However, Israel has denied they are preventing Abbas from leaving Ramallah, the city where the Palestinian Authority is based, to visit other parts of the West Bank.

Abbas caged?

Israel and USA strategically controls PLO and Mahmoud Abbas and targets Hamas. It is no secret that PLO chief Abbas is under the control of USA and Israel and does exactly what is told. The nexus between Fatah and Israel-USA has caused the deadly division in Palestinians community, leading to perpetual civil war.

Considered to be a close associate of Israel, Abbas has become increasingly unpopular among ordinary Palestinians in recent months because he is seen as weak and compliant in the face of increasing Israeli aggression. He is also resented because he has imposed sanctions on Hamas-controlled Gaza.

Abbas has cut payments for electricity supplied by Israel to Gaza in a bid to force Hamas into agreeing a deal with Fatah. UN officials say the power cuts are punishing Gaza's two million residents, rather than Hamas. "We will continue the gradual stopping of financial allocations to the Gaza Strip until Hamas commits to reconciliation" with both Israel and Fatah said Abbas on August 5.

Had he accepted the verdict of Palestinians in the general poll, all Palestinians would have remained together as two opposite political outfits just like Democratic and Republican people living together in USA or all Zionist political parties working together in Israel to target the Palestinians. Parties with opposing views are in the ruling coalition in Israel but Palestinians have not learned to live together to face the Zionist aggression together.

That is the fate of Palestinians and Arabs, Muslim leaders in Saudi Arabia and Iran. May be there is a strong curse on Muslims that they cannot live together.

Israel has imposed sanctions on the Palestinian Authority, including restrictions on Abbas’s ability to visit other Palestinian communities, like Hebron, Bethlehem and Nablus.

Israel decides what Abbas should and should not do and eh cannot leave West Bank without Israeli permission. Last week, Abbas's spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeinah said "the leader will not leave Ramallah due to the freezing of links with Israel."

17

Abbas is increasingly realizing that Israel, under Netanyahu, has no intention of pushing ahead with a two-state solution, especially considering Donald Trump is now in the White House and has come down firmly on the Israeli side.. Trump's predecessor, Barack Obama, did little or nothing, unfortunately, to support the Palestinian right to self-determination during his eight years in office, but he was not at nakedly partisan as Trump. Had Obama wanted to do justice to Palestinians, Palestine state would have become a reality in his first term itself. But Obama also pursued Zionist policies imperialist and capitalist ideology.

Above all, there are increasing health concerns about Abbas, who is 82 and was treated for prostate cancer a few years ago. He has recently been diagnosed with cardiac problems and is now unable to travel to the Jordanian capital, Amman, for health checks. But he has few challengers within Fatah and his main rival, Mohammed Dahlan, who was expelled from Fatah in 2011, lives in exile in the United Arab Emirates.

Abbas recently cut short a trip to China and traveled back to Ramallah after the Israelis directed him to calm the tensions. King Abdullah of Jordan is due to visit Ramallah this week, and. Abbas is reportedly hopeful he will persuade the Israelis to lift the sanctions.

Earlier in August, the Hamas' influential political bureau unveiled a new initiative for intra-Palestinian reconciliation, which was necessary due to "the voices of the Palestinian masses who revolted in Jerusalem and won the Battle of the AlAqsa Gates," a reference to July's Temple Mount clash.

Last year, Palestine disagreed with the request Israel’s ally Egypt, with which it has created the terror blockades around Palestine to block mainly the Gaza people from moving out even for medical purposes, to postpone vote on a UN Security Council resolution against Israeli settlements, according to Palestinian Ambassador to Russia Abdel Hafiz Nofal.

Temple Mount crisis

In order to divert the global attention from its terrorist attacks on the people of Palestine, Israel discovers and tries all sorts of terror gimmicks that make the Palestinians and other Arabs, feel suffocated, pained.

Israel keeps inventing new terror techniques to trouble the people of Palestine. It creates the necessary situation to attack and kill the Palestinians. The Temple Mount, which is the third holiest site in Islam, was equipped with metal 18

detectors and surveillance video cameras to monitor its territory after deadly shooting at the site on July 14. The Temple Mount is under the autonomous administration of the Waqf and only the followers of Islam can pray on the site, while representatives of other religious traditions are allowed to visit it freely.

On Friday, two Israeli policemen died, and a third was wounded after three armed assailants opened fire at the Temple Mount complex. The Israeli police pursued and killed the assailants. But following the attack, the complex was cleared of visitors and closed off to carry out searches at the site. After the terrorist action at the Temple Mount on July 14, Israel closed the sacred space for two days and installed metal detectors at the compound's entrances. The Israeli authorities, as per the prior plan, later decided to install metal detectors at the entrances to the Temple Mount and mount video cameras to monitor what is happening on its territory. The measures led to violent Zionist attacks, leading to clashes in Jerusalem and the West Bank and forced Palestine to suspend contacts with Israel over several Palestinian deaths.

Several incidents on the Temple Mount in July have increased tensions in the area and the Palestinian leaders have been accused of reducing co-operation with Israel's security forces. Clashes between police and worshipers erupted again at the Temple Mount and spread to nearby neighborhoods of the Old City. Over 120 people reportedly were injured.

The Israeli authorities decided to install metal detectors at the entrances to the Temple Mount, where the mosques of Al-Aqsa and Qubbat al-Sakhra located, and mount video cameras to monitor what is happening on the territory after the deadly accident that occurred. Later, under pressure, Israel removed the metal detectors and wanted to impose that any time soon.

Both military and policy attack the Palestinians even without any proper reasons. That is the criminal mindset of Zionism. Thousands of Israeli and Palestinian Arabs gathered near the Old City in order to go to the Temple Mount and pray in Al-Aqsa mosque, which is the third holiest site in Islam. Many Muslims refused to go through the metal detectors and clashed with police. At the same time, reports showed that the Israeli police barred some male Muslims under the age of 50 from entering Jerusalem's Old City and Temple Mount for Friday prayers due to the threat of mass protests.

Israel wanted to de-escalate the situation around the holy site. Israel says it boosted the security measures so that” there are, there were and there will be” no plans to change the so-called historical status-quo at the Temple Mount. “The history and faith of the Jewish people are inseparable from the Temple Mount”. In an effort to alleviate tensions, Israeli authorities removed metal detectors, looking for tensions. That is Zionism which the USA promotes. .

Over 30 people protesting against the recently installed metal detectors at the Temple mount complex in Jerusalem were injured in clashes with the security forces. According to the Jerusalem Post newspaper, the clashed broke out near the 19

Lions' Gate, where Jerusalem's Muslims were praying as an act of protest against the authorities' decision to install metal detectors at a holy site. Police told the newspaper that the exact reasons for the violence were yet unclear The state sponsored rioters were reportedly dispersed.

On July 28, media reported that Israeli authorities renewed restrictions on the access to the Temple Mount and banned men under 50 from entering the site for Friday prayers. But the introduction of the metal detectors led to violent clashes in Palestinian neighborhoods. Then the Israeli authorities decided to remove the restrictions at the entrances to the Temple Mount in a bid to ease Arab-Israeli tensions, however, Palestinians continued clashing with adamant police trying to create problems for them.

Palestinians are against US-Cairo's decision. Besides, there are several other countries in the UNSC that are saying that if Egypt does not handle the issue within a few days, they may initiate a vote. President of the Palestine Authority Mahmoud Abbas has called for a fight to “take control of Al-Aqsa” and to conquer a “racist Israeli plot.” Abbas spoke July 21 at a meeting of Palestinian leaders in the West Bank city of Ramallah, announcing that all contact with Israel would be frozen.

According to a statement from the Palestinian Authority's ruling party Fatah, the "campaign for Jerusalem has effectively begun, and will not stop until a Palestinian victory and the release of the holy sites from Israeli occupation," cited by the Times of Israel. In a Saturday statement, Fatah spoke glowingly of Palestinians who protested in Jerusalem on Friday. The protests turned violent, according to the Jerusalem Post, with three protesters killed by Israeli law enforcement and some 200 wounded.

There are many former Jewish Russians now Israelis crating problems of the Palestinians as agents of Israeli Mossad. The situation around the Temple Mount in Jerusalem will unlikely be settled in the near future and external players and Russia in particular should make more efforts at crisis resolution Israeli Ambassador to Russia Gary Koren says that the situation around the Temple Mount in Jerusalem will unlikely be settled in the near future and external players and Russia in particular should make more efforts at crisis resolution.

Jerusalem Arab Muslim community will continue protests near Bab al-Asbat, the north-eastern gate to the Temple Mount, until the Bab Huta gate is open.

Earlier, Israeli authorities decided to remove the remaining metal detectors and surveillance cameras at the entrances to the Old City and the Temple Mount in the city of Jerusalem in a bid to ease Arab-Israeli tensions triggered by the recent restrictions. "We will not enter the Al Aqsa mosque until the Bab Huta gate is opened. We will return to the starting point," Kiswani said in front of the Muslim crowd gathering near Bab al-Asbat.

Earlier, the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem Muhammad Hussein reportedly declared an end to the dispute over a holy Muslim and Jewish site, and encouraged worshipers to pray at its premises. Israel did not like that and used police to attack them. The measures led to violent clashes in Jerusalem and the West Bank over the 20

weekend and forced Palestine to suspend contacts with Israel over several Palestinian deaths.

How to end Zionist fascism?

Obviously, it is impossible to end Zionist fascism so long as the Uncle Sam USA and its NATO terror allies continue to support, promote and fund the Israeli military. Even Trump is not interested in weakening the Zionist fascist infrastructures that his predecessors have promoted as their Mideast policy.

Since USA and allies have provided Israel with illegal nukes, Trump with his Jewish son in law advising him on policies may not be interested in cutting that links. Neither the UN not IAEA is capable of fighting Israel and USA. As a result, Israel keeps proliferating illegal settlements inside Palestine.

The UN Security Council, on order from USA, postponed a scheduled vote on draft resolution calling on Israel to stop the building of settlements in occupied Palestinian territories. The Zionist ally Cairo, which circulated the resolution, agreed to postpone the draft after a phone call of US president-elect Donald Trump to President Abdel Fattah Sisi. His ambassador “believes� that Cairo decided to delay the voting over the USA and Israeli pressure reminding that earlier, US Presidentelect Donald Trump said the Security Council should veto the proposed resolution to punish Israel.

Even while lecturing on democracy and rule of law, the fascist ally USA has so far used its precious veto mainly to shield the Zionist crimes against humanity.

Since Israel control US foreign policy, Israeli PM B Netanyahu had previously urged the US president Trump to veto the proposal against Israel. USA cannot just ignore the Zionist request because both share a lot of secret terror operations across the globe.

Observations The factional fighting within Palestine has certainly weakened the PLO and further fortified the Zionist projects, and emboldened the Jewish military to attack and kill Palestinians, including their children.

Palestinians continue to fight on two fronts one against the Zionist aggressors and occupiers and also kill each other; while PLO deals with Israel and USA and international community for soverign, Hamas, though duly elected like the Republican Party in USA, also fights as non-state actors. Hamas affirms that its 21

conflict is with the Zionist occupational fascism and not with the Jews because of their religion. Hamas does not wage a struggle against the Jews because they are Jewish but wages a struggle against the Zionists who occupy Palestine. yet it is the Zionist who constantly identify Judaism and the Jews with their own colonial project and illegal identity.

Abbas announced on Friday that he would freeze all contact with Israel until Jerusalem "commits to canceling all the measures against our Palestinian people in general and Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa mosque in particular," cited by Haaretz. Abbas added that the metal detectors are "falsely presented as a security measure to take control over Al-Aqsa mosque." "The steps taken by Israel are leading to a religious confrontation and an evasion from a diplomatic process," he said, according to Haaretz.

The Palestinian president asserted that he has been in communication with heads of state from Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Morocco, seeking their intervention in the Temple Mount conflict.

The recent protests revolve around the introduction of metal detectors by Israel at the entrances to the sacred Temple Mount compound. Fatah commended the protesters' actions "against the enemy," as well as "acts for the protection of Al-Aqsa and their struggle against the Israeli plans, while sacrificing souls and blood," according to the Israeli news outlet. Fatah also called for a three-day mourning period for the dead, as well as a general strike.

After Israel installed metal detectors at the entrances to the Temple Mount, Fatah described the move as a "racist" plot to "take over Al-Aqsa." The Palestinian ruling party claimed that only a complete removal of all detectors would be acceptable.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a phone conversation with Israeli counterpart Reuven Rivlin and urged Tel Aviv not to restrict the Muslims' access to the mosques on the Temple Mount. "Their implementation is wrong.

Taking such radical measures over a terror threat, blocking or restricting Muslims' access to Al-Aqsa Mosque, will not contribute to solving any problems," Yildirim was quoted as saying by Anadolu news agency.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on Israel to recognize Palestine and to respect the Al-Aqsa mosque, which is one of the holiest sites in Islam. Israel is attempting to bar Muslims from accessing the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem by using safety concerns as a pretext, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. "Everyone, who knows Israel, is aware that restrictions on Al-Aqsa mosque are not due to safety concerns. Israel is trying to take Al-Aqsa from Muslims under the guise of counter-terrorism efforts," Erdogan said at the meeting of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) parliamentary group in Ankara, as quoted by the Daily Sabah newspaper. The president also called on Israel to recognize Palestine and to respect the Al-Aqsa mosque, which is one of the holiest sites in Islam.

22

So far, at least four Palestinians have been killed and dozens more injured.

In order to put an end to this violence, Israel finally announced its decision to remove the metal detectors and security cameras from the Lions' Gate, the eastern entrance to the Old City and the Temple Mount.

Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim condemned on Friday Israeli government's measures to step up security on the Temple Mount and restrict access to Al-Aqsa Mosque for Muslim prayers after last week's deadly attack on the Israeli police, adding that it would not help to solve the existing conflict.

The crucial issue threatening the cause of Palestine is unity of Palestinians.

Hamas does not seem to work seriously for sovereignty and it lets the private "toy" terrorists to spoil any peace deal and sovereignty move. Fatah and Hamas factions see each other as their worst foes, even much worse than their real cold blooded enemy Israel or its promoter the USA. That is indeed Palestinian madness though a cold outcome of Israel by delay cum aggression tactics.

The world views this attitude highly harmful for the further existence of nationhood even if Palestine becomes – and it will- a sovereign nation.

Despite the rivalry and notwithstanding Israeli obstructions, Palestinians are going to be free from the Zionist fascist trap sooner than later though proper legal channel- through UN. US president Trump is on record declaring his decision to make the establishment of Palestine a reality by seriously mediating between Israel and Palestine. The US President has the power and authority to influence or force Israel to agree for peaceful solution of Palestine state and making the region tension free.

Trump could use the US aid as a bargaining/threatening chip to make Israel behave. Netanyahu could be in jail soon for his corrupt operations on the back of routine Israeli aggression of Palestine, killing even the children of Palestine.

Trump should also make the Mideast free from nukes by reigning in Israeli illegal WMD. Will you, Mr. President Trump?

________

Chapter-3: Pakistani PM Nawaz Sharif’s fate and Islam!

-Dr. Abdul Ruff Colachal

23

Islam means peace, honesty, genuineness- all in one. Muslims no matter where the live need to abide by Islamic tenets by all means. Islam expecting from believers high moral ideals and values does not coexist with bribery, corruption, nepotism, cheating, deception, lies, etc.

It is a sad commentary on Muslim rulers and leaders that most of them are corrupt and shamelessly use even terrorism drama to mint wealth illegally, keeping them secretly in the country concerned and abroad. Interestingly, they swear by Islam and even offer prayers and undertake fasting during the Holy Ramadan and perform Holy Hajj as many times as possible, though Islamic Prophet ( SAS). They think that God almighty has given them power and money to enjoy and control the nations.

Bribery and corruption like liquor and pork etc are strictly forbidden in Islam. .

Arab rulers are the best examples who have huge assets indoors and abroad. Pakistan is one of worst affected corrupt nations just like its neighbor India where corruption at top level is promoted and protected by the government and president as their prime duty. People are disconnected from the government and deleted from the sphere of activities of their elected representatives to the assemblies and parliament where the rich corporate lords who lavishly fund the parties and their erections, have full sway.

Parliaments and assemblies in these two nations are made to promote the interests of rich and corporate lords and MNCs In fact, after the polls, people, voters are nobody and if they have problems they must bribe the MLAs and MPs to get redressal, if any..

These "big' elected people have their own wealth agenda by immoral illegal means.

Pakistani regime promotes and protects the private interests of the rich and aristocrats like Nawaz Sharif and his family. In fact, by using the name Muslim league the party works against the genuine interests of common Muslims. That is the case of Muslim League in India where Muslims have to bribe the ML leaders for a job and any such services and thus poor Muslims are ignored by the party which is supposed committed to all Muslims. The Muslim party employs criminal-fraud elements to tor the poor Muslims, others.

That is the real state of sad affairs of Muslim League both in India and Pakistan which behaves like a capitalist party. .It cheats and betrays people. .

Nawaz Sharif which was PM of Pakistan many times is an aristocrat with large business assets in and outside Pakistan and has ony the interests of the rich like Imran Khan who made money playing cricket fixed by the international mafias. . .

On July 28, Nawaz Sharif has resigned as prime minister of Pakistan following a decision by the country's Supreme Court to disqualify him from office. The ruling came 24

after a probe into his family's wealth following the 2015 Panama Papers dump linking Sharif's children to offshore companies.

Sharif, like India's international frauds cum Bharatratna candidates like liquor-IPL magnet Vijay Mallya who after cheating India on finances, is enjoying life in London obviously with the backing of BJP government, has consistently denied any wrongdoing in the case. The five judges reached a unanimous verdict in the Islamabad court, which was filled to capacity. "Following the verdict, Nawaz Sharif has divested himself of his responsibility as prime minister," a spokesman for Sharif's office said in a statement.

However, it said he had "serious reservations" about the judicial process.

That is the greatness of Pakistani judiciary, unlike its Indian counterpart which waits for "notes" from Indian government before declaring judgments of very important cases like Babri Mosque destroyed by the criminal elements of RSS-BJP and allies, now functions independently.

The court's ruling stated that Sharif had been dishonest in not disclosing his earnings from a Dubai-based company in his nomination papers during the 2013 general election. One of the judges, Ejaz Afzal Khan, said that Mr Sharif was no longer "eligible to be an honest member of the parliament". The court has recommended anti-corruption cases against several individuals, including Sharif, his daughter Maryam and her husband Safdar, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and others.

The case hearings - spread over nearly 15 months - have been marred by controversy.

The case belongs in a criminal court. The Supreme Court, which is an appellate body, initially refused to hear it. But then it not only admitted the petition for hearing, it also took the unusual step of instituting its own investigation into the case, with a dominant role for military intelligence services.

Many believe that the Supreme Court has started a process of cracking down on corruption, which augurs well for democracy. Others see this as part of a long history of political manipulation through which the country's powerful military establishment has sought to control civilian decision-making. However, while across-the-board action against corruption may remain a pipe dream, this verdict will open the gates of power for a new set of politicians - as has often happened in the past.

A huge leak of documents has lifted the lid on how the rich and powerful use tax havens to hide their wealth. The files were leaked from one of the world's most secretive companies, a Panamanian law firm called Mossack Fonseca. The files show how Mossack Fonseca clients were able to launder money, dodge sanctions and avoid tax.

In one case, the company offered an American millionaire fake ownership records to hide money from the authorities. This is in direct breach of international regulations designed to stop money laundering and tax evasion.

It is the biggest leak in history, dwarfing the data released by the Wikileaks organisation in 2010. For context, if the amount of data released by Wikileaks was equivalent to the 25

population of San Francisco, the amount of data released in the Panama Papers is the equivalent to that of India. There are links to 12 current or former heads of state and government in the data, including dictators accused of looting their own countries. More than 60 relatives and associates of heads of state and other politicians are also implicated. The files also reveal a suspected billion-dollar money laundering ring involving close associates of .rulers of most the G20 nations, including three of the four children of Pakistan's Nawaz Sharif, who is now in his largest trouble..

The leaks in April 2016 revealed that three of Mr Sharif's children owned offshore companies and assets not shown on his family's wealth statement. The companies were allegedly used to channel funds to acquire foreign assets, including some apartments along Park Lane in London's Mayfair area. Despite documents from the Panama Papers suggesting that the beneficial owner of the luxury central London flats was Sharif's daughter Maryam, she later claimed that she was only a trustee - and that it was her brother who was the beneficial owner. To prove her point, Maryam Nawaz produced a trust deed signed by both her and her brother dated February 2006. But a British forensic expert later said the document was "fake" or had been "falsified" because it was typed in the Calibri font, which was not commercially available until 2007. The insinuation that the offshore companies were meant to hide or launder ill-gotten wealth or to avoid taxes called Sharif's credentials into question.

Although there are legitimate ways of using tax havens, most of what has been going on is about hiding the true owners of money, the origin of the money and avoiding paying tax on the money. IPL type joint cricket events is among the best routes for money laundering.. Some of the main allegations centre on the creation of shell companies, that have the outward appearance of being legitimate businesses, but are just empty shells. They do nothing but manage money, while hiding who owns it.. Many cricketers own such companies to further promote their own wealth making and awards for crciekt batboys. .

Interestingly, Mossack Fonseca says it has operated beyond reproach for 40 years and never been accused or charged with criminal wrong-doing. President Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the reports were down to "journalists and members of other organisations actively trying to discredit Putin and this country's leadership".

Publication of the leaks may be down to "former employees of the State Department, the CIA, other security services," he said.

Pakistan has repeated history. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is resigning. He was the 18th prime minister of Pakistan. Not a single one of the 17 prime ministers that preceded him have completed their full term in office. Sharif, who was serving as prime minister for a record third time, was less than a year away from becoming the first in Pakistani history to complete a full term in office. He served as prime minister from November 1990 to July 1993 and from February 1997 until he was toppled in a bloodless coup in October 1999. Allegations of corruption have dogged Sharif Mia since the 1980s. And much of what the Panama Papers revealed was the subject of a federal inquiry in the mid-1990s.

26

It is not immediately clear who will succeed Sharif, but his brother Shehbaz, who is chief minister of Punjab province, is seen as a strong contender for the job. Pakistan's ruling party, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), will be permitted by the speaker of the National Assembly to select an interim prime minister to rule until the 2018 general election. The PML-N, which has the most seats in parliament, is expected to deliver a statement later on Friday.

Opposition parties will also have the opportunity to put forward their own candidates for the position. Meanwhile, the court has directed the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), the main anti-corruption body, to compile and send four references to accountability courts against Sharif and others. The NAB has been directed to file these references within six weeks. The accountability courts have been directed to complete hearings in these cases in six months.

The ruling represents the peak of a drama that has fuelled news coverage and social media debates for months, attracting scorn and ridicule as well as trenchant support for the prime minister. The divisions fall largely along party lines but amid the febrile accusations, many have also expressed concerns over Pakistan's political culture. The Wikipedia profile of the prime minister has also been littered with obscenities and accusations. Sharif is not the first prime minister to lose his position following the leaking of documents from the Panamanian law firm. Iceland's prime minister was forced to resign after documents appeared to reveal that he and his wife concealed millions of dollars' worth of investments in an offshore company.

The PML-N decided, in its own parliamentary committee meeting, to nominate Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif as the successor to his brother, Nawaz Sharif. Pakistan’s parliament will meet on Tuesday to elect a new prime minister after the Supreme Court disqualified Nawaz Sharif following an investigation into corruption allegations against his family. The ruling party named Sharif’s younger brother Shahbaz as his successor over the weekend, but he must first enter parliament by contesting the seat left vacant

by Sharif. In the meantime the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), which enjoys a majority in parliament, has nominated ex-oil minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi as interim prime minister.

The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) in a parliamentary committee meeting on Saturday decided to push for a nominee unanimously supported by opposition parties for the vacant post of prime minister after Nawaz Sharif was disqualified from public office after a landmark Supreme Court ruling in the Panama Papers case a day earlier. The PTI's parliamentary party of former cricketer Imran Khan expressed satisfaction and gratitude over the Supreme Court verdict in the Panama gate case, with Khan terming the decision a "historic" one.. The PTI announced that the party was fielding Yasmeen Rashid to contest by-polls for the NA-120 constituency left vacant after the exit of Nawaz Sharif. Imran Khan met with Awami Muslim League leader Sheikh Rashid and invited him to attend Sunday's 'thanksgiving day' gathering in Islamabad. Rashid accepted the invitation.

27

While the ML workers and leaders are unhappy and angry over the verdict that, they argue, would strengthen the opposition, the general mood of the people is one of satisfaction. Local media on Friday showed crowds assembled outside the Supreme Court in Islamabad cheering the court's verdict. As the verdict was announced, opposition supporters erupted in applause, rushing into the street chanting slogans and handing out sweets, according to reports. The vice-chairman of the Pakistan Tehrik-eInsaf (PTI) party, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, called it an "historic day" and praised the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) for "not succumbing to the enormous pressure and serving the cause of justice."

The verdict was announced amid heightened security in the capital, with about 3,000 armed police and members of the Pakistan Rangers paramilitary force deployed near and around the Supreme Court.

Observation Pakistan is in need of an independent judiciary to help keep the democratic process within the ambit of the law and the Constitution. In a country where public officials, elected and unelected, routinely and brazenly live beyond their known and legal sources of income and wealth, the Supreme Court's verdict in connection with the Panama Papers case in Pakistan may be the beginning of a new era of public disclosure and accountability.. The citizens of Pakistan deserve a better, more transparent and more accountable leadership in all state institutions and therefore the July 28, 2017 is a historic day for both the judiciary and politics in Pakistan. None of the former rulers of Pakistan have been subjected to the kind of transparent scrutiny that PM Nawaz Sharif and his family have undergone. Pakistani rulers and leaders must urgently learn a humility that neither Sharif not Imran has seemed capable of. The former cricket considers himself a Muslim god but he is fraud who entered politics to protect his illegal wealth. The fact that a cricketer has come to occupy a major position in Pakistani politics only reveals the emptiness and vacuum in thinking power of the people. That is sad. People opt a entertainers and frauds only when the professional politicians refuse to serve the people and lose their trust.

While the Muslim League workers and leaders are unhappy and angry over the verdict that, they argue, would strengthen the opposition. The general mood of the people is one of satisfaction. One fails to understand why the so-called “Islamic terrorists" who are suppose to fight for Islam do not target the corrupt rulers of Islamic world. One answer is that these terrorists are generated and supported by the anti-Islamic forces led by USA, Israel and allies whose main objective is to defame Islam as a terrorist nation, kill Muslims to reduce global Islamic populations. That is reason why USA and NATO are not interested in ending the terror wars. Russia has already joined them and China is providing indirect support to anti-Islamic forces in Syria and elsewhere. There is total uncertainty not only in Syria but also in Pakistan. .

28

The Hon judiciary of Pakistan has upheld the dignity of highest court of the land and genuineness of judgments by removing the strongest man in Pakistan- PM Sharif which in itself is a great achievement of Pakistan despite being one of the most corrupt states on the globe. This very important for the reason such judgments are very rare in the world of corrupt regimes around as judiciary sub-serve the cause of the regime that promotes corruption as their prime duty as part of promotion of capitalism and imperialism. . .

In India, for instance, judiciary cannot dare delivering such judgments against a Hindu prime minister or a Hindu President, because it does not want to degrade the prestige of India by punishing the big Hindu political frauds. India cannot have Muslim Prime minister possible for "secular" reason. In case Indian top political leaders, cutting across political spectrum, decide to post a Muslim as Indian PM, then, there could also be tremendous pressure from various quarters to remove the Muslim PM through courts. Until then, Indian PM is safe.

India, which happily punishes if a Muslim is rising faster than Hindus but promotes and pampers Hindu frauds who manage 50s/100s in cricket with mafia plus bowlers' help, is not expected make a Muslim as Prime Minster even to punish him and insult other Indian Muslims and Islam. . After all, India looks down upon Muslims as a mere vote bank stuff - insulted and injured....For the oldest Congress party it is punishment for its crimes for decades as ruling party with hidden Hindutva agenda. Congress party that created all background work for the emergence of fascist forces in democratic and secular India to threaten Muslims, in fact saw to it that no Muslim become Indian PM and no Muslim leader emerges strong enough to defend Muslims in the country and indirectly paved way for the Hindutva forces to occupy Indian Parliament and several state assemblies, replacing the Congress party itself gradually.

Thus the Indian judiciary has almost lost its backbone to deliver real and genuine justice on Babri Mosque which, as the government in 1992 announced the Mosque would be rebuilt on the illegal destruction of it by the Hindutva criminal elements.

Can Indian Supreme Court now direct Indian government, ruled by the same gang that destroyed the Mosque on the strength of Hindu majority? Will Indian regime start work on reconstruction of Babri Mosque and help Indian Muslims retake the Babri Mosque for the purposes of daily worship of God? Indian Muslims, except those that support the anti-Muslim outfits like Congress and BJP parties, have not yet completely lost hopes on Indian Apex Court for justice!

Pakistan is supposed to be a model Islamic nation even for the Arab nations but the poison called corruption is eating away all positive things about that nation, born to protect Muslims and help them grow as true Islamic souls.

29

Will the leaders in Pakistan and other third world Muslim nations consider the fate of Sharif for ignoring Islamic way of life in political career and make amendments to begin living as true Muslims to become model Muslims for others to follow. . ____________

Chapter-4: India: Future of AAP: Kejriwal under Congress-BJP scanners! (3 Parts) -Dr. Abdul Ruff Colachal

______

Part -1 Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) that came to power in Delhi as a rude shock to the then leading corrupt and fanatic parties like Congress and BJP that ruled the capital state alternatively since the Delhi state came into being is now facing an untimely existential threat from the same threatened parties and very unserious, rather childish attitude of the party leadership itself.

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, the crusader for social causes that made him very dear to Delhiites, led the political regime change in Delhi with his famous anti-corruption agitations and sent shock waves to entire country of arrival of a serious threat to corrupt politicians. Indian politicians are by and large extremely corrupt and they have come to politics only to make wealth, with or without power, by looting the resources of the nation.

Congress party that promotes corruption officially through its governments across the nation is worst affected outfit.

But corrupt politicians n all parities woke up to face the challenge to their illegal and immoral operations through political parties and Congress and BJP led that opposition.

While the Congress-BJP duo and central government though its Lt governor accelerate the move to unseat AAP government and end Kejriwal politics by falsely implicating him in corruption cases, poor Delhi CM is still thinks his “honesty� and people of Delhi would save him.

Thus the man Delhi people chose to lead Delhi state and India at large immersed in petty politics, forgetting about the role the people have bestowed upon him, though he knows the carpet is bring pulled from under his feet by Congress-BJP duo.

30

Is Kejriwal a prisoner?

The image of “Great” Arvind Kejriwal was lost first when his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) lost all five parliamentary seats in his Delhi state to BJP as he himself did not contest from there but went up to UP on a failed mission to defeat the PM candidate Narendra Modi in Varanasi which BJP won easily. Then the crushing defeat in recent local polls in Delhi state has made the AAP feel the saffron pinch. Now AAP needs to defeat BJP in order to survive as a quasi national party in Delhi. Both BJP and Congress have pushed the Arvind and his party to corner, forcing him not to outside Delhi, even for attending marriages if any.

However, the defeat taught Kejriwal a useful lesson about the secret alliance between two national parties Congress and BJP not to let the AAP make any inroads in the country because that new party would destroy both the essentially Hindutva parties. It did not help Arvind slash down his tone of arrogance towards fellow leaders like Prashant Bhushan, however, which did tell on the course tough time of AAP’s survival in the state.

True, the AAP is the ruling party with enough majority and even if it loses a few more MLAs crossing over to BJP nothing would affect the fortunes of the party in the near future but, however, its image as a great popular party is slowly falling down.

Kejriwal’s arrogance, even if for the sake of purity of politics, has clearly affected the future of the party as a possible national party. That is indeed the success of secret alliance between BJP and Congress. A united AAP would have faced and repelled convincingly all accusations and destabilization efforts of these parties but now even his former comrades are also against him, proving a log for the BJPCongress duo to swim in the troubled Delhi waters.

Delhiites and Indians looked forward to AAP as a prompt saviorto save the nation and people from the corrupt and fanatic politicians but Kejriwal doesn’t go beyond Delhi where he is made a prisoner by Congress-BJP duo.

If anyone thinks Congress is not a Hindutva party like BJP they are terribly mistaken, after all, it is the Congress which is instrumental in the fostering of Hindutva parties in the secular like BJP and VHP and their “mother RSS”, India to keep Muslims under stress and strains.

Of course, RSS is mother to Indian military as well.

EVMs magic?

There is a serious complain that the government is using the electronic voting machine (EVMs) to produce a pro-BJP verdict in the polls and in the local poll of 31

Delhi Corporations the allegation became strong enough though the BJP government preferred not to take notice of it.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) members have blamed the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) malpractice for its defeat.

In a major setback to the Aam Admi Party, the BJP swept the municipal corporation polls in Delhi. The results showed that AAP had lost almost half of its vote share while the BJP increased theirs by almost 4% to 37% as compared to the 2015 assembly polls. JP sweeps MCD Polls with 181 wards; AAP finishes a distant second with 48 wards, Congress gets 30, indicating upper hand for the saffron party.

Following the BJP's victory in the MCD polls, Congress leaders like Delhi chief Ajay Maken announced their resignations from their posts.

The AAP party faced losses in wards of constituencies held by senior AAP leaders and MLAs Satyendra Jain and Somnath Bharti and others like Alka Lamba, Gopal Rai and Kapil Mishra. AAP blamed tampering of electronic voting machines (EVMs).

Kejriwal, unlike what the Congress government had described him, is not childish and he is well versed in political manners too. After his defeat in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) polls, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal congratulated the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and expressed his willingness to work with the winning party for the betterment of Delhi. However, the AAP government or its CM Kejriwal did not resign to make opponent BJP and Congress rejoice overboard. It was only the local polls.

The AAP leadership, instead of studying its mistakes continued to remain in denial and insisted that it was not a victory for PM Narendra Modi but for the electronic voting machines (EVMs). “This is an EVM wave, not a Modi wave,” said Delhi minister Gopal Rai. AAP is still unable to gauge the real cause of its defeat and rise of BJP in the state, notwithstanding a review meeting recently. Some BJP leaders say that the BJP making Manoj Tiwari the president of the BJP state unit worked in their favour, given the changing demographics of the city. Tiwari, an actor and Bhojpuri singer, made started his political career and gained political experience in Samajwadi Party and moved to the BJP after 2011.

The induction of Tiwari, a Bhojpuri celebrity who had already won for BJP the Northeast Delhi Lok Sabha seat, a Poorvanchali hub, in 2014, to wean these voters away from the AAP and the Congress seemed to have paid off well. He infused some new energy into the Delhi party as some of the old school RSS leaders were becoming unappealing. AAP’s power and sway over the peole of Delhi remained very solid. BJP calculated the caste composition of Delhi voters. The Jats, Yadavs and Gujjars — the original residents of the rural pockets — are now outnumbered

by Poorvanchali migrants from UP and Bihar in many of the villages of Delhi. In the

32

unauthorised colonies, where a third of Delhi’s population lives, Poorvanchalis are the dominant group.

Possibly BJP is waiting for the next assembly poll to field Manoj Tiwari as the CM candidate to defeat Arvind as Kiran Bedi could not help the BJP with the Delhi assembly and government and PM Modi had to make her the Lt governor of Pondicherry to save her image as successful police officer with IPS rank.

BJP government and Congress are closely watching Kejriwal’s moves and are eager to put him in jail for a long period on multiple charges and dismantle the AAP infrastructure the manipulative politics of Congress-BJP duo.

(More to follow..>)

Chapter-5:Future of AAP: Kejriwal under Congress-BJP scanners! (Part -2) -Dr. Abdul Ruff Colachal

______

Part -2 The problem facing the ruling AAP government is Congress, which is now uprooted in Delhi state, must be keen to see its secret ally the BJP wrestle power from APP and finish it off once for all with Congress party providing logistic and political support. BJP does not require money from Congress as it is strong finically now.

Although the BJP could not defeat the AAP in the assembly poll, it could defeat it in the parliamentary poll as well the recently held Corporation polls in Delhi and New Delhi. That means Delhiites have not yet completely driven the BJP out of Delhi state unlike the Congress party whose fate is sealed for now if not forever. .

India is passing through a delicate phase of political upheaval. Hitherto unseen burst of Hindutva moorings alongside the anti-corruption movement of KejriwalHazare removed Congress from power at centre, while the Modi government and the BJP under his governance and management have succeed in sidelining and gradually phasing out Congress party as the major stake holders in national politics and the recent poll for President and Vice President have comfortably proven that.

The BJP is in and Congress is out. Swap is almost complete, though many mostly corrupt parties try to help Congress party to stay in politics because Congress governments let the corrupt elements to loot the nation as much as they can with state protections while BJP may not or if even if it does they are not feeling “homely” with Hindu forces.

33

BJP ended up winning most of the wards in Delhi state as they used their resounding victory in Uttar Pradesh to their advantage. Pre-2014 BJP was different from the one we have now. We have raised the bar,” Tiwari said. Admitting that governance standards in local bodies were wanting before Modi took over as the PM, he claimed that having “Modi as BJP’s policy” would change that.

Focus AAP has focused on a few states for stakes in the government formation and failed as it is no match for manipulative politics of Congress-BJP duo. Punjab, Goa and Karnataka are their focus these days. In Goa the AAP party fought and lost baldy.

In Punjab the Congress wrestled the assembly form BJP coalition and AAP could not muster enough strength there. In Karnataka where Congress and BJP fight a hard politics AAP cannot hope for anything.

Delhi verdict in local polls has confused the AAP party. The so-called "pep talk" Arvind Kejriwal gave to newly elected municipal corporators of the Aam Aadmi Party on Thursday was hardly the way to enthuse people who have lost the fervor of people. Though these brave hearts had just battled an electoral tornado and kept the party flag afloat, the meeting began with the Delhi chief minister chastising them severely for being late and keeping him waiting.

Kejriwal has been stricken with the victimhood syndrome ever since he became chief minister, and during this talk, he tried to spread the infection. Instead of telling party officials that displaying incorruptible scruples was the best way to ward off BJP attempts to lure them, he advised them to record every phone conversation.

"Once you have recorded the conversation, we will call a press conference and play it," he declared.

The logic why AAP members should refuse inducements is also warped. "You don't need money, you didn't have to buy party tickets and spend lakhs of rupees on the campaign," was Kejriwal's logic. He forgot that people accept bribes for other reasons too, mostly because they are low on principles.

Instead of beginning the interaction — with many of them for the first time — by enhancing their self-esteem by dwelling on the significance of their victories when others fell by the wayside, Kejriwal's address was loaded with moral sermonizing.

Instead of celebrating their success, the repeated emphasis was on recalling past glory. Instead of talking about the crisis that the party faces after the rout in Delhi and sub-par performances in Punjab and Goa, the AAP supremo romanticized about the halcyon days of the party.

Kejriwal did not, even once, applaud the achievements of these winners, instead verbalizing the party's emergence from the anti-corruption agitation, and crediting every electoral accomplishment to that movement. "Countless people made sacrifices and your victories are due to these sacrifices," he told the gathered

34

members. Instead of recognising their special abilities and displaying trust in them, they were lectured that their victory was due to past contributions of others.

They were also warned against succumbing to temptations — almost making it out that the newly-elected AAP corporators would be more than willing to barter the party tag for a Bharatiya Janata Party label. It was unfortunate that in his first meeting with them, the party chief displayed doubts over their loyalty. By casting such aspersions and suggesting that he feared that many among them could be lured into the BJP fold, Kejriwal showed AAP's process of candidate selection was anything but flawless Image loss AAP lost its image and credibility. India Today listed the rifts within the party as one of the reasons for their defeat. With several MLAs expressing their displeasure and some even jumping ship, there was a negative perception among voters. As soon as its MLA from Bawana Ved Prakash quit the party to join BJP, every day the speculation of more following the suit hurt the party's credibility. Another MLA Rajesh Rishi cautioned party chief against 'sycophants' and used twitter as his platform. The biggest blow was a video by senior leader Kumar Vishwas who not only kept away from the Party's campaign for crucial MCD polls but also released a video slamming his own party on the issue of corruption Facing a barrage of criticism for continuing to blame EVMs for their loss, report suggest that a meeting was held at the Chief Minister’s residence where the election was discussed.

AAP leader Sanjay Singh said organisational improvement was needed and the party would work towards it. The AAP leader's remarks came after a long meeting of the party's Political Affairs Committee (PAC) at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence recently. The PAC meeting was organised to "introspect" and analyze the AAP's humiliating defeat in Delhi municipal elections, results of which were announced. After the meeting Singh told reporters that the party "introspected" on what went wrong and where "we fell short". He said the party will work on all levels including structural and booth level and "make necessary changes". He said the PAC also discussed the tampering of EVMs. He said nearly 18 political parties of the country have raised doubts over EVMs then why is it that the AAP is being made fun of. AAP is still serious threat not just to both Congress and BJP but also for all corrupt politicians across the political spectrum of the nation. .

Singh also took on the political opponents who had raised questions about party's progress and its future. He said one cannot write off the AAP as in the past four years, all that the party has achieved was not less. The Bharatiya Janata Party won the civic polls bagging 181 municipal wards out of 270 and pushed the AAP to a distant second spot with 48 wins. The Congress could emerge victorious only at 30 wards.

Almost half of the MLAs present said that they did not believe that EVMs were the issue. Following the party meet, Aam Aadmi Party MLA Jagdeep Singh said, "If we 35

find anything concrete on EVMs, we will talk about it". Similarly, Avtar Singh, who is the AAP legislator from Kalkaji, did not comment on EVMs and Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal refrained from speaking on electronic voting machines (EVMs) after the MCD election result. The AAP party has legitimate concerns and the AAP said it would continue doubting this.

In contrast to the Assembly election in 2015 when only the most unfortunate AAP members suffered defeats, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) polls saw only the pluckiest candidates overcame public sentiment against the party.

For a party whose voteshare was eroded by almost half, the leadership's failure to shower victors with wholesome praise indicated scant respect.

Concern AAP’s main concern today is to keep the Delhi state intact, not letting more MLA’s to join the BJP bandwagon on big promises. After an unforeseen setback in the MCD elections, reports suggest, Kejriwal and AAP have changed quite a bit in their approaches, are eager to work as per people's wishes, after all they are the ultimate deciders of the fate of AAP. Defeats lead to criticism. Within the AAP party too, there are signs of discontent.

Bhagwant Mann criticised the leadership for their immaturity. He was quoted as saying that they were behaving like a mohalla cricket team. This video of an angry supporter also surfaced online.

While the BJP rides the UP wave to success, there is also a feeling that AAP’s conduct off late gave its rival a push. Arvind Kejriwal must be willing to be a student and use this opportunity to learn and stop with the constant barrage of complaints against the incumbent in Raj Niwas. And above all, Arvind must learn to hold the hot little buck and accept responsibility.

A Delhi court on Aug 08, 2017 fixed August 23 for framing charges against Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia in a criminal defamation complaint. Metropolitan Magistrate Pranjal Aneja, who was scheduled to frame charges today, was on leave. The court had earlier directed the two AAP leaders and Yogendra Yadav to appear before it today. While Kejriwal and Sisodia sought exemption on the ground that they have to attend the four-day Monsoon session of Delhi Assembly which is commencing today, Yadav was present in the court. The court had on August 2 passed order on framing of notice (charge) on the criminal defamation complaint filed against the two AAP leaders, who sought quashing of the plea and Yadav by advocate Surender Kumar Sharma, who was denied ticket by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

-----------

36

Chapter-6: Future of AAP: Kejriwal under Congress-BJP scanners! (Part-3) -Dr. Abdul Ruff Colachal

Observation

Any political analyst will accept that AAP has done better than expected and risen higher than the groundswell of public opinion had indicated. It was projected that he would almost be laughed off this stage. But he has had a speaking part. While nowhere near the BJP juggernaut's sweep of the MCD polls, AAP has shown that even in its mangled state, it is more viable than Congress. There is a consensus among most political observers that the constant blame game with the Centre has not worked in their favour. The vote is clearly not against the theatrics and agitation politics of the AAP. AAP government has done fairly well – mohalla clinics, free water supply, reduction in electricity rates, construction of 8,000 new classrooms in schools and many more. However, all this good work is dwarfed by its constant tu-tu main-main with the central government which used its Lt. Governor to fight him badly..

Delhiites and most Indians like and approve of honesty and hard work as the ideology of Aam Aadmi party for the development of Delhi and India. Yes, it has changed drastically. You can now see Arvind Kejriwal and his team of Ministers visiting the constituencies and meeting the people. It would be further better if the MLAs and the Municipal Councilors of AAP also interact with the people very frequently, inspecting the projects/hospitals/public offices, etc. on the field.

Before the local polls, given the current political scenario in the capital, reports said barring an odd candidate, all AAP nominees in the bypolls would forfeit their security deposit. That would have possibly triggered mass desertions and Kejriwal will then be fighting to stay in office till 2020. There is no denying that BJP will make every attempt to further weaken AAP and paralyze the state government.

That has not happened -at least not yet.

When he was sworn in as chief minister in February 2015 on the back of a sweeping victory, when AAP got support from all sections of people, Kejriwal had warned party colleagues to guard against hubris setting in. At his post swearing-in speech, he declared, "When one gets such a victory, arrogance can creep in. And if one gets arrogant, everything is lost. That is why all of us — me, the ministers, MLAs, families, volunteers must be on guard. We'll have to introspect constantly and question ourselves to ensure we don't turn arrogant. If we turn arrogant we will never complete our mission." Kejriwal has not kept that pledge. The jury may still be out on whether AAP will ever accomplish its objective or not.

37

Unfortunately, there are already talks about obituary for APP. The obituary of Congress party had been written a couple of times when the party was crushed in the general polls but the party could bounce back to rule the country and many of its regional states. Every party is corrupt ad one autocratic leader controls the party with the help of kith and kin. So, it would be unwise to write the AAP party's obituary right away. But unless the party leadership, Kejriwal downward begin the promised introspection sooner than later, it will be tough to keep obit writers at bay.

Maybe, what the AAP and many columnists say about fake victory of BJP, “achieved” through EVMs, cannot be over ruled. Only a judicial investigation could clear the doubts. The party has been insisting since the Punjab assembly election results in March that the EVMs can be manipulated and that they are the major cause for BJP’s victory in the recent elections.

AAP corporators, contended the leader, should always remember that "betraying the movement would mean that you have betrayed God". Even if one accepts money and crosses over to the BJP, one must "remember that you will never be happy. The money shall not bear fruit and God will extract twice or even three times the amount — it will cause you great pain and anguish", he told them.

Arvind needs to understand a simple thing in politics. Continued arrogance in the face to harsh conspiracies and rough political wealthier is indeed madness. By refusing to read the writing Delhi walls, Arvind commits a serious crime against Delhiites and India.

Thus far PM Modi’s wave could not affect the Delhi assembly polls but future cannot be predicted as hatred and poison have thinly immersed in Indian politics making Modi brand politics a favorite of majority of Hindus and there for the Modi magic might work next time in Delhi as well, especially when many AAP leaders, including former ones, are working against the party and government.

AAP is confronted not with a moral crisis, but an existential emergency. Because it is a new party, it will have to face the bitter truth that the problem begins at the top. Unlike old and traditional parties, AAP cannot wait for BJP to make mistakes. It has to be prepared of the eventuality that 20 of its MLAs will be disqualified on the parliamentary secretary issue.

It is time that such ambush-style politics of AAP was replaced with issue-based opposition to the BJP. Before stinging others, the AAP leader must remember that over the past two years, there have been several exposures over AAP legislators' brushes with the law. Instead of accepting that the blame lay within, Kejriwal is attempting to brazen it out.

Poll debacle suggests AAP is in throes of an existential emergency. Only time will tell if AAP learns its lessons and re-invents itself while at the same time managing to govern the state with BJP heading local bodies. It will surely be an uphill task.

38

That won’t be good for Kejriwal or AAP or Delhi.

Political manipulations and illogical alliance can oust AAP from power. And it is quite likely that the AAP may not be able come back to power again. Anything is possible in politics but if Kejriwal still refuses to read the writing on Delhi walls, and declines to make amendments with former colleagues with whom lunched the new idea and AAP and allies, Indian politics would lose the curiosity and alertness.

Fall of AAP, which has been a novel idea of Indian people for a corruption free and genuine government, is certainly not a defeat for the people but for the system that supports and promotes corruption as state policy and opposes and strikes harshly with all its might if a new party emerges to weed out corruption form Indian soil which would necessarily pave way for honest and transparent global governance

Chapter-7: India celebrates 70th Independence Day by win in fake joint cricketism!

-Dr. Abdul Ruff Colachal

_______

India generally wants to showcase its cricketism as part of its “prowess” power in joint cricket exercises with like minded teams from abroad. Indian government and officals along with fanatic sections of cricket supporters enjoy special status power by winning cricket match to coincide with Independence or Republic Day. But India chooses a weak team and makes sure it wins in big way. Individual batboys are promoted with the help of a perfect pitch and some silly bowlers.

This time also, India chose a weak Lankan team with junior bowlers as hidden part of its Independence Day celebrations. Ultra fanatic Indian media blasted the special news that India thrashed Sri Lanka 3-0.

India government much pleased with Indian team and BCCI trick. Obviously, India must be busy talking to another wiling weak team like Bangladesh to play for the Republic Day early next year.

Certainly India would not ask Australia or England to help India showcase its prestige for January 26 celebrations. Though both are allies and can help India but their bowlers are strong and might not offer too many runs to Indian batboys.

Possibly, both of these big teams would have refused to India and hence India opted for a safe and willing to help Indian cause - Sri Lanka. India did not even trust South Africa which does not have enough good bowlers now.

Indian cricket board BCCI manages to choose weak cricket teams to play with and win against weak bowlers. In fact the Indian government, sports ministry and BCCI, 39

intelligence and media lords work all the time to find the wiling teams to play for w easy wins.

As its usual tactics of planning cricket matches well in advance to win them on the eve of or on the important holidays , like Independence Day, Repulbic Day, Diwali, etc so that the TV media could blast the great victory news and celebrate Indian great win all the 24 hours and beyond. The government would be coerced to decide the National awards on cricketers.

So, Indian government and media lords cannot celebrate public holidays without a cricket win. Today, the 15th August 2017 is Indian Independence day and Indian government has won not just a match but whole a series against a good for nothing Sri Lanka on the eve of its Independence Day. Indian government is too happy that it won a series in cricket and must be busy considering national awards for batboys for their “fabulous” services to nation just like Sachin Tendulkar used to do until the bowlers refused to offer him 50s and 100s but for which he got Bharatratna.

Possibly India has not produced any credible persons for Bharatratna but silly batboys are not fit for the top national awards. The rules say Bharatratna is not meant for gamblers, black marketers, international frauds, cheats, beggars, criminals, cricketers and underworld dons.

If Indian regime offers Bharatratna and other lower grade national awards only to celebrities, then, film actors and actresses must get priority. But look at the pathetic situation in India. There have been talented actors, actresses, music directors and lyricists but a but only a few of them have so far managed just the lowest national award Padma Shri that too after working for life time and towards their retirement time, Whereas a few 100 runs would make gamblers like Sachin Tendulkar respectable recipient of Bhartratna, making India proud. For instance, great actors like Sivaji Ganeshan and Madhu could get only Padmashri for all their life achievements while many other celebrities worked and left the world without even Padmashri award. Can Sachin be equal to Sivaji Ganeshan? In which way Tendulkar is better than Dillip Kumar or Mohd Rafi – thespians in Bollywood?

Padma awards have now become shame awards. In fact, Play back singer Janaki rejected Padmabhushana award when it was given towards her end of film career. No one bothers about that. Everybody even without credibility wants a national award by any way. Nobody questioned the governed decision to float rules and bylaws and offer Bharatratna to a fake sportboy Sachin Tendulkar.

Cricket, unlike other entertainers, is gambling and protected by the government. But cricketers are treated above all other entertainers in the country.

Film actors and actresses and music directors and lyricists are treated less important and inferior to batboys who manage 100s and 50s through match fixings. much below the batboys. Not even bowlers who make and break the batboys and also make the cricket matches “infesting” with their mischief. In fact, cricket is joint mischief by all concerned but batboys get all benefits.

40

India intelligence teams help the cricket board cum team with dates and days, timings, etc stat India world not lose any match even by chance that would bring shame to the nation.

If one has patience and time one could see the sports report of the past few years to know how many cricket matches Indian managed to pocket on the eve of on the public holidays and how many national awards were wasted on cricketers -who amassed 100s and 50s on prior fixings - by the government of India in order to showcase its worth.

Though in Lanka, India controlled the cricket matches in entirety. India and Lanka planned the end of the third test keeping in view Indian Independence Day. Indian independence day on 15th August and ended the play quickly on day 3 in favor of India as their mutual understanding. Interestingly, India played the first innings and got nearly 500 runs but Kolhi could not managed even 50 runs.

Normally, Kolhi would get his quota 100 runs in the second innings but he decided not play the second innings because that prolong the match beyond the 3 day and to the August 15 that would deny India celebrate great victory in media. So, Kolhi asked Lankan boys to bat again the second innings and obviously lose. And as per Indian scrip, Lankans lost and India won on the eve of Indian independence.

How much money India paid to Lanka for the special favors? Sorry, that will never be revealed either by big brother India or by its cricket subordinate ally Lanka.

For anything and everything India, like USA and UK masters, plans well in advance all its tricks – from invasion of Jammu Kashmir, annexation of that nation into Indian Union, destruction of Babri mosque of Muslims, genocides of Muslims in Kashmir and India, etc, and executes in perfection while the public is kept in dark.

For the innocent pubic Indian military is great, Indian cricket team is great.

Even as India media and government celebrate test series win along with Independence Day, the strategists world have already planned for the cricket matches towards the next Republic Day, when Indian government distributes national awards to its favorites cricketers as their first priority.

All said and done, however, Indians also have to celebrate in a big way its independence day! India has only one entertainment cum sport- cricket and it uses all tricks including creation of artificial rains to disturb the matches in order to win, It is not the fault of India that its people are not genuinely talented and the government has to evolve strategies to make the cricket team shine while it makes sure no Muslim batboy is in the team to shine.

Israel celebrates its illegal formation day by attacking and killing the Palestinians but India does not do it so overtly but only attacks Kashmiris or kills a couple of Kashmiri Muslims in fake encounters. New Delhi in that sense is somewhat positive as it focuses on joint cricketism.

41

___________

Chapter-8: Putin reiterates NATO is obsolete and should be dismantled!

-Dr. Abdul Ruff Colachal _________

NATO, an acronym for North Atlantic Treaty Organization, is the most dangerous state terror alliance of 28 countries bordering the North Atlantic Ocean. It includes the United States, Canada, Turkey and most members of the European Union. (NATO’s 28 members are: Albania, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom and the United States)

Premises Each member designates an ambassador to NATO. They supply officials to serve on NATO committees. They send the appropriate official to discuss NATO business. That includes a country’s president, prime minister, foreign affairs minister or head of the department of defense.

NATO participates in three alliances. That expands its influence beyond its 28 member countries. The Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council helps partners become NATO members. It includes 23 non-NATO countries that support NATO’s purpose. It began in 1991.

The Mediterranean Dialogue seeks to stabilize the Middle East. Its non-NATO members include Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia. It began in 1994. The Istanbul Cooperation Initiative works for peace throughout the larger Middle East region. It includes four members of the Gulf Cooperation Council. They are Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. It began in 2004.

NATO cooperates with eight other countries in joint security issues. There are five in Asia. They are Australia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mongolia and New Zealand. There are two in the Middle East: Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The founding members of NATO signed the North Atlantic Treaty on April 4, 1949. NATO’s primary 42

purpose was to defend member nations against troops in pro-communist countries. The United States also wanted to maintain a presence in Europe. It sought to prevent a resurgence of aggressive nationalism and foster political union. In this way, NATO made the European Union possible.

During the Cold War, NATO’s mission expanded to prevent nuclear war. After West Germany joined NATO, the communist countries formed the Warsaw Pact alliance. That included the USSR, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, Poland, Czechoslovakia and East Germany. In response, NATO adopted the “Massive Retaliation” policy. It promised to use nuclear weapons if the Pact attacked. NATO’s deterrence policy allowed Europe to focus on economic development. It didn’t have to build large conventional armies.

The Soviet Union continued to build its military presence. By the end of the Cold War, it was spending three times what the United States was with only one-third the economic power. When the Berlin Wall fell in 1989, it was due to economic as well as ideological reasons. After the USSR dissolved in the late 1980s, NATO’s relationship with Russia thawed. In 1997, they signed the NATO-Russia Founding Act to build bilateral cooperation. In 2002, they formed the NATO-Russia Council to partner on shared security issues.

The collapse of the USSR led to unrest in its former satellite states. NATO got involved when Yugoslavia’s civil war became genocide. NATO’s initial support of a United Nations naval embargo led to the enforcement of a no-fly zone. Violations then led to a few airstrikes until September 1999.

That’s when NATO conducted a nine-day air campaign that ended the war. By December of that year, NATO deployed a peace-keeping force of 60,000 soldiers. That ended in 2004 when NATO transferred this function to the European Union.

With Russian President Vladimir Putin warning on June 19 Western countries against meddling in Moscow’s affairs and that no one should speak to Russia through ultimatums, fears of a new nuclear arms race are being rekindled by the actions of arch rivals USA and Russia.

There are reasons to believe that Russia is angry with NATO’s attempt to contain Russia, the leader of former Soviet Union. In facing the containment policy of USA by using former Soviet republics, Vladimir Putin said on June 16 that Russia would add more than 40 new intercontinental ballistic missiles to its nuclear arsenal this year.

Putin made his announcement a day after Russian officials denounced a US plan to station tanks and heavy weapons in NATO states on Russia’s border as the most aggressive act by Washington since the Cold War. Intercontinental ballistic missiles have a minimum range of more than 5,500 km (3,400 miles). Putin gave no more details of which missiles were being added to the nuclear arsenal. He has said several times that Russia must maintain its nuclear deterrence to counter what he sees as growing 43

security threats, and Moscow reserves the right to deploy nuclear weapons in Crimea. Following annexation of Crimea, the West, led by the European Union and United States, has imposed punitive economic sanctions on Russia.

The Kremlin portrays spending on the Russian arms sector as a driver of economic growth, but Putin’s critics say it is excessive and comes at the expense of social needs.

Russian officials warned that Moscow would retaliate if the United States carried out its plan to store heavy military equipment in Eastern Europe, including in the Baltic States that were once in the Soviet Union. “The feeling is that our colleagues from NATO countries are pushing us into an arms race,” RIA news agency quoted Deputy Defence Minister Anatoly Antonov as saying during “Army 2015”, a fair at which arms and other military equipment are on show.

This Russian action would likely to increase alarm in the West. Tension has resurged between Russia and Western powers over Moscow’s role in the Ukraine crisis, in which pro-Russian separatist forces have seized a large part of the country’s eastern provinces after Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in early 2014.

Putin has however added Moscow will not be drawn into a new arms race although Russia is modernizing its armed forces. Putin said in his speech that 70 percent of the military equipment in use would by 2020 be the most up-to-date and top-quality. But lavish military spending is weighing heavily on Russia’s national budget at a time when the economy is sliding towards recession, hit by low oil prices and Western sanctions.

And sure enough Russia, which it says is merely responding to NATO escalation, was promptly accused of escalating even more by the same NATO that keeps parking its own forces ever since the USorchestrated Ukraine presidential coup was meant to convert Kiev into a potential NATO country and military base. Nato and Western leaders accused Russia of sending soldiers and heavy weapons, including tanks and missiles, to the pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine. Russia has repeatedly denied this, insisting that any Russians fighting there are “volunteers”.

US military actions in support of Ukraine and several Baltic countries, some of whom fear Russian President Putin — either directly or indirectly — will come after them next. USA and European leaders are already considering an additional round of sanctions they would impose on Moscow if it makes any further military moves in Ukraine.

Russia has slammed as an aggressive expansion of military presence in NATO states in Eastern Europe, which would provoke Russia to respond by stationing its army on its western borders.

Stationing of heavy US military equipment in the Baltic States and Eastern Europe would amount to the most aggressive step by the Pentagon and NATO since the Cold War. Interfax news agency quoted a 44

Russian Defense Ministry official General Yuri Yakubov as saying:”Russia would be left with no other option but to boost its troops and forces on the western flank.”

Operation NATO’s mission is to protect the freedom and security of its members. But it focuses on terrorism which was initially unleashed by USA and oil rich Islamic nations. For example, on July 8, 2016, NATO announced it would send up to 4,000 troops to the Baltic States and eastern Poland. It will increase air and sea patrols to shore up its eastern front after Russia’s attack on Ukraine.

Possessing huge arsenals of nuclear and conventional terror goods in their joint command, the NATO’s targets include weapons of mass destruction, terrorism and cyber attacks. On November 16, 2015, NATO responded to the terrorist attacks in Paris. It called for a unified approach with the European Union, France and NATO. That’s because France did not invoke NATO’s Article 5. That would be a formal declaration of war upon the Islamic state group. France preferred to launch air strikes on its own.

Article 5 states, “an armed attack upon one shall be considered an attack upon them all.”

Generally NATO operates for USA in advancing its global interests. . After their defeat in Vietnam, US led NATO invoked Article 5 after the hoax known as Sept 9/11. It responded to American requests for the War in Afghanistan to end Islamic regime in Kabul and destabilize it after looting its important resources. Their media protects US interests and defends all the crimes committed by USA and its ally Israel. It took the lead from August 2003 to December 2014. At its peak, it deployed 130,000 troops.

In 2015, it ended its combat role and began supporting Afghan troops.

On July 15, 2016, the Turkish military announced it had seized control of the government in a coup by anti-Turkey andante-Islamic forces led by the West. Turkish President Recep Erdogan announced early on July 16 that the coup had failed. As a NATO member, Turkey would receive its allies’ support in the case of an attack, but not a coup. .

Crimea was a part of Russia and hence it annexation of that region is justified as a rebuff to Ukrainian regime’s support for US imperialism. .

Although Ukraine is not a member, it had worked with NATO over the years as USA wants to help anyone that wants to work against Russia. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine threatened nearby NATO members. NATO said other former USSR satellite countries would be next.. As a result, NATO’s September 2014 summit focused on Russia’ aggression. President Putin vowed to create a “New 45

Russia” out of Ukraine’s eastern region. President Obama pledged to defend countries such as Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.

The United States contributes three-fourths of NATO’s budget. During the 2016 Presidential campaign, Donald Trump said other NATO members should contribute more. Trump also accused it of being obsolete. He argued that it focuses on defending Europe against Russia instead of combating terrorism.

In 2017, President Trump reversed his position. He confessed to “not knowing much about NATO” during the campaign.

Expansionism or Zionism Military expansionism could also be called Zionism as Israel exists only on expansionist and criminal operations inside Palestine.

NATO is strengthening alliances throughout the world. In the age of globalization, transatlantic peace has become a worldwide effort. It extends beyond military might alone. On December 1, 2015, NATO announced its first expansion since 2009. It offered membership to Montenegro. Russia responded by calling the move a strategic threat to its national security. It’s worries by the number of Balkan countries along its border that have joined NATO. Unilateral America controls global resources through NATO, World bank/IMF, global intelligences led

by CIA, military bases, sale of terror goods, global militaries and polices led by Pentagon and Interpol.

When the Berlin Wall fell in 1989, symbolizing the end of cold war officially, NATO was an Alliance of 16 members and no partners. Today, the notorious NATO has 26 members – with 2 new invitees, prospective membership for others (Greece, Bosnia, Georgia and Montenegro) and over 20 partners in Europe and Eurasia, seven in the Mediterranean, four in the Persian Gulf, and others from around the world.

Triclomacy helped the USA in furthering its cause of resource hunt. The transformation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), a military bloc created by the United States during the genesis of the Cold War in 1949, into one that has grown to encompass almost entire world.

A US-dominated armed bloc NATO which includes three nuclear powers and accounts for an estimated 70 percent of global military spending has expanded deployments, operations and partnerships around the planet.

The war in Afghanistan, the longest in the nation’s history as well as in that of the U.S., has supplied NATO with an almost 12-year opportunity to consolidate an international military network and to develop the operational and command integration of the armed forces of almost 60 nations. NATO has air and other military bases in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Those three nations have also been used

by NATO as part of the Northern Distribution Network and other transit routes that include as well 46

Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Iraq, Latvia, Lithuania, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Oman, Romania, Russia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates, etc.

UN has been rendered meaningless. Palestine, Chechnya, Kashmir, continue to suffer foreign terror yokes.

NATO membership grew by 75 percent from 16 to 28. Today, the NATO members and partners number at least 70 nations, well over a third of those in the world. NATO expansion to the east has provided the Pentagon and its Western allies with air bases and other military facilities in Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary, Lithuania, Poland and Romania for wars to the east and south.

NATO’s regional initiatives brought many nations into its trap The Partners Across the Globe and longer-standing military partnerships are slated to grow in all parts of the world. There are more than 50 nations that have provided NATO with troop contingents for the war in destabilized Afghanistan in South Asia.

The so-called Arab spring saw to it that Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are already in NATO trap.

India readily promotes NATO terrorism in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Irrelevance The western military formation NATO is indeed irrelevant and obsolete. Russian President Vladimir Purim calls for the dismantling of vestiges of Cold war NATO for good. US president Trump also thinks NATO should be wound up though he gives another reason: Europe’s reluctance to pay for NATO security.

Russia has always asked USA to dismantle the western military organization NATO but the latter always refused saying that only NATO alone can face the new challenges of the world. For the USA which depends on joint NATO state terrorism to bully weak nations and remove any threat to the US led western military superiority and domination in world affairs following their collective “victory” in the World war Two, with the historic bombing of Japan, killing and disabling thousands of Japanese.

USA calls all this a part of modern democracy.

Apparently, the last Soviet president Michael Gorbachev and his American counterpart Reagan agreed to dismantle both the two most important world threats from US led NATO and Warsaw treaty of Russia led Eastern nations and while Soviet Union readily dismantled the Warsaw treaty USA did not dismantled the Nato, creating a clear disparity in military affairs in favor of USA. Gorbachev dismantled even the Soviet union into 15 independent states as well as release eastern European nations from the 47

control of Kremlin.

All this Soviet actions only made the USA stronger in all aspects than new Russia that came into existence in 1990 without 14 republics and Eastern Europe to support and work with it.

Gorbachev insisted that NATO should be dismantled since there was not more Soviet or communist threat as the West used to claim to slam Russia and reduce its world importance. Washington continues to say NATO would stay forever as there could be other threats to world peace. Terrorism was promoted as “deadly threat” to justify the US claims of “threats” and terrorism is going to be permanent fixture of US imperialism.

As Russia could do nothing to end NATO terrorism, it has also now joined it in Syria. USA and Russia are now allies in state terror operations abroad. Yet, President Vladimir Putin keeps pushing the USA to remove the NATO as being the obstacle to world peace. Vladimir Putin has recently cut NATO to pieces again by saying that the entire organization is no longer needed. It just can’t get any better, as you know that Putin doesn’t usually mince words: “There is no longer an Eastern Bloc, no more Soviet Union. Therefore, why does NATO keep existing? My impression is that in order to justify its existence, NATO has a need of an external foe, there is a constant search for the foe, or some acts of provocation to name someone as an adversary.”

None would seriously disagree with that statement.

Justification NATO has been forging monsters to kill in order to define, refine or redefine its existence since the beginning of time. For example, under the code name “Operation Allied Force,” NATO did the unthinkable in Kosovo: “For 78 days in 1999, NATO forces led by the United States bombed Yugoslavia, killing hundreds of its civilians and devastating its infrastructure. NATO spokesmen justified the bombardment as “humanitarian intervention” aimed at halting President Slobodan Milosevic’s` `ethnic cleansing’ of non-Serbs in Yugoslavia.”

As it was reported later, “NATO demonstrated in 1999 that it can do whatever it wants under the guise of ‘humanitarian intervention,’ ‘war on terror,’ or ‘preventive war’ – something that everyone has witnessed in subsequent years in different parts of the globe.”

The intervention in Kosovo was a complete mess: “Over 2,000 civilians were killed, including 88 children, and thousands more were injured. Over 200,000 ethnic Serbs were forced to leave their homeland in Kosovo In what the alliance described as ‘collateral damage,’ its airstrikes destroyed more than 300 schools, libraries, and over 20 hospitals. “At least 40,000 homes were either completely 48

eliminated or damaged and about 90 historic and architectural monuments were ruined. That is not to mention the long-term harm caused to the region’s ecology and, therefore, people’s health, as well as the billion-dollar economic damage.”

