(GHQ) When asked about reports of ongoing talks with a certain political party and the army’s position on the May 9 riots, the DG ISPR replied that the army’s very clear stance was already stated during a press conference on May 7
Neither has there been any change in this [position] nor there will be, he asserted Last week, PTI founder Imran Khan after experiencing months of strained relations with the army in an apparent softening of stance categorically said that his party was ready for talks with the military establishment
Speaking about the banned Tehreek-
Resolution
i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Lt-Gen Chaudhry also announced a strategic change in terminology stating that the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) will now be referred to as Fitna al-Khawarij and its members as Kharji or outcasts
This is because it is a mischief-making group; it s neither an ideology nor has anything to do with Islam or Pakistan,” he asserted “The government has recently notified the group as Fitna al-Khawarij and from now on we will use the term Fitna al-Khawarij to refer to the TTP,
of Kashmir,
while all terrorists associated with the group would be termed khariji (outcasts)” he said “This is because it is a mischiefmaking group; it s neither an ideology nor has anything to do with Islam or Pakistan, he asserted He said that 139 soldiers embraced martyrdom during the first seven months of the year “The entire nation pays tribute to the brave martyrs and their families he said This shows that the Pakistani security forces, law enforcement agencies
and intelligence agencies were entirely focused on making the country s internal and border security certain and lasting He further said that the fight against terrorism would continue until the last terrorist was eliminated Security forces conducted 23,622 operations in 2024
Lt Gen Chaudhry also briefed the nation on the country s security situation, effective measures taken against terrorism and the professional activities of the military particularly the counter-terrorism operations the security forces performed during the year Security forces and law enforcement agencies (LEAs) conducted 23,622 small and large-scale intelligence-based operations in the country,” the DG ISPR said “Out of the total 2 045 operations were carried out over the last 15 days
He added that 24 terrorists were eliminated during operations conducted over the last 15 days It is important to mention that to fight terrorism, the Pakistan Army, intelligence police and other law enforcement agencies conduct more than a hundred operations daily he said Not enough being done against digital terrorism
Palestine disputes only guarantee to regional peace, stability: PM
Kashmir and Palestine disputes by giving their people due rights, was the only guarantee to regional peace and stability
Speaking to the Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly through televised address on Youm-e-Istehsal the prime minister said the day was not far away when both India and Israel will be bound to give due rights to the people of Palestine and Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) as all ways other than this lead to total destruction Premier Shehbaz said that despite being a nuclear power to security its defence Pakistan had never thought of aggression with regard to its nuclear power Therefore the better option is to adopt the peaceful way and sit together to find out the peaceful solution to the Kashmir dispute He pointed out that this occasion reminded us of the grave consequences of India’s illegal actions of 5 Au-
gust 2019 vis-à-vis Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) Ever since the prime minister said in IIOJK efforts were being made to silence the genuine leadership of the Kashmiri people and muzzle the media The number of political prisoners remains in the thousands, while 14 political organizations have been outlawed
“Harassment of innocent people arbitrary detentions and the so-called cordon and search operations have become a matter of routine The Indian forces are operating with impunity according to them under different draconian laws, he added
PM Shehbaz Sharif vowed that until the Kashmiris get the basic rights and freedom, Pakistan will continue to extend the moral support and will continue to knock the doors of all the international institutions
Paying tributes to the people of Kashmir he said we salute to their struggle for freedom who had been bearing the atrocities and cruelties of the Indian armed forces for 77 years He also paid tributes the Hurriyat leaders including Chaudhry Ghulam Abbas Sardar Ibrahim Khan Mir-
South Asian nation s history since its independence over five decades ago In a televised address, Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman announced that Hasina 76 had left the country and that an interim government would be established Media reports indicated that she departed in a military helicopter with her sister, heading towards the eastern Indian state of West Bengal Other reports suggested she was bound for India’s northeastern state of Tripura These reports could not be immediately verified by Reuters Television footage captured scenes of jubilation as thousands of people flooded the streets of Dhaka, chanting slogans and celebrating Crowds also stormed Hasina s official residence Ganabhaban showing victory signs and shouting triumphantly Some were seen
waiz Muhammad Yousuf Syed Ali Gilani Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai Altaf Ahmed Shah Moulana Abbas Ansari and all the young workers and leaders who raised their voices against the Indian atrocities
We salute to Asiya Andrabi, Yaseen Malik, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Shabbir Ahmed Shah, Mussarat Alam Butt, and Burhan Wani for their struggle for freedom
As regards the Palestine situation the prime minister said more than 40 000 Palestinians had been martyred so far including thousands of children The unarmed Palestinians were still being martyred every day, he said Israel s Prime Minister Natenyahu through his army have broken the records of barbarism in Palestinians, he said adding that recently in Tehran Hamas Leader Ismail Haniyeh was martyred In Pakistan he said a day of mourning was observed and funeral prayers in absentia was performed across the country
carrying away furniture and electronics from one of the country s most secure buildings “She has fled the country, fled the country,” echoed through the throngs of demonstrators Protesters in Dhaka were also seen climbing a statue of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hasina s father and the nation s independence leader, and defacing it with an axe Student activists had called for a march to Dhaka on Monday defying a nationwide curfew to demand Hasina s resignation following deadly clashes that left nearly 100 people dead Last month about 150 people
were killed in similar protests The Daily Star newspaper reported that at least six people were killed on Monday in clashes between police and protesters in the Jatrabari and Dhaka Medical College areas This report has not yet been verified by Reuters The unrest in Bangladesh began last month when student groups protested against a controversial quota system in government jobs These protests quickly escalated into a movement demanding Hasina’s ouster She had secured a fourth consecutive term in January in an election boycotted by the opposition
