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India is mother of terrorism

25/09/2017 0

Better late than never, Pakistan has taken a bold initiative to call the spade a spade by linking terrorism in Asia with India's state policy.http://webtv.un.org/watch/pakistan-2nd-right-of-reply-/5584625488001/

2015 • 2016 • 2017

2015

February 4 - China’s peaceful rise (0) (Pakistan Focus Analysis) (by admin)
February 4 - Modi’s Options for Pakistan-India Relations: Analysis by Pakistan Focus (0) (Pakistan Focus Analysis) (Nawaz Sharif) (by admin)
February 4 - NSG Expansion: An Analysis by Pakistan Focus (0) (Pakistan Focus Analysis) (NSG, Nuclear Terrorism, United States) (by admin)
February 5 - In Solidarity With Kashmir: Analysis by Pakistan Focus (0) (Pakistan Focus Analysis) (Plebscite, United Nations) (by admin)
At this moment of its heightened national hubris, India unrealistically expects Pakistan to relent on its principled stance on Kashmir. It is time to celebrate the solidarity day with added zeal to refresh the international conscious about lingering Kashmir...
February 5 - Kashmir Solidarity Day (0) (Articles) (by admin)
February 11 - A close call to Modi (0) (Pakistan Focus Analysis) (Delhi, featured, India, Kashmir, Modi, Plebscite, state elections, UN, United States) (by admin)
February 16 - Pakistan and India prepare to Talk (0) (Chair's Blog) (9/11, featured, India, Modi, Nawaz, Obama, peace, talks) (by admin)
February 19 - Treacherous trajectory of Pakistan Indian dialogue (0) (Pakistan Focus Analysis) (featured, Indus Water Treaty, Kashmir, Narendra Modi, Nawaz Shrari, Obama, Pakistan-India dialogue) (by admin)
February 24 - Taliban warm-up for talks (0) (Pakistan Focus Analysis) (Afghan elections 2014, Afghan govt-Taliban talks, Afghanistan, America, China, dialogue, featured, Pakistan, Taliban, Taliban-America contacs, Turkey) (by admin)
Afghan Taliban leadership has approved initiation of preliminary peace talks with Afghan government. Taliban representatives conducting talks with Pakistan and China have received a green signal from their top leadership. Pakistan has advised Taliban leaders to sit face-to-face with the Afghan government and put their demands to find out a political solution.Turkey has expressed its satisfaction with the new phase of relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan. China’s entry into Afghan peace process was long overdue; this will help the sustainability of the peace process, because China is perceived as an honest peace broker by all. As the peace move is likely to pick up in the coming weeks, Afghan president has stepped up consultations with stakeholders in his country to evolve...
March 2 - India working to operationalize Cold Start Doctrine (0) (Chair's Blog) (Bhutan, Border Roads Organization, China, Cold Start Doctrine, featured, Mynmar, Pakistan) (by admin)
March 11 - India-Pakistan Relations (0) (Pakistan Focus Analysis) (DGMO, featured, India Pakistan relations, Kashmir, Line of Control, SAARC) (by admin)
Abstract: Though there was no breakthrough during Indian Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar's recent visit, there was headway for the next meeting between the two foreign secretaries. There is need for comprehensive dialogue process between the two countries to address all outstanding issues. Lack of trust between the two countries is a major issue and there is not likely to be any worthwhile progress on other issues unless the trust is gradually restored. India is well on its way for implementing two-pronged strategy to squeeze Pakistan. Modi wants to bypass Pakistan within SAARC and create conditions that Pakistan softens its stance on core issues like Kashmir and provision of trade openings to India towards West and Central Asia without any reciprocal concessions. ...
March 16 - Pakistan Focus Condemns Attack on Lahore Churches (0) (Chair's Blog) (attack on Chureches, featured, mob justice, Pope, security lapse, suicide bombers, terrorism) (by admin)
March 16 - Afghan peace process: China in lead role (0) (Pakistan Focus Analysis) (Afghanilstan, China to lead Afghan peace process, featured, P5, Pakistan, Taliban, terrorism, the United States, United States) (by admin)
To end the Afghan impasse, America is encouraging Pakistan and China to support President Ghani's reconciliation efforts.This is a good approach because China, due to its credibility amongst all stake-holders is better placed to lead the process and act as guarantor for the implementation of the agreement .Realizing the importance of Pakistan in intra Afghan reconciliation, Dr Abdullah has asked India not to overreact about improvement in bilateral relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan.The next few days are very crucial. All sides are aware of the fact that the breakthrough has to be achieved before the Taliban’s spring offensive. To cater for all possibilities about the outcome of talks, White House has decided to extend the stay of about 5500 troops out of core 9,800 combatants in Afghanistan beyond 2015; formal announcement would come in due...
March 25 - Pakistan’s necessity for nuclear electricity (0) (Articles, Pakistan Focus Analysis, Research Papers) (ARSA, coastline, Czech Republic, earthquakes, featured, Finland, flooding, IAEA, NEPRA, nuclear power, Switzerland, tsunamis) (by admin)
While the popularity of nuclear power took a major hit, worldwide, in the aftermath of Fukushima-Daiichi Nuclear fiasco in 2011. Pendulum has swung back and even in Japan, due to intermittent energy shortages, heavy reliance on imported energy, and impending default of international commitments on Carbon emissions, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe made a push to adopt a plan that could reopen closed nuclear power plants and pave the way for the construction of new ones. In many countries, plants are often located on the coast, in order to provide a ready source of cooling water for the essential service water system. Plant designs and associated infrastructure take into account the risk of flooding and tsunamis. Generation III reactors are at least 17% more fuel efficient, and have lower capital costs, while Generation IV reactors promise 10000-30000% greater fuel efficiency and elimination of nuclear waste.Over the last 40 years of its life cycle, KANUPP I, which is the oldest reactor of its kind in the world, continues to operate in Karachi safely with IAEA certification. Due to growing energy demand, Pakistan plans to increase the share of nuclear energy to 8,800 Mega Watt electrical (MWe) by 2030. This would constitute 5.41 per cent of the national energy mix. Other sources of energy like hydel, coal, renewable, oil and gas, would still have the major percentage. When completed in November 2019, K-II&III would add 2,200MW to Pakistan’s electric power, at a very cheap rate....
March 27 - Tactical Nuclear Weapons: An Answer to Cold Start Doctrine (1) (Chair's Blog) (Cold Start Doctrine, conventional imbalance, Counter Force, counter value, Deterrence, featured, Proactive operations, Strategists, TNW) (by admin)
Tactical Nuclear Weapons(TNW) have been developed by Pakistan as an answer to India's dangerous nuclear thought processes. It is not fair to blame Pakistan for the development of nuclear weapons.Security and safety of Pakistan's nuclear weapons as well as robustness of its impeccable command and control system have been acknowledged by World Class political leaders, strategists and technical experst. Development of tactical weapons is an indication of Pakistan's responsible behaviour to contain the threat and danger in the event of a war. As part of composite dialogue with India, Pakistan's offer of Strategic Restraint Regime is still on the table. It's essential components focus at addressing conventional imbalance, nuclear weapons and Missile systems....
March 29 - Pakistan enters Yemen crisis (0) (Chair's Blog) (Arab League, featured, Houthi rebels, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, sectarian violence, terrorism, Yemen, Yemen Crisis) (by admin)
[Featured Image: Courtesy Reuters] Seriously bruised from the spillover effects of Afghan conflict, with no signs of early and safe extrication in sight, Pakistan has jumped into another fray, the Yemen conflict. Participation in Afghan conflict brought terrorism to Pakistan's territory and the new found (mis) adventure is likely to accentuate the sectarian violence. In all probability decision has already been taken to commit Pakistan's military in Yemen on behalf of Saudi Arabia. Only regularization through Parliament and or APC is pending. Saudi Arabia’s involvement in the Yemen conflict, and the subsequent Saudi announcement of a coalition against Houthi rebels, involving Pakistan, has drawn a mixed reaction at home. However the point of concern is that: Is the threat perception correct? It is a different thing to rush to the aid of a valued ally who is in danger than facilitating an ally in playing its regional game in another country. Are Houthis really posing a territorial threat to Saudi Arabia? It will be an uphill task for the government for the government of Pakistan to accrue national consensus on this divisive issue. However, consensus or no consensus, executive appears poised to go ahead with its...
March 30 - Pakistan embraces another thankless war (1) (Pakistan Focus Analysis, Research Papers) (featured, Houthi, law enforcemen, MENA, Middle East, open ended conflict, Pakistan embraces another thankless war, Saudi National Guards, security cover, sovereignty, Yemen Crisis) (by admin)
[Featured map: Courtesy BBC] During difficult hours Saudi Arabia, as indeed other Middle East countries, have been looking up to Pakistan for security cover. Bilateral agreements are in place with most of these countries that bind Pakistan to provide necessary support when asked for. Most of these agreement carry a clause that Pakistani troops shall not take part in war on behalf of requisitioning states. Nearly 40 percent Saudi National Guards are of Yemini reign. This composition of National Guards is the underlying reason for current Saudi nervousness. Within Pakistan there is an overwhelming support—almost national consensus— to align with Saudi Arabia during all sort of crisis, including providing military assistance, with a caveat that such force is not used against any other country. Another concern is that such military deployment may embroil Pakistan in the sectarian violence back home. If the government of Pakistan is able to address these concerns, a national consensus is likely to evolve, barring some sectarian outfits. Arab leaders at their summit in Sharm el Sheikh on March 29-30 have voiced their support to the Saudi led operation against Houthi rebels. The UK and the US are also aligned with Saudi Arabia on this operation. Saudi Arabia’s involvement in the Yemen conflict, and the subsequent Saudi announcement of a coalition against Houthi rebels, involving Pakistan, has drawn a mixed reaction at home. Pakistan’s involvement in Afghan conflict...
April 2 - Deliberate Ambiguity? (0) (Chair's Blog) (CNN. Saudi led coalition, featured, Middle East, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Yemen Crisis) (by admin)
A photograph released by Saudi Arabia shows Brigadier General Ahmed Asiri at the news briefing with 11 flags displayed behind him, including those of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. Pakistan maintains that it has neither joined the military coalition nor has it sent any military personnel to actively participate in any operation. Earlier CNN apologized to Pakistan for reporting that Pakistani fighter jets had taken part in the fighting in Yemen. PM leaves for Turkey tomorrow for consultations on Yemen; and for the same purpose, Iranian Foreign Minister shall arrive in Pakistan on April 08....
April 8 - Yemen Crisis: Time to cease the moment! (1) (Pakistan Focus Analysis) (featured, Houthi rebels, insurgency, Iran, mediatory role, Pakistan, Pakistan Focus, Time to cease the moment, Turkey, United Nations, Yemen) (by admin)
Iran-Turkey summit has reinforced the likelihood of a cease fire in Yemen. Iranian foreign minister shall soon convey this to Pakistan; at the same time he will urge Pakistan to not to join the Saudi led coalition. By this evening all information gaps would be filled. While an overwhelming consensus is emerging for a ceasefire and negotiated settlement, no frame work for such talks is on the horizon. Space for diplomacy is clearly increasing; by now, all parties to the conflict have nodded affirmative for negotiations; hence raison d’etre for sending the military contingent to Saudi Arabia is fast diluting. Handling of this crisis by the government of Pakistan was slow, it could not match the speed of events. Political parties also kept shifting their stance. There was a huge gap between the Pakistani and Saudi positions regarding the ongoing role of Pakistan in Yemen crisis—positions varied between meek denial by Pakistan and total embrace by Saudi Arabia. People of Pakistan were left in a state of confusion. By taking a strong partisan position, Pakistan, like Turkey, lowered its acceptability for playing a lead mediatory role. While Pakistan government is overwhelmingly on Saudi side, leadership should not lose the sight of the stark reality that key to the resolutions of Yemen crisis is with Iran. Inclination toward dialogue by all sides presents a unique opportunity; Pakistan should make a course correction and take a lead in converting this widow of hope into...
April 16 - India’s erratic stance (0) (Pakistan Focus Analysis) (China, featured, India, Kashmir, Pakistan, SAARC, United Nations) (by admin)
Since Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power, analyst were watching as to who would call the shots in Indian foreign policy—parliament or the BJP hardliners. Now with BJP’s adoption of resolution on foreign policy the situation has become clear; it is the hardliners in the BJP who would remote control India’s policy, and more so it’s China and Pakistan policy. Now the party wants Modi to walk its elections days’ talk.Pakistan and India have remained engaged in the past under the framework of Composite Dialogue—a structured dialogue covering all issues. Pakistan is committed to a result-oriented, sustainable and meaningful dialogue with India to address all issues of mutual concern.India’s new trend of focusing on the issue of terrorism only is a dangerous strategy; it implies that India no longer wants to have a meaningful dialogue with...
April 17 - Canada rewards its nuclear thief (0) (Chair's Blog) (Agreement 123, Canda awards its nuclear thief, CANDU, featured, India, Nuclear Proliferation) (by admin)
Canada shall provide 3,220 metric tonnes of uranium concentrate for Indian nuclear power reactors over five years, beginning this year. Canada had supplied the first Indian reactor CIRUS in 1954. India payed back by using Canadian technology and stealing fissile material out of this reactor to carry out a nuclear test in 1974. Canadian Green Party's Indigenous Affairs Critic Lorraine Rekmans said: "Selling uranium to India could cause us to violate the NPT if India uses it to manufacture weapons, and make us part of the global insecurity problem." India's un-safeguarded 8 nuclear power reactors churn out enough fissile material for producing at least 100 warheads...
April 20 - Pakistan Focus Welcomes Chinese President (0) (Chair's Blog) (China, featured, friendship, Pakistan, welcome) (by admin)
April 21 - Pakistan and China Crystal-balling (0) (Chair's Blog) (China, features, Pakistan, Pakistan and China Crystal balling) (by admin)
April 22 - Mainstreaming Balochistan (0) (Pakistan Focus Analysis) (Balochistan, BLF, featured, Mainstreaming Balochistan, Pakistan Army, RAW, terrorism) (by admin)
A number of development projects have been signed during the visit of Chinese President. Most of these mega projects shall benefit the people of Balochistan. Some of envisaged infrastructure does not suit a few neighbouring countries and a few distant countries. Their interest converge and they are, individually as well as conjointly, making effort to keep Blochistan unstable so that these development projects do not materialize on ground.Since the start of Gawadar port project, a lot of lose money has always been readily available from some of the foreign NGOs/ think tanks for sensationalizing the Balochistan situation. Such sponsors nominate speakers for such events, control the contents and throw up recommendations of their choice. Some Pakistani entities and individuals unknowingly walk into the trap; and for some it’s their bread and butter. Noble causes like freedom of speech, autonomy of academic research and Human rights are often referred to for justifying their bizarre acts.On April 11, twenty construction workers were killed and three others injured when unidentified gunmen opened fire on them in a pre-dawn attack on a labourers' camp near Turbat. The victims belonged to Sindh and Punjab. Banned Baloch Liberation Front (BLF), headed by Dr Aala Nazar, promptly claimed responsibility for the attack. Law enforcement agencies need to put their act together and arrest high profile dissidents of the like of Dr Aala Nazar and bring them to justice. This will deliver a...