NATO, as you can recall, said virtually nothing about the debacle in Iraq. Sure, there were tensions among NATO member countries before the debacle, but eventually no one could resist the “good war.”

But what were some of the results? By the spring of 2012, suicide rates among Air Force personnel were up by 40 percent, a figure which caused concern.

Similarly, suicide rates in the Army rose by 80 percent since the war in Iraq. In addition, more than 110,000 active-duty Army troops were prescribed antidepressants in 2011. A number of lawyers have declared that a large part of the chaos that is going on in the military is caused by the drugs the soldiers are taking. Bart Bilings, a former military psychologist, declared, “We have never medicated our troops to the extent we are doing now…And I don’t believe the current increase in suicides and homicides in the military is a coincidence.” Noted psychiatrist Peter Breggin writes, “Prior to the Iraq war, soldiers could not go into combat on psychiatric drugs, period. Not very long ago, going back maybe 10 or 12 years, you couldn’t even go into the armed services if you used any of these drugs, in particular stimulants. “But they’ve changed that…I’m getting a new kind of call right now, and that’s people saying the psychiatrist won’t approve their deployment unless they take psychiatric drugs.”

Terror corruption On top of that, the Pentagon told the American people in 2005 that the USA lost track of at least $9 billion that was supposed to go to Iraq. After years of “investigation,” the U.S. still “didn’t know” where all that money went. They supposedly shipped the $9 billion in cash to Iraq and now it is lost.

Moreover, hundreds of millions of dollars have been invested in countries like Pakistan for programs which supposedly teach children that America is not the great Satan they thought it was, but those millions have been wasted.

As Scott Baldauf pointed out, you cannot broadcast programs like that when you are dropping drones in civilian populated areas and expect people to believe you. The U.S. military feared reprisals, for good reason of course, after all of these killings, particularly the massacre in Kandahar. After pouring some $2.6 million in Pakistan, there is little evidence that anti-Americanism has decreased in the region.

In May 2012, many Iraq War veterans decided to return the medals they had received. In a statement, they declared with one voice, “We, Afghanistan and Iraq veterans from around the country, will converge in Chicago on May 20 to ceremoniously return our medals to NATO generals. We were awarded these medals for serving in the Global War on Terror, a war based on lies and failed policies.

49

This endless war has killed hundreds of thousands, stripped the humanity of all involved, and drained our communities of trillions of dollars, diverting funds from schools, clinics, libraries, and other public goods.”

One veteran in particular felt that it was his way to apologize to the Afghan and Iraqi people for what the U.S. has done to them. As an organization, NATO should help other political bodies to put an end to perpetual wars, but they are marshalling their armies virtually all over the world. So, should they be obsolete? Well, you be the judge.

Dismantle irrelevance!

Continued existence and terror attacks on weak nations of NATO, a living terror symbol of old Cold War, would continue create cold fear in the world It needs to be dismantled fro the better. In case of new threats, let UN and UNSC take care of them effectively. An international terror organization like NATO cannot bring peace to the world.

NATO has literally replaced the UN. Post-Cold War NATO has repeatedly and without disguise identified its purview and its area of operations to be international in scope, and over the past 22 years its efforts to achieve that objective have steadily accelerated to the point where the military alliance is well poised to supplant the United Nations as the main, indeed the exclusive, arbiter of conflicts not only between but within nations throughout the world.

President Donald Trump has been critical of NATO but the Pentagon bosses say from a military standpoint there’s been no change in guidance and “this exercise underscores our commitment to NATO and our allies.”

Since the NATO has crossed its mandate and limits, it could now be renamed as global treaty organization. Former ideological super power rivals USA and Russia with huge piles of arms arsenals do not seem to enforce nuclear disarmament globally. The US vested interests in maintaining upper hand in arms arsenals, especially WMD has emboldened Russia to ignore global nuclear disarmament and go slow in the hopeless arms reduction talks.

With the USA and Russia in a state of renewed cold war for over a year now, it was inevitable that the nuclear arms race, far more important attribute of the first Cold War, would soon return with more force.

_____________ Chapter-9: Kashmir for Kashmiris!

50

(A Sovereign Kashmir: Random Thoughts-307) -Dr. Abdul Ruff Colachal ______

India for Indians, Pakistan for Pakistanis and, obviously, Kashmir for Kashmiris and there cannot be two opinions. Pakistan had been a part of India but no more. But India cannot take Kashmir in place of Pakistan which is now an independent nation.

And hence annexation and brutal occupation of Jammu Kashmir is illegal. Kashmir cannot be for Indians and Pakistanis.

We Indians cannot say India for Pakistanis or Kashmiris and similarly, Kashmir is for Kashmiris. Many foreign nations o invaded Kashmir before India and its halfbrother Pakistan did it in 1947 and all of them had to leave Kashmir before it was too late. Similarly, Kashmiris know, Indians also would have to quit Kashmir for which a strong popular movement has begun in Kashmir. A restless India is trying all tricks of trade to quell the freedom movement and silence the Kashmiris, but Kashmiri youth is firmly bold and highly resurgent and reasonably resolved to retake their nation.

India went on killing Kashmiris during the last several decades of its illegal occupation and till day over 1000,000 innocent Kashmiri shave been slaughtered in order to silence them from their demand for sovereignty from Indian yoke. India as ruled out referendum, thereby giving slap on the UN. .

When India and Pakistan invaded Jammu Kashmir a soverign nation sandwiched between them, divided it and shared between them according to their military prowess. Britain while quitting New Delhi had left behind its large terror goods with India, the successor state of imperial India. Indian military prowess continues to exercise its might over the region.

India has been quite tactfully avoiding a UN sponsored referendum to determine the future of Jammu Kashmir as it is damn scared of losing Kashmir forever. A referendum would end the nuclearized South Asian tensions forever and allow peace and prosperity of Jammu Kashmir as a soverign nation. New Delhi under all political outfits, both national and regional, plays dirty but criminal tricks with unfortunate Kashmiris, silencing them, and terrorizing the youth. Kashmiris have lost sovereignty, freedoms, peace as they are the target of Indo-Israeli bullets.

India and Pakistan amassed nukes thanks to their joint occupation of Jammu Kashmir obviously on a secret understanding. Britain helped both India and Pakistan to invade and occupy that nation according their individual military might.

In fact, had British government resented invasion of Jammu Kashmir by IndoPakistan - the newly freed South Asian colonies – the Indo-Pak would have immediately stopped its occupational strategies. As a colonialist power UK only promoted invasions. This explains as to why both UK and USA refuse to sincerely 51

mediate between India and Pakistan and free Jammu Kashmir. These western powers are indeed the rogue states with democratic faรงade in front. UK and USA are responsible for the creation of a Zionist criminal state in Mideast to control Arab nations.

Struggle for sovereignty The turmoil in Kashmir, which got intensified after the fake encounter of Burhan Wani (July 2016), does not seem to abet. It has been worsening as reflected in the ongoing violence leading to low turnout of voters in the by poll (April 2017).

Shockingly there was a turn out only of 7.14 percent of voters. The by-polls were also marred by violence in which, many a civilians and security force person also died and lately one witnessed with great horror a Kashmir youth being tied to the military truck to prevent stone pelters from throwing stones on the vehicle. Those pelting stones don't seem to be stopping despite the lapse of period of time. These young men are being looked at in various ways.

Farookh Abdullah had stated on the eve of elections that those young men throwing stones are doing so for their nation. This statement of his came under scathing criticism from various quarters and section of media and was dismissed by many as a pre election statement.

Who are these boys who pelt stones? Are these merely Pakistan inspired and funded youth? In the aftermath of state crackdown; hundreds have died, thousands have been wounded and many more have lost eyesight! A section of TV and other media is going hammer and tongs about the role of Pakistan and the funding they receive. The question which needs to be introspected is that will young people risk their life, loss of eyesight or other harm to body just for someone's bidding or some money? Many of them are teenagers, tech savvy and they are so much full of deep hatred that they are willing to risk their lives, not caring about their future. The degree of frustration among them must we horrific.

India media have a duty to shield the military crimes as their own. Only a small section of media has gone deeper into the real issue and have interviewed some of them. The stories of their experiences and feelings shatter one's perceptions about law and order in Kashmir. Many belong to families which have given up hope of any type. Most of these young boys have experienced torture, beating, harassments of sorts and often humiliation For many of them stone throwing comes as sort of catharsis, a feeling of having taken revenge of what has happened to them. It is the only strong way of protest they must be feeling is left for them. Many of them are Pro Pakistan for sure but the basic point remains political alienation which is seeping in deepening. This in turn is due to the suffering and pain to which Kashmir 52

has been subjected due to the prolonged military presence in the area.

Post Burhan Wani murder, the Kashmir based PDP, or even national Conference has been able to see the intensity of the situation. Mahbooba Mufti, the Chief Minister of the ruling coalition, wanted to go for a dialogue with the dissenters, but coalition partner and the party leading at center BJP shot down the idea. Mahbooba Mufti felt that dialogue is the only way out but BJP feels that dialogue is a way to befool the people. It seems the ruling BJP wants to take a hard line to deal with dissidence, regards that dissidence is there only due to Pakistan or ISIS and so repression should be intensified.

RSS has a tendency to give birth to more and more offshoots of Hindutva mode to threaten Muslims. BJP and RSS and other Hindutva elements have gathered Hindutva extremists, calling themselves Jana Sena (people’s military), to fight the Kashmiri Muslims youth that uses stone as their weapon to fight the powerful guns of India.

Claiming to be the wholesale patriotic guys of Indian secular nation, the rich core media lords of Indian English/Hindi TV channels put themselves in the mode of ultra patriotic elements to retain Jammu Kashmir even by forcing the military forces to perform a complete holocaust of Kashmiri race. They advise the government and leaders of national political outfits not to let Jammu Kashmir go away from Indian military control saying that once free Kashmiris would support Pakistan and become another enemy of an “innocent” looking India which has killed over 1000,000 Kashmiri Muslims and yet it is not ready to end crimes in Kashmir.

BJP, RSS and Congress feel badly suffocated by the latest developments in occupied Kashmir as Kashmiris just ignore the military prowess and challenge their domination by stone pelting. That is unbearable for them because military should have upper hand to decide the fate of Kashmiris. They are indeed sacred that they would lose Jammu Kashmir sooner than alter But they want to frighten them by using Jana Sena to counter stone pelting in Kashmir by using the military guns and stones alternatively. That would, if implemented, obviously lead to a situation when India would be forced to give away Jammu Kashmir. .

The BJP government on the one hand and the RSS-Congress duo on the other keep scheming against Muslims in general and Kashmir in particular while the Hindu media lords, especially those that run TV channels in English on behalf political and intelligence wings consider it their duty to challenge the Kashmiri youth that has resorted to stone pelting against the terror attacks of India’s powerful military forces occupying their lands, killing them in a sustained manner, terrorizing everyone in Jammu Kashmir so that Kashmiris salute military forces and let them do whatever they want to project Indian military prowess the supreme.

On domestic and foreign fronts, BJP has been pursing all Congress policies including on Kashmir issue. Hatred for Islam and Muslims are pushed on heavily by the Hindutva leaders. Targeting the Kashmiris in Kashmir and killing them in a sustained manner by is a part of that anti-Muslim effort. Core Indian media and intelligence wings tell the people that Kashmiris are as much enemies as Pakistanis 53

and Bangladeshis are and they should be made to beg New Delhi for money as Sri Lank and Bhutan have been doing.

It has been a routine scene in many places in Kashmir where women and men, old and young, children inclusive, gather in front of the houses where people mourn the death of their beloved, near and dear ones, and Kashmiri young men are Freedom struggle in Kashmir grew thanks to involvement many of the youth. Many believe that today youth are being targeted in Kashmir, which is probably why people are feeling alienated from India.

The fallout of the security forces’ hardening attitude towards the locals has led to the spike in local militancy. As per media reports, since last year’s unrest, 88 local youth have joined the militant ranks. Many attribute this to the growing anger among the youth as "India is not ready to listen to them (Kashmiris)."

Repeated Indian attacks on Kashmiri Muslims leads to counter attacks. With two back to back attacks on security forces, Kashmir’s security situation is spiraling into a new cycle of violence.

Even as the news of Kulgam ambush came to light (1 May) in which four policemen and two bank employees were killed by militants in Pumbai village, reports began to pour in of the dastardly attack by the Pakistani special forces and militants on an Indian Army post on the LoC in Krishna Ghati sector of Poonch district in Jammu, which resulted in killing and mutilation of two Indian soldiers. The attacks in Kulgam and Krishna Ghati represent the two major incidents since last year’s attack on the Indian Army brigade headquarters in Uri in north Kashmir.

Naturally, these attacks have shaken Kashmir’s political and security establishment and threaten to push Kashmir on the edge of another spell of unrest and major violence as the summer approaches. The locals that this reporter talked to had very little to say about the attack in Poonch, but offered different viewpoints on the situation in Kashmir. This is in stark contrast to last year, when post-Uri attack and India’s surgical strike, there were widespread fears of an India-Pakistan war.

Many believe that the recent attacks are a result of the excessive force being used by the security forces against the locals. The anger is directed especially towards the use of pellet guns which have destroyed the lives of many civilians.

The recent attack in Kulgam and similar attacks is mostly due to Indian oppression.

If we look at the 2008 and 2010 unrest, the violence had not been this intense.

People thought that India is not agreeing to anything which has caused resurgence of militancy. It is unfortunate that innocent people are getting killed, but if we look at the history, violence has always been countered by violence only.

There is anger among youth, they have been killed, they have been arrested and even tortured and even when minor things happen, they get angry. Same thing happened when forces entered the college in Pulwama.”

Clarity and perspective are early casualties during turmoil. Yet now more than ever before we are in need of clarity and perspective to deal with the mess in Kashmir.

Instead of being swayed by the noise, blood and emotion, decision-makers must be guided by calm, rational judgment. Kashmir is not lost. Nor will it ever be.

54

However, there is no space for complacency and denial. The Valley is suffering from one of the worst periods of crisis in its history and we must acknowledge it, prepare and implement a plan of action.

It is a problem with multifarious dimensions. However, trying to solve everything at the same time is a sure recipe for failure. Therefore, the Indian state must narrow down its focus.

Therefore, the first and foremost responsibility of government stakeholders (and that includes the Centre, state and the entire security establishment) is to restore the writ of the Indian state in Kashmir. Unless there is fear of authority, rule of law and a semblance of order, any hopes of "normalcy" returning to Valley is a pipe dream.

And unless there is even a semblance of normalcy, there can be no hope for "peace" with a final settlement of surrendering sovereignty to Kashmiris once for all. .

This opium-fuelled dream of "peace in Valley" cannot become a reality amid flash mobs resisting counter-insurgency operations, solders attacking the youth, raising cries of secession, pelting stones, terrorists spraying Kalashnikov bullets and strewing bodies of jawans and Kashmiris alike.

Some students expressed skepticism about the current situation. The student protests make the situation further precarious while the Mehbooba Mufti-led PDPBJP coalition government is trying to pacify the students and locals. But if the voter turnout in the Srinagar Lok Sabha by-polls and the violence on 9 April is any indication, it is clear that her administration is simply unable to cope with the situation.

The painful truth Conducting polls regularly tin Jammu Kashmir under Indian occupation o gain legitimacy for its illegal occupation and genocides has not solved the Indian case.

Killing Muslims in Kashmir has not silenced the Kashmiris youth, either.

For all our blaming of Pakistan, the Indian state cannot shirk its role. If Pakistan is guilty of fuelling insurgency and using Hurriyat groups to keep Kashmir on the boil, the BJP-PDP coalition and the Narendra Modi government have been guilty of incompetence. The insurgency movement has gained in strength because it has failed to read the writing on the walls.

Indian state terror strategists say that since the neutralization of Hizbul Mujaheedin commander Burhan Wani, a series of tactical and policy errors have been committed. The government has appeared all too eager to cede control and have appeared more interested in short-term placatory gestures rather than displaying an iron will in arresting the deterioration of law and order. They argue that every Kashmiri should be murdered with Israeli terror goods and end the crisis once for 55

all. USA and Russia are now allies of India and they don’t mind the terror operations in Kashmir.

Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has appealed to the youth to help restore normalcy in the Valley so that peace returns.

If we add the recent cancellation of Anantnag bypoll to this mix, the depth of the problem seems clear. It is not one of lack of will and the administration, but the reality of situation in Kashmir.

Indian state terror forces have gone for a comprehensive military action to flush out the Kashmiris, ”terrorists”, catch and neutralise some of the top commanders to render the outfit headless. The 'cordon and combing' operation in south Kashmir launched jointly by the Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police is considered to be a ‘good first step’. It is telling, however, that the "biggest operation in 15 years" have so far failed to nab a single “terrorist”. Restore the authority of Army and the writ of Indian state. The next steps shall follow. Kashmir isn’t going anywhere.

The pressure of military action — initially by eliminating hardcore leaders and subsequently, as a "threat-in-being" — is the catalyst that forces Kashmiri freedom fighters to talk with the government. Once you dilute the fear of authority of the uniformed forces, there is bound to be resistance to dialogue."

Disappointment

Kashmiris have been looking forward to hearing form Indian PM or President about surrendering of sovereignty to people of Kashmir for remaking their nation.

However, all these years Indian government and rulers have steadily refused to mention about that either in the parliament or in cabinet meetings or in the media briefing or in any special statement. It is like claiming a wicket by the bowlers, even though they know they are wrong in their claim just as a drama, with overt firmness so that the drama umpires declare OUT after wasting time in reviewing the scene. Pure dramas. On the contrary Indian rulers said Jammu Kashmir is now a part of India. In fact, Pakistan wants Kashmir to be handed over to it because most of Kashmiris prefer Pakistan to India. Referendum is a mischief by Indo-Pakistan to deny sovereignty back to Kashmiris.

Neither India nor Pakistan is keen to return sovereignty to Kashmiris with or without due apologies.

Indian PM Narendra Modi has said that "bullets and abuses" cannot bring peace in Kashmir, as the country celebrates 70 years since independence. In a speech in Delhi, Modi accused Kashmiri separatists of "scheming". Muslim­majority Kashmir under Indian occupation is at the centre of a decades­old territorial dispute between India and Pakistan. Modi said only "hugs" could solve the problems of the territory, which often 56

sees clashes between protesters and Indian security forces. India is celebrating its 70th Independence Day a day after its neighbour Pakistan.

Modi also criticised people for using religion to incite violence. Vigilantes who portray themselves as protectors of cows have been frequently attacking people mostly Muslims suspected of smuggling the animal since Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party came to power in 2014. The slaughter of cows is banned in several Indian states being ruled

by BJP. Nearly a dozen people have been killed in the past two years in the name of the cow. Targets are often picked based on unsubstantiated rumours and Muslims have been attacked and killed for even transporting cows for milk.

Indian government knows Jammu Kashmir does not belong to India and it invaded it soon after its own freedom from Great Britain in 1947 and maybe on its advice.

But it never admits and t bluffs that it is a part of India while Indian media lords, who do not want JK to cede form India, creating a vacuum in Indian map, say Kashmir has been a part of India for centuries.

Bluff cannot become truth just because it is forcefully and repeatedly articulated by powerful sources.

Indian forces kill Kashmiri Muslims mercilessly. Targeting the Kashmiri Muslim youth ahs backed fired recently as the people of Kashmir have begun a firm struggle for sovereignty.

As the freedom struggle of Kashmiris gets intensified to regain sovereignty from occupation forces from New Delhi, Indian regime gets panicky and wants to end the new phase of struggle that is forcing India to cede neighboring Jammu Kashmir that its forces occupy since 1947 to Kashmiris themselves.

Like Israel, India also does not like, rather oppose, any third nation to intervene to end Indo-Pak conflict and get justice for Kashmiris. India has also managed to silence even the USA and other veto powers to postpone the referendum almost permanently, and, cruelly enough, the UN is also silent about its resolution for referendum for Kashmir. UN is even otherwise is a dead rubber being misused by big powers. Obviously, India bribes them with money and other “facilities” to get on board.

Of course, now Indian regime is fully aware of the hard truth that Kashmiris are determined to take back their lost sovereignty from India. Nothing less than that!

Kashmiris firmly seek sovereignty!

As Indian media continue to say Kashmir is marked in Indian constitution and as such it is an integral part of now the Hindutva set up, Kashmiris do not fight not for bread, nor for more jobs or extra money but they have sacrificed their valuable lives for freedom and sovereignty from brutal Indian military yoke.

57

Freedom and sovereignty are their birth right as they all want to live as free humans with dignity.

India has murdered over 100000 Kashmiri Muslims, beside Indian Muslims. Indian claim of ownership of Muslims inside India is one thing but extending the same logic and argument to neighboring Kashmir is nonsensical, ridiculous.

Kashmiris have nothing common with Indians except that all are humans and blood runs through their veins. However, Indian forces, like the Zionist counterparts do, have no right to drink the blood of Kashmiris.

Kashmiri Muslims are treated like slaves and underdogs by New Delhi. Indian military guys kill Kashmiris as if they are playing a favorite and fixed cricket game.

Clearly, Kashmiris are on war path to attain independence while India and its media lords remain in a perpetually denial mode while Indian “patriotic” solders continue to kill , and consume Muslims in Kashmir their birth right because Indian parliament ahs allowed them to kill anybody at will.

Sad and shame!

Observation

Both India and Israel, the new strategic leveling partners, want to occupy the “colonies” they have, namely Kashmir and Palestine respectively, and keep murdering Muslims as freely as wild beast do in thick jungles.

Indo-Pakistani conflict and genocides of Kashmiris are old issue but unresolved by the UN and UNSC. It is high time International community steps in to resolve the South Asia’s deadliest conflict and settle the dangerous Kashmir cum nukes’ issue once for all before it s to late for that.

The situation in Kashmir is critical, and worsening by the day due to the high handed dealings from the center. Even the former Chief Minister of Kashmir and the people like Sheikh Abdulla was ignored by India, leading to a serious conflict.

World needs peace and we want peace in the green valley known as paradise on earth; peace is crucial. The deeper peace can only be won through winning the hearts and minds of the people of Kashmir, pseudo patriotic and ultranationalist formulations don't work in the long run.

It is fact, military personnel are pad for their “services” both in India and Pakistan and they target innocent Kashmiris for their warm blood.

In view of the unrelenting unrest in Kashmir valley there is urgency for holding a genuine referendum in Kashmir to determine fate of Kashmiris and end the blood bath in Kashmir valley.

58

Today there can be two approaches one is to recall the treaty of accession and gravitate towards that and take the recommendations of Interlocutors seriously.

Nearly seven decades after the accession of Kashmir to India, there is a need to recall that forcible merger; repression of dissent was never the idea of founders of Indian nation. Let's see what Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel had to say on the matter way back, Deputy Prime Minister Vallabhbhai Patel said at a public meeting in Bombay on October 30, 1948: "Some people consider that a Muslim majority area must necessarily belong to Pakistan. But (India is stronger than Pakistan) and should have Kashmir. They wonder why we are in Kashmir. The answer is plain and simple. We are in Kashmir because the people of Kashmir want us to be there. The moment we realize that the people of Kashmir do not want us to be there, we shall not be there even for a minute… We shall not let the Kashmir down" (Hindustan Times, October 1948) Now the continued struggle for freedom clearly shows that they want freedom and sovereignty and India must vacate Jammu Kashmir in favor pace in the region.

Time over ripe for Indian military forces to quit Kashmir after or before the referendum. Better India leaves Kashmir without going through an insulting referendum that would surely ask India to behave.

India and its intelligence have complete details of how many paid Hindus have died in the war against Kashmir but they have no such details about genocides of innocent real Kashmir Muslims by paid Indian soldiers. New Delhi should make such vital details available to the public.

Military personnel receive salary, many semi-freebies, pension etc, but the freedom fighters get nothing but Indian bullets. Let the UN or Pakistan pay pension to the family of those get killed by paid Indian soldiers until Kashmir gains sovereignty. .

_____ Chapter-10: Hiroshima marks 72 years since America’s nuclear attack!

-Dr. Abdul Ruff Colachal _______

America conducted world’s first nuclear attack (Atomic test on humans) in Hiroshima of Japan seventy two years ago, while America constantly giving contradictory statements of never using nuclear arsenal again.

Tormented by terrific memories of destructions of WMD from USA, Japan's traditional contradictions over atomic weapons have again come into focus. Japan is officially one of the hyper economic powers that have refused to have nukes for whatever reasons.

59

Humanity is in fact scared of American nukes. Japan had last month sided with nuclear powers Britain, France and the US to sack a UN treaty prohibiting atomic weapons, which was vetoed by critics for ignoring the reality of security threats

US Nuclear experiment with humans

Japan is also the only country to have suffered atomic attacks, in 1945.

Japan, the prime target of US imperialism during the World War Two, on 06 August 2017 marked 72 years since the world's first nuclear attack on Hiroshima. Today, Japan is a close terror ally of USA and NATO. That is story of success of US foreign policy that makes the real enemies its allies to jointly fight against ideological foes Russia and China.

The bombings claimed the lives of 140,000 people in Hiroshima and 74,000 people in Nagasaki. Some died immediately while others succumbed to injuries or radiation-related illnesses weeks, months and years later. It resulted in Japan announcing its surrender in World War II on August 15, 1945.

Japan suffered two nuclear attacks at the end of the World War II by the United States in Hiroshima on August 6, 1945 and in Nagasaki three days later. The bombings claimed the lives of 140,000 people in Hiroshima and 74,000 people in Nagasaki. Some died immediately while others succumbed to injuries or radiationrelated illnesses weeks, months and years later. Japan announced its surrender in World War II on August 15, 1945.

The anniversary came after Japan sided last month with nuclear powers Britain, France and the US to dismiss a United Nations (UN) treaty banning atomic weapons, which was rejected by critics for ignoring the reality of security threats such as North Korea.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, speaking at the annual ceremony at Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park near the ground zero, said Japan hoped to push for a world without nuclear weapons in a way that all countries can agree. “For us to truly pursue a world without nuclear weapons, we need participation from both nuclear-weapons and non-nuclear weapons states,” Abe said in his speech at the annual ceremony. “Our country is committed to leading the international community by encouraging both sides” to make progress toward abolishing nuclear arms, Abe added without directly referring to the UN treaty.

Japanese officials routinely argue that they abhor nuclear weapons, but the nation's defence is firmly set under the US nuclear umbrella and have criticised the UN Nuclear Weapon Ban Treaty as deepening a divide between countries with and without nuclear arms. None of the nine countries that possess nuclear weapons took part in the negotiations or vote on the treaty.

60

Many in Japan feel the attacks amount to war crimes and atrocities because they targeted civilians and due to the unprecedented destructive nature of the weapons. But many Americans believe they hastened the end of a bloody conflict, and ultimately saved lives, thus justifying the bombings.

No US president visited Hiroshima and Barack Obama became the first sitting US president to visit Hiroshima in May last year, paying moving tribute to victims of the devastating bomb.

Americans do not even mention about nuclear attack on Japan.

World War II and WMD attack

Hiroshima was the primary target of the first nuclear bombing mission on August 6, with Kokura and Nagasaki as alternative targets. Having been fully briefed under the terms of Operations Order No. 35, the 393d Bombardment Squadron B-29 Enola Gay, piloted by Tibbets, took off from North Field, Tinian, about six hours' flight time from Japan.

During the final stage of World War II, the United States dropped nuclear weapons on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6 and 9, 1945, respectively. The United States had dropped the bombs with the consent of the United Kingdom as outlined in the Quebec Agreement. The two bombings, which killed at least 129,000 people, remain the only use of nuclear weapons for warfare in history. In the final year of the war, the Allies prepared for what was anticipated to be a very costly invasion of the Japanese mainland. This was preceded by a US conventional and firebombing campaign that destroyed 67 Japanese cities. The war in Europe had concluded when Nazi Germany signed its instrument of surrender on May 8, 1945. The Japanese, facing the same fate, refused to accept the Allies' demands for unconditional surrender and the Pacific War continued. The Allies called for the unconditional surrender of the Japanese armed forces in the Potsdam Declaration on July 26, 1945—the alternative being "prompt and utter destruction". The Japanese response to this ultimatum was to ignore it.

Orders for atomic bombs to be used on four Japanese cities were issued on July 25. On August 6, the U.S. dropped a uranium gun-type (Little Boy) bomb on Hiroshima, and American President Harry S. Truman called for Japan's surrender, warning it to "expect a rain of ruin from the air, the like of which has never been seen on this earth." Three days later, on August 9, a plutonium implosion-type (Fat Man) bomb was dropped on Nagasaki. Within the first two to four months following the bombings, the acute effects of the atomic bombings had killed 90,000–146,000 people in Hiroshima and 39,000–80,000 in Nagasaki; roughly half of the deaths in each city occurred on the first day. During the following months, large numbers died from the effect of burns, radiation sickness, and other injuries, compounded by

61

illness and malnutrition. In both cities, most of the dead were civilians, although Hiroshima had a sizable military garrison.

In 1945, the Pacific War between the Empire of Japan and the Allies entered its fourth year. The Japanese fought fiercely, ensuring that U.S. victory would come at an enormous cost. Of the 1.25 million battle casualties incurred by the United States in World War II, including both military personnel killed in action and wounded in action, nearly one million occurred in the twelve-month period from June 1944 to June 1945. December 1944 saw American battle casualties hit an alltime monthly high of 88,000 as a result of the German Ardennes Offensive. Japan announced its surrender to the Allies on August 15, six days after the bombing of Nagasaki and the Soviet Union's declaration of war. On September 2, the Japanese government signed the instrument of surrender, effectively ending World War II. The justification for the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki is still debated to this day.

The role of the bombings in Japan's surrender and the US's ethical justification for them has been the subject of scholarly and popular debate for decades. J. Samuel Walker wrote in an April 2005 overview of recent historiography on the issue, "the controversy over the use of the bomb seems certain to continue."

He wrote that "The fundamental issue that has divided scholars over a period of nearly four decades is whether the use of the bomb was necessary to achieve victory in the war in the Pacific on terms satisfactory to the United States."

Supporters of the bombings generally assert that they caused the Japanese surrender, preventing casualties on both sides during Operation Downfall. One figure of speech, "One hundred million [subjects of the Japanese Empire] will die for the Emperor and Nation", served as a unifying slogan, although that phrase was intended as a figure of speech along the lines of the "ten thousand years" phrase.

In Truman's 1955 Memoirs, "he states that the atomic bomb probably saved half a million US lives—anticipated casualties in an Allied invasion of Japan planned for November. Stimson subsequently talked of saving one million US casualties, and Churchill of saving one million American and half that number of British lives."

Scholars have pointed out various alternatives that could have ended the war without an invasion, but these alternatives could have resulted in the deaths of many more Japanese. Supporters also point to an order given by the Japanese War Ministry on August 1, 1944, ordering the execution of Allied prisoners of war when the POW camp was in the combat zone.

Those who oppose the bombings cite a number of reasons for their view, among them: a belief that atomic bombing is fundamentally immoral, that the bombings counted as war crimes, that they were militarily unnecessary, that they constituted state terrorism, and that they involved racism against and the dehumanization of the Japanese people. The bombings were part of an already fierce conventional bombing campaign. This, together with the naval blockade, could also have eventually led to a Japanese surrender.

At the time the United States dropped its atomic bomb on Nagasaki on August 9, 1945, the Soviet Union launched a surprise attack with 1.6 million troops 62

against the Kwantung Army in Manchuria. "The Soviet entry into the war", argued Japanese historian Tsuyoshi Hasegawa, "played a much greater role than the atomic bombs in inducing Japan to surrender because it dashed any hope that Japan could terminate the war through Moscow's mediation".

Another popular view among critics of the bombings, originating with Gar Alperovitz in 1965 and becoming the default position in Japanese school history textbooks, is the idea of atomic diplomacy: that the United States used nuclear weapons in order to intimidate the Soviet Union in the early stages of the Cold War

The nuclear attack on Japan was only the first even WMD experiment by USA and a few hardcore Americans and US Jews as well as Israel are ever ready to nuclear attack again.

WMD of USA and Israel pose the deadliest danger to the world as only these two fascist nations would not hesitate and would very much like to blast nuclear arms to their desired targets with a purely sadistic pleasure motive.

_____________

Chapter-11: China’s role in US-North Korea stand-off limited!

--Dr. Abdul Ruff Colachal _____

Super power USA continues to decide for the entire world and imposes its will on those that remain unwilling to follow the footsteps capitalist imperialists. American strategists believe continued pressure tactics and threatening tone of USA have made tremendous impact even on its strongest opponent Soviet Russia to fall in line by breaking up the mighty Soviet state and its Warsaw Pact military alliance and also forced its ally China to take a conciliatory approach in order to raise trade with capitalist nations.

Today, Iran and North Korea are the two nations that are stubborn and refuse to abide US rules. And so Washington pushes for punitive measures to weaken them by taking up the nuclear issue even while it is unserious about total denuclearization and disarmament globally. Both are indeed scared of USA and its terror ally Israel and therefore update their missile capabilities with regular missile tests. But USA calls these a serious threat to American security. .

63

USA opposes rapid missile tests being conducted by Iran and North Korea though it also is engaged in such terror operations as a routine matter. .

ICBM celebrated North Korea's recent long-range missile tests have deepened concern about the threat Pyongyang poses to the US mainland, and strengthened determination here to prevent any strike. North Korea said it had conducted another successful test of an intercontinental ballistic missile that proved its ability to strike the US mainland, drawing a sharp warning from Trump and a rebuke from China. The latest test of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) celebrated by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, was the latest to be conducted in defiance of a UN ban. "We do not seek a regime change, we do not seek the collapse of the regime, we do not seek an accelerated reunification of the peninsula, we do not seek an excuse to send our military north of the 38th parallel," said Mr Tillerson, referring to the border between the Koreas.

North's leader, Kim Jong Un, supervised the midnight launch of the missile and called it a "stern warning" to the USA that it would not be safe from destruction if it tried to attack China or its allies. However, two US intelligence officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said on Monday Kim wants to develop a nuclear-capable ICBM to deter any attack on his country and gain international legitimacy, not to launch an attack on the USA or its allies that he knows would be suicidal.

The ejection test was carried out on land at Sinpo Naval Shipyard, the US defense official told CNN. It gave no other details about the increased submarine activity. Ejection tests from submarines usually gauge the ability to "cold launch" missiles, when high pressure steam is used to propel missiles out of launch canisters.

The shipyard is in Sinpo, a port city on the east coast where the North had previously conducted tests of submarine-launched ballistic missiles.

Acknowledgement The Pentagon acknowledged that the latest test represented the longest test flight of any North Korean missile. The missile could fly at least 3,420 miles, the minimum range for what the Pentagon classifies as an ICBM. Two separate US officials who discussed the latest test, which lasted about 45 minutes, said it showed greater range than the July 4 ICBM launch, which North Korea said lasted 39 minutes. One of the officials said it had greater height, range and power than the previous test because it used force stabilizing engines, which counter the effects of winds and other forces that can knock an ascending rocket off course. A US defense official, reported later that North Korea had been showing "highly unusual and unprecedented levels" of submarine activity, in addition to its third "ejection test" this month.

64

According to a US assessment, North Korea's latest test of an intercontinental ballistic missile has shown that Pyongyang now may be able to reach most of the continental USA. The assessment, which the officials discussed on condition of anonymity, underscored the growing threat posed by Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programs, and could add pressure on President Donald Trump's administration to respond. Video of the latest missile test appears to show it breaking up before landing, indicating Pyongyang may not yet have mastered re-entry technology needed for an operational nuclear-tipped missile.

Range Pyongyang claimed its latest missile could hit the US west coast.

Independent weapons experts also said they believed the launch demonstrated many parts of the USA were within range if the missile had been launched at a flattened trajectory. The top Democrat in the US Senate called on President Donald Trump to block some Chinese investments in the USA to pressure China "to help rein in North Korea’s threatening and destabilizing behavior."

The Pentagon acknowledged military-to-military talks with US allies Japan and South Korea after the test. While the test missile had a lofted trajectory rather than the more direct one required to reach the USA, the military takes the threat seriously. The Hwasong-14, named after the Korean word for Mars, reached an altitude of 2,314.6 miles and flew 620 miles before landing in the waters off the Korean peninsula's east coast, according to KCNA. The flight demonstrated successful stage separation, and reliability of the vehicle's control and guidance to allow the warhead to make an atmospheric re-entry under conditions harsher than under a normal long-range trajectory, KCNA said.

A White House statement after the phone call said the two leaders "agreed that North Korea poses a grave and growing direct threat to the USA, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and other countries near and far". It said Trump "reaffirmed our ironclad commitment" to defend Japan and South Korea from any attack, using the full range of US capabilities. A Republican senator said President Donald Trump had told him there would be a war with North Korea if its missile program continued. One Is not very sure if he was joking.

China scapegoat?

65

President Trump who seems to have soft corner for Russia for unknown reasons, has repeatedly urged China to rein in its ally North Korea and has repeatedly criticised China, which shares a land border with North Korea and is its closest economically, for not doing enough to stop Pyongyang's weapons program. Trump tweeted after the missile test that he was "very disappointed" in China and that Beijing profits from US trade but had done "nothing" for the USA with regards to North Korea, something he would not allow to continue. Asked by a reporter how he plans to deal with Pyongyang, Trump said at the start of a Cabinet meeting: "We'll handle North Korea... It will be handled."

China hit back after US President Donald Trump tweeted he was "very disappointed" in China following North Korea's latest missile test, saying the problem did not arise in China and that all sides need to work for a solution. China has become increasingly frustrated with American and Japanese criticism that it should do more to rein in Pyongyang.

China is North Korea's closest ally, but Beijing, too, is angry with its continued nuclear and missile tests. China's Foreign Ministry, responding to Trump's earlier tweets, said the North Korean nuclear issue did not arise because of China and that everyone needed to work together to seek a resolution.

At the UN in New York, China's UN ambassador Liu Jieyi said it is primarily up to the USA and North Korea, not Beijing, to reduce tensions and work toward resuming talks to end Pyongyang's nuclear weapon and missile programs. The USA and North Korea "hold the primary responsibility to keep things moving, to start moving in the right direction, not China," China's U Liu Jieyi told a news conference to mark the end of Beijing's presidency of the UN Security Council in July. "No matter how capable China is, China's efforts will not yield practical results because it depends on the two principal parties," Liu said. China said there was no link between the North Korea issue and China-US trade. "We think the North Korea nuclear issue and China-U.S. trade are issues that are in two completely different domains. They aren't related. They should not be discussed together".

China, with which North Korea does most of its trade, has repeatedly said it strictly follows UN resolutions on North Korea and has denounced unilateral US sanctions as unhelpful. Nikki Haley, US Ambassador to the UN, said in a statement China must decide if it is willing to back imposing stronger UN sanctions on North Korea over Friday night's long-range missile test, the North's second this month. Any new UN Security Council resolution "that does not significantly increase the international pressure on North Korea is of no value", Haley said, adding that Japan and South Korea also needed to do more.

China’s close ally Russia said the USA and other countries were trying "to shift responsibility for the situation to Russia and China" following the most recent missile test. "We view as groundless attempts undertaken by the USA and a number of other countries to shift responsibility to Russia and China, almost blaming Moscow and 66

Beijing for indulging the missile and nuclear ambitions of the DPRK (North Korea)," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Options The Pentagon said it has updated military options, but at the same time says a confrontation would be catastrophic. In light of that, US foreign minister Tillerson repeated at length that the US wasn't seeking regime change and said the goal was dialogue, but one not based on the assumption that North Korea could keep its nuclear weapons. Pyongyang has categorically refused such terms.

Rex Tillerson, the secretary of states, says that the US government, unlike in West Asia, is not seeking a regime change in North Korea, amid tensions over Pyongyang's weapons program. "We're not your enemy," Rex Tillerson said, adding that the US wanted a dialogue at some point. As always, there are no good options when it comes to North Korea, but less time to pursue them. The strategy, said Tillerson, is a sustained campaign of peaceful but intensifying economic pressure to change its mind.

But given the advances in ballistic technology demonstrated by the recent ICBM tests, there's growing doubt that denuclearization is a realistic possibility. However, Tillerson took a more diplomatic approach, saying that "only the North Koreans are to blame for this situation". "But," he added, "we do believe China has a special and unique relationship, because of this significant economic activity, to influence the North Korean regime in ways that no one else can."

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe spoke with Trump and agreed on the need for more action on North Korea just hours after the US Ambassador to the UN said Washington is "done talking about North Korea". Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe spoke with Trump and agreed on the need for more action on North Korea, hours after the US Ambassador to the UN said Washington was "done talking about North Korea".

Japanese PM Abe and Trump did not discuss military action against North Korea, nor what would constitute the crossing of a "red line" by Pyongyang, Abe told reporters after his conversation with Trump that repeated efforts by the international community to find a peaceful solution to the North Korean issue had yet to bear fruit in the face of Pyongyang's unilateral "escalation". "International society, including Russia and China, need to take this seriously and increase pressure," Abe said. He added Japan and the United States would take steps towards concrete action but did not give details.

Pyongyang is determined to develop its nuclear and missile program and does not care about military threats from the USA and South Korea. "How could Chinese sanctions change the situation?"

The US officials say while China worries about North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs, and the US reaction to them, its overriding concern is to avoid a North Korean collapse, which could strengthen US interference in the region send millions of refugees fleeing toward China and lead to a reunified Korea allied with Washington.

67

Trade China’s direct investment in the USA quadrupled from 2015 to 2016, to $48 billion annually. The task force this year faces what could well be a record number of deals, many of them controversial as Chinese firms scout USA targets as varied as hotels and film studios to hedge against a weaker yuan.

The purpose of CFIUS, a national security vehicle to try to make sure that hightech investments by foreign countries don’t steal the US cutting-edge technology, is to contain China. USA has urged changes at CFIUS because of China because it was not North Korea but that China would close the technology gap between the U.S. and Chinese militaries. In an interview with Reuters, the top US counter-intelligence official suggested the Trump administration was already working on a plan to toughen CFIUS. US plan to prohibit CFIUS from approving Chinese deals would be technically legal but would stretch CFIUS' mandate, What sounds like effectively a bar on Chinese investment that is being suggested is probably legal but quite different than the case-bycase process that CFIUS has used in the past," said Stephen Heifetz of the law firm Steptoe & Johnson LLP who represents clients before CFIUS. The USA government should consider the potential for a Chinese response."

Meanwhile, the USA flew two supersonic B-1B bombers over the Korean peninsula in a show of force in response to the missile test and the July 3 launch of the "Hwasong-14" rocket, the Pentagon said. The bombers took off from a US air base in Guam and were joined by Japanese and South Korean fighter jets during the exercise.

"North Korea remains the most urgent threat to regional stability," Pacific Air Forces commander General Terrence J. O'Shaughnessy said in a statement. "If called upon, we are ready to respond with rapid, lethal, and overwhelming force at a time and place of our choosing."

Observation: force Israel to dismantle its illegal nukes!

One fails to understand how the routine military operations of Iran and North Korea should cause problems for or in USA. If, for instance, Iran and North Korea are made nuclear free can tensions be put to end when Israel continues to boss over West Asia and use its illegally obtained nukes as a serious threat to world peace, particularly in Mideast.

How can the USA expect China which faces perpetual threat from Washington, to take its orders to boss over a soverign but its ally North Korea by asking it to serve the superpower and give up its legitimate nuclear ambitions, when it is unable to reign in the fascist operations of its close ally Israel in Palestine and Middle East?

68

Americans are not going to offer any direct answer and nor do we expect any such explanations. But why does Washington expect China to work for Neocons to end abruptly nuclear ambitions of North Korea and why not asks Russia also do that? The Kremlin does not take orders from Washington.

US strategists argue that China will not deter North Korea unless the USA exacts greater economic pressure on China. The USA must send a clear message to China’s government. And hence Trump pushes for the Chinese action. But China's UN ambassador Liu Jieyi has said that it was up to Washington and Pyongyang to work toward talks on North Korea's weapons programs.

So, it is all a part of a nuclear drama being staged by UN veto members to terrorize the people of the world. The terrorism operations are also controlled by these big powers. .

Ultimately, it all comes to business and China wants both balanced trade with the USA and lasting peace on the Korean peninsula. However, to realize these goals, Beijing needs a more cooperative partner in the White House, not one who piles blame on China for American failures.

Despite the ongoing tests, most experts believe Pyongyang does not yet have the capability to miniaturize a nuclear warhead, fit it on to a long-range missile, and ensure it is protected until delivery to the target. They say many of North Korea's missiles cannot accurately hit targets. Others, however, believe that at the rate it is going, Pyongyang may overcome these challenges and develop a nuclear weapon within five to 10 years that could strike the USA UN needs to pass a resolution to put an end to nuclear race and first punish all those powers that have WMD threatening world peace in several regions.

Israel has amassed WMD illegally with help from USA-UK terror twins but the UN and IAEA have not questioned Israel because USA with veto decides that matter.

Before asking North Korea and Iran to give up their legitimate nuclear ambitions, let Israel be denuclearized first!. . _____________

Chapter-12: Kashmiris want Kashmir back from India, ask Indian occupation forces to quit their paradise!!

(A Sovereign Kashmir; Random Thoughts-306)

69

-Dr. Abdul Ruff Colachal -____

Yes, they are right! Guns, manufactured in India or imported form USA, Russia or Israel can never silence them. That even sacrificing over 1000,000 persons among them they continue to fight for sovereignty in full remands us of long Indian struggle for freedom led by Mahatma Gandhi. But Kashmiris have lost more people- mostly young- than India had. And Kashmiris deserve sovereignty and freedom in full so that they can build their own home from the scratches. There require entire Jammu Kashmir nation so that they need to worry about any future invasions. They seek the artificial LOC dismantled between the two parts of Kashmir and being occupied by India on the one side and Pakistan and China on the other. .

India, Pakistan and China are occupying colonialist nations and cause of pain and agony of Kashmiris- both Muslims and non-Muslims. Discover of secret grave yards in Kashmir has only emboldened the Kashmir youth to push ahead with their agitation until they are free. .

In recent years, Kashmiris, mainly youths, have displayed open solidarity with anti-India militants and sought to protect them by engaging troops in street clashes during military operations against militants. The anti-India protests and clashes have persisted despite the Indian army chief warning recently that “tough action” would be taken against stone throwers during counterinsurgency operations.

Kashmiris have taken a resolve not to let any nation to occupy their land in future.

Protests for sovereignty have stayed in Kashmir, notwithstanding all provocative terror methods of India. Now protests have acquired a national character and house to house involvement. Large anti-India protests and clashes, spearheaded mostly by students, erupted in India-held Kashmir (IHK) on 01 August after Indian forces killed two Kashmiris or so-called "suspected militants" in a gun battle and fatally shot a protester during an ensuing demonstration demanding an end to the Indian rule in held Kashmir.

The agitations in Kashmir is not sponsored by Pakistan as being suggested by Indian TV and print media, or China but by Kashmiris themselves. It is their "Quit Kashmir” struggle. Sovereignty is their birth right India or Pakistan cannot steal form them.

Jammu Kashmir was an independent nation until 1947 and it shall be so so again sooner or later.

It is only the question of time.

For months Kashmiris have been fighting for freedom. The protests following the killings spread across the region and were led mostly by students, after which authorities 70

ordered the closure of educational institutions. Inspector General of Police Muneer Ahmed Khan claimed that the "two militants" were killed after police and soldiers, on a tip, cordoned off southern Hakripora village early Tuesday. He said the trapped militants fired at the troops, triggering a gunbattle which lasted at least two hours.

Villagers said the powerful Indian troops blasted two civilian homes with explosives during the operation. As the gun battle raged, residents defied the security lockdown and clashed with government forces near the site of the fighting in an attempt to help the trapped militants escape. A young man was killed and scores of others were injured in the clashes in the village.

Large protests and clashes against Indian rule spread to several other places across held Kashmir, including the main city of Srinagar, as students boycotted classes and hit the streets.

Chanting anti-India slogans and demanding the end of the Indian rule, the students hurled rocks at Indian forces after being stopped outside schools and colleges. Troops fired shotgun pellets and tear gas, leading to pitched battles, including in Srinagar's main commercial hub, where streets were strewn with rocks and broken bricks and the stench of tear gas filled the air. Dozens more were injured in subsequent clashes.

Authorities closed all educational institutions on Tuesday and the institutions will remain closed on Wednesday as a “precautionary measure,” said Baseer Khan, a top civilian administrator. Indian officials also blocked internet service in the region to stop activists from using social media to rally support against the Indian rule in Kashmir.

Separatist freedom leaders, who challenge India's rule over Kashmir, called for a shutdown Wednesday to protest the killings. Indian police identified one of the suspected militants who was killed as Abu Dujana, a top Lashkar-i-Taiba commander.

The way people took out to streets at various places after Abu Dujana’s killing should be a matter of shame for those who try to portray the killing as their success, ignoring that their terrorists are Hero’s of masses. Abu Dujana being a foreign national, the response to his killing should be cause of more concern as Kashmiris mourning death of a foreign militant is ample to understand which side people stand.

India's use of brutal force under the garb of CASO has angered the people of Kashmir.

Joint Resistance Leadership of Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik while terming the use of brutal force under the garb of CASO on the peaceful protestors in Kakapora, Pulwama and Shopian districts killing a young boy Firdous Ahmed Khan and leaving at least 40 injured many of them with bullet and pellets.

In fact, the forces entering the Pulwama Hospital and firing at the patients and hospital staff there exposes India's worst form of state repression and it looks evident that the police and other government forces have been given a free hand to harass, terrorize, kill 71

and commit atrocities on the people of Kashmir. The police and paramilitary force’s action on the Kashmiri students and the youth who were protesting in various colleges and schools against the civilian killing in Pulwama exposes Inidan hidden agenda for Kashmir. The heinous act of arson, showering students with pellets and tear gas shells, who were peacefully protesting against the bloodbath committed by the trigger happy forces makes it clear that there is no scope for the peaceful protest against the atrocities and highhandedness committed on the people of Kashmir.

The people of Kashmir will observe complete shutdown on August 2, 2017 to protest against the bloodbath unleashed by the forces in Pulwama, Shopian and the innocent killings being committed by the trigger happy cops in Kashmir. The JRL said the shutdown will also be against the continuous raids, torture and arrest of youth and last but not the least, the frequent CASOs being launched by the Army and other forces in the villages of South Kashmir in which common people are targeted and made to suffer.

Kashmiri nation is offering huge sacrifices for a sacred cause and these sacrifices will remain as true assets for the Kashmir movement. The continues repression, torturing of youth and frequent raids on their homes and treating them with harsh laws have forced the Kashmiri youth to pick up arms as a last resort. They said it is the collective duty of the people and resistance leadership to take the present ongoing movement to its logical conclusion.

Kashmir issue is a political and human issue and it is because of the linger Kashmir dispute that peace is under constant threat in the entire sub-continent. New Delhi has to shun its rigidness and stubborn approach and understand that without the resolution of Kashmir issue peace in Sub Continent and South Asia will remain elusive. The reign of terror and the use of brute force on the peaceful protestors in Kashmir by the government forces in South Kashmir, Sopore, Handwara, and Srinagar should stop.

The new wave of instilling fear among the people can have serious repercussions and entire blame will lie on the government.

Government was forced to shut internet and thus proving that it is Dujana not the security forces, who enjoys popular public support. Killing militants has never been the solution and those celebrating deaths are the biggest dividends of the uprising since 1990. Let the security agencies not mislead Indian masses by claiming every killing a grand success and putting just one side of the story in the public domain, thus ignoring that every drop of blood strengthens anti-India sentiment and gives new oxygen to resistance movement in Jammu Kashmir.

Resistance movement for freedom and sovereignty is not terrorism, please! Repressive measure against the people for their legitimate protests is state terror technique; When Indian forces keep killing Kashmirs in their own lands with a view to silencing them – that is terrorism.

72

India should come forward to surrender Kashmir to Kashmiris and help them make their own nation. If, later, Kashmiris come back to New Delhi requesting it to take their nation into Indian constitution, India could decide in its favor.

But for now, India is occupying Kashmir as people of Kashmir did not endorse any dirty transaction between the colonialist traitor king Singh and Indian Nehru. _______________

Chapter-13: Venezuela's Maduro mocks US criticism of democracy!

-Dr. Abdul Ruff Colachal

__________

US democracy drama

Democracy and human rights are the two issues on which USA claims advantages and therefore criticizes the weak or anti-capitalist –imperialist nations and, whenever possible, it attacks to further weaken and destabilize them.

Destabilization of entire world except USA thus is basis of US democracy that USA seeks especially in the Islamic world.

It is indeed a perfect anomaly that the super nation which has killed maximum people across the globe during its existence after “discovery� as the closest ally of its English master UK and has also terrorized the humanity, is still talking about democracy, human rights and rule of law.

USA can still talk because it is the super nation effectively controlling entire world, including the nations that oppose US domination.

Though these days Washington does not speak much about democracy deficits in other nations as many human rights are denied to American citizens on some flimsy grounds, recently it did criticized democracy of Venezuela in Latin America where, like in West Asia, it does not have many friends or allies.

Seeking to make the world of global US colonies to help advance military supremacy forever, USA, even after the fall of the mighty Soviet Russia and weakening of non committed China, still hates socialism and communism, though both themselves have not been able to provide safety, security and prosperity to the common global people.

73

The atomic bomb is too dangerous to be loose in a lawless world. That is why Great Britain, Canada, and the USA that have the secrets about its production, do not let others make nukes and do not intend to reveal that secret until means have been found to control the bomb so as to protect ourselves and the rest of the world from the danger of total destruction.

The USA, which intervenes in the domestic affairs of any weak or totally independent nation which does not promote US interests in the region, refuses to let them advance their legitimate interests if that does not toe the US line, has a long sordid history of interventionist meddling and regime change in Latin America and around the world, and that is what’s going on in Venezuela.

Maduro wins Venezuela

Venezuela is one the few remaining countries that claim to be socialist but continue to ignore the popular concerns while the super power USA considers them as shame nations without essential human rights. The main concern of Venezuela is to save the nation from the western propaganda manipulative tactics to showcase Socialism as anti-human.

Last week Venezuela's socialist government won a popular mandate with all seats having been won to dramatically recast the country's political system against the will and fancies of capitalist USA. Electoral authorities said more than 8 million people voted July 30 to create a constitutional assembly endowing President Nicolas Maduro's ruling party with virtually unlimited powers, while opposition members and independent analysts put the total number from between 2 to 4 million.

The official result would mean the ruling party won more support than it had in any national election since 2013, despite a crisis ridden economy, spiraling inflation, shortages of medicine and malnutrition. President Nicolás Maduro has suggested the constitution needs to “restore peace” to the country so that measures could be implemented to improve the living conditions of the people. .

A newly-elected body, consisting mostly of Maduro allies and even his wife, will be given the ability to dissolve state institutions and possibly rewrite the constitution. The people have delivered the constitutional assembly," Maduro said on national television. "More than 8 million in the middle of threats. It’s when imperialism challenges us that we prove ourselves worthy of the blood of the liberators that runs through the veins of men, women, children and young people."

Maduro said he had received congratulations from the governments of Cuba, Bolivia and Nicaragua, among many others. Maduro and his supporters have dismissed criticism of the assembly as merely the latest in Washington’s attempts to interfere in Venezuela and other Latin American countries.

74

Maduro promised that the new assembly would quickly "restructure" the office of the chief prosecutor.

Rejection

Maduro called the vote for a constitutional assembly in May after a month of protests against his government, which has overseen Venezuela's descent into a devastating crisis during its four years in power. Due to plunging oil prices and widespread corruption and mismanagement, Venezuela's inflation and homicide rates are among the world's highest, and widespread shortages of food and medicine have citizens dying of preventable illnesses and rooting through trash to feed themselves.

Venezuela is in turmoil following the contentious vote over the weekend which critics say is an attempt by Maduro to consolidate power. More than 120 people have died this year in clashes protesting the Venezuelan president’s rule, including a candidate for the assembly killed in the night of the election.

The opposition, which the USA considers as its own ally against the regime, estimated only 2.5 million ballots were cast. Opposition leaders estimated the real turnout at less than half the government's claim in a vote watched by governmentallied observers but no internationally recognized poll monitors. Opposition leader Henrique Capriles, the governor of the central state of Miranda, urged Venezuelans to protest against an assembly that critics fear will effectively create a single-party state.

Opposition leaders had earlier called for a boycott of the vote, declaring it rigged for the ruling party. Ahead of the vote, the opposition organized a series of work stoppages as well as a July 16 protest referendum that it said drew more than 7.5 million symbolic votes against the constitutional assembly. The president of the opposition-led National Assembly, Julio Borges, told Venezuelan news channel Globovision that Maduro's foes would continue protesting until they won free elections and a change of government. He said Sunday's vote had given Maduro "less legitimacy, less credibility, less popular support and less ability to govern."

Opposition decried the vote as a fraud and called on supporters to protest again as of midday. "The constitutional assembly will not resolve any of the country's problems, it just means more crisis," opposition leader Henrique Capriles said. "As of tomorrow, a new stage of the struggle begins."

Several countries refused to recognize the results, while Spain and Canada joined in the condemnation. Latin American nations from Argentina to Mexico, which are historically wary of siding with Washington in hemispheric disputes, sharply condemned the vote. The EU said the constituent assembly could not be part of the negotiated solution to the country's crisis, noting it was elected under doubtful and often violent circumstances.

75

Throughout these past four months of often violent protests in Venezuela, the country's army has, several times, reaffirmed its "unconditional loyalty" to President Maduro. Despite the incident as well as demonstrations, the situation appears to be calm in the country. Meanwhile a search is under way in Venezuela for 10 men who escaped with weapons after an attack on a military base, according to President Nicolás Maduro.

Protests Venezuela has been rocked by months of protests against the government of Maduro, who was elected in 2013 following the death of Hugo Chavez, and there have been at least 125 deaths. Opposition leaders call the election a naked power grab meant to keep the Socialist Party in office despite anger over an economic crisis that has spurred malnutrition and left citizens struggling to obtain basic consumer products.

Countries across the Americas, as well as the European Union, denounced the creation of the assembly, which will have the power to rewrite the constitution.

The USA - the top market for the OPEC oil - called the vote a sham, and officials in Washington said they were preparing oil-sector sanctions. "A spokesperson for Emperor Donald Trump said that they would not recognize the results of Venezuela's constituent assembly election," Maduro told a crowd of cheering supporters following the completion of the vote. "Why the hell should we care what Trump says?" he added. "We care about what the sovereign people of Venezuela say."

Opposition leaders call the election a naked power grab meant to keep the Socialist Party in office despite anger over an economic crisis that has spurred malnutrition and left citizens struggling to obtain basic consumer products.

Opposition leaders decried the vote as a fraud and called on supporters to protest again as of midday. "The constitutional assembly will not resolve any of the country's problems, it just means more crisis," opposition leader Henrique Capriles said. "As of tomorrow, a new stage of the struggle begins."

Meanwhile, the Vatican has urged Venezuela’s president not to proceed with a controversial new assembly that his critics say would give him unprecedented power. In a statement issued on the day Maduro was set to install the new assembly - a vote for which last week was boycotted by the opposition parties and denounced as “rigged - the Vatican called on “all political actors, and in particular the government, to ensure full respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms and the existing constitution”. “The Holy See appeals firmly to all of society to avoid all forms of violence and invites, in particular, the security forces to refrain from excessive and disproportionate use of force,” it said. The statement also it urged the government of Maduro “to prevent or suspend ongoing initiatives such as the new Constituent Assembly which, instead of fostering reconciliation and peace, foment a climate of tension”.

76

At least 10 people were killed in protests against the unpopular Maduro, who insists the new body known as the constituent assembly will bring peace after four months of protests that have killed more than 120 people. Countries across the Americas, as well as the European Union, denounced the creation of the assembly, which will have the power to rewrite the constitution.

Maduro has also said he would use the assembly's powers to bar opposition candidates from running in gubernatorial elections in December unless they sit with his party to negotiate an end to hostilities that have generated four months of protests that have killed at least 125 and wounded nearly 2,000. Maduro says a new constitution is the only way to end such conflicts.

US agenda

USA has a major agenda globally - to ferment troubles in every region by suing the opposition parties. It obstructs peaceful environment everywhere and invades energy rich Arab nations, among others, maintain military superiority. It uses major powers even in Mideast to its own advantage and help sustain the tensions in every region.

As the super power, the USA has a vast nuclear arsenal capable of blowing up the planet several times. The World commemorates the 72nd anniversary of Hiroshima and Nagasaki (August 6, 9, 1945)- the worst human tragedy ever inflicted upon the people of Japan by the corporatist American regime. .

Fishing in the troubled regional waters has been the key foreign policy parameter of USA and every president- white or black- dutifully pursued imperialist policies by promoting global capitalism. . .

USA badly wants a regime change in Venezuela in order to make entire Latin America pro-American. Opinion polls highly influenced by outside forces showed 85 percent of Venezuelans disapproved of the constitutional assembly and similar numbers disapprove of Maduro's overall performance.

Maduro said the opposition had been backed by anti-government leaders based in the USA and Colombia. Maduro has threatened that one of the constitutional assembly's first acts would be jailing opposition leader Freddy Guevara inciting violence.

The USA quickly pledged potentially devastating oil sanctions and condemnations of the process poured in from governments around the capitalist world and the opposition at home. Many capitalist countries, among them the USA, the UK, and Mexico, have denounced the move by Maduro, claiming it is a move to seize additional power for his party at a time when his approval rating stands at just 20 per cent. The USA has issued sanctions against Maduro and 13 of his close advisors and threatened more.

77

The European Union and nations including Argentina, Canada, Colombia, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Spain, Britain and the USA criticized Sunday's vote. The Trump government promised "strong and swift actions" against Venezuelan officials, including the 545 participants in the constitutional assembly, many of them low-ranking party members.

Crippling sanctions are indeed economic terrorism being imposed by USA and its powerful western allies on weak nations that do not subscribe to US agenda.

After Iran and North Korea now USA and its cohorts seek to impose sanctions on Venezuela with which it has problems.

Politicians throughout the Americas, as well as leaders from the UN, expressed concern with the decision and demanded its reversal, though the Venezuelan government justified its decision as a reaction to "coup-like actions" allegedly performed by the opposition. On 1 April 2017, the TSJ reversed its decision, thereby reinstating the powers of the National Assembly.

Under pressure from USA, Latin American nations from Argentina to Mexico, which are historically wary of siding with Washington in hemispheric disputes, sharply condemned the vote. Several refused to recognize the results, while Spain and Canada joined in the condemnation. The EU said the constituent assembly could not be part of the negotiated solution to the country's crisis, noting it was elected under doubtful and often violent circumstances. ‘Nobody can escape the food shortages and spiraling inflation faced by millions every day’.

Perspective and Problems Like Turkey, Venezuela is also facing troubles from outside especially USA that uses the opposition to advance its capitalist and anti-national objectives.

The people of Venezuela are struggling with food shortages, economic hardship and an inflation rate of around 600 per cent. If the US goes ahead with its threat to sanction the oil industry - Washington currently purchases 700,000 barrels a day from Venezuela - the situation would likely worsen considerably. Many supporters of Chavez appear to have lost faith in Maduro, yet reports suggest most of them are still supporting him in fear of what might follow him. The conservative opposition parties in Venezuela have long had ties to Washington, and some of their leaders were involved in a 2002 coup that briefly unseated Chavez.

America believes economic terrorism in the form of sanctions would weaken the Venezuela and make people fight against the regime.

The US sanctions are planned to cripple the economy of Venezuela, make the life of common peole miserable so that they oppose the elected government. In a strike at Venezuela's already flailing economy, the Trump government is preparing to levy new sanctions on Venezuela, following through on threats to impose penalties if the country went through with the weekend election. The new sanctions could be imposed and will likely target Venezuela's oil sector, including possibly its 78

state owned petroleum company. One official said an announcement was imminent.

The officials were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Many experts believe the US has been seeking a change of government in Caracas since Chavez was elected in 2002. During past years, Venezuela has been facing serious crisis alongside protest era.

Following the death of President Hugo Chåvez, Venezuela faced a severe socioeconomic crisis during the presidency of his successor, Nicolås Maduro, as a result of their policies. Due to the country's high levels of urban violence, inflation, and chronic shortages of basic goods attributed to economic policies such as strict price controls, civil insurrection in Venezuela culminated in the 2014–17 protests.

Protests occurred over the years, with demonstrations occurring in various intensities.

The discontent with the Bolivarian government saw the opposition being elected to hold the majority in the National Assembly for the first time since 1999 following the 2015 parliamentary election. As a result of that election, the lame duck National Assembly consisting of Bolivarian officials filled the TSJ with allies.

Into early 2016, the the Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ) of Venezuela alleged that voting irregularities occurred in the 2015 parliamentary elections and stripped four lawmakers of their seats, preventing an opposition super-majority in the National Assembly which would be able to challenge President Maduro. The TSJ court then began to approve of multiple actions performed by Maduro and granted him more powers.

After facing years of crisis, the Venezuelan opposition pursued a recall referendum against President Maduro, presenting a petition to the National Electoral Council (CNE) on 2 May 2016. The opposition organized an unofficial referendum over Maduro's plan earlier in July, when more than 7 million voters overwhelmingly rejected his constituent assembly and voted in favor of early elections. On 21 October 2016, the CNE suspended the referendum only days before preliminary signature-gatherings were to be held. The CNE blamed alleged voter fraud as the reason for the cancellation of the referendum. Western observers criticized the move, stating that CNE's decision made Maduro look as if he were seeking to rule as a dictator.

Days after the recall movement was cancelled, 1.2 million Venezuelans protested throughout the country against the move, demanding President Maduro to leave office, with Caracas protests remaining calm while protests in other states resulted in clashes between demonstrators and authorities, leaving one policeman dead, 120 injured and 147 arrested. That day the opposition gave President Maduro a deadline of 3 November 2016 to hold elections, with opposition leader Henrique Capriles.

Days later, then National Assembly President and opposition leader Henry Ramos Allup announced the cancellation of 3 November march to the Miraflores presidential palace, with Vatican-led dialogue between the opposition and the 79

government beginning. By 7 December 2016, dialogue halted between the two and two months later on 13 January 2017 after talks stalled, the Vatican officially pulled out of the dialogue. Further protests were much smaller due to the fear of repression, with the opposition organizing surprise protests instead of organized mass marches.

Actions by President Maduro and his Bolivarian officials included a 7 February 2017 meeting which announced the creation of the Great Socialist Justice Mission which had the goal of establishing "a great alliance between the three powers, the judiciary, the citizen and the executive", with Maduro stating that "we have been fortunate to see how the judicial power has been growing and perfecting, carrying a doctrine so complete with the constitution of 1999" while stating that the opposition-led National Assembly "took power not for the majority not for the people but for themselves".

On 29 March 2017, the TSJ took over legislative powers of the National Assembly. The Tribunal, mainly supporters of President Nicolรกs Maduro, also restricted the immunity granted to the Assembly's members, who mostly belonged to the opposition. The dissolution of assembly was termed as a "coup" by the opposition while the Organization of American States (OAS) termed the action a "self-coup". The decision was condemned by some media outlets, characterizing the move as a turn towards authoritarianism and one-man rule.

Observation

USA is eager to unseat President Nicolรกs Maduro. American worry is compounded by a communist model poll in Venezuela as allies of the Socialist Party won all 545 seats in the new assembly, which will also have the power to dissolve state institutions such as the opposition-run Congress and sack dissident state officials.

The electoral council's vote counts in the past have been seen as reliable and generally accurate, but the widely mocked announcement appeared certain to escalate the polarization and political conflict paralyzing the country.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro celebrated the election of a new legislative superbody that is expected to give the ruling Socialist Party sweeping powers and mocked US criticism that the vote was an affront to democracy.

Venezuela's socialist government says a national election has given it a popular mandate to dramatically recast the country's political system even as condemnations of the process have poured in from nations abroad and the opponents at home.

The 545-seat constituent assembly will have the task of rewriting the country's constitution and will have powers above and beyond other state institutions, including the opposition-controlled congress.

80

On Friday, the new 545-member assembly was formally opened. Maduro promised that the new assembly would quickly "restructure" the office of the chief prosecutor. The assembly unanimously elected well-known Socialist Party leaders to its leadership, with former Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez to serve as the president and former Vice President Aristobulo Isturiz as First Vice President. The constituent assembly would hold sessions in the same legislative palace as the existing congress, which the opposition took over in a landslide 2015 victory.

Calling itself "The Binary Guardians", a hacking group has attacked Venezuelan government websites in an operation targeting the "dictatorship" of President Nicolás Maduro. The group posted messages appearing to support the actions of a group of armed men who attacked a military base in the central city of Valencia on Sunday.

Meanwhile, supporters of President Maduro marched in the capital Caracas.

They called for an end to months of opposition protests and unrest.