people He said that on August 5 2019 the Indian government took a unilateral unconstitutional and illegal action by abrogating Article 370 and 35A, ending the special status of Jammu and Kashmir Likewise, Sindh Governor Kamran Khan Tessori
message Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi has reaffirmed moral, political and diplomatic support to the struggle of Kashmiris of Indian illegally oc-
cupied Jammu and Kashmir for their self-determination In a video statement in connection with Youm-e-Istehsal
Foreign investors hesitant to invest in C
investors are shifting their focus within China Keppel Corp backed by Temasek Holdings, has been reducing its portfolio in China Keppel CEO Loh Chin Hua announced the sale of land worth about SG$3 billion ($2 2 billion) and other assets totaling SG$280 million noting that opportunities in
to materialize, and the geopolitical premium on oil prices began to wane Despite initial fears the lack of significant follow-up actions from Iran and a measured response to previous Israeli strikes suggested a reluctance to escalate the conflict further As geopolitical tensions eased, oil prices fell sharply by the end of the week Brent crude dropped
streak of weekly losses this year Analysts suggest that the weak economic fundamentals are outweighing the impact of geopolitical risks The oil market shifted from a focus on geopolitical events to economic data concerns ” said Tim Snyder chief economist at Matador Economics “While geopolitical tensions
initially drove
BYD TO L AUNCH ELECTRIC VEHICLES IN PAKISTAN ON AUGUST 17TH
their gas sale intentions to the Directorate General of Petroleum Concessions (DGPC) for review Monthly joint metering calibration reports must be furnished to DGPC and DG Gas 10 Third-party sales are contingent on maintaining indigenous supplies to SNGPL and SSGC at 2000 MMCFD, benchmarked against the last five years' supplies
11 Producers must comply with a merit order for third-party
gas sales on a prospective basis INDUSTRY CONCERNS: Industry sources expressed significant concerns over the proposed framework They stated that the phased approach undermines the immediate 35% third-party sale approval by the CCI causing potential resentment among E&P professionals and defeating the amendment s objective Introducing unreachable targets and unrealistic benchmarks could discourage companies from benefiting from the policy amendment, fostering red-tapism and bureaucratic obstacles By mandating the use of the pipeline network, the framework gives Sui companies leverage over E&P companies Sources also said that the differentiation between various production types and the introduction of benchmarks will undermine the market liberalisation intent of the policy amendment Similarly, the delays and proposed restrictive framework could severely damage investor confidence, impacting the ease of doing business and deterring future investments Petroleum Minister Musadik Malik and Secretary Petroleum were asked for official views on the proposed framework and its potential adverse impact on the country s E&P sector but they did not respond
On the occasion, the ISPR spokesperson denounced the rights movement Baloch Yakjehti Committee and its “so-called leadership” as a “proxy of terrorist organisations and criminal mafias and nothing more than that He alleged that the proxy was tasked to defame and spread propaganda against law enforcement agencies taking action against smugglers, criminals, and the “illegal spectrum” as well as make development projects in the province controversial The method of action is through gathering a mob through foreign funding and a foreign stance, persuade innocent citizens around that mob, challenge the state’s writ and feign innocence when the state responds ” He termed the Baloch National Gathering a drama that was concocted in the past few days in Gwadar The BYC kicked off a protest in
Gwadar on July 28 following arrests and deadly clashes with security forces, against alleged human rights violations and exploitation of the province’s resources Prominent leaders were arrested in the ensuing days prompting widespread protests The BYC signed an agreement with the provincial government on August 2 and agreed to end the protest following the fulfilment of its demands, including the release of all those arrested However, distrust between the government and BYC leadership deepened after fresh recriminations over the killing of a protester in Noshki and demonstrations by the group are still ongoing The military spokesperson alleged that the protesters blocked roads, pelted pilgrims with stones, burnt tyres and attacked the Frontier Corps claiming that one soldier was martyred by the mob This proxy was exposed under the Baloch Raji Muchi he said
C O N T R I B U T I O N S TO E D U C ATION AND HEALTH: Addressing educational
try s future He noted that the army covers additional expenses beyond their studies About 92 schools are being run in Balochistan, educating 19,000 students,” he stated Additionally the army has established 171 schools and three cadet colleges in Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) On healthcare he mentioned that medical camps have been set up in
TH E ouster of Sheikh Haseena Wajid from the Prime Minister ’s office a seat she had occupied uninterrupted for the past 15 years carries with it many lessons
The past few weeks in Bangladesh have been marked by protests, violence, and a brutal crackdown on demonstrators that has left hundreds dead The scenes in the wake of Sheik Haseena’s hasty exit from the country painted a picture of jubilation, with members of the public entering the Prime Minister ’s residence and posting pictures from within
The resignation of Sheikh Haseena seems to have been a popular demand The protests had first erupted over a High Court decision that overturned an end to the quota system that had existed in Bangladesh’s civil service which gave a disproportionate number of seats to the families of those that had participated in Bangladesh s independence struggle in 1971 Sheikh Haseena s government had actually succumbed to public pressure in 2019 and done away with the quotas, and the protests were in response to the court decision not the government
Matters quickly soured, however, because of the brutal tactics displayed by the Haseena Administration to quell the protests The anger of the masses turned towards these tactics and demands for the prime minister s resignation became the main driving force
One would remember that Sheikh Haseena’s long rule has not just come to an end because of protests over a single law The unrest over the quota laws came from an extended period of low employment in Bangladesh and a slowing economy where the traditional breadwinning sector, textile, has suffered serious losses The anger came because opportunities in the private sector were far and few in between
While Sheikh Haseena has fled from the scene, the new interim setup will face the same economic problems In the days to come, this setup would do well to remember that economic problems in a country create resentment within a population and the suppression of civil liberties proves to be the cinder that sets it alight As Bangladesh enters a new era, its administrators will best be served by trusting in a fair, democratic process
Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late)