April 30 - China-Pakistan Economic Corridor: Sidestepping Obstacles (0) (Pakistan Focus Analysis, Research Papers) (Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, Blochistan, Chabahar, China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, Dubai, featured, Gwadar, Not another Kalabagh dam please!, Silk Road Fund) (by admin)
Presumably, all political parties have a consensus that they will not do anything that could derail the Chinese investment in the country. In this context, cardinal point is peace in Balochistan. National leadership will have to keep a special vigil on all direct and indirect attempts to create wedge between people and leadership of Balochistan and the federal government.Success and long term sustainability of economic cooperation with China would largely depend on how effectively and speedily Pakistan can implement these projects and utilize new investment windows such as the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the Silk Road Fund.It is all easier said than done, onus of creating conducive environment is on Pakistan. And Pakistan should do its part on fast track. First and foremost is a diplomatic campaign to allay the fears of neighbouring countries that the economic corridor is against the interest of any third country. Second, approach Iran and UAE for joint management of three ports—Chabahar, Dubai and Gwadar. Third, strengthening the national consensus about advantages of the corridor. Fourth, taking the Baloch leadership and public on board so that province could benefit from the project. Despite efforts by three successive governments, 450 Kilometers stretch of road from Gwadar up northwards has not yet been constructed due to law and order situation. Ethnic Baloch rebels, who oppose Gwadar's development, have in the past blown up numerous gas pipelines and...
May 4 - Western route of CPEC to become operational first (0) (Pakistan Focus Analysis) (by admin)
May 4 - Protest on PEN award to Charlie Hebdo (0) (Chair's Blog) (by admin)
May 6 - Pakistan’s Emerging neighbourhood (0) (Pakistan Focus Analysis, Research Papers) (America, Asia Infrastructure Development Bank, China, China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, featured, Our evolving region, Pakistan's Emerging neighbourhood, Rafael, Russia, Silk Road Fund) (by admin)
May 13 - Need to build on Pak-Afghan goodwill (0) (Pakistan Focus Analysis) (Afghanistan, China, featured, India, Modi, Nawaz Sharif, Need to build on Pak-Afghan goodwill, Pakistan, sectarian violence, Taliban, terrorism) (by admin)
Afghan government and people see Pakistan’s role as critical and most of them strongly believe that their neighbour could do more to mitigate their hardship. With the foreign troops almost gone, the country is extremely anxious about its future. There is a strong perception in Afghanistan that Pakistan is not fully exerting itself to help Afghans overcome violence in Afghanistan. If the level of violence worsens during the ongoing fighting season, the bilateral relations could revert back to Karzai era. Handling of Afghan refugees by Pakistan and differences on Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (APTTA) are other contentious points. A number of Afghan analysts are of the view that cooperation between the two countries could make them an effective anchorage for a regional hub with significant politico-economic clout.At bilateral level, there is need for a joint institutional arrangement for efficient monitoring and management of on-going issues. For this a joint commission may be set, staffed by both sides. Such commission should have a secretariat to keep the developing situation under constant review. Such an approach would create a sense of confidence in the two countries about each other’s intentions, and prevent a slide down in bilateral...
May 14 - China Pakistan Economic Corridor (0) (Chair's Blog) (by admin)
May 17 - An appeal for saving Muhammad Morsi (0) (Chair's Blog) (by admin)
May 20 - Need to re-tool our counter terrorism effort (0) (Pakistan Focus Analysis) (Afghanistan, Countering terror: need to walk the talk, featured, India, Law Enforcement Agencies, Need to re-tool our counter terrorism effort, realpolitik, systemic shortfalls) (by admin)
Patience of the nation is running out on frequently churned out counter terror visions and policies. Devil lies in details and implementation; and this is where we lack and lag. Whenever those responsible for counter terrorism claim success, terrorist make their presence and power felt through increasingly ferocious attacks. While one understands the complexity and enormity of terrorist activity, matching counter terrorism effort is glaringly missing. In the forefront is lack of will to implement the policies at the middle and lower levels of Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs). Every time there is a high profile attack, new laws are made, LEAs and trial courts are given additional powers, politicians hold meetings under pomp and show and rhetoric is uttered; for a couple of days bureaucrats run from here to there, but end result is zero. Within weeks, another high profile incident takes place, and the previous one is passed on to distant memory. Over the years, LEA's, bureaucracy, political parties, religious outfits and other state and private institutions have become complacent and take acts of terrorism as a matter of routine. Number of deaths of personnel of law enforcement agencies far exceeds the fatalities suffered by terrorists, which indicate poor professional skills of LAEs. Likewise number of deaths of noncombatants is phenomenal. This clearly indicates that something is seriously wrong somewhere and national counter terrorism effort needs a revisit at...
May 24 - India’s claim to state terrorism (0) (Chair's Blog) (featured, India, India's claim to state terrorism, Pakistan, state terrorism, terrorism, UNSC Resolution 1540) (by admin)
May 27 - Overcoming Challenges to CPEC (2) (Pakistan Focus Analysis, Research Papers) (CPEC and the Baluchistan factor, featured, India, India’s unrealistic approach towards CPEC, Overcoming Challenges to CPEC, Pakistan, terrorism) (by admin)
Earlier in February 2014, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval’s speech had hit the headlines where he had explained his “offensive defence” strategy as: “if you do one Mumbai, you may lose Balochistan”. In all probability, after hitting dead ends in his Pakistan and China Policies, Modi is managing these through his erratic ministers. During his visit to China, Modi had expressed concern over the CPEC on account of its passage through AJK. National security adviser Ajit Doval had prepared a detailed note on the issue and he vociferously raised the issue stating that Pakistan could use the infrastructure improvement to give terrorism a further push across the border–a silly logic indeed. Resurgence of a new movement in IHK to raise Pakistani flags has indeed put off Modi. China has vehemently dismissed Indian concerns about CPEC. Now, India is implementing its “B-plan”—subvert the CPEC project.Strategy is to make the project controversial by projecting as if CPEC would not benefit Balochistan as much as it should. RAW has a long history of sowing the seeds of separatism in Balochistan pegged around disruption of development projects. It routinely provides logistics, travel facilities and platforms to separatist Baloch elements. Besides RAW, there are other players as well, who are keen to keep Baluchistan on boiling point, and CPEC on stagnation.Balochistan’s ethno-sectarian fault lines are quite fragile and hence easily exploitable. Balochistan is a...
May 28 - Yum-e-Takbir under the shadow of dying NPT (0) (Chair's Blog) (featured, MEWMDFZ, NNWS, NPT, Nuclear, NWS, UNSG, Yum-e-Takbir under the shadow of dying NPT) (by admin)
Pakistan Focus wishes the nation a joyous Yum-e-Takbir. Today as Pakistan celebrates Yum-e-Takbir, the day it carried out nuclear explosions on May 28, 1998, it has a fair degree of satisfaction that its decision of that moment was correct. For genuine reasons, the 2015 NPT review conference (April27 to May 22) failed to agree on a joint statement. The NPT is a vintage regime of the 1960s reflecting the cold war era mindset.The NPT continues to turn its face away from the emergence of additional NWS since coming its into effect; is adamant at calling them as NNWS and treat them accordingly. The NPT is poised to become increasingly irrelevant as it does not reflect the realities of contemporary nuclear order. NNWS feel that they did not get the fair deal as interpretations and implementation of NPT have largely remained victim of political exigencies rather than the noble objective of achieving universal nuclear disarmament. As the NPT has failed to enjoy the confidence of NNWS so would a Fissile Material regime that does not take into account the existing stocks of fissile material and tires to freeze strategic status quo, like the NPT. Likewise, other discriminatory and country specific exemptions to India for its membership of four strategic trade regimes would make these regimes also look like the NPT, irrelevant, ineffective and...
June 5 - Peace in Afghanistan: a distinct possibility (0) (Pakistan Focus Analysis) (Afghanistan, America, China, featured, Pakistan, Peace in Afghanistan: a distinct possibility, Taliban, terrorism) (by admin)
June 9 - Madness, the Modi style (0) (Chair's Blog) (East Pakistan, featured, Madness, Modi, terrorism, the Modi style, UN Charter) (by admin)
June 9 - An overview of our military expenditure (0) (Pakistan Focus Analysis) (A scrutiny of our military expenditure, ABM, featured, GDP, Indian military budget, military logistics and procurement) (by admin)
Last year’s economic performance was marginal; most of the macro-economic targets were missed, some widely others narrowly. Unless requisite structural reforms are implemented, this trend is likely to continue. Under the circumstances Pakistan is under compulsion to maintain an increasingly expensive military capability to deter India from any misadventure. Keeping in view prevailing internal and external threats, modest hike in Pakistan’s defence budget stands justified; even though Pakistan would like to reduce its military spending and divert the funding for social sector development. Unfortunately key to defence spending cut is with India and not Pakistan. However, at the same time, there is need for economic belt tightening within the armed forces—especially in the domains of work services and procurement, both through domestic and international markets. There is a need to enhance procedural control over the contractual transactions. A reappraisal of tooth-to-tail ratio is, indeed, long...
June 17 - Fragility of Pak-Afghan relations (0) (Pakistan Focus Analysis) (Afghanistan, featured, Heart of Asia-Istanbul process, Nawaz Sharif, Sustaining Pak-Afghan bonhomie, terrorism, United States) (by admin)
[Featured Image: Courtesy the Diplomat]. It would be naïve to take Pakistan-Afghanistan relations for granted. Complexity demands continuous steering and frequent course corrections. Home to this reality, the leadership of the two counties is maintaining frequent contacts at various tiers. Afghanistan and Pakistan enjoy a unique relationship that has many shades which keep morphing into each other in a number of ways; at times throwing up diverse and daunting challenges, and at times oozing out comforting brotherly sentiments and environment. Afghanistan-Pakistan, bilateral relationship appears to have come of age, however the gains are fragile and are not irreversible—hence needing careful handling and...
June 25 - Connectivity and Economics (0) (Pakistan Focus Analysis) (21st Century Maritime Silk Road, BCIM, China, Connectivity and Economics, CPEC, featured, OBOR, one belt one road, Pakistan, silk route, soft power) (by admin)
In the context of globalization, connectivity, diplomacy and trade are not stand alone activities, rather these are parts of a comprehensive concept. If the political and territorial disputes are settled then borders become a source of flow and not obstruction. Connectivity and mobility are essential contributors towards prosperity and wellbeing of the people. Pakistan is well on its way for improving intra-city and inter-city connectivity; and mobility within the country as well as with its neighbouring countries. A number of time bound mega projects are at various stages of planning and implementation. In recent years, Chinese influence has globally risen despite considerable inertia from regional counterparts as well as world powers that actively pursue a policy of containment in terms of China’s influence in the region. As part of its strategies in other parts of Asia, China has expanded its influence principally through its economic power and soft power projections and vision regarding regional connectivity and increasing trade that would ultimately help China to emerge as an alternative to the Europe and the United States. Pakistan is poised to gain from regional connectivity programmes, for this it should continue to consolidate the political consensus to be part of these projects and improve law and order situation, especially in the areas through which these connectivity arteries are planned to pass....
July 2 - Is Afghan statesmanship retuning to Karzai era? (0) (Pakistan Focus Analysis) (Afghanistan's embryonic peace process, Ashraf Ghani, featured, India, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency, Karzai, National Directorate of Security (NDS), Pakistan, Taliban, Xinjiang) (by admin)
As Afghan peace process is learning the ropes, attendant issues keep surfacing time and again. However, despite fragility, process is poised to move forward, albeit in inches.Those who have stakes in keeping the country unstable are working overtime to impede the peace process. As a starting point, effort is on to undo the thaw in Pak-Afghan relations.Apart from Afghanistan, it is Pakistan that stands to benefit from a peaceful Afghanistan. Those who want Pakistan to remain in the grips of militancy and violence know it well that such a scenario shall remain self-sustaining only as long as Afghanistan keeps boiling. Moreover, those international players who want to prevent the flow of Central Asian energy towards South Asia would play their part, albeit through Afghan front men, to prevent the return of sustained calm to Afghanistan. President Ashraf Ghani is doing well by not subscribing to the disrupters of peace efforts; he is indeed emerging as a statesman par excellence. If he is able to hold to present course, he will be able to make significant contributions in intra-Afghan reconciliation and peace making. Time has come for a paradigm shift in the stated position by the Afghan government as well as Taliban, and in this context, the Afghan government owes unleashing of the proverbial first drop of the rain—political concessions for the resistance...
July 8 - Emerging China Century (0) (Pakistan Focus Analysis) (by admin)
China has effectively checkmated American “Pivot to Asia” rhetoric by mobilizing the support of 57 counties for its economic venture: Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). We in Pakistan welcome the setting up of AIIB and view it as an instrument of regional development. At the same time caution is due for AIIB: it should watch out the overt and covert behavior of its competitors, some of them are known for scuttling such initiatives by making them controversial by attaching negative tags of money laundering, drug trafficking etc. As Greece struggles to manage its debt trap, it has already swallowed the humble pie of being a defaulter. Negotiations for a cash-for-reform package between Athens and its creditors broke down over the previous weekend and Greek Prime Minister Alexis Trspras called a surprise referendum to vote on whether to accept further austerity or risk going out of the euro zone. Greece has failed to pay a 1.6 billion euro loan instalment due to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) after failing to secure new rescue funding. The global financial system, as well as the global capital market, will be affected by what happens in Greece. Incidents of similar difficulties faced by other European and no-European countries facing similar problems are not infrequent. Under these circumstances, launching of AIIB by China is certainly...
July 15 - SCO evolving and growing (0) (Pakistan Focus Analysis) (featured, India, Modi, Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan, SAARC, SCO, SCO evolving and growing) (by admin)
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is an emerging and evolving organization trying to formulate an Asia vision and Asia voice. This objective is indeed a tall order given the fierce opposition by the US led Western bloc. While the US wishes a unipolar World under its tutelage, it promotes multi-polar Asia with 4-5 power centres working at cross purposes. Currently it is busy in putting together a 9-10 Asian countries’ alliance against China under the banner of “Pivot Asia”. With its expansion programme, SCO is set to become an Asia focused organization with global outreach. SCO has sufficient space to consolidate its performance in the areas of non-traditional security concerns facing the Asia continent. Climate change adaptation, disaster management, drug trafficking and disease mitigation are some of the areas where SCO has unchallenged turf. In the long term it could go on to set up an Asian parliament and a conflict resolution mechanism. Pakistan has indeed eased the moment by becoming a member of SCO. SCO is slowly and steadily building a harmonious region in keeping with the Shanghai Spirit that promotes mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for diverse civilizations and pursuit of common development. After the current tranche of expansion, this organisation is poised to play a constructive role in Asia with a global...