Interestingly, Americans, while criticizing polls in countries like Russia, China, Venezuela, are unable to control their own presidential poll. Americans blame Russia for interference in US presidential poll that demolished the hopes of Democratic Party’s Madam Clinton just like the besieged Palestinians and their children have real hopes of a future under the continued attacks and genocides by Israel which keeps the occupational crimes and control mechanism to squeeze the youth of Palestine.

Maduro made it clear in a televised address that he intends to use the assembly not just to rewrite the country's charter but to govern without limitation.

Describing the vote as "the election of a power that's above and beyond every other," Maduro said he wants the assembly to strip opposition lawmakers and governors of constitutional immunity from prosecution — one of the few remaining checks on ruling party power. Declaring the opposition "already has its prison cell waiting," Maduro added: "All the criminals will go to prison for the crimes they've committed."

Any country, and particularly any socialist governed country, that nationalizes their oil industries (or any other US corporate interests, i.e., United Fruit Company in Guatemala and Honduras) become targets for regime change by the USA by using the opposition parties. Iran, Iraq, Libya, Venezuela, Indonesia, Afghanistan, Pakistan et al are living examples. The methods begin with economic warfare, destabilizing their economies via sanctions and withholding of investments and loans, denial of access to markets and imposition of punitive tariffs. When the people feel the economic pain they blame the government and this is exacerbated by covert CIA teams and CIA fronts like National Endowment for Democracy (see Ukraine) who infiltrate and organize, fund and foment “democratic” opposition.

USA achieves total destabilization thanks to Neocon plans.

It is unfortunate that any independent nation must also obey the “democratic” US dictates in order to survive in the comity of nations. Any refusal to dance according to the CIA-Pentagon muse should be ready for a terror attacks.

81

Who can tie the ball around US neck?

Only in fairy tales a super hero emerges to save the weak ones from monsters!

_____________ Chapter-14: Is US-UK special relationship under threat under Trump presidency?

-Dr. Abdul Ruff _________

Like US-Russia relations, the bilateral ties between USA and UK also play important role in stabilizing or otherwise international relations.

The top UN two veto members America and Great Britain have maintained special relationship for decades, notwithstanding changing governments in both western capitalist nations. Arrival of ultra nationalist Donald trump on US political arena directly as US presidency candidate with his ideas of greatness for USA alone has sent cold waves even in UK which is known to toe the US line of thinking on all aspects- even on Palestine issue well where both opposed Palestine and supported Israel for ages since the Jewish state was impose on Mideast by both in 1948 and quickly made a full-fledged UN member- but now both indirectly support the idea of establishment of Palestine state and condemn the illegal Jewish settlement proliferation in Palestine.

However, the British doubts over Trump approach towards its closest ally looks untenable as President decided to receive at White House British premier as his first foreign guest. Thus the British PM Theresa May has won the race to be the first foreign leader to meet President Donald Trump in Washington. But her trip to the US capital is anything but a victory lap.

Theresa May gets a warm welcome at the Republican retreat and in the White House. Trump has already pronounced Britain "very special!" in one of his tweets.

He has also has restored to the Oval Office a bust of Britain's World War II Prime Minister Winston Churchill that was removed while Barack Obama was president, to the chagrin of some patriotically minded Britons. May's office says she intends to admire the bust when she visits the White House. She'll also give Trump, whose mother was born in Scotland, a Quaich, a traditional Scottish cup of friendship.

Of course, history has proved that political positions are not always a guide to 82

personal relationships, however. Former PM Tony Blair and Republican President George W. Bush formed a friendship that surprised many — and led Britain into the divisive, costly War on Iraq. May and Trump could hardly be more different. He is a brash, spotlight-loving businessman whose closest British ally to date has been the bantering former UK Independence Party leader Nigel Farage. She is a small-town vicar's daughter who has risen to the top of politics through prudence and by avoiding personal ostentation or controversy. Her most flamboyant feature is a fondness for leopard-print shoes.

Apparently, Theresa May's staff worked feverishly to secure the two-day trip, which includes a meeting with the president on Friday at the White House. British officials hope it will help cement the UK's place as a pre-eminent American ally and provide proof of what Britons — more often than Americans — call the trans-Atlantic "special relationship."

Trump has also been generally cool on trade agreements. He is pulling the USA out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership — a deal Obama worked hard on — and has promised to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement with Canada and Mexico. In other challenges for May, Trump has called NATO "obsolete" and called the EU "basically a vehicle for Germany" that Britain was "smart" to leave.

Excerpts from the speech were released in advance by PM May's office. May's seeming embrace of Trump — in the wake of his commitment to building a Mexico border wall and other recent edicts — drew criticism from her domestic opponents.

UK PM Theresa May insists she's up to the task of being America's steadfast but plain-speaking friend, telling British lawmakers that "I am not afraid to speak frankly to a president of the United States." Her message in the USA will include elements of gentle history lesson, as she urges the two nations to "lead together."

In a speech to Republican legislators in Philadelphia, May plans to say that the trans-Atlantic relationship "made the modern world" and built the institutions that have underpinned the global order since the end of World War II. Donald Trump welcomed the UK decision to leave the EU and even asked other European nations also to follow suit. Linking Britain's vote to leave the 28-nation European Union with the win of political outsider Trump, she'll say that "as you renew your nation just as we renew ours, we have the opportunity — indeed the responsibility — to renew the special relationship for this new age." Former Labour Party leader Ed Miliband tweeted: "Today he starts on wall, praises waterboarding, bullies climate scientists. She says they can lead together. Surely decent Tories feel queasy?"

The effusive tone coming from Trump's White House marked a change from the Obama years. "Obama has been a more Asia-Pacific-focused president (with his Asia pivot theme) so this is a return — at least in rhetoric — to the good old days of 83

the USA-UK special relationship," she said. "But it's very difficult to know exactly what Theresa May is going to get out of this other than warm words."

While former President Obama warned that Britain outside the EU would go to the "back of the queue" for a US trade deal, Trump told the Times of London newspaper that a trade deal could be done quickly and he backs it. Experts argue that any talks in Washington this week would be preliminary, since Britain is barred by EU rules from substantial negotiations on new trade agreements until it actually leaves the bloc — which is likely to be in 2019 at the earliest. And May will face strong domestic opposition to any deal that forces Britain to bring its standards into line with the USA on things like genetically modified food — currently banned under EU rules — or the private sector's role in health care.

May told the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, last week that although the UK is leaving the EU, "it remains overwhelmingly and compellingly in Britain's national interest" that the bloc still succeed. And while Trump said in his inauguration speech that "from this day forward, it's going to be only America first," May vowed in Davos to stand up for free markets, free trade and globalization.

Britain needs more than words from the USA as it prepares to start divorce talks with the European Union. May has said the UK will be leaving both the bloc and its single market in goods and services, which now stretches over 28 countries including Britain and involves half a billion people. By leaving, the UK is gaining the opportunity to strike new trade deals around the globe, and the USA, as the top destination for British exports, is one of the biggest prizes around.

Obviously, there is big queue of foreign signatories, especially presidents and premiers, seeking through their diplomatic channels, an appointment with president Trump and he would go in his own way in picking his guests. In fact many leaders are in waiting list to receive a presidential call form Washington. Many leaders around the world — who will make their own visits to Washington in the coming months — will be watching closely to see if they do.

The US-UK leaders try to create the chemistry that they need to create. When leaders of governments really want to make it work, they can make it work, anyway.

PM May faces the challenge of persuading a president who has vowed to put "America first" of the benefits of free trade with Britain and the vital role of the 28nation NATO military alliance. And she must build a working relationship with a populist president whose protectionist outlook and loose way with facts have alarmed many European politicians, including some of May's own allies.

84

As it stands, the top English allies do not face any real threat to their historic ties.

Meanwhile, as President Donald Trump is gaining diplomatic niceties in office, the US-British relations have no reason to stumble even during the Trump era.

A businessman is always a business man and business cannot thrive without essential diplomatic skillsAnd President Trump knows that.

_________________ Chapter-15: Justice for Palestine!

-Dr. Abdul Ruff _______

Donald Trump last week said he would love to broker a peace agreement between Israelis and Palestinians. It was reported that he will use the help of his Jewish son-in-law Jared Kushner to restart the negotiations. However, it is not easy to outsmart Israeli leader Netanyahu who knows all tricks of Zionist trade and would use for promoting Zionist criminal regime every Jew on earth and in USA, including Trump’s Jewish son-in-law. Jews cannot be taken for a ride by US leaders and Obama knows that. .

Genuine support for a Palestine state has been growing from across the globe to come into existence as a soverign nation to enjoy all privileges of UN and stay away from Israeli crimes. Israel is arrogant and enjoys all colonialist rights to treat the Palestinians as small insects and keep attacking them on fictitious pretexts with full US backing.

Defacto membership of UN for Palestine against the will of Israel and its fascist allies led by USA has empowered people of Palestine to approach international Criminal Court to file cases against Israel as aggressor. However, prestige of Palestinians as humans would rise only when Palestine obtains full membership of UN for which UNSC endorsement is necessary and if USA continues to use its veto to shield the Zionist crimes and against Palestine cause of freedoms, there would be further delay as Palestinians would have to use alternative routes for recognition of their statehood.

Former US President Jimmy Carter called on outgoing President Barack Obama to recognize Palestine as a state before he leaves office. Carter said the president’s efforts to resolve the conflict based on a negotiated two-state solution face uncertainty when Obama hands power to Donald Trump.

Senior Democratic leader and former president Carter wrote in an article published in the New York Times: "The simple but vital step this administration must take before its term expires on Jan. 20 is to grant American diplomatic recognition to the state of Palestine, as 137 countries have already done, and help it achieve full United Nations membership". He cited the peace treaty between Israel and Egypt, which he brokered in 1978. The agreement stipulates that Israel withdraws its military forces from territory occupied in "the recent conflict".

85

Israel captured Gaza Strip and the West Bank - land of the would-be Palestinian state - in the 1967 war. While it pulled out of Gaza in 2005, Israel refused to vacate its military occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem, where it continues to build and expand illegal settlements where only Israelis (Jews) can live.

Not only Israel advances its expansionist policy in Palestine with US backing, it also advises its military allies to ruthlessly deal with Muslims under their control; for instance, India having military deals of selling terror goods to India, is being counseled to deal brutally way with Muslims in Indian occupied Jammu Kashmir.

In fact, Israel had heavily influenced Turkey to borrow Zionist ideas of brutality in dealing with Kurdish populations and refusing to accept even their genuine demands. USA supported all Zionist terror ideas and operations..

Carter, who has condemned the Israeli colonisation of the West Bank in his 2006 book "Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid," drew contrast between the 4.5 million Palestinians living under the occupation and the 600,000 illegal Israeli settlers who "enjoy the benefits of Israeli citizenship".

The former president wrote that US recognition of Palestine would pave the way for a UN Security Council to act towards the two-state solution and ignite regional peace and stability in West Asia, besides helping Israel and Palestine make credible and durable .peace."The Security Council should pass a resolution laying out the parameters for resolving the conflict," he said. "It should reaffirm the illegality of all Israeli settlements beyond the 1967 borders, while leaving open the possibility that the parties could negotiate modifications."

He also called for security guarantees for both sides and the demilitarization of the Palestinian state.

Carter added that the Security Council resolution would support a negotiated agreement on Palestinian refugees displaced in 1948, among other contentious issues. He said US recognition of the Palestinian state would help reverse the one-state reality Israel is imposing on itself and the Palestinian people.

USA should all possible to make Israeli regime shed its colonialist criminal and terrorist policies and become a normal country promoting democratic and secular ideals. . .

Interestingly, Israel decides policies of USA and even dictates its terms for US policy in West Asia. President Obama, pursuing a double policy towards the Zionist fascist regime, has had a rocky relationship with Israeli PM B. Netanyahu, highlighted by the latter’s visit to US Congress last year, where he lobbied against the Iran nuclear deal that was negotiated by the White House. Israeli hawkish leaders backed by powerful lobbyists in Washington, still enjoy special status of guests in US Congress.

Despite denouncing settlements repeatedly as a mere rhetoric only to appease the Arab world, Obama, like his predecessors did, visited Israel for dinner and declared US support for all colonialist operations in Mideast signed the biggest-ever military aid package to Israel in September. This emboldened Israel to keep attacking the Palestinians, including children, killing them for blood and land for colony building. .

Americans opposed the Obama policy for Israel and defeated Democratic candidate former State Secretary Hillary Clinton in the just concluded presidency poll. It looks the President-

86

elect Trump would put an end to proliferation of illegal settlements in Palestine as the first step in bring peace in Mideast.

Donald Trump last week said he would love to broker a peace agreement between Israelis and Palestinians. It was reported that he will use the help of his Jewish son-in-law Jared Kushner to restart the negotiations. However, it is not easy to outsmart Israeli leader Netanyahu who knows all tricks of Zionist trade and would use for promoting Zionist criminal regime every Jew on earth and in USA, including Trump’s Jewish son-in-law. Jews cannot be taken for a ride by US leaders and Obama knows that. .

In March, during his presidency candidature campaign, Trump gave a speech at the powerful Jewish organization American Israel Public Affairs Committee, where he slammed Obama for “applying pressure” on Israel. He also vowed that Israel will not be treated as a "second class-citizen" by Washington if he wins. But soon after his election he changed his views to mean that he would end bloodshed in Palestine by brining Israelis and Palestinians together, though first Trump's legal adviser Jason Greenblatt sided with Israeli colonialism and said the president-elect does not view settlements as an obstacle to peace. However, in October, a different Trump adviser said Jewish settlements in the West Bank are not illegal.

In fact, Trump’s ideas about Mideast Peace are getting crystallized as days went by after the poll.

Peace in Mideast is not possible unless the as President Trump confronts the Zionist leadership over its crimes against humanity in Palestine and forces t to remove the colonialist obstacles for peace by making Palestine territories free form Israeli settlements and military presence. .

In a way as to confuse Trump, Israeli Education Minister Naftali Bennett, a right-wing party leader and advocate of Jewish illegal settlements, has said that Trump’s election victory means the end of the prospect of a Palestinian state.

With Trump’s change of mind over establishment of Palestine sooner than later, Israeli politicians fear that President Obama may support or at least not veto a UN Security Council Resolution recognising Palestine as a state.

Palestine would become an independent nation again as a full UN member and with ObamaTrump help the time may not be far away when Palestinians and their children begin to dream of a better life as today that is denied by Israeli military based regime.

Palestinians need the support of UNSC for obtaining early justice, even though most of the nations back Palestine statehood.

Chapter-

Trump-Putin informal meeting at G20 in Germany!

-Dr. Abdul Ruff Colachal

87

______

Foreword

Entire world’s attention was focused on the first ever meeting between US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Valentin Putin in Germany where they had come to attend the G-20 meeting.

World is shivering due to the terror wars launched by US led NATO continuing endlessly in Mideast, already killing millions of humans. More millions have been displaced, seriously wounded, fled to other countries in order to evade terror attacks by their sworn enemies with western terror goods.

End of terror wars could lead to peace in the world. People across the globe think if USA and Russia come together, the world, living beings and human race could be saved. But USA and its allies like Israel do not want peace anywhere in the world as they cannot then sell their terror goods to the third world. The merchants of terror goods (death) consider peace the potential enemy of those nations that thrive in arms trade.

USA and its allies therefore, do not want any credible relationship with Russia and China. They seek only businesses and finances form these countries.

A new bilateral phase?

World is guessing if Trump would go for friendly relationship with Russia and China. Gossip mill reports are highly confusing in this regard.

The relationship between President Trump and President Putin has been under scrutiny amid allegations of Russian interference in the US election. US intelligence agencies believe Moscow tried to tip the election in Trump's favour, something denied by Russia. Trump has rejected allegations of any collusion. The two world leaders had a couple of undisclosed conversations at this month's G20 on‌‌. The White House has confirmed that the leaders of rival super powers spoke towards the end of a formal dinner but the White House has not revealed what was discussed. President Trump has, in his characteristic say, condemned media revelations of the talks as "sick".

An extra conversation also happened during a private meal of heads of state at the G20 summit in Hamburg earlier in the month. The an hour meeting, which came after a more-than-two hour formal sit-down the two men had earlier in the gathering, was previously undisclosed and, given the nature of Russia's aggressive meddling in the 2016 election, is something we need to know more about.

88

The Kremlin said at the time that the two leaders had had "an opportunity to continue their discussion during the dinner", but the extent of the meeting was not known. Trump had been seated next to Japanese PM Shinzo Abe's wife, so the US interpreter at the dinner spoke Japanese, not Russian. No media were in attendance. Trump left his seat and headed to Putin, who had been sitting next to Trump's wife, Melania, US media said. The US president was alone with Putin, apart from the attendance of the Russian president's official interpreter.

Ian Bremmer, president of the US-based Eurasia Group, who first reported them in a newsletter to clients, said: "Donald Trump got up from the table and sat down with Putin for about an hour. It was very animated and very friendly."

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the two leaders had "exchanged opinions and phrases in the margins of the visit on more than one occasion". "There were no covert or secret meetings. It is absolutely absurd to claim this," he was quoted as saying by Russia's TASS news agency. Peskov also mocked the notion that the subject of a conversation between the two men could have been kept secret, saying that is a "manifestation of schizophrenia".

The length of the talks has been disputed.

Bremmer had not been at the dinner but said details were given to him by unnamed attendees who, he said, were "flummoxed, confused and startled" by the turn of events. "At summit meetings you have little 'pull-asides' between heads of state to discuss business all the time - a one-hour pull-aside is highly unusual in any context," he told the BBC. "A one-hour pull-aside between Putin and Trump where only the Kremlin translator is there, where we don't know what's discussed, given the uniqueness of the US-Russia relationship... makes the US president, surprisingly and disturbingly, not credible."

Later, however, in a statement, a senior White House official said there was no "second meeting", just a brief conversation after dinner. The official said: "The insinuation that the White House has tried to 'hide' a second meeting is false, malicious and absurd. It is not merely perfectly normal, it is part of a president's duties, to interact with world leaders."

Rising son and son in law

The Senate, the House and a Justice Department special counsel are all investigating whether Russia interfered in the election to try to tip it in Donald Trump's favour. They are also investigating whether there was any collusion with the Trump team, which both Russia and Trump have denied. Trump Jr and Manafort have been called to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee next Wednesday.

89

US President Trump's eldest son Donald Trump Jr, his Jewish son-in-law Jared Kushner and ex-campaign manager Paul Manafort are to testify before the Senate about their links to Russian officials, on alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 election and , over a meeting they had with a Russian lawyer in June last year. One key subject will be their meeting with a Russian lawyer last year.

There are congressional investigations, and one by a special counsel, into the allegations of Russian interference in the US election and possible collusion with the Trump team. The Senate intelligence committee said it wanted to interview Trump Jr said he had attended the meeting with Natalia Veselnitskaya as he was promised damaging material on Hillary Clinton, but it did not materialize. Ms Veselnitskaya told Russia's RT television channel she would be willing to testify before the Senate on the matter.

Two days earlier, Kushner is to answer questions in a closed-door session of the Senate Intelligence Committee. The hearings will be the most high-profile since sacked FBI head James Comey gave testimony in June. The three members of Trump’s inner circle attended a meeting in New York in June last year with Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya after being promised damaging material on Trump’s election rival, Hillary Clinton. A former Soviet counter-intelligence official, now a lobbyist also attended the meeting, Trump Jr, who confirmed the meeting in a series of emails, said that no information on Hillary Clinton was provided. The meeting is the firmest evidence yet of non-diplomatic interactions between Trump campaign aides and Russian figures. Ms Veselnitskaya told Russia's RT television channel she would also be willing to testify before the Senate on the matter.

President Trump, in an interview with the New York Times, defended his son's actions. He said he had spoken to a number of senators who agreed that if they had been called and offered information on an opponent, they would have attended such a meeting. In the same interview, Trump rounded on Sessions. The attorney general rescued himself from overseeing the Justice Department's Russia investigation in March, after failing to disclose at his confirmation hearing at the Senate that he had met Russia's ambassador to the USA. The president said: "How do you take a job and then recue yourself? If he would have rescued himself before the job, I would have said, 'Thanks, Jeff, but I'm not going to take you'."

Uncomfortable inconsistency

Questions about what Trump and Putin talked about -- we don't really know since there was no a US official or translator present -- need to be answered by this White House. Sadly, there's little chance they will be. Instead, we're likely to get more attacks on the media for their alleged role in the story.

90

Trump spoke about his conversation with Putin at the G20 dinner in Germany. The conversation came to light, with US media reporting it lasted an hour and was "animated". But Trump said it lasted for only 15 minutes and was mostly "pleasantries". He said the pair talked "about adoption". Russia banned Americans from adopting Russian orphans as a reaction to US measures against Russian officials accused of human rights violations.

All G20 leaders, and spouses, were invited by the Chancellor of Germany.

Press knew!" The dinner and its attendees have always been known. Only the Trump-Putin discussion had not been reported before. At the earlier, formal meeting, their first face-to-face encounter, Trump said he had repeatedly pressed Putin about the allegations of interference in the US vote. "I said, 'Did you do it?'

He said, 'No, I did not, absolutely not.' I then asked him a second time, in a totally different way. He said, 'Absolutely not.'"

Given the poor state of relations between Washington and Moscow since the onset of the so-called Cold War and the recent controversy surrounding Russia's alleged efforts to interfere with the US presidential campaign, each and every encounter between Putin and Trump is bound to be carefully scrutinized. Thus the apparently impromptu discussion between the two men at the G20 dinner inevitably raises many questions. What was President Trump seeking to do in approaching the Russian president? Were matters of substance discussed? If so, why was it kept a top secret and no formal note taken? And why did the US president have to rely upon a Russian official for translation? This all may be highly unusual, especially at a time when relations between the two countries are laden with so many problems.

The US president has spoken about an undisclosed conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin at a G20 dinner, saying it was mostly "pleasantries".

President Trump also appeared unaware of another dimension - the message that his tete-a-tete would send to other leaders in the room, who must have watched the US president's gambit with some unease. Trump's spokesperson Sarah Sanders told reporters at the White House that the dinner was part of the president's publicly released schedule. "You guys came and took pictures of it," she told journalists. "It wasn't like this was some sort of hidden dinner. To act as if this was some secret is just absolutely absurd."

National Security Council spokesman Michael Anton said: "A conversation over dessert should not be characterized as a meeting." Trump later said on Twitter: "Fake News story of secret dinner with Putin is 'sick.'

Trump and Putin

US President Donald Trump comes face-to-face with Russia's President Vladimir Putin for the first time on Friday. The formal meeting will be scrutinized 91

across the world, set as it is against the backdrop of US investigations into possible collusion between Russia and Trump campaign figures during last year's election.

At the outset it should be noted that both the leaders have one important idea in common- both want to make their respective nation great. Neither man hides his ambition to recover some sense of lost grandeur for his country. That in itself is not a negative aspect. Putin famously called the collapse of the Soviet Union "the biggest geopolitical catastrophe of the 20th Century". His moves in Ukraine and Syria are seen as attempts to bolster Russia's power and influence, and hit back at the West for the expansion of NATO into Eastern Europe that he so resents.

And Western European officials accuse him of meddling in their elections to try and weaken the European Union.

First meetings between major world leaders can be unpredictable affairs.

Trump has in the past suggested he could get along with Putin and praised him as a "strong leader" but it is unclear how he feels now.

In Moscow, the Kremlin is painting the meeting as an opportunity for the pair to "get acquainted and finally understand the true approach of each other". But looking beyond the testy politics of US-Russia relations, what do Trump and Putin have in common, and what sets them distinctly apart?

If there's one sharp difference between these two men, it is their back stories.

Vladimir Putin spent his early career in the world of Cold War espionage, and was working as a Soviet spy in East Germany when the communist state crumbled.

He is used to operating in the shadows, and kept a low profile as an aide to the mayor of St Petersburg in the 1990s before taking the reins of the FSB intelligence agency and later the presidency.

Putin has been at the top of Russian politics since 2000 and has the reputation of a cunning street fighter, an image that can be traced back to his days growing up in a tough communal housing block in Leningrad. He has said those years taught him that "if a fight is inevitable, you have to throw the first punch".

Donald Trump, in contrast, was born into wealth as the son of a New York real estate tycoon. He managed to avoid being drafted into military service during the Vietnam War, and got started in real estate himself with a $1m loan from his father, eventually building a property, hotel and Entertainment Empire.

Far from keeping a low profile like Putin, Trump shot to stardom as host of reality TV show The Apprentice’. He later used his fame and wealth as a springboard to make a bid for the Republican Party's presidential nomination in 2015. Yet though his public style is very different - brash and unpredictable where Putin is comfortable yet controlled - like the Russian leader he doesn't shy away from a fight.

Trump refused to shake German Chancellor Angela Merkel's hand during an awkward March photo-op, and pushed past Montenegro's prime minister at a NATO 92

summit in Brussels in May to ensure he was front and centre. Vladimir Putin uses more calculated means to intimidate others, once letting his large labrador into a meeting with Mrs Merkel, who is afraid of dogs.

Both leaders the target of media and both criticize the media opportunism and hollow news and views. Trump might have popularized "fake news" as a pejorative term that politicians the world over can now hurl at journalists, but he's not alone in describing critical coverage as false. Putin's government keeps a public list of foreign press stories that it says contains "false information about Russia". In dealing with the media, however, Vladimir Putin normally remains calm. Unlike Trump, he does not fire off angry tweets about coverage he doesn't like - he is calculating and level-headed when taking questions from journalists.

For Trump this means boosting US military spending, putting pressure on allies to pay for more their own defense, and pulling out of efforts to fight climate change to protect jobs in domestic industries like coal.

The Trump White House is a family affair, something that certainly cannot be said of Vladimir Putin's Kremlin. President Trump's daughter, Ivanka, has an office in the West Wing and advises her father in an unpaid role. Her husband, Jared Kushner, is a senior adviser to the president and a significant force in the White House. His responsibilities stretch from the Middle East and China to criminal justice reform and relations with Mexico.

President Putin, on the other hand, zealously shields his private life and family from scrutiny.. He and Lyudmila, his wife of nearly 30 years, announced their divorce in 2013, and his two daughters are kept well away from the public gaze.

Little was known about them until media reports in 2015 revealed his youngest daughter Katerina was living in Moscow under a different name and working in a senior position at Moscow State University. She is also an acrobatic rock and roll dancer. Maria, the elder daughter, is an academic specializing in endocrinology.

The differences in approach to family are stark. Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner's five-year-old daughter Arabella sang in Mandarin to Chinese President Xi Jinping during his US visit in April. Putin, meanwhile, recently refused to disclose the names and ages of his two grandchildren.

Campaign promises

Donald Trump made a string of promises during his long campaign to be the 45th president of the United States. Many of them made headlines - from banning all Muslims entering the US, to building a wall along the border with Mexico. But as he and his White House team approach the 100-day mark of his presidency, it is clear he has shifted his stance on a number of key issues.

93

Trump said in September 2016 that he would reverse the deal President Barack Obama had struck to reopen diplomatic relations and improve trade. As president, he told an audience in Miami that he was "cancelling the Obama administration's one-sided deal." But in reality, he has only rolled back certain parts, placing restrictions on travel and business.

As a candidate, Trump derided climate change as a hoax concocted by China, and the regulations of Paris as stifling to American growth. After three months of prevarications behind the closed doors of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, the president came down decisively on the side near the exits. Quitting the Paris deal, signed by nearly 200 countries, will take a few years but this is unequivocally a promise kept.

His vow to build a wall along the US-Mexican border was one of the most controversial of Trump’s campaign promises. Trump also insisted that Mexico would pay for it. Mexico maintains it will never pay for it, and even the president has conceded that the US will have to pay up front and then seek reimbursement in some way.

The US Congress is exploring funding options for the wall, but many Republicans will be unhappy about footing a bill which could rise to $21.5bn (£17.2bn), according to a Department of Homeland Security internal report.

That's much higher than Trump’s estimated price tag of $12bn (£9.6bn).

There are also landowners who protest against a "government land grab" - and a lawsuit from an environmental group launched in April. "We're building the wall," he said in February. "In fact it's going to start very soon."

Rhetoric and substance: Can we trust Trump?

Generally, most of the talks during the campaign is mere rhetoric meant to get votes of the majority community. Trump resorted this strategy to win the presidency against a very powerful Democratic candidate Mrs. Clinton with a lot of connections as former foreign minister of USA. And Trump won.

Trump initially promised to ban all Muslims entering the US - a "total and complete" shutdown should remain until the US authorities "can figure out what's going on". But he switched to "extreme vetting" after he became the party's presidential candidate. As president, he has introduced two travel bans, which have both become ensnarled by legal challenges. The second was a slightly watereddown version of the first, but a judge in Hawaii said barring people from six mainly Muslim countries, even temporarily, violated constitutional protections against religious discrimination. Another judge in Maryland cited Trump campaign statements as evidence.

94

President Trump has railed against "judicial overreach" and hinted that he may take the case to the Supreme Court, but has said little on the matter in a round of media interviews this week.

Trump repeatedly told his supporters that every single undocumented immigrant - of which there are 11.3 million - "have to go". As polling day approached, his stance began to soften slightly, then after the election he scaled it back to some two to three million deportations of people who "are criminal and have criminal records, gang members, drug dealers".

The Migration Policy Institute, a US-based think tank, has one of the higher figures for illegal immigrants with criminal records, which it puts at 890,000, including people charged with crossing the border illegally. The number of removals peaked in 2012 and has been falling since. It is too early to say if there has been an increase since President Trump's inauguration.

During a speech in Iowa in November 2015, Trump warned that he would, using an expletive, bomb so-called Islamic State into obliteration. The president dropped the biggest non-nuclear bomb in the US arsenal on an IS-stronghold in Afghanistan.

Trump repeatedly questioned the NATO military alliance's purpose, calling it "obsolete". One issue that bugged him was whether members were pulling their weight and "paying their bills". In one New York Times interview in July 2016, he even hinted that the USA would not come to the aid of a member invaded by Russia. But as he hosted Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the White House in April, the US president said the threat of terrorism had underlined the alliance's importance. "I said the NATO was obsolete," Trump said. "It's no longer obsolete."

Trump repeatedly pledged to label Beijing a "currency manipulator" on his first day in office, during an election campaign when he also accused the Asian powerhouse of "raping" the US. China has been accused of suppressing the yuan to make its exports more competitive with US goods. He told the Wall Street Journal in April that China had not been "currency manipulators" for some time and had actually been trying to prevent the yuan from further weakening.

Trump’s supporters want to see Democratic rival Hillary Clinton in prison over the use of her private email server while secretary of state. And Trump was more than willing to back their calls for, at the very least, a fresh investigation. During the debates, he told Mrs Clinton: "If I win, I am going to instruct my attorney general to get a special prosecutor to look into your situation."

The president-elect's tone changed almost as soon as he had won, describing the woman he had said was "such a nasty woman" as someone the country owed "a debt of gratitude". Later, he said he "hadn't given the prosecution a lot of thought" and had other priorities. On 22 November, Trump’s spokeswoman said he would not pursue a further investigation - to help Mrs. Clinton "heal".

95

Apparently, Trump is not eager to punish Madam Hillary Clinton. He repeated his vow to spend big on the country's roads, rail and airports, but no sign yet of action. The country's infrastructure "will become, by the way, second to none, and we will put millions of our people back to work as we rebuild it", he said in his victory speech in November. : Trump pledged during his campaign to move the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, a divided city which both Israelis and Palestinians claim. He approved a waiver to keep the embassy in place, but suggested in a statement that it would be eventually relocated. "The decision was taken in order to "maximize the chances of successfully negotiating a deal between Israel and the Palestinians".

His decision not to hurriedly move, as Israel has been directing Washington, the embassy to Jerusalem is noteworthy.

President Trump has not yet initiated any worthwhile step to the establishment of the State of Palestine deal to take place, although his decision to visit Palestine West Bank to meet PLO leader and President Abbas against the will and usual pressure tactics of Israel, gives us the hopes, however, meek they maybe, of his pro-active role and active participation in the establishment of Palestine. .

Observation: Trump, Putin could end terror wars, creation of Palestine and peace in West Asia

That President Donald Trump huddled with Russian President Vladimir Putin for almost an hour at a G20 dinner in Germany earlier this month is news, notwithstanding the confusion about the details. What's as telling as Trump's willingness to chat with Putin with no US translator or any other US official around, however, is the way in which the president responded to the news of the meeting.

He did it via his preferred communication tool: Twitter.

This is not a media story. This is a story about an undisclosed meeting between the presidents of the United States and Russia at a time when relations are very much in flux between the two countries. Making it about anything else is a purposeful diversionary tactic by Trump. Simple and plain!

This is a classic bit of Trump misdirection. No media outlet reported anything about a "secret dinner." No one is making the dinner look "sinister." And, no one is suggesting that the media was unaware that the dinner was taking place. That is not the story. The story is that the president of the United States had a somewhat lengthy sidebar conversation with the president of Russia and with no other US officials present. And that we didn't know about it until Ian Bremmer reported on it next night.

96

Trump, of course, knows all of that. The shrewd business magnet for all of his life time is also smart enough to understand that this is a bad story for him -particularly in light of the ongoing special counsel investigation into Russian meddling into the 2016 election and the drip-drip-drip of details about a meeting his son, Don Jr. had with a Russian lawyer in hopes of obtaining dirt on Hillary Clinton.

And Trump is working to change the story into one that he knows will score points with his hardcore base: "The Fake News is becoming more and more dishonest!" The media is "sick!" That will, of course, work for some segment of people who take Trump's words for, well, everything, or only get their news from the president's most ardent media defenders. The media is terrible!

Meanwhile, the White House said Trump would nominate former Utah governor Jon Huntsman as ambassador to Russia, a key post for a president who promised to improve relations with Moscow. Huntsman, who served as ambassador to China and Singapore, needs to have his name confirmed by the Senate. The suspicions over Russian interference are likely to play a significant factor in his confirmation process, correspondents say.

Question is not how many times the two world leaders met in Germany at or on the sidelines of G20. But the outcome of the meetings significant if anything emerged. Any positive development, if any, would automatically get reflected in their bilateral ties from now on. Russia's foreign minister said President Vladimir Putin and President Donald Trump may have met more than three times at the G20summit, but he shrugged off the importance of the encounters Lavrov made light of the situation in the interview, comparing it to children mingling at a kindergarten.

Whether Trump will ever raise the issue of election hacking is the milliondollar question, given he has downplayed Russia's alleged role.

They control their respective nation and also share a "strongman" style and macho attitudes which have shone through in meetings with world leaders.

Trump and Putin could work towards peaceful resolution of the worst global crises: Palestine in West Asia and Kashmir in South Asia. However, the immediate issue is to end the illegal terror war in Syria and make the West Asia a peace zone to make an impact on the global stability.

USA and Russia make it sure not to let fast growing Israeli fascist regime control their policies in West Asia. Both need to coordinate their efforts to get Israeli military regime punished by ICC and ICJ for its crimes committed humanity in Palestine and Mideast at large.

The perpetual clashes between the super powers let fascist regimes like Israel to become criminal states threatening the regional as well as global peace, stability and prosperity.

97

Indian politics: High drama by Bihar CM Nitish!

-Dr Abdul Ruff Colachal ____

Janata Dal (United) supremo Nitish Kumar has dramatically taken oath as the chief minister of the northern Indian state of Bihar, a day after dramatically resigning from the post. Nitish has scripted and directed the episode to make himself look like a ‘Mr. Clean’ of course in the world of corrupt politicians.

Citing irreconcilable differences with ally RJD, Nitish Kumar resigned as Chief Minister of Bihar. He said he "knocked every door" to salvage the alliance, but in vain. Nitish Kumar told reporters that he had a "zero tolerance" policy on corruption, and had asked his deputy to explain the charges against him to the public. He added that Yadav refused to follow his advice.

Deputy CM Tejaswi has been shunted, angering his father and RJD chief, former Union Railway minster and CM of Bihar, Lalu Prasad. Nitish had been insisting that either RJD give a clarification on the CBI case against Lalu’s son and Nitish’s Deputy CM Tejashwi, regarding a land-for-contract scam, or Tejashwi should step down on moral grounds. Lalu also reiterated his stand that Tejashwi Yadav's resignation is out of question.

BJP announced support for JD (U) and Nitish Kumar as chief minister. The party also added that it will be part of the government. BJP leader Sushil Modi will be the deputy chief minister of Bihar and will take oath will Nitish on Thursday. Lalu Prasad Yadav says Nitish had "betrayed" him. He said that Nitish was afraid of his son Tejashwi's rise in politics.

Nitish took oath as Chief Minister of Bihar the very next day after striking a deal with BJP, while Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Sushil Modi took oath as Bihar Deputy Chief Minister. BJP's Sushil Modi is thus back as his deputy. News reports suggest that the BJP has handed over a list of 14 MLAs for ministerial posts.

However, other ministers will take oath only after the trust vote, which is scheduled for Friday the July 28.

98

The Bihar CM needs this dramatic step to come closer to Modi and to bet his domestic foes -mainly his new foe Lalu Prasad Yadav with whose poll alliance he won the state elections and become the CM as a common candidate for the same against the wish and will of the BJP and PM Modi but now they are his ‘beloved” comrades.

PM Modi tweeted lauding Nitish Kumar for dropping corrupt parties led by Congress and “joining the fight against corruption."

Though the CBI raids and corruption cases against Lalu and his clan triggered Mahagathbandhan's demise, the JD (U) and BJP leaders had also begun secret talks in March itself.

A stung Lalu, in a dramatic press conference claims that Nitish's decision to break the alliance is because he is facing trial for murdering a man in 1991. He accused Kumar of working slyly with the BJP-led NDA to destabilize the coalition. His son and Dy CM Tejashwi Yadav sought appointment with governor saying that he will also stake claim to form the next government. Tejashwi Yadav marched to the governor's house while Lalu requested the governor to postpone the oath-taking ceremony but drew a blank.

In Bihar Lalu and Nitish fought elections against formidable BJP alliance in 2015 and won. Now the Grand alliance is breaking down as BJP has stepped up to use a proHindutva pretending leader Nitish. Kumar said that he had to resign because of corruption probes against the leaders of his alliance partner, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). Kumar has found a new partner in PM Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which he had defeated in 2015 in a bitterly contested state election.

The RJD has accused Nitish of "betrayal". Former chief minister and federal minister Laloo Prasad Yadav, who leads the RJD, said Kumar had colluded with the BJP to tarnish his party's image. Yadav and his son Tejaswi, who was the deputy chief minister in Kumar’s government, are being investigated for corruption by India's Central Bureau of Investigation. They have denied any wrongdoing.

Interestingly, Nitish had quit the NDA in 2013 citing differences with the BJP's decision to announce Modi as its prime ministerial candidate for the 2014 general elections..Now they are “friends”. PM Modi has quickly praised Nitish for his “honesty" in standing up to corruption.

Earlier in the day, the Congress aimed potshots at Nitish Kumar and dubbed his resignation and collaboration with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as 'disappointing'. Congress general secretary Digvijaya Singh questioned Kumar that was he not aware about Lalu and his family before he agreed to be a part of grand alliance.

99

Meanwhile, former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav fired sardonic salvo on Bihar's political upheaval, where senior Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar has severed ties with Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and is ready to form next government with his former ally- the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Son of former CM and former Union military minister Mulayam Singh, Akhilesh mocked Nitish Kumar and said that the latter could not resist separation from his former ally.

Even though it was believed that Nitish was in secret talks with the BJP, political observers question the role of the Congress, which could have saved the alliance.

Nitish met Rahul twice when he arrived in Patna, asking him to impress upon the RJD to withdraw deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav from the government or at least explain allegations levelled in the CBI FIR. Failing, he put last hopes on Congress President Sonia Gandhi, who during the UPA-II regime, was instrumental in removing many central ministers after allegations surfaced against them. But she had indicated that sacking a minister on the basis of an FIR didn't appear reasonable against the backdrop of the BJP's refusal to drop any of its tainted leaders. When Tejashwi met her at the insistence of his father, she did express worry about the fate of the alliance, but didn't appreciate Nitish's "stubborn" attitude.

The split of RJD and JDU took the Congress party by surprise if not shock. Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi MP attacked Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, saying he defied secular mandate for personal gain. He said the party knew that it was being planned for the last three to four months," said Rahul Gandhi speaking to media. Stating that the mandate was given to Nitish ji for the anti-communal fight, Rahul added, "But now Nitish has joined hands with them (BJP) for his personal politics." The Congress leader also attacked Nitish Kumar saying, people can do anything to be in power. JD (U) leader Neeraj Kumar said that there was no question of compromising on corruption.

The Congress was too late, maybe deliberately, to rush its senior leader CP Joshi to Patna to explore the possibility of calling a meeting with JD (U), RJD and Congress legislatures to chalk out the possibility of forming a new government and saving the alliance. A senior Congress leader admitted that there was already a high degree of trust deficit with Nitish after he ditched Meira Kumar to support Ram Nath Kovind as presidential candidate. "We know political blackmail and witch-hunt are part of Narendra Modi's strategy to break Opposition unity and Nitish has fallen into the trap," said a senior Congress leader. He said that Nitish has been engaging with the BJP central leadership over the past few days at a time when communication with Lalu had virtually collapsed. If there is no suspicion about the JD (U)'s intentions, various ways could have been explored to save the coalition.

While, Congress and RJD call Nitish a traitor of the cause of secularism and democracy, BJP leaders call his new brand politics of twists Nitish's 'ghar wapsi' and hope to give a stable and capable government in Bihar. Opposition leaders, cutting across many divides, were looking at Nitish to repeat the magic of VP Singh, who had in 1989 successfully ousted Rajiv Gandhi from power.

100

The Congress has 27 MLAs, all of whom have come out in vocal support of RJD leaders. With Congress party reeling under the corruption image, its leader and vice-president Rahul Gandhi still to find acceptability as a leader of any potential grouping, Nitish was an ideal choice due his "impeccable" image.

Nitish Kumar's walking out of Bihar's Grand Alliance extinguished the flicker of hope in the secular camp to take on the BJP-led NDA under Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the 2019 general elections. Kumar's new stint also marks his return to the BJPled National Democratic Alliance (NDA). His party voted for BJP’s presidential candidate while RJD’s MPs and MLAs supported the Congress led UPA candidate and lost.

Post script

- Nitish wins floor test

Nitish Kumar comfortably won on July 28 the crucial trust vote 131-108, after a vitriol-filled debate during which he defended his decision to return to the NDA fold, saying the opposition should not teach him a lesson in secularism. He narrated events that preceded his decision to walk out of the grand alliance on July 26. The 131 votes in favour of Nitish Kumar comprised JD (U) 70, BJP 52, HAM 1, RLSP 2, LJP 2 and Independent 4. The 108 votes against the motion included 79 of RJD, Congress 26 and CPI-ML 3. Senior RJD leader Abdul Bari Siddiqui's demand for a secret vote was rejected by the speaker.

The result of the floor test, held a day after he took office for the sixth time, jettisoning the RJD and embracing former ally BJP, was a foregone conclusion given the numerical superiority of the bloc supporting his government. Bihar's new government needed 120 votes to win the confidence vote. Replying to the debate on the confidence vote, Kumar tore into the likes of Lalu Prasad and others who criticised him for returning to the BJP-led NDA's fold.

Apparently targeting Rahul Gandhi, who had said he had gone back to the NDA fold to meet his "selfish" ends, Kumar, without taking any names, said in the 2015 Assembly polls Lalu Prasad was not prepared to spare for the Congress more than 15-20 seats, and it was he who intervened and ensured they got 40 seats to contest out of which the party won 27.

Seeking favors from the federal government PM Modi, Kumar said he followed "coalition ethics" and rebutted the charge that he betrayed people's mandate, which his detractors claimed, was for the grand alliance. "The mandate was for good work and transparency," he said. In his speech, Kumar said the decision to ally with the BJP was in the best interest of Bihar. Now that there is an NDA government in the state and another at the Centre, the state will scale new heights of development, he said.

101

Earlier, soon after Kumar moved the motion seeking confidence of the House, a rancorous debate ensued, with his former deputy Tejashwi Yadav mounting an all-out attack on him, calling his decision to join hands with the BJP "dhokha" (betrayal) with the people of Bihar. Yadav said Kumar, whom he referred to as his "guru" and "chacha" (uncle), despite having the epithet "vikas purush" (man of development), cannot win elections on his own. He cited the Assembly polls of 1995 and 2014 Lok Sabha elections when his party could secure just seven and two seats respectively.

Yadav's speech was repeatedly punctuated by the word as he blamed Kumar for the disintegration of the grand alliance in the state which also included the Congress. "Nitish Kumar made me a 'mohra' (pawn) to build his image. The entire action (of seeking his resignation) was just an excuse so he could go with BJP," Yadav, who along with his father and RJD chief Lalu Prasad, and mother Rabri Devi have been made an accused in the hotels-for-land scandal case, said.

Now the Nitish is back as CM and there is no immediate threat to Nitish government now backed by BJP. Bihar is one worst affected states infested by corrupt politicians. How far Nitish could change the corruption scenario during his tenure as CM - remains a mystery.

__________

Why does India make national awards fake? Now cricket mafias try to boost the image of Indian women cricketers for Bharatratna?

-DR. ABDUL RUFF COLACHAL

______

Unfortunately, India is suffering with ill-focusing on national award by easiest ways and cricketers think they can get national awards by using corporate lords who got the Congress government to offer Bharatratna- the highest national honor for hard work- to a fake sportboy Sachin tendulkar of his fake 100s arranged through mafias- both state and non-state elements. . .

There cannot two opinions that cricket is fake but what is intriguing that the cricketers want to keep the cricket fake forever so that they could mint huge money and national awards on false presumptions of the regimes. The mafias of the regimes do not let any real reform of cricket to make it a genuine sport.

Genuine cricket means a fever runs for any “big or tall� batboy and celebration for the bowlers and fielders. Batboys who jointly control cricketism, like GST (Global 102

State Terrorism) powers by capitalist powers, oppose any change to weaken their position as a weak guys and girls.

It seems global cricket mafias operating across the cricket world now wants Indian regime to offer national awards to Indian women and so there has been concerted efforts to boost the image of women batgirl players also by offering 10ss and 50s by other teams in the so-called World cup. As the teams have done so far in promoting Indian batboys like tendulkar, it has become very easy to do the same without any hassles. Bowlers are e told how bowl nice balls for 4 and 6s after pretending to finish them off in a few overs as a mere stunt.

Special favors from bowlers and opponent teams do not come freely; there is a price tag, like for any government job or important postings and transfers , attacked to every such favor. The payments are made by the cricket board directly or through the mafia or directly by the country concerned through the ambassadors, as the case may be. Of course, a high level secrecy is maintained by all concerned so that no body suspects the records and rankings.

England, Australia, New Zealand, etc, have joined other teams to promote Indian lady batboys.

Funnily, the BJP government is no different from the previous Congress government in fixing tournaments and awards for the cricketers as gods.

Interestingly, all players maintain a strict vigil on their mischief so that none would detect their secret deals. The governments, filled with corrupt and criminal minded people, do not allow any possible revelations about the match fixings.

Cricket was invented by England to keep the youth of their occupied colonies in good g humors by offering 100s and 50s and asking them to return the favors.

They made the p[itches exclusively let the batboys hit 6s and 4s and bowlers to struggle and suffer without getting a wicket. The bowlers are advised not to worry about run flow and offer enough runs and they should try to get a wicket or two initially and them offer big scores.

Thus the bating strategy continues today without any basic changes. Bowlers, who seek a career in the main team, are instructed not to complain about patches or speak to the media directly without permission from the cricket board. The way the bowlers jump up to the sky and down when they by fluke get a wicket is indeed amazing.

It is necessary to make cricket a real sport by bringing in elements of neutrality and justice for the nations concerned- and not for the batboys alone. Batboys also must struggle like bowlers to get a run on board but as of today now they keep hitting 4s and 6s and go fast get a 100 runs because only 50s and 100s are counted for awarding national fake honors and more black money. .

Both boys and girls enjoy being at the case with a stick and a “nice� pitch that promotes them. They hit and get 6 or 4 or less runs. Hardly any wickets fall. That is the strategy of international frauds like mafia, cricket boards, sports ministries 103

and even governments themselves that promote cricket as a fake sport like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Australia, England and South Africa, in fact all cricket countries.

Cricketism is illegal as there is an official mischief inherent in the game.

Neutrality and justice cannot be ensured without masking pitches neutral that would make the batboys roil to get a run. Every ball should be a potential wicket for bowlers. Batboys cannot enjoy their immoral stay at the crease to hit big runs in 4s and 6s should be declared OUT as the ball is hit directly outside the boundary. And 4s also be abolished let the batboys earn their und by running between the wickets.

The reform would sp stop the greedy people from entering cricket for 100s and national awards- the easiest way to obtain that.

Will cricket boards, sports ministries, corporate lords and their medias, and corporatist governments themselves?

That is indeed a trillion dollar question- more the money the mafias and cricketers get as their booty for playing mischief with the public for centuries. .

Meanwhile, Muslim nations would do better if they give up cricket which is invariably fixed for 100s and 50s or at least done as a "give and take" exercise, and concentrate on real sports to win medals in a proper manner. Cricket is spoiling the mindset of young Muslims to increase their greed for wins and more wealth immorally and illegally. For non-Muslims, cricket is a way of their life to mint money and wealth illegally. Muslims who practise Islam as true religion need not to follow the wrong paths for fame and wealth. In fact, Muslims are not supposed to eat everything that others enjoy or practise ways of behaviors other do. .

Muslims have their own way of life.

_____

Post coup foreign policy of Turkey!

104

-Dr. Abdul Ruff Colachal _____

Foreign policy of Turkey under president Erdogan has been both prudent and assertive, tactfully protecting all genuine national interest of the former Ottoman Empire by linking domestic with foreign policy in the background of an anti-Islamic environment across the world where the GST (Global State Terror) forces led by USA, Israel and India in the guise of fighting terrorism, are very active. Turkey pursues fruitful policies even with anti-Islamic nations like USA and Israel.

It is now one full year when Turkey and its ruling AKP government faced the biggest challenge in recent times on July 15, 2016 to them from the foes of Islam and Turkey. The disastrous coup forced the Islamist government President Erdogan to change the Turkish policies both at home and abroad as in the aftermath of terrific 7/15 Turkey encountered new challenges that are increasing daily and hence found dangerous to keep its foreign policy that harmed the nation by allowing all anti-Turkey elements unchanged.

It appears, entire anti-Islamic world is targeting Islam and Islamist government in Turkey. They have already removed Egypt’s first ever elected President Mohammad Morsi of Brotherhood party and jailed him to formally murder him, thereby insulting democracy, and dismantled the party. This shows how cruelly dangerous the anti-Islamic moment across the globe.

USA and its CIA plus global allies would not let Islamic world work for the welfare of humanity. They have crated all so-called Islamic terrorist groups in order to insult Islam and terrorize the Muslims and world at large.

If earlier, the ruling AKP could not distinguish between true friends and real allies that resulted in the failed attempt of coup cum assassination of President Erdogan, the post coup era let the government identify its foes that work against the Islamist government and Islam. n the past too, the country has witnessed several failed and successful coup attempts in its political history, but July 15 was different as the failed coup attempt in Turkey claimed the lives of 249 and injured 2,000 on July 15. The people’s unprecedented stance against this bloody attempt is unforgettable, marking the first time in history that a coup was stopped by popular anguish and resentment of Turks.

Syria was the first front in which Turkish foreign policy radically shifted.

Turkey launched a military operation in Syria on Aug. 24, 2016, following a Daesh suicide attack that killed 59 civilians in the border city of Gaziantep on Aug. 20. The attack was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Operation Euphrates Shield, aimed at driving Daesh and Kurdish fighters back from its border, was Turkey’s biggest intervention in Syria since the war began.

105

Nobody expected such a major operation at a time when the strength of Turkey’s army after the coup attempt was being questioned. Under the operation, which ended in March, Turkey took the border town of Jarablus, cleared Daesh from a roughly 100-km stretch of the border, then moved south to the strategic town of Al-Bab. One of the positive outcomes of the coups is the greater ties between Turkey with Russia and Arab world. The failed coup attempt has not only shaped domestic politics but also Turkey’s foreign policy, including on Syria and relations with regional and global actors (particularly the US and Russia), the West, NATO and the EU. USA has been at work to delink Moscow from other big powers, including Turkey and China. While it achieved much in its objective, China and Turkey remained stubborn with their external policies. Astoundingly, Russian-Turkish relations had started normalizing before July 15, and were cemented after a phone call between the countries’ presidents following the coup attempt. Putin and Erdogan decided to further strengthen their ties against the will of Washington.

Many thought the “arranged” assassination of Russia’s ambassador Karlov to Turkey on Dec. 19 by a Turkish police officer would hamper normalization, but it brought Moscow and Ankara closer. Further, they and Tehran have been instrumental in the crucial Astana talks on Syria, and are in close contact regarding the war.

The coup attempt added new issues to strained Turkish-American relations, which were not majorly improved by a regime change in the USA in January with the arrival of Donald Trump. The most controversial issue is Turkey’s vehement objections to the US decision to arm and equip the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG). USA deliberately supports Kurdish movement to make Turkey dependent on USA. Israel also follows similar strategy. In a bid to end six years of diplomatic impasse, months after the coup attempt Turkey and Israel sent their ambassadors to Tel Aviv and Ankara respectively as part of their reconciliation deal. Promisingly, Turkey’s energy minister is set to visit Israel by the end of this year to conclude a deal to build a natural gas pipeline from the Jewish state to Turkey.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson recently said the Trump government is starting to repair ties with Turkey, yet Washington still pursues policies that have caused only tensions. The US intentions and rhetoric are at variation.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan recently said Turkey gives its ties with Russia and the US equal status. Amid these tensions, Ankara engaged in talks with Moscow without the White House’s knowledge.

Turkish-EU relations were already suffering before the coup attempt, but European countries’ belated condemnation of the attempt caused a deep crisis of confidence from Ankara’s side. Relations worsened further after several European

106

countries canceled rallies planned by Turkish officials to garner support from Turks living in Europe for a constitutional referendum that took place in April.

Moreover, last week the European Parliament advised the European Council to suspend membership negotiations with Ankara, and the recent failure of talks on Cyprus has further widened the Turkish-EU gap. But despite these problems, both sides seem to agree that they cannot do without one another in a politically fragile environment. Amid all this is the ongoing Gulf crisis.

Turkey has developed ties with most countries of the world but focused mainly on western and advanced nations and their close allies. Israel, a close ally of USA had been any ally for many years until Israeli military attacked a Turkish aidship trying to breach the Gaza strip under Israeli terror control.

In June, Russian President Vladimir Putin appointed Alexei Yerkhov, the former consul general in Istanbul, as Russia's ambassador to Turkey. Russia's newly appointed ambassador to Ankara said that Turkey is an important partner of Russia in solving the Syrian crisis and increasing the trade volume between two countries to $100 billion is a "possible goal."

The veteran Russian diplomat spoke to Turkish media outlets regarding his new duty and recent issues between the two countries. Indicating that many of Ankara and Moscow's interest were overlapping, Yerkhov said that Russia's cooperation with Turkey has reached the highest level "in all aspects and degrees."

"Ankara has always held a special place in Moscow's foreign policy," he said, adding that he will work hard to improve the bilateral relations of the two countries during his time as ambassador.

The new ambassador said that the goal of increasing trade volume between the two countries to $100 billion, which was set by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Russian President Vladimir Putin, is a "tough and assertive task but an achievable" goal.

Yerkhov indicated that all states have their own priorities while developing their internal and foreign policies and said that it is normal to have different opinions in Syria. However, he stressed, talks for a solution to the Syrian crisis will continue in Astana and negotiations for de-escalation zones, cease-fire agreements and other major issues are also ongoing. "Turkey and Russia have similar interests in Syria," he said.

Russia emphasized the legal process of the assassination of previous Russian ambassador Karlov to Turkey Andrey Karlov, adding that Turkish and Russian officials are in close contact regarding the issue. Karlov was killed last December following an attack by a gunman at the opening of an art exhibition in the Turkish capital. Mevlüt Mert Altıntaş, 22, an off-duty policeman, shot the ambassador nine times in the back while he was delivering a speech.

The assassination was meant to spoil any possible relations between Turkey and Russia came amid efforts to rejuvenate Turkish-Russian relations after the 2015 jet crisis and establishing a nationwide cease-fire in Syria.

107

There is also a strong indicator of the level of bilateral relations as 3 million Russians are expected to vacation in Turkey until the end of the year. The ambassador also said that he works hard to learn Turkish and that he will "overcome it sooner or later." Verbs are very hard to learn in Turkish. Now, I am working on it again. I will achieve it sooner or later," the diplomat said.

Credit for the success of Turkish foreign policy goes to the experience of Turkish president Erdogan and his ruling AKP party in dealing with foes within and abroad during his long tenure as Premier and President.

Having realized the undercurrents trying to destabilize their relations, both Russia and Turkey would move very cautiously to integrate their efforts for peace in Mideast. Their rule in establishment of Palestine is very crucial as President Trump is seen trying to get a credible Mideast peace deal in place as early as possible and he is pulling the strings in Tel Aviv which is now busy selling its terror goods to third world terror hungry nations including an innocence claiming India, continues to resist the US move for peace in Mideast.

Agenda of G20 Summit 2017!

-Dr. Abdul Ruff _____

Amid clashes between police and protesters, the top advanced nations known as Group of 20, or simply ‘G-20’ summit is getting underway on 7-8 July in the German port city of Hamburg with terrorism, global trade and climate change among the major issues on the agenda. From Paris Climate Accord to North Korean Nuclear threat, US-Russian ties to Indo-China strain, this G20 summit will witness the global superpowers in their worst, trying to make their best. Germany’s G20 Presidency with three main focuses: Ensuring stability; improving viability for the future and Accepting responsibility.

The city of Hamburg has boosted its police with reinforcements from around the country and has 20,000police officers on hand to patrol Hamburg's streets, skies and waterways. The meeting follows skirmishes between police and protesters elsewhere in Germany's second-biggest city. Police said that at least 76 officers were hurt, one of whom had to be taken to a hospital with an eye injury after a firework exploded in front of him. On Friday morning, dozens of protesters attempted to block cars from accessing the summit, being held at the trade fair grounds in downtown Hamburg, but they were quickly thwarted by police. Further 108

away in the city's Altona district, police said people set several parked cars alight and attacked a police station, though the situation quickly calmed down.

The G-20 comprises Argentina, Australia, Brazil, China, Germany, France, Britain, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Canada, South Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the United States and the European Union. Also attending the summit are the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Guinea, Senegal, Singapore and Vietnam.

The G20 is the main forum for international cooperation among the 20 leading industrialized nations and emerging economies in the fields of finance and economics. The G20 nations are together home to almost two thirds of the world’s population, as well as generating more than four fifths of global GDP, and accounting for three quarters of global trade.

The host, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, says she hopes to find "compromises and answers" on a range of issues at the two-day meeting of leading industrial and developing nations. The G20 finance ministers will be focusing on achieving progress on the stricter regulation of financial markets, especially in the field of shadow banking.

In the run up to the G20 summit, numerous line minister meetings were held, in order to explore individual G20 issues in greater depth. Between January and May 2017, ministers responsible for finance, foreign affairs, labor affairs, health, agriculture and digital policy met. As was the case during the G7 Presidency, Angela Merkel met with representatives of civil society between March and June 2017; several dialogues took place, including events for the business community (Business20), non-governmental organisations (Civil20), trade unions (Labour20), the science and research community (Science20), think tanks (Think20), women (Women20) and youth (Youth20). The civil society organisations themselves are responsible for these meeting as well as for recommendations for Presidency, which will pick up on relevant G20 issues.

The G20 Summit, being hosted this year on July 7 and July 8 in Germany, which will see the coming together of 20 of the World’s biggest economies to discuss, debate and resolve various issue of global and continental importance.

Many of the G20 nations have developed differences ranging from environmental issues to prevailing tensions or war-like situations, and are expected to use this platform to at least find a resolution acceptable to all.

While main issues to focus, given the global-political scenario, can be broadly divided into two general categories, primarily as Environmental and Political, here we will look at these in a bit detailed fashion. While the G20 Summit in its definition aims to strengthen the resilience of the global financial system and proper regulation of all financial markets, it also organizes bilateral talks among the members to discuss and if needed resolve differences, at the disposal of the two 109

nations involved. The first meeting was hosted by Germany as well after the formation of the group in 1999.

Among the nations which are expected to directly take part in this metaphorical intervention of President Trump are British Prime Minister Theresa May and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. While May will reportedly express Britain’s full commitment towards the Paris agreement and in her one-on-one talks with him will stress how the accord should not be renegotiated, Chancellor Merkel who said that the US’s withdrawal from the agreement was ‘extraordinarily regrettable’ said that her sentiments will remain similar to what it was during her last meet with Trump.

The decision to exit the European Union is irreversible now and it has been accepted by all, citizens of Britain and the European Union alike. Given that this decision to exit the Union by Britain, popularly called BREXIT, will have obvious impact upon the economical set-up and future of both Britain and the Union, G20, which is primarily an economic platform might resolve a few issues which they may encounter. While it is true that the main focus might not be upon the BREXIT phenomenon, but ignoring the economic decisions might not be possible for either of the parties here.

Top Issues likely to dominate Geopolitics at Hamburg would be as follows: Stability of the global economy

Germany is happy to assume the G20 Presidency as of 1 December, and to host the G20 summit in July, declared Chancellor Angela Merkel in a video podcast on the German G20 Presidency. She cited the stability of the global economy as the "top issue". a number of issues "related to development" will be given a very high profile, in particular fighting pandemics.

Ensuring stable and resilient national economies The first pillar involves strengthening stable environments for the global economy and the financial system, but also promoting dynamic economic growth. Structural reforms are the lynchpin here. Germany’s G20 Presidency will continue cooperation on international financial and fiscal issues, employment, and trade and investment.

The aim is to strengthen free and fair trade around the globe. The German government will also be working for sustainable global supply chains.

Fit for the future Germany not only aims to ensure the stability of the global economy, but also, and this is the second pillar, to make it more fit for the future. One main concern is to

110

make progress on realising the goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on climate change.

It is every bit as important to discuss viable energy and climate strategies for the future. And the growing importance of digitalization for the global economy will play a prominent part in the discussions of the G20. To be fit for the future will also mean improving health care. The worldwide fight against antimicrobial resistance is part of this, as are efforts to put in place the mechanisms to prevent the outbreak of pandemics. And empowering women in the economy, in particular improving the quality of women’s jobs, is on the agenda. Angela Merkel will be working to give women in developing countries easier access to information and communication technologies.

Accepting responsibility – especially for Africa Germany also intends to strengthen the G20 as a community of responsibility – and that is the third pillar. A priority concern is to achieve sustainable economic progress in Africa. German Presidency aims to take concrete steps to improve people’s living conditions in the long term and to put in place a stable environment for investment. And it aims to promote infrastructure development on the African continent. In June a separate conference entitled "Partnership with Africa" will be held in Berlin. The G20 also aims to accept responsibility in other fields. Migration and refugee movements, the fight against terrorism, money laundering and corruption will also be addressed during Germany’s G20 Presidency.

The beef over Syria, North Korea and climate

The issues which we can expect the nations to touch upon in this meet are the US pulling out of the Paris Climate Accord, Britain’s drift from the European Union, Syria, North Korea nuclear tensions and although off the table, but possible mentions of the rising tension between India and China.

The long standing issue of Syria and its future, threatened by, on one hand the Assad regime and its alleged atrocities on the people and the rebels on the other, and worsened by the presence of the Islamic State terrorists. While primarily it has been speculated and confirmed by US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson that US President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin will seek to find a common ground over Syria, the most important decision both countries may arrive could be regarding establishing no-fly zones and on the ground ceasefire norms.

The G20 and world at large looked at the decision of US President Donald Trump with an expression of predictable horror, when he declared that the USA will 111

no longer be part of the Paris Climate agreement. While his decision was censured by citizens of the US and other nations alike, this G20 platform will be reportedly used by a couple of nations to show President Trump that in this issue, the USA is isolated from the rest and as Greenpeace Director Jennifer Morgan would say,’ The only game in town.’ Indian Hindutva agenda of anti-beef issue would not even be mentioned in the summit although such grave issues that are detrimental to normalcy and prosperity of a nation need to be debated and such nations promoting fanaticism as their key ploy as policy should be warned against the dangerous drama just for majority votes. .

Will G20 achieve anything?

Like UN, the G20 and other such forums only promote multilateral trade and do not think about the future of poor nations and poor populations in real terms.

World Bank and IMF impose economic measures to weaken the poor people. They and all governments promote ah and help the rich and MNCs, corporate lords and their wealthy trade outfits.

With the global political dynamics changing over the period of one year severely and more so in the last few months, perhaps the Summit is well-timed to resolve the differences which have visibly surfaced within several members and non-members of the G20 nations.

No one is sure about the outcomes as the US led Syria war is in the minds of every leader attending the summit. While there's little disagreement on fighting terrorism, prospects of finding common ground on climate change and trade look uncertain.

The illegal war in Syria led by USA and joined by Russia must be stopped and the remaining Syrians must be saved as the first action priority of G20 and UNSC. Israel and India must be brought to negotiating tables to discuss the burning issue of reestablishment of Palestine and Kashmir as soverign nations as they had existed before.

Remaining Palestinians and Kashmiris must be saved. Only Big powers can make the genuine dreams of Palestinians and Kashmiris a reality as quickly as possible.

However, since the veto powers control everything including the UN and G20, no one is yet sure if the communique that would be drafted at G20 would sternly warn the colonialist and imperialist powers destroying peace in the world, destroying climate, destroying poor people in every country, destroying nations and people; These should be warned against the crimes they perpetrate against humanity by attacking and killing the native people living in them. Apart from helping the poor and weak nation in economy and development programs, the G20 112

should also make suitable recommendations to arrest the climatic change taking place globally that would make many island nations disappear from the face of our earth.

Looking forward to the best possible outcomes from the G20 summit in Germany!

Why is India scared of talks over occupied Kashmir?

(A Soverign Kashmir; Random Thoughts-305) -Dr. Abdul Ruff Colachal _____

While Israel allows USA to mediate and does agree for talks with Palestinians, Americans and others on the issue of establishment of Palestine with full membership of UN - though without honestly or sincerity and just for the sake of fooling the Palestinians and world at large as a serious peace wisher - its new strategic partner in terrorism related issues India does not allow any other nation to mediate between Pakistan and India and even refuses to talk directly to Pakistan on Kashmir; India is interested only in its favorite theme “terrorism” and does not talk to Pakistan about Kashmir.

Palestinians are being besieged by the militaries of Israel and Egypt through terror blockades and the Zionist state terrorist forces keep attacking the Palestinians, killing them in hundreds and thousands and destroying their properties worth billions of US dollars and confiscating lands for future illegal settlements’ construction for criminal Jews imported from abroad. India just kills Kashmiris as part of its sadistic strategy to silence them from seeking sovereignty for an independent nation as it had existed before it was invaded and annexed by India and Pakistan. Already over 1000,000 Kashmiris have been slaughtered by the paid Indian forces as the jungle beasts do and apparently their blood thirst is not fully quenched so far.

Meanwhile, a veto power China got a part of Kashmir from Pakistan’s share of Jammu Kashmir, making it implicit in the crimes committed against humanity in Kashmir. So, China also, like India and Pakistan, occupies Kashmir, hereby further complicating the sovereignty struggle of Kashmiris. India, the major occupant of alien Jammu Kashmir, is very bold today to tell the world and UN nothing doing about Kashmir.

113

Not really seeking to end bloodbath in Kashmir, occupation nuclear powers India, Pakistan or China never mention about sovereignty for Kashmiris. While India and China do not say anything about the future of Kashmir, Pakistan wants a plebiscite to determine the majority opinion of Kashmiris about their future, hoping that Kashmiris would prefer Pakistan to India which is seen by Kashmiris as occupying terrorist nation.

For India, Jammu Kashmir is a part of India and its constitution and it does not want to talk to anybody on that issue. Pakistan asks India to discuss the Kashmir issue and let peace return to South Asia. India as well as Pakistan have very tactfully acquired nuclear weapons illegally against the will of IAEA, thanks to defend their illegal joint occupation of Jammu Kashmir ad not to let Kashmiris regain their lost sovereignty. In fact, much of the cross border cross fires across the LOC is meant to terrorize the Kashmiris living in both asides of occupied Jammu Kashmir.

India refuses to say that Kashmir was invaded and annexed with the help of the then Hindu ruler of Kashmir. Acknowledging a problem is the first step to solve a problem, many Indians would say.

One could laugh at UN, USA, UK, India and Pakistan for crudely directing the Kashmiris to choose between India and Pakistan. How can in the modern world a nation could be asked to join the neighboring nations on either side and become a occupied slaves?