Founding Editor
M A Niazi
Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit
SI N C E the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021, the country has become a haven for extremist groups endangering regional security The new Afghan regime s inability to curb these elements has had severe repercussions, particularly for neighboring countries like Pakistan This article explores how Afghanistan is becoming the epicenter of terrorism under the Afghan Taliban the role of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in destabilizing Pakistan the Afghan government s egregious human rights violations, the rise of the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), and how poor governance in Kabul is impacting Pakistan When the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan there were widespread concerns about the country s potential to become a sanctuary for terrorist groups Unfortunately these fears have materialized The Taliban s return to power has emboldened various extremist organizations that share ideological affinities with the new Afghan government The Taliban’s ties with these groups including Al-Qaeda have not been severed despite their promises to the international community The resurgence of these groups threatens not only Afghanistan s stability but also that of the broader region Afghanistan has increasingly become a breeding ground for terrorist organizations, with the Taliban’s return to power acting as a catalyst The presence of multiple militant groups including Al-Qaeda and TTP poses a severe threat to regional stability The Taliban s lax approach towards curbing these groups many of which have longstanding ties with them has emboldened these organizations
These groups are now using Afghan soil to regroup recruit and launch attacks on neighboring states especially Pakistan
One of the most alarming developments since the Taliban s rise to power is the resurgence of the TTP This group, which has been responsible for numerous deadly attacks in Pakistan, has found a safe haven in Afghanistan
The TTP’s activities have surged, with its operatives using Afghan territory as a base for planning and executing attacks against Pakistan The Afghan Taliban s reluctance or
T was the PML-N government that established the first Privatization Commission back in 1991 and initiated an extensive privatization programme transferring government functions to the private sector either through outright sale or public private partnerships (PPP or P3) Indeed, it was the P3 model that made possible the hallmark projects of Lahore Ring Road and the Lahore Metro Project So this time too when CM Punjab proclaims deploying the P3 model far and wide to deliver improved infrastructure and services to the people of Punjab, the strong likelihood is that she means it What does this mean for the private sector? For one, an opportunity to invest in projects besides the endless housing colonies and shopping plazas Hospitals clinics schools vocation institutes community energy projects roads transport – for all of which there is voracious demand (thanks to our runaway demographics) and can be alluringly lucrative For the public, once these projects are completed (provided they are done right!) they can deliver immense dividends in terms of improved infrastructure and services Indeed there are several success cases globally (including Bangladesh and South America) where the P3 model has been a game-changer in terms of infrastructure upgrade and service delivery In Pakistan historically, privatization/P3 has been the purview of the federal government, well beyond the parochial discourse of the provinces 18th Amendment changed that of course - devolving extensive powers to the provinces [(including transport education health)] which means that provincial P3s are now high on the agenda Punjab for its part, started exuberantly with by regulatory framework with the Public Private Partnership Act 2010 This framework was further upgraded and streamlined through the Public Private Partnership Act in 2014 Since P3 projects can be complex and their success hinges critically on consistency across successive projects and sectors international best practice prescribes a central P3 authority to centralise and harmonise the P3 process to ensure this consistency Accordingly, in line with best practice, these legislation set up a P3 Cell as the nerve-centre and the facilitator of P3 projects in Punjab while allocating the responsibility for initiating implementing and monitoring the projects to the relevant Line Ministry For example, a new hospital project would be conceived and initiated by the Ministry of Health, and would then be guided and facilitated by the P3 Cell who would work closely with the Ministry in transaction structuring negotiation with bidders and the final award After all it is the Line Ministry that has the understanding of what the hospital will require in terms of technical specifications and equipment and the expertise to monitor the private party s performance of
inability to rein in the TTP has further strained relations between the two countries The TTP’s exploitation of Afghan soil is not a new phenomenon but the Taliban s ascendance has provided it with renewed vigor
The group has carried out several attacks in Pakistan, targeting security forces and civilians alike Despite repeated assurances from the Taliban that they would not allow Afghan territory to be used for terrorism against any country the TTP continues to operate with impunity This has led to a significant increase in cross-border violence undermining Pakistan s security and destabilizing the region
The TTP s resurgence is a direct consequence of the Taliban’s policies and their ideological alignment with extremist groups
The Afghan Taliban has failed to address Pakistan s concerns leading to a deteriorating security situation in Pakistan s border regions
The TTP s ability to launch attacks from Afghan soil poses a grave threat to Pakistan s internal stability and has forced Islamabad to reassess its strategy towards Afghanistan Likewise ISKP (Islamic State Khorasan Province) presents another significant threat emanating from Afghanistan Initially formed by disillusioned Taliban members and other extremist factions, ISKP has become one of the most ruthless terrorist groups in the region It has carried out numerous deadly attacks in Afghanistan targeting both civilians and Taliban members The group’s ambition however goes beyond Afghanistan s borders ISKP has been actively spreading its influence to neighboring countries, including Pakistan, Central Asia, and even Russia The group’s expansionist agenda is a cause for alarm, as it seeks to establish a foothold in countries already grappling with their own security challenges The ISKP s brutal tactics and extremist ideology make it a formidable adversary capable of destabilizing entire regions Pakistan, which shares a long and porous border with Afghanistan, has been disproportionately affected by the chaos in its neighbor The Taliban’s rise to power was initially welcomed by some in Pakistan who believed it would bring stability to the region However the Afghan government s failure to
its services The P3 Cell is a conduit, a facilitator and a guide, with its expertise in P3 transactions
This model (in which the Line Ministry and the P3 Cell are working in close tandem) is the most common and effective in other countries