July 20 - Iran nuclear deal: the slippery road ahead (0) (Pakistan Focus Analysis) (featured, Iran, Iran nuclear deal: the slippery road ahead, Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, Middle East, P5+1, Vienna Agreement) (by admin)
It is too early to have an accurate assessment of the monitoring provisions of Vienna agreement. Even if all actors are presumed to act in good faith—which is not a likely proposition— the slippery provisions of the agreement are rather intricate and circuitous; and hence, their execution is likely to bog down into glitches. Text and its likely diverse interpretations embody endless grounds for sounding Iranian noncompliance. After13 years in the wilderness, potentially dangerous row over Iran’s nuclear programme is hopefully coming to a close—at least for the time being. Iran has undertaken to drastically review its programme in return for lifting of crippling economic sanctions. Pakistan has rightly welcomed the accord hoping that it would help resume progress on gas pipeline agreement besides a quantum increase in bilateral...
July 29 - Brittleness of Afghan peace process (0) (Pakistan Focus Analysis) (Afghanistan, America, featured, Fragility of Afghan peace process, Taliban, UNSC Resolution 1540) (by admin)
As second round of direct talks between the Taliban and Afghan government is about to begin, all is not well on the Taliban side. Amid uncertainty over Mullah Omar’s fate, internal power struggle has flared up; Mullah Omar’s eldest son Mullah Yaqoob has taken the centre-stage. He is all set to take over the Taliban leadership in case his father’s death is confirmed. De-facto Taliban head Mulla Mansur is facing a rebellion by important military commanders. Opposition to Mansur, is centred round Mulla Yaqoob. Mansur heads the pro-talks faction; while those opposing the talks are gravitated towards Yaqoob. Some Western diplomats, long sceptical about Pakistani promises, say Islamabad now seems serious about promoting Afghan stability. “This is the most genuine push we have seen from Pakistan,” said one diplomat. According to the Afghanistan Strategic and Regional Studies Centre, the Taliban’s growing political activities could be viewed as a rejoinder to mounting pressures it is receiving from Pakistan. President Ashraf Ghani has welcomed the Murree process and is hopeful that the talks would lead to restoration of durable peace. “The whole nation wants peace. During the past 14 years we tried to hold face-to-face talks but could not succeed. But it has happened now.” Ghani said. He has called upon the Taliban to come up with a list of their demands at the second round of talks. Pakistan is striving to live up to its principled stance on peace process;...
August 6 - Afghan peace process: which way? (0) (Pakistan Focus Analysis) (Afghan peace process: which way?, Akhtar Mansoor, Ashraf Gahni, featured, Jalaluddin Haqqani, Mullah Omar, Murree peace process, Pakistan) (by admin)
President Erdogan and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, inter alia, discussed the prospects of budding Afghan peace process during their meeting in Chaklala. Over the previous years, Turkey has been taking keen interest in the negotiated settlement of Afghan crisis; initiatives like Istanbul, Ankara and Heart of Asia processes are just some of Turkey’s creativities. Matter was also discussed during a meeting between the US Special Representatives Daniel Feldman and Army Chief General Raheel Sharif. Participants of both these meetings have expressed the hope that the talks would resume soon. Taliban are facing their biggest challenge. Death of Mullah Omar is certainly a strategic blow to the outfit. His charismatic stature had kept the group together and effective; his successor is not likely to attract the same esteem. Reports indicate that many senior Taliban commanders are not satisfied with the new ‘Supreme Leader’. Paramount question haunting the strategists is whether the movement would survive as a cohesive force, or splinter out around at least half a dozen second tier leaders vying for power. Historical record of Afghan militant leadership supports the notion that there could be some fissures; especially so when Mullah Omar’s family, too, has refused to pledge allegiance to him, until he is unanimously elected. Notwithstanding the controversy surrounding the death of the two iconic leaders of Taliban movement, there is a silver lining that successors to both...
August 17 - Iran nuclear deal and our evolving region (0) (Chair's Blog) (by admin)
[featured Image: Courtesy www.usnews.com] After13 years in the wilderness, potentially dangerous row over Iran’s nuclear programme is hopefully coming to a close—at least for the time being. Iran has undertaken to review its nuclear research and development programme in return for lifting of crippling economic sanctions. Over play of Iranian nuclear bogey had caught the American policy makers by throat in the form of Israeli and Saudi pressure to use military option for settling the perceived Iranian nuclear threat. Likewise Iran had missed out on the dynamics of the World led by a single super power; it failed to comprehend that after making noises remaining countries of P-5+1 invariably submit to American pressure. Both sides have learnt their lessons in the form of nuclear deal. Pakistan should make an effort to formally induct Iran into Murree peace process so that it becomes a stakeholder in the political process. At the same time, Iran needs to do its part to dispel the public perception in Pakistan that it is not a party to the sectarian problem of Pakistan and that it is not involved in stalling the development of Gwadar port project. It will be worthwhile for Pakistan to support Iran’s induction into CPEC projects. Pakistan should complete the IP project and not fall in the trap of clubbing it with the revivals of IPI. If India seeks to revive the project, and most probably it would, then IPI should be negotiated fresh and independent of IP project. Pakistan...
August 21 - Afghanistan’s erratic trajectory (0) (Pakistan Focus Analysis) (Afghanistan, Afghanistan's erratic trajectory, America, featured, Pakistan, Taliban, terrorism, United States) (by admin)
Afghan government is pressurizing Pakistan through the US, it has persuaded America to suspend the next tranche of Coalition Support Fund(CSF) to Pakistan for not doing enough against Haqqani network. Though formal announcement is likely to take sometime, reportedly the decision has informally been conveyed to Pakistan's embassy in Washington. This would cause a loss of US$ 1.5 billion; the amount has already been budgeted in the current year's budget. CSF is a reimbursement of amount already spent by Pakistan for providing services in connection with American counter terrorism effort. It is unbecoming of an ally to withhold such payments. This would be a setback for Pakistan and Afghanistan would stand absolved of what all it has uttered in the recent past. President Ashraf Ghani’s frustration is understandable, but his approach to resolve the issues is unfortunately getting more and more erratic. More than a decade long Pakistan bashing neither helped Americans nor Ashraf’s predecessor; it is not likely to help him either. Americans have corrected their course, and it would serve Ashraf well, if he follows the suite. Afghan conflict needs a professional handling. President Ashraf Ghani should have done his calculations before signing the Bilateral Security Agreement with America that a very powerful component of Taliban is not likely to compromise on presence of foreign troops on American soil. Despite stern tone in his comments on Pakistan, Ghani failed to come up...
August 24 - Body language of Pakistan-India peace talks! (0) (Pakistan Focus Analysis) (Body language of Pakistan-India peace talks!, featured, India, Kashmir, Pakistan, terrorism, United Nations, United States) (by admin)
For some years a politically prompted theme had been circulating amongst Indian academicians and strategists that India should abandon bilateral talks with Pakistan for a decade or so, hoping that by then Pakistan would be so weakened that it would accept to talk to India on Indian terms. This fantasy echoing Nehru era wishful fallacy ‘that newly created Pakistan would not survive long and Jinnah would approach Nehru with his knees bent for its re-merger with greater India’ appears to have gone to the head of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. His national Security Adviser Ajit Dival is still suffering the hangover of his police assignment. Emerging Modi-Doval doctrine is to impose a new bilateral regime whereby Pakistan should forget about Kashmir, water and talk about terrorism, and that too as interpreted by India. Indian external affairs minister Mrs Sushma Swaraj has a vast experience of sabotaging Pakistan-India peace process. She was instrumental in scuttling Agra Summit 14–16 July 2001, while she was Union Cabinet Minister for Information and Broadcasting. Pakistan has rightly taken a position to follow multi-lateral route for presenting its dossiers on Indian involvement in terrorist activities in Pakistan should India shut the bilateral window on flimsy pretexts. Dialogue between India and Pakistan has never been an easy ride. Most of the agreements of strategic dimension could only come about with formal or behind the scene intervention, facilitation...
August 31 - Indian fits of brinkmanship (0) (Pakistan Focus Analysis) (Afghanistan, America, featured, India, Kashmir, Modi, Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan, Pakistan-India relations, Plebscite) (by admin)
American National Security Advisor Susan Rice’s visit had been planned in advance had nothing to do with the current tension between India and Pakistan. Also, it would be unrealistic to harbour expectations regarding the US role in Indo-Pak relations. Notwithstanding, trails of Indian arrogance lead towards undue coddling by America. India has to realize that the only way to bring an end to human misery on both sides of the border is to hold talks—especially on Kashmir. Idian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s frustration is understandable, due to childish approach, he has gathered phenomenal political baggage on personal, domestic and foreign policy counts. Modi’s obsession to cage Pakistan is firing back. During his recent visit to UAE, Modi tried to woo the Arab countries towards India, with a condition that they ditch Pakistan enbloc and comprehensively. He offered them defence cooperation in lieu of Pakistan’s constraints regarding sending its forces to quell the Yemen insurgency if Arab countries withdrew hand of assistance to Pakistan and show indifferent attitude to Pakistan on defence and economic matters. Again, Modi underestimated the depth of the relationship between Pakistan and Arab countries. King of Saudi Arabia made it clear in categorical terms that Saudi Arabia would never allow any Modi-led conspiracy against Pakistan to succeed. Tainted with his terrorist background, Modi lacks civility, patience and diplomatic skills. BJP needs to reconsider its...
September 5 - Fallacy of Indian Victory in 1965 war (0) (Chair's Blog) (by admin)
September 9 - Cold start or Hot start, We are ready! (0) (Articles, Pakistan Focus Analysis) (by admin)
Times of India has reported that Modi government's plan to celebrate the 1965 war as "a great victory" has raised quite a few eyebrows because even Indian defence ministry's official war history had long ago described its end as a stalemate. In military jargon, the term “stalemate” is synonymous to defeat when used to portray own performance. Army chief’s quip: “Cold start or Hot start, We are ready!” is reflective of national sentiment in the face of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ongoing childish brinkmanship. Archives of the Indian media show that grossly exaggerated claims of military success were made by India during the 1965 war; some of the headlines were: “Our valiant forces have set up a civil administration in Lahore after capturing the railway station, airport, Mughalpura, an ordinance factory ….”; “Civilized attitude of our soldiers wins hearts of Lahoris” & “Lahore captured: Our forces are moving into Kasur”. Closest the Indian forces came to Lahore was 14.2 “Bloody miles”. Indian psyche remains unchanged. After 50 years, India officialdom has embarked upon a foolhardy spree to make believe that India was outright...
September 17 - National [in]Action Plan (0) (Pakistan Focus Analysis) (Afghanistan, featured, National [in] Action Plan, National Counter-Terrorism Authority, Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan, terrorism) (by admin)
The decline in terrorist attacks because of action against militant in North Waziristan and Khyber Agency has generated an impression that NAP is performing well. But, beneath the surface there are grey areas, which came to surface during the meeting. Execution of the 20 points NAP is moving at snail’s speed, to say the least. Listing the nine weak points, the premier said a lot needs to be done as regards madrassas, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority, terrorist financing, reforms in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, Afghan refugees, legal amendments, the National Counter-Terrorism Authority (Nacta), religious persecution and sectarianism. The cabinet expressed satisfaction over progress in the remaining areas of the NAP. Main challenge to implementation of NAP is posed by criminalization of politics and politicization of crime. As a corollary, there is underlying fear that anti-terror laws shall be used against political workers; even if they are not used, there are ample hoax calls to portray such usage. Hence, there is an undercurrent within mid-level political cadres across the political divide to go slow on NAP. Another closely associated impediment originates from the behavior of political appointees in law enforcing agencies (LEAS); they are more loyal to their appointing personalities and less to pay master—the state/government. Confusion also prevails over what is and what is not ‘terrorism’; leaving much room for the low ranking...
September 24 - In tandem: violence and peace process (0) (Pakistan Focus Analysis) (featured, General John Campbell, General Lloyd Austin, In tandem: violence and peace process, Mullah Akhtar Mansur, TTA, TTP) (by admin)
[Featured Image: Courtesy CARTOONSSTOCK.com] The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hong Lei has condemned terrorist attack on Badaber; said, China supports Pakistan in firmly combating terrorism. Apparently this attack was aimed at, once again, disrupting the next round of reconciliation talks between the Afghan government and Tehreek-e-Taliban Afghanistan (TTA), which appears round the corner. Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have deteriorated during recent weeks following a sudden spike in violence in Afghanistan. Angered President Ashraf Ghani had said that his country will now not seek any help from Pakistan for brokering a peace deal. However, behind the scene strenuous efforts were on to revive the peace process.Pakistan’s policy on Afghan peace process is rather clear. Pakistan has always been ready to facilitate the Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process because it feels that peace in Afghanistan is important not only for the people of Afghanistan but also the people of Pakistan and the region. In this regard, the success of Zarb-e-Azb in eliminating terrorists is well-known to the world. Afghan government should cease the opportunity and rejoin the peace process. Afghan side should understand that charisma of Mullah Omar is so powerful that he continues to have impelling influence on the rank and file of TTA, even two years after his death....
September 30 - Counter extremism: Terrorism shall follow the suit (0) (Pakistan Focus Analysis) (featured, national action plan, Pakistan, sectarian violence, Taliban, terrorism) (by admin)
[Featured Image: Courtesy CNN] On the eve of Haj, Saudi Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz said the terrorists have gone astray and are destroying the image of Islam. He cautioned the Muslims about the menace of terrorists using the religion’s name while sabotaging peace. He urged Muslims to strive for spreading the real message of Islam— peace, love and brotherhood. And while addressing the UNGA on September 25, Pope Francis said; “Our world demands of all government leaders a will which is effective…and thus putting an end as quickly as possible to the phenomenon of social and economic exclusion...including prostitution, the drug and weapons trade, terrorism and international organized crime….We need to ensure that our institutions are truly effective in the struggle against all these scourges”. This convergence of thought amongst the leadership of two major faiths is a healthy sign. Grand Mufti and Pope have done their bit in this direction, now the global political leadership should pick up the cues and devise a global plan of action for countering terrorism while addressing the core issues of radicalism and extremism. Though terrorism is a global phenomenon, during recent years it has converged more onto Muslim countries, including Pakistan. Menace of terrorism stems out of extremism which in turn draws its origin from radicalism. Therefore, beside terrorism, any meaningful counter terrorism effort should also focus on radicalism and extremism. While the...