Why should Kashmiris accept rule of a foreign power- India or Pakistan just because they have got strong militaries and large arsenals of terror goods, including WMD? Anyone who can read an authentic history of Kashmir would testify that it was a soverign nation for centuries but ruled by many invading rulers, including Hindus and UK. Now India and Pakistan occupy the nation of Kashmiris.

While Pakistan does not kill any Kashmiri, India does just exactly that, just keep killing them by calling them the “terrorists” and “insurgents”. Recently several secret graveyards have been discovered in Kashmir and obviously they were Kashmiris who protested against Indian misrule through militarization of Kashmir valley.

Indian terror strategists think attack on Kashmiris and terrorism alone can help India retain Jammu Kashmir as a mere state within India. Hence Indian military over powered to deal with Kashmiris who do accept Indian yoke. Indian media lords eagerly wait for “reports” of Kashmiri “terrorists” being killed by Indian “patriotic” solders. Military attacks on Kashmiri youth continues unabated and India has sought costly terror drones from the newly found strategic partner Israel.

India officially rejects talks on Kashmir and uses USA and Israel, among other colonialist powers to support its Kashmiri case. India begs Russia, which is the largest seller of terror goods to New Delhi, not to sell terror goods to Pakistan or support its Kashmir case. India on July 07 rejected peace talk’s offer from United States to facilitate and resolve Kashmir issue between India and Pakistan. India has consistently ruled out talks with Pakistan and any third party mediation, including 114

that by the UN or the USA. Pakistan on the contrary welcomes international mediation and also encourages the USA and the UN to help resolve its disputes with India.

This impression of not accepting a third or even second party mediation by India was extremely peculiar. This in itself reflects a grim picture of the Indian reluctance in resolving the issue and maintaining bilateral relation with Pakistan and future Kashmir.

Like Israel on Palestine freedom issue, New Delhi has taken it for granted that Kashmir should not be resolved and pays huge sum to USA to oppose both Pakistan and Kashmiris or at least help delay it and keep it an unsettled issue. It wasn’t also surprising that PM Modi’s only problem is that he lacks a political aide with sufficient heft to take the conversation forward. Congress also hates both Pakistanis and Kashmiris.

In order to gain sympathy of Americans and Jews, India hides its Kashmir terror designs and fails diplomacy in resolving the Kashmir issue and make genuine ties with Pakistan and Afghanistan, instead of promoting hidden agendas in the region.

In fact, India does not want good neighborly relations with Pakistan, fearing that would make India also lose Kashmir and its nuclear terror goods. Thus, the on-andoff resumption of dialogue drama has become more of a pattern between the strained India-Pakistan relations.

India and Pakistan have fought three wars since becoming independent countries in 1947, two of them over the Himalayan region of Kashmir, which both claim in full but rule in part. Sharif, elected in 2013, promised to improve relations with India.

But since then domestic troubles have forced him to cede more control over foreign and security policy to Pakistan's military. Indian PM Modi has taken a hard line with Pakistan, insisting he is unwilling to discuss other issues unless Pakistan admits its role in terror attacks in India.

Vajpayee and Nawaz Sharif signed the Lahore Declaration in 1999 to say that the two countries would intensify efforts to resolve all issues, including Jammu and Kashmir. Pursuant to the directive given by their respective Prime Minister to adopt measures for promoting a stable environment of peace, and security between the two countries -- But today, India pretends Kashmiris are happy being occupied by Indian forces and there is no final settlement to be made.

Interestingly, India’s confrontational policy regarding Pakistan is also visible in the provocative statements at the BRICS Summit in Goa. At a rally in Goa the then military minster Parrikar said: “If someone looks at the country with an evil eye, we will gouge 115

his eyes out and put them back in his hand; we have that much power.” That is indeed the Indian variety of state fascism. Apart from the above factors importantly former RAW chief Dulat talks about the need for communication and respect for resolving the Kashmir dispute. His views in advocating low military presence in Kashmir created a lot of ripples. He also argued the need for India to build confidence amongst Kashmiris through humanitarian measures.

It is crucial to mention the Kashmir issue continues to remain at the heart of all debates between the two countries, however, India has set the fires of war alight instead of dealing with the situation through negotiations. For India, it is a matter of domestic concern and does not seek any external interference where a resolution on that front seems like an impossible dream. For some Indians occupation of another country makes India great and admirable among big powers. .

With the recent rejection of mediation India also is trying to play an upper hand by blocking the peace dialogue between the two nations. Indian media lords, particularly the TV channels in English enjoy as their prime hobby by insulting Pakistan and asking USA to end aid to Islamabad and urgently make India a veto member. Indian strategists relish too much sadist pleasure by continually snubbing Pakistan and its peace offer.

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif announced his proposal at the annual United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday, saying the two nuclear-armed countries should formalize a ceasefire in Kashmir and take steps to demilitarize the divided region. India quickly issued a swift rebuttal, accusing Pakistan of claiming to be the primary ’victim of terrorism’ while "in truth, it is actually a victim of its own policy of breeding and sponsoring terrorists."

Planned talks between national security advisers from India and Pakistan were canceled in August hours before they were due to start, dashing hopes the two might tackle the violence that many fear could one day spark a nuclear showdown.

In the talks, India had wanted only to discuss terrorism-related issues. Pakistan sought a wider agenda, including the status of Kashmir.

India's foreign secretary J. Shankar wrote a letter to Islamabad, in which it was mentioned that "India would not hold dialogue with Pakistan over Kashmir issue."

Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad Bambawale handed over the letter to Pakistani Foreign Affairs Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry. Earlier this month, a letter was written by Foreign Affairs secretary to his Indian counterpart Shankar, inviting him 116

to visit Islamabad to hold bilateral talks on the disputed territories of Jammu and Kashmir. India has rejected the proposal saying that it would only hold talk with Pakistan on its favorite theme terrorism and the alleged infiltration of militants from the Line of Control (LoC).

The letter written by Pakistan had highlighted the international obligation of both countries to resolve the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the resolutions of the UN Security Council. The offer by Pakistan was made despite the Independence Day speech of Indian PM Modi in which he spoke about alleged human rights abuses in Balochistan, Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.

In order to force Pakistan to stop talking about Kashmir once for all, now a days, New Delhi pokes its nose in Balochistan, Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.

In order to force Kashmiris to shelve their demand for sovereignty, Indian forces use state terror techniques, killing them to silence them.

In August the adviser to PM on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz had offered a dedicated dialogue to India on Kashmir and observed that India’s policy of not engaging in a comprehensive dialogue with Pakistan was not conducive for peace in South Asia.

In fact, India does not care for what Pakistan or China thinks about the Kashmir issue but it cannot digest a map of India without Kashmir on its top like its head.

Jammu Kashmir is not just the beautiful place with a lot of fruits, eye catching sceneries for shooting, it is a heaven for one of the greatest prophets on earth before the Islamic Prophet Muhammad (SAS) who lived and passed away there.

Most likely Britishers do believe that. How can that heaven be annexed and heavily militarized by India in order to kill the Kashmiris in a sustained manner?

Kashmiris and Human Rights groups have been demanding demilitarization of Kashmir valley and let Kashmiris live peacefully. But India refuses to oblige popular sentiments as it wants to keep Kashmiris tensed and terrorized.

India treats Pakistan like any of its cricketism partners purchased for the IPL and being used for boosting the false image of fanatic India. India wants Pakistan to close the Kashmir matter and keep the part of Kashmir it occupies and never ask for more land from Indian illegal possession. And therefore, India formally rejected Pakistan's proposal to hold exclusive talks on the issue of Kashmir and said it will only discuss the issue of terrorism alleged infiltration of militants with Pakistan.

A soverign Kashmir would promote peace in the region.

Kashmir has been and a sensitive issue, crucial to the relationship that the two nations share. India must understand it is blocking peace and prosperity of South Asia by refusing to resolve the Kashmir issue by allowing them sovereignty so that it could seek UN membership.

117

True, India is happy to live in perpetual denial and enjoy the status of “terror victim� to join the USA led imperialist powers with fascist intent.

India should not delay the peace process so that a soverign Kashmir become reality as quickly as possible.

UN must take steps to free all nations under foreign occupation and those are colonized by big powers on their military strength.

Hopefully all western countries propagating true democracy would take the lead in releasing the colonized nations from the colonial foreign nations and the process should be conducted and completed in a time frame.

------

Rising Russo-China relations: Xi meets Putin in Moscow before G20 summit!

-Dr. Abdul Ruff Colachal _____

Today, if at all any two big powers share territories and conduct trade mutually beneficially and they do not have any serious problems, then, Russia and China fit the bill. The bilateral ties between two veto members and former communist states in Europe and Asia have been improving tremendously.

End of Cold War and NATO targeting Russia and China in fact brought them together. There have been mutual visits by leaders from both nations on a regular basis. In fact, Chinese president visits Moscow as many times as possible and each time at least a new deal of economic substance gets inked between them.

Chinese President Chinese President Xi Jinping is now in Moscow before he travels to Germany to take part in an upcoming G20 summit in Hamburg, Germany and met with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Chinese president is making a twoday stop in Moscow on his way to Germany, where a G20 summit is scheduled for later this week. According to Russia’s ambassador to China, Andrey Denisov, during the visit China and Russia will sign multiple contracts for the collective worth of over $10 billion in various fields.

118

Ahead of his visit, the Chinese leader gave an interview to Russia’s TASS news agency, in which he particularly focused on the issue of deployment of the US THAAD missile defense systems to South Korea. Xi criticized the move as “disrupting the strategic balance in the region” and threatening the security interests of all countries in the region, including Russia and China. He also reiterated that Beijing is urging Washington and Seoul to back away from the decision to deploy THAAD systems to the Korean peninsula.

Putin and Xi already held an informal dinner at the Kremlin. The two leaders exchanged views on Syria as well as issues relating to the Korean Peninsula, where they agreed to “jointly push for a proper settlement… via dialogue and negotiation,” according to Chinese state news agency, Xinhua.

The Chinese leader also

emphasized the need to boost cooperation and “steadfastly support each other in pursuing their own development paths and defending their respective sovereignty, national security and development interests,” Chinese media reported.

Economic cooperation and trade is the most wide-ranging area in Russo-China cooperation and enjoys great potential. Before his departure for the state visit to Russia, Xi said, "Our two countries have built a high level of political and strategic trust… I believe the visit will lend new impetus to the growth of bilateral relations.”

He also expressed hope that the G20 will continue to uphold the spirit of partnership for win-win cooperation. It is the two leaders’ third meeting this year, and deals worth $10 billion are expected to be signed this time.

President Putin has described the meeting as a major event in bilateral relations that have been growing and deepening for years ever since USA and EU slapped economic sanction on Moscow for annexing (rather retaking) Crimea which had been an integral part of Russian empire for centuries before it was shifted to Ukraine for administrative reasons by then Soviet President Khrushchev.

As a sign of closer relationship, Putin will bestow upon Xi one of Russia’s utmost honors, the order of St. Andrew the First-Called, for his extreme efforts towards bolstering friendship and ties between peoples of Russia and China.

Xi’s meeting with Putin will be the third of its kind this year.

Less than a month ago, Putin and Xi met in Kazakhstan’s capital, Astana, on the sidelines of a Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit. At that time, Putin called the upcoming meeting in Moscow “a major event in bilateral relations,” noting that it would have a “significant” impact on bilateral ties.

119

Before the Astana meeting on June 8, Xi had hosted Putin in Beijing during the high-level ‘One Belt, One Road’ forum, which brought together dozens of heads of state in May to discuss international cooperation.

During Xi’s visit to Moscow, scheduled for July 3-4, Russia and China will sign several contracts worth a total of $10 billion, as well as more than a dozen intergovernmental agreements on cooperation in various fields

Strategic partnership

Beijing is Moscow’s biggest trading partner, accounting for 14.3 percent of Russia’s foreign trade turnover. Between January and April of 2017, the volume of trade between the two countries grew by 37 percent, reaching $24.5 billion.

Germany is Russia’s second biggest partner, with nine percent of Russia’s total trade volume Moscow and Beijing have strengthened their strategic partnership on the international stage, Li noted, adding that they have been jointly pushing for political solutions to the Korean nuclear issue and the Syrian crisis.

Moscow and Beijing are determined to align positions on pressing international issues. Close ties allow the countries “to pursue a rather close course on various aspects of the agenda of international organizations, including the United Nations,” according to the ambassador. “When good intentions framed in lofty words lead to chaos, the collapse of states and, in the long run, to bloodshed and numerous human casualties, the role of stabilizers, of the factors that may have a cooling, stabilizing effect on the generally turbulent international situation is very important.

And Russian-Chinese relations are, to my mind, such a stabilizing factor, said the ambassador.

Uniform stance

North Korea has successfully test-fired an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), which it claims is capable of hitting anywhere in the world. The Hwasong-14 ballistic missile reached an altitude of 2,802 kilometers (1,741 miles) and hit its target precisely after flying for 39 minutes, the report said.

The latest test comes just hours after US President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe agreed to exert added pressure on North Korea over its missile and nuclear development programs.

120

On June 3, the United Nations Security Council imposed a fresh array of sanctions on North Korea in response to a number of missile tests carried out by Pyongyang this year.

North Korea accuses the United States of plotting with regional allies to overthrow its government. Pyongyang says it will not relinquish its nuclear deterrence unless the United States ends its hostile policy toward North Korea and dissolves the USled UN command in South Korea.

Moscow and Beijing have called for a simultaneous freeze on North Korea's missile tests and large-scale military drills by the United States and South Korea. Both countries made the demand in a statement released after Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks with visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Kremlin and the USA and South Korea refrain from carrying out large-scale joint exercises," foreign ministries of the two countries said in a joint statement. "Parallel to this, the opposing sides should start negotiations and affirm general principles of their relations including the non-use of force, rejection of aggression and peaceful coexistence," the statement said.

It also demanded that the United States immediately halt its controversial deployment of an anti-missile system, known as the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), to South Korea.

North Korea missile launch breach of UN resolution Separately, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov called North Korea's latest test launch of a ballistic missile a breach of a UN Security Council resolution.

Ryabkov said tensions with Pyongyang risked leading to catastrophic developments and that the missile launch showed that the only way forward was to organize multilateral talks with North Korea.

Unsettled by North Korean missile and nuclear programs, the United States has adopted a war-like posture, sending a strike group and conducting joint military drills with North Korea’s regional adversaries Japan and South Korea.

USA and China

Chinese President Xi Jinping has raised concerns with his American counterpart, Donald Trump, regarding “some negative factors” affecting Sino-American relations.

In a telephone conversation with US President Donald Trump on Monday and before setting off for Russia, President Xi enumerated several factors adversely affecting the Beijing-Washington ties. Xi expressed Beijing’s displeasure with the recent approval by the US to sell $1 billion worth of arms to Taiwan, a self-ruled island that China considers part of its territory.

President Trump, who had previously questioned the “One China” policy, has reassured President Xi of continued US commitment to the practice. Trump has also more recently sought to court the Chinese president, including by inviting him and 121

his wife to his private estate in Florida in May. Xi told Trump that his government expected Washington to continue managing relations on the basis of the “One China” principle, i.e. recognizing Chinese sovereignty over Taiwan.

In a telephone conversation, Xi also discussed the US sanctions against a Chinese bank over its dealings with North Korea. The US Treasury Department imposed new sanctions on the China-based Bank of Dadong and several Chinese nationals on Thursday for having “illicit” financial activities with North Korea.

The recent sailing of a US destroyer within the 12-nautical-mile territorial limit of an island claimed by China in the South China Sea was also another issue raised by the Chinese president.

The maneuver by the US guided-missile destroyer USS Stethem was earlier denounced by Beijing as a “provocation.”

Xi also expressed his opposition to the US deployment of an advanced missile system on South Korea. He warned that China and Russia would take “necessary measures” either together or independently to protect their interests with regard to the deployment of the system. “The US deployment of an advanced anti-missile system in South Korea gravely harms the strategic security interests of China, Russia, and other countries in the region,” Xinhua quoted Xi as having told Trump.

“Beijing and Moscow are steadfastly opposed to the THAAD deployment and seriously suggest that relevant countries stop and cancel the installation,” he added, referring to the missile system, the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), by its acronym.

Both China and Russia have repeatedly voiced their opposition to the deployment and argued that the controversial missile system disrupts the regional strategic balance.

South Korea decided to host the missile system last year to deter perceived threats from North Korea. The US opposes North Korea’s missile and military nuclear activities, which Pyongyang says act as a deterrence against potential invasion by its adversaries.

Global growth continues to gather momentum, as both developed countries and emerging markets show stronger economic performance. However, grave challenges remain. Therefore, it is particularly important for the G20 to play its role as a premier forum for international economic cooperation. This evening, within Chinese President Xi Jinping's official visit, there will be an informal dinner for President Putin and Xi Jinping at the Kremlin” It will have an unusual format of the meeting: the leaders will meet Russian and Chinese representatives of the public, businesses and media, who will briefly inform Putin and Xi Jinping on their cooperation,” added Peskov.

122

Indian PM Modi’s visit to fascist Israel -Dr. Abdul Ruff Colachal ____

Today India that pretends hating Muslims and fighting Islam could be a hero not only for Israel but entire anti-Islamic world led by USA-UK terror twins.

Indian PM Modi is in Israel for striking deals in terror goods, including terror drones.

‘Help me please’ While President Trump said he would make USA “great again”, PM Modi said he would make India a super power and began to work for a “make in India” theme by wasting lot of money (maybe not black) the keeps touring western nations for help.

India pays hugely for Modi’s extempore foreign torus.

When Indian PM Modi on his arrival at Tel Aviv hugged so tightly the Zionist president and Israeli criminal PM Netanyahu, his facial expression betrayed: “please help me, please help my party and government, pl help the Hindutva India which is a natural ally of Zionism..Please ask Trump to support me and India..Please…Mr. President. You know sir.. USA, Israel and India are terror victims, you know..We must cooperate on terrorism and counter terrorism and Islamic fundamentalism, etc.. ..” PM Modi may not have said or meant to say this to Israeli leaders but that is the impression his tight hug gave to the world.

So pathetic!...Indian PM with a rising economy should not have stooped down so deeply before the enemies of humanity, thereby bringing insult to a great nation called India.

Of course, there is nothing strange or abnormal in Indian PM Modi visiting Israel against the wishes of Palestinians or Arabs or entire humanity. The ruler of one colonialist nation India visiting similar colonialist and apartheid nation Israel has nothing to hide from one another and form the world. Both India and Israel operate as allies of imperialist forces led by USA, also pursue fascist polices with regard to the occupied nations, viz Kashmir and Palestine as they are occupying neighboring nations and enjoy terror attacks on those people with blessings from USA and UNSC. As Israel kills Palestinians, including children, on a regular basis in order to confiscate their lands after killing the besieged Palestinians, its strategic military partner India also keeps attacking Kashmiris in a sustained manner so that they do not ask for sovereignty back from New Delhi.

123

Today, Israel has emerged one of the largest sellers of terror goods and technology to India whose hunger for foreign terror goods to deal with Kashmiris and those low caste Hindus that seek justice from the rulers and their class, has been amazingly huge.

India did not support the 1947 UN resolution to divide Palestine and create Israel but when the USA, UK and other big powers of the day did crate Israel by forcefully dividing Palestine and chasing away or killing Palestinians from New Israel, India did not approve of the Zionist criminal regime. When India led the Non-aligned nations, it continued to support the Arab nations and Palestinians and opposed Israeli.

After delaying recognition of Israel as a soverign nation for about two years, India recognized Israel on September 18, 1950 but then the bilateral relations have remained at low ebb until recently. That is because people of India cannot digest any links with a fascist fanatic Israel wedded to criminal operations.

Diplomatic ties between India and Israel were formally established by the Congress party’s government in 1992 led by Narasimha Rao who, inspired by Hindutva ideology, very skillfully helped the Hindutva forces led by RSS-BJP destroy the historic Babri Mosque in Uttar Pradesh and quench their fanatic thirst.

By using the post-Independence tensions between India and Pakistan, Jewish Israel was persisting for close links with anti-Islamic India which began promoting RSS and Hindutva ideology anti-Muslim and anti-Mosque themes in media. Many Hindu leaders generated anti-Muslimism in the country by arguing that India is a Hindu nation and Muslims cannot enjoy equal rights. Indian regime just encouraged all this because it wanted to “fix” Muslims in “Hindu India”.

Israel successfully pushed its agenda in New Delhi. In May 1992 Israel opened its embassy in New Delhi and India opened its embassy in Tel Aviv. In 1996, India acquired from Israel, 32 IAI Searcher unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAVs. In December 1997, Israeli President Ezer Weizman led a 24-member business delegation to India. Weizman was the first Israeli head of state to visit India. He finalized a weapons deal involving the purchase of the Barak-1 vertically-launched surface-to-air missiles. In 2000: BJP leader Jaswant Singh became the first Indian foreign minister to visit Israel. India and Israel set up a joint anti-terror commission. 2003: Ariel Sharon became the first Israeli PM to visit India; November 2016: Israeli President Reuven Rivlin visited India for six days; and now Indian PM Modi visits Israel on July 04.

But today, the poisonous greed to kill Kashmiris and to somehow become a veto power to challenge both super powers USA and Russia, India has to kneel down to Zionist boots.

And PM Modi and his capitalist and military associates did that rather religiously.

India and Israel are almost strategic partners jointly looking to Washington for ideas and support. PM Modi has gone to Israel to finalize the purchase of huge drone arsenals and the licence to manufacture drones in India. . Since 1992, Israel 124

has emerged as an important partner for India on many fronts. Science and technology cooperation is a major growth area, and the India-Israel Initiative for Industrial R&D focuses on nanotechnology, biotechnology, space, water management and non-conventional energy sources.

Israel - India nexus through the years In order to gain access to White House, India planed a series measures, among them coming closer to Israel with arms deals was the beginning. Israel is the closest military-terror ally of USA and decides the foreign policy for the superpower.

At one point Israeli leaders scolded Indian official visitors not to misuse Israel to gain access to Washington and that India and other could approach USA directly.

India went for elaborate deals in terror goods that made Israel happy. Israel may have introduced India to USA as an innocent nation and a terror victim like Israel and USA. That worked and led to strategic partnerships but with conditions. Indian money bags could make Americans happy only to some extent. USA cannot ignore its global interests for sake of strategic partnership with India which in fact means nothing to U Washington. Sept-11 hoax helped India move fast with USA and behind it.

Essentially India forged a military relationship with Israel and began purchasing the Zionist terror goods. India reportedly purchased arms and ammunition from Israel both after the Sino-Indian War of 1962 and the India-Pakistan Wars of 1965 and 1971. Israel was ready to sell the weapons to India amid embargoes in the UK, the USA and France. India’s security agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) and Israel's spy agency Mossad have been tacitly collaborating since the 1960s.

India acquired drones, electronic support measure sensors, air combat maneuvering instrumentation simulator system. Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has worked on several large contracts with the Indian Air Force, including upgrading MiG-21 ground attack aircraft.

Recent growth in military engagement between India and Israel to the tune of billions of US dollars in terror goods and technology was not shocking because India was using Israel to strike a nuclear deal with USA. In fact, it has been an international practice to woo Israel in order to have the official US links. Israel connects USA with its arms purchasers. India is one of those beneficiaries of links with Israel. In fact any third world nation seeking US aid or cheap arms needs to purchase terror goods from Israel first. The Zionist recommendation is an important asset for any nation to come closer to USA.

125

India used Israel to be in the “good books” of America. Money helps India to win points in foreign policy.

Gradually, trade has diversified into several sectors such as pharmaceuticals, agriculture, IT and telecom, and homeland security in recent years. The greatest success has been in the diamond industry which accounts for 50% of India-Israel non-defence trade. The bilateral trade between the two countries is pegged at around $4.5 billion.

Ahead of the visit, both countries have prepared a roadmap of joint economic undertakings,” The Haaretz reported on June 29, 2017. “The Israeli cabinet approved a 23-page document continuing scores of bilateral measures and a budget of 280 million shekels (about $79.6 million or Rs 514 crore) – a bigger sum than Israel has ever set aside for China, Africa and Latin America combined. No fewer than 11 ministries were involved in preparing the program.”

Economy of India-Israel relationship India is Israel’s top destination for arms exports, buying 41% of Israel’s arms export between 2012 and 2016, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, an independent global conflict and arms-research institute.

Israel is India’s third-largest source of arms, with a 7.2% share of imports between 2012 and 2016, next to the USA (14%) and Russia (68%). The earliest signs of collaboration came during the 1962 Sino-Indian war, when Israel provided India military aid. Israel also assisted India during two wars with Pakistan in 1965 and 1971, according to this 2009 article in the Stanford Journal of International Relations.

India reciprocated during the six-day war in 1967 by providing Israel with spare parts for French-made Mystere and Ouragan aircraft as well as AX-13 tanks (also French-made), the Stanford report said. The highlight of the partnership was Israel’s supply of artillery shells during the Kargil war in 1999 when India faced a shortage. In the late 1990s, a crucial defence deal was the Indian purchase of Barak 1, an air-defence missile, bought specifically for its capability to intercept USmade Harpoon missiles deployed by Pakistan.

India’s imports of unarmed vehicles (UAVs) have almost all been from Israel. Of 176 UAVs purchased from Israel, 108 are Searcher UAVs and 68 are Heron UAVs, IndiaSpend reported in May 2015. In September 2016, tests were conducted of the jointly developed Long Range Surface-to-Air Missile with a range of 70 km, intended to equip three guided-missile destroyers of the Indian Navy. India successfully tested the Israeli-made SPYDER quick-reaction surface-to-air missile in May this year. The Indian Air Force is planning to deploy this system on its western border, India Today reported on February 28, 2017. India and Israel also closely cooperate on counter-terrorism issues through a joint working group on counterterrorism.

126

In April 2017, India and Israel signed a $2 billion (Rs 12,878 crore) deal for advanced medium-range surface-to-air missile system, which will provide the Indian army the capability to shoot down aircraft, missiles and drones at ranges of up to 70 km.

An Indo-Israel agriculture action plan for 2015-18 is operational, and 15 of the proposed 26 centers of excellence in agriculture are being developed in India with Israel’s help to showcase the latest technology to Indian farmers. India has benefited from Israeli technologies in horticulture mechanization, protected cultivation, orchard and canopy management, nursery management, microirrigation and post-harvest management, particularly in Haryana and Maharashtra.

There was a five-to 10-fold increase in crop yields with an accompanying 65% reduction in use of water and noticeable decrease in the use of pesticides and fertilizers, according to this December 2014 report on the Indo-Israel Agriculture Project.

Latest Several ministerial and high-level official visits to Israel precede Modi’s tour. These include visits by LK Advani, former home minister, in 2000, former President APJ Abdul Kalam in February 2008, home minister Rajnath Singh in November 2014, President Pranab Mukherjee in October 2015 and external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj in January 2016. Three Indian naval ships, destroyer INS Mumbai, frigate INS Trishul and tanker INS Aditya, made a goodwill visit at the Haifa port in May 2017 to mark 25 years of full diplomatic relations between the two countries.

On January 9, 2017 Israel and India celebrated 25 years of diplomatic relations, and both wanted the relationship between continues to develop and grow further into joint military exercises. As Israel and India celebrate 20 years of diplomatic relations five years ago, the relationship between the two countries continued to grow.

Since 1992, Israel has emerged as an important partner for India on many fronts.

Science and technology cooperation is a major growth area, and the India-Israel Initiative for Industrial R&D focuses on nanotechnology, biotechnology, space, water management and non-conventional energy sources.

New Delhi clanged on to Tel Aviv as a big “historic” opportunity. India’s Space Research Organization (ISRO) has launched Israeli satellites, and there are important opportunities for Israeli companies in India’s growing water management sector. The Agriculture Work Plan program, launched in 2006, is also expanding with Israeli assistance. It helps bring Israeli agricultural technologies to Indian agriculture. Subsequently, an Action Plan 2012-2015 was adopted to implement concrete projects including setting up of centers of excellence in several Indian states. The fourth meeting of India-IsraelForum, an annual event organized by Tel Aviv and Confederation of Indian Industry, was held in Tel Aviv in August 2011.

127

Hinged on defence, intelligence-sharing, counter-terrorism on one side and cooperation in water harvesting and agriculture on the other, there are a number of avenues in which India-Israel ties would be key to the emerging global order, however, terrorism is the key point of convergence.

Palestine and Kashmir Israel hates the Palestinians for objecting to the Zionist genocides and expansionism. Similarly, India hates Kashmiris for seeking sovereignty back from Indian government with a strong military and nukes and fighting for sovereignty notwithstanding the fact that Indian military guys have murdered over 1000,000 Kashmiri Muslims.

India has always been in favour of the creation of the independent state of Palestine, and since 1992, when formal bilateral relations with Israel were established, the political parties and the successive governments have tried to walk the tightrope on furthering India-Israel ties, while also backing creation of Palestine and the struggle for freedom.

Moreover, in the international press, the increasing clamour for equating Palestine with Kashmir is also pushing India under Modi to become slightly more tightlipped about the former. In 2016, though India voted against Israel at a UNHRC session, it abstained from the one sponsored by Palestine designating Israel’s indiscretions and expanding Israeli settlements in Gaza and West Bank as “war crimes”. That said, PM Modi has also hosted Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas in May 2017, just ahead of his Israel visit, in an effort to hush the whispers in the international circles that India would be abandoning the Palestinian cause altogether. India and Palestine signed five pacts to boost cooperation in various sectors, including IT, health, agriculture, etc.

The visit is likely to be more of a balancing act from New Delhi, despite heightened strategic ties. Defence, agriculture, trade, diplomacy and water management will dominate talks when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits Israel from July 4-6 at the invitation of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the first Indian Prime Minister to visit the Jewish homeland.

Modi is also expected to meet Moshe Holtzberg, a survivor of the 2008 Mumbai 26/11 terrorist attack. Moshe was two years old when the Indian hoax happened. “ Zionism, Hindutva, criminalization of politics and fanaticism

128

There have been many in the Indian public sphere who have openly supported the Zionist state of Israel and seen in it a model state for India under Modi. Those dreaming of a Hindu Rashtra are enamoured of Israel’s sway on international relations, on the question of Palestine, as well as its suppression of political insurgency with clinical precision. There are vocal supporters of India-Israel ties who find that Tel Aviv and its unabashedly state-driven identity politics is a counter measure for India’s own weakened “secularism”. That said, India is home to a major population of Jewish expats, who are happy in this land of multiculturalism and multiple religions. Modi is slated to visit little Moshe, the infant survivor of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks at Café Leopold, whose parents perished in the terrorist ambush.

Anti-Islamism, Military deals and terrorism are pillars of these South-West Asian bilateral ties and they remains so for years to come. Anti-Arabism might be coopted by them to steady their military ties.

Terrorism and counter terrorism Indian PM Narendra Modi’s’ 3 day visit to terrorist Israel comes at a time when the country has become one of India’s key weapons suppliers after Russia and the USA. India can learn counter-terrorism strategies from Israel and it can give a boost to agricultural, water technologies and start-ups.

The dirty palms of both Netanyahu and Modi are painted with Muslim blood Gujarati and Palestinian.. Modi’s BJP-RSS kill Muslims for eating or selling beef but what would Isreali Jews would have served Mod and associates - beef or pork which is favorite Jewish meat? That won’t be revealed to the media. Secret!

Secrecy is the backbone of Zionism and Hindutva and the electoral success of ultra fanatics.

PM Modi proudly said in Tel Aviv that he is the first Indian prime minister to make an official visit to Israel. Starting July 4, a new chapter in the two decades of diplomatic and military ties between the two countries will be opened, and it’s something that’s being celebrated among the consular and media circuits as a major achievement. Although PM Modi has been slated to visit Israel ever since he took office in May 2014, the official visit is finally happening only now.

Israel expects huge money bags from New Delhi. With Zionist fanatic and criminal PM, B. Netanyahu, the Israeli PM, calling Modi as one of the “most important leader”, and Israeli dailies churning out op-eds in favour of the great Modi visit, it’s obvious that the Indian media lords see a lot benefits time is opportune for a more comely India-Israel bilateral ties. There has been mutual praising admiration echoed officials and commentariat of both the countries promoting hatred as main policy.

129

The thorny issue of Palestine, whose independence India has been traditionally in favour of is now under the Modi regime, is irrelevant diplomatically.

The shifting grounds in the West Asia and a new overtly pro-Israel establishment in the USA means that India under Modi might steer clear of the thorny question of Palestine now, and veer more towards Israel. This will be cemented by Narendra Modi’s official visit, of course.

President Trump during his recent first ever visit to Israel also visited Palestine but Modi refused to go to Palestine.

Zionism controls Hindutva. Israel controls Indian policies as well. India allows that very religiously.

India and Modi prefer to be a solder and an agent, rather than a credible leader with a clear vision.

_________

Indian IST: Another Modi gambling for perpetual economic disorder?

-Dr. Abdul Ruff Colachal ______

Indian PM Modi is in news again with a new economic project called GST. GST could mean two big things, one: Global State terrorism and two, Goods and Services Tax. While Indians are still struggling with the impact of demonetization, the Modi government has come out with yet another shock called GST. Apparently, Modi is still eager to be in the news and he does things only to promote that goal at a heavy cost for the people of India. His foreign tours, being arranged jointly by PMO, foreign ministry and Indian embassies abroad, are meant to boost Modi’s image as a fast running PM of India. In fact, Mod runs into wanting state plane to take him for foreign tours. He thoroughly enjoys his foreign tours, meeting big leaders and having food with them and “shake hands” photos with them for Indian media lords.

The Modi government keeps trying various economic strategies, even if for fun, that harms the people at large. But neither Modi nor BJP nor RSS is worried about the consequences of their actions. It seems the BJP regime is targeting the people of India for ignoring them for too long to offer it the mandate to rule the nation. PM 130

Modi is also not sure if people would repose their faith in his party or government when the next general poll take place.

The Modi government thus punishes the people of India while Mod himself keeps visiting big nations as his prime hobby along with big entourage of media lords and government officals. Modi just ignores the sentiments of Indians by going to Israel against Indian support for the support for the Palestinians whom Israeli state terrorists keep attacking, killing even the children there for their blood and land for illegal Jewish settlements.

In order to make his visit to Israel easy without any criticism in India, PM Modi has launched the GST so that people of India and media are busy with the issue while he would enjoy life in Israel.

Global State terrorism today is the universal policy of fascism and imperialism. The state terror operations perpetrated by the regimes, targeting people of their own nations or people of other countries, like US led NATO terror wars in Arab world and Afghanistan, or perpetual Israeli terror attacks on Palestine for its lands and blood of Palestinians; or say continuous Indian state attacks on Kashmiris in occupied Kashmir (already over 1000,000 Muslims have been slaughter by Indian forces in Kashmir alone), and two, the Goods and Services Tax being introduced by Indian regime aiming at a standard tax system for entire country and in every state and region. Either could destabilize the weak nations and common people and could only promote capitalism and support global imperialism.

Here we are talking about the second problem of new Indian economic law GST, relating to uniform taxes. PM Modi has called it Good and Simple Tax. But common people are puzzled as they care confused about the consequences of GST. After their disastrous experience with demonetization drive, Indians are scared f of any new shock therapies by the Modi government. Certainly, they want to live with fewer problems.

One party, one system, one religion, one tax

Taking the one time victory as the permanent vote by Indian people, the RSS/BJP government is bent upon one system, one party and one religion system in India.

Every in India is trying for essentially a fascist-Zionist Hindutva ideology.

A nationwide Goods and Services Tax (GST), came into effect on Saturday from midnight, has faced criticism for its complex design. GST, being billed as the biggest tax reform since Independence, will subsume all indirect state and central 131

levies, making India a single market. Under GST law, the producer must have to pass the added benefit of tax reduction. Businesses and their consultants have opposed it and said that it's against the free market concept.

Union finance minister Arun Jaitley has likened the roll out of the GST – whose bill was cleared by both houses of Parliament last month after six years of stormy debate – to a revolution and the “most significant taxation overhaul in India.” PM Narendra Modi said the GST reflects the spirit of “one nation, one aspiration, one determination.” Opposition parties oppose it.

FM Arun Jaitley on June 29 asked opposition parties such as Congress and the Left to reconsider their decision to skip the midnight GST launch tomorrow saying they were all consulted on the indirect tax reform and cannot run away from it. "I hope every political party will reconsider and revisit its decision" on not participating in the launch event to be organised in the Central Hall of Parliament, he said. The government, FM Jaitley said, remains committed to the Goods and Services Tax (GST) as any other reform. "It is single most important taxation reform in 70 years." All decision on GST, including rules and tax rates, were taken in consultation with states and political parties must display broad shoulder and own up their responsibility, he said.

The leader of Indian opposition Congress decided to keep away from the special midnight June 30 meeting convened by the government on GST implementation.

Trinamool Congress has already announced its decision to boycott the event. Left parties also boycott the meeting as they reject the GST. CPI (M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury has already questioned the government on "hurrying" into introducing GST and recalled that the ruling BJP had opposed the system when it was in the opposition.

The Left parties will not take part in the special midnight meeting on June 30 convened by the government to launch the Goods and Services Tax (GST), CPI leader D Raja said today. He said the parties will not take part in the meeting in view of protest by small and medium scale entrepreneurs, traders, weavers and informal sector workers on the way the GST is being implemented. "The Left will not be participating in the midnight GST meeting. People are agitating across the county. ..We cannot be celebrating when people are agitating," the Rajya Sabha member said.

The Modi government wants smooth rollout of the GST the 30 June in the parliament. A war room will monitor and take immediate action on a complaint.

Government officials have specially alerted to thwart any attempt of cartelization or disruption in the new tax regime. The government said it will use the circularshaped Central Hall to launch the new taxation system that is set to dramatically re-shape the over USD 2 trillion economy. A gong will be sounded at midnight to 132

usher in the GST. Prime Minister Modi will be the key speaker at the function.

President Pranab Mukherjee, who is enjoying finals days at Presidential palace with Mogul Garden, , is also likely to attend the function, where former Prime Ministers Manmohan Singh and H D Deve Gowda have been invited too. Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) chief said that "The finance ministry has set up a GST feedback and action room specifically for government officials to approach it with any urgent queries related to problems of GST in any area".

The PMO and Indian government officials have specially alerted to thwart any attempt of cartelization or disruption in the new tax regime. The government has created a 'war room' to monitor GST (Goods and Service Tax) implementation process, a new indirect tax system which will roll out on Saturday. In North Block, the office building of Finance ministry has allotted a space named as 'GST Feedback and Action Room'. Former Chairman of CBEC said that "The government wants these benefits to reach the consumers through these Anti- Profiteering Rules. On the other hand, its rampant application will create chaos and serious disruptions in business".

Equipped with multiple phone lines and computer systems and manned by techsavvy youngsters, a "mini war room" has been set up in the Finance Ministry to deal with crises related to the implementation of GST or goods and services tax.

War room is also ready for prompt action from tax evasion to technical confusion on rates to transportation related issues. War room responsibility is more crucial as the anti-profiteering body is still in the process of being.

GST- one tax and several problems GST is not as simple as Modi and Arun want us believe. It is highly complicated at different levels. BJP, a party of finical lords, cannot devise any policy to multiage the poor or common people.

The GST, a worldwide accepted tax system, was first introduced by France in 1954.

Presently, around 160 countries follow the GST or VAT in some form or the other.

In some countries, analysts say, VAT is the substitute for a GST, but conceptually it is a destination-based tax levied on consumption of goods and services. However, only Canada has a dual GST model, akin to what India intends doing.

Indian government wants to replace it with a more streamlined nationwide Goods & Services Tax (GST) that is hailed by many as the country’s most pathbreaking tax reform and deplored by others who fear it will turn the economy down. The new system will eliminate India’s notorious complex layers of taxation including purchase, entertainment, excise, luxury and sales taxes (VAT) and others. Analysts predict that the GST, if properly implemented, will likely bolster the country’s GDP by 2 percent.

133

One of the major objectives of GST is to make the tax incidence on consumers less by reducing compliance costs, removing cascading of taxes, increasing the tax base, reducing logistics costs and reducing the effective rates of taxes from the present level. Other country experiences suggest that GST led inflationary pressures in an economy because producers have refused to pass added profit to consumers.

GST law said, "Any reduction in rate of tax on any supply of goods or services or the benefit of input tax credit shall be passed on to the recipient by way of commensurate reduction in prices". Revenue secretary Dr Hasmukh Adhia had said that "We expect companies to cooperate. We hope we don't have to use the weapon."

A unified tax system is likely to remove a slew of indirect taxes as well as the cascading effect of taxes. Manufacturing costs will be reduced; hence prices of consumer goods – cars, phones, FMCG goods – will also likely plummet. A unified tax regime will also be a deterrent to corruption which will benefit the common man. Other benefits include simpler administration which will ensure an easier collection of revenues, widening of the tax net and plugging of leakages and multiple taxations which will boost the government’s revenue stream and efficiency.

For the consumer/tax-paying citizens, the GST would mean more transparency, proportionate taxation, relief in overall tax burdens, slightly cheaper goods and services.

India’s gold industry is optimistic that the gold supply chain will be more transparent and efficient. The GST, some hope, will also provide an edge to the travel and tourism industry by reducing costs for customers, streamlining taxes and thus promoting overall growth. Under the GST, rates finalized for air travel, flying economy will attract a 5 percent tax.

India currently has one of the worst tax-to-GDP ratios among major economies at 16.6 percent, less the half the 34 percent average for the members of the OECD and also below many emerging economies. Improved tax compliance should shore up public finances, augmenting resources for welfare and development spending and giving a lift to the $2 trillion economy.

While there is no official estimate of the potential fiscal gain, some tax experts say the measure, after the initial teething trouble, would lift the tax-to-GDP ratio by as much as 4 percentage points as the number of tax filers is estimated to more than treble to 30 million. In future, compliance is going to be extremely crucial

134

True, not many are interested in paying taxes and as corruption, being religiously promoted by the regime and politicians, has badly affected the tax officials as well, most pay taxes not properly.

The unorganized sector of India's economy is vast, employing an estimated nine out of 10 workers. While staying outside the GST regime risks losing business, joining it will necessitate an overhaul of firms' accounting systems and an investment in technology.

The new tax system requires three filing a month plus an annual return - a total of 37 filings - for each of India's 29 states in which a firm operates. For smaller companies operating on wafer thin margins, hiring accountants and technical staff could substantially dent their bottom line. A head of portfolio management services at financial firm in Mumbai says all consumer-facing industries will be big beneficiaries of the GST Most of those who argue for GST are also the supporters of BJP government. Only time will let the peole know the real move of GST as India has long ago under the corrupt Congress misrule mortgaged its economic policy to IMF and World Bank and increasingly work to promote American economic interests in order to gain some favors from Washington. The Hindutva fanatics are too eager to promote those “structured� relations with USA. Of the eight million existing tax payers, 6.6 million tax assesses have already enrolled for GST. And about 1.7 lakh new applications for GST have come in.

However, the silence inside the headquarters of Goods and Services Tax Network or GSTN, housed on the fourth floor of an imposing glass building aptly named World Mark I right next to Delhi's international airport, is misleading. Behind white and blue cubicles, professionals with expertise in IT and taxation are putting in extra hours to ensure that the switch over to GST is a smooth affair. The biggest task for GSTN - a not-for-profit company set up to manage and collect indirect taxes - is to help traders and businessmen migrate to the GST platform.

Indian GST Network has developed a tool where you can work offline and upload when there is connectivity. It will take seconds to upload your returns. As the officials test and retest their programs and applications, our question "when was your last off day" made everyone burst out. "We will have to check our records," said a former banker who's "measuring end user results of the GST software." "This is our national service."

However, some chief ministers of Indian states have already expressed their dissent. How is one-nation-one-tax good politics for all 29 states and several Union territories and the center given the fact they all have diverse economic strengths and weaknesses?

135

Observation GST interferes with federal arrangement and imposes its will on the states and thereby encroaches upon state rights and privileges. In other words, federal government tries to control entire nation and state resources.

One tax indeed means big problems for the people of India. Conscious people in India feel if India has been purchased by international frauds that play with the psyche of Indians who want to see their nation a super power as soon as possible to challenge both USA and Russia while making China a non-issue.

GST is likely to harm the common masses. GST is exorbitant. Tax is likely to increase on a massive scale. Traders are not going to reduce the prices.

Who will benefit? Any reform or policy is supposed to help the people of the nation.

Corporate lords will have more profits under GST. Once lauded as path-breaking, which is now causing rancor in the European Union.

Lesser-developed economies like Portugal, Italy, Greece and Spain have had to adopt extreme austerity measures that have sent unemployment soaring all over southern Europe. This has led many of the anti-EU states to consider a referendum on exiting the union a la Brexit.

In India too, there is a strong chance that the GST, the country’s boldest and riskiest tax reform yet, may give the ruling political establishment a greater headache than it may have bargained for.

The country's biggest tax reform since independence is promising to bring millions of firms into the tax net, boosting government revenues and India's sovereign credit profile. Until now, all rundown premises and small scale operation has kept the business below the radar of India's tax officials. Since July 1, however, the party will be over. The new tax will require firms to upload their invoices every month to a portal that will match them with those of their suppliers or vendors.

Because a tax number is needed for a firm to claim a credit on the cost of its inputs, many companies are refusing to buy from unregistered businesses. Those who don't sign up risk losing any customer who has.

The nation is waiting for the real problems of GST to come to fore.

There are serious apprehensions in the minds of people over GST's implementation.

Unfortunately, India is under the grip of international frauds like the BJP MP and IPL boss Mallya. Unless corruption is contained and done away with, a new tax system won’t be fruitful. If the regime let its supporters to loot the nation’s resources and

136

evade taxes, nothing good or positive is going to come of the envisaged tax reforms.

The GST is in fact a regressive tax, which will consume a higher proportion of poor people’s income, compared to those earning large incomes. Many feel that imposition will also result in a surge in prices of services like telecoms, banking and airlines. If the actual tax benefit is not passed to consumers, and sellers increase their profit margin, the prices of goods will go up instead of down. Even assuming the GST delivers on the revenue front after an initial lag, one has to realize that it goes counter to the long-term trend of devolving greater powers to states. It centralizes in the GST Council the powers of indirect taxation, and could thus be a constant source of friction between center and states, or between states if some gain or lose more than the others.

One also suspects if the governments of Congress and BJP are trying to eliminate the poor and have-nots from the Indian economic system by GST and other such measures as the IMF and World Bank, committed to capitalism and colonialism, are pressing the third world to do away all subsidies to the poor. .

The BJP government that worships cow and Israel as real gods, has been searching new ideas to boost the image of the Modi led RSS government which is shattered by false promises to the people and issues like black money and demonetization.

GST therefore is crucial for the BJP government which has lost the blackmoney issue as part of gigantic demonetization drive that spelt disastrous for the common people for months and the impact is not completely worn out.

Uncertainty cannot be the foundation of any government because people suffer not knowing how to deal with new threats to their ordinary lives.

---------

Trump and Putin to meet in Germany: Some issues!

-Dr. Abdul Ruff Colachal ______________

Meeting without agenda

137

US President Donald Trump is set to meet with his Russian counterpart President Vladimir Putin at next week's G20 summit in Hamburg, Germany amid investigations into Russian interference in the 2016 election and possible collusion between Trump's campaign and the country's officials. Both the Kremlin and the White House announced that the pair will meet on the sidelines of the July 7-8 summit of G20 nations in Hamburg. However, the US National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster told reporters that no agenda had yet been set for the meeting, which is fraught with difficulties for Trump.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov also told reporters that Putin and Donald Trump will meet on the sidelines of the Group of Twenty summit in Hamburg next week, but no separate meeting is planned, "They will meet in any case there, on the sidelines of this summit, but no separate meeting is planned at the moment," Peskov said. Peskov said that as far as a possible meeting was concerned, “the protocol side of it is secondary.” He let on little about Moscow's awareness of Washington’s ambivalence toward the scale of the meeting but said that “in any case there will be a chance to meet.”

President Trump has frequently called for better ties with Russia but lawmakers in his own Republican Party are urging him to be wary of Moscow. "As the president has made clear, he'd like the United States and the entire West to develop a more constructive relationship with Russia but he has also made clear that we will do what is necessary to confront Russia's destabilizing behavior," McMaster said, obviously pointing to Ukraine and Syria.

The two governments had not yet ironed out further details about a meeting. When asked whether the president would bring up Russia's interference in the election with Putin at their meeting, McMaster said there is "no specific agenda" yet, and that Trump will address what he chooses.

Due to ongoing allegations by the US intelligence community of Russian interference in the US election and a scandal about possible collusion within Trump’s team, not everyone in the White House thinks such a meeting is prudent.

State Department and National Security Council officials have asked Trump to consider a more low-profile introduction to the Russian president and perhaps avoid an extended conversation altogether. Among the recommendations are a brief and informal “pull-aside” on the summit’s sidelines, and a meeting of US and Russian delegations for “strategic stability talks”—a format which may or may not involve heads of state.

The two governments had not yet ironed out further details about a meeting. When asked whether the president would bring up Russia's interference in the election with Putin at their meeting, McMaster said there is "no specific agenda" yet, and that Trump will address what he chooses.

138

Some US officials argue the meeting should be a brief and informal “pull-aside” at the two-day summit, which starts next Friday in Hamburg, in view of the fact that Trump is under multi-pronged investigations into his campaign’s relationship with Moscow. The skeptics also argue there has been no let-up in Russia’s military intervention in Ukraine, which was the trigger for the bulk of the sanctions.

Excitement President Donald Trump is said to be excited to meet Russia's Vladimir Putin, though US government officials are trying to curb Trump’s enthusiasm about meeting Vladimir Putin at the upcoming G20 summit in Germany.

Trump has not met his “favorite” Russian strongman Putin since being elected last year, despite his claim that he could meet the Russian leader even before being inaugurated. Now he is apparently keen to hold a full bilateral meeting at the time of the summit on July 7-8, two White House officials, one current and one former, told AP. Such a meeting would involve agreeing on a designated space for it, allowing media access and other diplomatic protocols involved in meetings between two heads of state. However, there is no official confirmation on Moscow’s or Washington’s side that a meeting in any form has been agreed upon, but Putin and Trump will both attend the summit.

Trump has been positive about his policy for Russia. Like Obama, Trump has said he would stabilize and reinvigorate the bilateral ties with the Kremlin. When he took the job under Trump, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson backed moves to improve relations with Moscow and arranged for Lavrov to meet Trump in the Oval Office.

But the former oil executive felt “burned” by that incident, of which the Russian government published photographs without the US government’s permission, and where Trump disclosed classified information about counter-terrorist operations.

Tillerson has since become more adamant in his opposition to the relaxation of sanctions without substantial changes to Russian behavior.

Tensions

US-Russia relations have been dotted with tensions since the days of the so-called Cold War- in fact even before that. Existence of NATO as a global terror police force to attack any weak nation has been resented by Moscow which ass Washington o do away with the Cold War symbols.

139

Russia and the USA are at odds over many issues, namely on Ukraine, NATO expansion and the civil war in Syria where Moscow supports President Bashar alAssad. The USA backs rebel groups trying to overthrow Assad, and Washington angered Russia by launching missile strikes against a Syrian government air base in April in response to what the USA says was a chemical weapons attack that killed dozens of civilians.

President Donald Trump's openness to Putin has been the foreign policy thing that most separated him from the rest of Republicans. But Russia and the USA are on opposite sides of so many issues that the White House would certainly have to come to terms with it. The vocal dispute between Russia and the US over Syria complicates their fragile relationship.

It's a relationship both Putin and Trump found valuable during the presidential campaign, when both wanted to see Clinton defeated.

President Putin, who has served as both Russian president and prime minister, has outlasted the previous two US presidents, George W. Bush and Barack Obama.

Officials from those governments say American officials initially overestimated their potential areas of cooperation with the Russian leader. Then, through a combination of overconfidence, inattention and occasional clumsiness, Washington contributed to a deep spiral in relations with Moscow, they say. Those relations reached a postCold War low under Trump's predecessor, Obama. In the last days of his presidency, Obama ordered the expulsion of 35 Russian suspected spies and imposed sanctions on two Russian intelligence agencies over their involvement in hacking US political groups in the 2016 election.

US officals and intelligence say Russia interfered with US presidency poll, engineering a vote in favor of Trump. Russia denies all US allegations and Trump says his team did not collude with Moscow. Several congressional committees as well as the FBI are investigating Russia's role in the election and any alleged collusion by Trump's campaign. Further, allegations that Russia interfered in the US presidential election last year and colluded with the Republican's campaign have overshadowed the businessman's unexpected victory and dogged his first five months in office. Russia has vociferously denied involved in the US election and a visibly irate Putin accused US journalists of “hysteria� on the subject earlier this month.

In November 2013, Trump said on MSNBC that he did have "a relationship" with Putin, whom he claimed sent him "a present" when he attended the Miss Universe pageant in 2013, that he "got to know Putin very well" when they both appeared -in separate segments -- on an episode of "60 Minutes" and that they had communicated "directly and indirectly." Trump later walked back the idea of a relationship with Putin in a 2016 interview with ABC News': "I have no relationship to -- with him," said Trump, later continuing, "He said something nice about me.

This has been going on. We did 60 Minutes together. By the way, not together140

together, meaning he was probably shot in Moscow… and I was shot in New York."

"I have never spoken to him on the phone," added Trump. The president raised eyebrows for heaping praise on Putin during the campaign, but denied having a "relationship" with the Russian leader.

Since Trump's inauguration, he and Putin have shared three phone calls. There have never been any real a rapport between the two.

On April 17, Vladimir Putin has said Russia’s relationship with the US has badly deteriorated since Donald Trump became president. The Russian leader - who had a frosty relationship with Obama - said the relationship has “degraded” When asked about relations since Trump became president, Putin said: "One could say that the level of trust on a working level, especially on the military level, has not improved, but rather has deteriorated." When asked about relations since Trump became president, Putin said: "One could say that the level of trust on a working level, especially on the military level, has not improved, but rather has deteriorated."

Sanctions as economic terrorism

Russia continues to face sanctions from USA and its western allies. USA keeps extending the sanctions just hoping to weaken Russian economy. However, Russian economy is strong and is able to withstand all impacts of western sanctions.

A proposed new package of sanctions on Russia in the US Congress might complicate Trump's desire for warmer relations with Moscow. The US Senate reached an agreement to resolve a technical issue stalling the sanctions, although the measure's fate in the House of Representatives is uncertain. Vice President Mike Pence will travel to Estonia, Georgia and Montenegro in July and August in an attempt to reassure US allies that are neighbors of Russia Apparently, Trump made significant efforts to lift sanctions on Russia in his first weeks in office but was thwarted by resistance from allies as well as from former Obama officials and state department staffers.

When Theresa May visited the White House a week after Trump’s inauguration, one of her priorities was to dissuade the new president from relaxing sanctions imposed on Russia for its 2014 annexation of Crimea and covert military intervention in eastern Ukraine. “The Brits did push for that, but it’s hard to say how much difference their intervention made,” said a former official, who was working at the state department at the time. Two outgoing state officials, Daniel Fried and Tom Malinowski, lobbied Congress to pass legislation to codify the sanctions and lock them in place.

141

On 14 June the US Senate passed a bill, with a 98-2 vote, that would strengthen sanctions on Russia. The bill has since been stalled in the House over technicalities amid reports that Trump’s allies are seeking to water it down. “If the bill is passed it would mean that in one important respect, Russian active measures will have failed,” Malinowski, Obama’s assistant secretary of state for human rights, said. He also pointed to the Treasury’s move last week to broaden existing restrictions on Russia as an indication “the sanctions machinery is working normally and on schedule” The US defense department for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia, said the closure of the Russian compounds and the expulsion of suspected spies were intended to be only the first step in the punitive measures against Moscow for its election meddling. If President Trump starts to undo any of those measures, including giving back the facilities in Maryland and New York then the Russian government will believe … they got away with what they did to US strategists.

One possible gesture under consideration is the restoration of access to two diplomatic compounds, in Maryland and New York, from which Russian officials were ejected by the Obama government in December as part of a package of punitive measures for Russian hacking of the 2016 elections. Obama said the compounds were “used by Russian personnel for intelligence-related purposes”. He also expelled 35 Russian officials he described as “intelligence operatives”.

The Trump government was contemplating handing back the compounds in early May, initially in exchange for the Russian government lifting a freeze on construction of a new US consulate in St Petersburg, according to the Washington Post. That link was reportedly dropped a few days later when the secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, met his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, in Washington on 10 May. So far, however, no agreements have been reached on the fate of the compounds, which Russian diplomats have made a priority in their discussions with the government. The NSC spokesman, Michael Anton, said the meeting between the two leaders “is not set in any format yet”, but he did not respond to a question about the request to NSC staff to propose potential bargaining chips for the meeting. “They have been asked for deliverables, but there is resistance to offering anything up without anything back in return,” said one former official familiar with the debate inside the White House.

Syria Syria is now the battle field for the former Cold war foes to showcase their individual military capability.

142

It is no secret that USA and Russia have been fighting to control the world but the former has maintained upper hand. In doing so, Moscow pursues a confrontational collaborative approach with USA in regional crises. In recent times, Syria vividly showcases this essentially cooperative policy of Russia and both seem to advance their global and regional interests.

It was seeing pictures of Syrian children devastated by what officials suspect is sarin gas that led Trump, as President, to do an unabashed about-face on Syria. He had opposed military action there when chemical weapons were used during the Obama administration and criticized former President Barack Obama for making that a "red line." Just before the air strikes, Trump said the pictures he saw crossed much more than a red line for him. "When you kill innocent children, innocent babies -- babies, little babies -- with a chemical gas that is so lethal -- people were shocked to hear what gas it was -- that crosses many, many lines, beyond a red line.

The USA and Russia are squaring off on the issue in the UN Security Council, where Russia, which has veto power, has stood in the way of international action against Syria.

Meanwhile, the White House warned Syrian President Bashar al Assad that he and his military would "pay a heavy price" if it conducted a chemical weapons attack and said the USA had reason to believe such preparations were underway. The Syrian government said a US warning to Damascus not to carry out a new chemical weapons strike were baseless and a ploy to justify a new attack on the country.

State television quoted a foreign ministry source as saying Washington's allegations about an intended attack were not only misleading but also "devoid of any truth and not based on any facts."

Putin was quick to condemn Trump's missile strike response, calling it "aggression against a sovereign state in violation of the norms of international law."

Trump raised Russian hackles when the White House said it appeared the Syrian military was preparing to conduct a chemical weapons attack and warned that Assad and his forces would "pay a heavy price" if it did so.

While USA claims Syria, like Iran, has nukes and is manufacturing new ones, Putin claimed Damascus had given up its chemical weapons stocks and offered two main explanations for the horrific incident. One was that Syrian government air strikes had hit rebel chemical weapons stocks, releasing poisonous gas, or that the incident was a set-up designed to discredit the Syrian government.

Putin sensationally claimed the USA is preparing airstrikes on the Syrian capital and will pin the blame on Bashar-al Assad's forces. The Russian leader made the astonishing claim - that the US is planning to FAKE chemicals weapons attacks during a joint press conference with the Italian President Sergio Mattarella. Putin 143

insisted Russia would not tolerate Western criticism of its role in Syria but hoped that attitudes would eventually soften. His claims Russia has information strikes are being planned by the USA on the southern Damascus region - the aim of which is to blame the resulting devastation on the subsequently discredited Syrian government - will not go down well in the White House. When asked whether he expected more US missile strikes on Syria, Putin said: "We have information that a similar provocation is being prepared... in other parts of Syria including in the southern Damascus suburbs where they are planning to again plant some substance and accuse the Syrian authorities of using chemical weapons."

The issue of chemical weapons was used by USA and NATO telling lies that Iraq had WMD to attack Iraq, destabilize it and kill President Saddam Hussein as per the plan of Neocons and Bush Sr. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Russia said will respond with dignity and proportionately if the USA takes pre-emptive measures against Syrian government forces to stop what Washington says could be a planned chemical attack. Lavrov added that it would "probably not be right" if Putin and Trump did not talk at the G20 summit of world economic powers. Speaking at a news conference with his German counterpart, Lavrov said he hoped that the USA was not preparing to use its intelligence assessments about the Syrian government's intentions as a pretext to mount a "provocation" in Syria.

The Russian foreign ministry said “retaliatory measures� were being prepared for closure of the compounds, but did not describe the measures. The Russian Kommersant newspaper has reported that the Kremlin could seize US diplomatic property in Russia or impose restrictions on an Anglo-American school there.

Syrian dispute is virtually guaranteed to break up the Trump-Putin bromance. The vocal dispute between Russia and the US over Syria complicates what has been a feature event; US political drama for months has been about Russian meddling in US elections and the blowback from Trump. The ties between Trump staffers to Russia, was aided by Trump's willingness to start fresh with Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom he defended in the US media.

Observation It is becoming clear now that the US President Donald Trump will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin next week at the G20 summit in Germany that brings two world leaders whose political fortunes have become intertwined face-toface for the first time.

As the G20 summit in Germany is fast approaching, President Trump is reportedly pressing for a meeting with President Putin. But the President's advisers are not big into the idea of a highly publicized meeting between the two leaders. Some are 144

suggesting instead a pull-aside" meeting on the sidelines of the summit to avoid a high-profile meeting, involving press and other diplomatic formalities.

Donald Trump has told White House aides to come up with possible concessions to offer as bargaining chips in his planned meeting next week with Vladimir Putin, according to two former officials familiar with the preparations. National Security Council staff has been tasked with proposing “deliverables” for the first Trump-Putin encounter, including the return of two diplomatic compounds Russians were ordered to vacate by the Obama administration in response to Moscow’s interference in the 2016 election, the former officials said. It is not clear what Putin would be asked to give in return.

The Kremlin said that Russia was ready to attend a full-scale meeting -- the first since Trump has taken office -- in addition to any interactions the pair would have at the summit. The meeting comes amid heightened tensions between the USA and Russia over the situations in Ukraine and Syria, and with Trump casting new scrutiny on his predecessor, President Barack Obama, for not doing enough to counter Russian election meddling.

The US intelligence, according to Moscow, wants to maintain a rift in the relationship between Trump and Putin. US intelligence agencies say Russia hacked and leaked emails of Democratic Party political groups to help Trump win the 2016 US presidential election against Democrat Hillary Clinton.

With US Congress and most of his government set against concessions to Russia, Trump has been hemmed in so far in his overtures to Moscow. His encounter with Putin next week, however, will offer him the opportunity to remake policy on the spot. “The big wild card in all this is the person holding the position of president of the United States,” Malinowski said. “We don’t know what he will say when he meets the master-manipulator from the Kremlin.” Asked about a Trump-Putin meeting in Hamburg, Lavrov told journalists: “We assume that contact will take place, as the two presidents will at the same time be in one town, in one building, in one room.”

There is strong resistance in the state department to one-sided concessions aimed simply at improving the tone of US-Russian relations. There is also opposition within the government to Trump’s preference for a formal bilateral meeting with Putin at the G20 summit in Germany.

All eyes are now on the two top world leaders in neat suits looking for any possible breakthroughs in bilateral ties between the two superpowers that would in turn help reduce global and regional tensions.

-----------

145

South China Sea: Beijing boosts naval power!

-Dr. Abdul Ruff Colachal _________

Recently on June 28, China launched what it calls the most advanced and largest warship in Asia on Wednesday, billing it as a major step forward in the modernisation of its navy. As the first of the new Type 055 guided-missile destroyers – which have a displacement of more than 12,000 tonnes – military experts said it was designed to accompany the country’s future aircraft carrier battle groups. The destroyer was built at the Jiangnan shipyard in Shanghai and was equipped with air ¬defence, anti-missile, anti-ship and anti-submarine weapons. The Type 055 destroyer is similar in size to the US Navy’s Arleigh Burke class ships and is billed as a major step forward for Chinese sea power.

USA cannot attack China by sea.

Obviously, China is serious about its claims of South China Sea and has been developing its navy on the one hand and the region with modern military facilities, on the other. China claims nearly all of the South China Sea — a vast tract of water through which a huge chunk of global shipping passes. Not only is the South China Sea (SCS) a major shipping route but also a zone of high rich energy resources. Hence USA is also keen to intervene in the dispute and hence there is tension in the region. Several countries have supported the Chinese position on the South China Sea issue.

China has bolstered its claim by building artificial islands including airstrips in the area, some of which are suitable for military use. Other regional powers the Philippines, Taiwan, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam have competing claims to parts of the sea, which is believed to harbour significant oil and gas deposits.

The launch of the warship marks an important step towards China’s dream of having a strong and modern naval force, General Zhang Youxia, a member of the Central Military Commission who oversees the army’s equipment, was quoted as saying at the launch ceremony. Military analysts said the Type 055 was in theory the world’s second most powerful destroyer – after the US Navy’s DDG-1000, or the Zumwalt class. The capabilities of the Type 055 surpass South Korea’s DDG-991 and Japan’s ¬Atago class, which have a 10,000 ton displacement.

146

With its size far exceeding a standard destroyer, the launch of the Chinese-designed and built 055 was as significant as that of an aircraft carrier, affording the ¬People’s Liberation Army Navy advanced sea capability and weaponry development, experts said.

The need to protect the country’s overseas interests and vital waterways used by oil tankers and cargo ships is expected to increase as the country’s ambitious belt and road trade initiative starts to take shape. But unlike the US Navy, which has a true global presence, PLA ships do not have many overseas ports for resupply, according to Beijing-based military ¬analyst Zhou Chenming. “In some respects – such as the size, radar system, missile capacity and the multifunctionality in use – the Type 055 has now caught up, or at least it’s on the same level as the United States’ main ¬destroyer,” Li Jie, a Beijing-based naval expert, said.

With its size far exceeding a standard destroyer, the launch of the Chinese-designed and built 055 was as significant as that of an aircraft carrier, affording the ¬People’s Liberation Army Navy advanced sea capability and weaponry development, experts said.

The need to protect the country’s overseas interests and vital waterways used by oil tankers and cargo ships is expected to increase as the country’s ambitious belt and road trade initiative starts to take shape. But unlike the US Navy, which has a true global presence, PLA ships do not have many overseas ports for resupply, according to Beijing-based military ¬analyst Zhou Chenming.

Li said the warship would play an important role escorting aircraft carriers or the new advanced Type 071 amphibious assault ships, and it could also lead a comprehensive combat group of smaller destroyers and frigates. For these purposes the PLA Navy would need at least 10 Type 055 destroyers, and at the current capacity China could build one or two a year, Li said.

Meanwhile, the sheer size of the warship means there is space for more – and more powerful – weapons. Before the 055, the PLA Navy’s most advanced destroyer was the Type 052D, a 7,500-tonne vessel that squeezed in a flat-array radar, a 64-cell vertical launch system (VLS) and long-range anti-air missiles.

The Type 055, according to the Jane’s Defence Weekly, is over 180 metres long – more than 20 ¬metres longer than 052D. It has a 128-cell VLS and missiles to attack planes, ships, submarines and missiles, making it the most powerful destroyer in Asia. Given its size, it could also serve as a platform to develop the next generation of weapons, such as high-energy radiofrequency equipment, Zhou said.“When you have a bigger home, you can fit in different new furniture.” But Macau-based military analyst Antony Wong Dong said the Type 055 had some “disappointing” design flaws. The relatively low positioning of its flat-array radar system would

147

affect its range of detection, he said, while the use of light aluminum alloy in the upper decks would make it vulnerable to damage.

“Despite its very modern stealth shape, the damage control capability is a big concern,” Wong said. “The design follows the Chinese convention, probably due to a lack of experience ... in a combat situation.”

Next, the warship will undergo equipment and sea testing and it is due to enter service next year.

The SCS area may be rich in oil and natural gas deposits; however, the estimates are highly varied. The Ministry of Geological Resources and Mining of the People’s Republic of China estimate that the South China Sea may contain 17.7 billion tons of crude oil (compared to Kuwait with 13 billion tons). However, other sources claim that the proven reserve of oil in the South China Sea may only be 7.5 billion barrels, or about 1.1 billion tons According to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA)’s profile of the South China Sea region, a US Geological Survey estimate puts the region’s discovered and undiscovered oil reserves at 11 billion barrels, as opposed to a Chinese figure of 125 billion barrels. The same EIA report also points to the wide variety of natural gas resource estimations, ranging from 190 trillion cubic feet to 500 trillion cubic feet, likely located in the contested Reed Bank”.

The South China Sea is dubbed by China as the “second Persian Sea.” The state-owned China Offshore Exploration Corp. planned to spend 200 billion RMB (US$30 billion) in the next 20 years to exploit oil in the region, with the estimated production of 25 million metric tons of crude oil and natural gas per annum, at a depth of 2000 meters within the next five years.