In 2019 the provincial government while enacting the third iteration of the legislation the Public Private Partnership Act 2019, somehow overlooked this critical factor It effectively defuncted the Line Ministry from the process, transferring sweeping powers to the new Punjab PPP Authority (P4 Authority) to initiate and execute the projects without necessarily involving the relevant Line Ministry – imagine developing a hospital without involving the Health Ministry! The 2019 Act transferred the legal powers but forgot to furnish the manpower or the expertise to the P4 Authority to execute the sector-specific projects At the same time, the bureaucrats (particularly those having had any hint of association with the previous PML-N regime) were viciously hounded by a ruthless witch-hunt This meant that the bureaucrats (as any prudent person in that situation) cowered from putting their signatures to any material transaction,
curb terrorism and its poor governance have had a negative impact on Pakistan
The influx of refugees the rise in crossborder attacks and the increase in drug trafficking are just some of the challenges Pakistan faces due to the situation in Afghanistan The TTP s resurgence, as previously mentioned, has led to a significant security challenge for Pakistan The Afghan government’s inability to control its territory and prevent it from being used as a launching pad for terrorist activities has forced Pakistan to adopt a more cautious and defensive approach
The economic impact of Afghanistan s instability has also been felt in Pakistan The disruption of trade routes, the strain on resources due to the influx of refugees, and the increased spending on security measures have all taken a toll on Pakistan’s economy The poor governance in Afghanistan has exacerbated these issues leading to a complex and multifaceted crisis that Pakistan must navigate
The situation in Afghanistan is a stark reminder of the dangers posed by weak governance and the unchecked rise of extremist groups The Taliban’s return to power has not brought the stability that many had hoped for; instead it has created a breeding ground for terrorism and human rights abuses The international community, particularly Afghanistan s neighbors, must recognize the gravity of the situation and take collective action to address these challenges
The writer is Islamabad based regular contributor and can be reached at asadmalik2008@gmail com
One of the most alarming developments since the TalibanÊs rise to power is the resurgence of the TTP This group, which has been responsible for numerous deadly attacks in Pakistan, has found a safe haven in Afghanistan The TTPÊs activities have surged, with its operatives using Afghan territory as a base for planning and executing attacks against Pakistan
Global inaction exposed
came from China recently According to the report ‘Hamas Fatah agree to end divisions form unity govt’ (July 24), the two Palestinian factions signed the Beijing Declaration after talks mediated by China As the saying goes, if there is unity among the birds, they can easily skin the lion If somehow the Muslim world may get united and focussed it will have nothing to fear MUHAMMAD AHMAD SAJID
Favoritism in taxation
NO matter which political party or, say, non-civil setup happens to be at the helm of affairs in Pakistan, middle and lower classes have never
Bilal Rana
August 5: Youm-e-Istehsal Kashmir revisited
ceasefire ultimately came into effect on January 01, 1949, following UN resolutions calling for a plebiscite in Kashmir
TH I S year 5th of August is the fifth anniversary of India s revocation of the special status of the disputed territory of the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) On this very day Kashmiris living on both sides of the Line of Control (LoC) and their brethren in Pakistan including their sympathisers, living in rest of the world celebrate this day as the black day Especially, Pakistan will observe this very day as ‘Youme-Istehsal-e-Kashmir’ (Day of Exploitation)
As regards the historical background taking cognizance of the discriminatory treatment of Hindus with Muslims the Kashmiri leadership realized the need to form a political party, Muslim Conference (MC) with a view to waging struggle for their freedom Afterwards, on July 19, 1947, MC passed a resolution to merge Kashmir with Pakistan considering the geographical proximity majority of Muslim population (77%) language and cultural relations of Jammu and Kashmir
During the partition of the Sub-continent, the people of the state of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) which comprised Muslim majority decided to join Pakistan But Dogra Raja Sir Hari Singh a Hindu who was ruling over the J&K in collusion with the Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Governor General Lord Mountbatten joined India
The Radcliffe Boundary Award gave the Gurdaspur District a majority Muslim area to India to provide a land route to the Indian forces to move into the J&K Indian forces invaded Srinagar on October 27 1947 and forcibly occupied the J&K in utter violation of the partition plan
When Pakistan responded militarily, on December 31, 1947, India made an appeal to the UN Security Council to intervene and a
On February 5, 1964, India backed out of its commitment of holding plebiscite Instead Indian Parliament declared Kashmir-an integral part of the Indian union Since 1989 various forms of state terrorism have been part of a deliberate campaign by the Indian army and paramilitary forces against Muslim Kashmiris It has been manifested in brutal tactics like crackdowns, curfews illegal detentions massacre targeted killings sieges burning the houses torture disappearances rape breaking the legs molestation of Muslim women and killing of persons through fake encounters
On August 5, 2019, Indian prejudiced Prime Minister and leader of the BJP-led extremist government Narendar Modi abrogated articles 35A and 370 of the Constitution which gave a special status to the disputed territory of IIOJK Indian government bifurcated Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh to be ruled by the federal government On the same day, strict military lockdown was imposed in the IIOJK which continues unabated New Delhi also issued an infamous map on October 31 2019 which displayed this split and identified Pakistani side of Azad Kashmir as well as certain areas of GilgitBaltistan as an Indian territory
Besides Pakistan China also rejected the Indian malicious acts as “unlawful and void” saying that India s decision to include some of China s territory into its administrative jurisdiction challenged Beijing s sovereignty While border dispute between India and China, which remains unsettled, has increased tension between the two countries However after imposing the military lockdown the deployment of more than 900 000 military troops in the IIOJK who have martyred tens of thousands of the Kashmiris, including women and children through brutal tactics-fake encounters, while closure of mosques, shortage of foods, medicines for the patients have further increased the plight of the Kashmiris In order to hide human rights violations communication services have been cut off from the world and foreign journalists are not allowed to enter the Kashmir region
While, under a well-planned hidden agenda, Modi-led regime has intensified, bringing ethno demographic changes in the IIOJK on Israeli model In this context