October 1 - Palestine at the UN (0) (Chair's Blog) (featured, Israel, Pakistan Focus, Palestine at the UN, United Nations, United States) (by admin)
October 11 - India’s zero sum approach towards Pakistan (0) (Pakistan Focus Analysis) (featured, India’s zero sum approach towards Pakistan, Kashmir, Modi, Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan, United Nations) (by admin)
Pakistan has initiated a long overdue process to increase international awareness regarding prevailing Indian negativities toward Pakistan. Indian involvement in terrorism related incidents in Pakistan is a serious matter for Pakistan and credible evidence on this has been shared with the international community. With this, Pakistan-India relationship has entered an interesting phase. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said that his four-point peace roadmap is the only way forward: “There is no other solution, we have given a proposal for peace in the region”, and the proxy war against Pakistan from across the [Indian] border should come to an end. Tensions between the two countries are affecting regional stability, therefore, Pakistan has presented the way forward. India needs to shed its zero sum approach towards Pakistan and adopt a balanced approach to end perpetual hostility spread over nearly 70 years that has not produced any positive results.Bilateral level has all along been a weak forum for resolving disputes between India and Pakistan— courtesy perpetually escalating Indian hubris. Most of the contentious issues of yester years that now stand resolved between the two counties were made possible through third party facilitation. Process initiated by Pakistan to increase international awareness about Indian conduct with respect to Pakistan should be pursued with due perseverance. India is essentially biting more than what it could chew; this strategy is not...
October 14 - Intolerant India! (0) (Pakistan Focus Analysis) (by admin)
Pakistan’s former Foreign Minister Khursheed Mahmud Kasuri’s book launching in Mumbai was a purely literary event but the intolerant attitude of Shiv Sena even to such harmless events has ,yet once again, exposed claims of Indian secularism. Earlier the classical maestro Ustad Ghulam Ali had to call off his tour to India as he was not allowed to perform by Shiv Sena. Freedom and civil liberties are under threat in India. For now, India presents a rather dark image. Article 25 of Indian constitution states that: “Every person has the right to practice their faith as they choose, or no faith at all without fear or discrimination”. However, in practice such rights are flouted quite frequently. The ongoing beef controversy in India has reinforced the conviction behind creation of Pakistan.Vice President Hamid Ansari has publically called upon the BJP government to take “affirmative action” to enforce rights of Indian Muslims as Indian constitution grants special "reservation" (quota) in government jobs, educational institution etc. He said these rights were admissible in Indian state practice but denied to Muslims. He gave example of many reports commissioned by successive governments and added that India's Muslims faced issue such as identity and security, education and empowerment, equitable share in state funds and a fair share in decision making. He made these remarks at the golden jubilee celebrations of a Muslim entity, the All India Majlis-e-Mushawwarat...
October 21 - Nawaz-Obama: Shall the twine meet! (0) (Pakistan Focus Analysis) (Afghanistan, Article 35, Article 370, featured, Kashmir, Kunduz attack, Nawaz-Obama Summit!, Taliban) (by admin)
Before leaving for the US, Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif had said that he would remind US President Barack Obama of former President Bill Clinton’s promise to play an active role for the resolution of Kashmir dispute. Nawaz Sharif also said that he “wants to bring the Taliban back to the negotiation table.” These two issue are likely to top the agenda in Nawaz-Obama summit. Though laundry list could and would include everything under the sun.In a historic judgement, high court of IHK has declared that Jammu and Kashmir continue to retain limited sovereignty and it did not merge with the Dominion of India after partition in 1947. The court has ruled that the Article 370 of the Indian Constitution is “a permanent provision” and “cannot be abrogated, repealed or even amended”. The IHK court’s judgement has shaken the very foundation on which Indians try to justify the forcible occupation of the state.The Taliban insurgents, no longer called as terrorists by Americans, are now spread through more parts of the country than at any point since 2001, according to the recent United Nations estimates. During previous weeks, the Taliban scored their biggest victory of the war, seizing the northern city of Kunduz and holding it for more than two weeks. Incidents of breaking Ghazni Jail, freeing hundreds of militant inmates and later threatening posture toward this urban centre speak for themselves. Earlier unrelenting attacks in and around Kabul had amply...
October 26 - Global Appeal for Help in Disaster Management (0) (Chair's Blog) (by admin)
October 29 - Promising trajectory in Pakistan-US relations (0) (Pakistan Focus Analysis) (climate change, featured, India, Pakistan, Promising trajectory in Pakistan-US relations, South Asia, Zarb-e-Azb) (by admin)
Nothing dramatic was expected to happen, nor did it happen; yet Pak-US relationship has got a fresh impetus—courtesy Nawaz-Obama summit. It has come out of a vicious cycle of blame game and attendant negativities. The continuing volatility in the security situation in Afghanistan, Pakistan’s battles with the terrorists, and its relations with India were broadly the three topics that dominated the discussions. Disruptive speculation triggered by American media about a nuclear deal with the US, in exchange for Pakistan limiting its nuclear weapons programme died its own death.During the last 2-3 years, Pakistan has witnessed several positive developments domestically, democracy has strengthened; terrorism is being combated; the economy has stabilized and is poised for rapid growth. Yet, it still faces external challenges: to pacify Afghanistan and normalize relations with India. Pakistan has made a strategic choice to eliminate all terrorist groups through a comprehensive strategy, involving forceful law enforcement actions and targeted military operations. Military operation, Zarb-e-Azb, launched in June 2014, the largest anywhere in the world, has produced remarkable results. The past year has seen the lowest number of terrorist attacks and suicide bombings since 2007. These indicators enabled the PM to play a comparatively firm hand. Pakistan-US Joint Statement is reflective of a higher degree of US sensitivity to Pakistani concerns, setting direction for the coming...
November 7 - Kashmir : The Forgotten Conflict (0) (Pakistan Focus Analysis) (featured, India, Kashmir : collective failure of international conscious, Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan, Plebscite, United Nations) (by admin)
During his recent address to the UN General Assembly, PM Nawaz Sharif had said: South Asia needs strategic stability and this requires serious dialogue to achieve nuclear restraint, conventional balance and conflict resolution. He proposed a new peace initiative, comprising four specific and feasible steps: 1) Pakistan and India formalise and respect 2003 understanding of a complete ceasefire in Kashmir and LoC; 2). Pakistan and India reaffirm that they will not resort to the threat of force under any circumstances; 3). Steps must be taken to demilitarise Kashmir; 4). Agree to mutually withdraw troops from Siachen. India out rightly rejected the proposals, indicating that it wishes to impose a bilateral regime unilaterally. Core issue of these four steps is the Kashmir dispute with huge humanitarian dimension. The international community is now alert to the need to normalize the situation in South Asia, and this is not possible without ending the massive Indian human rights violations in Kashmir. Kashmiri activists worldwide have intensified their contact campaign with diplomats, politicians and the media everywhere, they feel that this is the best time to convince India to end the military occupation in Kashmir; they are more optimistic today than ever. The Kashmir issue cannot be placed on the back-burner since durable peace in the region can be achieved only by addressing it “upfront”. When it comes to Kashmir, there is no backburner. If history is any guide, the...
November 12 - Afghanistan: a rudderless ship! (0) (Pakistan Focus Analysis) (Afghanistan, America, China, featured, Pakistan, Pakistan Focus, Taliban, terrorism, United Nations) (by admin)
China has offered to host a meeting between Afghan government and Taliban, but has declined to mediate. China’s special envoy for Afghanistan Deng Xijun called the Taliban “one of the main forces in Afghanistan’s political arena.” Like Pakistan, China opposes a military solution to the Afghan conflict, and favours intra-Afghan dialogue. “We think dialogue is the only way out for Afghanistan to achieve lasting peace and stability,” Deng said. “We have difficulties and obstacles when we have in such kind of things. We have many problems and challenges ahead but if we sit down, if we talk with each other, then I think the future is bright”, he added. He reassured Pakistan of China’s continued support in addressing common challenges faced by the region. Both Pakistan and China have convergent interests and shared goals with regards to Afghanistan. A report by the ‘US Congressional Research Service’ published in October has revealed that India’s goals in Afghanistan are: to deny Pakistan strategic depth and the ability to block India from trade and other connections to Central Asia and beyond; India also wants to prevent militants in Afghanistan from attacking Indian targets in Afghanistan; it wants to prevent Pakistan from regaining “preponderant” influence in present day Afghanistan. Report added that “it (India) does not want to be saddled with the burden of helping secure Afghanistan” after the US departure. It says that Afghanistan also...
November 14 - We condemn acts of terrorism in Paris (0) (Chair's Blog) (featured) (by admin)
November 23 - Saffron arrogance (0) (Pakistan Focus Analysis) (featured, India, Indian arrogance, LTTE, Narendra Modi, Pakistan, Shev Sena) (by admin)
India’s new found frenzy of extreme right nationalism is radiating signals of intolerance amongst various segments of Indian society as well as erratic behaviour towards neighbours. Past year or so has seen a number of setbacks for India-Pakistan relations. It still remains to be seen whether New Delhi has a clear policy on Pakistan. In contrast, political parties across the political divide in Pakistan are on the same page when it comes to making peace with India. BJP government in India has already wasted too much time, and it should now seriously move forward on all bilateral issues with Pakistan. Modi is still learning to be a statesman; whether Modi shapes India or India shapes Modi is an interesting catch 22 projection! There are as many roads to peace and stability as there are to crisis and conflict in South Asia. Modi‘s government has been anti-Pakistan from day one. It wishes to unilaterally design a bilateral framework, dictating what qualifies for dialogue, and what does not. It wants Pakistan to forget about Kashmir, water, Siachen and other important issues, and only stand accountable to India for terrorism, and that too as interpreted by India. While on the other hand, Pakistan is ready to resume a dialogue process with India simultaneously on all contentious issues. The entire world has endorsed Pakistan’s stance.Strong public consensus in Pakistan for improved relations with India is breaking down due to conditionality and stark messaging by Modi....
November 24 - Miscarriage of justice in Bangladesh (0) (Articles) (Ali Ahsan Mujahid, Bangladesh, featured, International War Crimes Tribunal, Miscarriage of justice in Bangladesh, Pakistan, Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury) (by admin)
November 26 - Paradoxes of countering terror! (0) (Pakistan Focus Analysis) (Al-qaeda, Daesh, featured, Obama, Paradoxes of countering terror!, Russia, UNSG) (by admin)
The evolving impasse on shooting down of a Russian military aircraft by Turkey indicates that international effort to counter terrorism is indeed a fractured. President Barack Obama vowed on November 22 that the United States and its allies would not relent in fight to combat Daesh extremists and would hunt down their leaders and cut off the group’s financing. “Destroying (Daesh) is not only a realistic goal, we are going to get it done…We will destroy them. We will take back land they are currently in, take out their financing, hunt down leadership, dismantle their networks, supply lines and we will destroy them.” he told a news conference in Malaysia. Rhetoric resembles that by George W Bush in the wake of 9/11. There is necessity and urgency for reappraisal of international counter terrorism effort since 9/11. As of now, international effort to overpower terror is showing clear signs of fatigue, whereas terrorism may itself be only at the formative stages. Islamic State claimed responsibility for the Paris attacks, calling it a “blessed foray” in response to France’s involvement in the “Crusade Campaign”. Paris terror attacks on November 13 is one of those exceptional events which are poised to have a deep and lasting impact on international counter terrorism effort—it is necessary to monitor and ensure that such effort is not headed in the wrong direction. Political violence or terrorism has been shifting venues in the face of pressures generated...
December 2 - NSG Membership: Will the nuclear apartheid continue? (0) (Pakistan Focus Analysis) (America, China, Cold Start Doctrine, featured, Nawaz Sharif, NSG Membership: Will the nuclear apartheid continue?) (by admin)
Obama-Nawaz summit of October 2015 survived a derailing attempt by America media that aired reports that an1213 agreement was near completion for constraining Pakistan’s “fast growing nuclear programme. And in-return, the US would press the NSG to issue a waiver to Pakistan. While following this approach, America was capitalizing on the desperation of Nawaz government to drastically make a visible cut in loads-shedding before 2018 elections. American gamble failed. Because any Pakistani government would rather reconcile with an electoral setback than to compromise on Pakistan’s nuclear capability. America, known for its cherry pick approach on nuclear affairs, circulated a paper to NSG members in 2012 suggesting that instead of granting membership on the basis of already laid down criteria by the NSG, India’s actual nuclear profile should become the criteria for its membership. This is a clear example of going much beyond proverbial shifting of goalposts; it amounts to altogether dismantling the goal posts.There are striking similarities in the nuclear profile of the two countries; hence if criteria based approach is followed then either both would qualify or none would qualify. The US had a lot of difficulty in getting the waiver for its nuclear protégé. India gave a number of assurances to NSG in an effort to bolster its non-proliferation credentials. These included reference to its “No First Use” doctrine, Indian participation in FMCT negotiations and its...
December 17 - Axis of Fragility! (0) (Pakistan Focus Analysis) (Afghanistan, axis of fragility, featured, Heart of Asia-Istanbol process, Pakistan-India relations, Taliban) (by admin)
[Featured Picture: Courtesy Pakistan Today]Pakistan’s troubled neighbourhood—both in the east and west present a treacherous playground in terms of diplomacy and peace process. Fist immediate causality was resignation of pro-India head of Afghanistan’s Directorate of National Security— Rahmatullah Nabi— who does not want his country to engage with Pakistan for joint and cooperative effort for solving the problems these two countries face, despite the fact that none of the countries could resolve these issues without the help of other. Likewise, Modi has a compulsion to please his hardline power base—terrorist outfit Shiv Sena—through Pakistan bashing. His anti-Pakistan rhetoric of electoral campaign has turned out as a bone in the throat which is neither easy to swallow nor viable to vomit. Pakistan is poised to tread a difficult path with both these neighbours. Pakistan and India have agreed to restart the dialogue process, Sushma Swaraj disclosed at a joint press conference with Sartaj Aziz: “Instead of composite dialogues now comprehensive dialogues will be held in which all outstanding issues will be discussed”. All eight sectors of the composite dialogue would be part of the comprehensive bilateral dialogue and more things could be added to it. Comprehensive dialogue will include discussions on peace and security, Jammu and Kashmir, Siachen, Sir Creek, confidence building measures, the Wullar Barrage/Tulbul Navigation Project, economic and commercial...
December 27 - Back to Talkshawk (0) (Pakistan Focus Analysis) (Back to Talkshawk, featured, India, Kashmir, Modi, Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan) (by admin)
For the past one-and-a-half years, India had pursued a deliberate policy aimed at sabotaging bilateral dialogue with Pakistan. India has a tendency to treat even cultural and sports exchanges as a concession to Pakistan for which Pakistan must cede some strategic space; the fate of ICCI underwritten cricket series and the way India manoeuvred to scuttle it is reflective of prevailing Indian mind-set.Apparently the scheme of Pakistan-India dialogue has undergone a structural change. National Security Advisers (NSA) shall handle terrorism related matters and erstwhile ‘Composite Dialogue’ under the new brand name of ‘Comprehensive Dialogue’ shall continue to be the responsibility of two foreign offices. Now Pakistan has a fulltime NSA, may be in due course he would have his independent secretariat as well. Earlier, Pakistan had handed over three dossiers to the United Nations Secretary General in October outlining Indian pursuits of financing and facilitating terrorist activities in Pakistan. Hopefully Pakistan’s NSA would make that as a reference document while dealing with his Indian counterpart, both NSA are ex-generals one of army and the other of police. Their background knowledge and expertise pertaining to handling of counter terrorism activities should come handy while tackling the sticky...