China claims almost all of the energy-rich South China Sea, through which more than $5 trillion of maritime trade passes each year. USA is major user of the sea route mainly for trade purposes.

China questions American surveillance activities and other military activities over the South China Sea. China’s construction activities and military preparatory actions have drawn criticism from the USA. The United States is not a claimant in the South China Sea dispute but says it has an interest in ensuring freedom of navigation and overflight in the area.

The USA and China are currently in disagreement over the South China Sea. This disagreement is exacerbated by the fact that the USA is not a member of the United Nations Convention on

148

the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Nevertheless, the USA has stood by its maneuvers, claiming that “peaceful surveillance activities and other military activities without permission in a country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), is allowed under the convention.

The South China Sea disputes involve both island and maritime claims among several sovereign states within the region, namely Brunei, the People’s Republic of China, the Republic of China, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam. Non-claimants want the South China Sea to remain as international waters, with the United States conducting “freedom of navigation” operations.

There are disputes concerning both the Spratly and the Paracel islands, as well as maritime, areas near to sea, boundaries in the Gulf of Tonkin and elsewhere. There is a further dispute in the waters near the Indonesian Natuna Islands. The interests of different nations include acquiring fishing areas around the two archipelagos; the potential exploitation of crude oil and natural gas under the waters of various parts of the South China Sea, and the strategic control of important shipping lanes.

In February 2016, President Obama initiated the US-ASEAN Summit at Sunny lands for closer engagement with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Territorial disputes in the South China Sea were a major topic, but its joint statement, the “Sunnylands Declaration” called for “respect of each nation’s sovereignty and for international law”. Analysts believe it indicates divisions within the group on how to respond to China’s maritime strategy.

China has reacted angrily to a US decision to impose sanctions on a Chinese bank accused of laundering North Korean money. A foreign ministry spokesman urged the US to "stop wrongful actions" to avoid harming co-operation. The US announced the move, as well as sanctions on a Chinese shipping company and two Chinese nationals, on Thursday.

It said the blacklisting was aimed at cutting funds to North Korea's weapons programmes.

"We will follow the money and cut off the money," Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told a news conference. But he said the move was not a response to Chinese inaction on North Korea, saying: "This is not directed at China, this is directed at a bank, as well as individuals and entities in China."

The UN has already imposed several rounds of sanctions on Pyongyang, but China is widely seen as the nation most able to impose economic pain on North Korea. Washington has been pushing Beijing for tougher measures amid a series of missile tests by Pyongyang. But in a tweet earlier this month, President Donald Trump said China's actions had "not worked out".

149

The sanctions mean that the Bank of Dandong will be barred from doing business in the US. The US Treasury said it had been "a conduit for illicit North Korean financial activity" and facilitated "millions of dollars of transactions for companies involved in North Korea's WMD (weapons of mass destruction) and ballistic missile programs". Two Chinese nationals accused of creating front companies for North Korean entities and a shipping company, Dalian Global Unity Shipping, accused of smuggling luxury goods to North Korea, have also been blacklisted.

Mnuchin said that the US could impose more sanctions in the future. The Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said the US action went "against the important spirit" of the apparently friendly meeting between Trump and US President Xi Jinping at the US president's Florida resort in April.

The sanctions came as the US announced the sale of $1.42bn (ÂŁ1.09bn) worth of arms to Taiwan, the first such transaction under the Trump administration. US arms sales to Taiwan always anger Beijing because it considers the self-governing island part of its territory. It also came as new South Korean President Moon Jae-in visited Washington for talks with Trump on security issues.

__________

Amid tension in Arab world, Qatar signs $ 12 billion deal to buy F-15 jets from USA! Some issues!

-Dr. Abdul Ruff _____

Foreign policy of President Trump is slowly but steadily working to increase its arms sale to the world. The advantages of arms trade for USA without any expenditure on US part are

great. Upon his visit to Saudi Arabia that resulted in tensions in the Arab world as Qatar is

being targeted by other Arab nations, Trump has got a lump sum trade deal from Qatar to the tune of whopping $ 12 billion. It is a big deal as US regime attempts to navigate an ongoing diplomatic crisis in the Gulf.

On June 5, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain announced they were cutting diplomatic ties with Qatar for its support for "terrorism". Along with severing

150

diplomatic ties, the Riyadh-led blockade was imposed against Doha. Saudi, which shares the only land border with Qatar, shut the crossing and stopped goods being transported to its gas-rich neighbour. Saudi, UAE and Bahrain also closed their airspace to flights to and from Qatar, forcing airlines to remove Doha from their list of destinations.

Deal President Trump’s first ever recent foreign tour in Middle East, where a fanatically arrogant Israel behaves like the regional superpower with US made illegal nukes plus high precision conventional terror goods, including cluster bombs that are being bought by third world

counties across the globe, has cussed ripples among Arab nations, leading to the ouster of Qatar from the Gulf States club. This, as foreseen by Washington, has obviously isolated Qatar to search for alternative routes to secure its security.

Qatari Defense Minister Khalid Al-Attiyah and his US counterpart, Jim Mattis, completed the $12 billion agreement in Washington to buy F-15 fighter jets from the USA, according to

the Pentagon. The aircraft purchase was completed by Qatari Minister of Defence Khalid Al Attiyah and his US counterpart Jim Mattis in Washington DC on June 14 Wednesday.

The weapon transfer comes just weeks after Trump signed a deal with Saudi Arabia for

almost $110bn in US arms. It also comes amid a diplomatic row between a Saudi-led bloc of nations and Qatar. Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Bahrain and a number

of other countries severed relations with Qatar earlier this month, accusing it of supporting armed groups and Iran - allegations Qatar has repeatedly rejected. Riyadh also closed its

border with Qatar, the only land border the emirate has. In addition, the closure of Saudi, Bahraini, and Emirati airspace to Qatar-owned flights has caused major import and travel disruptions.

Huge Qatari deal for 36 F-15 jets from the USA is significant as the two countries navigate

tensions over President Donald Trump’s backing for a Saudi-led coalition’s move to isolate the country for supporting terrorism.

The deal was completed despite the Gulf country being criticized recently by US President Donald Trump for supporting terrorism. US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and

representatives from Qatar were all set to meet to seal the agreement for 36 jets. In November, the United States approved possible sale of up to 72 F-15QA aircraft to Qatar for $21.1 billion. Boeing Co is the prime contractor on the fighter jet sale to the Middle

East nation. Boeing declined to comment. Trump on Friday accused Qatar of being a "highlevel" sponsor of terrorism, potentially hindering the US Department of State's efforts to

151

ease heightening tensions and a blockade of the Gulf nation by Arab states and others. The sale will increase security cooperation and interoperability between the USA and Qatar, the Pentagon said.

The deal is "yet another step in advancing our strategic and cooperative defence

relationship with the United States, and we look forward to continuing our joint military efforts with our partners here in the USA", said Attiyah. The sale "will give Qatar a state-ofthe-art capability and increase security cooperation and interoperability between the United States and Qatar", the Defence Department said in a statement.

Last year, after the State Department approved the jet sale, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency issued a report saying that the proposed sale enhances the foreign policy and national security of the United State by helping to improve the security of a

friendly country and strengthening our strategically important relationship. “Qatar is an

important force for political stability and economic progress in the Persian Gulf region,” the agency said. Good for them and their defense in the long run. The current dispute between us should hopefully be temporary and end soon. The real enemy is and has always been the Persian Iranians on the other side.

American terror base Qatar has long been accused of funneling money to the Muslim Brotherhood — which has

officially forsworn violence but is still accused of terrorism by some countries — as well as to radical groups in Syria, Libya and other Arab nations. But it is also home to two major

American command posts, including a $60 million center from which the United States and its allies conduct their air war on Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria.

Qatar hosts the biggest US military base in the Middle East with US 11,000 troops and coalition service members deployed to or assigned to Al-Udeid Air Base in the desert

outside the Qatari capital of Doha. More than 100 aircraft operate from there. The Al Udeid U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) military base in Qatar was set up in 2003 after it was moved from the Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia. The base, which boasts a long

runway of 12,500 feet, is an important facility for the U.S. as it can accommodate up to

120 aircrafts. The base in Qatar serves as logistics, command and basing hubs for the U.S. CENTCOM area of operations, including Iraq and Afghanistan.

In another development, two US Navy vessels arrived in Doha for a joint exercise with Qatar's fleet. The American boats arrived at Hamad Port south of Doha "to participate in a joint exercise with the Qatari Emiri Navy," according to a Ministry of Defence statement

152

posted on QNA. The crews of the two vessels were received by Qatari navy officers. It was unclear if the arrival of the two warships was planned before the Gulf rift or if it was a sign of support from the Pentagon.

Saudi led GCC wants USA to shift its airbase from Qatar. The US military lauded Qatar for

its "enduring commitment to regional security" and said US flights out of Al-Udeid airbase in Qatar were unaffected by the Gulf diplomatic crisis and also said that it has "no plans to change our posture in Qatar"..

Trump accused Qatar of being a "high-level" sponsor of terrorism, potentially hindering the US Department of State's efforts to ease heightening tensions and a blockade of the Gulf nation by Arab states and others. Officals at White House said Trump was not trying to

cause a rupture among Sunni Muslim nations in the Middle East. A US diplomat noted that Russia had much to gain from divisions among Iran’s rivals in the region, particularly if

they made it more difficult for the United States to use Qatar as a major base. “For sure, this is an attempt at regime change” Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said Qatar needed to end its support for Hamas before ties with other Arab Gulf states could be restored. Hamas responded to the statements saying they "constitute a shock for our Palestinian people and the Arab and

Islamic nations", and that the remarks gave Israel an excuse "to carry out more violations against the Palestinian people".

Gulf Arab states and Egypt have long resented Qatar's support for Islamists, especially the Egyptian-based Muslim brotherhood, which they regard as a dangerous political enemy.

The coordinated move, with the Maldives and Libya's eastern-based government joining in later, created a dramatic rift among the Arab nations, many of which are in OPEC.

Announcing the closure of transport ties with Qatar, the three Gulf States gave Qatari

visitors and residents two weeks to leave. Qatar was also expelled from the Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen.

Turkey’s presidential spokesperson İbrahim Kalın said on June 14 that the crisis surrounding Qatar is damaging for the Islamic world and Turkey is working to help resolve the issue through diplomacy. Speaking at a press conference, Kalın said Ankara was

sending food assistance to Qatar after neighboring Gulf Arab states severed ties with Doha and imposed sanctions saying it supports terrorism and courts regional rival Iran. Kalın

also said a Turkish military base in Qatar, set up before the regional spat, was established to ensure the security of the whole region and did not have an aim of any military action against any country.

153

Zionist poison The current Qatar-Gulf crisis has offered fascist Israel a golden opportunity to normalize its abnormal presence in the region, undermine the Palestinian cause and deliver a

diplomatic blow to the Islamic Resistance movement, Hamas. Under the pretext of fighting "terrorism", the anti-Hamas, anti-political Islam coalition seems to be emerging with the

Saudi-led bloc and Israel at its heart. Israel's rapid adoption of the Saudi position confirms that the two countries share Israel's vision on regional developments and the Palestinian cause.

Israel, which has only signed peace agreements with Egypt and Jordan, stands to benefit

most from the Qatar-Gulf crisis. the Gulf crisis "will serve to undermine Hamas and redraw regional policies in accordance with the Israeli visions as Israel seeks to normalize its

relations with the Arab states while isolating the Palestinian question". Following the crisis, Israeli officials' repeated statements centered on fighting "terrorism" and hopes for

"cooperation" with the Gulf States on security concerns. "There can be no doubt that this opens many opportunities for cooperation in the war against terror. The state of Israel is more than open to such cooperation. The ball is now in their court," said Avigdor

Lieberman, the Zionist illegal settlers’ leader and Israeli military minister, at the Israeli parliament on June 6.

Israel is in need of Qatar's mediation to deal with some of the pricklier issues in the

Hamas-administered Gaza Strip, such as funds for reconstruction. The Gaza Strip, a small enclave that is home to about two million residents, has been under an Israeli blockade for more than a decade. It has witnessed three Israeli assaults that have resulted in the

destruction of essential infrastructure and the impoverishment of its residents. In the face

of the Israeli siege and its occupation of Gaza, Qatar has been one of the biggest financial contributors to the strip's reconstruction.

Israel is hoping to make political gains from the Gulf crisis and the blockade on Qatar by weakening Hamas and undermining its influence in the Gaza Strip, and demonizing it in the Arab world under the pretext of "terrorism". The Saudi attack on Hamas and its

portrayal of the movement as a "terrorist organisation" serves the Israeli agenda and is consistent with Israel's goal to eliminate the Palestinian cause.

154

The purpose behind Israel isolating Qatar was to pressure it to withdraw its support for Hamas and to pressure it to fall back in line with Saudi policies, or what Israel describes as the "moderate" Arab camp.

Playing on regional rifts in the Arab world, with the divide between the Gulf States and Iran, Israeli officials and analysts often speak of an unofficial "moderate axis" of Arab countries that are purportedly working behind the scenes with the Israeli government. In this

"alliance", Western-backed countries including Egypt, Saudi Arabia and several of the Gulf states, as well as Jordan and Morocco, are said to be pitted against their "common

enemies" such as Syria, Iran, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS), Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood, etc.

These are longstanding tensions that have been bubbling under the surface but with the reported comment from Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani last week where he was alleged to have said positive things about Iran and negative things about other states was seen as an opportunity for the other powerful Gulf states like Saudi Arabia and the Emirates to actually clamp down on Qatar.

Notorious credit The US stance amid the Gulf's diplomatic rift was thrown into further confusion when Tillerson called on Saudi Arabia to ease the blockade on Qatar. The US' top diplomat has

since attempted to mediate between the two sides, and on Tuesday the State Department said efforts to resolve the crisis were "trending in a positive direction".

Meanwhile, President Trump thrust himself into a bitter Persian Gulf dispute, taking credit for Saudi Arabia’s move to isolate its smaller neighbor, Qatar, and rattling his national

security staff by upending a critical American strategic relationship. In a series of tweets, Trump said his call for an end to the financing of radical groups had prompted Saudi

Arabia and four other countries to act this week against Qatar, a tiny, energy-rich emirate that is arguably America’s most important military outpost in the Middle East. “During my recent trip to the Middle East I stated that there can no longer be funding of Radical

Ideology,” he said, pointing to Qatar — look!” The president also appeared to be trying to

ease tensions. In a call with King Salman of Saudi Arabia, Trump said that unity among gulf nations was “critical to defeating terrorism and promoting regional stability,” according to a White House statement.

Trump during his visit focused his attention on Saudi Arabia and the UAE perhaps ignoring

Qatar suggesting Trump's policies are directed towards the two countries at the expense of

155

Qatar and other weaker states in the region. But the current standoff between GCC nations and Qatar has put the U.S. in a tough spot for a number of reasons. US Defense Secretary James Mattis and US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson offered US support in brokering a solution between the feuding nations.

The Pentagon military has been eager to avoid political quarrels with the Qataris, a goal reflected in statements by its spokesmen. “The United States and the coalition are grateful to the Qataris for their longstanding support of our presence and their enduring

commitment to regional security”. An American diplomat in Doha said that Qatar’s

relationship with the United States was “strong” and that it had made strides: prosecuting people suspected of funding terrorist groups, freezing assets and putting stringent controls on its banks.

Tension and confusion Thanks to US interference and Israeli mischief, Arab world is not undergoing a phase of continued tension and unavoidable confusion.

Everyone wants USA on their side and hence the Qatari deals with it in a hurry as Qatar knows only arms deals and pumping of money into USA can make USA be in good humors.

Saudi Arabia is just doing the monkey’s job of doing exactly what is told by the Super power. Saudi Arabia might feel elated that it has done a great favor to the new US President so that he would ask the NATO to attack Iran, thereby appeasing the Saudis.

Everybody and every nation are free to day dream. Riyadh also can do that but cannot

expect the USA to listen to it just like American leaders obey Israel with which it conducts secret destabilizing operations globally, especially in West Asia. Here the winner is

obviously the USA-Israel fascist twins- and not Saudi Arabia that managed the Arab show as the leader of Sunni world by gathering all other Arab nations to slam and boycott Qatar.

Perhaps, Arab world is destined to become and stay destabilized. There could be widespread instability in the region if the situation between Riyadh and Doha deteriorates further. Meanwhile, Israel also fears that if the Gaza crisis escalates, causing major splits and disputes within the Hamas movement, which could lead to an armed confrontation

between the movement and Israel. But if the Saudi and Egyptian pressure leads Qatar to stop supporting Hamas, this could worsen the economic distress in Gaza as well as the military tension with Israel.

156

Religion is an important factor but this is a political struggle between the Saudis and the Iranians and of course the UAE, Bahrain, and Egypt all fall in line with this. Arab leaders think exactly as US leaders want.

The danger in besieging Qatar lies in the potential adoption of a new tone governing diplomacy between Arab countries, which could have negative repercussions on the Palestinian cause.

Arab nations with their own foolishness have time and again proven that they are indeed the root cause of Hamas-Fatah inner fight and confrontation that directly helps Israel and USA.

________________

Cricketism: How did Pakistan cut India to size, become ICC Champions 2017?

-Dr. Abdul Ruff ________

Foreword

Pakistan created a history if not miracle at The Oval, on Jun 18, 2017 by winning the ICC Champions 2017 Trophy and they did so by thrashing a formidable team from India.

Eventually, the bowlers have won the Trophy for Pakistan. Then reenergized bowler Mohammad Amir tore through the India top order to cripple Indian “prowess” and force the “defending champions” to meagre 54-5.Then onwards it was although Pakistani excellence. India eventually limped to 158, thanks to Pakistani team decision, after taking a dominant winning position, to take its neighbors beyond 150 runs.

Yes, a strong Indian cricket fort has decisively been breached by Pakistan in England on to clinch the so-called prestigious ICC Champions Trophy 2017, trouncing the “defending champions” and in doing so it emerged as a formidable 157

team for the first time in years notwithstanding the fact that the nation undergoing destabilization process by enemies of Islam, led by USA-NATO on the one hand and

by India and UK, on the other.

Pakistan won by 180 runs to take their first global 50-over title since 1992, after 25 years. The rest of the Pakistan attack was irresistible, backed up by excellent fielding, all in front of a vibrant, raucous and enthusiastic capacity crowd. That Pakistan lifted the trophy was surprising enough - at eighth in the world they began as the lowest-ranked team in the tournament - but it is the way they demolished the strong favourites will live long in the memory.

When both the bowlers and batboys from Pakistan play well working in tandem, Pakistan can win the trophy. As Pakistani team came with a well-knit plan and unitedly executed it on the field, all ‘sensible’ knocks of Rohit and Dhawan and Kolhi became irrelevant and their consistency had no place n front of Pakistani bowlers.

India’s humbling defeat in recent years took place at the Oval in England where the tournament took place as Pakistan shocked the world by producing an incredible display of bowling-baiting capability to thrash fierce rivals and the defending Indian team, while the Indo-global media, betting agencies projected as the favorites and win the Champions Trophy 2017 at the Oval. Inspired Pakistan thrash India by 180 runs. (Pakistan 338-4 (50 overs): Fakhar 114, Azhar 59, Hafeez 57. India 158 all out (30.3 overs): Pandya 76, Amir 3-16, Hasan 3-19)

As PM Modi and Indian corporate lords were busy with their visit to USA to meet a confused Trump, India hoping to outsmart the Green team let Pakistan score a big total 339 runs. Thus Pakistan set Kohli's side what India thought a “competitive” target of 339.. This kind of total is unusual and it cannot be chased down by the Indian opponents without help from the Pakistani bowling team. But Indian batboys did not expect a serious bowling team of Pakistan emerging right in the tournament. India upon managing the toss asked Pakistan to bat first and Indian batboys were damn sure of easily chasing down whatever target the bowlers offer to Pakistani batboys.

Fortune favors the brave, it is said, and so it proved for Pakistan — Fakhar finding his touch eventually to smite his way to 114 off just 106 balls – a maiden ODI hundred plucked straight from one of his wildest dreams. Batboy Fakhar Zaman hit a spectacular century to propel Pakistan to 338-4 in the scorching south London sunshine, a maiden century coming in his fourth ODI after Pakistan was invited to bat. Fakhar flayed the ball all around the Oval. Fakhar was installed at the top of the order, man of the tournament Hasan Ali fronted a talented pace attack and energetic captain Sarfraz Ahmed marshaled a team that grew in confidence and momentum.

158

Pakistani batboys did shine as Indian bowling unit failed to grasp the rising power of Pakistani team in the tournament already defeating better teams Sri Lanka, England and South Africa. World number ones South Africa were beaten in the rain before Pakistan edged past Sri Lanka to reach the last four. England, the muchfancied hosts, was brushed aside in Cardiff before an incredible performance in the final - their biggest margin of victory over India in an ODI. Young batboy Fakhar Zaman, who was yet to play for his country when the tournament began, showed early on just how clearly the day would always be Pakistan’s. In the fourth over he was out caught behind. Except he wasn’t, Bumrah had bowled a no ball — fate had other plans.

Though Fakhar had illuminated The Oval, there was confidence in Indian camp and a suspicion around that Pakistan's total was within reach of India's stellar batting.

That was until Amir got to work. He routed Indian bating bones and nerves by taking quick 3 wickets of top batboys. Rohit Sharma was pinned lbw by the third ball of the innings, only for Azhar Ali to spill a straightforward first-slip chance off India captain and master run-chaser Virat Kohli. However, from the very next ball, Kohli was squared up and athletically held at point by Shadab Khan, before Shikhar Dhawan edged behind. After Yuvraj Singh was given lbw on review to leg-spinner Shadab and MS Dhoni holed out off the pace of Hasan, the contest was as good as done.

A quarter-of-a-century ago, Pakistan came from the brink of elimination to win the World Cup, inspired by captain Imran Khan telling them to "fight like cornered tigers". Here, they recovered from a humbling defeat by India in their opening game with similar tenacity. Bowler Aamir led the team to reach the final and then continued to lead it to win the trophy as well.

Indian strategy India started off on a strong note with a commanding win over Pakistan in the Group B match, but Pakistan extracted revenge rather emphatically in the summit clash of the tournament, pulling off a 180-run win. The tournament saw its share of ups and downs — from rain spoiling the proceedings in most games, top sides such as South Africa and Australia getting knocked out in the first round to Bangladesh reaching the semi-final of an ICC tournament for the very first time, and Pakistan scripting a fairytale.

159

India was damn sure and upbeat about its chances to retain the Trophy. The other competitor was England. Pakatan was nowhere in the picture until all of a sudden it won the title. Luck favored them.

Pakistan did not let India shine even a little - let alone too much. India may have won the toss, but it was of no concern to Pakistan, they only dealt in certainty. Indian agenda of winning the final easily with at least 2 full hundreds, maybe one each for Kolhi and Rohit or Dhoni fizzled out. Dhoni thought Pakistan would let him shine with non-stop 6s and 4s so that he could take all the credit for the trophy. But no, that was only a pure imagination of Indians.

When Pakistan thrashed England at the semifinals, India also wanted similar win and Bangladesh that played the semifinals with India helped the latter to achieve that objective. Now Bangladesh or West indies would first help India n batboys to shine before India could face Pakistan.

Possibly India tried for quick wickets but failed and began offering big runs. Ideas were to feed Pakistani batboys well so that Indian batboys also would be given enough runs in return. India gave a 100 to a new Pakistani batboy and expected return favors to Koli, Rohit and Dhoni. That was a miscalculation. Not only Pakistani batboys enjoyed a big score with so many 6s and 4s and flue gifts, their bowlers also enjoyed removing the batboys in a sustained manner and refused to throw easy balls to Dhoni for 6s and 4s. Dhoni, like Kohli, is fond of hitting 6s and 4s but Pakistani bowlers were not quite impressed by their interests.

India, favoring a chase, gave up the chance to bat first on a run-filled surface and were made to pay by left-hander Fakhar. He was reprieved on three, caught behind off a Bumrah no-ball, and went on to carve, slice and belt his way to a 92-ball century. Fakhar shared an opening stand of 128 with Azhar Ali and, after a mix-up that saw Azhar run out, sprang to life. At one point, he took 32 runs in the space of eight legal deliveries. When Fakhar miscued the impressive Bhuvneshwar Kumar to a back-tracking Ravindra Jadeja at point, India pulled themselves back into contention. Mohammad Hafeez made an unbeaten 57 from 37 balls and Babar Azam 46 from 52, but India's canny death bowling seemed to have kept them in contention. As it turned out, Pakistan had far too many for them.

Interestingly, even while batboys were falling, Indian cricket commentators kept on assuring the fans on TV that India would emerge victorious. When Dhoni came to the crease they said that now Dhoni would the needful to steady lead the team to victory. But he also fell quickly, disappointing the Indian government and BCCI. However, India is happy that at least Hardik Pandya got a 50 from Pakistan but his six-hitting in a 43-ball 76 always seemed likely to be in vain. It was not long after he was run out that last man Bumrah flapped at Hasan - and the Pakistan celebrations begun.

160

Pakistan’s day

The Oval in Great Britain was always destined to belong to Pakistan even much before the final match was to begin. Pakistan was upbeat and more confident than a hitherto formidable India.

Pakistani body language revealed that they had a foolproof plan which it executed perfectly.

Pakistan is qualitatively and emotionally different from Bangladesh and did not let India shine.

A pathetic looking and badly composed Pakistan entered the tournament of ICC title as its lowest ranked side and without any homework to target each player of the opposite camp. But India always works overnight to identify the weaknesses of batboys and bowlers as well as their strengths.

Apparently India and England competed for the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 and made strenuous efforts to keep other top competitors like Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. In many ways they helped the opponents to defeat teams like South Africa so that both play the final. But to their shock Pakistan came up fast and played the final with India, England having been kicked out by Pakistan. Obviously, entire cricket world stands shocked and England cannot digest this and so is India which is unable understand the Pakistan phenomenon even after several decades of fights on the borders and cricket fields now. And obviously India cannot take the crushing defeat by India kindly and would wait for opportunities so to defeat Pakistan in a similar fashion. That is the mindset of India. .

One can guess it’s going to be your day when Mohammad Hafeez — ODI strike rate 75.58 — makes an unbeaten 57 off 37 balls. But when the ball cannoned into his stumps only for a bail to cheekily hop up out of its groove and land straight back in it again, they should really have started engraving Pakistan’s name on the trophy.

However, this was no fluke from Pakistan, rather a match where they forced fortune to wear green and white for the day, an opening salvo from Mohammad Amir all but finishing the game off inside the first nine overs. There was still time for Shadab Khan, the youngest man to ever play in an ICC final, to pick up a couple of scalps, the first requiring admirable confidence to unequivocally ask for a review when his LBW shout against Yuvraj Singh was turned down.

Shadab, along with man of the match Fakhar and man of the tournament Hasan Ali, showed the impact the Pakistan Super League has already had on the fortunes of the national team, the triumvirate all coming to prominence thanks to performances in the fledgling T20 competition.

For Hasan the acclaim was well deserved, he ended as leading wicket-taker in the competition, fittingly finishing things off when he got Jasprit Bumrah caught behind — the match, the day and the tournament destined to be never anything else but belonging to Pakistan.

161

Amir has potential to be the greatest bowler!

Mohammad Amir, the target of Indo-England to cripple Pakistan bowling unit, is a big match player. Ever since his comeback from the “spot-fixing” ban, Amir hasn't lived up to the high hopes and expectations of the cricketing world. He's sparkled in bits with breathtaking spells, providing the 'WOW' moments. But somewhere down the line consistency and a match-winning performance were missing.

When the games are on the line and the bigger the game, the more he performs and the more amped up he gets. He doesn't shy away from pressure situations and big games. He provides the defining moment of the match, sending back the best ODI chaser in the world and giving a complete performance that the country was yearning for. He's got proper big match temperament. From anguish to joy in a matter of seconds, Amir has gone through a whole range of emotions just like he has throughout his bumpy career so far.

The story was the same before the final in this Champions Trophy. He had scalped just two wickets from 28.1 overs at 67.50 and a strike rate of 84.5. His most telling contribution came with the bat where he played a sensible knock of 28 against Sri Lanka to guide Pakistan past the finish line in a tense chase along with Captain Sarfraz Ahmed. Then onwards, Pakistan was moving ahead.

On a sunny Sunday the June 18, the Oval was amidst the cacophony of 25,000-odd vociferous fans, watching the collapse of Indian batting line up. Aamir, the sleeping giant, woke up on the big stage to bowl one of the most crucial spells of his life — 6-2-16-3. It broke India's spine and they never recovered. This was the Amir that Pakistan was craving for. The Amir phenomenon could destroy the opposition with consummate ease and put his hand up when Pakistan required him the most. The Amir who could win matches for Pakistan. He even made a nostalgic Wasim Akram tweet, "You little beauty reminded me of my days."

At the Oval, on can feel the adrenaline pumping as Aamir turns at the top of his mark against India. There is a genuine sense of belief that Pakistan could pull something special out of the hat. Amir sets the tone by setting up Rohit Sharma beautifully. Two outswingers are followed by an inswinger to trap the in-form opener on the crease and dismiss him LBW. The partnership that had amassed the most runs in the tournament is broken. Amir lets out a roar. Rohit trudges back in disappointment. Shikhar Dhawan was his next target. He's bowling in the corridor of uncertainty with substantial pace. Dhawan, the highest “run-getter” in the tournament, is slowly getting into the groove but six overs later, Amir outclasses the southpaw with a cross-seam delivery which generates extra bounce to catch his outside edge.

162

There is still that thrill and excitement factor related to Amir every time he runs in to bowl.

After quick wicket of Rohit, Mohammad Amir had already set off in celebration. But each time Pakistani fielder drop catches of his ball, Aamir is in disbelief with a 'you've dropped the Champions Trophy' look on his face. After the dropped catch, Amir walks back, kicking the field probably wondering whether a unique record — that of the number of catches dropped off his bowling — could be created. Amir's aeroplane celebration takes off. Arthur is up on his feet applauding. Kohli walks off in disbelief shadow practicing the shot again. Kohli was out and he returned to pavilion, totally disillusioned.

And again bowler Aamir played very vital role in quickly removing the top three batboys from the crease without giving them any real runs even as many India’s former cricket gods led by S. Tendulkar witnessed the collapse of their team without getting any support from Pakistani bowlers. Blessing of Tendulkar as god did not work in India’s favor.

The top order has been India's lynchpin throughout the tournament. The trio of Dhawan, Rohit and Kohli has scored a staggering 81 percent (874/1074) of the team's runs before the final.

Amir, with three wickets, has virtually forced India into submission inside the first powerplay, on a batting paradise. "We spoke about it actually in the team meeting. We thought that if we could get through that Indian top order early, we could probably expose that middle order that hadn't batted a fair amount. And Amir was the guy who could do that for us," coach Arthur says in the post-match conference. "In the first two games he didn't get any wicket but he had bowled particularly well. We were always thinking there was one spell in him somewhere and the spell came thankfully today. At the start of the final, we put India on the back foot which certainly gave us an upper hand."

First he got Rohit Sharma LBW with a perfect swinging delivery. Then in his next over he bowled two balls that perfectly encapsulated the entire cricketing history of Pakistan. Despair followed by elation, as Virat Kohli was dropped in the slips only to be caught off a leading edge the very next ball. With Kohli gone, so too did Indian hopes of chasing down Pakistan’s total, followed a bit later by many of their fans pouring out of The Oval, their places in the stands taken in many cases by Pakistan fans who had been waiting outside the ground.

Former England captain Alec Stewart on Test Match Special: "That was Aamir single handedly dong everything for the team. Brilliant from Pakistan's point of view - their bowling was high quality. “Former England captain and now a commentator Nasser Hussain said “He loves a challenge, Kohli. He loves doing things that people can't do." But very soon Kolhi was back in his seat at the pavilion. Minutes later, Amir sends Kohli back into the hut, but not before Kohli has been dropped. It's not often that someone forces Kohli to make mistakes twice. Amir does.

163

Aamir sent him back quickly enough. Indeed Kolhi and other batboys do not love or appreciate challenges from bowlers. They can shine and hit only if bowlers are weak or “arranged” to offer big scorers. The best example is how Bangladesh bowled India to a handsome win at the semifinal, letting it reach the final as the “going” team.

Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis are two of the all-time greats but Amir is showing he has the same potential." Pakistan legend Wasim Akram on Twitter: "Wow, wow, wow - unbelievable performance by team green. It feels like deja vu after winning the 1992 World Cup. I am over the moon."

Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed: "After the India match when we lost in the group stage, I told my boys the tournament hadn't finished yet. "Credit goes to my boys. Fakhar is a great impact player; he played like a champion batsman. Amir bowled brilliantly but all my bowlers bowled really well. We have a young team and credit to my boys."

Former Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq on Twitter: "Congratulations to the Pakistan team and the whole country for such a great win. Boys, you made us happy and proud. Up and above from here!

However, Misbah wants the cricket matches to be won by batboys and he never gives credit to bowlers. India captain Virat Kohli: "Pakistan had a good performance, I congratulate them. They deserve to win. They need victories like these. Things weren't happening for them and then they win a tournament."

India and UK lose cash in bets Neither India nor England could win the trophy. England’s fans also supported India in the final.

Not just that. Both lost a lot of money in bets.

With deteriorating diplomatic ties preventing the two from facing each other in a bilateral series, India vs Pakistan is one of the most anticipated and most watched fixtures in the cricketing world. Some may say it's even bigger than the Ashes. As it was the first major final between both these nations since the 2007 World T20 final, the prospect of watching the two face-off in an ICC Champions Trophy final only raised the expectations of fans.

When India faced Pakistan at the Oval, national pride apart, a lot of money too was at stake, Rs

164

2,000 crore to be precise, according to a report in Times of India. Gambling like sex market is legal in England and Indians can bet on the match through international cards and e-wallets.

According to estimates by the AIGF, roughly Rs 2,000 crore will be bet on the match. Rolland Landers, CEO of AIGF (All India Gaming Federation) was quoted saying to the Times of India, “It has been estimated by many studies that roughly a total of Rs 2 lakh crore is wagered on all matches that India play throughout the year. And since this is the first time India and Pakistan will be meeting in the final of a cricket tournament in around 10 years, the bets are high.”

Cricket bosses, experts and fans have predicted India to win the match and the bet odds that have been offered reflect the same.

Observation ICC Champions Trophy 2017 belongs to Islamabad but that is not everything.

Bowler Aamir makes Pakistan a serious contender for titles in future. Only a team spirit and perfect home work on video clips should do a lot of good for them and positive attitude would provide inspirational guidance.

Pakistan who lost their opening game to India by 124 runs to sweet revenge at the finals’ show with its mammoth total of 330 runs with a win margin by 180 runs at the Oval.

That is the real show of strength and display of united will of the team. No one expected this kind of disciplined show of performance in unity. This was indeed monumental from Pakistan, who in dispatching India by 180 runs seemed to almost bend the will of the Indian and global cricket gods, cricketing or otherwise, with the unstoppable force of their performance.

Pakistanis are now somewhat perfect in bowling that gave extra force to its batboys to play better and the team played the best and the 2017 ICC Trophy home. This time, Pakistani batboys avoided runouts. Hence one early run out by the opener possibly was deliberate. In the 50th over, Pakistan did not lose any wickets and kept the remaining 6 wickets intact. This upset Indian team leaders Kolhi and Dhoni and caused negativity in them in the next session where entire team collapsed cheaply.

Pakistan had to offer 50 to Pandya as a gift to India as they apparently wanted to give at least 150 runs to India. Otherwise Pandya could not have got so many runs when the top players like Kolhi and Dhawan and Rohit could not get any such runs.

Pakistani cricketers are not supposed to help Indian batboys, unlike other foreign bowlers and even batboys who work for Indian causes as the IPL members bought by Indian compote lords

165

and black monied billionaires, like international fraud BJP MP Mallya, who is now wanted by Indian courts but now enjoys life in London with UK-Indian joint state protection.

Once again, it has been proven that by and large the bowlers decide the outcome of cricket matches. If the bowlers are fools and offer big and quick runs, batboys would enjoy their stay at the crease and hit 50s, 100s, etc and throw away their wickets to their favorite fielder when they amass runs in 6s and 4s. If bowlers refuse runs to the batboys, even the top most batboys would collapse and return to pavilion. Indian returned to the pavilion that way. Tendulkar stopped paying cricket that way.

Yes, devils know all tricks and use them weaken any good, talented worker.

In the latest IPL India, it was vividly clear that from the semi-level onwards the batboys were not allowed to enjoy at the case and they lost their wickets soon as bowlers were somewhat serious about their profession.

India cannot just take cricket defeat kindly, especially against Pakistan and that too losing a very important ICC trophy for which India was well prepared. India would frantically looking for opportunity to pay back. First, it would secure 100s and 50s for their defeated batboys in the scheduled tours. South Africa Bangladesh would help India overcome the ICC cup agony to some extent. Hence Pakistan also needs to be up to date in skills and trainings.

Batboys hit only if bowlers are fools or pretend to be so. Pakistan should make bowling their main fort and train more bowlers. Usually, bowlers are told to take wickets and offer too many runs in 4s and 6ds so that batboys survive as favorites of the regimes and compote media for awards.

This scenario must change. Bowlers should be told not to focus on bogus wickets but on dotball techniques to deny easy runs to the batboys. Let the batboys struggle to get runs. ^s and 4s are illegal as if ball is het directly outside the boundary line that should be signaled OUT. And there should not be 4s as well. Batboys must earn runs in the proper way by running between the wickets.

Aamir should henceforth be very cautious as Indo-UK would try new tricks to trap him and remove him from the cricket field once for all so that there is no real threat to batboys who crave for 100s by mischievous means. Already he had a bitter experience with these two nations and because of them he had to suffer.

Post-script: after defeat, India takes revenge on Kashmiri Muslims

166

India suffers from cricketomania as it considers cricket is everything for India and hence made a fake batboy Sachin the Bharatratna which is a special national award for the most serious people. So, whenever India and Pakistan clash in cricket matches anywhere in the world, there are instances of tension in occupied Kashmir as Indian Hindus attack Muslims for their support for Pakistani Muslim players. In hostels and messes and community halls troubles shoot up to keep Muslims in Kashmir under Hindutva check. .

Any defeat of India in cricket leads to intense tensions in Kashmir. India lost the Trophy this time to Pakistan. Unable to digest a crushing defeat of Indian team by “ordinary” Pakistani team in London Oval, Indian occupation forces that make its favorite cricketers the top military officers like Colonel just for fun insulting the hard working military personnel, attacked Kashmiri Muslims to settle” the defeat issue. Locals from scores of hamlets of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district have alleged that Indian Army soldiers from 44 Rashtriya Rifles not only thrashed the people during Sehri hours but also snatched identity cards asking them to report at the Army Camp.

Reports said that military forces stopped everyone who were approaching towards mosque to offer morning prayers and snatched identity cards from them. Locals from Payengund, Dangarpora, Pawnichek, Hajan Rajpora and Chandpora said they were not only thrashed and abused but their identity cards were also snatched. “We were asked to report at the Army camp.

They did it to punish the people who celebrated the Pakistan’s victory over Indian cricket team,” said a youth wishing not to be named.

Indian military brutality makes Kashmiri Muslims vulnerable and they show their anger by praising Pakistan. There were celebrations all around in the district on Sunday evening. Large number of people amid pro-freedom slogans hit to roads and set fire crackers in air. “Now they (Army) will assault us physically and mentally in the camp. We have no option but to visit the camp and face humiliation because they are in possession of our identity cards,” said an elderly man. Despite repeated attempted Srinagar based Defense spokesperson could not be contacted.

‘Celebrations over Pakistan’s victory a referendum against India’s all utterances’ Asking New Delhi to learn lessons from the celebrations held all across Kashmir after Pakistan’s victory over India in Champions Trophy, AIP Supremo and MLA Langate Er. Rasheed has said that the anti-India sentiment has got deep rooted cutting across political, sectarian or any other lines. In a statement issued to CNS, Rasheed said “It is strange that Indian TV Channels are still trying to distort the facts and putting their own narratives and fabricated versions of the whole story.

167

The way Kashmiris celebrated Pakistan’s victory over India in Champions Trophy, not only in cities and towns, but in the remotest hamlets from Kupwara to Kishtawar, it is proven beyond doubt that New Delhi is ruling through the barrel of the gun and has failed miserably to win hearts and minds of even those who had some corner for New Delhi in Kashmir. It is strange that even large numbers of cops belonging to local police were praying and praising for Pakistan which is an ample proof that New Delhi’s grip on Kashmir is now only through the courtesy of military might. The celebrations have proved like a referendum against India’s all arrogances”.

Though sports have to be always delinked from politics and Kashmiris are not enemies of India but it is New Delhi and its harsh media which have always shamelessly and without logic used cricket to score political points over Kashmir and Pakistan and even so called political experts were abusing Pakistan after its victory over England. Rasheed appealed Indian intelligence to read writing on the wall and force its rulers to have a settlement to Kashmir dispute through self determination in the interests of people of the sub-continent.

__________

Emerging Russo-Pakistan relations and Indian concerns!

-Dr. Abdul Ruff ______

Big powers and South Asia South Asia where the two nuclear powers India and Pakistan that jointly occupy Jammu Kashmir- a nation sandwiched between them - dominate the scene by perpetual conflict, wars and cross boarder fires, alongside limited cross border trade, remains one of the most tensed regions of the globe. NATO war on Afghanistan and its continued military presence there further complicated the situation in the region.

Global superpower USA, wanting perpetual terror wars in Islamic nations so that their economies are weakened and they become destabilized, is therefore keen to prolong the conflict in Afghanistan by creating problems and brining in new terror 168

actors wit new names. Pakistan believes that the US may be using ISIS as proxy to further its interests particularly to counter China and a resurgent Russia. Russia is interested in engaging the Taliban in an attempt to defeat ISIS in the region.

The USA is not ready yet to accept a peace deal something officials here pointed out showed Washington’s lack of interest in seeking any peaceful environment anywhere in the world that would drastically undercut the arms trade by USA and Israel. Contrary to the tough US stance, China and Russia are willing to show flexibility in a bid to give way for genuine peace efforts. The unending Afghan problem has brought Pakistan and Russia so close that the two are now taking their ties to new heights in terms of strategic and defence cooperation. The development is part of a series of steps the two countries have undertaken in recent years to open a new chapter in their relationship that have long been held hostage to the politics of cold war era.

Today, as a new development in international relations, Pakistan, China and Russia have come together to stabilize South Asia, first by brining stability in war torn and highly destabilized Muslim nation Afghanistan. For well over two decades, Islamabad and Moscow competed against each other to pursue their interests. Now the two are all set to become part of a possible alliance in a dramatic turnaround in their otherwise frosty relationship for decades. China plays a crucial mediating nation. Pakistan’s entry into SCO makes its place secured in international politics.

Until recently New Delhi increased its military and economic ties with Russia to ensure its occupation of Jammu Kashmir which it annexed in 1947 by using all British arms and technology as soon as it got independence from Great Britain. But now India with its fast growing economy has chosen USA and Europe and Israel to spend its money on new terror goods. Russia, however, is not much worried about the change of political and military mind in New Delhi. Russia then, but gradually, moved towards Pakistan for beneficial ties.

Kashmir, being occupied India is another major cause of serious concern perpetually blocking chances of regional peace. The emergence of ISIS in Afghanistan is not gong bring peace there at least in the near future. For Pakistan, this is dangerous scenario as prolonged instability in Afghanistan will continue to cast shadow on its progress and stability. Russia and China have endorsed Pakistan’s stance on Afghanistan seeking an all inclusive reconciliation process.

Emerging Russo-Pakistani ties have obviously created uneasiness not just in New Delhi, a very close military ally of Russia, but in the USA. China, USA and Russia are supposed to play important role in the stability or otherwise of South Asia where the w two nuclear powers India and Pakistan continue to fight each other over the occupied Jammu Kashmir.

169

Steady improvement Pakistan and Russia have joined hands for apprehensions that the USA may not be interested in bringing stability to Afghanistan for its own strategic interests. These fears have now opened up the possibility of an alliance between Pakistan, Russia and China in an unprecedented development that will shape the future of this volatile region. They are inching closer to formalizing their relationship with an aim to bring regional stability particularly seeking a political solution to the Afghan war.

With a view to evolving a regional consensus for the lingering conflict in Afghanistan Russia has already hosted two meetings involving Pakistani and Chinese officials to discuss the Afghanistan problem that keeps spiraling and disallows peace in the region.

Pakistan accepted the Russian Federation’s proposal to enter into bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Russian President Vladimir Putin during his meeting with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on the sidelines of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) at Astana gave the offer - which Pakistan accepted. In the meeting, it was also decided to setup a top-level committee of Russian and Pakistan officials on the FTA. Sources have informed that leaders of both the countries will soon meet to formally sign the trade agreement. Pakistan has FTA agreement with China, Sri Lanka and Malaysia.

Moreover, Russia has also unconditionally expressed support for Pakistan’s inclusion in Eurasian Economic Union – the FTA will increase Pakistan`s trade volume, exports and foreign reserves as it will Pakistan access to Russian markets.

Russo-Pakistan relations since 1947 when India and Pakistan became free from British occupation have never been sound. Russian interest in Pakistan grew only when Soviet army invaded neighboring Afghanistan. As a leader of NAM, India became an important nation to propagate socialist thinking in third world. The Soviet Union and Pakistan first established the diplomatic and bilateral relations on 1 May 1948. For the most of the Cold War, the Soviet Union's relations with Pakistan have seen ups and downs during the different periods of Pakistan's history. Pakistan turned to USA as an anti-communist country. And let Washington decide its policies and fate. In response to ongoing Soviet support to communist Afghanistan regarding the Durand Line issue during the late 1970s and 1980s, Pakistan began to support Mujahideen rebels attempting to overthrow the Sovietbacked communist regime and was later aided by the United States, United Kingdom, China and Saudi Arabia. This later led to the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan.

In 2010, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin of Russia stated that Russia was against developing strategic and military ties with Pakistan because of Russian desire to 170

place emphasis on strategic ties with India. In 2011, Russia changed its policy and Putin publicly endorsed Pakistans bid to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and said that Pakistan was a very important partner in South Asia and the Muslim world for Russia. Putin offered Russia's assistance in expansion of Pakistan Steel Mills and provision of technical support for the Guddu and Muzaffargarh power plants and Russia was interested in developing the Thar Coal Project In 2011, Russia strongly condemned the NATO strike in Pakistan and the Russian foreign minister stated it is unacceptable to violate the sovereignty of a state, even when planning and carrying out counter-insurgent operations.

In 2012, Russia and Pakistan have covertly developed geopolitical and strategic relations behind the scenes of world politics for the last two years. In 2012, Russian president Vladimir Putin announced to pay a state visit to Pakistan soon after his re-election, later he cancelled it, citing other crucial engagement. However, to offset the diplomatic setback caused by this unexpected cancellation of muchanticipated visit, Putin’s sent his Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. (Media reported that Putin cancelled the visit due tremendous pressure from both USA and India.)

On 5-August-2013 Colonel General Vladimir V Chirkin visited Pakistan where he was received by General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. The two generals discussed matters of mutual interest with emphasis on improving defence cooperation, army-to-army relations the security situation in the region, especially in Afghanistan post 2014.

The Russian Federation came to a conclusion that Pakistan is a crucial player in Afghanistan and that, as NATO withdraws, it becomes all the more urgent for Moscow to seek some sort of modus vivendi with Islamabad Russia, China and Pakistan seem to come together to stabilize Afghanistan as a prelude to make the region safe and secure. In recent years ties between Russia and Pakistan have warmed as a counter measure to warming ties between India and the USA, the two countries carried out their first ever joint military drills in 2016 despite Indian requests to postpone due to attack. Pakistan and Russia signed an agreement for the North-South gas pipeline from Lahore to Karachi, and reached a price accord by December 2016. Pakistan has also granted Russia access to a warm water port in the Arabian Sea Gwadar Port.

The development is part of a series of steps the two countries have undertaken in recent years to open a new chapter in their relationship that have long been held hostage to the politics of cold war era.

Pakistani concerns Pakistan, meanwhile, has two urgent concerns: the violent military suppression of legitimate political discontent in India-occupied Kashmir and the actions a hawkish Hindutva Indian government may be taking to stir trouble inside Pakistan.

India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s misguided, militarized policies in occupied Kashmir and refusal to engage Pakistan and freedom fighting leaders 171

could attempt to play on the latter’s fears by pulling closer to Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, the LoC, racked by tensions and frequent exchanges of fire, is worryingly close to the possibility of a conflagration.

Helping reduce tensions in the short term and promoting dialogue among Pakistan, India and Afghanistan will only work if China, the USA and Russia play pivotal roles and recognize the interplay between the various security concerns of the three countries.

China is a traditional ally of Pakistan and therefore an adversary of India. Warming up to Islamabad is a smart move to get closer to China, but that move comes at a price: abandoning its decades-long friendship with India. In fact, India must blame itself for losing a close and reliable friend in Russia. As the Cold War-era generation doesn’t hold much sway in India now, it’s far trendier for the newer generation to look up to America. A survey by the Pew Research Center in 2015 revealed that more Indians view USA favorably than Russia.. Moscow cannot but lose appeal in a country that has been gravitating towards Russia’s biggest competitor in the world.

The Kremlin reminded India that Moscow hasn’t made any complaints about New Delhi’s growing cooperation with Washington on matters of defense.

In order to stabilize Afghanistan there should at least be normal relations between India and Pakistan. The threats to peace and stability in the region are interlinked and dialogue is the only realistic solution. Russia has offered to mediate between Pakistan and India. China appears to once again be preparing to take a lead role in dialogue between Pakistan and Afghanistan in the newly revived Quadrilateral Coordination Group framework. The USA, in a new review of its Afghan policy, has broadened the scope to include its policy towards Pakistan, which in turn has widened to include the latter’s ties with India.

Kabul, riven by political tensions and under extreme pressure by the Afghan Taliban on the battlefield, has taken to blaming Pakistan for all its security troubles and has cooled to the idea of dialogue with. Very recent events suggest that Kabul may be considering softening its approach towards the insurgents, and coordinated diplomacy by outside powers could help in this.

Demanding Pakistan put pressure on the Afghan Taliban without helping alleviate its concerns about India’s growing involvement in Afghanistan and destabilization efforts in Pakistan, has not worked in over a decade.

Similarly, Pakistan demanding India address the Kashmir dispute is unlikely to achieve results while New Delhi, unwilling to deliver justice to Kashmiris by 172

surrendering their sovereignty back to them instead of murdering and terrorizing them, is focused on a perceived ”terrorism” threat from Pakistan to dilute the tensed situation in Kashmir.

India has killed over 1000,000 Kashmiris and converted Kashmir its major military cantonment to keep increasing its military prowess there to silence the freedom movement now by the youth there.

Is Islam popular in Russia?

Pakistan is a Muslim nation and a close ally of Arab nations. Russia, like China, is not known to be pro-Islam nation; however, unlike China which denies the Muslim population the right to pray and undertake fasting during the holy month of Ramadan, it does not harm the Muslim interests in any direct manner. The Chinese anti-Islam behavior is indeed strange and awkward in view of its close relations with Pakistan.

Can Russia, predominantly a Christian nation now, like Pakistan or Islam? The bilateral relations have not showed any people-to people relations as yet. President Putin inaugurated a big Mosque in Russia in the presence of Turkish President Erdogan that made it amply clear his real mind.

It seems Islam is becoming popular in Russia and Putin who killed many Chechen Muslims to strengthen his presidency, doesn’t intervene in Islamic faith in Russia.

But he opposes terrorism which is given the Islamic color by the West.

Meanwhile, thirty percent of Russians now identify as Muslims, according to a new survey by the ZoomMarket marketing agency, just 12 percent fewer than the 42 percent who say they are Orthodox Christians. Some 18 percent say they are atheists, with all other denominations in the single digits. Thus, three percent of Russians say they are Roman Catholics, two percent say they are Protestants or Old Believers, and one percent each identify as Buddhists, Jews, Greek Catholics or Slavic pagans.

The most Muslim places were Kazan (72 percent), Krasnodar (43 percent), Voronezh (31 percent), Yekaterinburg (29 percent), Krasnoyarsk (28 percent), and Moscow (26 percent). And the most “atheist” were St. Petersburg (26 percent), Voronezh and Yekaterinburg (23 percent), Krasnoyarsk (22 percent), Moscow (21 percent), and Novosibirsk (18 percent).

These figures are important for at least three reasons. First, they show just how rapidly Islam is gaining ground in Russia. Second, they cast doubt on the claims of the Kremlin and the Moscow Patriarchate about how “Orthodox” Russia in fact now is. And third, they set the stage for even more changes ahead. One indication of

173

that: a third of all those queried said that they would vote for a religious party if one were available to them.

Geopolitics and Indian worry

India believes it has got maximum benefits from Russia and now it must go ahead with a strong a strategic partnership with USA to advance its national interest at par with Israel.

India is worried that its nearly 70-year friendship with Russia is about to end.

Russia is warming up to India’s biggest historical enemy, Pakistan, which inevitably has led to tensions between New Delhi and Moscow. So even though India and Russia were very close for nearly seven decades, Russia-Indian relations have come crashing down over the last two years as India looks forward to Washington, Israel and its western allies

Geopolitics is the reason the relationship between the two countries is deteriorating.

Moscow and New Delhi have backed one another on the international diplomatic sphere for decades. But when Russia refused to support India’s bid to turn Pakistan into a pariah state this year, Moscow took a major step away from its friendship with New Delhi. Russia and India may have signed large-scale military deals over the past seven decades, but when Moscow held its first-ever joint military drills this year with Pakistan – India’s biggest adversary – it was a sign that Russia is trying to send a message.

When Russia rejected India’s efforts in November to isolate Pakistan politically, tensions between Moscow and New Delhi reached their peak. While concerns are rising within the Indian government, Russia continues to warm up to Pakistan and has recently shown interest in Pakistan’s joint project with China, the $46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The CPEC is a sensitive issue for India because the project passes through the disputed Gilgit-Baltistan region in Kashmir.

By backing the project, Russia automatically declares its support for Pakistan’s position in the long-standing Kashmir issue, a major development in Russian-Indian relations that could end their seven-decade friendship once and for all.

Apparently, India is not much worried about deteriorating ties with Moscow as it calculates that would make USA move forward to seek closer ties with India. Unlike Soviet era policy of free economic assistance, now Russia does business deals with India incurring huge expenses and it wants to buy terror goods from USA and Israel, instead. Indians say Russia’s cooperation with Pakistan directly threatens India’s safety. India’s unexpected turn toward the USA wasn’t met with much 174

excitement in Moscow, which is why Russia’s efforts to find a new ally in the region shouldn’t come as a surprise. And Russia seems to have made a choice in favor of Pakistan, no matter how painful it may sound for India.

However, increasing Russo-Pakistanis ties annoy New Delhi. But Moscow has assumed India it continued support and not to worry much about its relations with Pakistan. Dismissing Indian fears over growing Russia-Pakistan relations, Russian President Vladimir Putin on said that while his country had a "deep cooperation" with India, which could not preclude ties with other countries, including Pakistan.

Putin reportedly assured the Indian state-run news agency that Russia's relations with Pakistan will have "no impact on trade between India and Russia. The Russian president also spoke about the "deep cooperation" his country enjoys with India in areas such as missile technology, asserting that the relationship between the two countries "cannot be diluted." He added, however, that this "special relationship" between the two countries should not be a restriction on forming contracts with other "partnering countries."Putin admires Islamabad: saying: "I believe Pakistan is taking immense steps to stabilize the situation in the country."

War no option for peace For all the tensions among India, Pakistan and Afghanistan, the three states recognize that war is not an option and that peace and stability must be sought.

Surely, that is a need for big-power diplomacy in this region. As a senior partner of both India and Pakistan, USA could contribute to the noble cause of freedom of a nation by indirectly pushing the Modi government to opt for surrendering sovereignty to Kashmiris ion favor of regional stability and global peace that would be an achievement much more than and above the ordinary Nobel Peace prize.

At the very least, outside powers can try and stabilize regional dynamics that are threatening to spiral out of control.

The QCG, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, the influence that the USA, China and Russia independently have in this region — all can be for the good if used pragmatically and in a sustained manner.

What remains to be seen is if the USA, China and Russia, each of which has different relations with India and Pakistan but all of whom are invested in stability in Afghanistan, can do something more and better — help align the interests of Pakistan and Afghanistan (also India) in a way that reduces regional tensions.

Strong bilateral ties between Russia and Pakistan could have a very important positive outcome: Kashmiris would get back the lost sovereignty. Could Russia – 175

standing between New Delhi and Islamabad and now having an equally big influence on the two of them – help resolve some of the most pressing issues in the region, the Kashmir issue?

India’s policy cum efforts to solve the regional tensions without surrendering Jammu Kashmir – but only by killing Kashmiris who demand sovereignty back, have only made the region a perpetually crisis region. Both India and Pakistan keep adding more terror goods to their military depots, denying a credible chance for peace in South Asia.

Chapter-

Contours of Russo-France relations!

-Dr. Abdul Ruff _____

Anti- Islamic and anti-Russian mindset of the West is all well known. While Europe hates Islam more than what the USA does, both USA and Europe hate Russia for reasons known to the world. Like Islam which as the final religion of the universe is seen by anti-Islamic forces and nations as a serious threat to their own religions, Russia is also viewed as a threat to global capitalism and imperialism in which the western powers trade in, thereby forcing the world surrender to their joint military will. Though Russia is also somewhat anti-Islam and no more a communist or socialist nation, the West still is suspicious of its actions and very carefully monitors its moves and jointly works for future wars with Russia for global domination.

The western powers aim at weakening the Russian power and strangle Islam and remove Islamic faith from the face of the earth so that colonialism, capitalism, fascism, Zionism and imperialism could stay permanent global fixtures.

Russian attitude towards France is positive as Russia views European civilization rather pensively. However, French view of Russia is not quite encouraging. In a 2013 BBC World Service poll, 25% of French people viewed Russia's influence positively, with 63% expressing a negative view, while 49% of Russians viewed French influence positively, with 10% expressing a negative view.

Russian relations with France need, therefore, to be seen as a part of the hate politics of the western powers of which France is one. Generally, France is known for its neutrality in world affairs and regional conflicts except in case where USA dominates the regions.

176

Even during the height of Cold War, France did not pick a side between the USSR and the USA and we had good economical and diplomatic relationships. The relationship like between France and Russia has been normal without any serious direct conflicts on any matter but its close ties with USA always stood between them, at times harming even their normal relations.

Putin’s Visit Newly elected French President Emmanuel Macron and Russian President Vladimir Putin met in Paris on May 29, 2017 in an unscheduled meeting of the latter to France in which the former chose to lecture Putin on issues like Ukraine, Chechnya, Syria, and Russian interference in the French electoral campaign.

Obviously, the Russian strong man could not digest the “smart” act of Emmanuel Macron during their first ever meeting as presidents. Such a behavior by a host president toward a foreign dignitary is unusual in international politics and it hurt the egoist Putin who later in an interview bombarded the French novice unable to comprehend the niceties in international relations.

Emmanuel Macron just expressed his displeasure and anger for Putin for his support for his opponent candidate in the French presidency poll which he won in a highly surprising manner.

Just before that Emmanuel Macron and Vladimir Putin had a pleasant walk in the Gallery of Battles at the Versailles Palace as they arrived for a joint press conference following their meeting in Versailles, near Paris.

Putin strongly defended his right to welcome Marine Le Pen in the Kremlin during the presidential race. Putin met the newly-elected Macron during a trip to see the official opening of a new exhibition dedicated to Russian ruler Peter the Great. The exhibition, “Peter the Great: a Tsar in France,” will run in the Great Trianon Palace in Versailles until the end of September. The special event celebrates the 300th anniversary of Peter's first visit to France and the start of full diplomatic relations between the two states.

A few hours after his return from Versailles, Vladimir Putin chose to give an interview to the right-wing newspaper Le Figaro. With hardly veiled resentment, he took issue with his host, newly elected French President Emmanuel Macron, and rebuffed him on the major points of contention that came out during their May 29

177

press conference: Syria, Ukraine, and interference in the French electoral campaign.

In Versailles, Putin listened sternly to Macron’s moral lesson about Ukraine and human rights in Chechnya, said little, and looked impatient to leave. Now, he played the deciding match—without the contender, on his own terms, and at the new Russian Orthodox center he had belatedly opened on the banks of the Seine.

Vladimir Putin’s methods are well-known to seasoned Russia observers abroad. He is stubborn, denies even established facts—like Damascus’s use of chemical weapons against civilians. He angrily dismisses foreign leaders’ positions on the Ukrainian conflict. And he speaks insincerely about the Russian state media’s smear campaign against Macron and the supposed hacking of his movement’s website and emails.

The new French president is learning the hard way what it costs to have a “very frank and direct” exchange with the master of the Kremlin. The Russian president has spent seventeen years at the helm. Macron, meanwhile, is taking his first steps in international power politics and probably misread his guest’s reasons and expectations for this meeting. Putin was seeking honor and respect, recognition of his stature as dean of the “concert of nations,” and also a benign French response to his aggressive military policies for “restoring legal order and peace” in Syria and Ukraine.

An experienced Putin was not looking for a frank, honest discussion on issues of war and peace. And he certainly did not expect Macron to open the press conference with strong criticisms of state violence against gay men in Chechnya and to hint that he, Putin, should fix this.

Vladimir Putin did not come to Versailles to negotiate a way out of the Syrian tragedy or finding solutions to world issues. He came to drag Macron into his political logic, in which the global struggle against terrorism predominates, no matter what.

To Moscow, the most offensive part of the failed show was that the Russian authorities had worked hard to obtain this invitation from the Elysée Palace. They wanted Macron to repair the humiliation of October 2016, when François Hollande advised Vladimir Putin against visiting Paris to inaugurate the new Russian Orthodox center. At the time, the Russian military was helping Bashar Assad’s army in their brutal assault on Aleppo. The Kremlin’s preference for armed conflict over negotiation has a deeply corrosive effect on its relationship with France, despite a “centuries-long friendship.” Trust is gone.

In France, Italy, Germany, Greece and Romania, the capitalist media lords see a clear link between Russia’s military participation in the war and refugees crossing 178

European borders. Even the most pernicious fake news and propaganda cannot whitewash the glaring facts: True, Russia’s use of military force creates more insecurity and does not help us fight back against terrorists in all cities. But Americans want that to crate alarm about so-called “Islamic terrorism”.

Retrospect Russo-European relations have been strained for quite some time due mainly to the sanctions imposed, along with its boss USA, on Kremlin for its annexation of Crimea. France and entire Europe considers the Crimea annexation illegal while Moscow has only taken back its territory from Ukraine. Neither USA nor Europe could do anything against Russia’s bold takeover of Crimea expect criticizing Putin.

France–Russia relations date back to early modern period, with sporadic contact even earlier, when both countries were ruled by absolute monarchies, the Kingdom of France (843–1792) and the Tsardom of Russia (1547–1721). Following Russia's victory over Sweden in the Great Northern War, the foundation of Saint Petersburg as the new capital in 1712, and declaration of an empire in 1721, Russia became a major force in European affairs for the first time.

France–Russia diplomatic ties go back at least to 1702 when France had an ambassador (Jean-Casimir Baluze) in Moscow. Following Russia's victory over Sweden in the Great Northern War, the foundation of Saint Petersburg as the new capital in 1712, and declaration of an empire in 1721, Russia became a major force in European affairs for the first time. The geographical separation between the two countries meant that their spheres of influence rarely overlapped, but both were crucial states in the European balance of power.

After the French Revolution, Russia became a center of reactionary antagonism against the revolution, and when Russia had a successful October revolution in 1917 France opposed that. Napoleon Bonaparte (later Emperor Napoleon I) came to power in 1799, Russia remained hostile. The establishment of a French-backed Polish state, the Duchy of Warsaw in 1807 threatened Russia and caused tensions that led to the French invasion of Russia in 1812. This was major defeat for France and a turning point in the Napoleonic Wars, leading to Bonaparte's removal.

Imperial Russia's foreign policy was hostile to republican France in the 19th century and very pro-German. Germany, Austria and Russia-had as its stated purpose the preservation of the monarchical order in Europe against the France of the Third 179

Republic. After the defeat in the Franco-German war of 1870-71, French elites worked hard to keep France diplomatically isolated. France's challenges to Russia's influence led France to participate in the Crimean War, which saw French troops invade the Crimean peninsula. Imperial Russia's foreign policy was hostile to republican France in the 19th century and very pro-German. Rejected by Germany, Russia cautiously began a policy of rapprochement with France starting in 1891 while the French for their part were very interested in the Russian offers of an alliance. In August 1891, France and Russia signed a "consultative pact" where both nations agreed to consult each other if another power were to threaten the peace of Europe.] In 1893-94, French and Russian diplomats negotiated a defensive alliance meant to counter the growing power of Germany. The alliance was intended to deter Germany from going to war by presenting the Reich with the threat of a two-front war; neither France nor Russia could hope to defeat Germany on their own, but their combined power might, which in turn was meant to deter Berlin from going to war with either Paris or St. Petersburg.

Russia played a complex role in the Napoleonic wars. At the Vienna Congress of 1814-15, Russia played a major diplomatic role as a leader of the conservative, anti-revolutionary forces. Russia was again hostile when the Revolutions of 1848 broke out across Europe, bringing Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte (later Emperor Napoleon III) to power in France.

Under the terms of the Franco-Russian alliance of 1894 if Germany attacked France, then Russia would attack Germany or its close ally and if Germany or its close ally like Italy attacked Russia, France would attack Germany. After France was humiliated by Britain in the Fashoda Incident of 1898, the French wanted the alliance to become an anti-British alliance. In 1899, the Franco-Russian alliance was amended to deal with any power threatening the "equilibrium of forces in Europe" instead of just the "general peace" as before, and in 1900 the alliance was again amended to name Great Britain as explicitly the power that threatening the "equilibrium of forces in Europe".

To that end, it was agreed that if Britain should attack France, then Russia would invade India and the French provided a loan so that the Russians could start the construction of a railroad from Orenburg to Tashkent. Tashkent in its turn would be the base from which the Russians would invade Afghanistan as the prelude to invading India. Despite their alliance, both Russia and France pursued their own interests.

In 1908-09 during the Bosnia crisis, France declined to support Russia. Japan later fought Russia in the Russo-Japanese war. France remained neutral in this conflict.

At the time, Nicholas seriously considered abrogating the alliance with France, and was only stopped by the lack of an alternative. In 1911 during the Second 180

Moroccan Crisis, the Russians paid the French back for their lack of support in the Bosnia crisis by refusing to support France when Germany threatened war against the French over Morocco Further linking France and Russia together was a common economic interests. Russia wished to industrialize, but lacked the capital to do so while the French were more than prepared to lend the necessary money to finance Russia's industrialization. By 1913, French investors had put 12 billion francs into Russian assets, making the French easily the largest investors in the Russian empire. The industrialization of the Russian Empire was largely the result of a massive influx of French capital into Russia.

During World War I, France was allied with Great Britain and the Russian Empire.

The alliance between the three countries formed the Triple Entente. However, after the communist Bolsheviks seized control of the Russian government in 1917, Russia left the war.

Soviet era

France's bilateral relations with the Soviet Union have experienced dramatic ups and downs due to Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia, and France's alliance in the NATO. Previous Soviet premier Mikhail Gorbachev made a visit to France in October 1985 in order to fix the strains in the Franco-Soviet relations. Nevertheless, France's bilateral activities continued with NATO, which furthermore strained the bilateral relations between France and the Soviet Union. After the breakup of the USSR, bilateral relations between France and Russia were initially warm. On February 7, 1992 France signed a bilateral treaty, recognizing Russia as a successor of the USSR.

One of the major news has been the sale of Mistral class amphibious assault ships to Russia. The deal which was signed at 2010, is the first major arms deal between Russia and the Western world since World War II. The deal has been criticized for neglecting the security interests of Poland, the Baltic States, Ukraine, and Georgia.

Before Syrian Civil War, Franco-Russian relations were generally improving. Ever since the financial crisis took hold, European powers have been forced to court emerging markets more and Moscow meanwhile wanted to diversify its own economy.

Era of terrorism, reactivated by USA and NATO following the Sept-11 hoax perpetrated to destabilize oil rich Arab world and totally destroy Afghanistan brought Russia and France together alongside USA. Franรงois Hollande and Vladimir Putin agreed on ordering their respective armed forces to "cooperate" with one 181

another in the fight against the terrorist organization. The French President has called upon the international community to bring "together of all those who can realistically fight against this terrorist army in a large and unique coalition."[16] The French-Russian bombing cooperation is considered to be an "unprecedented" move, given that France is a member of NATO. Seeking closer ties between Russia and Europe alongside USA, a Russian newspaper recalled that "WWII had forced the Western World and the Soviet Union to overcome their ideological differences", wondering whether ISIS would be the "new Hitler". According to French counterintelligence sources in 2010, Russian espionage operations against France have reached levels not seen since the 1980s.