Indian various moves such as introduction of new laws, amendment of the laws to facilitate non-Kashmiris and outsiders in order to usurp the rights of the Muslim Kashmiris issuance of domicile certificates to more than 900000 non-Kashmiris registration of almost 2 5 million new non-local voters in the IIOJK failure of fake drama to host G-20 summit on May 22-24, this year in the IIOJK might be cited as instance
Modi-regime has also sent gangs of RSS-BJP volunteers permanently stationed in the occupied Kashmir
And Indian forces have been also availing various draconian laws such as Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) the Public Safety Act (PSA) etc in martyring the Kashmiri people, and for arbitrarily arrest of any individual for an indefinite period
Despite the use of chemical weapons the pellet guns and phosphorus bombs by Indian military Kashmiris have accelerated the war for liberation It is mentionable that Western media, human rights groups and leaders of various countries and UNO have repeatedly condemned Indian illegal measures and human rights abuses which keep on going in the IIOJK
In this regard a year after India abrogated the special status of Jammu and Kashmir UN human rights experts on August 4 2020 called on India and the international community to take urgent action to address the alarming human rights situation in Jammu and Kashmir “to investigate all cases of human rights violations including extrajudicial killings enforced disappearances torture and arbitrary detentions
Amnesty International also said on September 29, 2020 that it is stopping its work in India because the government has frozen its bank accounts” on September 10 for highlighting rights violations in Jammu and Kashmir and the government had sought to punish it for that
In the recent past the UN Security Council in its meetings has thrice reiterated that the Kashmir issue requires to be settled in accordance with the principles of the UN charter and the related Security Council resolutions as the world has refused to believe in the Indian story that its actions regarding IIOJK are its internal matter Notably, martyrs of Syed Ali Gilan, Burhan Muzaffar Wani, Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai and some other leaders have given a greater impetus to the struggle of Kashmiris It is worth-mentioning that there are similarities found what the Nazi Party of Hitler had done with Jews/non-Aryan race in Germany and elsewhere in Europe and what Indian-led fundamentalist RSS party has been doing against minority populations like Sikhs, Muslims and Christians There is organized pattern of genocide in the process Holocaust did not start with gas chambers It started after a sustained campaign of hate which included fear mongering and dehumanization of Jews, while Hitler called the Germans as superior race-Aryan race Particularly, Muslims in India are suffering the same type of ‘otherness’ and demonization Jewish population faced under Nazi regime Hindutva ideology of India s ruling party draws its inspiration from Nazi supremacist ideology India s equivalent of Nazi party RSS applies this derived ideology in its teachings and actions Modi’s ruling BJP which is political arm of RSS operating as a paramilitary organization RSS chief receives government s VVIP security Slogan Never Again raised after Holocaust still echoes throughout the world, but that promise rings hollow as international community remains largely silent on Modi government’s Hindu supremacists growing marginalization and persecution of Muslims and other minorities So it is crucial that the international
And Indian forces have been also availing various draconian laws such as Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), the Public Safety Act (PSA) etc. in mar tyring the Kashmiri people , and for arbitrarily arrest of any individual for an indefinite period.
Iran to hit Israel hard with smart power
Another sub -plot playing out here is that Israel can no longer hope to get the Gulf countries Saudi Arabia and the UAE, in par ticular to align with it against Iran
Espionage or public diplomacy?
gic
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to chariot Tehran’s Track 1 5 diplomacy Zarif s long exposure to the American policymaking circles during his extended tenure as ambassador to the UN and his active social networking in New York are his strategic assets Zarif is a familiar face and is highly regarded in the Western capitals Pezeshkian prioritised Zarif ’s appointment; he’s yet to announce his choice of foreign minister Zarif s return to the diplomatic circuit cannot but be seen as a signal to the Western powers There is a paradox here While Iran factors in that the US would lose heavily from any direct military confrontation, the fact remains that it is only the Americans and the Europeans who are able to stop a full-fledged war in the region in the developing crisis situation
This also seems to be Moscow s line of thinking In a phone conversation with Iran s Acting Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani on Thursday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov “called on all parties without exception that could influence the situation in the Gaza Strip and in the Middle East in general to avoid actions that could result in further destabilisation of the situation and new casualties among the civilians” per the Russian readout [Emphasis added ] In remarks at the Majlis last Tuesday after the swearing-in ceremony President Pezeshkian reaffirmed that his government s foreign policy will strive for constructive engagement with the world while upholding Iran s national dignity and interests Pezeshkian’s election victory suggests that reformism has transformed as a major current in Iran’s mainstream politics The Iranian dialectic is fraught with consequences for Israel and the US insofar as their old calculus to fuel dissent and trigger social unrest in Iran won t work anymore
nuclear deal that might open a pathway for the removal of Western sanctions as well as a vista of broad-based cooperation In this context in a veiled reference to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Pezeshkian made it clear in his remarks at the Majlis that we have been and will remain committed to our obligations Against such a promising backdrop, the IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi has sought an urgent meeting with Pezeshkian “at the earliest convenience ” In a letter to Pezeshkian Grossi wrote Cooperation between the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Islamic Republic of Iran has been at the focal attention of international circles for many years I am confident that, together, we will be able to make decisive progress on this crucial matter ” Again another sub-plot playing out here is that Israel can no longer hope to get the Gulf countries Saudi Arabia and the UAE, in particular to align with it against Iran Times have changed in Iran and the region as well as internationally, including the US where for the first time open resentment and disapproval of Israeli policies is being voiced The Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman congratulated Pezeshkian by phone on his election victory last month to express his satisfaction with the strengthening of relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia in various fields and stressing the need to strengthen the relations as much as possible The Saudi move registered the hope and expectation that they can do business with the new government in Tehran