2016

January 14 - Pakistan in the crossfire of Iran Saudi Sea-Saw (0) (Pakistan Focus Analysis) (al-Qaedah, Daish, featured, Iran-P+5 nuclear deal, neo-Gulf, neo-Middle East, Pakistan in the crossfire of Iran Saudi Sea-Saw) (by admin)
While in Pakistan, over the weekend, Saudi deputy crown prince and defence minister Prince Muhammad Bin Salman was emphasizing the counter terrorism aspect of upcoming 34-country military alliance, and simultaneously elsewhere, Saudi foreign minister was cautioning Iran that Saudi measures could go well beyond severance of diplomatic relations and trade embargoes should Tehran continue supporting terrorist elements. Pakistan’s assurances to visiting Saudi minster during last week remained measured, unflinching support for territorial integrity of Saudi Arabia and well short of any military commitment against any third country—more specifically Iran without naming it.Since the Iranian revolution in 1979, both Saudi Arabia and Iran have locked themselves in a race for influence within the Islamic world, involving: alliance building, sectarian focused influence paddling, social well-being projects, disaster mitigation programmes, conflict resolution strategies, religious education etc. Resulting into both desired and undesired fallouts. Most negative impact has been sectarian polarization amongst Muslim societies, hence weakening the Muslim State structures, be they Shiite or Sunni majority countries. Such state-society polarizations were hardly known before mid-1970s when Islam was taken as a single identity and a unifying rallying force—say against Israel. Iran has intensely focused on sectarian element and has mobilized significant non-government influence in...
January 18 - Pakistan Focus welcomes lifting of international sanctions on Iran! (0) (Chair's Blog) (by admin)
January 18 - GLOBAL MILITARY SPENDING TRENDS : COURTESY SIPRI (0) (Chair's Blog) (by admin)
January 20 - India’s Pathankot Blues! (0) (Pakistan Focus Analysis) (featured, India, India's Pathankot Blues!, NSG membership, Pakistan, peace process, UNSC) (by admin)
As of now, Pakistan should scan the horizon for the immediate strategic objectives for which India wants to render Pakistan a non-factor in 2016-2017 time frame, through a combination of carrot and stick, two such objectives are: India is being considered for its NSG membership in June 2016; and voting on UNSC expansion in UNGA may take place in October-November 2016. Indian wants to keep Pakistan under pressure till a certain point then release pressure offer few concessions, then ask America to apply pressure, neutralize Pakistan’s opposition and subsequently withdraw its own concessions—leaving Pakistan high and dry similar patterns it followed for cowing in Pakistan for voting at IAEA before NSG Waiver in 2008 and the promises about playing domestic series with Pakistan before strategic cricketing decision at the ICC. Pakistani policymakers need to realize is that they can’t continue to wait for Indian initiatives and form reactive responses on the Indian projections; instead we need to reduce the space acquired by India for distorting Pakistan’s image amongst comity of nations and need to take our own proactive initiatives. At the same time, Pakistan should strengthen its relations with other neighbouring countries and form strong alliances with other regional structures—SAARC, GCC, ARF, SCO, CICA etc. This will help Pakistan in stop negotiating from a position of weakness when dealing with India. Since Prime Minster Narendra Modi came to power, India...
January 25 - Pakistan’s needless martyrs by Mohammed Hanif (0) (Chair's Blog) (Bacha Khan University, featured, International New York Times, Mohammed Hanif, Pakistan, terrorism) (by admin)
January 28 - Pakistan’s peace wish list (0) (Pakistan Focus Analysis) (Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, featured, Iran, King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz, Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan’s peace wish list: dilemmas home and abroad, Saudi Arabia) (by admin)
February 11 - CPEC: JIGSAW takes shapes in Balochistan (0) (Pakistan Focus Analysis) (Balochistan, China, China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, CPEC: JIGSAW takes shapes in Balochistan, featured, India, Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan, Pakistan Focus) (by admin)
Balochistan would remain the soft belly of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) for a decade or two. And in this context, the current security sate in Balochistan is likely to stay by and large the same. Internal disturbance and foreign interference are likely to continue. Direct and indirect foreign interference is likely to remain a potent facto. Therefore, security of the infrastructure has to be planned and executed in a comprehensive way, not only in terms of gun and bullet but also in terms of community participation. Security of personnel working on the CPEC related projects could only be achieved by making the local population stakeholders in these projects through Corporate Social Responsibility offset projects. From political perspective, the things are moving in the right direction. Mid-term political transition has been smooth and without any blame game. Chief Minister Nawab Sanaullah Khan Zehri has once again extended an invitation to self-exiled Baloch leaders to the negotiating table for resolving political issues and building on the reconciliatory approach of the government. This process needs to be accelerated to build on past breakthroughs. Narratives that engage the stakeholders rather than isolate them are key to stability. Politics of violence have hurt Balochistan, and the use of force brings nothing but destruction. Time is ripe for a new beginning, while at the same time window of opportunity may not be unlimited.Implementation of CPEC can also...
February 27 - Evolving dynamics of Afghan conflict (0) (Pakistan Focus Analysis) (Evolving dynamics of Afghan conflict, featured, Pakistan, Taliban, terrorism, United States) (by admin)
Last week Afghan forces pulled out of bases in Musa Qala, a strategic district of the southern province of Helmand. The commander of the Afghan army’s 215th Corps, Mohammad Moeen Faqir, said troops had been ordered to pull back from Roshan Tower, their main base in Musa Qala, as well as other checkpoints to reinforce Gereshk, straddling the main highway, one which links Kabul with the south and west. “Now that the government has withdrawn its forces from this district, we will see Kajaki, Gereshk and Sangin collapsing very soon,” said deputy provincial council member Abdul Majid Akhundzada.The outgoing commander of Operation Resolute Support and American troops in Afghanistan, General John F Campbell, paid a farewell call on Army Chief General Raheel Sharif on February 18. Campbell paid rich tributes to the professionalism and phenomenal achievements of Pakistan Army in Operation Zarb-e-Azb. He also acknowledged Pakistan Army’s efforts towards regional stability. General Raheel thanked Campbell in particular for his efforts to bring about stability in Afghanistan! Two generals reviewed the ongoing reconciliation process in Afghanistan and discussed the way forward. Though generals may think that worst of the Afghan conflict is far behind them, from a commoner’s perspectives, Afghanistan faces numerous daunting challenges....
February 27 - Top 10 arms importers, by country, 2011-15, percent of global share (0) (Chair's Blog) (by admin)
March 12 - Afghanistan between mysteries and realities! (0) (Pakistan Focus Analysis) (Afghanistan, Afghanistan between mysteries and realities!, featured, Pakistan, QCG, Taliban) (by admin)
Two suicide attacks one each in Kabul and Kunar provinces of Afghanistan and prompt claiming of responsibility by the Taliban could be another conspiracy to derail the upcoming direct talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban. May be someone else is acting as Taliban. Afghan conflict often throws up events that remain shrouded in mystery.This type of environment is quite intriguing. Afghanistan should have been keen for restoration of peace and tranquillity in the country that has suffered so much and for so long because of turbulence and turmoil triggered by a host of factors. Earlier, Afghanistan and some of its friends in the West had been complaining that peace process was not moving ahead because of lack of required support by Pakistan; however, over the last two years, Pakistan has been making hectic endeavours to help forward movement of peace process. Pakistan’s keenness has been widely acknowledged by the international community. Pakistan is deeply interested in speedy resolution of the Afghan crisis as unending conflict has badly damaged it in different ways including missed economic opportunities, deteriorating security situation and continued presence of millions of Afghan refugees that are adding to the socio-economic problems of the...
March 19 - Kashmir conflict: unfinished agenda of partition (0) (Pakistan Focus Analysis) (British Governemnt, featured, India, Kashmir, Kashmir conflict: unfinished agenda of partition, Nehru-Edwina nexus, Pakistan) (by admin)
All Parties Hurriyet Conference leader Syed Ali Geelani has recently commented from his hospital bed in New Delhi: “British government played a key role in creating Kashmir issue”. Any historic scrutiny into origin of Kashmir conflict leads to culpability of the British Crown representatives in India. Who would know better than Hammond that Kashmir dispute was wilfully engineered through machinations of the last Viceroy Lord Mountbatten, who supervised the “Great Divide”. On pretext of fake and fabricated accession letter from Maharaja of Kashmir, Viceroy authorised air lift of Indian troops to mercilessly supress the popular uprising against the Indian intent to annex Kashmir by arm-twisting the Maharaja.Kashmir shall always be on the agenda of Pakistan-India dialogue, whenever it takes place. It is Kashmir that defines parameters of Pak-India relationship and gives it forward movement. One has to be a Pakistani to read between the lines on India’s Pakistan policy. Pakistan really doesn’t need British foreign secretary telling how to conduct relations with India! Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is keen for normalisation of relations with India on the basis of mutual respect and mutual interest, and is pursuing this policy with seriousness of purpose. Pakistan seeks uninterruptible and uninterrupted dialogue. Neither war nor disengagement is an option. Globalised world calls for active cooperation to address common challenges. Road to peace is always strewn with...
March 19 - Dialogue of the unequal! (0) (Chair's Blog) (Dialogue of the unequal!, Economy, featured, Pakistan, Pakistan-US Strategic Dialogue, United States) (by admin)
Pakistan-US strategic dialogue is important from the point of view of contents; it covers almost all essential domains. It is mutually beneficial to both sides. However, every round of dialogue gets overshadowed by American obsessions with Pakistan-India relations and Pakistan’s nuclear programme. The US perception has it that onus of maintaining good Pakistan-India relations rests on Pakistan; and that irrespective of its strategic calculus with India, Pakistan should unilaterally rollback its nuclear programme. American media is often keen to link Pakistan’s nuclear programme with its external debts and makes offers for bartering Pakistani-nukes with write off of these debts. Most of the factors, which determine a good economic health are poorly addressed in Pakistan. The human development report yearly issued by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) shows Pakistan at a lower level; 146 out of 187, countries. Also, there has been persistent low per capita income rate. From 2008 to 2015, the average growth has been around 3.5 percent, which is quite low—certainly not an enviable benchmark. The last five years of Pakistan’s economy were highly inflationary. This was a major hurdle in the way of development. Rather than attracting, foreign direct investment (FDI), even local Pakistani investors left the country, in numbers, for investing in neighbouring countries. Both, nuclear programme spanning full spectrum deterrence and robust economy, are vitally...
March 24 - Complexities of Afghan conflict (0) (Pakistan Focus Analysis) (Afghanistan, Complexities of Afghan conflict, featured, Pakistan) (by admin)
Secretary-General’s Special Representative and head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), Mr Nicholas Haysom, has emphasised that the Afghan Government must manage its difficult transition, as the Security Council extended the UN mission there for another year, on March 18, 2016. He highlighted five major hurdles including a contracting economy, an intensifying insurgency, an increasingly divided political environment, significant medium-term financial demand, and the need to achieve progress towards a sustainable peace. “For 2016, survival will be an achievement” for the Government, he said. “Some may criticize this benchmark as being low, but survival does not mean inaction, or merely ‘treading water,’ but it means active engagement in confronting the five challenges,” he added.Heavy fighting has continued over the winter from Helmand in the south to Jowzjan province in the north, while suicide attacks have been launched in the capital and other urban centres. In a rare exception this time Taliban continued their tactical attacks even during harsh winters; earlier, each year they used to take a break from fighting from November to March. Taliban’s recent success on the battlefield inside Afghanistan has changed the equation. They have little incentive to step off the battlefield now, given recent gains and those likely to come in the next few months.War in Afghanistan was a willful creation, albeit a wrong one. Afghans are urging an end to...
March 30 - What and how of nuclear security (0) (Pakistan Focus Analysis) (featured, Global Zero, India, India-US Agreement 123, Nuclear Security Summit, Pakistan, Russia, What and how of nuclear security) (by admin)
According to an Indian Express report (March 21), an anonymous tip-off has helped the Indian Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) to bust a mineral smuggling racket that involved exports of beryl — an atomic mineral ore of Beryllium. Six persons were arrested in end-January and about 31 tonnes of atomic mineral was recovered; the US, Canada, Russia and Brazil are the recipients. Extracts of beryllium from the mineral ore are used in atomic power plants, space technology and scanning equipment. Beryl is one of the “prescribed substances” notified by the DAE under the Atomic Energy Act, 1962. Prior to the latest operation, a 20-tonne consignment of beryl is learnt to have possibly been smuggled to Hong Kong from Kandla Port in Gujarat in October 2015. The is alarming as India being a party to the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) Convention on Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and its 2005 Amendment, is duty-bound to prevent the smuggling of atomic minerals of all kinds. The emergent global nuclear order is focusing on a greater role for India’s nuclear weapon status, transfer of nuclear technology and materials especially massive import of Uranium. Despite India’s poor track record, the US and its nuclear camp followers are trying to evolve an India specific criteria to upgrade India’s NSG waiver into a full-fledged membership. The DG IAEA has recently expressed his satisfaction over implementation of the agency’s safeguard measures in the...
April 10 - India between denial and despair! (0) (Pakistan Focus Analysis) (EU, featured, India between denial and despair!, India's state terrorism, P-5, RAW, UNSG) (by admin)
Pakistan has briefed P-5 and EU on the arrest of serving Commander of Indian Navy Kulbashan Yadav employed by India in spy-state terrorist’s role, and his confession of involvement in state-terrorism and subversive activities in Pakistan. The international community is also being briefed through Pakistan’s missions abroad. His confession also confirmed what the then American defence secretary Mr Chuck Hagel had said in 2013 that India finances troubles in Pakistan from Afghanistan! Moreover, while in Bangladesh in 2015, Indian Prime Minister was fool hardy enough or comically arrogant to publicly state Indian government’s role in Pakistan’s breakup in 1971. Pakistan did well by releasing video tape of the RAW Yadav’s confession. This would make those elements in Pakistan rethink their approach of faulting Pakistan for not improving relations with India. Hopefully, the issue would not end at release of the video and Pakistani leadership would continue raising such issues forcefully with India and members of the international...
April 13 - Intricacies of spying via third country (0) (Pakistan Focus Analysis) (Balochistan, faux pas, featured, Intricacies of spying via third country, Saudi-Iran tension, shia-sunni) (by admin)
Use of neighbouring soils as launching pad for hostile intelligence agencies for disruptive and subversive purposes is not uncommon. The cardinal question is whether it is in the know of the government of the neighbouring country. In Pakistan’s setting India has been using Iranian and Afghan territories for such purposes. Successive Afghan governments have been in the know of this activity, and at times, active partner in some activities of Indian intelligence outfits. While in case of Iran, in all probability, Indian intelligence agencies have been operating without the knowledge of Iranian government. In this context the message by Pakistan’s Army Chief to visiting Iranian President: “Sometimes [RAW] also uses the soil of our brother country, Iran. I request they should be told to stop these activities and allow Pakistan to achieve stability,” was appropriate. However, this message should have originated from the foreign office in the form of an ambassador level Demarche. It could have either been made public or handled discreetly. In case it was necessary to originate such signalling from Army Chief’s office, then confidentiality should have been discreetly guarded. A step back was in order after denial of discussion on this point by Iranian President. Judging by diplomatic norms, the message was strongly worded. And the standard diplomatic practice is that the text of any press statement meant to be released after such meetings is usually agreed to by both...