Like in other western countries, the increasingly fanatic corporatist media continues to create illusions about the “dangerous” Russian boar and terrorize the people on “monstrous” Russia. Since (Jewish) President of France Sarkozy and his open "Atlantist" foreign policy, it has become more complicated, and Russia is more and more seen as an enemy more than an ally. The whole Ukrainian situation and the refusal to sell the French made Mistral boats to Russia are a good example of that.

There is in the French media network (TVs, radios, newspapers) an almost systematic propaganda against Russia, so most of the French people are highly misinformed on the matter.

Observation

Notwithstanding the visible cooperation and coordination between them in Syria and elsewhere, the West-Russian conflict is real. The deliberate smear campaign by western media against Russia is real.

Russia through Putin is taking an opportunity to make a comeback on the European stage, after the G7 summit in Sicily held without him.

For the new French president Emmanuel Macron, Versailles was an eye-opening experience. He say a calm and iron like leader in his guest from Moscow. Vladimir Putin cannot be seduced, lectured or talked into a rational, “fully inclusive” (Macron’s words) multilateral diplomatic negotiation. There is no bait that he is willing to take.

Putin wants to talk with Western leaders on his own terms—and those terms alone.

He has shown he is not willing to compromise in order to restore a broken partnership with Europe.

For Macron, the path forward is clear—the further strengthening of the EU and Franco-German tandem and of Europe’s political, economic and military unity.

182

Given the current unpredictability of US policies and its shaky commitment to NATO, European states will likely close ranks. In this renewed strategy of common security and foreign policy, France might play a leading role.

And Putin, seeking genuine ties with Europe, may have given to the world one more incentive to ensure ideas of narrow national interest do not get in the way of a unified European position toward the Russian leadership.

Recent history has shown that France or any other European country for that matter is incapable of making its foreign policy choices on its own and all of them have to take cognizance of what Washington wants from them in order advance its own so-called national interest at global level.

History reveals the Russo-France relations can never be stable, unless, of course, world order changes entirely. There is no chance for any open conflict between Russia and France, however.

Russo-France ties, meanwhile, have to adapt themselves to the existing reality and US directives from time to time!

_______________________

Cricketism: How Bowler Aamir led Pakistan to final of Champions Trophy 2017?

Dr. Abdul Ruff Colachal ------

This write up is not meant to praise batboys or cricket but to highlight an incident that changed entire cricket scenario for the hopeless Pakistani players playing the Champions Trophy in England and the team might even get the champion title this year. All teams want 100s for their batboys and they exchange them freely. The countries have no shame if their teams lost. They ask them to play more and get more 100s. State agents play fouled games too. No team is genuine and no cricketer is honest or worth. They all want money and awards and compote mafias help them “achieve� anything they want. . .

It has been the nasty practice of poor cricket commentators to praise and glorify the batboys and they have never asked the ICC boys to amend the rules to make the cricket matches truly competitive by making bowlers the centre of activities and 183

cancel free runs in 4s and 6s. Let the young batboys make their runs only running between wickets instead of depending on bowlers help to throw free balls for 6s and 4s. That is indeed cheating the public, and countries with mafias playing secret roles in arranging for 100s and 200s etc, and pitch makers to make strong probatboy pitches so that bowlers should suffer and batboys just keep hitting big and big ones.

And the foolish and empty headed spectators just keep clapping, while the cricket commentators shower bogus praises on the batboy frauds. The corporate regimes promote frauds and cricketers loot the national awards and huge money. .

No country, no bowler, no coach has so far questioned the illogical approach of ICC in promoting only the batboys against the genuine interests of bowlers who are bought or hired to help the pathetic and greedy batboys to snatch national awards and money. They have not asked for a balanced pitch so that both batboys and bowlers make maximum out of them.

Bowler Aamir

Pakistan bowler Aamir was instrumental in making his team worthwhile one and he has, coming to the crease after 7 wickets gone and Pakistani supporters and the players had lost all hopes, led his cricket team successfully from uncertainty to semi-final to final of Champions Trophy 2017 as Pakistan made their way to their first-ever Champions Trophy final.

Generally, Pakistan wants only batboys to win the match and not the bowlers, whose job then is just to bowl the opponent batboys to good score so that Pakistani batboys also could get some good runs like 50 and 100. In doing so, they must like actors do, pretend they are trying hard for wickets. The same thing Bangladeshi bowlers did playing against Indian batboys Koli and Sharma whose bating was deadly hopeless and they were among the worst batboys bought by Indian corporate lords to promote Indian cricket boys.

Pakistan have now climbed one spot to number 7 in the latest ICC Men's One Day International (ODI) rankings on the back of a series of stunning victories against England, Sri Lanka and South Africa in the Champions Trophy. Pakistan has now reached the final of the tournament, where they will play against the winner of the second semi-final of the tournament between India and Bangladesh.

Pakistani medicine for England 184

On June 14 Pakistan surprisingly stormed their way into CT 2017 final with a thumping win over a strong team England. None could see Pakistan in the final in the past. Pakistan chose the most apt occasion and opposition to unleash their best bowling performance to bowl out hosts England for just 211 in 49.5 overs. Pakistan pacers started brightly, the spin troika applied the choke through the middle and a fine display of death bowling meant England had no way out of the maze they found themselves in. Such was Pakistan's grasp on the game that the flamboyant, ever-exploding Ben Stokes earned an ignominious statistic to his name - of having faced most number of balls (64) in a Champions Trophy game without scoring a boundary.

First upon winning the toss Pakistan chose to field and did a wonderful job of restricting English to a bare minimum score. Pakistan bowlers shut out England for 211 and then it easily won the match when the batboys played very seriously without losing wickets in usual runouts, though they should have avoided going for a third run in a hurry when they were winning with many overs remaining and there is no need for quick third run only to lose wickets. .

Cricket fans all go by reputation and current form and when a team proves that wrong, it only adds to the beauty of the game. So full credit to Pakistan for proving millions wrong! As far as England is concerned, they would feel that it just was not their day. Their wait for a 50-over trophy continues. Nothing went right for them.

They lost the toss and never got going. They would take heart from the fact that they were the favourites for as long as they played in this tournament. Can now sit back, contemplate and enjoy the two games that remain.

Pakistan booked their place in the Champions Trophy final with a crushing eightwicket win over England in Cardiff on Wednesday. Set just 212 to win, Pakistan finished on 215 for two. Pakistan will now face title-holders India in Sunday’s final at the Oval. Azhar Ali (76) and Fakhar Zaman (57) all but ended previously

unbeaten tournament hosts England’s slim hopes of victory with an opening stand of 118. But the real damage was done when England collapsed to 211 all out after Pakistan Captain Sarfraz Ahmed sent them in to bat on a used pitch.

None can change the truth that at Semi level Pakistan played with a lot of heart and they were clearly the best side, never allowed England to flourish. Once again after a year or so, they came on top against England at Cardiff.

185

It appeared as if they were willingly stepping onto a landmine when Sarfraz Ahmed decided a Mohammad Amir-less Pakistan would bowl first on a surprisingly warm, sunny day, and on what appeared to be a dry Cardiff wicket, against England's deep batting line-up. Junaid Khan nearly vindicated the move in the very first over, only for the contentious umpire's call on LBWs to deny Pakistan an early breakthrough. Debutant Rumman Raees blended in well into Pakistan's bowling plans, that appeared to revolve around frustrating Alex Hales with a straighter liner and length and didn't allow the England opener to dominate early - something he has rather enjoyed doing in the 50-over format in recent times. Hales's urge for a big hit earned Raees his maiden ODI scalp in just the sixth over. But merely a breakthrough wasn't going to serve Pakistan's purpose of restricting a formidable batting side, as Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root took the hosts to a familiar 52 for 1 in 10 overs.

Sarfraz's next trump card was to employ spin from both ends and get both Imad Wasim and Shadab Khan to run through the overs, by starving the batsmen of any room with flat trajectories. The move laid the perfect trap as Bairstow saw the need to get on top of the new pacer brought into attack - Hasan Ali - and ended up topedging a pull to the square leg fielder.

Morgan's hope to be a bit adventurous was undone by the fact that he was struggling to read leg spinner Shadab, who was smartly brought back for another spell after Morgan's arrival. The partnership between Morgan and Root was building but hardly at a pace they'd have liked, as Shadab and Hafeez strangled England further.

England still had what they could call a decent start when Eoin Morgan walked out to bat, but a period of lull during his partnership with Root followed straightaway.

Stokes's arrival with a little over 20 overs to play meant there was still room for England to snatch the game away from Pakistan's grasp, but Hasan and Junaid Khan came back and foiled that attempt. The former ended Morgan's odd stay in the middle - the England captain striking at under 70 but constantly appearing to be living on the knife's edge. Hasan bowled one wide and Morgan danced down for a heave, only to nick it to Sarfraz for a 53-ball 33. England eventually crawled to 211 - a clear underachievement considering their batting stocks - before being bowled out on the penultimate delivery of the innings. But the score 211 was not bad but certainly not a cakewalk in a pressure game. However, the Pakistani openers had different plans. Before England could realize and delve into the bag for plans B and C, half the target was erased.

England captain Eoin Morgan, who made 87 in a win against Australia last time out, 186

fell for 19 when he charged down the pitch to a wide ball from Hasan and edged behind. Stokes, fresh from his career-best 102 not out against Australia, took 64 balls to score a 34 that, remarkably for the usually big-hitting all-rounder, did not include a single boundary. He eventually holed out to cover when deceived by Hasan’s slower ball.

Pakistan belied their reputation as a poor fielding side, with Fakhar holding a brilliant diving catch at deep square leg to dismiss Moeen Ali, while substitute Ahmed Shehzad ran out Rashid with a direct hit.

On a Cardiff ground where they chased more than 300 to beat England in an oneday international last year, Pakistan completed Wednesday’s pursuit with a mammoth 77 balls to spare when Mohammad Hafeez pulled Ben Stokes for four.

England did avoid a 10-wicket defeat when Jos Buttler stumped Fakhar off legspinner Adil Rashid and Azhar too fell before the finish, pulling Jake Ball into his stumps. But Pakistan had the game all but won at 173 for two.

India thrashed Pakistan by 124 runs in the teams’ Champions Trophy tournament opener at Edgbaston on June 4. But three days later Pakistan returned to the Birmingham ground to make a mockery of the rankings by beating South Africa

in a bottom versus top clash. Pakistan then held their nerve in a three-wicket win over Sri Lanka in Cardiff— a virtual quarter-final for both sides. England didn’t manage a single individual fifty in their innings. Joe Root top-scored with 46 and Yorkshire team-mate Jonny Bairstow, recalled in place of dropped opener Jason Roy, managed 43. Rumman Raees, in for injured fellow left-arm quick Mohammad Amir, took two for 44 on his ODI debut. England, who were 128 for two, lost their last eight wickets for just 83 runs.

Bogus records

ICC does not want to make cricket a genuine sport and refuses a rule to deny multiple choices for the cricketers. Now batboys can bowl as well and so are the bowlers who also bat if the batboys do not get enough runs, they would be given extra runs to make their bating claims. Unlike India and other cricket nations, Pakistan doe s not make the bowlers to practise bating as well and as a result they don’t stay at the crease for long and throw away their wickets cheaply.

It is here that bowler Aamir’s role as the needy stabilizer came into light. Instead of throwing away his wicket by trying to hit a big six, he stood firmly and patiently at the crease and helped the fellow batboys to win the match for Pakistan. Had he also 187

fell, other two bowlers would not waste much time at the crease and Pakistan would not have come to semi or final.

Bangladesh as Indian shield

So, Indian show was preplanned between the I-BD teams and India wanted to win with better position than Pakistan did against the mighty England which was hoping to get the Trophy this year and Bangladesh gave India a helping hand by not taking the second wicket.

Most likely, Bangladesh would reap a lot Indian benefits for their timely “service” to Indian team. Certainly, they would receive more than fishing boats or Indian goods.

After thrashing BD, Indian batboy Sharma was telling something to BD bowler, may be about the Indian favors for Dhaka. Not bad. Bangladesh has more poverty than India has.

Media said that Bangladesh have once again “defied” odds and pushed limits to setup a clash against their neighbours. That may not be correct. BD was promoted by India through its allies like New Zealand to let Bangaldeshi boys win and come to Semi where India would finish them off in its “own way” and reach the final to face England. But unfortunately now India will have to face the Pakistani music where they like it or not.

Behind the scene

After the quiet surrender in Semi-final by Bangladesh before India (read Pranab Mukherjee, the Bengali president of India), India is so sure now that Pakistan would help Indian team by understanding Indian requirements for awards. India would even bully Pakistani team to help India in exchange for their chances for next Indian blackmoney-gambling show called IPL or for Indo-Pakistani series in India which India has been postponing, etc.

Apparently, India has crudely fixed both Bangladesh and Pakistan in such a way they cannot just ignore Indian demands and “desires”. If Pakistan refuses to oblige the big brother, Indian would call it a terrorist nations and ask USA to discard it form the strategic partner list. Bangladesh, which is treated by India as a backyard assistant or servant, readily obliges New Delhi in all possible ways- It was Bangladesh which gave a last 100 to Sachin, who had been standing at the crease for nearly two long years to get his final 100 that made India corporatist regime go mad, to enable him to claim Bharatratna. (It is Himalayan shame that a few 100s 188

amassed by him on mutual understating with other cricket nations and arranged through the mafia gangs on huge down payments.

Had Bangladesh won, Pakistan would certainly have enjoyed the match with a sweet win. But India s not Bangladesh as its bowlers are good though its batboys are very mediocre but can enjoy if bowlers are mediocre or fools.

Pakistan has exemplified the statement in this tournament thus far. They were mediocre against India but kept predictability at bay, recovered and, with a bit of luck, bumped into the mighty England. Paceman Hasan Ali led a disciplined attack with a superb return of three for 35 from his maximum 10 overs. That was it.

The final show The devil knows all tricks and India and its BCCI has mastered a few of them and can create panic situation to its opponents by not giving runs, thereby reducing the run rate whichi n turn causes runouts and wickets and collapse of the team.

Pakistan is prone to runouts just for fun as they did against India recently. India must have studied every Pakistani batboy and bowler thoroughly before reaching London for the tournament. What about Pakistan? Little practicing I just one thing but more important item is thorough knowledge about the opponent skills and weaknesses.

Winning or losing a match is not that important as cricket is a totally farce. But Pakistan must take the Trophy fight very seriously to win it; otherwise Indian win would mean Indian military occupying Kashmir to take the win as a nod from Islamabad to kill Kashmiri Muslims in a sustained manner while Indian core media glorify murder as patriotism. Indian Hindus create problems for Muslims in Kashmir during the Indo-Pakistani matches, calling them Pakistanis just for terror fun.

Sadistic pleasure makes India shine abnormally.

All said and done, due credit must be given to England that like other teams lie Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, etc, accept their defeat if their batboys do not get 100s or 5os while bating first and its bowlers then won’t be reckless to somehow win as they would just promote the “winning team”.

UK is a big sports power and it does not depend on cricket matches, though cricketism is important to them as they had invented cricket to fool the youth of colonies like India. England was totally disillusioned that it deemed its defeat through their facial expressions. But India won’t be like that kind and would never accept until last ball is bowled. .

189

India thinks Indo-Bangla show would be taken seriously. Now India is sure of defeating Pakistan as it has already thrashed once here. After the India game, Pakistan improved a lot. The credit goes to the team management how they boosted the tam and its cohesiveness. Every game was a knockout game. Today as well they told us to not think about the match and just play the natural game. That helped us. Both teams are playing really well, all the best to them (India and Bangladesh).

Pakistan should know India wants to win the trophy and it wants to thrash Pakistan so that the entire nation of ultra fanatics celebrates that as their latest achievement and a win over Kashmir.

New Delhi would take Pakistan seriously and regard it a power only if Pakistan wins such tournaments. That is also a kind of Indian fanaticism.

Pakistan needs to give up their usual strategy to throw away wickets by runouts, which is a serious issue for batboys as they are supposed to guard the stumps as their major duty. Failure in doing so would be a serious crime. But ICC and national boards do not talk about it. Batboys need patience and alertness while bowlers apply dotball technique constantly. India does it.

Generally every team closely watches the video chips of matches of opponent teams and studies closely the weakness of batboys and bowlers so that those could be exploited. Pakistan must cultivate that habit. They must know each Indian player in the team thoroughly so that they won’t make mistakes while bating or bowling.

Sarfraz Ahmed admits that the win credit goes to the bowlers and then the batsmen finished really well, chasing down a small total. Rumman bowled very well too.. We decided to adapt to conditions, we knew if Pakistan could restrict India in the range of 150-200 and they could easily chase it. Less runs offered, the better the chances to win.

But now Pakistan has reached the final by defeating a strong England team and India has managed to come to final too by thrashing a pathetically looking Bangladesh.

Indian batboys would hit non-stop if they know the bowlers are going make them shine as Kolhi and Sharma did as Bangladeshi bowlers were throwing ball to the bats and made their stay at crease very comfortable to reach the finals against Pakistan on Sunday.

190

Can Pakistan repeat the show against India as well? Or would it prefer to follow the Bangla path?

Pakistani batboys and bowlers were not strong enough, but now they are much better and they can certainly beat India if they could contain the first four batboys without offing them any runs. Bowler insistence and patient can get more wickets than offering huge runs. .

Since Pakistan could easily defeat both Sri Lanka and England one after another, it may not be difficult at all for it to let India also taste Pakistani medicine. First, what needed now is a mindset then a proper plan against India which was badly thrashed

by Sri Lanka, and meticulous execution.

Pakistan is the favorites of the Trophy 2017!

____________

Amid tension in Arab world, Qatar signs $ 12 billion deal to buy F-15 jets from USA! Some issues!

-Dr. Abdul Ruff _____

Foreign policy of President Trump is slowly but steadily working to the arms trade

advantages for USA without any expenditure on American part. He has got a lump sum trade deal form Qatar to the tune of whopping $ 12 billion, as US regime attempts to navigate an ongoing diplomatic crisis in the Gulf..

Qatari Defense Minister Khalid Al-Attiyah and his US counterpart, Jim Mattis, completed the $12 billion agreement in Washington to buy F-15 fighter jets from the USA, according to

the Pentagon. The aircraft purchase was completed by Qatari Minister of Defence Khalid Al Attiyah and his US counterpart Jim Mattis in Washington DC on June 14 Wednesday.

The deal was completed despite the Gulf country being criticized recently by US President Donald Trump for supporting terrorism. US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and

representatives from Qatar were all set to meet to seal the agreement for 36 jets.

191

The weapon transfer comes just weeks after Trump signed a deal with Saudi Arabia for almost $110bn in US arms. It also comes amid a diplomatic row between a Saudi-led bloc

of nations and Qatar. Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Bahrain and a number of other countries severed relations with Qatar earlier this month, accusing it of supporting armed groups and Iran - allegations Qatar has repeatedly rejected. Riyadh also closed its

border with Qatar, the only land border the emirate has. In addition, the closure of Saudi, Bahraini, and Emirati airspace to Qatar-owned flights has caused major import and travel disruptions.

The sale will increase security cooperation and interoperability between the U.S. and Qatar, the Pentagon said in an emailed statement on Wednesday. Defense Secretary Mattis and Qatari Minister of State for Defense Affairs Khalid al-Attiyah also discussed the current state of operations against the ISIS and the importance of de-escalating tensions so all partners in the gulf region can focus on next steps in meeting common goals, the Pentagon added.

In November, the United States approved possible sale of up to 72 F-15QA aircraft to Qatar for $21.1 billion. Boeing Co is the prime contractor on the fighter jet sale to the Middle

East nation. Boeing declined to comment. Trump on Friday accused Qatar of being a "highlevel" sponsor of terrorism, potentially hindering the U.S. Department of State's efforts to ease heightening tensions and a blockade of the Gulf nation by Arab states and others.

Huge Qatari deal for 36 F-15 jets from the USA is significant as the two countries navigate tensions over President Donald Trump’s backing for a Saudi-led coalition’s move to isolate the country for supporting terrorism.

The deal is "yet another step in advancing our strategic and cooperative defence relationship with the United States, and we look forward to continuing our joint military

efforts with our partners here in the US", said Attiyah. The sale "will give Qatar a state-ofthe-art capability and increase security cooperation and interoperability between the United States and Qatar", the Defence Department said in a statement.

Tillerson has since sought to mediate the dispute from Washington, meeting with Saudi

Arabia’s foreign minister on Monday. He was scheduled to meet the foreign minister of the U.A.E. -- another member of the Saudi coalition -- for dinner Wednesday night. “I would

characterize the mood and the approach to that as being one that is hopeful, that believes

192

that the worst is behind us,” State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said on Tuesday.

While Trump appeared to back Saudi Arabia and Tillerson took a more neutral tone, the Defense Department underscored its relations with Qatar, saying the U.S. was grateful to

the country for its support of the U.S. presence there. “We encourage all our partners in the region to work towards common solutions that enable regional security,” Lieutenant Colonel Damien Pickart, a spokesman for US Air Forces Central Command, said in a statement when the crisis began.

Last year, after the State Department approved the jet sale, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency issued a report saying that the proposed sale “enhances the foreign policy and national security of the United State by helping to improve the security of a

friendly country and strengthening our strategically important relationship.” “Qatar is an

important force for political stability and economic progress in the Persian Gulf region,” the agency said. Good for them and their defense in the long run. The current dispute between us should hopefully be temporary and end soon. The real enemy is and has always been the Persian Iranians on the other side.

Turkey’s presidential spokesperson İbrahim Kalın said on June 14 that the crisis surrounding Qatar is damaging for the Islamic world and Turkey is working to help resolve the issue through diplomacy. Speaking at a press conference, Kalın said Ankara was

sending food assistance to Qatar after neighboring Gulf Arab states severed ties with Doha and imposed sanctions saying it supports terrorism and courts regional rival Iran. Kalın

also said a Turkish military base in Qatar, set up before the regional spat, was established to ensure the security of the whole region and did not have an aim of any military action against any country.

Qatar hosts the biggest US military base in the Middle East with 11,000 troops deployed to or assigned to Al-Udeid Air Base. More than 100 aircraft operate from there. In another

development, two US Navy vessels arrived in Doha on Wednesday for a joint exercise with Qatar's fleet. The American boats arrived at Hamad Port south of Doha "to participate in a joint exercise with the Qatari Emiri Navy," according to a Ministry of Defence statement

posted on QNA. The crews of the two vessels were received by Qatari navy officers. It was

unclear if the arrival of the two warships was planned before the Gulf rift or if it was a sign of support from the Pentagon.

On June 5, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain announced they were cutting diplomatic ties with Qatar for its support for "terrorism". Along with severing

193

diplomatic ties, the Riyadh-led blockade was imposed against Doha. Saudi, which shares the only land border with Qatar, shut the crossing and stopped goods being transported to its gas-rich neighbour. Saudi, UAE and Bahrain also closed their airspace to flights to and from Qatar, forcing airlines to remove Doha from their list of destinations.

Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir also said Qatar needed to end its support for Hamas before ties with other Arab Gulf states could be restored. Hamas responded to the statements saying they "constitute a shock for our Palestinian people and the Arab and

Islamic nations", and that the remarks gave Israel an excuse "to carry out more violations against the Palestinian people".

The current Qatar-Gulf crisis has offered Israel a golden opportunity to normalize its

abnormal presence in the region, undermine the Palestinian cause and deliver a diplomatic blow to the Islamic Resistance movement, Hamas. Under the pretext of fighting "terrorism",

the anti-Hamas, anti-political Islam coalition seems to be emerging with the Saudi-led bloc and Israel at its heart. Israel's rapid adoption of the Saudi position confirms that the two countries share Israel's vision on regional developments and the Palestinian cause.

Israel, which has only signed peace agreements with Egypt and Jordan, stands to benefit

most from the Qatar-Gulf crisis. the Gulf crisis "will serve to undermine Hamas and redraw regional policies in accordance with the Israeli visions as Israel seeks to normalize its

relations with the Arab states while isolating the Palestinian question". Following the crisis, Israeli officials' repeated statements centered on fighting "terrorism" and hopes for

"cooperation" with the Gulf states on security concerns. "There can be no doubt that this opens many opportunities for cooperation in the war against terror. The state of Israel is more than open to such cooperation. The ball is now in their court," said Avigdor

Lieberman, the Zionist illegal settlers’ leader and Israeli military minister, at the Israeli parliament on June 6.

Israel is in need of Qatar's mediation to deal with some of the pricklier issues in the

Hamas-administered Gaza Strip, such as funds for reconstruction. The Gaza Strip, a small enclave that is home to about two million residents, has been under an Israeli blockade for more than a decade. It has witnessed three Israeli assaults that have resulted in the

destruction of essential infrastructure and the impoverishment of its residents. In the face

of the Israeli siege and its occupation of Gaza, Qatar has been one of the biggest financial contributors to the strip's reconstruction.

Israel is hoping to make political gains from the Gulf crisis and the blockade on Qatar by weakening Hamas and undermining its influence in the Gaza Strip, and demonizing it in

194

the Arab world under the pretext of "terrorism". The Saudi attack on Hamas and its portrayal of the movement as a "terrorist organisation" serves the Israeli agenda and is consistent with Israel's goal to eliminate the Palestinian cause.

The purpose behind Israel isolating Qatar was to pressure it to withdraw its support for

Hamas and to pressure it to fall back in line with Saudi policies, or what Israel describes as the "moderate" Arab camp.

Playing on regional rifts in the Arab world, with the divide between the Gulf States and Iran, Israeli officials and analysts often speak of an unofficial "moderate axis" of Arab countries that are purportedly working behind the scenes with the Israeli government.

In this "alliance", Western-backed countries including Egypt, Saudi Arabia and several of the Gulf states, as well as Jordan and Morocco, are said to be pitted against "common

enemies" such as Syria, Iran, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS), Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood, etc. .

Perhaps, Arab world is destined to become and stay destabilized. There could be

widespread instability in the region if the situation between Riyadh and Doha deteriorates further. Meanwhile, Israel also fears that if the Gaza crisis escalates, causing major splits and disputes within the Hamas movement, which could lead to an armed confrontation

between the movement and Israel. But if the Saudi and Egyptian pressure leads Qatar to stop supporting Hamas, this could worsen the economic distress in Gaza as well as the military tension with Israel.

The danger in besieging Qatar lies in the potential adoption of a new tone governing diplomacy between Arab countries, which could have negative repercussions on the Palestinian cause.

President Trump’s first ever recent foreign tour in Middle East, where a fanatically arrogant Israel behaves like the regional superpower with US made illegal nukes plus high precision conventional terror goods, including cluster bombs that are being bought by third world

counties across the globe, has cussed ripples among Arab nations, leading to the ouster of Qatar from the Gulf States club. This, as foreseen by Washington, has obviously isolated Qatar to search for alternative routes to secure its security.

President Trump thrust himself into a bitter Persian Gulf dispute on Tuesday, taking credit for Saudi Arabia’s move to isolate its smaller neighbor, Qatar, and rattling his national

security staff by upending a critical American strategic relationship. In a series of tweets,

195

Trump said his call for an end to the financing of radical groups had prompted Saudi Arabia and four other countries to act this week against Qatar, a tiny, energy-rich emirate that is arguably America’s most important military outpost in the Middle East. “During my recent trip to the Middle East I stated that there can no longer be funding of Radical Ideology,” he said, pointing to Qatar — look!”

Qatar has long been accused of funneling money to the Muslim Brotherhood — which has

officially forsworn violence but is still accused of terrorism by some countries — as well as to radical groups in Syria, Libya and other Arab nations. But it is also home to two major

American command posts, including a $60 million center from which the United States and its allies conduct their air war on Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria.

Gulf Arab states and Egypt have long resented Qatar's support for Islamists, especially the Egyptian-based Muslim brotherhood, which they regard as a dangerous political enemy.

The coordinated move, with the Maldives and Libya's eastern-based government joining in later, created a dramatic rift among the Arab nations, many of which are in OPEC.

Announcing the closure of transport ties with Qatar, the three Gulf States gave Qatari visitors and residents two weeks to leave. Qatar was also expelled from the Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen.

These are longstanding tensions that have been bubbling under the surface but with the

reported comment from Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani last week where he was alleged to have said positive things about Iran and negative things about other states was seen as an opportunity for the other powerful Gulf states like Saudi Arabia and the Emirates to actually clamp down on Qatar.

Religion is an important factor but this is a political struggle between the Saudis and the Iranians and of course the UAE, Bahrain, and Egypt all fall in line with this.

The president also appeared to be trying to ease tensions. In a call with King Salman of Saudi Arabia, Trump said that unity among gulf nations was “critical to defeating terrorism and promoting regional stability,” according to a White House statement.

The USA has located one of its largest air base operations ( Al Udeid Air Base) in the desert

outside the Qatari capital of Doha which is home to close to 11,000 U.S. military personnel and coalition service members.

The Al Udeid U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) military base in Qatar was set up in 2003 after it was moved from the Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia. The base, which boasts

196

a long runway of 12,500 feet, is an important facility for the U.S. as it can accommodate up to 120 aircrafts. The base in Qatar serves as logistics, command and basing hubs for the U.S. CENTCOM area of operations, including Iraq and Afghanistan.

Trump during his visit focused his attention on Saudi Arabia and the UAE perhaps ignoring

Qatar suggesting Trump's policies are directed towards the two countries at the expense of Qatar and other weaker states in the region. But the current standoff between GCC nations and Qatar has put the U.S. in a tough spot for a number of reasons. U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis and U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson offered U.S. support in brokering a solution between the feuding nations.

GCC wants USA to shift its airbase from Qatar. The U.S. military lauded Qatar for its

"enduring commitment to regional security" and said U.S. flights out of Al-Udeid airbase in Qatar were unaffected by the Gulf diplomatic crisis and also said that it has "no plans to change our posture in Qatar"..

Officals at White House said Trump was not trying to cause a rupture among Sunni Muslim nations in the Middle East. A US diplomat noted that Russia had much to gain from

divisions among Iran’s rivals in the region, particularly if they made it more difficult for the United States to use Qatar as a major base. “For sure, this is an attempt at regime change” An American diplomat in Doha said that Qatar’s relationship with the United States was

“strong” and that it had made strides: prosecuting people suspected of funding terrorist groups, freezing assets and putting stringent controls on its banks.

The Pentagon military has been eager to avoid political quarrels with the Qataris, a goal reflected in statements by its spokesmen. “The United States and the coalition are grateful to the Qataris for their longstanding support of our presence and their enduring commitment to regional security” The US stance amid the Gulf's diplomatic rift was thrown into further confusion last week when Tillerson called on Saudi Arabia to ease the blockade on Qatar. The US' top diplomat has since attempted to mediate between the two sides, and on Tuesday the State

Department said efforts to resolve the crisis were "trending in a positive direction".

Trump on Friday accused Qatar of being a "high-level" sponsor of terrorism, potentially hindering the US Department of State's efforts to ease heightening tensions and a blockade of the Gulf nation by Arab states and others.

197

Everyone wants USA on their side and hence the Qatari deals with it in a hurry as Qatar knows only arms deals and pumping of money into USA can make USA be in good humors.

Here the winner is obviously the USA and not Saudi Arabia that managed the Arab show as the leader of Sunni world by gathering all other Arab nations to slam and boycott Qatar.

Saudi Arabia is just doing the monkey’s job of doing exactly what is told by the Super

power. Saudi Arabia might feel elated that it has done a great favor to the new US President so that he would ask the NATO to attack Iran, thereby appeasing the Saudis.

Everybody and every nation are free to day dream. Riyadh also can do that but cannot

expect the USA to listen to it just like American leaders obey Israel with which it conducts secret destabilizing operations globally, especially in West Asia.

________________

Chapter-

USA, Russia in talks over “safe zone” in Syria!

-Dr. Abdul Ruff _____

None can predict as to how long the dirty war in Syria sponsored by foreign powers led by USA and Russia would go on and how many more thousands of Syrians would be slaughter there. US-Israel terror duo must be seriously considering escalation of war to weaken Iran.

Americans, focusing on its advantages, may not be interested in ending the war.

Yet, apparently, there are talks going on behind the scenes over the increased fighting in Syria between USA and British Special Ops troops and the militant proxies they have been using to control as much of the Syrian-Jordanian-Iraqi border as possible.

198

Russia and the USA have been engaged in a series of confidential meetings to establish a 'safe zone' in Syria. Russian and US officials have met repeatedly in recent weeks, an anonymous source told the outlet. The talks reportedly included a meeting between officials in Jordan in late May. Last week, the Americans and Russians met in Jordan with the Jordanians to discuss these safe zones. The source said: “The meeting in Jordan was one part where the United States and Russia, Israel and Jordan can work together to have a de-escalation zone in the south of Syria.”

Six rounds of UN-backed negotiations in Geneva have so far failed to bring about a political solution to the Syrian conflict. The war, now in its seventh year, has claimed 400,000 lives and created 5 million refugees.

Russia, Turkey and Iran agreed on the establishment of 'de-escalation zones' throughout Syria in rival talks hosted by Russian in the Kazakh capital Astana in May. The establishment of the zones is an effort to halt hostilities between armed opposition groups and the government of Bashar Al-Assad.

Russia's intervention in the Syrian war since September 2015 has been marred by allegations its airstrikes targeted civilian infrastructure, including mosques, schools, and air convoys.

An agreement to set up the safe zones in Syria came into effect more than a week ago, at midnight May 6. Russia, Turkey, and Iran, the guarantors of the initiative, who authorized the memo creating the safe zones during Syria talks in Kazakhstan’s capital, Astana on May 4, have to complete the final geographic division of the four areas within a month.

According to the memorandum, the preparation of the maps of the de-escalation areas and security zones should be completed by June 4, 2017. By the same date, the Guarantors should separate the armed opposition groups from the terrorist groups DAESH/ISIL/Islamic State, al-Nusra Front and all other individuals, groups, undertakings and entities associated with Al-Qaeda or DAESH/ISIL//Islamic State.

The zones are located in the Idlib Governorate and parts of neighboring Latakia, Aleppo and Hama provinces; in the northern part of Homs province; in the Damascus neighborhood of Eastern Ghouta, and in parts of southern Deraa and Quneitra provinces bordering Jordan.

Meanwhile, by May 22, Russia, Turkey, and Iran, the guarantors of the Syrian ceasefire, have to complete the final geographic division of the four safe zones in Syria, also referred to as “de-escalation zones”. Sputnik has delved into the details

199

of the suggested plan and its difference from the similar initiatives of the USA and Turkey.

The plan suggests that within the lines of the de-escalation areas hostilities between the conflicting parties the government of the Syrian Arab Republic and the armed opposition groups will join the ceasefire regime with the use of any kinds of weapons, including aerial assets, should be ceased.

Checkpoints and observation posts are to be positioned along the de-escalation lines within the safe zones, according to the document. They will provide free movement of unarmed civilians and humanitarian access to the areas, under guarantor states’ control. Russian delegation head at Astana talks and Special Presidential Representative for Syria Alexander Lavrentyev said that Russia was ready to send its observers to the safe zones in Syria and did not rule out other countries taking part in monitoring de-escalation. Chief of the Russian General Staff’s Main Operational Directorate Col. Gen. Sergei Rudskoy said that the work of checkpoints and observation posts will be under control of Russia, Turkey and Iran.

Under mutual agreement of the three countries, they can draw in units of other countries.

The memorandum stated that the creation of the de-escalation areas and security zones is a temporary measure, the duration of which will initially be 6 months and will be automatically extended on the basis of consensus of the Guarantors.

The steps outlined in the Astana agreement for the “de-escalation zones” in Syria are not clear but it is clearly spelled out that the attacks on ISIS and al-Nusra will continue. But al-Nusra is not waiting for any clarification, having already announced it would be confiscating the ammo depots of the opposition groups in Idlib and arresting their leaders to preempt them going over to the SAA. This might start up new infighting among the anti-Damascus groups, as al-Nusra has said it will attack any group that supports the ceasefire. Missing so far is how they plan to deal with the membership roulette game the “jihadis” and officially designated terrorists have been playing by flowing their members back and forth as needed to suit their combat and political tactical needs.

Thus by May 22, the working group of the representatives of the guarantor states has to define the areas within the above safe zones which are still under control of “terrorists” and exclude them from the ceasefire agreement. So far, it is only known for certain that Eastern Ghouta municipality of Qaboun, in the neighborhood of Damascus, which is still controlled by al-Nusra and from where they are shelling on the dwelling areas of Damascus, will be excluded from this safe zone.

200

While Israel is making efforts to further complicate the crisis in Syria, both USA and Europe now think along Moscow way that Assad must stay for the “stabilization” of Syria as they are under the impression that once Assad is killed or driven out of Syria, Syria would, like Afghanistan, become totally disoriented although Syria is already destabilized with many war fronts inside.

The US Coalition does not want the Syrian people to have anti-terrorism partners unless it approves, and they are using the Russians to get this deal done, similar to their wanting Assad out.. USA wants the situation would eventually assure a weak and more easily destabilized Syria even after any kind of a “settlement” which it can manipulate further. . One of the reasons for this development for talks, therefore, is only to block the Damascus-Baghdad highway from being the critical link for the Syrian coalition for logistical support from both Iran and Iraq Including blocking military hardware and troops – in effect, imposing a situation that would benefit the foreign forces, as the USA has not won the war even after 5 long years.

Sources in Syria say that many are wary of what the Americans and Russians might do, as one can assume that Moscow does presumably not want to be involved permanently at the current level of combat for years and years. The US Coalition obviously does not want to submit Assad’s future to the Syrian people, as he would win devastatingly, which would show that he ruled his own people only by military oppression.

Peace after ceasefire will by no means be an easy feat to accomplish, as there are many enemies of peace still on the battlefield and in the capitals of the world. But at this stage of the game, maintaining momentum toward peace has to be visible to increase the hope and interest in a political settlement

Of course, USA does not want the crisis in Syria to end because that could lead to Mideast peace as well.

USA cannot win war in Syria but can hope to win the talks. When the peace talks began that the US Coalition would string the process along, looking for openings to win in the talks what they could not on the battlefield and that is exactly what is rolling out here.

USA and Europe slapped sanctions on Iran in order to weaken that country. The Western claims of Iran having a secret nuclear weapons program were a complete hoax, done partially to justify the Iranian sanctions to cripple its economy, and also for the deployment of a US anti-missile screen in Eastern Europe.

201

Unfortunately, the western media has never mentioned this exposure of the Iranian nuclear threat hoax as one of the key accomplishments of the nuclear deal. That shows they fear public focus on the nasty deed, because it could focus closer public attention in the future. The public might look for a replay scam the Syrian threat is, or the new Iranian threat because it is Syria’s ally. Iran has done way more to fight terrorism in Syria that the USA has – another item about which Western media seems selectively blind.

What is at stake is countries like the USA and Israel, who have aggressive secret intentions and fascist mindset, to paint their selected targets as aggressors, so their own aggression can be cloaked in the often-used robe of being “defensive measures” and “counter terror” measures. .Both want to make Arab world destabilized even while looting their resources in arms deals. .

Syria’s President Bashar Assad has recently said that he believes that the internationally agreed de-escalation zones are a real opportunity to finally achieve peace in his war-torn country, saying, all previous initiatives have failed due to some states hindering peace by pursuing own political goals. The “foremost” aim of the de-escalation or safe zones is to protect peaceful civilians, but Assad said they also provide armed militants with an opening “to enter into a truce with the government.” “This is a chance for a person with weapons in hand to pause to think. In other words, if they lay down arms, amnesty would follow,” the Syrian president said.

The agreement between Moscow, Tehran and Ankara presumes the cessation of airstrikes in Syria. However the US State Department has said the US military won’t join this moratorium. Israel seems to have a similar position on the issue. Recently the Israeli authorities informed Moscow that Israel will strike on Syrian territory “in case of necessity.” The Saudi authorities however have fully supported the document signed in Astana. They probably did not like Trump’s idea to pay for the safe zones in Syria and rushed to support the alternative project.

Back in January, US President Donald Trump promised to “do safe zones in Syria” for refugees fleeing violence in the war-torn country. He was then expected to sign a draft order to the Pentagon and the State Department to produce a plan to provide safe areas in Syria and in the surrounding region in which Syrian nationals displaced from their homeland can await firm settlement, such as repatriation or potential third-country resettlement. On the campaign trail, Trump gave no details as to how he might go about creating such havens, except to say that he would ask Gulf states to help pay. In February, the US leader reiterated that the Gulf States should pay for these safe zones. “We do owe $20 trillion. Okay. So we’re going to 202

have the Gulf States pay for those safe zones. They’ve got nothing, but money,” he then said.

The Turkish government had long pressed Obama, without success, for creation of a no-fly zone in Syria on its border with Turkey. US military officials had long warned that the creation of no-fly zones inside Syria would require a large number of additional resources beyond the fight against Islamic State (Daesh).

It should be noted however that the idea of the safe zones in Syria is not new. It was earlier voiced by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. However Ankara’s major tasks initially were not the settlement of the Syrian conflict but the setup of control over the border territories and control the Kurds. With this very purpose it launched its Operation Euphrates Shield in August 2016, planning to squeeze Kurdish units out of northern Syrian territories. This task however has been fulfilled only partially.

Hence the main difference of the document signed by Russia, Iran and Turkey in Astana is that it is aimed at a complex settlement of the situation in Syria.

Washington’s effort was aimed at tacking only one problem — the refugee influx into Europe and the USA. The USA is now studying the terms of the memorandum.

US Secretary of Defense James Mattis has recently questioned the Russiansponsored plan saying that it “poses many unanswered questions, including whether it would be effective.” “The devil is always in the details, right? So we have to look at the details, see if we can work them out, see if we think they’re going to be effective,” the Pentagon head told journalists.

With a fluid situation in Arab world after Qatar was ousted by Saudi Led Arab world blaming it on behalf of USA for “sponsoring terrorism”, there is no possibility Syria would be safe in the near future.

Aiming at a dangerous Sunni-Shiite war in the long run that would further slash Islamic populations and faith, President Donald Trump, whose son in law is a Jew, declared that the action taken by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain was “hard but necessary.” He denounced Qatar for having been a “funder of terrorism at a very high level”. Trump’s remarks make clear that following Trump’s visit to Saudi Arabia last month, during which he sought to form a Sunni bloc to confront Iran, Riyadh felt emboldened to strengthen its regional position under the pretext of combating terrorism.

Qatar has long attempted to maintain a somewhat more independent foreign policy, 203

including through economic ties and joint exploration of energy resources with Iran and through its support for groups like the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas. This stance has infuriated Riyadh. Until Riyadh broke diplomatic ties, Qatar was also part of the coalition conducting the brutal war in Yemen that has killed tens of thousands of civilians over the past two years.

In Syria, the USA has over recent weeks with air strikes effectively begun to partition the country. The USA has justified these attacks on the grounds that the pro-government forces have allegedly violated a “deconfliction zone” proclaimed unilaterally by Washington in Syria’s south near the borders with Jordan and Iraq.

Of course, the whole idea of US-Israel duo is to create a weak Arab world and sustain that.

____________

Pakistan, India to be full members of SCO -Dr. Abdul Ruff ______

The 2017 annual Summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) will be held on 7-8 June, in Astana, Kazakhstan. Beijing-headquartered SCO, which focuses mostly on

security-related issues such as counter-terrorism cooperation in Central Asia, is comprised of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan as full members.

Afghanistan, Belarus, India, Iran, Mongolia and Pakistan have “observer” status. Its 2015 summit in Ufa in Russia had formally adopted a resolution which started the procedures to admit India and Pakistan into the security grouping.

Pakistan is set to become a full member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in its upcoming session in Astana, Kazakhstan which starts June 8. In a statement released to the media, the Foreign Office (FO) has stated that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will

participate in the 17th meeting of the Heads of State Council (HoSC) of the SCO on June 89 in Kazakhstan. While there, the PM will hold bilateral meetings with other leaders on the

204

sidelines of the summit. PM Sharif will also attend the inauguration ceremony of the International Expo 2017, which will host 100 participating countries, including Pakistan.

India as South Asia’s largest economy is also set to be included in the SCO in the upcoming Summit in Astana. In becoming full members of the SCO, Pakistan and India will join the ranks of current members Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.

Pakistan, which has been an observer at the SCO since 2005, applied for a permanent membership in 2010. According to the FO spokesperson, "The decision, in principle, to

give membership to Pakistan was taken by the SCO Heads of States in a meeting held in Ufa, Russia, in 2015". In the press release, the FO stated that Pakistan had been actively

participating in the organization's activities as an observer and that it fully subscribes to the "Shanghai Spirit".

The statement further added that Pakistan shares "historical and cultural links, as well as strong economic and strategic complementarities" with members of the SCO. It stated that the SCO will help Pakistan advance its interests regional peace, stability and development and its support for regional cooperation against terrorism and extremism.

The annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization which took place in Tashkent on Jun 30, 2016, celebrated the 15-year history of this organization. The six SCO member states – Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan –

evaluated the successes that this organization has achieved in the past decade and a half, and determined the future format of its work.

The summit in 2017 will have more two participants, for a total of eight, after India and Pakistan officially join the organization. In Tashkent, these two countries signed a

memorandum of commitment to the SCO – the last documents before becoming full-

fledged members. At the summit, he warned the countries from engaging in confrontations with each other, and encouraged maintaining the non-aligned status of the organization.

The talks were difficult, but in the end, SCO managed to overcome all difficulties and

agreed on granting membership to the new countries. However, the compromise does not mean that the existing contradictions between New Delhi and Islamabad would not be transferred to the SCO platform.

Central Asian countries, which had declared their region a nuclear-free zone, will have a

difficult time balancing inside such a composition. It is clear that the expansion of the SCO

205

will now move regional problems into the background. The majority of SCO member states (with the exceptions of China and Uzbekistan), are also part of the Collective Security

Treaty Organization (CSTO), where collective efforts are being undertaken to try and solve regional security problems. Russia is trying to win over Central Asian members to its side, just as China is trying to do.

Now enjoying such status in the SCO are Afghanistan, Iran and Mongolia. The greatest chances of joining are given to Iran, whose interests in the organization are actively being promoted by Russia. Tashkent was especially cautious when it came to the idea of

membership for Afghanistan, a country where the main security threats and risks in Central Asia originate.

Two years after the summit in Ufa, the Central Asian countries that had previously doubted the wisdom of expanding the SCO with two other South Asian countries that are in

constant conflict with each other, seemed to have come around to the idea. The president of Uzbekistan, Islam Karimov, who criticized the expansion of the SCO with two unofficial nuclear powers, seemed more restrained this year.

For the first 15 years, the SCO has primarily focused on economic and security issues.

Going forward, the work of the SCO will continue in an expanded format. India and

Pakistan will become full members of the SCO now , a move that was finally decided at the Tashkent Summit. In the summit’s final declaration, dedicated to the 15th anniversary of

the organization, the participating countries agreed to assist each other during economic crises, and to continue in their joint efforts in fighting extremism.

Economic development issues were also paramount on the agenda of the Astana Summit.

SCO leaders have complained that very often, uneven economic development is leading to the slow implementation of joint projects, particularly in trade and construction of

transport infrastructure spheres. In connection with this, the countries have pledged to help each other in times of economic crisis. To accelerate the construction of regional

transport infrastructure, Putin suggested that SCO countries that are not members of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) join the Russian-Chinese cooperation projects involving

the EAEU and the Silk Road Economic Belt. “Connecting all SCO member states, as well as CIS countries, to these integration processes, would be a prelude to the formation of a large Eurasian Partnership,” said Putin. However, the experts do not think much of the

206

potential for economic cooperation within the SCO framework. Uzbekistan said that Tashkent has always looked at the SCO platform as a means for establishing bilateral cooperation on security issues, rather than economic ones.

At the SCO summit in Tashkent, they also signed an Action Plan for the implementation of Development Strategies for the SCO until 2025, where participating countries have

identified their directions of development in the coming years. These followed the outlines of the development strategies for the SCO that the participating countries adopted at last summit in Ufa.

China hoped the admission of India and Pakistan into the Beijing-led Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) security grouping will contribute to security and stability in the region.

“Both India and Pakistan are China’s important neighbours and important countries in

South Asia. China hopes that India and Pakistan can enhance mutual trust and improve relations through more dialogues. This is conducive to not only the two countries themselves, but also to regional prosperity and development.”

With nuclear India and Pakistan’s membership, the SCO will include countries

encompassing over 40% of the world’s population. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) will continue dealing mainly with security and economic issues, although there are doubts about how effective it will be once India and Pakistan join in 2017.

Trump’s visit and split in divided Islamic world!

-Dr. Abdul Ruff ______

The fallout of the very first official trip to Mideast by the US president Trump is disastrous for Arab nations as Saudi Arabia, emboldened by Trumps’ meeting with its king Salman in Riyadh , has, along with fellow Arab nations, kicked Qatar from their powerful club.

Islamic world, already badly and hopelessly divided as per the designs of antiIslamic world is further split now with Arab nation Qatar being cut off by other Arab 207

nations. This has become a big victory for all global anti-Islamic forces led by USAUK terror twins within NATO. Interestingly, the attacks on Muslims and Muslim world as part of anti-Islamism drive following the Sept-11 hoax enacted with perfection could help Muslims and Islamic world to comprehend the danger to religion and their own existence in the world dominated by enemies of Islam.

Success of anti-Islamic world and their fanatic media is that the Arab world, instead of uniting firmly against the threat to them and Islam, has begun a serious quarrel among themselves, presenting an apologetic disposition to the world. News has it that Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain have severed their ties with Qatar on June 05, accusing it of supporting "terrorism� and opening up the worst rift in years among some of the most powerful states in the Arab world.

Gulf Arab states and Egypt have already long resented Qatar's support for Islamists, especially the Muslim Brotherhood which they regard as a dangerous political enemy. The coordinated move, with Yemen and Libya's eastern-based government joining in later, created a dramatic rift among the Arab nations, many of which are in OPEC. Announcing the closure of transport ties with Qatar, the three Gulf states gave Qatari visitors and residents two weeks to leave. Qatar was also expelled from the Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen.

Oil giant Saudi Arabia accused Qatar of backing militant groups -- some backed by regional arch-rival Iran -- and broadcasting their ideology, an apparent reference to Qatar's influential state-owned satellite channel al Jazeera. "(Qatar) embraces multiple terrorist and sectarian groups aimed at disturbing stability in the region, including the Muslim Brotherhood, ISIS (Islamic State) and al-Qaeda, and promotes the message and schemes of these groups through their media constantly," Saudi state news agency SPA said.

It accused Qatar of supporting what it described as Iranian-backed militants in its restive and largely Shi'ite Muslim-populated Eastern region of Qatif and in Bahrain.

Qatar said it was facing a campaign aimed at weakening it, denying it was interfering in the affairs of other countries. "The campaign of incitement is based on lies that had reached the level of complete fabrications," the Qatari foreign ministry said in a statement.

Iran saw America pulling the strings. "What is happening is the preliminary result of the sword dance," Hamid Aboutalebi, deputy chief of staff of Iran's President Hassan Rouhani, tweeted in a reference to Trump's recent visit to Saudi Arabia.

208

Iran -- long at odds with Saudi Arabia and a behind-the-scenes target of the move -- immediately blamed U.S. President Donald Trump for setting the stage during his recent trip to Riyadh.

President Trump and other US officials participated in a traditional sword dance during the trip in which he called on Muslim countries to stand united against Islamist extremists and singled out Iran as a key source of funding and support for militant groups.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson told reporters in Sydney that the spat would not affect the fight against Islamist militants and that Washington has encouraged its Gulf allies to resolve their differences.

A split between Doha and its closest allies can have repercussions around the Middle East, where Gulf States have used their financial and political power to influence events in Libya, Egypt, Syria, Iraq and Yemen. The economic fallout loomed immediately, as Abu Dhabi's state-owned Ethihad Airways, Dubai's Emirates Airline and budget carrier Flydubai said they would suspend all flights to and from Doha from Tuesday morning until further notice.

Qatar Airways said on its official website it had suspended all flights to Saudi Arabia. Qatar's stock market index sank 7.5 percent with some of the market's top blue chips hardest hit. The measures are more severe than during a previous eightmonth rift in 2014, when Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the UAE withdrew their ambassadors from Doha, again alleging Qatari support for militant groups. At that time, travel links were maintained and Qataris were not expelled.

The diplomatic broadside threatens the international prestige of Qatar, which hosts a large U.S. military base and is set to host the 2022 World Cup. It has for years presented itself as a mediator and power broker for the region's many disputes.

Kristian Ulrichsen, a Gulf expert at the US-based Baker Institute, said if Qatar's land borders and air space were closed for any length of time "it would wreak havoc on the timeline and delivery" of the World Cup. "It seems that the Saudis and Emiratis feel emboldened by the alignment of their regional interests - toward Iran and Islamism - with the Trump administration," Ulrichsen said. "(They) have decided to deal with Qatar's alternative approach on the assumption that they will have the (Trump) administration's backing."

Qatar used its media and political clout to support long-repressed Islamists during the 2011 pro-democracy "Arab Spring" uprisings in several Arab countries. Muslim Brotherhood groups allied to Doha are now mostly on the back foot in the region, especially after a 2013 military takeover in Egypt ousted the elected Islamist president. The former army chief and now president, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, along with the new government's allies in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, blacklist the Brotherhood as a terrorist organization.

209

Egypt, the Arab world's most populous nation, said on its state news agency that Qatar's policy "threatens Arab national security and sows the seeds of strife and division within Arab societies according to a deliberate plan aimed at the unity and interests of the Arab nation."

Oil prices rose after the moves against Qatar, which is the biggest supplier of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and a major seller of condensate - a low-density liquid fuel and refining product derived from natural gas.

Do the Arab rulers think the western world would appreciate their gestures in their favor and cooperate with them fight anti-Islamism and Islamophobia percolated into world polity infrastructure?

Instead of wasting their resources on buying more and more terror goods at a very high cost from Western nations, the Arab nektons would do better by helping the poor Muslims globally and poor Muslims nations.

That would take the Arab world and Islam to greater heights. The enemies of Islam would think of quitting their anti-Islamic tirades.

Western world wants resources of energy rich Arab nations and money from other Muslim nations as service charges.

The split in Arab world is just the begin of the trouble in store for them and what is going to follow from here could be even worse. __________

Indian strategy to defame freedom struggle in Kashmir!

(A Sovereign Kashmir: Random Thoughts-304) Dr. Abdul Ruff

_____

210

Of course colonial powers follow similar patterns of repressive techniques and India is no different from UK and Zionist Israel. All these are nuclear powers with huge arsenals of terror goods in their depots.

Interestingly, UN has no serious objections.

The months’ long non-stop demonstrations in Kashmir as part of Kashmir freedom struggle to secure sovereignty from a military India has obviously annoyed New Delhi and Indian PM abroad could not enjoy his free foreign trips along with corporate media lords and India's pampered multinationals as he has to present a sorry face in front of foreign dignitaries unable hide the shame of telling lies to the world that "everything is normal" in Kashmir.

So, New Delhi has extended to Kashmir the “raids" in India mainland to track blackgrey money as well as anti-corruption operations. The federal government's National Investigation Agency (NIA) has "claimed" to have seized currency of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), besides “other "incriminating material” in raids at six locations in Jammu and Kashmir and at one location in Gurgaon on June 05. The NIA team which is in Srinagar to investigate charges of illegal funding to pro-freedom groups raided seven more locations in J&K and Gurgaon. “In continuation of yesterday’s searches at multiple locations in Kashmir, Delhi and Haryana, the NIA took up fresh searches today at seven more locations belonging to secessionist and separatist elements and traders suspected of Hawala activities and terror funding in JK. Searches were conducted in Srinagar, Jammu and Gurgaon,” the NIA spokesman said. He said that during the searches, “Pakistani currency (a few thousand) and currencies belonging to the UAE and Saudi Arabia have been found and seized, apart from other “incriminating material including correspondence with jailed troublemakers, suspicious transactions and mobile phones. in Jammu the NIA team raided businessman Kamal Agarwal’s house and warehouse in Jammu city. Agarwal is the proprietor of GM Trading Corporation and deals in spices and dry-fruits. In Kashmir, the NIA raided the residence of Hurriyat (G) spokesperson Ayaz Akbar at Maloora. The NIA also raided the Srinagar office of the Syed Ali Geelani-led Tehreek-i-Hurriyat. The house of a trader, Farooq Ahmad Boga, in Parimpora area of Srinagar was raided by the NIA team. Farooq has a shop at the Parimpora fruit mandi.

The NIA had raided the houses of many pro-freedom activists and businessmen, including Nayeem Khan, Farooq Dar, Altaf Shah alias Altaf Fantosh, Raja Mairaj, Zafar Akbar, Zahoor Watali, Shahid ul Islam, Noor Kalwal, Raja Zahoor Khan, Muhammad Sultan Tangnuu, Nazir Ahmad Mir alias Nazir Gas, Farooq Ahmad Wani, Muhammad Sultan Chandu, Dr Bashir Ahmad Bhat Tariq Ahmad Khan, ex-President of the LOC Traders Association and Kamal@ Bittu of Jammu. During Saturday’s raids at 22 locations in Srinagar, Delhi and Haryana, cash of over Rs 1.15 crore.

211

Foreign currencies are available in every nation, including India where people trade in them. If NIA takes some pains to raid every locality in India it would find huge sums that would possibly outsmart the amount of Indian black money kept in foreign countries which the Modi government is supposed to bring back to India and distribute to every citizen. The BJP government has cheated the people and betrayed the voters as it has not done anything of that sort. Only PM Modi and big airbus team keep visiting foreign countries incurring huge expenditure money for India.

People of India pay for all that!

The leaders of Kashmir freedom movement have criticized the raids as a ploy to defame their long struggle for sovereignty from Indian military arrogance and Indian constitution. The Joint resistance leadership on Sunday said the policy of witch-hunt launched by Indian state against resistance leadership and businessmen of the Valley is meant to defame and weaken the people’s political struggle and crush Kashmir’s economy.

In a statement, senior freedom leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik, said these dirty ploys would neither demoralise the people from their faith in their political struggle and their leadership nor will it help shift focus from the actual issue on the ground and the unprecedented atrocities committed against Kashmiri people. “What such baseness exposes is the antiKashmir and anti-Muslim mindset of the ruling class both in India and in Kashmir, who are seeking revenge from people both at a political and economic level,” they said.

Meanwhile, the joint resistance leadership and business community would discuss the situation against the backdrop of NIA raids during a meeting today at Geelani’s residence-cum-office. Later, the leadership would address a presser.

India does everything possible in Kashmir to crush the freedom of Kashmiris and their movement for sovereignty. Earlier, authorities in Indian controlled Kashmir announced a one-month ban on 22 social media services, including Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp. The state government claimed the services were being misused by "anti-government elements" to incite violence to withstand and oppose the occupational crimes. It said "objectionable content" was being distributed to "spread disaffection" with the authorities. The JK state government order said social media networking sites were being used by "anti-national and subversive elements" to harm peace in the state.

The reports on life without social media in the valley are simply annoying to any human who knows the value of internet. Srinagar-based photojournalist Javed Dar says that the ban on social media has left him "disconnected from people" and has also hampered his work. Dar says he had to invite friends and colleagues to a book 212

release event, but didn't have contact numbers for all. "Normally, I would have invited many through Facebook and Twitter. The ban on social media has made this impossible," he said.

The internet is often suspended or restricted in Kashmir to quell civilian protests and anti-India demonstrations, which sometimes turn violent. According to a report by the Software Freedom Law Centre, the internet has been blocked in Kashmir at least 31 times between 2012 and 2016. However, this is for the first time that the authorities have placed a complete ban on social networking sites. 'Subversive elements'

Other social media services, communications tools and websites banned under the order include YouTube, Skype, Telegram, Snapchat and Reddit. Also, the faster 3G and 4G mobile phone services have been slower and erratic for more than a week.

Dr Qazi Haroon, a government doctor, says many health awareness campaigns which his department was running on social media have taken a hit. "Now we have no other medium to promote awareness programmes related to immunization, mother and child care, neonatal care," he told the BBC. Advocacy groups like India's Centre for Internet and Society have described the ban a "blow to freedom of speech" and "legally unprecedented in India". And the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has asked India to revoke the ban. "The sweeping censorship of social media under the pretext of 'maintaining peace and order' will bring neither peace nor order," media reports quoting Steven Butler of CPJ said.

Obviously, India just follows the policy of its former colonial masters from Britain ruling India for centuries in order to crush freedom movement. The NIA raids are a part of that objective.

Not only UK sympathies with Indian crimes in Kashmir, it also guides all Indian terror operations in Kashmir.

Meanwhile, as we read this, Indian authorities have placed Hurriyat Conference (M) chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq under house arrest, sources said. Mirwaiz was to attend the joint resistance meeting at Hurriyat (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani’s residence later in the day. The resistance leaders were scheduled to address a press conference after the meeting. “But the anti Kashmiri state resorted to its usual tactic of curbing the leadership through force,� a Hurriyat (M) spokesman said in a statement.

How long can India continue to curb freedoms to citizens of Kashmir and arrest the Kashmiri Muslims, denying their right to live with dignity as free citizens as Americans and others in Europe do?

213

Don’t Kashmiri Muslims Deserve? to live in peace and lead a life much better on their own without any instructions from New Delhi or Indian military bosses?

Israel treats Palestinians as slaves or prisoners!

-Dr. Abdul Ruff ______

US President Donald Trump's Middle East tour generated a lot of enthusiasm, cynicism as well. in the global media about the prospects for peace and justice in the region in terms of resolving the worst, explosive regional crisis and human disaster in Palestine, occupied by Israel that keeps killing Palestinians possibly to take revenge on Europeans for their holocaust of Jews.

Trump’s first stop was in Saudi Arabia, where he signed a weapons deal worth $109.7 billion, the largest in history. This princely sum is expected to mushroom to $380 billion within 10 years.

By resetting America's relations with key regional players, Trump has done what seemed unthinkable even a few months ago, promoting a message of openness, tolerance and respect of Islam and the Muslim world. Gone is the Islamophobic election rhetoric, replaced by a more sober and responsible approach. After Saudi Arabia, Trump skipped other Arab states and quickly went to Israel. The public statements by both the US President and the Israeli PM indicating that the president’s “strong position on Iran” whether advances the prospects for peace in the region or not, it cements the Israeli-US terror links against Palestine and Arab world and Iran.

Donald Trump's visited Israel and the West Bank May 22-23, and that generated a lot of the euphoria globally as world expected him to remove the obstacles for peace talks and find a credible solution to end occupation of Palestine by Israel. Before going to Palestine, Israel first went to Israel and met Its hawkish PM Netanyahu and got instructions from him as to how to deal with Palestine. Netanyahu showed some video clips, maybe manufactured in Washington, to show the Abbas is not for peace and he is an inciter. Netanyahu told trump that well dressed Israeli leaders are innocent and hammerless. Unlike Indian leaders, Jewish leaders don’t even look innocent or harmless. Terrorism and fanaticism are their language and religion. Zionist leaders are liars.

214

Trump in Palestine with Zionist script Trump arrived in Bethlehem already charged up after a meeting with ultra fanatic Israeli PM Netanyahu, who had presented material to Trump allegedly proving that the Palestinian Authority (PA) continued to be involved in incitement against Israel and also continues to pay large sums of money to Palestinians, including terrorists, imprisoned in Israel.

The Palestinians claimed that the clip shown to the president by the Israelis had been edited and taken out of context. The next day, the Palestinians sent the Americans the entire video of Abbas’ speech. According to this version of events, the unedited video proved, from the Palestinians' perspective that Abbas did not touch on incitement or say that he is an inciter.

According to the Palestinians, Abbas’ words were taken out of context through biased editing of the film. At this point, senior Fatah official Saeb Erekat intervened and told Trump that Netanyahu is the provocateur that the prime minister never stops inciting against Abbas in order to torpedo any chances for advancing negotiations.

The forty day hunger strike by Palestinian prisoners, spearheaded by Marwan Barghouti was in the background as the meeting between Trump and Abbas took place. On May 27th, the hunger strike has finally been suspended following talks involving the International Committee for the Red Cross and the Palestinian Authority concluding in a deal with Israel. The more than 1000 prisoners were attempting to raise concerns about the poor treatment of prisoners in Israeli jails. These included the practices of administrative detention allowing detentions on ‘secret evidence’, excessive use of solitary confinement, and the severe restriction of family visits.

The prisoners’ strike is an important step in history of the prisoners’ movement towards full respect of the rights of Palestinian prisoners under international law. It is also an indication of the reality of the Israeli occupation, which has left no option to Palestinian prisoners but to starve themselves to achieve basic rights they are entitled to under international law.

Trumps arrival with Israeli script caused uneasiness in Palestine. Bethlehem was not the only place where tensions rose. It has now emerged that harsh words were also uttered in the conversation between Netanyahu and Trump. Evidently the American president continued to subject the prime minister to steamroller pressure on the concessions that Israel will have to make and the need to quickly renew negotiations with the Palestinians. Netanyahu, when he appeared before the Likud faction in the Knesset on May 29 after Trump left, hinted at this. He told the Likud members, many of whom oppose negotiations, that Israel does not have a “blank check” with Trump in the diplomatic realm. One is not sure if now Israel also needs to pay huge sums for US help and support for promoting Zionist brutal expansionism and crimes against humanity in Palestine. Generally USA does all free of cost and even misuse sits UN veto to shield

215

all Zionist crimes in Palestine. Not only that. USA supplies terror goods to Israel on a regular basis, besides huge annual aid.

A section of media reported that the conversation between Trump and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas that took place in Bethlehem was harsh. The president even burst out shouting at the “prisoner with Palestinian leader- an international passport- claiming that Abbas had “deceived” him with statements about his commitment to peace at an earlier meeting between the two men in the White House. Netanyahu helped Trump to remember that incident. .

So childish and silly!

Anti-Arab US media Trump deviated from its anti-Muslim rhetoric as he landed Saudi Arabia and later he spoke of friendly bonds between Arabs and Americans. Then he went to Israel to get charged with Zionist hate stuff before going to Palestine.

Trump has, indeed, fully embraced a ‘Zionist narrative’, and a rightwing version of it, for example, he made no reference to a Palestinian state. He said he would never forget Jews occupying Palestine. America does not find the hypocrisy of the whole endeavor.

Trump’s speech at the Israeli Museum was so friendly and considerate of Israeli emotions,” reported the New Your Times, “that one right-wing Israeli legislator described it as deeply expressive of the ‘Zionist narrative.’ Former US ambassador to Israel, Dan Shapiro, trying to decipher the supposedly complicated persona of Trump said: “Either Trump’s visit was substance-free — or he ‘is being uncharacteristically subtle’ in planting the seeds for new round of peace negotiations.” The so-called ‘Liberal’ US media, which has stooped to many lows in its attacks on Trump – including his family, his mannerism, his choice of words, even mere body language – became much more sober and quite respectful in the way they attempted to analyze his short trip to Israel, and the very brief detour to Bethlehem, where he met with Palestinian Authority leader, Mahmoud Abbas.

From an American mainstream media perspective, to be judged “presidential” enough, all US presidents would have to commit to three main policies. They are, in no particular order: privileging the economic business elites, war at will and unconditionally supporting Israel. They have now rallied behind him on two separate occasions: when he randomly bombed Syria to

216

showcase US military prowess and during his visit to Israel to promote Zionist criminal regime in West Asia to counter Arab nations.

As if he has, overnight, been transformed into a master politician, Donald Trump’s 27-hour trip to Israel has left many US-Zionist analysts mystified. The New York Times referred to Trump as the ‘Liberace of world leaders”.

Apparently, Trump was expected to make his first ever foreign trip to Israel but he just included Saudi Arabia and Palestine. Trump has promised to make a historic deal possible. He will soon be tested and we will see if the US can finally assume a high moral ground and facilitate an honorable deal that ends the occupation and gives Palestinians their freedom, or will it bend under Israeli pressure and claim indifference, thereby leaving the root cause of extremism and instability in this region to fester?

On the day Trump, along with rightwing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, lectured Palestinians on peace, a 17-year-old Tuqua Hammad was shot for allegedly throwing stones at Israeli military vehicles at the entrance of her village of Silwad, near Ramallah. Tuqua “was shot in the lower extremities and Israeli troops prevented a Palestinian ambulance from accessing the victim to treat her. Merely a few miles away, Trump was writing his remarks after visiting Israel’s Holocaust Museum. Regrettably, he failed to meet the expectations of the humanity against whom Zionism commits crimes. The irony of the whole story is inescapable; but American media seems to follow a script, in which Palestinian rights, dignity and freedom are hardly ever mentioned.