Similarly, the Arab League delisting of Hezbollah recently would speak to the extent to which Saudi Arabia and other Arab states are moving away from Washington s anti-Iranian positions The regional states are increasingly accommodative of Iran and are trying to find ways to share the neighbourhood with Tehran to borrow the famous words of then-US President Barack Obama
Hezbollah is the crown jewel of Iran’s Islamic revolution Therefore Arab League s signal that Hezbollah is an essential player conveys a big message from Riyadh of decreasing regional support for US policies aimed at squeezing Iran and Tehran-aligned actors in the Arab world
In fact on Thursday Saudi Minister of State Prince Mansour bin Miteb bin Abdulaziz personally handed over to Pezeshkian a letter from King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud expressing hope for more constructive steps in developing bilateral relations with Iran and for the continuation of coordination and consultation to promote regional peace and security
All in all in the rapidly evolving regional security balance the Gulf monar-
chies, which watch Iran closely, are sensing a paradigm shift The bottom line is, Pezeshkian’s call for regional unity to counter extremist influences He said “Radical voices should not drown out the voices of the nearly two billion peace-loving Muslims Islam is a religion of peace Forty-five years after the 1979 Iranian revolution, the Islamic Republic speaks up as the voice of moderation and reason! Of course, this does not mean that Iran and the other members of the Axis of Resistance will moderate their response to the recent actions by Israel Iran s retaliation to the killing of Haniyeh is certain to be more severe, more painful than anything Tel Aviv experienced so far A war with Iran will be very unlike Israel’s previous wars with the Arab states It will be open-ended until Israel allows the creation of a Palestinian state Israel s capacity to retaliate will steadily get depleted as happened vis-avis Hezbollah The medium and long-term advantage lies with Iran, a much bigger country than Israel, since it will be a war on multiple fronts with non-state actors On the other hand it is difficult to believe that Israel acted on its own to attack Iran s sovereignty which is tantamount to an act of war without some sort of US approval It is this known unknown factor that makes the situation very dangerous Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei has already ordered a direct strike on Israeli territory The Washington Post citing Pentagon officials has written that keeping in view a possible escalation the US Navy has already concentrated 12 warships in the region Among them is the aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt, which is located in the Persian Gulf with six destroyers There are also five US warships in the Eastern Mediterranean Prime Minister Netanyahu has said that Israel faces difficult days and is ready for any scenario Netanyahu is confident about US support, which was manifest in the warm welcome he received during his recent trip to Washington Possibly it was this support that allowed Netanyahu to cut short his visit to the US return home and forthwith venture into such an aggravation of the situation If so, the US is coordinating the situation, but then, US-Israeli history is also one of the tail wagging the dog, more often than not Clearly, Netanyahu is trying to create a new reality in West Asia and is writing scenarios of these events directly for himself Suffice to say he is both the director and the screenwriter while the other protagonists, including the US and Europeans, are forced either to play along with him, or to make a good face at a bad game MK Bhadrakumar is a former diplomat He was India s Ambassador to Uzbekistan and Turkey
TH E recent indictment by the US government of former CIA analyst Sue Mi Terry on espionage charges smacks of a thrilling Hollywood spy movie
As an expert on Korean affairs she allegedly received luxury handbags and expensive meals from the National Intelligence Service, South Korea’s main spy agency In return she arranged meetings between officials of Seoul and Washington and provided sensitive US government information to the agency in a bid to influence US policies on the Korean Peninsula In a press release, the US Justice Department said Terry allegedly sold out her positions and influence to the South Korean government” in return for those material gains
Yet Terry’s own accounts tell a different story She claims that she maintained her independence and never revealed US secrets to the Korean government since she had no access to them She also insists that her positions on Korean affairs were always steadfast and at times clashed with Seoul’s official policies a claim Terry is using to prove she was not working for the Korean government In fact her opinion pieces for major news media in the US during the administration of President Moon Jae-in were highly critical of his proNorth Korea policy These allegations are unfounded and distort the work of a scholar and news analyst known for her independence and years of service to the US government ” her defense attorney told a US newspaper
The two starkly divergent versions of Terry s activities beg the question of whether she was involved in espionage or public diplomacy From the US government s point of view, Terry was influence-peddling and lobbying in Washington on behalf of the Seoul government for which she should have registered under the Federal Agents Registration Act a law enacted in 1938 to fight Nazi propaganda The law clearly stipulates that anyone working for foreign governments should register with the US Justice Department, but Terry failed to do so As such, her activities are branded as clandestine espionage Terry seems to have not registered because she believed her activities were related to the Korean government s public diplomacy rather than espionage Public diplomacy is a type of diplomacy designed to appeal to foreign public opinions to influence their governments’ foreign policies She tried to affect opinion leaders in the US by
Sajjad ShauKat
PM StarMer vowS ‘Swift criMinal SanctionS’ for far-right rioterS
Prince harr y crosses all limits in new inter view; Prince william reacts
Bangladesh PM S heikh Hasina resign af ter army inter venes, flees to India
campaign would persist until she and her government resign She must resign and face trial,” declared Nahid Islam, the group’s leader, to a cheering crowd at a national monument in Dhaka
200 dead marking some of the most severe unrest in Hasina s 15year rule
Although
Saturday Bangladeshi student leaders announced their intention to continue a nationwide civil disobedience campaign until Hasina steps down This follows last month’s violent police crackdown on protesters which left
begin
The group has called on citizens to stop paying taxes and utility bills starting Sunday to pressure the government They have also urged government employees and workers in the crucial garment industry to strike She must go because we don t need this authoritarian government, said Nijhum Yasmin, a 20year-old protester, to AFP Did we liberate the country to see our brothers and sisters shot dead by this regime?”