April 20 - Afghanistan between war and peace making (0) (Pakistan Focus Analysis) (Afghanistan between war and peace making, featured, NATO, Pakistan, QCG, Spring Offensive, Taliban) (by admin)
During a meeting between President Mamnoon Hussain and Chief Executive of Afghanistan Dr Abdullah Abdullah, on the side-lines of the OIC summit, mutual commitment to work together to address common challenges was reaffirmed. The President underlined the importance Pakistan attached to a peaceful and stable Afghanistan and highlighted the efforts being made for the promotion of the Afghan reconciliation process, including through the Quadrilateral mechanism. Back in Afghanistan fierce offensive around Kunduz began only days after the Taliban group announced its annual spring offensive, vowing to launch large-scale attacks to drive the Western-backed government from power. Imamuddin Qureshi, chief of Kunduz's Imam Saheb district, said several security outposts had already fallen to the Taliban, and he called on the government in Kabul to send reinforcements and air support immediately. Outposts were also overrun in other districts and security forces fled to Kunduz city to regroup, Khanabad district Chief Ayatullah Amiri said. The highway between Kunduz and neighbouring Takhar province also stands blocked. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said fighters had captured outposts in six districts and three bomb blasts had killed seven members of the Afghan security forces just outside Kunduz.Onus to secure any reduction in violence through cease fire(s) rests with the Afghan government through a package of political concessions that could, step by step, induct the Taliban...
April 27 - Pakistan India peace process at its lowest ebb (0) (Articles, Pakistan Focus Analysis) (Ajit Doval, featured, Kulbhushan Jadhav, Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan India peace process at its lowest ebb, Pathankot) (by admin)
Though the Foreign Secretaries of Pakistan and India met for more than an hour on sidelines of Heart of Asia conference, in New Delhi on April 26 , there is no visible forward movement. Earlier this month, Ambassador Gopalapuram Parthasarthy, a former Indian high commissioner to Pakistan (1998-2000) and a former spokesperson of Prime Minister’s office had written a belittling article about Pakistan-India relations: “The general, the 'spy' and no talks with India”. Interestingly trash has come from a person who once had the responsibility to ensure that this bilateral relationship does not go astray. Pakistan India peace process are at its lowest ebb, poor Pakistan-India bilateral relationship owes a lot to Parthasarathy syndrome. Any independent analyst worth his salt will be quite sceptical on G Parthasarathy’s narrative. Likelihood of attack on Indian Air Force Station Pathankot turning out as a false flag operation orchestrated by Indian intelligence agencies under the able tutelage of National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and the Kulbhushan Jadhav saga will continue to haunt the Indian intelligence establishment for a long time. The world is now better aware about employment of terrorism as state policy by India, especially when it comes to its relationship with Pakistan. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has already over expended political capital in attempting to improve Pakistan-India relations, all his initiatives have been scuttled by Narendra Modi, who wears...
May 4 - Shifting sands of Afghan conflict (0) (Articles, Pakistan Focus Analysis) (Afghanistan, America, China, featured, India, NDS, Pakistan, RAW) (by admin)
Under the dry circumstances a big supportive push for Afghan peace process came from the Chinese President Beijing—President Xi Jinping. While addressing the opening ceremony of fifth foreign ministers’ meeting of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) on April 28, he assured that his country will play pro-active role for the success of peace process in Afghanistan and to seek more international support for the country’s reconstruction. President Xi further said, China supports an “Afghan-led, Afghan-owned” inclusive political reconciliation process, hopes the country can realize peace, stability and development at an early date.There is need for paradigm shift if the Afghan peace process is to take a sustainable trajectory, the QCG should convince itself that the Afghan Taliban are no more an affiliate of the al Qaeda, but represent a home grown Afghan nationalist movement. Blaming Pakistan for the Afghan rulers' failure to either defeat the Taliban in the battlefield or to coax them to come over to their side is not likely to help anyone. Pakistan is in no position to unilaterally engage Haqqanis militarily and succeed. It cannot afford to open a new front with the entity that so far poses no threat to it militarily. As Haqqanis are an integral part of the Taliban under Mullah Akhtar Mansur, any attempt to engage them by the QCG either militarily or for negotiation would be a non-starter. Likewise, attempt to isolate...
May 10 - India mixes Kashmir with Balochistan (0) (Articles) (Balochistan, China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, featured, India, India mischievously mixes Kashmir and Balochistan, Kashmir, Plebscite, United Nations) (by admin)
Whenever Kashmir conflict begins to pressure India, it invites Baloch dissents and provides them requisite logistics & platform to malign Pakistan. As part of this campaign “Times of India” carried a lengthy interview of self-styled Professor Naela Quadri Baloch on May 02. She said about Baloch insurgency: “It is freedom struggle; we were occupied by Pakistan on March 27, 1948 and ever since we have been fighting against Pakistan to free ourselves. Balochistan was never a part of India or Iran or Afghanistan or any other country. Balochistan was always independent. So an independent country was occupied.” To a question as to how Balochistan’s freedom struggle is different from the separatist movement in Kashmir, she said: “Kashmir was never a country; it was a princely state under a Maharaja. Kashmir was always a part of greater India. It is an established fact that the northern areas of Balochistan including Bolan Pass, Quetta, Nushki and Naseerabad were leased out to Britain, which were later named as British Balochistan. However, more importantly, the Khan of Kallat had voluntarily acceded to Pakistan.The 13th OIC Summit, held in Istanbul from 10-15 April, called on India to implement pending UN Security Council resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir, and called upon the United Nations for implementation of the Security Council’s relevant Resolutions on Kashmir. It called upon India to allow the OIC Fact Finding Mission and the international human rights groups...
May 19 - The F-16 and Afghan wars (0) (Articles, Pakistan Affairs, Pakistan Focus Analysis, South Asia) (Afghan wars, Afghanistan, featured, Pakistan, Taliban, the United Stated) (by admin)
May 21 - China and Pakistan : 65 Years of Diplomatic Relations (0) (Chair's Blog) (China, CPEC, featured, Gandhara Civilization, Karakoram Highway, Pakistan) (by admin)
May 28 - Yum-e-Takbeer (0) (Chair's Blog) (crisis, Deterrence, fetured, South Asia, yum-e-Takbeer) (by admin)
May 30 - Best wishes to PM Nawaz Sharif (0) (Chair's Blog) (early recovery, featured, long life, Nawaz Sharif) (by admin)
June 1 - America and Pakistan’s nuclear programme (0) (Articles, Global Issues, Neuclear Studies, Pakistan Affairs, Pakistan Focus Analysis, South Asia) (America, featured, FMT/FMCT, India, ISAF/NATO, Nawaz Sharif, nucearization of Indian Ocean, Pak-US strategic dialogue) (by admin)
Father of Pakistan's nuclear programme Abdul Qadeer Khan said while addressing a gathering in Islamabad on the 18th anniversary of Pakistan's first nuclear tests, that: “We were able and we had a plan to launch nuclear test in 1984. But President General Zia-ul-Haq had opposed the move”. Presidents Zia-ul- Haq and CarterHe thought it could invoke international military intervention and curtailment of aid flow. Notwithstanding, his commitment to Pakistan's nuclear weapon programme was unwavering: as firm as iron. Progress towards comprehensive nuclear disarmament is being delayed by some countries who advocate abstinence for others but are unwilling to give up their large inventories of nuclear weapons or their modernisation ambitions. Instead of fulfilling their legal disarmament obligations, these States have exclusively pursued non-proliferation with messianic zeal. The largest event of the century in the context of horizontal nuclear non-proliferation is Indo-US Agreement 123, which has set the precedent of keeping nuclear power reactors outside IAEA safeguards. The Indo-US nuclear deal provides India with fissile material for at least 50 additional warheads every year sans all other resources. Adviser to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz informed Senate on May 19 that Pakistan is considering to move a resolution in United Nations General Assembly in the next session, urging it to declare the Indian Ocean a “nuclear free zone”. Pakistan is planning...
June 1 - Pakistan Focus congratulates PM Nawaz Sharif (0) (Chair's Blog) (cardio, featured, Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan, recovery) (by admin)
June 11 - Complexities of Afghan chaos (0) (Articles, Global Issues, Pakistan Affairs, Pakistan Focus Analysis) (by admin)
At this point and time killing of Mansour raises a pointed questions about on which side of peace process various actors are? Does America want peace in Afghanistan or wants to keep the pot boiling to add back more troops to Afghan theatre? Was the option of killing Mansour discussed in the QCG meeting held immediately before the drone attack? Or, Is the QCG a dummy body to gain time and America is working on bilateral channel with Afghan government to impose its own version of peace settlement by co-opting dormant militant Afghan entities? Is India instrumental in derailing the Afghan peace process? Will the Afghan Sikh community begin asserting its minority rights in Afghanistan? As of now one could have only partial answers to these tricky questions; and the content could vary hugely from respondent to respondent. One thing appears certain about Afghanistan: pro-turmoil lobby is quite strong, and peace in Afghanistan is a far...
June 22 - Fallout of containment strategies in Asia (0) (Articles, Pakistan Affairs, Pakistan Focus Analysis) (China, CPEC, Fallout of containment strategies in Asia, featured, India, Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement, Pakistan, United States) (by admin)
June 25 - Rewriting Afghan conflict! (0) (Articles, Global Issues, Pakistan Focus Analysis) (Afghanistan, featured, India, Pakistan, Taliban, terrorism, United States) (by admin)
June 28 - American troops back to combat in Afghanistan (0) (Articles, Global Issues, Pakistan Focus Analysis, South Asia) (Afghanistan, Ban Ki Moon, featured, Murree pe, Pakistan, refugees, Taliaban) (by admin)
Efforts to engage the Afghan Taliban for negotiations are in disorder since the United States last month killed their leader, Mullah Akhtar Mansour. Another development has taken place, the US military has begun air attacks against Taliban targets in Afghanistan under new rules, allowing greater powers for US forces to go after the Taliban, making it easier for Afghan security forces to strike the insurgents. “There have been operations carried out with these new authorities,” Pentagon press Secretary Peter Cook said. “It’s fair to say that these strikes did target Taliban positions.” Initial strikes occurred in southern Afghanistan; and that American troops are back to combat in Afghanistan. Operation Zarb-e-Azb is the largest and most effective anti-terrorism campaign anywhere in the world through which Pakistan has achieved substantial gains and is determined to eliminate all terrorist threats within the country. Afghan government and the international coalition need to take supplementary and complementary actions to consolidate the gains of this operation. And the Afghan government should launch similar effort against TTP in its territory; elimination of TTP sanctuaries is essential to peace and security in both countries. And finally, America should make up its mind regarding leaving or staying, because peace effort would take different trajectories for handling either of the...
July 6 - EID GREETINGS (0) (Chair's Blog) (by admin)
July 9 - Obituary (0) (Chair's Blog) (by admin)
July 11 - Meltdown of Post-cold war world order (0) (Articles, Global Issues, Neuclear Studies, Pakistan Affairs, Pakistan Focus Analysis, South Asia) (China, CPEC, featured, India, Meltdown of Post-cold war world order, NSG, Pakistan, SCO) (by admin)
Chinese opposition to entry of non-NPT countries to Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) and UK’s exit (Brexit) from the European Union (EU) have set the course for changes in the prevalent US led unipolar World Order. The US wanted the UK to stay in EU as it’s “Man” and wanted India getting into the NSG as full member while keeping Pakistan out, despite latter’s better credentials. In both cases, otherwise has happened indicated meltdown of post-cold war world order.Long awaited bipolarity in the World Order may be at a fairly advanced stage. Keeping in view Pakistan’s close relations with China, the evolving situation would expose Pakistan to challenges as well as opportunities, for which it needs to brace up. Pakistan would feel incremental squeeze from American side, it needs to make a bold course correction to come out of the trap of its critical dependencies on the US—especially direct budgetary support and military hardware. Moreover, Pakistan should take robust measures for its macro-economic stability to face the bumps of politico economic changes that are on their...
July 12 - Pakistan Focus condemns the PCA award on South China Sea (0) (Chair's Blog, Global Issues, South Asia) (featured, Pakistan Focus condemns the PCA award on South China Sea, South Chian Sea) (by admin)
July 16 - Well done People of Turkey! (0) (Chair's Blog, Pakistan Focus Analysis) (Civilian rule, coup, Erdogan, featured, Turkey) (by admin)
Pakistan Focus condemns the attempt of military take over in Turkey and congratulates the brave people of Turkey for quelling the coup. While wishing President Erdogan all the best, we suggest that he carries out appropriate military reforms for strengthening the supremacy of civilian rule and to eradicate chances of recurrence of such...
July 19 - Odd trio: Pakistan-US-Afghanistan (0) (Pakistan Affairs, Pakistan Focus Analysis) (featured, Odd trio: Pakistan-US-Afghanistan) (by admin)
Relationship between Pakistan-US-Afghanistan is of an odd trio. During the NATO summit in Warsaw on July 09, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani accused Pakistan of continuing to distinguish between ‘good and bad terrorists’. “Our regional initiatives with our neighbours are beginning to yield significant cooperative dividends … with the exception of Pakistan,” Ghani said. “Pakistan’s dangerous distinction between good and bad terrorists is being maintained in practice,” he claimed. Elaborating the nature of afghan conflict, he said: “it is multi-dimensional, ranging from al Qaeda and Da’ish to terrorist groups with Central Asian, Chinese, and Russian origins, to Pakistani groups classified as terrorists by Pakistan and Afghan Taliban groups.” Pakistan has expressed disappointment over these remarks. “It is unfortunate that Afghan leaders continue to make hostile statements and blame Pakistan... However, since we have a genuine interest in seeing peace in Afghanistan, Pakistan will continue to make every effort to help…We also expect cooperation of the Afghan government in our fight against terrorism through effective border management and denying sanctuaries to anti-Pakistan terrorists from TTP”, a foreign office statement said.McCain is known for keeping his feet in both boats when it comes to Pakistan-India relations. Earlier in a reaction to the US government’s approval of sale of eight F-16 to Pakistan McCain had urged the Senate Foreign...