Palestinian emotions, however, were of no consequence, neither to the Trump entourage, nor, of course, to the New York Times or others in mainstream media. US media, as a part of their understanding of democracy, still glorify the Israeli Occupation and Israel’s mistreatment of Palestinians.

Can Trump really mean what he says?

Trump must put together the Palestine pieces to make peace Indeed, wherever occupied Palestinians look, they find “man’s potential for great evil”: a 400mile Israeli Wall being mostly built over their land; hundreds of military checkpoints dotting

217

their landscape; a suffocating military occupation, controlling every aspect of their lives. They see the holiest of their cities, Bethlehem and Al-Quds – Occupied East Jerusalem – subdued by a massive military force; thousands of their leaders thrown into prison, many without charge or trial. They see siege; an endless war; daily deaths and senseless destruction. But since none of this matters to the ‘Zionist narrative’, it subsequently matters so very little to mainstream American media, as well.

Jews were allowed and guided by USA, UK and allies to create Israel in Palestine by forcefully removing or killing the Palestinians after the WWII and during the peak of Cold war. Since then Jews strengthened Israel with help from USA and allies and weakened Palestine, confiscating their lands and killing the people in a sustained manner. Palestinians are now reduced to prisoner and slaves. According to official Israeli security data, between 750,000 and 800,000 Palestinians have been arrested and imprisoned by Israel since 1967, when Israel seized and occupied Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem. This is an incredible number, equivalent to a third of the population of Israel. “You don’t understand,” a high-placed Palestinian said: around a third of our people are familiar with the inside of your prisons. Almost a million human beings have rubbed shoulders with Israeli prison guards over the last 50 years. There is hardly a Palestinian household without a shahid (who sacrifices his life for the cause of Palestine or prisoner). This is engrained deeply in our genes. No leader has been born that can change this fact.” The Palestinian people see these prisoners as those who sacrificed and took part in the war against the occupation.

In order to restart negotiations in a way that has any chance of making progress, Trump’s people will have to square the circle. They will have to mediate between two nations that speak different languages and hold completely different value systems, and more importantly, having different statuses- Israel the brutal occupier and Palestinians the occupied sufferers. Israel has strong military equipment, US terror goods, and nukes gifted by USA to threaten and attack Palestinians but Palestine has almost nothing.

The Palestinians incarcerated in Israel are viewed by the Israeli majority as despicable murderers who did not hesitate to slaughter innocent women and children. Nowadays, Israeli military targets youth and children just like India is doing in occupied Kashmir. The Palestinians, by contrast, view them as freedom fighters and assign them an almost holy status.

What is needed to somehow resolve this complex situation is a “responsible adult,” someone who will seize the authority to tell the two sides something along these lines: Fate has brought the Palestinian nation and the Israeli nation to the same plot of land. The Palestinians will not change, and evidently the Israelis won’t either. All the useless arguments must be pushed aside and focus must be placed on the core issue — courageous negotiations must be held on the core issues (borders, Jerusalem, refugees). The prisoner problem should only be addressed

218

afterward. Any other mode of action will only perpetuate the bloody conflict that embitters everyone’s lives.

Is Trump the responsible adult who can conduct the mission? Many people might find the label “responsible adult” somewhat amusing when applied to Trump. With regard to everything connected to the negotiations, however, the president has so far revealed acute understanding, vision and execution. His problem is that the sides themselves don’t really want to enter the negotiating room, despite statements to the contrary. Netanyahu is deathly afraid of negotiations, and Abbas knows that he will be obliged to make decisions that no Palestinian leader has made before him. It is doubtful that Trump could pull it off.

Arab rulers must invest in education and infrastructure, to instill democratic values and empower women, to listen to the youth and provide them with hope. But unless the common cause of the people of this region is settled justly, the Palestinian issue will continue to be the great interrupter.

Observation

For Trump, his maiden foreign trip was a resounding success. He has secured billions of dollars in deals for America's economy, fulfilling a key election promise to create jobs at home, and in return he has assured America's Arab allies that the USA is reclaiming its traditional role in this part of the world, both as defender and key partner. Trump, who has a Jewish son in law at home, cannot do that if he also seeks the Zionist counsel on his foreign policy.

Why does the superpower want Zionist advices on what he must or must not do.

Trump visited Israel much earlier in his office than Obama and other presidents.

The often-impulsive Trump this time stuck to the script – his own and Zionist- and followed his repeatedly rehearsed speech and media comments to the letter. Ironically, Trump has been often judged for lacking substance on numerous occasions in the past. There is no clear message from Trump about his Mideast trip.

219

Former US president Barack Obama promised to open a new chapter with the Arab and Muslim worlds in his famous Cairo speech in 2009. But he was unable to deliver. A good starting point would have been to address the historic injustice that has befallen the Palestinian people for almost a century. Obama tried and failed.

That the USA, calling itself a great democracy, calls the Palestinians victims as terrorists and Israeli criminal Jews as victims is a slap on US modernism and globalism.

The trillion dollar question is if unpredictable Trump can deliver on his promise of Mideast peace. Trump must be interested in a Nobel Peace Prize that had gone to his predecessor very easily and quickly.

Americans have made Israel a spoiled terror child that exploits the weakness of USA and other nations. Can Trump really make Israel behave like a normal nation by shedding its criminal mindset? Obama in his last part of White House enjoyment tried to reign in Zionist criminal regime but failed many because he was not sincere enough. He refused to cut the aid and regular supply of terror goods to Israel.

Can President Trump do that so that Israel becomes a normal state and understands the problems of the besieged Palestinians as occupied nation?

Daring North Korea fires Scud-class ballistic missile toward Japan!

-Dr. Abdul Ruff ________

For quite some time North Korea, threatened by USA, South Korea and Japan, has been testing new missile capabilities to equal similar capabilities of neighboring nations and USA.

On Monday the May 29 North Korea fired at least one short-range ballistic missile that landed in the sea off its east coast into Japan's maritime economic zone. It was the latest in a fastpaced series of missile tests defying world pressure and threats of more sanctions. The missile was believed to be a Scud-class ballistic missile and flew about USA considers it the latest in a series of provocative launches that have ratcheted up tensions over its nuclear weapons

220

ambitions. 450 km (280 miles), South Korean officials said. North Korea has a large stockpile of the short-range missiles, originally developed by the Soviet Union.

It was the third ballistic missile test-launch (and the 12th this yea) since South Korea's liberal President Moon Jae-in took office on May 10 pledging to engage with the reclusive neighbor in dialogue. Moon says sanctions alone have failed to resolve the growing threat from the North's advancing nuclear and missile program.

The test is the latest launch by Pyongyang this year as the isolated regime steps up efforts to develop an intercontinental ballistic missile that can deliver a nuclear warhead to the continental USA

North Korea, which has conducted dozens of missile tests and tested two nuclear bombs since the beginning of 2016 in defiance of UN Security Council resolutions, says the program is necessary to counter US aggression.

North Korea last test-fired a ballistic missile on May 21 off its east coast and said it had tested a new anti-aircraft weapon supervised by leader Kim Jong Un. The North Korean regime has hundreds of artillery cannons and rocket launchers within range of one of the most densely populated cities on Earth, which is the capital of South Korea. In the program "Face the Nation", he said in the event of war, they would bring danger to China and to Russia as well".

Modified versions of the Scud have a range of up to 1,000 km (620 miles). Monday's launch followed two successful tests of medium- to long-range missiles in as many weeks by the North, which has been conducting such tests at an unprecedented pace in an effort to develop an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) capable of hitting the mainland United States.

The launch comes in fresh defiance of tough talk from US President Donald Trump, who promised last week at the G7 summit that the "big problem" of North Korea "will be solved".

North Korea has tested Scud-type, short-range missiles many times in the past, most recently in April, according to US officials. However, experts say it may be trying to test new capabilities that may be fed into its efforts to build an ICBM. "There are many possibilities It could have been a test for a different type of engine. Or to verify the credibility of the main engine for ICBM's first stage rocket," said Kim Dong-yub, a military expert at Kyungnam University's Far Eastern Studies department in Seoul.

221

The missile launches, and Pyongyang's threat to stage its sixth nuclear test, have prompted calls for tougher UN sanctions and a warning from Trump that military intervention was an option under consideration. US military monitors said the short-range missile flew for six minutes, while Japan said it fell into the country's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) -- waters extending 200 nautical miles from its coast.

North Korea likely showing its determination to push ahead in the face of international pressure to rein in its missile program and "to pressure the (South Korean) government to change its policy on the North", South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff spokesman Roh Jae-cheon said. The missile reached an altitude of 120 km (75 miles), Roh said. "The assessment is there was at least one missile but we are analyzing the number of missiles," he said.

Japan lodged a protest against the test missile, which appeared to have landed in its exclusive economic zone. Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe swiftly condemned the test and vowed concerted action along with its US ally. "We will never tolerate North Korea's continued provocations that ignore repeated warnings by the international community," Abe told reporters. "As agreed during the G7 summit, the North Korean problem is the international community's top priority. In order to deter North Korea, we will take concrete action with the United States."

South Korea's Moon swiftly called a meeting of the National Security Council, South Korea's Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement. Seoul's new liberal administration has said Pyongyang's repeated test launches were dashing hopes for peace.

The White House said President Donald Trump had been briefed about the launch. The US Pacific Command said it tracked what appeared to be a short-range ballistic missile for six minutes and assessed it did not pose a threat to North America. The USA has said it was looking at discussing with China a new UN Security Council resolution and that Beijing, North Korea's main diplomatically and neighbor, realizes time was limited to rein in its weapons program through negotiations. US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, asked what a military conflict with North Korea might look like if diplomacy failed, warned it would be "probably the worst kind of fighting in most people's lifetimes".

China reiterated that UN Security Council resolutions had "clear rules" about North Korean missile activities and it urged Pyongyang not to contravene them. "The situation on the Korean

222

peninsula is complex and sensitive, and we hope all relevant sides maintain calm and exercise restraint, ease the tense situation as soon as possible and put the issue back onto the correct track of peaceful dialogue," China's foreign ministry said in a statement.

Russia condemned the launched and also called for restraint, "including towards military activity", from the partners it was working with, the RIA news agency quoted a deputy Russian foreign minister as saying.

The isolated but nuclear-armed North has test-fired a missile almost every week for the past three weeks. The latest, a short-range Scud, flew about 450 kilometres (280 miles) before landing in the Sea of Japan (East Sea) between the Korean peninsula and Japan, the US Pacific Command said. The test also marked the second time this year that a North Korean missile fell provocatively close to its neighbour Japan.

Despite US President Trump's strident warnings, Secretary of Defense James Mattis said in an interview that aired before the launch that a war with North Korea would be "catastrophic." "This regime is a threat to the region, to Japan, to South Korea. And in the event of war, they would bring danger to China and to Russia as well. But the bottom line is, it would be a catastrophic war if this turns into a combat, if we're not able to resolve this situation through diplomatic means."Mattis declined to say what kind of action from Pyongyang would constitute a "red line" for Washington, saying the administration needs "political manoeuvre room."

South Korea's new president, Moon Jae-In, ordered a meeting of the national Security Council to assess the launch, which came a day after North Korea, said its leader Kim Jong-Un had overseen a test of a new anti-aircraft weapons system. The South condemned the test as a "grave threat" and a challenge to the new leader who advocates dialogue with the North in a break from his conservative predecessors. "That the North repeated such provocations after the inauguration of our new leadership... is a direct challenge to our demand for peace and denuclearization of the Korean peninsula," the foreign ministry said.

Following North Korea's test-firing of what analysts said was its longest-range rocket yet earlier this month, the UN Security Council vowed to push all countries to tighten sanctions against Pyongyang. But China, the North's main trade partner and ally, has made it clear that the push for diplomatic talks -- and not imposing more sanctions -- is the priority. The USA has said it is willing to enter into talks with North Korea -- but only if it halts its missile and nuclear tests.

Meanwhile, the USA will test an existing missile defense system on Tuesday to try to intercept an ICBM, the first such test, officials said.

223

All said and done one thing is certain: there is no possibility of a missile war between North Korea and other competing powers or USA precisely because any war could be disastrous for the war torn nations as in the case of Afghanistan and Arab nations. USA takes all precautions to deny any chance to North Korea to start a war and hence it uses China towards that purpose. .

____ Israeli detention conditions and Palestinian prisoners!

-Dr. Abdul Ruff _______

Palestinians are treated like open floor prisoners by USA and its allies like USA. Even while peace has been elusive in Mideast as Israel continues to create obstacles to the establishment of Palestine, Israel arrests any Palestinian it thinks is working for a Palestine state. Israeli regime, military, judiciary, police and jail authorities jointly ill treat Palestinians outside and in the jails.

More than 1,000 Palestinians held in Israeli jails ended a mass hunger strike against detention conditions. Israeli officials said the move – at the start of the holy month of Ramadan – came after an agreement to allow two family visits per month, not just one. The action was led by Marwan Barghouti, a Palestinian leader jailed by Israel for life for “murders”. Barghouti has been touted as a possible future successor to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

There were about 7,000 Palestinians held in Israeli jails by the end of last year, according to Palestinian prisoners’ groups. Israel, like any colonist regime, meticulously plans its terror actions well advance and trap the Palestinians.

Americans are already in the Zionist pocket.

The issue of Palestinians held in Israeli jails is an ongoing source of tension between the two sides. Palestinians regard the detainees as political prisoners. Many have been convicted of attacks against Israelis and other 224

offences. Some 1,187 detainees observed the strike, according to Israel’s prison service. It began on 17 April, the annual Palestinian Prisoners Day, when Palestinians remember detained friends and relatives. Others are detained under so-called Administrative Detention, which allows suspects to be held without charge for six-month intervals.

Meanwhile, US President Trump and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas make an optimistic statement about prospects of peace between Israel and Palestinians when the former met the latter in Palestine, Bethlehem.

The White House booked the entire King David Hotel for the president and his entourage. The Israeli and Palestinian authorities cleared the main roads of Jerusalem and Bethlehem for the movements of his armed and mighty motorcade.

In recent times every American president also brings with him new hopes and fears for Israelis and Palestinians.

In 2009, when President Barack Obama was trying to re-set relations with Arabs and Muslims, he alienated Israelis and its leaders never forgave him.

His first act as president was to appoint a Middle East envoy whose peace mission, in the end, failed. Israel and Pentagon never let Obama make friends with Islamic world, especially with Arab world. That is the way USA pampered Israel and shielded it crimes against humanity and made it a criminal state, killing even children in Palestine.

IS presidents have been insincere about peace in Mideast as it promote essentially a fascist regime in Mideast called Israel. George W Bush sponsored a peace conference in Annapolis in 2007, which for a while was hailed, in vain, as a major step towards the establishment of an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel. Bill Clinton presided over the moment in 1993 at the White House when Yasser Arafat and Yitzhak Rabin exchanged a historic handshake and signed the Oslo peace agreement. At the end of his presidency in 2000, a make or break summit failed and was followed by years of violence and unrest.

It has been a routine rhetoric of peace in Mideast by US president when he takes power at White House but he purses only the Zionist policy and makes Israeli military and economy stronger while allowing Israeli military to attack Palestine with US terror goods and kill Palestinians for their lands for colony proliferations for illegal Jewish settlements.

Now President Trump, who sees himself as the world’s best dealmaker, says he would like to pull off the world’s toughest deal and make Mideast safe and let Palestinians build their own nation. After the first leg of his trip in Saudi 225

Arabia, President Trump seems to hope that Sunni Arab countries might be part of any solution between Israel and the Palestinians.

Without doubt the Saudis and the Israelis are talking, because they view Iran as their shared enemy. But the Saudis have had their own Arab peace plan on the table for the last 15 years, offering full peace and recognition of Israel in return for the establishment of a Palestinian state on the entire territory of the West Bank and Gaza with its capital in East Jerusalem.

In all the speeches President Trump made during the trip there was no detail about how he might succeed when so many others have failed. So signs and symbols and implicit messages are being pored over for meaning. Trump’s visit to the Western Wall in Jerusalem, is being taken by Jews as US support for Israel.The wall is in East Jerusalem, which Israel annexed after it was captured 50 years ago and which most of the world outside Israel regards as occupied land. But the fact that the US president declined the Israeli PM Netanyahu’s request to accompany him as a sign of support for the status quo view that it is occupied territory.

In his final speech, at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, President Trump also identified himself, his government and the USA four-square with Israel, making a mockery of his “desire” for Mideast peace. He repeated, to lots of applause, that he would never let Iran have nuclear weapons. Israel has a substantial and officially undeclared nuclear arsenal. That is US doublespeak which Trump has inherited.

Trying to thrown Trump into his basket, Netanyahu said that if the bomber in Manchester was Palestinian, and his victims were Israelis, the Palestinian Authority would be paying a stipend to his family. He was referring to a Palestinian Martyrs’ fund. It pays pensions to people it regards as victims of the occupation, including the families of individuals who have been killed attacking Israelis. There is also a fund to support Palestinians who have been imprisoned by Israel. The Palestinians have compared the payments to the salaries Israel pays to soldiers.

President Trump, in his speech, did not pick up the cue.

After making many warm remarks about Israel, which earned him standing ovations, Trump, however, said that the Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, was serious about making peace.

Israel hates peace efforts by Abbas and would do so with Trump as well if he goes ahead with UN efforts for Palestine state. That is an important disagreement. Israel is far apart on the main issues, like the future of east Jerusalem, the borders of a Palestinian state and the fate of Palestinian 226

refugees. If President Trump’s hopes ever become negotiations about substance he will find that there are many others.

Trump is right on one point. Israel-Palestine is a conflict that badly needs settling. If that is not possible, there needs to be political progress.

History shows that bloodshed tends to fill the void left by the absence of hope. Israel now targets the Palestinians children and women for attacks.

Is Trump sincere enough? Will he use his Jewish son in law for a credible Mideast peace or will he be used by his son in law to further consolidate the Zionist criminal system of perpetual expansionism and genocides?

That is the trillion dollar question! ____________

Sri Lanka’s denial of mass crimes: UNSC must initiate punitive measures!

-Dr. Abdul Ruff _____

The truth remains that all terrorisms are the creation of the states that behave irrationally and attack minorities on the strength of their majority and military power. Israel invented terrorism and USA used it a perfect tool to advance its imperialist goals. USA and Israel jointly launched many Islamic terrorist organizations by giving them suitable Arabic and English names to confuse and terrorize the humanity, invade energy rich Arab nations and to defame Islam as a terrorist religion. They have jointly destabilized Arab world after looting their resources, murdering them in millions.

Sri Lanka is one of those weak nations that terrorized the minority community with military force and also claim to be innocent and victims. They almost succeeded in committing a holocaust of Tamils in their nation. They don’t bother about international legal system or punishment for their state crimes.

Sri Lanka first used the Tamils as their servants and Tamils obliged them. Sri Lanka refused to

227

give them human status even after several decades of residency and denied many basis rights to them.

Tamils protested. The LTTE came much later to serve their causes. Tamils got several rights.

The majority Singhalese were annoyed about giving any status of to Tamils from Southern India who had come to the island nation to work for them and strengthen their economy. It was during the British era. Then Singhalese community began hating Tamils for sharing their jobs in government.

In the face of credible allegations that his forces had slaughtered tens of thousands of Tamil civilians, the claim was jaw-droopingly brazen. Yet, as the evidence mounted, the Rajapaksa government and its representatives continued to dispute not only its culpability, but also the very fact of mass civilian death.

The Sirisena regime promised action against Rajapaksha and the military bosses for their collective crimes against Tamils and proposed reconciliation with Tamils but he did not begin that effort. He asked Indian government to save the Tamils with economic assistance. .

Hatred for Tamils in Sri Lanka has grown too much that now it attacks the Tamil fishermen who traditionally fish for their supporting their livelihood, loot their boats, arrest them and put them in jails, expecting Indian government to plead and (even beg) with Sirisena to do the “favor” of releasing the Indians and returning their belongings. Indian government did all this because of the pressure from Tamil nadu government.

Sri Lankan regime feels happy and even proud of its “strategic” advantages over India and wants the USA to co-opt Colombo as a “reliable” strategic partner.

Tamil Nadu and Ceylon were historically not separated as they are now. Even in 1970s before the start of Civil war and consequent loss of freedom in Sri Lanka, fishermen communities from either side frequently visited each other’s places. It is told that people from Lanka would take a boat and come to present day Nagapattinam District, watch a movie in talkies and will get back same day. Then fishermen did not have any problem with fishing boundaries since all the problem areas are traditional fishing grounds. The present problem had its origin in formation of India and Sri Lanka as two sovereign countries. Now fishermen from both sides had to follow boundaries. The problem was compounded by Katchatheevu island settlement in 1974(this

228

agreement is not constitutionally valid since it is not ratified by parliament). Fishermen from Indian side lost additional areas due to loss of Katchatheevu.

India-Sri Lanka fishing issue. Relation between two countries comes under pressure due to fishermen straying into each other's waters. Every month dozens of fishermen from each country get arrested for illegal poaching. The fishing controversy is due to the unclear demarcation over the Palk Strait, a narrow strip of sea between the two countries. As for Sri Lankan fishermen, they do not know where Sri Lankan waters end and the Indian waters begin.

They also lack GPS in boats.

The Palk Strait is a strip of ocean that separates Tamil Nadu in India from the Mannar district in Sri Lanka. Its width is between 53 and 80 km, the narrow division between the two countries has resulted in confusion over who holds ownership over the waters. In the case of the Palk Strait, both Sri Lanka's and India's EEZ overlap each other. This has now resulted in the conflict that has arisen between the two nation's fishing communities.

Both Indian and Sri Lankan prefer to go towards the Katchatheevu Island area in the strait, where fish reserves are said to be abundant due to presence of deep waters and the rocky formation. For Sri Lankan fishermen it is within their maritime boundary. Sri Lanka doesn't agree with Indian Fisherman's practice of doing bottom trawling which not only captures fishes but also disturbs their habitat. This leads to less fishes coming to those areas because of lack of nutrients. Bottom trawling is banned in many countries

The issue of fishermen came to the fore only with emergence of violent ethnic conflict between the Tamil militants and the Sri Lankan government in the mid 1980s. Increased vigilance by the Sri Lankan Navy to check intermittent flow of Tamil refugees into India and flow of arms and supplies to Tamil militant groups made fishing difficult and risky.

World powers, especially those that claim that democracy and rule of law are central to global governance, have not taken the mass murder of minority Tamils by Sri Lankan regime under President Rajapaksha to be a serious crime. They seem to suggest that all state crimes are a part of democracy and rule of law and hence they are lawful and no need to punish the rulers for their crimes against humanity.

Then President Mahinda Rajapaksa defends Sri Lanka’s military offensive against the Liberation

229

Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the mass murder of the Tamils because he does not distinguish between Tamil community and LTTE. What exactly he and his military had tried was a holocaust of Tamil community on the Island land. Although Rajapaksha could achieve full holocaust, he succeeded in perpetrating genocides of Tamils and terrorizing them to leave the Sri Lanka.

Not only Rajapaksha but even Sirisena who defeated him in the poll to become the President seems to support the military crimes against humanity. Yes, not only Sri Lankan leaders even the USA also seems to support the crimes of Sri Lanka against minority community. .

Lankan regime justified the genocides of Tamils in Lanka as war terror and hence very much humane act as it had to fight the LTTE. Much has been made of the example set by Sri Lanka’s ruthless strategy as an alternative to “hearts and minds” counterinsurgency efforts.

Governments battling stubborn militant movements continue to seek advice from Colombo on employing the “Rajapaksa model.” But the successful elimination of the LTTE in 2009 wasn’t the only unexpected feat Sri Lanka accomplished. Sri Lanka managed to preempt international action long enough to conclude its brutal campaign, despite state-perpetrated civilian casualties on a massive scale.

Sirisena’s reaction to accusations of war crimes is very cool as if nothing bad had happened in his country when he was a loyal minister in Rajapaksha government. Although Sirisena has not rejected all allegations of atrocities as pure imagination of the world, he has refused legal action against Rajapaksha. There plays the Sinhala politics where all Singhalese leaders have ganged up to defend both Rajapaksha and Lankan from punishment for their heinous crimes.

The Sirisena government, therefore, doesn’t allow the UN to investigate the war crimes committed by his predecessor Rajapaksha he still maintain cordial al relations with him. .

And importantly, the Rajapaksa government then enjoyed much greater international support than any other despot on earth.

Sirisena would argue that the LTTE had significant popular support and hence their genocides are logical and apr to rule of law. USA and other so-called democracies refused to discuss the pattern of human right violations in Sri Lanka where the Tamils were cornered by the military, police. The government justifies all custodial torture and extrajudicial killings of suspected regime opponents, attacks on civilian targets including hospitals and aid conveys, and the use

230

of prohibited weapons. And in both cases international audiences raised the alarm about mass atrocities.. In addition to forbidding foreign correspondents and human rights organizations access to the conflict zone, the Sri Lankan government terrorized the domestic press. Under Rajapaksa, Sri Lanka became one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a journalist.

The delivery of humanitarian aid was also severely restricted. In September 2008, the government ordered all aid workers out of the conflict zone in northern Sri Lanka. While foreign journalists are not officially banned from the country, access to regime-held territory is limited to pre-approved journalists, often accompanied by a minder. Today, it tops the list of deadliest countries for journalists, in large part due to regime attacks on the domestic press.

Humanitarian aid delivery has been restricted since the conflict began. In Sri Lanka these measures cut off nearly all sources of independent information.

The second tactic out of Colombo’s playbook is to vehemently contest the limited information that does trickle out of the war zone. The Sri Lankan government challenged all casualty reports as “Tiger propaganda.” In late April 2009, as thousands were dying from government shelling, the Sri Lankan Air Force denied that it was carrying out any operations. Both during and after the war, the Rajapaksa regime also challenged the veracity of all photographic and video evidence. The regime disputed the authenticity of photo and video evidence of weapons attacks, barrel bombs, torture, and extrajudicial killings. Sri Lanka boldly claims that video evidence of extrajudicial killing was faked by “Tamil rebels in army uniform.”

Despite the implausibility of the claim, Sri Lanka insisted that any shelling of civilian targets had been committed not by his military boys but by the “terrorists.” The government also repeatedly accused the LTTE of employing civilians as human shields, arguing that this exonerated the military of any responsibility for their deaths.

Any criminal regime would try to justify its crimes just like any street criminal does. On first look, these tactics – all of which amount to contesting empirically verifiable facts – appear deluded. Against reams of physical and testimonial evidence of war crimes, who would believe a self-interested denial?

But sometimes it works and the strategy paid off for Sri Lanka. In fact, immediately following its victory, the Rajapaksa regime was commended by the U.N. Human Rights Council for its efforts “to ensure the safety and security of all Sri Lankans.” And as impunity for war crimes was compounded by a litany of human rights abuses in the aftermath of the war, the most significant sanctions the government faced were reductions in aid and trade. The war ended

231

eight years ago this week, and to this day no member of the civilian or military leadership has faced justice for war crimes.

But now Sri Lanka wages a regular war on Tamil fishing community.

Sri Lanka’s apparent success in influencing international community not act on SL state terror operations did not depend on actually convincing anyone that it hadn’t committed war crimes.

It simply relied on muddying the waters enough to prevent international action. Two structural features of the situation enabled this strategy: First, Sri Lanka was mostly insulated from action at the UN Security Council or at the International Criminal Court. Consequently, there was no straightforward path to halting the violations or ensuring justice for them.

Any intervention (military, judicial, or otherwise) would have been costly and challenging to coordinate. And the final phase of the conflict played out against the backdrop of the Global War on Terror, allowing Sri Lanka to emphasize the LTTE’s use of terrorist tactics and characterize their eradication as an international necessity. There was widespread support (both overt and tacit) for the fight against the LTTE as a terror group. If the first dynamic meant that the bar for international action was set higher than it would have been otherwise, the second meant that Sri Lanka’s actions, seen through the more permissive lens of a fight against terrorism, were less likely to clear that bar.

War crimes are thus justified.

International action on mass atrocities is the exception rather than the rule and Sri Lanka is eager to escape punishment. . The Sri Lankan experience shows that obfuscation and denial can be enough to exploit this inertia and prevent intervention from international community, especially India, which shamelessly kills Kashmiris in their own nation Kashmir which is under Indian military occupation - and alas, UN and UNSC do not intervene to stop the Indian state crimes in Kashmir, does not press for UN investigation and punishing the guilty.

For Sri Lanka, Israel and India are the models in perpetrating crimes against minorities and terrorizing nations under their illegal occupation - Kashmir and Palestine, respectively.

Can USA, ICC and UNSC let Sri Lankan regime get away with mass murder, giving precedence for other criminal regimes to emulate it?

232

Since Sri Lanka is in denial of mass crimes by its military-police, it is time the UNSC stepped in to initiate punitive measures!

_________

Indian coercive strategy has made Kashmiris more alienated than ever before!

(A Sovereign Kashmir: Random Thoughts-302) -Dr. Abdul Ruff

_____ Jammu Kashmir was a soverign nation until India and Pakistan invaded and occupied it after their own independence from Great Britain. Both India and Pakistan wanted to expand their territories by annexing neighboring Jammu Kashmir and they have done with blessings from their colonial master UK.

India and Pakistan have disputed the territory for nearly 70 years - since independence from Britain. Both countries claim the whole territory but control only parts of it. Two out of three wars fought between India and Pakistan centered on Kashmir. Since 1989 there has been an armed revolt in the Muslim-majority region against rule by India. High unemployment and complaints of heavy-handed tactics by security forces battling street protesters and fighting insurgents have aggravated the problem

Unable to tolerate Indian brutality, Kashmiris are on revolt against Indian occupational crimes.

They want USA, UK and other veto members to consider the pathetic plight of Kashmiri Muslims and give them their sovereignty back so that at least their children could live in peace without having to face the Indian military brutality.

India is fast losing Jammu Kashmir as it hates Kashmiris for demanding freedom and sovereignty from occupying Indian military which now enjoys more draconian powers to target Kashmiris at will. Indian regime never cares for human rights violations by its military in Kashmir.

233

New Delhi has conveniently fooled Kashmiris on its promise of greater autonomy for the region for efficiency while core Indian media lords spread lies about Kashmiris through 24 hours in their TV channels.

Now India is using Kashmiris as military shield with more and more army’s intimidation, wrongful confinement of Kashmiri youth.

Instead of punishing the guilty in their ranks for misusing their powers by ruthlessly attacking Kashmiri Muslims through fake encounters, among other techniques, it honors the guilty with awards and more money for their “meritorious services”. This anomaly has annoyed Kashmiri leaders.

A Kashmir Muslim, Farooq Ahmad Dar, who was tied to an army jeep by military solders and used him as a human shield in India-occupied Kashmir has said he is "afraid" after the officer responsible for the incident was awarded a commendation by the military. "I was under the impression he would be punished. But he was given a reward," Farooq Ahmad Dar told BBC. The decision, announced on Monday, was met with shock in Kashmir. The army officer responsible for the action said he did it to make India stronger.

Dar had just finished casting his vote at a polling booth when the incident took place. Tied to the jeep, he was driven around villages, as an "example" of what would happen to anyone who threw stones at armed forces. "I was persecuted even though I was one of the few who voted,” Dar said. "Since the day the officer was awarded, I'm even more afraid. Now he will return to the same camp, and I am in danger."I am feeling under tremendous pressure. He will be back and my situation will worsen."

The army officer at the centre of the controversy, Major Nitin Gogoi, in a rare departure from official protocol, was allowed to address a media conference and defended his actions. “With this new India idea, I have saved many peoples' lives."

The foremost leader of freedoms struggle Syed Ali Geelani, chairman of the Hurriyat - an umbrella group of separatists in Kashmir - called the army decision "distressing and shameful".

Amnesty International India also condemned the decision, saying it gave out the impression that the Indian army "condones human rights abuses". But views on social media were sharply

234

divided between those who criticised the army decision and those who said Major Gogoi was a hero.

Former chief minister Omar Abdullah said the army decision was "wrong". He said the consequences could be "disastrous", adding that "the use of human shields is now officially fair and justified in a Kashmir that stands more alienated than ever before". The Urdu language newspaper Kashmir Uzma saw the move as an "open warning". "It seems that by honoring the officer, the authorities in New Delhi are trying to send a clear message to Kashmiris that they have reliable tactics for restoring order, even when it involves violating human rights," it said.

For quite some time, India has been running from country to country and invites rulers from every country to inform that Kashmir has been a part of India for centuries and Pakistan is spoiling the minds of Kashmiris to protest against Indian misrule. New Delhi might think foreign leaders, like Indian media lords, have no knowledge of the past and history. .

Last summer was one of the bloodiest in the Muslim-dominated valley in recent years.

Following the killing of influential freedom fighting militant Burhan Wani by Indian forces last July, more than 100 civilians lost their lives in clashes during a four-month-long security lockdown in the valley. It's not looking very promising this summer.

India occupied Kashmir has seen a fresh upsurge of violence in the past few months, with stone-throwing civilians pitted against military personnel. India is not happy that the youth has not taken real weapons so that Indian military could kill all of them and ask Indian core media lords, controlled by intelligence, to call the Kashmiris “TERRORISTS�.

As its usual safe tactic, whenever there is an upsurge in Sri Nagar, India quickly blames Pakistan for inciting the violence, a charge the latter dutifully denies.

This month's parliamentary election in Srinagar was scarred by violence and a record-low turnout of voters. To add fuel to the fire, graphic social videos surfaced claiming to show abuses by security forces and young people who oppose Indian rule. A full-blown protest by students has now erupted on the streets; and, in a rare sight, even schoolgirls are throwing stones and hitting police vehicles.

JK Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, who leads an awkward ruling coalition with the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), rushed to Delhi last week to urge the federal Modi government to "announce a dialogue and show reconciliatory gestures".

235

India ignores the military atrocities on Kashmiri Muslims being ritually committed as a tool to silence the Kashmiri youth. Apparently, PM Narendra Modi and Home Minister Rajnath Singh told her that they could not "offer a dialogue with separatists and other restive groups in the valley" while fierce violence and militant attacks continued.

Former chief minister and leader of the regional National Conference party Farooq Abdullah warned India that it was "losing Kashmir". What Abdullah suggested was unexceptionable: the government should begin talking with the stakeholders - Pakistan, the separatists, mainstream parties - and start "thinking of not a military solution, but a political way". Ignoring the plight of Muslims in the valley, but only thinking only about Hindus in Kashmir as being propelled by Hindutva zealots in the media is not good.

Kashmir is one of most militarized zones on earth with military troops occupying almost every place so that any protest for freedom could be put done forthwith while informing the media to cook stories to make reports about “Muslim terrorists attacked or killed� type headings.

With more than 500,000 security forces in the region, India is unlikely to lose territory in Kashmir but Kashmiris are not with India. .Shekhar Gupta, a leading columnist, says that while Kashmir is "territorially secure, we are fast losing it emotionally and psychologically". The abysmal 7% turnout in the Srinagar poll proved that "while your grip on the land is firm, you are losing its people". So what is new about Kashmir that is worrying India and even provoking senior army officials to admit that the situation is fragile? Kashmiri youth is now politically matured and they know they need sovereignty for self development and regain dignity. .

For one, a more reckless and alienated younger generation of local youth is now leading the anti-India protests. More than 60% of the men in the valley are under 30. Many of them are angry and confused about what India plans and wants in Kashmir.

Hope has evaporated for his generation "in face of Indian oppression" and he and his friends did not "fear death". When I took him aside after a while to ask about his ambitions in life, he said he wanted to become a bureaucrat and serve Kashmir. "It is wrong to say that the Kashmiri youth has become fearless. He just feels alienated, sidelined and humiliated. When he feels like that, fear takes a backseat, and he becomes reckless. This is irrational behavior," says National Conference leader Junaid Azim Mattoo.

Secondly, the new younger militants are educated and come from relatively well-off families.

Youthful Kashmiri leader Wani, who was killed last July as the militant, headed a prominent rebel group and came from a highly-educated upper-class Kashmiri family: his father is a government school teacher. Wani's younger brother, Khalid, who was killed by security forces in 2013, was a student of political science. The new commander of the rebel group, Zakir Rashid Bhat, studied engineering in the northern Indian city of Chandigarh.

236

The two-year-old fragile PDP-BJP ruling alliance, many say, has been unable to deliver on its promises. While BJP is trying to increase its base in Jammu Kashmir, PDP is fast losing popular faith in its ability to defend Muslims in Kashmir. An alliance between a regional party which advocates soft separatism (PDP) and a federal Hindutva nationalist party (BJP), they believe, makes for the strangest bedfellows, hobbled by two conflicting ideologies trying to work their way together in a contested, conflicted land. Both Congress and NC are trying to make maximum mileage from the weak government in Sri Nagar.

The federal government's message on Kashmir appears to be backfiring.

When PM Modi recently said the youth in Kashmir had to choose between terrorism and tourism, many Kashmiris accused him of trivializing their "protracted struggle". When BJP general secretary Ram Madhav told a newspaper that his government "would have choked" the valley people if it was against them, many locals said it was proof of the government's arrogance.

The shrill anti-Muslim rhetoric by radical Hindutva groups and politics of incidents of cow protection attacking Muslim cattle traders in other parts of India could end up further polarising people in the valley. "The danger," a prominent leader told me, "is that the moderate Kashmiri Muslim is becoming sidelined, and he is being politically radicalized."

The security forces Kashmir, now adhering to Hindutva politics, differ and say they are actually worried about rising "religious radicalization" among the youth in the valley. A top army official in Kashmir, Lt-Gen JS Sadhu, told a newspaper that the "public support to terrorists, their glorification and increased radicalization are issues of concern". Kashmiri public does not the government or governor or New Delhi masters. One army official said that religious radicalization was a "bigger challenge than stone pelting protesters". He even claims that some 3,000 Saudi-inspired Wahhabi sect mosques had sprung up in Kashmir in the past decade. The military is eager to build some Hindu structures in Kashmir valley al s well.

Most Kashmiris say the government should be more worried about the cause of "political radicalization" of the young, and that fears of religious radicalization were exaggerated and overblown. Also, the low turnout in this month's elections has rattled the region's mainstream parties. "If mainstream politics is delegitimized and people refuse to vote for them, the vacuum will be obviously filled up with a disorganized mob-led constituency," Mattoo of the National Conference said.

237

In his memoirs, Amarjit Singh Daulat, the former chief of India's spy agency RAW wrote that "nothing is constant; least of all Kashmir". But right now, the anomie and anger of the youth, and a worrying people's revolt against Indian rule, appear to be the only constants.

If New Delhi still believes that Indian military in Kashmir could solve the Kashmir problems by Zionist or Indian guns there it is mistaken- it is ridiculous for any regime which is serious about democracy to think of a military solution. Kashmir requires political solution. If India still think Kashmiris want to be controlled by Indian military, then, a referendum should be organized under the UN flag.

As India's most restive region JK stares down the abyss of what a commentator calls another "hot summer of violence", the doom-laden headline has returned with a vengeance: Should India let Kashmiris live on their own as a soverign nation?

Chapter-

President Trump calls on Pope Francis at the Vatican!

-Dr. Abdul Ruff _____

One gets the impression that US President Donald Trump could lead his nation and world at large to a new world without conflicts. However, if he misleads the world by his mischief as a usual US leader, then, like his predecessors have done before him, would betray the humanity beyond Mideast and the humanity would be the silent victim to war mongers and looters.

US President Donald Trump has met Pope Francis on May 24 morning at the Vatican for a short private audience on the third leg of his overseas trip before going to Europe to conclude his madden tour as the custodian of White House. Trump is now

due to meet Italy's president and prime minister. He will then fly to Brussels for a NATO summit.

The US President arrived for the meeting along with his wife Melania, daughter Ivanka

and Jewish son­in­law Jared Kushner after their visit to Israel. The meeting was keenly awaited as the two men have already clashed at a distance on issues including migration and climate change.

238

Trump and his entourage arrived at the Vatican n the morning just before 08:30 local time; the meeting was arranged last minute which resulted in the early start time. The US president was greeted by Archbishop Georg Ganswein, the head of the papal household, and escorted by the Swiss Guard from the Vatican courtyard to the offices of Pope Francis. Journalists who covered the initial greeting said the pair were cordial with each other. Trump told the Pope "it is a great honour". The two men spoke privately for about 20 minutes before returning to a public arena to exchange gifts.

Though this is their first meeting, they've already sparred. During the election the Pope on a visit to the Mexico­US border said that people who only think of building walls instead of bridges were not Christians. Donald Trump described those comments as disgraceful, and accused the pontiff of being a pawn of the Mexican government. But on Wednesday both men were seeking to find common ground.

It is hard to think of two more contrasting characters than Pope Francis and President Trump. On one hand, the Jesuit who has made his mission the championing of the poor and dispossessed; on the other the property developer who has championed getting rich, and surrounded himself with billionaires in his cabinet. Interestingly, Trump gave the Pope a boxed set of writings by the black civil rights leader Martin Luther King. The Pope gave Trump a signed copy of a message he delivered for World Peace Day, along with some of his writings about the need to protect the environment. "Well, I'll be reading them," Trump told him.

Trump seemed subdued during their initial meeting, while Pope Francis was not as jovial as he sometimes is with world leaders. The two men appeared much more relaxed at the end of their 30­minute private meeting. He was granted a short private audience with the head of the Catholic Church on the latest leg of his overseas trip. The two men have in the past clashed on issues such as migration, climate change and a Mexico­US wall. On international affairs, their "exchange of views" covered the "promotion of peace in the world through political negotiation and interreligious dialogue", and highlighted the need to protect Christian communities in the Middle East.

The Vatican said later that they shared a commitment to "life, and freedom of worship and conscience" and expressed hope that they can collaborate "in service to the people in the fields of healthcare, education and assistance to migrants".

Saudi Arabia and Iran Trump vowed to help Israelis and Palestinians achieve durable peace, as he ended

the Middle East leg of his tour. The US leader began his foreign trip with a two­day

239

stop in Saudi Arabia over the weekend, urging Muslim countries to take the lead in combating radicalization.

Western powers make maximum benefits of the illogical Saudi-Iran rift.

After the first leg of his trip in Saudi Arabia, President Trump seems to hope that Sunni Arab countries might be part of any solution between Israel and the Palestinians.

Without doubt the Saudis and the Israelis are talking, because Iran is their shared enemy. But the Saudis have had their own Arab peace plan on the table for the last 15 years, offering full peace and recognition of Israel in return for the establishment of a Palestinian state on the entire territory of the West Bank and Gaza with its capital in East Jerusalem. That is something the current Israeli government is not prepared to concede.

Antipathy towards Iran is the one thing that Washington's disparate allies in the region agree upon. So, bashing of Tehran has been a prominent theme for Trump both in Saudi Arabia and now in Israel. Hostility to Iran is the glue that binds what some would like to believe is an emerging coalition between Israel, Saudi Arabia and the smaller Gulf States together. But how far it really promises to shake up the sterile politics of the region is unclear.

A common purpose to contain Iran is one thing but can it really extend to bringing a new diplomatic dawn to the region? For Trump, criticising Tehran performs multiple functions. It allows him to sound tough on the world stage. Tougher than his predecessor, Barack Obama, who, he believes, signed one of the worst deals in history in reaching the nuclear accord with Iran.

It enables him to reassure both the Gulf Arabs and Israel at one and the same time. And it underscores the narrative of a common front emerging in the region that ­ at least according to the Trump administration ­ holds the enticing promise of a new dynamic in the log­jammed struggle between Israel and the Palestinians. And, of course, it also sends a warning signal to Tehran about aspects of its policy in the region that Washington sees as contrary to US interests.

It is also not a policy of nuance or one that contends with complex reality. How does it look providing ringing endorsements to the Saudis and selling them a fortune of weaponry, when they are engaged in a brutal war in Yemen?

The Trump government's almost brash belief in the possibilities of a wider Middle East peace seems to be at variance with most experts who know the region well. They argue neither the Israelis nor the Palestinians are ready to make the hard compromises necessary to achieve a lasting peace.

240

Some have argued that rather than focusing on a comprehensive deal that would have to resolve the hard questions like Jerusalem and refugees, the goal should be less ambitious; an interim deal that might mark the re­starting of a longer term diplomatic process. But it is not clear yet if the new US administration has the patience for this kind of worthy diplomacy. And this brings us back to Iran. Just what is the Trump administration's policy towards Tehran?

Indeed the re­election of Iran's President Hassan Rouhani may complicate matters further. He was perceived as the more moderate candidate after all, even if the Supreme Leader and the Revolutionary Guard still retain a key grip on foreign policy.

President Rouhani is already encouraging some European politicians to talk of the search for an opening to Tehran. That may not go down well in Washington. But then there is the very complexity of the region that Trump’s rhetoric often overlooks.

Interestingly, the Iraqi government is now one of Washington's main allies against so­ called Islamic State. But Iran too is a strong supporter of Baghdad and has deployed militia forces and advisers on the ground to aid the war effort.

Dealmaker’s hopes

President George W Bush sponsored a peace conference in Annapolis in 2007, which for a while was hailed, in vain, as a major step towards the establishment of an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel. President Bill Clinton presided over the moment in 1993 at the White House when Yasser Arafat and Yitzhak Rabin exchanged a historic handshake and signed the Oslo peace agreement. At the end of his presidency in 2000, a make or break summit failed and was followed by years of violence and unrest. In recent times every American president also brings with him new hopes and fears for Israelis and Palestinians. In 2009 President Barack Obama trying to re­set relations with Arabs and Muslims. In the process he alienated Israelis and its leaders never forgave him. His first act as president was to appoint a Middle East envoy whose peace mission, in the end, failed.

Nobel foundations have played mischief by offering Obama the coveted Nobel Peace prize even before he could do nay thing meaningful in his presidency in the proper way.

Nobel committee denied any chance for Middle East peace by almost imposing on him Peace Award that made him ineffective in solving the Mideast puzzle by establishing Palestine. Perhaps had he not got the Nobel Peace Award, Palestine would have become a sure reality as he supported the Palestine cause towards the end of tenure at White House. .

241

Now President Trump, who sees himself as the world's best dealmaker, says he would like to pull off the world's toughest deal. How quickly Trump would be able to get Israeli leadership on board to settle the world’s deadliest conflict in the name of Israel war on Palestine would determine the success of his efforts to end the blood bath in Palestine where Palestinians have been facing cruelty form Zionist military. .

The US leader began his foreign trip with a two-day stop in Saudi Arabia over the weekend, urging Muslim countries to take the lead in combating radicalization. In

his final speech, at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, President Trump also identified himself, his government and the USA four­square with Israel. He repeated, to lots of applause, that he would never let Iran have nuclear weapons. Israel has a substantial ­illegally obtained from USA ­ and officially undeclared nuclear arsenal.

Trump became the first serving American president to visit the Western Wall in Jerusalem, the holiest place where Jews can pray. That is being taken by Jews as his support for Israel. Trump became the first serving American president to visit the Western Wall in Jerusalem, the holiest place where Jews can pray. That is being taken as support for Israel. The wall is in East Jerusalem, which Israel annexed after it was captured 50 years ago and which most of the world outside Israel regards as occupied land. Some will interpret the fact that the president declined the Israeli prime minister's request to accompany him as a sign of support for the status quo view that it is occupied territory.

President Trump, in his speech, did not pick up the cue. After making many warm remarks about Israel, which earned him standing ovations, he said he believed that the Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, was serious about making peace.

One pointer to a potential difference with Israel's hawkish PM Netanyahu came at the museum. In his opening remarks, Netanyahu said that if the bomber in Manchester was Palestinian, and his victims were Israelis, the Palestinian Authority would be paying a stipend to his family. He was referring to a Palestinian Martyrs' fund. It pays pensions to people it regards as victims of the occupation, including the families of individuals who have been killed attacking Israelis. There is also a fund to support Palestinians who have been imprisoned by Israel. The Palestinians have compared the payments to the salaries Israel pays to soldiers.

Senior Israeli politicians and officials in the room disagree. Netanyahu said earlier this year that President Abbas lied to Donald Trump when they met in the White House.

That is an important disagreement. If President Trump's hopes ever become negotiations about substance he will find that there are many others. The two sides are far apart on the main issues, like the future of east Jerusalem, the borders of a Palestinian state and the fate of Palestinian refugees.

242

President Trump brought with him to Jerusalem most of his top advisers, dozens of vehicles and his own helicopters. The White House booked the entire King David Hotel for the president and his entourage. The Israeli and Palestinian authorities cleared the main roads of Jerusalem and Bethlehem for the movements of his armed and mighty motorcade.

NATO President Donald Trump has arrived in Brussels ahead of a NATO summit where he will push the security alliance’s 28 members to meet their spending obligations and do more to combat terrorism.

The fight against terrorism will be top of the agenda at the May 25 meeting in the Belgian capital, a stop on Trump’s first trip abroad since he took office in January.

It is believed that the bombing in Britain that killed 22 people has been engineered to further strengthen the NATO and its brand state terrorism encompassing Islamic world. The whole idea for all this is to brand Islam a terrorist religion and to force Islamic regimes to kill Muslims as terrorists in order to reduce Islamic populations and loot their resources, valuable assets. . . . .

This is Trump’s first visit to Europe since taking office in January. Security has been stepped up across Rome, with the areas around the Vatican City, the Italian presidential palace and the American ambassador's residence, where Trump is staying, temporarily closed to traffic.

Trump called NATO “obsolete” during the US presidential campaign last year, saying it was not doing enough to fight terrorism. He has also chided some members for not following NATO guidelines on spending. This visit will be about damage limitation with the fervent hope of establishing some kind of transatlantic chemistry. The tone in Brussels has gone from off­the­record sneering when the erratic and unpredictable Trump first won the November elections, to outright concern now that the implications of his presidency have begun to sink in.

Despite the heavy police presence, about 100 anti­Trump protesters held a rally in one of Rome's squares on Tuesday evening. Significant protests are also expected in Brussels where he will meet EU and NATO officials.

Trump is now in Brussels for talks with NATO and EU officials. He will also hold meetings with Belgium's King Philippe and Prime Minister Charles Michel. Later on

Wednesday, Trump flew to Brussels, where significant protests are expected. For the EU and for NATO, this visit is about damage limitation with the fervent hope of establishing some kind of transatlantic chemistry, the BBC's Europe editor Katya Adler says. She adds that the tone in Brussels has gone from off­the­record sneering when the erratic and unpredictable Trump first won the November elections, to outright concern now that the implications of his presidency have begun to sink in.

243

After his visit to Saudi Arabia, home to Islam's holiest sites, and to Israel, this is the final leg of the tour of three of the world's major religions. President Trump's commitment to fighting extremism and intolerance will win approval from the Pope, as will his determination to bring peace to the Middle East. And the president thinks there's another reason why they will get on. Back in 2013 he tweeted: "The new Pope is a humble man, very much like me."

Trump was joined not only by his wife, daughter and son­in­law but also Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and National Security Adviser HR McMaster. Both Melania and Ivanka Trump were dressed in black with their heads partially covered, in keeping with a traditional Vatican protocol that is no longer expected to be rigorously observed.

Melania, a Catholic, asked the Pope to bless her rosary beads.

Following his visit to the Vatican, Trump was moving on for talks with Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni in what is his first visit to Europe since taking office in January. Security has been stepped up across Rome, with the areas around the Vatican City, the Italian presidential palace and the American ambassador's residence, where Trump is staying, temporarily closed to traffic. Despite the heavy police presence, about 100 anti­Trump protesters held a rally in one of Rome's squares.

After the meeting between President Trump and the Pope, the Vatican said there had been an "exchange of views" on international issues, while Trump said they had had a "fantastic meeting". Trump also tweeted: "Honor of a lifetime to meet His Holiness Pope Francis. I leave the Vatican more determined than ever to pursue PEACE in our world." He arrived in Europe from Israel and the Palestinian territories, where he vowed to try to achieve peace in the region.

Observation

Today the world is at a cross roads. Palestinians and Kashmiris like other oppressed nations, brutally occupied colonist and imperialist regimes, continue to be strangled to death by democracy militaries aided by high precision terror equipment. President Trump has given a new hope for the survival of occupied masses with some dignity. .

Whether or not he could be trusted remains a trillion dollar question. . .

Enemies of Islam have succeeded creating a solid wedge between Saudi Arabia and Iran and through that a vertical split in Islamic world. That trend may not end any soon because Saudi led Sunni Arab states view Iran as their worst foe- even worse than Israel and all anti-Islamic rogue states operating in coalition to destroy Islam.

244

Interestingly, a few Muslim regimes also led support to the destructive format of anti-Islamic forces globally.

Absolute foolishness and fatal ignorance are not a part of Islamic faith. Nor reluctance to mold the mindset of Arab leaders could be an excuse to let the enemies of Islam invade energy rich Arab world.

Donald Trump deserves global appreciation as he has said he is "more determined than ever" to pursue peace in the world after meeting Pope Francis at the Vatican.

The main problem is Israel does not want to resolve the conflict. Trump is right on one point. This is a conflict that badly needs settling. If that is not possible, there needs to be political progress. History shows that bloodshed tends to fill the void left by the absence of hope.

Well, for all the rhetoric the practical reality of Trump's foreign policy is more guarded.

So beyond a raft of trade deals in Saudi Arabia what have we really learnt so far. All the indications are, for example, that the move of the US embassy to Jerusalem has been put on hold.

US Presidents have never talked about Zionist nukes and their danger posed to the humanity. Trump also never questioned the validity of Isabel possessing nukes illegally.

For all of the president's repeated condemnation of the Iran nuclear deal, is he really capable of walking away from it?

A Trump foreign policy is still very much a work in progress. Much of Trump's world view is now coming into a jarring contact with reality. This current trip is in large part ceremonial, it is very early in his presidency to be putting a toe into Middle Eastern waters.

This is President Donald Trump's first foray to the Middle East and of course it will not be his last. He has already got one thing clear. Adversity really does make strange bedfellows. In all the speeches President Trump made during the trip there was no detail about how he might succeed when so many others have failed. So signs and symbols and implicit messages are being pored over for meaning.

Once his first foreign trip draws to a close on May 27 Saturday, President Trump will return to the US where his approval ratings are low and he is coming under increasing pressure over alleged Russian meddling in November's election.

245

Tasks before reelected Iran President Hassan Rouhani!

-Dr. Abdul Ruff ________

As expected, the Iranian president, Hassan Rouhani, has been re-elected in a landslide victory, endorsing his efforts to re-engage with the west and offer greater freedoms at home.

Amid a large 73 percent turnout of eligible voters, Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani won a first-round victory in the May 19 presidential election, garnering a decisive 57 percent of the vote, far exceeding his 50.7 percent majority in the 2013 election. Rouhani’s main rival, Ibrahim Raisi, garnered 38 percent of the vote despite having the clear backing of Supreme Leader Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the security establishment led by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Since July 2016, Raisi has been considered a front-runner to potentially succeed Khamenei as Supreme Leader. The 2017 election outcome could represent a key turning point in Iranian politics and Iran’s relationship to the international community.

Iranians have said a resounding Yes to President Rouhani who, in recent years and particularly during the last several weeks of campaigning, promised to expand individual and political freedoms and make all those centres of power, like the Revolutionary Guard, accountable. He also promised a moderate vision and an outward-looking Iran and, at rallies, openly attacked the conservative-dominated judiciary and security services. Another challenge will come from abroad, and the relations with the new US government. President Donald Trump opposes the nuclear deal which eased sanctions on the Middle Eastern country, but his White House renewed it earlier this week.

The election was seen by many as a verdict on Rouhani's policy of opening up Iran to the world and his efforts to rebuild its stagnant economy. Rouhani swept into office four years ago on a promise to reduce Iran's international isolation.

Friday poll was the first since Rouhani negotiated a historic deal with world powers in 2015 to curb the country's nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. In the campaign trail, Rouhani sought to frame the vote as a choice between greater civil liberties and "extremism", criticising the continued arrest of reformist leaders and activists. Raisi, for his part, accused Rouhani of mismanaging the economy and positioned himself as a defender of the poor and calling for a much tougher line with the West.

246

Rouhani managed to strike an historic deal in 2015 with world powers over Iran's controversial nuclear programme, resolving a long-standing crisis with the West.

International sanctions were lifted as a result, but average Iranians say they do not feel the economic benefits in their daily lives.

Iran today faces two most important problems: one its forward looking foreign policy and economic stagnancy- both are intertwined. The core reason for Rouhani’s significant victory is that he had delivered on a key promise—achieving the lifting of sanctions in conjunction with a landmark agreement with the United States and other major powers to implement restraints on Iran’s nuclear program. Iranians have faith in his leadership.

On foreign policy, Rouhani attracted voters with a promise to not only adhere to the seminal nuclear deal but to go beyond the agreement to reach broader understandings with the United States. Such understandings could yield the lifting of the remaining U.S. sanctions that make international firms hesitant to re-engage in Iran, but which would also entail compromises that the Supreme leader and IRGC are likely to thwart. A lifting of US terrorism-related sanctions would require Iran to sharply curtail its support for Lebanese Hezbollah and President Bashar alAssad of Syria—requirements that the hardline Iranian establishment would not permit under almost any circumstances. Similarly, the lifting of US proliferation sanctions would require Iran to cease developing ballistic missiles—a reversal that Iran’s hardliners would almost certainly block. US approach to the Syrian crisis would determine US policy o for Iran.

Washington wants the Iranian president to reign in the Spiritual leader and take full control of important institutions like IRGC and judiciary, thereby crate tension with the Spiritual leader. Rouhani’s inability to change Iran’s key national security policies will likely ensure that the Trump administration continues to strengthen alliances with Iran’s regional adversaries. President Trump’s visit to Saudi Arabia this past weekend came with the signing of a major package of new US arms sales to Saudi Arabia, including a Saudi purchase of the Theater High Altitude Air Defense (THAAD) ballistic missile system designed to intercept Iranian missiles. Trump’s visit also included discussions of institutionalizing US-Arab alliances intended, in large part, to counter Iran’s regional influence.

Even though most Iranians have not yet experienced tangible economic benefits from sanctions relief, Iranian voters clearly turned away from Raisi’s candidacy in part for his potential to increase tensions with the international community and possibly trigger a re-imposition of those sanctions.

247

The economy that received setback due to sanctions form the western powers and allies remains the number one challenge for Rouhani, 68, who signed a nuclear deal between Iran, the USA and other countries in 2015. International sanctions were lifted as a result, but average Iranians say they do not feel the economic benefits in their daily lives. While oil exports have rebounded and inflation is back at singledigits, unemployment remains high, especially among the young people.

A vibrant economy alone could bring Iran closer to the western world. Rouhani, a moderate who agreed a deal with world powers to limit Iran's nuclear program, pledged to "remain true" to his promises. The decisive victory gives him a strong mandate to seek reforms and revive Iran's ailing economy, analysts say. In his first remarks after winning the poll, Rouhani said: "Great people of Iran, you're the winners of the election." Rouhani’s victory is welcomed by Iranian reformists as well as the country’s opposition green movement.

President Rouhani has brought GDP growth back into the black, inflation into singledigits and trade deficit into a surplus. But expectations are high and Rouhani himself is to blame, having promised miracles once the sanctions were lifted.

Rouhani will now have a bigger mandate to push through his reforms, to put an end to extremism, to build bridges with the outside world, to put the economy back on track.

That growth came mostly from increased oil exports following the lifting of sanctions. Iran's highest record in the past four decades has been creating 600,000 jobs a year. Iran's current unemployment rate stands at 12.7%, up 1.7% over the past year. That puts the number of those with absolutely no employment at 3.3 million.

Former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in his two terms (2005-2013) started cash hand-outs when removing subsidies, offered low-interest loans for small businesses and launched massive projects of affordable housing for the poor. But when Ahmadinejad left office the economy was shrinking by 7% a year and inflation reached 40%. He blamed international sanctions. Economists blamed Ahmadinejad’s populist policies and his mismanagement of the economy.

Rouhani has brought inflation down from around 40 percent when he took over in 2013, but prices are still rising by over seven percent a year. Oil sales have rebounded since the nuclear deal took effect in January 2016, but growth in the rest of the economy has been limited, leaving unemployment at 12.5 percent overall - close to 30 percent for the young - and many more are under-employed or 248

struggling to get by. "Rouhani now gets his second term, and will be able to continue the work that he started in his first four-year term trying to reform Iran," Hull said. "And moving on, crucially, from the nuclear deal to try and bring much more economic progress to satisfy the people who have found themselves extremely disappointed with the very slow pace of change since that agreement was signed."

When it comes to young people, one in every three of those aged 15-24 is jobless.

In that age group, every other woman is unemployed. For those without a job, Qalibaf is also offering a 2.5m rial ($66) monthly unemployment benefit, a first in the 38 years since the Islamic Revolution. The price tag for this election promise alone is a staggering $2.6bn. Iran's housing sector shrank 13% in the year to March 2017, while the country's overall economy grew by almost 6.6%, estimates International Monetary Fund.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has veto power over all policies and ultimate control of the security forces, While Rouhani has been unable to secure the release of reformist leaders from house arrest. While the nuclear deal was at the forefront of the election, the campaign was dominated by the issues of poverty and unemployment.

Rouhani considers himself a bridge between hardliners and reformists. Rouhani is also expected to face the same restrictions that prevented him from delivering substantial social change in his first term. Rouhani, during an "increasingly acrimonious election campaign, alienated a lot of Iran's significant state institutions who may be in no mood to cooperate with him going forward".

In Iran’s unique and uneasy hybrid of democracy and theocracy, the president has significant power to shape government, although he is ultimately constrained by the supreme leader. Khamenei, a hardliner thought to have favored Raisi in the election and as a possible successor for his own job, generally steers clear of daily politics but controls powerful bodies from the judiciary to the Revolutionary Guards.

The Rouhani re-election offers the potential for the Trump government to incorporate some direct diplomacy with Iran into its overall strategy. While criticizing Iran’s policies extensively, in April the Trump administration certified Iranian compliance with the nuclear deal, and it continued to waive US sanctions under the agreement in May. During Trump’s visit to Saudi Arabia, which began as Rouhani was declared the winner in Iran, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson indicated that, at some point, he expected to talk directly with his Iranian counterpart, Mohammad Javad Zarif. Such direct bilateral engagement could overcome decades of mutual hostility and put the relationship on a more peaceful and productive trajectory, offering a new opportunity for engagement between the two long-time adversaries.

249

President Putin calls for Eurasia integration!

-Dr. Abdul Ruff _____

The loss of a mighty Soviet empire stills haunts Russians, their leaders.

Russian President Putin has not made any secret of his anguish and anger over the unexpected disintegration of Soviet Union that made Russia a less important super power. Initially Putin made efforts to rebuild the Soviet state but could not succeed as many former Soviet republics now independent nations refused to join the Russia dominated single nation. The way he crushed the Chechens on his ascendance to presidency forced many of those pro-Russia states within the Soviet space rethink their desire to promote a mighty Russia.

Putin has been making conscious efforts to rebuild the former Soviet states in some format by launching economic, political and military formations but they have not become as successful as the Warsaw Pact or COMCON had been during the Cold War. The concept of Eurasia – bringing Europe and Asia together- got a phillip under Putin who is eager to see the region emerge more important and larger continent than EU in all respects, especially in economics and defense.

However, USA is not impressed by the Russian move to counter its NATO in the longer context.

Inspired by the Chinese initiative of OBOR and its vast potentials for the region covering three continents, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in Beijing on May 14 that he salutes China's "large-scale" Belt and Road Initiative and called for greater Eurasian partnership. Putin made the remarks at the opening ceremony of the Belt and Road Initiative Forum for International Cooperation taking place in Beijing on May 14-15.

The Belt and Road Initiative proposed by China in 2013 consists of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road. It aims to build a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along and beyond the ancient Silk Road trade routes.

250

During a visit to Moscow in May 2015, Chinese President Xi Jinping signed an agreement with Putin on aligning the Belt and Road Initiative with the EEU, which currently groups Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan and Armenia.

Calling the Belt and Road Initiative an example of cooperation in such fields as infrastructure, transport and industry, the Russian president said his country has supported the initiative from the very beginning. He said the historical experience of cooperation between countries linked by the ancient Silk Road through Asia, Europe and Africa is important in the 21st century when the world is facing "very serious challenges."

Putin called for more cooperation to meet worldwide challenges like unbalanced development in globalization, poverty and regional conflicts, saying that Russia is working with its partners to advance the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), among others.

The integration of the Belt and Road Initiative, the EEU, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has laid the groundwork for building a great Eurasian partnership, he said.

Meanwhile, Putin urged concrete actions to materialize the existing initiatives by facilitating flow of goods, cooperation between enterprises of different countries in Eurasia, infrastructure construction and establishment of joint and large-scale research institutions. He said the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by China is "very timely and promising."

China goes farther than Russia’s Eurasia in approach with its OBOR concept to include the African continent as well. Both ideas are, however, despised

by Washington that considers Russia-China alliance the most dangerous to its own global military supremacy scheme.

Already, China is very close to USA in economic and military dolmans.

--------

Peace talks restart in Geneva over Syria: Will they do any good?

-Dr. Abdul Ruff _____

251

Six years ago, USA successfully instigated a civil war in Syria by using its opposition in order to remove President Assad from power and now with Russia supporting the Assad regime, escalation has reached the zenith. They now seek de-escalation of crisis in Syria without any sincere intention even as there is no possibility for Assad to step down or removed in any way.

In fact, USA did not want to remove or kill Assad as it had done with Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. It only wanted to destabilize entire Arab world one by one. While President Saddam Hussein was a threat to US imperialism and its efforts to control Arab oil, Libyan leader President M. Qaddafi challenged US power, Syrian leader Assad was never such a threat to US power and control mechanism. That is the prime reason why Pentagon-CIA duo has left Assad alive. After all, he is only helping with the execution of US agenda of destabilization of Mideast.

That is the reason why all the peace efforts by UN have failed.

The United Nations has now convened a new round of indirect Syrian peace talks in Geneva, despite President Bashar al-Assad dismissing them as irrelevant. De Mistura met the government's chief representative, Bashar al-Jaafari, at UN headquarters on Tuesday morning as the sixth round of talks got under way.

The UN envoy said he would see Nasr al-Hariri and Mohammad Sabra of the main umbrella group representing political and armed opposition factions, the High Negotiations Committee (HNC). De Mistura told reporters the intention was to be "more businesslike, both in our meetings and in the way we hope we can get some progress".

The rooms would be small, the meetings would be more interactive and frequent, and discussions would be focused on particular subjects in an effort to achieve "more movement", he said.

De Mistura told played down last week's dismissive comments by Syria's president, who said the Geneva talks were "merely a meeting for the media" and praised the parallel process taking place in Kazakhstan's capital that has been organised by the government's allies Russia and Iran, along with key opposition backer Turkey.

252

As the civilian death toll has mounted over the past six years, President Bashar Assad has rejected all allegations of atrocities as “devoid of logic” because “the Syrian Army is made up of Syrian people.” When confronted with overwhelming evidence of systematic violations of the laws of war, he has stuck to this line, insisting: “We don’t kill civilians, because we don’t have the moral incentive, we don’t have the interest to kill civilians.”

Why don’t the Pentagon forces bomb the Assad palace and end the bloodshed?

Apparently, without permission of Moscow, Washington simply cannot even think of doing that. Also, the great internationalization of Syria’s conflict and the fact that its rebels seek to topple the government work in Assad’s favor.

Syria is a strong state with well-organized military fighting territory-holding rebels who have significant popular support. The scale of civilian death and the pattern of violations constitute human horrors of rights: custodial torture and extrajudicial killings of suspected regime opponents, attacks on civilian targets including hospitals and aid conveys, and the use of prohibited weapons. And in both cases international audiences raised the alarm about mass atrocities.

Assad has said "nothing substantial" will come out of the talks. But UN envoy Staffan de Mistura insists that the government's 18-strong delegation is in Switzerland "to work". Five previous rounds of negotiations have made little progress towards a political solution to the six-year civil war, which has left more than 300,000 people dead.

The Astana process resulted in the three powers signing a memorandum on 4 May establishing four "de-escalation" zones in the north-western province of Idlib, north of the central city of Homs, the Eastern Ghouta area outside Damascus, and in the southern provinces of Deraa and Quneitra. "We are working in tandem, in a way,” de Mistura said. "Everybody's been telling us and we agree that any type of reduction of violence, in this case de-escalation, cannot be sustained unless there is a political horizon in one direction or the other. That is exactly what we are pushing for," he added.

The government and opposition have agreed to discuss four "baskets" - a political transition, new constitution, elections and combating terrorism.

253

Meanwhile, officials from the Syrian government denied accusations that a prison crematorium was being used to hide mass killings of political prisoners. The Syrian foreign ministry said the accusations - made by the US state department - were "a new Hollywood story" and "totally baseless". An anonymous source quoted in the statement accused the US government of making the allegations up to justify US aggression in Syria.