This looming non-cooperation campaign deliberately echoes the historical civil disobedience movement during Bangladesh s 1971 liberation war against Pakistan
Iran says to avoid regional conflic t but vows to ‘punish’ Israel
TEHRAN A G E N C I E S Iran is not looking to escalate regional tensions but believes it needs to punish Israel to prevent further instability the foreign ministry spokesperson said on Monday following the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran last week Iran seeks to establish stability in the region, but this will only come with punishing the aggressor and creating deterrence against the adventurism of the Zionist regime (Israel) Nasser Kanaani said adding that action from Tehran was
inevitable Kanaani called on the United States to stop supporting Israel, saying the international community had failed in its duty to safeguard stability in the region and should support the “punishment of the aggressor ” Iran s foreign ministry called in ambassadors and heads of missions residing in Tehran for a meeting with acting Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani on Monday to reiterate Iran’s will to respond to Israel An emergency meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation will be held on Wednesday at Iran s request to discuss the killing of Haniyeh and Iran s response said Kanaani Tehran and Iran-aligned groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah have accused Israel of killing Haniyeh on July 31 in the Iranian capital His death was one in a series of killings of senior Hamas figures as the war in Gaza between Hamas and Israel nears its 11th month Israeli officials have not claimed responsibility The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps’ top Commander Hossein Salami on Monday repeated the elite group’s threat that Israel will receive punishment in due time
CORPORATE CORNER
of
and Industry President Fuad Ishaq rejected the imposition of fixed tax on traders, warning the traders would be constrained to take to the streets if the government didn t withdraw unnecessary and unjust taxes
Faud Ishaq was talking to a delegation of traders from Saddar Bazar Peshawar led by Tajir Ittehad Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
president Mujeebur Rehman here at the chamber house on Monday
Other members of the traders’ delegation included: Aftab Ahmad Khan
Naveed Ibrar Malik Saeed Nisar Khalil
Naseeruddin Hashmi, Javed Khan,
Sumeer Manzoor, Muhammadullah, Nauman Durrani, and Fazal Mehmood The meeting was also attended by SCCI vice president Ejaz Khan Afridi
Secretary Sohail Anjum Mujeebur Rehman apprised the meeting about apprehensions of traders on imposition of SRO: 1064 (I)/2024 dated 22 July 2024 by the Federal Board of Revenue, through which a fixed tax from Rs30,000 to Rs45,000/ shop is imposed Tajir Ittehad urged SCCI to take up this issue with the government and FBR in an effective manner On which the chamber president Fuad Ishaq gave full assurance to make all efforts for withdrawal of this unjust tax
On the occasion, Mujeebur Rehman along with his cabinet members and delegation expressed full confidence in the leadership of businessman forum established by former senator Ilyas Ahmad Bilour and announced support for the SCCI elections Fuad Isahq said the tax system has completely failed in Pakistan He added owing to flawed policies of the government and FBR the economy has re-
ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T
A meeting was held under the chairmanship of CDA Chairman and Chief Commissioner Muhammad Ali Randhawa regarding the increasing rate of fish mortality in the Rawal Dam The officers from various relevant departments and bodies including Environment Protection Agency (EPA), Punjab Small Dams, Fisheries Department, and WASA Rawalpindi, attended the meeting During the meeting the house
a solidarity walk across its campus, reflecting a unified commitment to the Kashmiri cause On the occasion Vice Chancellor of Sukkur IBA University Prof Dr Asif Ahmed Shaikh addressed the gathering expressing the university s unwavering support for Kashmir Today, we stand in strong solidarity with the people of Kashmir, whose struggle for justice and peace continues to resonate globally," Professor Shaikh stated "Our commitment is to raise awareness and support their rights on this significant day The event saw enthusiastic participation including Pro Vice Chancellors Professor Dr Syed Mir Muhammad Shah and Professor Eng Dr Madad Ali Shah, along with faculty members, students, and staff The solidarity walk was a central feature of the event, with many participants taking part in discussions and activities aimed at fostering greater understanding and support for the Kashmir issue Students at Sukkur IBA University also voiced their support with numerous individuals joining the walk PR
was briefed that the increase in rate of fish mortality which was possibly due to low oxygen levels in the water, but the ultimate cause of their deaths will be determined after receiving the reports from the departments which took samples earlier
The several proposals were discussed in the meeting to eliminate water pollution in the Rawal Dam Muhammad Ali Randhawa said that the work on three sewage treatment plants should be expedited to permanently eliminate water pollution in the Dam He directed that the earlier study conducted for the sewage
treatment plant proposal for the dam should be shared with the EPA The CDA Chairman and Chief Commissioner of Islamabad directed that wetland sites should be restored to prevent pollution in the water from the sewage water from the nearby streams The special teams have been formed for cleaning of solid waste from Rawal Dam, Lake View Park, and the surrounding areas Furthermore, a decision has been made to impose Section 144 to prevent dumping garbage in Korang and other streams flowing into Rawal Dam
KU obser ves Youm- e -Istehsal with a seminar to highlight Kashmir crisis
S TA F F R E P O R T