July 19 - Kashmir’s Fraudulent Accession to India: Maharaja’s letter to Governor General & Reply (0) (Chair's Blog, Pakistan Affairs, South Asia) (featured, India, Kashmir's Fraudulent Accession to India, Lord Mountbatten, Maharaja Hari Singh, Pakistan, Plebscite) (by admin)
The Maharaja of Kashmir’s letter to the Governor-General of India, Lord Mountbatten, on October 26, 1947 and the Governor-General’s letter in reply dated October 27, 1947 highlight Kashmir's Fraudulent Accession to India, and the limit placed on it by the acceptance letter...
July 26 - Indian Occupied Kashmir on brink (0) (Articles, Global Issues, Pakistan Affairs, Pakistan Focus Analysis, South Asia) (Buhran, featured, India, Indian Occupied Kashmir on brink, Pakistan, plebcite) (by admin)
Just because not as many were being killed since the uprising in the 1990s, India thought Kashmir was “normal”. The wounds of the 1990s were deep and stayed open. A whole new generation has been added to the population which is, even angrier. And life for a young man in the most militarised area in the world is a series of humiliations, some petty, some overwhelming. Even the Indian media admits that Kashmir has been on the boil since the killing of Burhan. The killing spree continues and an enraged population is getting desperate. In the wake of ongoing violence, UNSG has once again offered Pakistan and India mediation on Kashmir. Pakistan has appreciated the offer. It is the UN’s official responsibility and obligation to address the issue of Kashmir because there are UN Security Council’s resolutions on it. OIC Secretary General has deplored the use of force by the Indian security forces on innocent Kashmiris in IOK on July 13. OIC’s Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission (IPHRC) has called for an immediate end to the ongoing abrasive human rights violations. “There is no denial in Delhi … that a problem exists,” said retired Lieutenant General Syed Ata Hasnain, an Indian army corps commander in the area from 2010 to 2012 who was deployed there seven times during his career. “But no one seems to be clear on how to get into engagement with the people on the ground.” The IOK’s deputy chief minister, Nirmal Singh of the BJP, said the...
August 1 - Kashmir inferno continues! (0) (Articles, Pakistan Affairs, Pakistan Focus Analysis, South Asia) (Burhan Wani, featured, India, Kashmir, Kashmir inferno continues, Pakistan, Plebscite, United Nations, Yemen Crisis) (by admin)
Over hundred youth have lost they one or both eyes due to the pallet shooting terror. Indeed the Kashmir inferno continues unabated. Pakistan gave a shut-up call to India saying it has no right to decide the future of Kashmir. Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said, on July 24 that the “verdict on the future of Kashmir” can only be given by the “people of Kashmir not by the external affairs minister of India”. UNSC has promised them the right to determine their future. These comments came after his Indian counterpart Sushma Swaraj accused Islamabad of an ‘unabashed embrace of terrorism’ and warned its stated goal of detaching Kashmir from India ‘will not be realised to the end of eternity’. Sushma’s diatribe was targeted directly at Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif who told a rally in Azad Jammu and Kashmir that the occupied Kashmir would soon become part of Pakistan. Sushma said: “All of Kashmir belongs to India,” as the Indian forces continued to unleash a wave of terror in held Kashmir. Apparently disturbed over the recent upsurge in freedom movement in occupied Kashmir, the Indian external affairs minister repeated same untenable stance on the disputed territory which the Kashmiri people themselves have over and over again rejected. During the preceding week, Pakistan has protested against India in the United Nations and elsewhere against the blatant violation of human rights in Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK). Indian government cannot ignore the...
August 9 - Grief and Shame: Quetta carnage & Fake Bomb Detectors (0) (Chair's Blog) (bomb detectors, carnage, fake, featured, Global Scam, Quetta) (by admin)
August 10 - Tribute to victims of pallet shooting in Indian Occupied Kashmir (0) (Chair's Blog) (featured, Indian Occupied Kashmir, pellet shooting, Plebscite, right of self determination, UNSC resolution) (by admin)
Tribute to victims of pallet shooting in Indian Occupied Kashmir. A Kashmiri artist, Mir Sohail, revisits poster of a 1960s movie "Kashmir- Ki- Kalli" to pay tribute to victims of pallet shooting in India Occupied Kashmir. Over 100 Kashmiris have lost either one or both eyes to pallet shooting by Indian occupation forces to disperse peaceful processions in the ongoing struggle of Kashmiri people, for exercise of their right of self determination through UN supervised plebiscite , as granted by UNSC resolutions; with nearly a dozen back-up UNSC resolutions; latest being in 1998....
August 13 - Combating terror: lack of skill or will? (0) (Articles, Global Issues, Pakistan Focus Analysis, South Asia) (Combating terror: lack of skill or will?, counter terrorism, fake bomb detectors, featured, Pope Francis, quetta carnage, terrorism) (by admin)
[Featured image: courtesy The Express Tribune, August 10, 2016] Quetta carnage has once again underscored the international dimension of terrorism; and that no country could overcome it in isolation. Keenness to claim responsibility indicates the unending appetite of terrorist entities for larger than life projection. It is also reflective of hollowness of claims by those responsible for countering terror. Surfacing of a multi billion dollar Global scandal of manufacturing and selling fake bomb detector devices has brought forth lack of empathy for the victims of terror. Pakistan’s terrorism related sufferings in terms of loss of human lives, destruction of infrastructure and missed economic opportunities is colossal. Pakistan has launched World’s largest military effort for counter terrorism operations. However, this is not being duly acknowledged.There is a need to evolve a universally acceptable definition of terrorism to differentiate it from genuine freedom struggles, like in Kashmir and Palestine. This is time for the international political leadership to pay heed to how Pope Francis interprets terrorism. Pakistan says there are limits to how much it can do as it is already fighting multiple militant groups and is wary of a "blowback" in the form of more terror attacks on its soil. Indeed terrorism is more of a concern to Pakistan than its...
August 14 - Happy Independence Day (0) (Chair's Blog) (featured, Happy, independence day) (by admin)
August 17 - Indian occupied Kashmir on August 15, 2016 (0) (Chair's Blog) (August 15, featured, Jammu, Kashmir) (by admin)
August 31 - At last, Pakistan begins to own IOK! (0) (Articles, Pakistan Affairs, Pakistan Focus Analysis) (featured, IOK, Modi, Nawaz Sharif, pellet shooting, Plebdcite, RSS, Simla Agreement) (by admin)
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had been ignoring saner voices within Pakistan to be cautious while dealing with Hindutva inspired and RSS powered Modi, however, he continued to ignore Modi’s brinkmanship and kept giving him benefit of doubt. Modi’s August 15 speech has compelled Nawaz to rethink his approach towards India, as Modi has shamelessly bared its teeth. While briefing the ambassadors of P-5 and the EU, on August 27, Adviser on Foreign Affairs, Sartaj Aziz expressed his regrets over the Indian decision saying Pakistan has always demonstrated willingness to hold talks with the Indian side but it has received the same response from the other side. The Adviser said the international community, has an important role to uphold the principles of human rights and international humanitarian law. The P-5 and EU Ambassadors appreciated Pakistan’s readiness for dialogue. Hopefully, concerted multidimensional efforts by the government of Pakistan would soon begin to yield...
September 2 - With love from India (0) (Chair's Blog, Pakistan Affairs, South Asia) (featured, India, Islamabad, Lahore, New Delhi. Murree, Pakistan, Rawalpindi, sedition) (by admin)
My mother was forced to leave behind the city of her birth, Rawalpindi, when she was just 18 because of the tumultuous ruptures of Partition. She had never returned. When she was to turn 75, I thought the best gift I could give her was to take her, if it was at all possible, to the city and to the home in which she was born. I emailed my friends in Pakistan tentatively with my plan. They were immediately very welcoming. "Just get her a visa, leave the rest to us," they said. I applied for visas. It seemed then a small miracle that we got these easily. I booked our flight tickets, and before long we were on our way. Every night we would set out looking for a wayside shop to buy fruit juice. Each night we found a new shop, and each night without exception, the shopkeeper refused to accept any money for the fruit juice. “We will not charge money from our guests from India,” they would say each time. This happened for a full week. I have travelled to many countries around the world in the 60 years of my life. I have never encountered a people as gracious as those in Pakistan. This declaration is my latest act of...
September 6 - Victory Day: September 6, 1965 (0) (Chair's Blog) (by admin)
September 22 - Myth of Obama’s world sans nuclear weapon–Global Zero (0) (Articles, Global Issues, Pakistan Affairs, Pakistan Focus Analysis, South Asia) (featured, Global Zero, NPT, NSG, Obama) (by admin)
Prague speech, on April 05 2009, was the first off the rails articulation by President Obama after assumption of presidency: “First, the United States will take concrete steps towards a world without nuclear weapons… we will reduce the role of nuclear weapons in our national security strategy … we will negotiate a new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty with the Russians…my administration will immediately and aggressively pursue US ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT)… the United States will seek a new treaty that verifiably ends the production of fissile materials… we will strengthen the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty…” Peace loving people all over the World were pleasantly surprised. They thought the promised Messiah has become, realists scorned it off, asserting that he would become a ‘normal American President’, rather soon. It is interesting to explore the viability about myth of Obama’s world sans nuclear weapons. Obama would most likely go down in the history as a dubious leader, who took cover behind the noble cause of global nuclear non-proliferation to perpetuate American nuclear supremacy, and in a crazy quest to contain China, he added to his predecessor’s effort of propping up a nuclear devil—India. Obama’s successor will have a tough task of getting over the nuclear mistrust that Obama has thrust on America. However, it is doable, first step is to un-knot Indo-US nuclear nexus....
September 24 - India Pakistan Tensions (0) (Chair's Blog) (featured, India, Let us speal with one voice, Pakistan) (by admin)
October 3 - Joint statement by the leaders of the Political & Parliamentary Parties (0) (Chair's Blog) (featured, India, Kashmir, Kulbashan Yadav, Pakistan, RAW, SAARC, UNSC) (by admin)
October 5 - Perspective From India: Understanding Kashmir Imbroglio 2016 (0) (Articles) (Burhan Wani, featured, from India, Surgical strikes, Understanding Kashmir Imbroglio 2016, Uri) (by admin)
October 12 - Era of false flag operations (0) (Articles, Pakistan Affairs, Pakistan Focus Analysis, South Asia) (Cyril Almeida, Era of military and media false flag operations, featured, India, Narendra Modi, Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan, SAARC, Uri attack) (by admin)
We are living in an interesting era of false flag operations, especially in military and media domains. India’s high drama about Uri attack is fizzling away; and fabricated coverage of the incident by Indian media stands exposed. In the post Uri setting, de-escalation may just be around the corner. The two countries are now talking to each other rather than talking at each other. While Pakistan’s national leadership was striving to put-up a unified stance to handle the situation arising out of India’s false flag attack on its own military base, an out of the blue, exclusive news story by Cyril Almeida published by a leading Pakistani newspaper on 6 Oct 2016, captioned: “Act against militants or face international isolation, civilians tell military” came down upon national canvas like a thunderbolt. It raised many eyebrows. Story even if correct was ill-timed to embarrass military leadership. It was also a sure recipe for lowering the morale of nation in general and combatant troops deployed at the Line of Control (LoC) in particular. No wonders, it was lifted, out of proportion by the Indian media.Now, back to Pakistan-India canvas. There is a broad based consensus amongst the strategic community of Pakistan that people of India and Pakistan will have to wait for improvement in bilateral relations till BJP throws-up a sensible Prime Minister. Now this has been acknowledged by Pakistan at official level as well. Advisor to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj...
November 16 - Donald Trump: Hillary’s President (0) (Articles, Global Issues, Pakistan Focus Analysis) (China, Donald Trump, featured, India, Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan, Russia) (by admin)
November 23 - Another ‘Ugly American’ in the making (0) (Articles, Global Issues, Pakistan Affairs, Pakistan Focus Analysis) (Afghanistan, America, China, Donald Trump, featured, India, Iran, Kashmir, Obama) (by admin)
So far Donald J Trump has not outgrown his campaign style, he continues to manage his transition in the same manner from the 58th floor of Trump Tower. Smart and experienced Republicans are being sidelined in favour of men having a track record of hate. Initial indicators point out that: a man associated with white supremacy may be the chief strategist; future attorney general may be a person dropped to judgeship on account of alleged racism; and an Islamophobe may be the National Security Advisor. Trump’s new partners in shaping world economy are likely to be ‘Brexit and make in India lobbies’. indeed another 'Ugly American' may be in the...

2017

April 14 - Kashmir conflict over to Trump (0) (Articles, Pakistan Focus Analysis) (Donald Trump, featured, India, Kashmir, Nikki Haley, Pakistan, Plebscite, United Nations, United States) (by admin)
September 11 - Wither India: Good Terrorism of December 1992 Vs Bad Terrorism of January 1993 At Bombay (0) (Articles, South Asia) (bad terrorism, Bombay, Christians, Dalits, featured, good terrorism, India, Muslims) (by admin)
A POST FROM INDIA: COURTESY COUNTERCURRENTS.COM Sadly, with regards to communal and Caste violence, India has two kinds of laws, one for minority/Dalits and other for majority/high Castes. Whenever former suffer Indian State plays a game of forming COMISSIONS-COMMISSIONSto ensure that the heinous crimes against minorities and Dalits disappear from the public memory. In this regard the 1992-93 Bombay violence can be an interesting case for study. But if violence is believed to be perpetrated by minorities/Dalits, the punishment is instant. This latest judgmentensures punishment for January 1993 perpetrators but despite Justice BN Srikrishna Commission Report holding almost all Hindutva organizations responsible for killings of minority people in December 1992, the indicted perpetrators were not even questioned what to talk of arresting...
September 16 - Stop Rohingya Genocide! (0) (Articles, Pakistan Focus Analysis, South Asia) (Al-qaeda, featured, India, Kofi Annan Commission report, Mayanmar, Pakistan, Rohingyas, Taliban) (by admin)
With serious dangers of spinning out of control, Rohingya crisis needs an immediate attentRohingya 1ion of international community. UNSC needs to intervene to nullify Myanmar’s 2008 legislation that deprives Rohingya population of its citizenship rights; post a UN Peace Enforcement Contingent to create a buffer zone between Rakhine state and rest of Myanmar; declare Rakhine state as “Autonomous Rohingya Zone”; and set a future date—at least after a decade—to hold a UN supervised referendum in Rakhine to determine whether Rohingya populations wants to retain Autonomous status within Myanmar or become an independent republic. Kofin Annan Commission report provides initial document for...
September 20 - India’s Kulbhushan Jadhav quandary! (0) (Pakistan Affairs, Pakistan Focus Analysis, South Asia) (featured, India, International Court of Justice, Kulbhushan Jadhav, Pakistan, United Nations) (by admin)
India has a track record that when in hot waters it eagerly turns to the UN and its affiliated institutions for adjudication. And whenever decision is against Indian grandstanding on the issue, it flouts such decisions with impunity. India is flouting over a dozen UNSC resolutions on Kashmir, and is struggling to erode the letter and spirit of Indus Water Treaty brokered by the World Bank. Now India is poised to follow the same trajectory in case of it's spy Indian Navy Commander Kulbhushan...