Residents of a Damascus suburb are working to bring a sense of normality back to their lives after six years of war. When the rebel groups seized Eastern Ghouta in 2012, the Assad government responded by cutting basic services like power and water and also laying a military siege to the area, making life of people miserable. .UN has not made any speedy arrangements to mitigate the sufferings of such stranded populations.

Over time, residents have worked to provide the kind of basic functions that many urban communities take for granted. But their efforts are often hampered by the brutal and prolonged conflict that touches every aspect of life. "Our reality is being intentionally isolated from the rest of the world," Abou Ramez, one of the pioneers of civil projects there told the BBC. An elected "municipal council" for all opposition-held areas in the Damascus countryside was also formed, as well as an umbrella organisation representing over a hundred medical, relief, educational and other civil institutions.

Local councils were initially formed to provide relief work and basic municipal services, such as water and waste management. "We used cow manure to generate energy for generators to irrigate land," Ramez says. Power is also generated from waste products, and heating oil extracted by melting plastic. Over time the councils' role expanded to providing education and counseling centres. Projects are funded by external donors.

Ramez, says that councils try to remain neutral towards militant groups, but they also recognize the opposition "interim government", formed in 2013 and based in Turkey.

Today, Syria tops the list of deadliest countries for journalists, in large part due to regime attacks on the domestic press. Humanitarian aid delivery has been restricted since the conflict began. In Syria, these measures cut off nearly all sources of independent information.

254

In 2016, Assad disputed the existence of the Aleppo siege, arguing that if it were true, “people would have been dead by now.” (One estimate suggests that more than 30,000 people died in Aleppo between 2012 and 2016.) The regime has disputed the authenticity of photo and video evidence of chemical weapons attacks, barrel bombs, torture, and extrajudicial killings. Assad’s farcical suggestion last month that the dead children in the videos from Idlib were mere acting children could be a joke. Syria disputed the attribution of all war crimes it can’t deny, and portrayed its opponent as the only blameworthy actor. Early in the conflict, Assad told international media that “Most of the people that have been killed are supporters of the government.” In 2013, he rejected responsibility for the sarin gas attack in Ghouta, insisting “We’re not there.”

Finally, the Syrian government has accused the rebels of using civilians as human shields, and excused its targeting of hospitals and schools on the grounds that “terrorists” are using them as bases and weapons storage.

Obfuscation and denial can be enough to exploit this inertia and prevent intervention, especially when big powers like USA and Russia shield them. Syrian reality shows that even an international pariah can get away with mass murder.

The Syrian government does not recognize the councils and characterizes organised activity within rebel areas as the work of armed militia or "terrorist" groups. "It is exactly this kind of civil body that constitutes the biggest threat for the regime," says Majd al-Dik, whose team works on opening support centres for children. It has also worked to put Eastern Ghouta's large agricultural areas to use, by supporting local farmers to provide food for residents.

However, Syrian forces seized the farmland just one week before the harvest in 2016.

"Turning people from service providers into dependents - this is the goal behind targeting civilians," al-Dik told the BBC. Over 42 councils have been formed in the area since 2013, and members have been elected through democratic means since 2015.

Recurring internal fighting between rebel groups has also added to the obstacles facing civil work in Eastern Ghouta. When infighting first broke out in 2016, residents, activists and notable civil society figures staged demonstrations and sit-ins against the violence. Civil society figures also mediated between the disputing sides.

255

And in late April 2017 - exactly a year later - clashes broke out once again and several civilians were injured as they protested. Al-Dik says that movement around the area is severely restricted due to rebel snipers and checkpoints.

Meanwhile, the Syrian army and its allies have been advancing in the nearby strategic suburb of Qaboun, further tightening the siege and increasing the possibility of bombardment on the area.

Around two million people lived in Eastern Ghouta before the war began in 2011.

Today there are just around 400,000. As well as the threat of violence, residents also face the fear of forced evacuation as the conflict turns in the government's favour.

In recent months, thousands of people in rebel-held towns have left their homes as part of deals between the government and armed groups. "To evacuate the area is to destroy the civil body that has been established," Majd al-Dik says. "It's a catastrophe".

The Syrian government maintains that evacuations are not being forced on civilians.

Looking ahead to post-war Syria, Majd al-Dik says: "People ask about alternatives. But no-one talks about the local councils or civil institutions. Who is providing services in such areas now in the worst possible conditions?" Ramez says that many in Eastern Ghouta will never leave their homes. "Over 200,000 of our residents are capable of carrying weapons. Their united choice is to die and be martyred on this land rather than move to other areas only to be annihilated later on."

Peace talks between Israel and Palestine have never been successful because Israel doesn’t want to give up the occupation posts and return the lands stolen from Palestinians. As talks have become bogus tools to gain legitimacy for illegal occupation and genocides.

In Syria, none is sincere about peace or stability, including the President Assad who 256

just wants to be the permanent president without facing any elections. Maybe he thinks he has no death.

UN must step in to end hostilities in Syria and genocides and bring back normalcy.

Peace task are necessary but without sincerity nothing is going to work. Both USA and Russia are fighting their old cold war in Syria.

The Assad regime’s close relationship with Russia means that it is well-protected. For six years, victims’ advocates, international human rights activists, and horrified onlookers have been asking themselves how high the death toll in Syria has to get before someone will step in. But international action on mass atrocities is the exception rather than the rule.

Like Bush and Obama, Assad also should be tried for crimes against humanity.

Donald Trump in Saudi Arabia signs massive arms deal with Arab ally!

-Dr. Abdul Ruff

_______ Apparently US-Saudi relations have been revised by the trip of US President Donald Trump in his maiden presidential trip to the land of Arabs as his first preferred choice to make his first foreign visit.

President Trump in Saudi Arabia on Saturday signed a nearly $110 billion arms deal to help the Persian Gulf ally with its military-defense system. "That was a tremendous day," Trump, a highly successful US businessman said after signing the deal with Saudi leader King Salman.

"Tremendous investments in the United States. Hundreds of billions of dollars of investments into the United States and jobs, jobs, jobs," declared a beaming US President who seemed determined to be very diplomatic.

The White House says the package includes defense equipment and other support to help the Arab nation and the rest of the Gulf region fight again terrorism and the threat of a nucleararmed Iran, according to the White House.

257

US president hopes to rekindle a strategic relationship grown frosty under Obama as US officials pledging deals of around $350bn as the two allies rekindle a relationship that had grown frosty under the Obama government.

The multi-billion dollar defense deal “in the clearest terms possible” shows the United States’ commitment to Saudi Arabia and other Gulf partners and expands economic opportunities, the White House said. The deal will also supporting tens-of-thousands of new jobs in the US defense industrial base, the White House also said. The package includes tanks, combat ships, missile defense systems, radar and communications and cyber security technology.

The agreements included a $110bn arms package that the White House said would help Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states face Iranian threats and contribute to counter terrorism operations, “reducing the burden on the US military,” a White House official said. The value of the deals signal a revived partnership that promises Saudi investment into US infrastructure in return for US arms deals for the kingdom. Saudi Arabia is also looking for US support as Riyadh tries to transform its oil-reliant economy after the sustained drop in crude prices triggered a budgetary crisis and rapid deceleration. The kingdom hopes to cement this renewed commercial partnership with a common vision to check Iranian ambitions in the Arab world.

Trump on Saturday began a number of political and economic meetings with the Saudi leadership. Trump arrived in Saudi Arabia early Saturday as the start to his nine-day, overseas tour that will also take him to Israel and Europe. The international trip is Trump’s first since taking office in January. “Great to be in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia,” Trump (or his aide) tweeted upon landing in Air Force One. “Looking forward to the afternoon and evening ahead.”

Trump greeted at the Saudi airport with an elaborate ceremony, punctuated by a military flyover and a handshake from the 81-year-old Saudi King Salman. The two leaders exchanged pleasantries and Trump said it was "a great honor" to be there. Several jets then flew overhead leaving a red, white and blue trail. The king, walking with the aid of a stick, accompanied Trump up a red carpet at the royal terminal of Riyadh’s airport, with the president’s wife Melania following at the back of the small welcoming committee. First lady Melania Trump wore a black pantsuit with a golden belt and did not cover her head for the arrival, consistent with custom for foreign dignitaries visiting Saudi Arabia. In 2015, her husband had, in a tweet, criticized former first lady Michelle Obama for not wearing a headscarf during a visit to the kingdom. After two days of meetings in Riyadh, Trump will travel to Israel, have an audience with Pope Francis at the Vatican, then meet with allies at a NATO summit in Brussels and the Group of 7 wealthy nations in Sicily.

258

As the US president landed, dozens of chief executives from Saudi Arabia and the US were convening at a forum where they discussed Saudi financial flows into America, and how the US could help diversify the kingdom’s oil-reliant economy.

Saudi Aramco, the state oil company, signed more than $50bn worth of deals on Saturday, around $22bn of which were new memorandums of understanding, including: ● Investing $7bn with Rowan over 10 years to own and operate drilling rigs, creating 2,800 jobs in Saudi Arabia. ● Extending a joint venture with Nabors for oil well services, seeing $9bn of investment over 10 years, creating up to 5,000 jobs in the kingdom. ● A new joint venture with National Oilwell Varco in Saudi Arabia to manufacture driving rigs and equipment, seeing $6bn of investment over 10 years. Aramco also said it would boost operations at its US refinery unit Motiva, with a planned $12bn investment with a likely additional $18bn by 2023. The deal aims to create 12,000 jobs by 2023. Six firms — including Honeywell, McDermott and Weatherford — signed MOUs to expand Aramco’s use of locally produced goods and services, bringing $19bn of investment to the kingdom. Aramco also signed a deal with GE to deliver $4bn worth of savings via digitization of the oil firm’s operations. This was part of a GE package of valued at $15bn.

When deputy crown prince Mohammed bin Salman visited Washington earlier this year, the White House estimated that Saudi investment pledges could rise to around $200bn. In the defence sector, Lockheed Martin signed a $6bn deal to assemble 150 Blackhawk helicopters in the kingdom, supporting 450 jobs. Raytheon and General Dynamics also signed agreements to support the localization of defence contracts. The deals support Prince Mohammed’s plans for the world’s third-largest spender on arms to create a domestic industry led by the newly formed company Saudi Arabia Military Industries. The kingdom wants to source half of defence spending locally by 2030 from 2 per cent now. Saudi Arabia’s sovereign Public Investment Fund pledged $20bn for a $40bn Blackstone US infrastructure fund, with $20bn to be raised from other parties. Blackstone said it expects, with debt financing, to invest $100bn in infrastructure projects, mainly in the USA.

Saudi Arabia offered Trump the elaborate welcome ahead of his two-day stay. Billboards featuring images of Trump and the king dotted the highways of Riyadh, emblazoned with the motto "Together we prevail." Trump's luxury hotel was bathed in red, white and blue lights and, at times, an image of the president's face.

Trump and the king met briefly in the airport terminal for a coffee ceremony before the president headed to his hotel before the day's other meetings.

White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus told reporters on Air Force One that Trump spent the flight meeting with staff, working on his upcoming speech to the Muslim world and getting a little sleep.

259

After spending much of Saturday meeting with King Salman and other members of the royal family, Trump was to end the day at a banquet dinner at the Murabba Palace. On Sunday, he'll hold meetings with more than 50 Arab and Muslim leaders converging on Riyadh for a regional summit focused largely on combating the Islamic State and other extremist groups.

The centerpiece of Trump's visit to Saudi Arabia will be a speech Sunday at the Arab-IslamicAmerican summit. White House aides view the address as a counter to Obama's 2009 speech to the Muslim world, which Trump criticized as too apologetic for US actions in the region.

Trump will call for unity in the fight against radicalism in the Muslim world, casting the challenge as a "battle between good and evil" and urging Arab leaders to "drive out the terrorists from your places of worship," according to a draft of the speech obtained by The Associated Press. The draft notably refrains from mentioning democracy and human rights — topics Arab leaders often view as U.S. moralizing — in favor of the more limited goals of peace and stability. It also abandons some of the harsh anti-Muslim rhetoric that defined Trump's presidential campaign and does not contain the words "radical Islamic terror," a phrase Trump repeatedly criticized Hillary Clinton for not using during last year's campaign.

White House officials hope the trip gives Trump the opportunity to recalibrate after one of the most difficult stretches of his young presidency. The White House badly bungled the president's stunning firing of FBI Director James Comey, who was overseeing the federal investigation into possible ties between Trump's campaign and Russia. On Wednesday, the Justice Department relented to calls from Democrats to name a special counsel, tapping former FBI chief Robert Mueller to lead the probe.

At the close of the Saturday morning forum, about 70 senior Saudi executives and US chief executives boarded buses outside the Four Seasons hotel, bound for lunch with King Salman and Mr Trump at the royal court. The elite business delegation is set to hold postprandial talks with Prince Mohammed, architect of the kingdom’s reform plans. Around 30 US executives were approved to attend the lunch, including names such as Larry Fink of BlackRock, Michael Corbat of Citigroup, Roy Harvey of Alcoa, Adena Friedman of Nasdaq and financial adviser Michael Klein.

Trump dodged one potential land mine when Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, who has been indicted on war crime and genocide charges, announced that he would not attend the summit for personal reasons.

Trump during his winning presidential campaign and in the first several months of his presidency has argued the United States can no longer be the world’s police officer and that

260

other nations must become more self-sufficient in efforts to combat terrorism and in protecting themselves against rogue nations like Iran and North Korea.

The US president is expected to pledge his respect and support to Saudi leaders and to the region, after months of harsh anti-Muslim rhetoric.

The Arab-US oil-terror goods business is back to fore to cement the ailing ties between allies.

The $110-billion (around 100 billion Euros) deal for Saudi purchases of US defense equipment and services was one of several deals announced during Trump's visit to Saudi Arabia. The military sales deal is effective immediately, with another $350 billion set of deals to kick in over the next 10 years. "This package of defense equipment and services support the long-term security of Saudi Arabia and the Gulf region in the face of Iranian threats," a White House official said when announcing the deal. "We now stand together to thwart our common enemies, to strengthen the bonds between us and to chart a path towards peace and prosperity for all," the leaders said in a joint declaration.

Russia and Iran - allies with Syria against the US-Saudi Arabia axis in the region - this year signed a large arms deal. The US-Saudi deal comes amid talk of a possible reconfiguration of Middle East alliances, and possibly global ties. For Riyadh, the visit is an opportunity to rebuild ties with a key ally, strained under Trump's predecessor Barack Obama, who Sunni Arab Gulf states suspected of a tilt towards their Shiite regional rival Iran.

Iran: Hassan Rouhani reelected President!

-Dr. Abdul Ruff ______

The Iranian president, Hassan Rouhani, has been re-elected in a landslide victory, endorsing his efforts to re-engage with the west and offer greater freedoms at home. With a huge turnout, polling stations stayed open until midnight in parts of the country, defying concerns that moderates disillusioned by the weak economy or slow pace of change would not vote. The president received close to 23 million votes, Interior Minister Abdul Reza Rahmani Fazli said on state television, in an election that had an unexpectedly high turnout of about 70%.

261

Iran's reformist President Rouhani has decisively won the country's presidential election, fending off a challenge by principlist rival, Ebrahim Raisi a conservative cleric. With all of votes in Friday's poll counted, Rouhani was re-elected with 57 percent, Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmanifazli said. "Of some 41.2 million total votes cast, Rouhani got 23.5 and won the election," Rahmanifazli said in remarks carried live by state TV. Raisi, Rouhani's closest rival, main challenger, former prosecutor Ebrahim Raisi received 38.5%, or 15.7 million votes, not enough to take the election to a second round. A big turnout on Friday led to the vote being extended by several hours to deal with long queues.

Rouhani, a moderate who agreed a deal with world powers to limit Iran's nuclear program, pledged to "remain true" to his promises. The decisive victory gives him a strong mandate to seek reforms and revive Iran's ailing economy, analysts say. In his first remarks after winning the poll, Rouhani said: "Great people of Iran, you're the winners of the election."

Giving full details, Iran’s interior minister, Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli, announced live on state television that Rouhani received 23,549,616 votes (57%), compared with his conservative rival Ebrahim Raisi, who won 15,786,449 votes (38.5%). More than 41.2 million people voted out of 56 million who were eligible to do so. The two other lesser known candidates, Mostafa Aqa-Mirsalim and Mostafa Hashemi-Taba, got 478,215 and 215,450 votes respectively.

The incumbent saw off a strong challenge from Raisi, a fellow cleric with radically different politics who stirred up populist concerns about the sluggish economy, lambasted Rouhani for seeking foreign investment and appealed to religious conservatives. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader, issued a statement addressed to the Iranian people in which he praised the “massive and epic” turnout.

Presidency

In Iran’s unique and uneasy hybrid of democracy and theocracy, the president has significant power to shape government, although he is ultimately constrained by the supreme leader. Khamenei, a hardliner thought to have favored Raisi in the election and as a possible successor for his own job, generally steers clear of daily politics but controls powerful bodies from the judiciary to the Revolutionary Guards.

Despite losing the overall race, Raisi appeared to have won enough votes to allow him to campaign for office again or justify his promotion in unelected bodies.

Rouhani’s campaign headquarters said there was no plan to hold a celebratory rally.

262

Iranians are usually quick to celebrate such victories, mainly by honking car horns or dancing in streets or distributing sweets. The scale of voter turnout was the highest for many years. The governor of the northern province of Gilan was quoted as saying the turnout there was 80%. In Yazd, the home city of former reformist president, Mohammad Khatami, there was 91% participation.

Fear of a Raisi presidency prompted many in Iran to vote. In Tehran, even political prisoners such as the prominent human rights lawyer Narges Mohammadi, cast their votes inside the notorious Evin prison. And the double Oscar-winning film director Asghar Farhadi voted in Cannes while participating at the festival.

Significance Rouhani’s victory will be welcomed by Iranian reformists as well as the country’s opposition green movement.

Opposition leaders under house arrest, Mir Hossein Mousavi, his wife, Zahra Rahnavard, and Mehdi Karroubi, had urged people to vote for Rouhani. The president changed his tone on the campaign trail in order to appeal to the opposition. “Ya Hossein, Mir Hossein” was a ubiquitous slogan chanted by Rouhani fans in almost every place he campaigned in the three weeks before the vote.

The election was seen by many as a verdict on Rouhani's policy of opening up Iran to the world and his efforts to rebuild its stagnant economy. Rouhani swept into office four years ago on a promise to reduce Iran's international isolation.

Friday poll was the first since he negotiated a historic deal with world powers in 2015 to curb the country's nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief. In the campaign trail, Rouhani sought to frame the vote as a choice between greater civil liberties and "extremism", criticising the continued arrest of reformist leaders and activists. Raisi, for his part, accused Rouhani of mismanaging the economy and positioned himself as a defender of the poor and calling for a much tougher line with the West.

Political commentator Mostafa Khoshcheshm said that in contrast to the 2013 election campaign, when Rouhani spoke about the removal of sanctions and the improvement of the economy, this time his message was different. "He resorted to other campaign slogans, like [calling for] social and political freedom, and he pushed the boundaries in order to gather public support, especially in large cities," Khoshcheshm told Al Jazeera. "If he has secured this result, it's because of the large cities and the middle class society living there - they have voted for him and made him a president and they expect him to do his promises."

263

Trita Parsi, of the National Iranian American council, said the results showed Iranians had chosen “a path of gradual transformation through peaceful participation”. “President Rouhani’s convincing win is a sharp rebuke to Iran’s unelected institutions that were a significant brake on progress during his first term,” he said. “It is also a rebuke of Washington hawks who openly called for either a boycott of the vote, or for the hardline candidate Ebrahim Raisi to win in order to hasten a confrontation.” He said it was now time for Rouhani to deliver on the promises that inspired people to vote him back in.

Hardliners

Iran's hardliners had pulled all the stops and mobilized all their resources to bring out as many people as possible to grab the last centre of power in Iran that was not under their control, namely the executive branch. Sensing an effort by the hardliners, supporters of President Rouhani who back his promises to steer the country toward moderation came out in big numbers too. Turnout has been unprecedented. In Tehran, five million people turned out to vote - twice as many as in 2013.

This was a revenge of the people against the hardliners who intimidated them, jailed them, executed them, drove them to exile, pushed them out of their jobs, and discriminated against women.

Campaign

President Rouhani will now have a bigger mandate to push through his reforms, to put an end to extremism, to build bridges with the outside world, to put the economy back on track.

Iranians have said a resounding Yes to President Rouhani who, in recent years and particularly during the last several weeks of campaigning, promised to expand individual and political freedoms and make all those centres of power, like the Revolutionary Guard, accountable. He also promised a moderate vision and an outward-looking Iran and, at rallies, openly attacked the conservative-dominated judiciary and security services. Another challenge, experts say, will come from abroad, and the relations with the new US government. President Donald Trump opposes the nuclear deal which eased sanctions on the Middle Eastern country, but his White House renewed it earlier this week.

264

As polling day draws closer in Iran, the state of the economy had become the key battleground for the six candidates running for president. With rampant unemployment, some are promising jobs and others cash hand-outs as they appeal for votes. Given his record, winning this election ought to be easy for incumbent Hassan Rouhani - but his re-election was by no means a certainty.

Rouhani managed to strike an historic deal in 2015 with world powers over Iran's controversial nuclear programme, resolving a long-standing crisis with the West.

International sanctions were lifted as a result, but average Iranians say they do not feel the economic benefits in their daily lives. "For the past two years, many have stayed away from the property market, first with the hope prices would fall postsanctions and now for the fear of what happens in the elections," says Ali Saeedi, a real estate agent. "Many of my colleagues left their jobs because the market is dead," Saeedi, 33, says.

Iran's housing sector shrank 13% in the year to March 2017, while the country's overall economy grew by almost 6.6%, estimates International Monetary Fund.

That growth came mostly from increased oil exports following the lifting of sanctions. Iran's highest record in the past four decades has been creating 600,000 jobs a year. Iran's current unemployment rate stands at 12.7%, up 1.7% over the past year. That puts the number of those with absolutely no employment at 3.3 million.

But when it comes to young people, one in every three of those aged 15-24 is jobless. In that age group, every other woman is unemployed. For those without a job, Qalibaf is also offering a 2.5m rial ($66) monthly unemployment benefit, a first in the 38 years since the Islamic Revolution. The price tag for this election promise alone is a staggering $2.6bn. Qalibaf does not say where he will find the money, nor how he will manage to double Iran's job creation record.

Former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in his two terms (2005-2013) started cash hand-outs when removing subsidies, offered low-interest loans for small businesses and launched massive projects of affordable housing for the poor.

But when Ahmadinejad left office the economy was shrinking by 7% a year and 265

inflation reached 40%. He blamed international sanctions. Economists blamed Ahmadinejad’s populist policies and his mismanagement of the economy.

Challenge

The economy remains the number one challenge. Rouhani, 68, signed a nuclear deal between Iran, the US and other countries in 2015. International sanctions were lifted as a result, but average Iranians say they do not feel the economic benefits in their daily lives. While oil exports have rebounded and inflation is back at single-digits, unemployment remains high, especially among the young people.

Rouhani has brought inflation down from around 40 percent when he took over in 2013, but prices are still rising by over seven percent a year. Oil sales have rebounded since the nuclear deal took effect in January 2016, but growth in the rest of the economy has been limited, leaving unemployment at 12.5 percent overall - close to 30 percent for the young - and many more are under-employed or struggling to get by. "Rouhani now gets his second term, and will be able to continue the work that he started in his first four-year term trying to reform Iran," Hull said. "And moving on, crucially, from the nuclear deal to try and bring much more economic progress to satisfy the people who have found themselves extremely disappointed with the very slow pace of change since that agreement was signed."

President Rouhani has brought GDP growth back into the black, inflation into singledigits and trade deficit into a surplus. But expectations are high and Rouhani himself is to blame, having promised miracles once the sanctions were lifted.

Most members of Iran's fledgling private sector say they would give Rouhani another chance. "We want him to improve the business environment and free the economy from rent-seeking, corruption and monopoly," says Hamid Hosseini, chief executive of Soroosh oil refinery in Iran.

Hosseini is a board member of Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Mines and the founder of the country's oil products export union. He says a large group of private sector executives have come together to support Rouhani. "His government has given the society hope with lifting sanctions, increasing growth and tourism, attracting foreign investment and should be confident in this race," Hosseini says.

But the choice for some young Iranians like Ali Saeedi is not crystal-clear.

266

Rouhani's re-election is likely to safeguard the 2015 agreement, under which most international sanctions have been lifted in return for Iran curbing its nuclear program. Rouhani has vowed to work towards removing the remaining non-nuclear sanctions, but critics argue that will be hard with Donald Trump as US president Trump has repeatedly described it as "one of the worst deals ever signed", although his administration re-authorised waivers from sanctions this week.

Rouhani is also expected to face the same restrictions that prevented him from delivering substantial social change in his first term.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has veto power over all policies and ultimate control of the security forces, While Rouhani has been unable to secure the release of reformist leaders from house arrest.

Rouhani, during an "increasingly acrimonious election campaign, alienated a lot of Iran's significant state institutions who may be in no mood to cooperate with him going forward".

While the nuclear deal was at the forefront of the election, the campaign was dominated by the issues of poverty and unemployment.

------------------

China’s New Silk Road project: Focus on South Asia! (3 parts) -Dr. Abdul Ruff ____________

REVISED (Note: Each part could be published separately one after another) Part -1: Rising Chinese power China, the only veto power of Asia and major global power, is seen trying to take a larger role in global affairs by promoting its economic ventures across continents of Asia, Africa and Europe by joint efforts. Obviously, besides making joint ventures with wiling partners, China may be trying to put an 267

end to US monopoly in world affairs, Beijing would like to share domination with USA. China has come out with a fast forward idea of working together for greater benefits for all nations involved. The Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21stcentury Maritime Silk Road or One Belt, One Road (OBOR) is a development strategy, proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping that focuses on connectivity and cooperation among countries primarily between the People's Republic of China and the rest of Eurasia, which consists of two main components, the land-based "Silk Road Economic Belt" (SREB) and oceangoing "Maritime Silk Road" (MSR).

The China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the Bangladesh-ChinaIndia-Myanmar (BCIM) Economic Corridor are officially classified as "closely related to the Belt and Road Initiative".

The strategy underlines China's push to take a bigger role in global affairs, and its need for priority capacity cooperation in collective economic affairs in areas such as steel manufacturing.

The One Belt One Road initiative is geographically structured along 6 corridors, and the maritime Silk Road. New Eurasian Land Bridge, running from Western China to Western Russia; China - Mongolia - Russia Corridor, running from Northern China to Eastern Russia; China - Central Asia - West Asia Corridor, running from Western China to Turkey; China - Indochina Peninsula Corridor, running from Southern China to Singapore; China Pakistan Corridor, running from South-Western China to Pakistan; Bangladesh - China - India - Myanmar Corridor, running from Southern China to India; Maritime Silk Road, running from the Chinese Coast over Singapore and India to the Mediterranean.

Essentially, the 'Belt' includes countries situated on the original Silk Road through Central Asia, West Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. It goes through Central Asia, Russia to Europe.

One Belt, One Road has been contrasted with the two US-centric trading arrangements, the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership.

The China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative offers enormous opportunities for all the countries involved and Greek business community warmly supports all the efforts to deepen the two countries' cooperation under this 268

context, President of the Greek-Chinese Economic Council Fotis Provatas said recently.

OBOR Summit 2017 Chinese President Xi Jinping welcomed UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres before the Leaders' Roundtable Summit at the Belt and Road Forum (BRF) for International Cooperation at Yanqi Lake International Convention Center in Beijing, capital of China, May 14-15, 2017. Around 30 state and government heads as well as delegates from more than 100 countries – including the USA and North Korea – discussed the Belt and Road initiative, one of the world’s biggest economic diplomacy programs led

by China.

In a keynote speech delivered at the opening ceremony of the two day Initiative called Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation held in Beijing on May 14 President Xi Jinping said that China would launch Belt and Road cooperation initiative on trade connectivity together with some 60 countries and international organizations. Xi said that the Belt and Road Initiative embodies the aspiration for inter-civilization exchanges, the yearning for peace and stability, the pursuit of common development and the shared dream for a better life. President Jinping called for renewing the Silk Road spirit. Noting that "we are at a fresh starting point, ready to embark on a new journey together," Xi said, "so long as we press ahead with a common vision without backpedaling or standing still, we will achieve greater connectivity and benefit from each other's development." Before the banquet, Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan greeted the guests at the Great Hall of the People.

Apart from this zone, which is largely analogous to the historical Silk Road, another area that is said to be included in the extension of this 'belt' is South Asia and Southeast Asia. Many of the countries that are part of this belt are also members of the China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).

North, central and south belts are proposed. The Central belt goes through Central Asia, West Asia to the Persian Gulf and the Mediterranean. The South belt starts from China to Southeast Asia, South Asia, to the Indian Ocean through Pakistan. The Chinese One Belt strategy will integrate with Central Asia through Kazakhstan's Nurly Zhol infrastructure program. The coverage area of the initiative, however, is primarily Asia and Europe, encompassing around 60 countries. Oceania and East Africa are also included.

269

The summit was aimed to map out China’s ambitious new Silk Road project, of which the OBOR is an integral part. The scheme was proposed in 2013 by Xi to promote a vision of expanding links between Asia, Africa and Europe. China has earmarked US$40 billion for a special fund for the scheme, on top of the US$100 billion capitalization for the China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, many of whose projects will likely be part of the initiative. The OBOR’s wingspan is expected to include 68 nations from China through Southeast and South Asia to Africa and Europe.

The conspicuous absence of the heads of state from the major Western economic powers and Japan at the belt and road summit this month in Beijing is a big mistake and a missed opportunity for enhancing dynamic and cooperative globalization. India, also seeking wide stage to promote its own interests, chose to ignore the China initiate.

Cost and Benefits The initiative, unveiled in September 2013 by President Xi Jinping, aims to connect China by a network of overland corridors and sea routes to the rest of Asia, Africa and beyond, linking the dozens of countries through infrastructure and financial and trade ties. The economies along the routes account for about 63 per cent of the world’s population and 29 per cent of global GDP. Anticipated cumulative investment over an indefinite timescale is variously put at US$4 trillion or US$8 trillion. President Xi said in his speech at the opening of the forum that China will contribute an additional 100 billion yuan (about 14.5 billion US dollars) to the Silk Road Fund. Xi certainly looked keen

to begin exercising a leadership role, offering to help tackle the economic and security problems faced by Greece and Turkey, issues the EU has struggled to deal with.

The Belt and Road Initiative is expected to bridge the 'infrastructure gap' and thus accelerate economic growth across the Asia Pacific area and Central and Eastern Europe: World Pensions Council (WPC) experts estimate that "Asia alone (excluding China) will need up to $900 billion in infrastructure investments annually in the next 10 years, mostly in debt instruments. This means there’s a 50 percent shortfall in infra spending on the continent." The gaping need for long term capital explains why many Asian and Eastern European heads of state "gladly expressed their interest to join this new Chinese-led initiative focusing solely on ‘real assets’ and infrastructure-driven economic growth.

270

Xi told his audience that he had proposed an additional RMB780 billion (approximately US$113 billion) to be disbursed through multiple sources. These include the Silk Road Fund; the China Development Bank; the Export and Import Bank of China and also overseas capital provided by Chinese banks. The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is not part – at least not yet – of this proposed package.

Out of this amount, RMB250 billion will be provided in loans from China Development Bank, and RMB130 billion from Export-Import Bank of China. This funding is not direct investment but loans, as in the case of China-PakistanEconomic Corridor, which the Chinese sources will provide to the participant countries. That would put Beijing in a position to steer the course of each country’s development to a direction it deems fit for its own interests. China, as the primary financer of loans, therefore stands to gain the most and it stands atop the list of potential beneficiaries.

The whopping trade imbalance that China has vis-à-vis almost all the OBOR countries and the way the OBOR initiative is solidifying, through various agreements, worries New Delhi.

Less-developed countries along the new Silk Road stand are among the big winners of investment as China revives ancient land and maritime trade routes, according to estimates by a top bank. The potential benefits of the belt and road, if the dream were even only partly realized, could be enormous. The inclusion of the Middle East and Central Asia could contribute to peace and prosperity in these currently dramatically turbulent regions.

Credit Suisse forecasts that China’s massive inflow of investment over the next five years as part of Beijing’s “Belt and Road Initiative” could amount to as much as US$502 billion, or equivalent to 4 per cent of the total gross domestic product of the 62 countries along the routes in 2015. Credit Suisse estimates that China’s overseas investment in the initiative over the next five years will range between US$313 billion to US$502 billion, depending on how much investment the countries need and how much China is willing to put in.

According to an HSBC estimate, the “Belt and Road Initiative” will generate roughly 300 billion yuan to 500 billion yuan in railway investment, financing more than 15,000km in high-speed rail links along the route. The Credit Suisse report said the initiative could become even more promising as a more “isolationist” administration in the United States created windows of opportunity. “With the new US government pulling out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, it is unavoidably sending a message to the world that US government policy is turning more ‘isolationist’,” the report said. At the same, China was striving for greater global influence, it said. Chinese 271

investment could also help make up for any capital outflows in the region. If the dollar strengthens, especially as the US moves along the path of rate normalization, emerging market countries also have to face the risks of capital outflow.

The biggest recipients of the investment dollars were expected to be India, Russia, Indonesia, Iran and Egypt, the bank said in a report released earlier this month. India stands to be the biggest gainer overall, according to the report, with China putting in ¬between US$84 billion and US$126 billion.

Russia is next with US$53 billion to US$80 billion; ¬Indonesia third on US$35 billion-US$52 billion; Iran fourth attracting US$17 billion-US$26 billion; and Egypt fifth with US$13 billion to US$20 billion. The report also says China could invest between US$52 billion and US$79 billion in 13 African countries. “Africa is rich in resources, and an important destination for Chinese investment over the past decade,” it said.

A successful, inclusive, globally collective effort to make the belt and road a reality could be a harbinger of peace and prosperity. It is a pity that myopia and prejudice prevent Western and Japanese leaders from being present at this potentially seminal event.

Part-2: South India’s take

President Xi’s project was intended to present the world with a view of statecraft different from what the West espoused. But so far Beijing had failed to find a rhetoric that would appeal to Westerners. China invites the world to join its “project of the century. The president’s vision, however, is winning supporters from across the globe. Xi told the conference: “Swan geese are able to fly far and safely through winds and storms because they move in flocks and help each other as a team,” The message is: the best way to meet challenges and achieve better development is through cooperation.”

Pakistan

272

Pakistan where the Sino-Pakistani joint projects succeeded is the corner stone of China’s economic project. India is opposed to it.

The project OBOR was first unveiled in September and October when Chinese leader Xi Jinping visited Central Asia and Southeast Asia in September and October 2013 he raised the initiative of jointly building the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road and announced two major projects revealing the SREB and MSR, respectively. It was also promoted by Premier Li Keqiang during the State visit in Asia and Europe. The initiative calls for the integration of the region into a cohesive economic area through building infrastructure, increasing cultural exchanges, and broadening trade.

China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (also known by the acronym CPEC) is a collection of infrastructure projects currently under construction throughout CPEC is intended to rapidly modernize Pakistani infrastructure and strengthen its economy by the construction. On 13 November 2016, CPEC became partly operational when Chinese cargo was transported overland to Gwadar Port for onward maritime shipment to Africa and West Asia. The CPEC in particular is often regarded as the link between China's maritime and overland Silk Road, with the port of Gwadar forming the crux of the CPEC project.

The Belt and Road Initiative proposed by China provides opportunities for the whole world to promote peace and prosperity, experts in Bangladesh said China's peaceful development is a blessing and opportunity for countries which face extreme difficulties given the rising protectionism in some countries. Bangladeshi experts highly lauded China's contribution to socioeconomic development of the world and said the initiative of reviving the ancient Silk Road through a network of roads and maritime waterways will surely be a boon for cooperation between China and the rest of the world.

According to the experts, countries on the Belt and Road, especially those with underdeveloped infrastructure, low investment rates and per-capita income, could experience a boost in trade flow and benefit from infrastructure development.

Pakistan foreign affairs expert Muhammad Mehdi says that the trade plan is not solely a Chinese enterprise. “China sees annual trade volume with Silk Road countries from US$1 trillion to US$2.5 trillion within a decade. It reflects 9.6 per cent of annual growth. If South Asia taps this opportunity, it can change the fate of its poor people,” he says. An example of convergence 273

of interests is clearly visible in the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, a multilateral development bank which India joined as the second largest shareholder after China. Similarly, the New Development Bank, where Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (the BRICS) are equal partners, is headquartered in Shanghai, and is not envisaged as a Belt and Road initiative by them.

South Asia

The OBOR project, designed to span 65 countries covering 65 percent of the world population, would enable China to not only champion as the primary engine of one third of global economic output, but also accumulate vast amounts of capital as repayments, and through its own direct trade from Central Asia to Europe. The project would obviously impact on the South Asian region.

Plagued by territorial conflicts, poor governance and limping economies, the SA region has drawn inspiration from China’s plan and unleashed an effort to join a shared destiny. South Asia is marred by corruption that is undermining its growth trajectory. The World Economic Forum, in its 2015 Global Competitiveness Index, pointed to corruption as the primary reason for the region’s poor global competitiveness. As China puts conditions on every beneficiary of the trade plan to get rid of corruption, Pakistan and other South Asian countries must gear up to liberate themselves from vicious chains of corruption.

Unemployment is a daunting challenge for South Asia. In order to increase socio-economic viability, it has to create one million jobs every month till 2020. According to the International Labour Organisation, global unemployment will go up by 3.4 million in 2017. With the belt plan a catalyst for transformational change in the economic profile of South Asia, CPEC has started showing its productivity by opening up thousands of jobs for local people. China’s ambassador to Islamabad, Sun Weidong, told reporters that so far the initiative has generated 13,000 local jobs. Experts claim that CPEC projects are likely to create more than one million jobs in various sectors of Pakistan by 2030.

South Asia’s emergence as a leading economic power is in the making, and credit goes to China’s “Belt and Road Initiative”. The grand plan has set into motion game-changing strategies that will lead to free trade agreements, economic integration, physical infrastructure plans, shared growth and structural reforms, all in tune with future demands.

274

Since this epic plan was announced, South Asia – weighed down by a reputation for regional conflicts, security threats, bad governance, impaired transparency, an energy crisis, poor infrastructure, fragile institutions and limping economies - has unleashed its effort to be part of a shared destiny.

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), a critical regional alliance in South Asia accounting for 21 per cent of the world’s population and 7 per cent of its economy, will receive a new lease of life after staying dysfunctional due to a long decade of differences among member countries, especially Pakistan and India. To help SAARC benefit from regional connectivity, China has already stepped up its endeavor to become a full member of the association.

India and China are part of the Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar Economic Corridor (BCIM-EC), a sub-regional economic cooperation initiative involving the four countries which are engaged in talks for developing cooperation through a joint study group. This group had its latest meeting in Kolkata, India in late April. The BCIM-EC is now being projected as a component of the BRI by China. However, this initiative was conceived well before the Belt and Road Initiative was formulated, and it should not be subsumed within that strategy but instead pursued as a separate grouping for sub-regional cooperation. It involves full and equal ownership of all four countries involved, rather than a subsidiary position as a loop of the Belt and Road.

Like China, India has its own agenda of connectivity and cooperation within Asia and beyond. For instance, India’s “Act East” strategy is aimed at developing close economic synergies with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and East Asia. Two great nations and civilizations such as India and China need not endorse or sign on to each other’s strategies. A more pragmatic approach will be to explore synergies and look at projects they can work on together, without insisting on artificial labeling.

In the view of MP Lohani, former Nepalese ambassador to Bangladesh, China’s ambitious plan for regional connectivity will revitalize SAARC. So China’s induction into the regional body on the basis of its geographical, historical, cultural and economic features will be a breath of fresh air.

The trade plan’s impacts will make China’s free trade agreements with Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal and India more lucrative, triggering an economic boost. Though Pakistan and China are yet to finalize the second phase of a free trade deal, trade between the countries was valued at US$4 billion in 2006-07 and reached US$13.77 billion in 2015-16.

275

The potential benefits of the belt and road, if the dream were even only partly realized, could be enormous. The inclusion of the Middle East and Central Asia could contribute to peace and prosperity in these currently dramatically turbulent regions. The trade plan undoubtedly will have a deep impact in alleviating poverty plaguing South Asia, home to 1.7 billion people.

As per the World Bank’s latest poverty calculation, about 570 million people in South Asia still survive on less than US$1.25 a day.

Peace is another dividend that will come to fruition with the new Silk Road initiative. India, with a fast-growing economy, has many disputes with China and Pakistan. It opposes the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a pilot project of the trade initiative, due to its route passing through Gilgit Baltistan, which India considers a disputed area between Pakistan and India.

However, Indian lobbyists in collaboration with their Chinese counterparts have been brainstorming to build a peaceful neighborhood for relishing joint economic benefits.

India’s worry Nukes, Pakistan, Kashmir and cricket are the major concerns of India as it wants to control them at accost, including bribing big powers. All these domains, effectively managed by Indian lobbyist and agents, gave its economy strong footing.

Sandwiched between China and Pakistan and facing a strong freedom movement in occupied Jammu Kashmir, India took an uncharacteristically bold foreign policy stance by turning down China’s invite. India’s objections are rooted on the fundamental issue of its own sovereignty and territorial integrity, which it says have been violated due to the project. India feels the OBOR will basically further interests of Chinese banks and Chinese companies while ignoring Indian sensitivities. It appears to be a rapacious penetration of Pakistan’s economy and territory, including that of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan to which India lays claim, by Chinese enterprises and agencies.

Whenever India, ignoring the freedom struggle being waged by Kashmiris who have been fighting for their lost sovereignty, has lobbied at international forums for entry to the Nuclear Suppliers Group, permanent membership of the UN Security Council and push for UN sanctions against Pakistan, Beijing has always opposed i. Beijing thus offers New Delhi little incentive to be ebullient about bolstering its own causes and crusades especially at the international level 276

India is keen not to lose out Jammu Kashmir under any new project in South Asia. India opposes and ignores the OBOR. China’s relations with India are not as smooth as its Pakistani ties, although all these nations occupy parts of Jammu Kashmir. India is suspicious of Chinese moves. Plans are being hammered out for a free trade agreement between India and China. That effort comes amid India-China trade volume hitting US$70 billion in 2016 as India sought to increase exports to US$30 billion. Meanwhile, joint feasibility studies for a FTA linking Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are on the fast track.

There is room for closer consultations between China and India on the objectives, contours and future directions of the Belt and Road. However, India has considered synergy-based cooperation on a case-by-case basis, where its interests for regional development converge with that of other countries, including China. This pragmatic approach is formulated on India’s stance that as the two major powers in Asia, there is bound to be common understanding on many global and regional issues between India and China.

They have cooperated on international platforms with similar positions on climate change and global trade, for instance.

Linked to this is the compulsion of protecting Chinese maritime commerce, particularly oil, in the IOR. India risks being systematically frozen out of business opportunities in an enlarging area that is integrating with the Chinese economy around the world.

Chinese scholars have been issuing dire warnings on how India would be isolated as most Asian nations as well as the USA and Russia are on board. India’s noncooperation is also being linked to Sino-Indian ties, which have hit a new low lately.

The unresolved decades-old border dispute, Chinese support for India’s arch-rival Pakistan and New Delhi’s backing of the Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama which rankles China, have affected bilateral relations.

Critics also feel that India’s underwhelming response to China’s grand scheme stems in part from the latter consistently squashing its neighbor’s ambitions to augment its influence at the global high table.

It is difficult to say whether India hated more China or Pakistan. India has repeatedly conveyed its strong objections regarding the CPEC to China. A flagship program and the most advanced component of the initiative, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, a region that is under the control of Pakistan and India now claims to be its own as a ploy to force Pakistan to stop fighting for India occupied 277

Kashmir. As a country acutely conscious of its own sovereignty-related claims, it wants China to appreciate India’s “sensitivities” in this regard.

Besides Indian objections, a document acquired by leading Pakistani daily Dawn lays out Beijing’s plans for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which includes installing 24-hour surveillance in major cities and the dissemination of Chinese culture. Such designs could give fuel to those who frame OBOR as 21st-century Chinese colonialism.

Part-3: Problems and Prospects

The Belt and Road plan, according to Beijing, is a practical economic strategy for China’s objectives to connect the region, seek new growth engines for its slowing economy, utilize its surplus capacity, and develop and stabilize its western regions. It would also bring benefits to partner countries.

The Belt and Road plan is a Chinese initiative rather than a multilateral enterprise undertaken after prior consultation with potential partner countries, and India has not endorsed it. It is one of the most imaginative and ambitious programs ever to be rolled out by a government. It represents a broad strategy for China’s economic cooperation and expanded presence in Asia, Africa and Europe, and has been presented as a win-win initiative for all participating nations. But for India seeking not to lose out Kashmir by any developmental projects in the region, the connotations of China’s Belt and Road Initiative” for New Delhi are somewhat different. By joining, India could benefit from Chinese investment in infrastructure projects, and fast-track its economic development through trade connectivity.

The origin of the belt and road idea is to open up China’s landlocked western provinces towards Central Asia in a sense it is exporting China’s internal needs to find external solutions.

It is however wrong today to presume that the One Belt-One Road in Beijing is fundamentally the elaboration of a Chinese dream wherein participant countries appear only as facilitators and fade away China would make maximum out of it.

India opposes China to be on top of the hierarchy of the states participating in it and it does not approve Chinese leadership and seeks USA to contain China. .

278

Enthusiasm for Chinese money, however, does not equate to enthusiasm for Chinese leadership. OBOR revealed eye-catching figures including the Chinese government’s pledge to invest $124 billion into the scheme and provide $78 billion of financing for OBOR projects.

Both the Belt and Road are clearly intended to enhance connectivity not just across Eurasia but between China and Europe. However, the EU, which holds reservations over OBOR, can put the brakes on China’s plans, demonstrated by its ongoing investigation into the Belgrade-Budapest highspeed rail funded by Beijing.

China is by no means an angel. Nor, however, as Western and Japanese rhetoric tends to proclaim, is it a devil; or certainly no more so than previous rising great powers. Furthermore, while for much of modern history China was subjugated and marginalized, it’s quite staggering re-emergence will continue to mark the first decades of the 21st century.

Skeptics are, however, questioning the lack of details and multilateral stewardship of the initiative. The strategy spearheaded by President Xi Jinping seemed to be incompatible with China’s preference for “one-way” globalization and assertive policies in Southeast Asia, particularly on maritime routes in the South China Sea, experts said at the Oxford China Forum held in the University of Oxford.

It is a plan that is going to allow a Chinese penetration in the “host” countries on an unprecedented scale which India opposes. Again, at least this is what the CPEC master plan tells us in terms of the presence that China will come to establish through its “flagship” project in Pakistan, putting it yet again on top of the vertical order China is building. The pledges China has so far made have been far from sufficient to complete the projects its leadership claims to have already put in motion, or meet Asia’s growing infrastructural requirements, which will be needing, according to ADB, a whopping US$26 trillion up to 2030.

China seems to have a strategic and political agenda which remains opaque.

Apart from the CPEC that directly connects China and Pakistan, India also has misgivings about the manner in which the Belt and Road Initiative is being pursued in its neighborhood. For instance, the development of ports under Chinese operational control as part of the Maritime Silk Road strategy has raised concerns in India. While investment in the Gwadar port, roads and energy projects is reported to have increased from US$46 billion to US$55 billion, CPEC lacks economic justification.

279

While Xi could not call a spade a spade, the OBOR is far from a gateway to “win-win co-operation,” it is a project saddled with loans, allowing China to invest and reinvest its surplus capital, money that it will use to further boost its international standing to potentially alter the global order to its own advantage in the coming decades, if not years.

Apart from general resistance to China’s efforts to make its economy stronger, some have expressed concerns that OBOR projects will be overly tailored to China’s needs, favoring projects designed to export Chinese overcapacity in industries such as steel and make use of surplus savings. If these projects do not generate the expected returns for the host countries, it could leave them burdened with debt.

China clearly wants a horizontal, non-vertical integration and it always clarifies that there is no hegemonic plan inherent in the Two Silk Roads.

Indeed, the issue lies in putting an end to the US "hegemony", not in creating others. Some observers argue, there is no reason why OBOR cannot be as mutually beneficial as President Xi claims. Building infrastructure in other countries with Beijing’s financial support “should benefit trade and economic development in those places, while of course bringing new business opportunities to Chinese companies Of course, at this stage, the belt and road represents a vision, a dream, that will face innumerable obstacles – financial, environmental, technological, logistical, social and geopolitical – to translate into reality. It is also without doubt motivated primarily by Chinese interests. But what country ever undertook a major international initiative that wasn’t primarily motivated by its own interests? The post-war Marshall Plan was not an act of pure American altruism, but rather one of enlightened self-interest.

China’s push to create new trade and infrastructure links through its “One Belt, One Road” initiative will be hampered by Beijing’s reluctance to open up investment for foreign companies, according to experts. A successful, inclusive, globally collective effort to make the Belt and Road a reality could be a harbinger of peace and prosperity. It is a pity that myopia and prejudice prevent Western and Japanese leaders from being present at this potentially seminal event.

What OBOR is therefore doing is not simply a Chinese push towards development, it is equally raising a multitude of problems for the host countries. A clear absence of enough resources to repay loans perhaps tops the list.

280

It is especially important that China be engaged in the institutional framework of global governance, and that initiatives for enhancing trade and investment be welcomed rather than rebuffed. Yet the opposite has been happening, while the EU must engage with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), “the decision to launch the AIIB came as a direct result of China’s growing frustration over only playing a marginal role within the existing international financial system”. This is true of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

China plan can boost one aspect. Asia is fast getting old and the harsh reality is that it could do so before it gets rich. Although Asia remains the growth champion of the world, the highly populated continent is ‘shifting from being the biggest contributor to the global working-age population to subtracting hundreds of millions of people from it, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) East Asia, in particular, is projected to be the world’s fastest-ageing region in the coming decades, with its old-age dependency ratio roughly tripling by 2050.

Chapter-

Japan dispatches warship to protect US vessel -Dr. Abdul Ruff _______

Putting at rest all speculations about the waning of relations between USA and Japan and a discreet declaration for supporting NATO at all cost, Japan has dispatched its biggest warship to shield US supply vessel, in the first such operation since it passed controversial laws expanding the role of its military. The helicopter carrier Izumo is spotted escorting a US supply vessel within Japanese waters. Japan has walked an extra mile in order to be seen as a strong US partner.

Japan also carried out a failed missile test on Sunday, despite repeated warnings from the US and others to stop its nuclear and missile activity.

The US ship is heading to refuel the naval fleet in the region, including the Carl Vinson aircraft carrier group. The 249m-long Izumo can carry up to nine helicopters, and resembles US amphibious assault carriers.

281

The Japanese action as a leading member of NATO military terror alliance was in response to North Korea threat to sink the Carl Vinson and a US submarine, amid rising tensions in the region. The Izumo's deployment follows recent joint exercises conducted by Japan and the USA, and other naval developments. China last week launched its second aircraft carrier.

Kyodo news agency said it was leaving its base in Yokosuka, south of Tokyo, to join the US supply ship and accompany it to waters off Shikoku in western Japan.

Japan's post-World War Two constitution bars its military from using force to resolve conflicts except in cases of self-defense.

Pacifist Japan has one of the most powerful militaries in the world, with a navy bigger and more modern than the British Royal Navy.

Japan can protect the weapons and equipment of its allies' armed forces who are defending Japan. It can provide logistical support to allies involved in situations with "important influence" on Japan's security - for example it could support South Korea if the North invaded, but may stop short of sending troops as this may be unconstitutional. Japan can shoot down a North Korean missile heading for the US. Military action such as minesweeping to keep shipping lanes secure, even in an active conflict zone, may be allowed if the restriction on shipping threatened Japan's survival. \ Tokyo could have sent a much smaller destroyer to escort the US Navy's Richard E Byrd. But sending the 27,000-tonne Izumo was perhaps too good an opportunity for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his Defence Minister Tomomi Inada to waste. Both Abe and Ms Inada are right-wing nationalists who want to scrap Japan's pacifist constitution. That is all but impossible. So instead, last year, Abe succeeded in pushing a new security law through parliament.

In effect the new law ignores the constitution, and says Japan's forces can come to the defense of its allies. Abe knows there is widespread public opposition to "remilitarizing" Japan. So in that context, the growing threat from North Korea is useful to him.

One view is that North Korea's threats are over exhausted and are just posturing and it is unlikely to follow through with an actual attack. Observers say that while North Korea is working towards achieving full nuclear missile capability, it is highly doubtful that it has a working longrange missile that could hit the USA. Several of its recent missile tests, including one earlier this month, have failed.

But if North Korea were to actually launch a strike, neighbouring South Korea and Japan could be top targets. Pyongyang appears to have working missiles that could hit those countries. Both countries have anti-missile defence systems - some supplied by the US - that could thwart incoming rockets. Japan's system employs Aegis destroyer ships and land-based Patriot PAC-3 282

units, according to its defence ministry. In South Korea, the US is in the midst of deploying its controversial Thaad anti-missile defence system. Both countries are also currently conducting pre-planned joint military exercises with the USA

Japanese authorities also issued guidelines last Friday to the public on how to survive a missile attack. They say it would only take minutes for a missile to reach Japan and urged citizens to seek shelter in buildings or underground. Citizens have been told that if a missile lands nearby, they should cover their mouths and noses and run away - if indoors they should stay away from windows to avoid injuries from shattering glass. They would be alerted about an incoming attack on TV, mobile phones, radio and outdoor loudspeaker systems via a system called J-Alert.

One prefecture government conducted an evacuation drill last month and several local officials are now calling for nationwide drills. Meanwhile in South Korea, which is more used to the North's threats, the mood appears to be less tense with little sign of ramped-up civil defence preparations. Authorities regularly conduct evacuation drills and also have an emergency alert system.

Due to its location just 56km (35 miles) from the North Korean border, the South Korean capital Seoul is also vulnerable to artillery fire. Last week, North Korea conducted a large-scale firing drill to mark its army's 85th founding anniversary. Analysts say the country has more than 20,000 artillery pieces and the BBC's Diplomatic Editor Mark Urban says its capability would be hard to neutralise.

South Korea meanwhile has a long history of border skirmishes with the North.

One of the most serious incidents in recent years took place in 2010, when North Korea shelled the island of Yeonpyeong at the two countries' maritime border, killing several soldiers and civilians. That same year saw the sinking of a South Korean navy ship in the same area, killing 46 sailors. The incident was attributed to a North Korean torpedo launched from a submarine. In 2015 Pyongyang also fired a rocket towards the South Korean town of Yeoncheon on the western border, prompting an evacuation.

Last month Pyongyang launched several missiles into the Sea of Japan, with three landing in Japanese waters. PM Shinzo Abe called it a "new stage of threat". Japanese authorities have also said that a North Korean long-range rocket launched in February 2016 passed over islands in Okinawa prefecture, travelling 1,600km (994 miles) within 10 minutes.

A French amphibious assault ship arrived in south-west Japan on Saturday for an exercise also involving Japanese, USA and British naval forces. South Korea has been conducting joint exercises with the USA as well.

Both the USA and North Korea have been trading heated rhetoric since the USA announced it would deploy a group of warships to the region. Pyongyang has reacted furiously and threatened a pre-emptive strike.

283

With tensions rising on the Korean peninsula, the possibility of a missile or nuclear weapon landing in South Korea and Japan, according to western propaganda mills, has now become more real.

Speculations are ripe to point that there is likely to be a nuclear or missile strike in region.

However, such fears are manufactured by western media lords to terrorize the humanity and blame China and North Korea for all tensions in the region.

But no war can bring solution to the regional problems. ________________

India: AIADMK unification ruled out: Pannerselvam and Palanisamy factions to mobilize party people in support of their claims!

-Dr. Abdul Ruff _______

Clearly, Sasikala-Dinakaran-Palanisamy trio having shabbily failed to woo the popular AIADMK faction led by former CM and the most trusted lieutenant O. Panneer Selvam have decided to fight that faction in the forth coming local polls to showcase it popularity, if any.

This explains the readiness of the opposition party DMK to gear up the party for the local polls.

Clearly, the Palanisamy faction still worships their ‘goddess” chinnamma, the jailed Sasikala undergoing a jail term for her involvement in looting the resources of Tamil people by staying at Poe’s garden bungalow of former CM Jayalalithaa. She still occupies the Popes garden Bungalow and Jayalithaa’s all assets, including bank balance.

Meanwhile, OPS has launched a state tour to ascertain the mindset of people and AIADMK party workers towards the ruling party’s problems, while CM EPS has begun celebration of Jayalalithaa birth day in Madurai. Though the ruling Amma AIADMK claims huge crowds attending the function s of CM Palanisamy critics say AIADMK government, ruling party mobilizes their own people and spend huge resources from the government, party and Sasikala’s illegally obtained wealth and Jayalithaa’s money. That is show of ruling party’s wealth.

Sasikala remote controls AIADMK and government

Sasikala still control the party and government through remote means.

284

Sasikala now controls the AAIDMK party, TN government, assets of Jayalalithaa, etc, - all by being inside the prison cell in Bangalore. She is also hatching plans to somehow fool the judiciary and escape from jail legally. The dramatic twists and turns that began soon after Jayalalithaa’s death in December last year have continued four months on. Sasikala and her nephew TTV Dinakaran seemed to effortlessly take over the party by installing themselves as General Secretary and Deputy General Secretary even as few of the leaders led by O. Paneerselvam revolted. A floor test ensued in the Assembly and the Sasikala faction retained power even as she was lodged in jail following her conviction in the disproportionate assets case. Edappadi Palanisamy took reign as Chief Minister and the battle shifted to R.K Nagar.

The high stakes meant more corruption that usual and the election commission cancelled the polls reprimanding parties for the large-scale bribing of voters. On 7th April, The IT department raided Health Minister Vijaya Bhaskar’s residence to uncover the large-scale bribery being plotted. The Times of India reported that several ministers had been roped in to influence 2.24 lakh voters in the constituency to ensure TTV Dinakaran’s victory.

Has Sasikala, self proclaimed Chinnamma, really wanted to make the party rule go on smoothly, she would not have done what she did by sacking Jayalalithaa’s most trusted OPS. She would have encouraged him to rule better so that Jayalalithaa rule and legacy live forever. But no, she wanted to take revenge on Jayalalithaa and OPS.

Tamils are fooled and betrayed by the Chinnamma & Co by their anti-party, anti-MGRJayalalithaa actions soon after the sudden demise of CM Jayalalithaa under mysterious circumstances. Now the ruling party refuses any investigation into the death of former AIADNMK supremo, as they even argue she did die normally and “as per rules” and as such there is no need for any CBI inquiry.

Demands and state tour

The OPS camp has put forth two demands which it says must be fulfilled for talks to commence.

The first is the ouster of AIADMK chief Sasikala Natarajan and her nephew TTV Dhinakaran from the party. The second is a CBI enquiry into late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa’s death.

A Panneerselvam camp leader also claimed that some members from the Palanisamy faction would join them soon. The EPS faction agreed to oblige OPS demands but they are not sincere... Their aim to get OPS faction into the Sasikala faction by offering ministerial berths to a couple of the OPS MLAs. The Panneerselvam faction of AIADMK on Sunday set Tuesday as the deadline for talks with the ruling E Palanisamy camp of the party. It also announced that the former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister would undertake a statewide tour soon. Mettur MLA S Semmalai, who had organised a meeting of party cadre last week, was quoted in a report as saying that, "He (Panneerselvam) will commence the tour from Kancheepuram." A senior member from the committee formed by the Panneerselvam camp for talks reportedly added that, "whichever way the talks go, we expect to arrive at a clear picture. In fact, our deadline is Tuesday". He also claimed that there is a possibility of some members of the Palanisamy camp coming over to the Panneerselvam side in the next few days. At Semmalai’s meeting last week, some party cadre reportedly expressed 285

disapproval of talks with the Palanisamy camp. Panneerselvam will embark on the tour from May 5 to increase his support, and also to prepare the faction for local body polls, said a report.

Former chief minister of Tamil Nadu O Panneerselvam kickstarted his statewide campaign on Friday, the May 05. With AIADMK merger talks in limbo, both factions are fast losing interest.

Panneerselvam has launched his month-long statewide tour ahead of the local body polls.

Massive crowds gathered at Kanchipuram where O Panneerselvam was set to address his first public meet. The AIADMK PTA faction promoted his statewide tour as a movement to gather support. The tour is a show of strength by the Panneerslvam camp. It is aimed at proving a point to the Edappadi Palanisamy camp which has been claiming to have the support of the cadres.

Massive crowds gathered at Kanchipuram where O Panneerselvam was set to address his first public meet. The AIADMK PTA faction promoted his statewide tour as a movement to gather support. The tour is a show of strength by the Panneerslvam camp. It is aimed at proving a point to the Edappadi Palanisamy camp which has been claiming to have the support of the cadres.

O Panneerselvam is on Tamil Nadu tour to hear out cadres Is it end of the road for AIADMK merger. Sources reveal that team Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) have lost interest in merger.

Some leaders in EPS camp think that O Panneerselvam (OPS) camp was given enough time to mull merger and EPS camp may continue with government. With rival AIADMK faction showing no signs of relenting to his faction’s demands on commencing the reunion talks. Former Tamil Nadu chief minister O Panneerselvam is all set to embark on a state-wide tour from today in Kanchipuram district Sasikala and supporters have achieved what DMK and BJP could not for years- forcing the people to take the ruling AIADMK a non-serious political party that believes in whims and fancies. Tamils are fooled and betrayed.

Sasikala drama

The Palanisamy dispensation enacted a drama of ousting their leader Sasikala and Dinakaran from AIADMK. But shockingly, Sasikala did not say anything about their ouster from the party.

Nor did she oust the Palanisamy government and remove them from the party. That is the usual practice in party politics in India. This gives rise to suspicion that entire ouster story was stage managed to get Pannerselvam on board to get the party symbol from the Election Commission.

And make him irrelevant to the party and state.

Party leader Sengottaiyan initially said that a committee had been formed to negotiate with OPS faction but remained non-committal on the Sasikala family’s role in the party.

Finance Minister Jayakumar said that they had to take into consideration the views of thousands of party members and functionaries who wanted the family out, in effect meeting OPS’s demands, signaling that they were ready for talks.

EPS even ordered to remove the banners of Sasikala from the party HQ in Chennai, giving the impression that they hate Sasikala. That was just a trick to trap OPS faction. Now it is clear the leaders who ousted Sasikala from AIADMK are not sincere to their decision and they still work 286

for jailed Sasikala to end political life of Pannerselvam. While the finance minister Jayakumar says he iis wiling to give up his ministry in favor of Pannerselvam, CM Palanisamy is silent about all the possibilities of government change in the state.

Apparently, the Sasikala plan is to accommodate Pannerselvam and a couple of his supporting MLAs in the Palanisamy government and gradually side him after ensuring the support of his supporting MLAs for Sasikala.

Obviously, neither Sasikala nor CM EPS faction does not want OPS to be the CM of Tamil Nadu again. Their argument perhaps is that after Jayalalithaa’s death, Panneerselvam has no role in the government. This OPS faction calls a dirty drama to fool them and people at large.

Votes and party symbol for dirty money Graphic details of the money trail were printed on a special letter pad with 'R K Nagar assembly constituency by-election 2017: Candidate T T V Dhinakaran' printed on top. In the first column on the letter pad, the key election managers' names are printed. The second column shows the number of areas the constituency has been divided into, for electioneering. The third column has the total voters in each region and the fourth one shows the targeted electorate for bribing.

The amount disbursed is mentioned in the last column, but curiously enough, there is no mention that the figures refer to money. Divide the total amount by the targeted electorate, and you get the per voter amount of Rs4,000.

Following this came the news that TTV Dinakaran had engaged a well-known con man Sukash Chandrasekaran to bribe EC officials to get his faction the two leaves symbol which was frozen just before the RK Nagar polls. The Delhi Police arrested Chandrasekaran after a tip off by an informer. The 27 year old has several cases against him in the Enforcement Directorate, CBI and Chennai and Bangalore police. He has duped more than 100 people of crores of rupees by posing as important figures in government, and has 15 FIRs lodged against him. Quoting the Delhi Police, the Indian Express reported – It has been learnt that the conman had struck a deal for Rs 50 crore for helping the AIADMK (Amma) faction to keep the ‘two leaves’ symbol, said an officer privy to the probe. Till now, he had got Rs 10 crore of the deal amount and the remaining was to be given to him in a time-bound manner. Yesterday, police recovered Rs 1.30 crore in cash and two luxury cars–a BMW and a Mercedes–from him. Dinakaran, who said he did know of such a person, was served with summons on Wednesday and was grilled for several hours over the weekend. As the public perception of TTV Dinakaran worsened, a few ministers in his faction have virtually side-lined him and are attempting to unite with the rival OPS faction to regain the two leaves symbol.

In response to these developments, TTV Dinakaran, in the midst of various court hearings, said that these ministers within their faction are in fear of something due to which they want to keep him and his family away from party affairs. He said that he will stay away from the affairs of the party without being clear on whether he and his aunt would resign their posts.

However, several days of negotiation have not yielded results as power sharing between the two factions is becoming tricky. OPS camp wants posts of the general secretary, chief minister 287

and the party presidium for members of their faction. The EPS faction is unwilling to let go of the Chief Ministerial post and is instead offering OPS the post of the party general secretary.

However, this is not easy. The Times of India reported that the bylaws framed by MGR a senior amma AIADMK leader said in case of a compromise between the warring factions, the CM post is more certain. But the party general secretary (GS) post, going by the AIADMK bylaw, is a long shot. The person has to be elected by the 1.5 crore cadres; and not by the functionaries. If there is more than one contestant, we will have to go through a process akin to the general election.

No one can select a GS. Even if TTV will not form a third faction in AIADMK, the state Govt will fall if OPS-EPS factions fight for Chief Minister’s post.

As this fight for power plays out, there is much being said about BJP’s role in the conflict. While neither of the factions has directly named them, it is believed that the OPS faction has the support of the BJP and it is in fact the BJP that is orchestrating the reunification through Deputy Speaker Thambidurai. Coomi Kapoor writes in the Indian Express - There was very real apprehension that the Central government may impose President’s rule in the state, something every MLA wanted to avoid at all cost. The Paneerselvam camp, with far fewer MLAs, was requested to rejoin the Sasikala group, on the understanding that Sasikala and her family members would be shown the door.

The BJP which won a few seats in the assembly and parliament thanks to DMK and AIADMK, has always viewed the troubled AIADMK as a possible ally to make its presence stronger in Tamil Nadu. BJP cannot get DMK as it has a strong alliance with Congress party. BJP is eager to reap all benefits out of the rift. The death of Jayalalithaa has left a void which they are seeking to leverage on. OPS and EPS are not in any hurry to unite. The BJP is still waiting for a clear picture to choose the faction. From the BJP’s point of view, a united AIADMK without the Sasikala family would be an ideal ally because it can set its own terms to them. Besides getting the much-needed votes in the upcoming presidential elections, the BJP would still look forward to contesting upwards of ten seats as part of seat-sharing in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls and winning most of them and improving its 2014 tally of just one seat.

Observation With the split in the party and As the Mannargudi mafia has dramatically been shunned out of the AIADMK without any serious intent people are confused and so the future of the party and the fate of politics in Tamil Nadu remains uncertain. The ruling faction refuses to undertake and complete the “ouster” operation of keeping the party free from Sasikala and her control mechanism.

Sasikala knows without OPS the party cannot survive and the government would disappear sooner than later. Many Sasikala supporters say they would welcome the OPS supporter to rejoin to strengthen the party. Because of her foolish actions, now the Jayalalithaa’s government party is under serious threat of extinction.

288

The Pannerselvam faction is suspicious about the move of Sasikala faction. In order ally suspicion form the minds of them the Palanisamy team must allay all fears with an action that officially keeps Sasikala and family and their clan out of AIADMK and government. CM Palanisamy Those MLAs who are badly spoiled by Sasikala change their anger and hatred towards former CM OPS and think seriously about genuine unity of the party.

Political commentators see OPS and EPS factional rivalry being a repetition of JayalithaaJanaki factions after the demise of the AIADMK founder MGR. and say OPS would win the fight just like Jayalithaa had emerged victorious forcing Janaki quit politics.

Panneerselvam is not the popular leader as people see him the true follower of MGRJayalalithaa. But apparently Sasikala-EPS faction would prefer the DMK to come power rather than letting OPS become CM of Tamil Nadu Only time will reveal what people want.

_______________

289