There is a dire need to adopt and promote a national narrative according to the ground realities facts and figures and need of the hour regarding the long pending Kashmir issue This might be the right time to revise the policies on the matter so the world can once again see what is happening in occupied Kashmir All relevant international forums have been silent over the issue for the last seven decades or more and that is why we need to play our role with more responsibility and determination These views were expressed by the renowned scholar Professor Dr Syed Jaffar Ahmed on Monday He was addressing a seminar on Youm-e-Istehsal: the Kashmir crisis organized by the Students Advisor Office of the University of Karachi at the KU Chinese Teachers Memorial Auditorium He mentioned that Vietnam also fought its war in the European and American universities by sharing the facts about the war Re-
cently we have witnessed that the Palestine cause is also very much highlighted in the western campuses and as a result several European countries have also changed their stance on the Palestine issue that s why there is a need to raise a voice in the universities of the whole world to show them how human rights are being violated by the Indian governments in Kashmiri valleys
Dr Jaffar expressed that with the help of different communication technologies the voice of oppressed Kashmiri people can be spread around the world He said that the world will listen to us when we become a strong economic country
Our problem is that the prices of our food items are fixed by the IMF and we have to give them guarantees from other countries to give us loans ”
He informed the audience that before revoking the special status of occupied Kashmir the Modi-led government asked the tourists to leave the valley months ago and dissolved the assembly, leaders
were arrested, the internet was shut, and more forces and Hindus were sent to different locations of Indian occupied Kashmir but our government was unaware about Indian government s move and intention
On this occasion the KU Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Khalid Mahmood Iraqi said that politicians and parliamentarians must unite to raise the voice of Kashmir at the international level He mentioned that the Kashmiri people deserve the right to self-determination He expressed that India abrogated Article 370 to turn the majority of Muslims into a minority by abolishing the special status of occupied Kashmir Pakistan had many opportunities especially after the 9/11 incident where governments could have highlighted the issue of Kashmir at the global level, and might have had a chance to resolve it permanently as per the wishes of the Kashmiri people, but unfortunately we missed all those opportunities and maybe we prioritized economic gains over our narrative and that is why the Kashmir issue has not been resolved till date
KARACHI S TA F F R E P O R T
Pakistan Business Forum (PBF) has said that Pakistan s imports from India saw a downward trajectory moving from USD 2 000 million in 2014 to USD 1,700 million in 2017 highlighted in the above figure since the BJP government came into power in New Delhi At the end of the BJP’s first term India s exports to Pakistan hiked to about USD 1 930 million During the BJP s first term (201419), the trade ties with Pakistan took a dip, but during the BJP’s second term (2019-24), trade only saw a declining graph moving from USD 1 930 million to USD 0 121 million in 2022 India announced two withdraw
Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status from Pakistan and imposed 200 per cent customs duties on all Pakistani imports in February 2019
New Delhi's actions created significant obstacles for the access and viability of Pakistani products in the Indian market In April 2019 India also unilaterally suspended the cross-LoC trade alleging that it was being misused Despite this, Pakistan did not retaliate to these
Indian measures It was only after New Delhi’s unilateral and illegal actions of 5th August 2019 with regard to the Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) that Pakistan decided to suspend bilateral trade Even then, the transit trade to and from Afghanistan was not affected Speaking at a webinar of regional connectivity Vice President PBF Ahmad Jawad said that BJP government s actions in the political domain directly impacted the trade relations between the two countries as it has adopted an inflexible and hardening stance towards Pakistan The Pakistan Business Forum believes that India and Pakistan should consider resumption of trade and restoring the upgradation of diplomatic ties
US FIRM PROPOSES MA JOR REGUL ATORY REFORMS FOR PAKISTAN
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has established a 10-
member Task Force to oversee the comprehensive digitalisation of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR)
The task force chaired by State Minister for Finance and Revenue Ali Pervaiz Malik, includes members from both the public and private sectors
According to a letter from the PM office, the Task Force aims to implement policy interventions and data automation/software solutions for the FBR Major General Syed Ali Raza will co-chair the task force
The task force members are Ghazi Akhtar (Lotte Akhtar Beverages Ltd) Ziad Bashir (BoD Gul Ahmed), Amir Malik (ex-CEO PRAL), Fareed Zafar (LUMS), Asif Peer (Systems Ltd), Tania Aidrus, Waqas ul Hasan (Karandaz), and Gohar Marwat (Project Officer NADRA) The Task Force may include additional members from the public or private sector if necessary The Terms of Reference (ToR) for the Task Force include: Data integration with Provincial Revenue Author-
ities and across Ministries/Government departments
Risk-based auditing using CNIC as the primary identifier to broaden the tax base
Supply chain automation for wholesalers distributors and middlemen
Implementation of a Track & Trace System
Restructuring PRAL as an independent IT bureau for data and statistics generation Trade data sharing interface with trading partners for effective valuation/appraisal
The task force will present its recommendations and plan to the Prime Minister within one month The FBR will provide secretarial support to the task force
In a related development Prime Minister Sharif set a target for his economic team to expedite the transformation of the FBR during a review meeting on the Track and Trace System He emphasised the importance of reforms to improve Pakistan’s tax system and directed immediate action against those responsible for deficiencies and irregularities Federal ministers Muhammad Aurangzeb Ahad Khan Cheema State Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik Coordinator of Prime Minister Ihsan Afzal, and other high-level officials attended the meeting
g CONCERNS BEING RAISED ABOUT
WHICH REPLACES EXISTING FRAMEWORK FROM 2012 BUT WHAT EXACTLY ARE