September 21 - Switzerland abdicating neutrality? (0) (Chair's Blog) (featured, Free Balochistan, Geneva, neutrality, Switzerland, terrorism, UN Charter) (by admin)
Switzerland must chose its options carefully, as of now one wonders whether it is transitioning from a peaceful neutral state to a terror sponsoring state? Hopefully not! . Regretfully, it frequently behaves in a manner as if it has no respect and regard for principles governing inter-state relations and UN Charter. It beams out such signals by allowing its banks to attract ill-gotten money from across the world and now it also hosts and prompts terrorists. Stance taken by the Swiss government in response to Pakistan’s protest is against the basic spirit of neutrality. Committing hostile acts against a sovereign member state of the UN by sponsoring and facilitating separatist elements that encourages them to commit subversion and claiming neutrality can’t go together. ...
September 25 - India is mother of terrorism (Chair's Blog) (featured, India, mother, terrorism, United Nations) (by admin)
Better late than never, Pakistan has taken a bold initiative to call the spade a spade by linking terrorism in Asia with India's state policy.http://webtv.un.org/watch/pakistan-2nd-right-of-reply-/5584625488001/...
October 4 - UN’s obligation towards Kashmir (0) (Articles, Pakistan Affairs, Pakistan Focus Analysis, South Asia) (featured, Indian atrocities, Kashmir, UN Charter, UN’s obligation towards Kashmir, UNSC) (by admin)
Legal position of Pakistan with regard to Kashmir is quite secure since the UNSC Resolution 47 of 1948 and over a dozen subsequent resolutions supporting this foundational resolution, latest of which came on June 06, 1998 (UNSC R 1172) in the aftermath of overt nuclearization by India and Pakistan that “Urges India and Pakistan to resume the dialogue between them on all outstanding issues, particularly on all matters pertaining to peace and security, in order to remove the tensions between them, and encourages them to find mutually acceptable solutions that address the root causes of those tensions, including Kashmir”. People of Kashmir look up to Great Britain’s partition plan of 1946 as reference document. Plan had meticulously laid down the criterion for princely states. Any effort to advocate any alternative approach has always been met with fierce resistance and hence remained still born; be it Musharraf’s Four Points’ nonsense or anything else. Knowing the absurdity of the initiative, the entire back door process during Musharraf was kept shrouded in mystery. UNSC R 47 continues to be a legally valid and binding instrument unless replaced by an alternative UN instrument under Chapter VII of the UN...
October 11 - Mad Dog confesses of Indo-US nexus against OBOR-CPEC (Articles, Pakistan Affairs, Pakistan Focus Analysis, South Asia) (China, CPECC, featured, India, Indo-US nexus, Mad Dog, OBOR, Pakistan) (by admin)
India is a mediocre polity, with half of its population underfed, some of its social security indicators like infant mortality and school dropout rates are comparable with some of underdeveloped African countries. Indian has been able to keep a steady growth rate for over a decade and a half, or so. Strategically America has coopted it as a cheaper deterrence against China, in which it failed its first field test in Doklam. Cumulatively, paltry economic growth and American support to India for playing a regional gangster’s role has created a misplaced delusion in Indian strategic thinking of having become a global power. Behaving like a superpower has gone into its head and cost it a lot economically; for such role throwing money here and there to sustain a big power image is not sustainable by Indian economy. China was able to outsmart India in accruing rights for Hanbantota port. India pledged $ 20 billion investment for Iran’s Chabahar port, but has not been able to touch $ 20 million mark. China phobia is overtaking rational Indian calculus. And with Modi in the driving seat, India is more likely to be lesser inclined towards rational decision making. India is not likely to acquire the capability, any time soon, to take on China in an interstate war. However, with tools readily available to India for fighting China through proxies, in a third county–Pakistan, Balochistan could become the future arena for Indo-China proxy war, even though to the Chinese...
October 18 - QCG Revival: Another Mirage? (0) (Articles, Middle East, Pakistan Focus Analysis, South Asia) (America, China, featured, India, Pakistan, QCG Revival: Another Mirage?, Quadrilaterl Cooperation Group, Taliban) (by admin)
The four-nation Quadrilateral Coordination Group (QCG) talks on exploring ways to revive peace process in Afghanistan, were held in Oman on October 16. Parleys ended without any breakthrough. And participants—Afghanistan, China, Pakistan and the United States—preferred to stay quiet over the event and no joint statement was issued. The QCG, had held its previous meeting in Islamabad early last year. The QCG was set up in December 2015, by the Heart of Asia Conference in Islamabad. The main aim of the initiative was to make collective efforts for arranging direct talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban; and since its inception, the group has been trying to carve the path to direct talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban. The US has ever since been playing both sides, trying for negotiation with Taliban as well as systematically disrupting it, at will. The group had held five meetings before the process met a dead end after Taliban chief Mullah Akhtar Mansur was killed in July 2016. Now Taliban’s military campaign “Operation Mansuri” is in full swing in Afghanistan.Whether Trump likes it or not, Pakistan remains vital for the United States as a route to supply American and Afghan war effort. Pakistan shares international community’s concerns about instability in Afghanistan. Pakistan is ready to work with every one and any one as a partner for achieving peace and security in the region. However, arm twisting and bad mouthing will not lead...
October 21 - A view from India: Sectarianism suppressing democratic right of Expression (0) (Articles, South Asia) (Bangla Desh, featured, Freedom of expression, India, RSS) (by admin)
Freedom of expression has been the core value which accompanied the struggle for India’s Independence. The British did attempt to stifle the voices of dissent but the freedom fighters did see this as a crucial mechanism of rooting democratic ethos in the society. At heavy cost the major leaders had to face the wrath of British colonialist powers for upholding the foundation of a democratic society through freedom of expression. The same values got enshrined in our Constitution, with various articles and clauses upholding it. What we are witnessing today is a stifling of dissent from the ruling party, the ruling ideology of sectarian nationalism. The suppression of dissent and freedom of giving expression is not just through control of media and stifling of writers. Ruling party; through control of a section of media; is using heavy hand to control the free thinkers. One major and frightening phenomenon accompanying this attempt to muzzle the dissenting opinions has been to eliminate the thinker’s writers physically.Diverse opinions, debated in an open spirit are the best guarantee for democratic society. The sectarian ideologies are opposed to democratic ethos and so they are pushing the intolerance worse possible levels. There is a need to protect the democratic freedom by combating communalism....
October 25 - Receding American leverage over Pakistan (0) (Articles, Pakistan Affairs, Pakistan Focus Analysis, South Asia) (Afghanistan, America, CIA, Durand Line, featured, Pakistan, Rex Tillerson) (by admin)
While the American Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was in session with Pakistani civil and military leadership, Senate was castigating his remarks in Kabul. Tillerson’s recent statement in which he had warned Pakistan to move against the Taliban and other groups inside the country “or face consequences”, did not go down well with the Senate. Chairman Raza Rabbani aptly remarked that the tone and tenor of Tillerson was not acceptable to Parliament of Pakistan. “He is acting like a viceroy.” A day earlier, while speaking at a press conference in Kabul, on October 23, Tillerson had said that during his visit to Islamabad he would reinforce Trump administration’s demand to move against the Taliban and other extremists based inside its borders or face the consequences. While American actions are eroding ts leverage over Pakistan, America continues to pose as if it is enhancing. This dichotomy is breeding confusions at policy and functional level. How do we interpret such confusing statements of American leadership? For this we may refer to Iranian supreme leader’s October 19 remarks: “[Trump] pretends to be an idiot, but we should not let our guard down”. ...
November 4 - Out of the frying pan into the fire! (0) (Articles, Pakistan Focus Analysis, South Asia) (Afghanistan, featured, India, Kashmir, MTCR, Out of the frying pan into the fire!, Pakistan, Rex Tillerson) (by admin)
When a journalist asked Tillerson if it would be accurate to say that he received a message of defiance from the Pakistanis who told him, “We will not be coerced”. “That would be a complete mischaracterisation of the meeting,” replied Tillerson, alongside affirming that he told Pakistan that Washington would implement its new strategy with or without Islamabad because “this is what we think is necessary. And if you don’t want to do that, don’t feel you can do it, we’ll adjust our tactics and our strategies to achieve the same objective a different way”. So, even though the Pka-US relationship may have receded a bit from the brink, it is likely to remain troublesome. Current America thinking is that through a reinforced military option, it could subdue the Taliban, and the Taliban also think that their war is winnable through more and more application of military power. Hence, at least for now, there is no desire from either side to take a route of political process leading to peace. Earlier this month, CIA Director Mike Pompeo speaking at a security conference at the University of Texas vowed to make the CIA more vicious and unleash it against the Taliban. Reports on the kill and hunt programme approved by the Trump administration, and Pompeo’s comments, reveal true US strategy for Afghanistan. Likes of Tillerson are just side kick in this affair. Both combatants are following the strategy of military victory, rest is eyewash, be it QCG or else. Like in...
November 12 - Booted out from Doklam, India meddles in Gilgit-Baltistan (Articles, Pakistan Affairs, Pakistan Focus Analysis, South Asia) (Article 370, atal bihari vajpaee, featuted, Gilgit Baltistan, Kashmir, Narendra Modi, Tamil Nado, United Nations) (by admin)
After a humiliating set back in Doklam to disrupt One Belt One Road (OBOR), India has shifted its focus on impeding China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) by fermenting unrest in Gilgit-Baltistan(GB). Importance of GB territory shot up in 1984 with the opening of the Karakoram Highway and this region's population came to be more connected with mainland Pakistan. With the improvement in connectivity, local population availed opportunities of getting educated in the rest of Pakistan. Improved connectivity also allowed broader socio-political development. Political parties of Pakistan and Azad Kashmir were able to setup local branches, and raise political awareness in the region. Root-taking by these political entities have played a laudable role in organizing a movement for democratic rights among the residents of GB.Rather than making efforts to have political engagement in Kashmir and truly follow the oft repeated assertion of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to emulate Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s doctrine based on “Insaniyat, Jamhooriyat and Kashmiriyat”, all those forces who are promoted and patronized by New Delhi are adding fuel to the fire. Pakistan has set an example by following a principled approach towards managing its GB region politically, India could learn a lot from this model....
November 22 - Drivers of instability in South Asia (0) (Articles, Pakistan Affairs, Pakistan Focus Analysis, South Asia) (Afghanistan, America, China, drivers of instability, featured, India, Narendra Modi, RAW, UNSC) (by admin)
South Asia is an instable region; two major drivers of this situation are hegemonic designs of Indian leadership, and continued occupation of Afghanistan by the United States. Other contributory factors are inter-state territorial and resource distribution claims amongst the constituent states. With simultaneous rise of ultra-right nationalist leadership in the US and India, both leaderships have found a common ground in operationalizing Machiavellian tactics by perpetuating instability in select hotspots. This convergence of interest is resulting in prolonging the hardship of Kashmiri and Afghan people. Impeding development projects of Pakistan is another facet of Indian strategy, while the US is ganging up South China sea and East China sea littorals to bog down China in its own proximity. Then, there is second ring having heavy weights like japan, India and Australia to blunt Chinese growth. Pakistan is paying a high price for instability in Afghanistan. Presence of terrorist safe havens in Afghanistan is an established reality. Latest report by the US Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) confirms that more than 43 percent of Afghan territory is not under the control of the Afghan Government. This is alarming as it provides opportunity for all kinds of terrorist groups to use these as sanctuaries. Pakistan wishes to have friendly relations with all its neighbors. Pakistan, as a responsible member of the international community believes in...
December 11 - Curse of circular conspiracy theory (0) (Pakistan Affairs, Pakistan Focus Analysis) (circular conspiracy theory, featured, Pakistan Army, religeous right, superior judiciary) (by admin)
The way this avoidable 21-day siege evolved and ended has raised many questions, which need collective answers from the national leadership. There was a nation-wide sigh of relief when Faizabad sit-in ended peacefully, thanks to good offices of Pakistan Army. This wasn’t the first time when Army played such a role and burnt its fingers. A number of times fingers have been pointed towards Army for first constructing such sit-ins and then deconstructing them in a power barter with the executive branch of the government. Like wise the incumbent government is often blamed for trucking with religious extremists for political gains. For their credibility, both need to come clean on these public perceptions. As the post mortem of Faizabad fiasco is in progress, all the guilty have dug-in their heels to justify their follies, stupidities, acts of omission and commission as well as comics. They are hoping that soon there would be a divine intervention in the form of yet another bigger catastrophe, turning the national focus away from this one. A candid estimate has it that the incident could cost the ruling party around 20-30 national assembly seats in the upcoming elections alongside erosion of mandate in all provinces. Those with higher stakes like the ruling party are trying to wriggle out of it by rolling of a couple of dispensable heads. The planning and execution of the controversial law ran much broader and deeper than the single ministry’s purview. Then allowing the...
December 28 - Jerusalem conundrum (Articles, Global Issues, Pakistan Focus Analysis) (Donald Trump, featured, Israel, Jerusalem conundrum, Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Palestine, zionist) (by admin)
Despite crude threats by the United States, comity of nations has expressed over-whelming global sentiment in favour of Palestinian people through 129-8 UN General Assembly resolution. Middle East is entering the culminating phase of post Cold War American vision about this region—Israel pliant Middle East. Trump’s announcement to recognize Jerusalem as capital of Israel was topping of the cake. It prompted an outpour of anger in the Muslim and Arab world. Collective and formalized response was channeled through the summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). With the Islamic world itself mired in division, the summit fell well short of agreeing on any concrete sanctions against Israel or the United States. The status of Jerusalem, a city holy to Christians, Jews and Muslims, is perhaps the most sensitive issue in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Israel sees the entire city as its undivided capital, while the Palestinians want the eastern sector as the capital of their future state. And the Pope aired the Christian aspirations. Jerusalem conundrum thrown up has shaken the entire...
December 28 - American hangover of unipolar World (Articles) (China, featured, India, National Security Strategy, Pakistan, Russia, unipolar) (by admin)
The new US National Security Strategy 2017 has three cardinal points: “America First” shall be the underwriter of the US national security strategy; America shall compete against China and Russia; and, Climate change is no longer a priority. Strategy explicitly designates China and Russia as top national security threats, based on presumption that the two countries “challenge American power, influence, and interests, attempting to erode American security and prosperity.” Policy has also hurled unsubstantiated allegations towards Pakistan. Pakistan has rejected these unfounded accusations that belie facts on ground and trivialize Pakistan’s efforts for fighting terrorism and its unmatched sacrifices. Document has also attracted strong rebuttals from China and Russia. Strategy is reflective of American hangover of unipolar World. American hangover of unipolar World American hangover of unipolar World Every NSS articulated since mandated by the Goldwater-Nichols Act 1986 has either been quickly forgotten or never implemented. Foreign policy follows its own trajectory, wars are declared whimsically, allies go their own way, unforeseen threats emerge more frequently than those forecast in the NSS. Congress does not appropriate funds in line with NSS...

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