Sharif said it was not a “moment of pride but a moment of contemplation”, questioning whether nations developed on the back of loans….reports Asian Lite News
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz urged that the $3 billion pact signed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) should be the country’s last loan programme with the global lender.
The staff-level agreement is on a $3 billion stand-by arrangement, which is subject to approval by the lender’s executive board, the IMF said on Friday.
The long-awaited decision comes after an eight-month delay and offers some respite to Pakistan, which is battling an acute balance of payments crisis and falling foreign exchange reserves, Dawn reported.
On Friday, Sharif said it was not a “moment of pride but a moment of contemplation”, questioning whether nations developed on the back of loans.
“Never, forget this, we were forced to take this loan and it is my prayer … that this is the last time Pakistan goes into an IMF programme and we never have to take a loan again,” he added.
Regarding his talks with IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, the Prime Minister said he had had multiple conversations and exchanges with her in which the Finance Minister and his team presented their facts but despite all that, no progress was being achieved, Dawn reported.
He added that in a meeting with the managing director in Paris last week, he had told her that the government had fulfilled the Fund’s conditions and put its political capital at stake “just so that we can prevent Pakistan from defaulting and we took bitter steps for the country’s economic stability”.
An airplane flies over New York, the United States, on June 7, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Rui/IANS)
The air quality was ranked as unhealthy or unhealthy for sensitive groups on Friday with air quality index (AQI) value topping 160 in New York City….reports Asian Lite News
Much of New York State will continue to be under air quality health advisory on Saturday due to smoke from the raging wildfires in Canada.
According to a statement by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the whole state had been under the advisory from Wednesday to Friday due to impacts of haze and smoke, reports Xinhua news agency.
The air quality was ranked as unhealthy or unhealthy for sensitive groups on Friday with air quality index (AQI) value topping 160 in New York City.
“Individuals sensitive to poor air quality, including the elderly and the young, should limit strenuous activities and time outdoors,” said a post by National Weather Service New York.
Detroit, Washington, D.C. and New York City ranked the top six major cities in the world with the worst air quality on Friday morning, according to IQ Air’s live ranking of major world cities.
Over 120 million people across more than a dozen US states from the Midwest to the East Coast are under air quality alerts as of Thursday as smoke from Canadian wildfires blanketed many areas of the country.
Russian President Putin extended Eid al-Adha greetings and wishes to Abbas and the Palestinian people…reports Asian Lite News
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin held a phone conversation, discussing the latest developments in the two countries and ways to boost bilateral ties, media reported.
During the phone call, Putin extended Eid al-Adha greetings and wishes to Abbas and the Palestinian people, said the report on Saturday.
Being briefed on the latest developments of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, Putin affirmed Russia’s unwavering support for the Palestinian people in achieving their aspirations for freedom and independence by establishing an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital, it added as quoted by Xinhua news agency report.
Abbas, for his part, expressed his keenness to restore stability to Russia and wished the country further progress and prosperity
Pakistan rushes more troops to Balochistan as rights movement spreads wings.(Photo:IN)
One police personnel was injured in the grenade attack against the police station in Quetta…reports Asian Lite News
A police station in Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province, came under attack on Saturday, with initial reports suggesting it was a grenade attack, according to the police.
Senior Superintendent of Police (Operations) Zohaib Mohsin said unidentified motorcyclists attacked the Civil Lines police station with a hand grenade, which was thrown near the gate of the facility. One police personnel was injured in the ensuing explosion, Dawn reported.
The wounded policeman, identified as Saboor Achakzai, was taken to Civil Hospital’s trauma centre. The police and other law enforcement agencies, meanwhile, combed the crime scene for evidence, the report said.
The SSP added that nearby routes have been blocked and a search for the attackers is under way.
In a statement, Babar Yousafzai, a spokesperson for Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo, said the CM has reached out to SSP Mohsin who briefed him about the incident.
He said the best medical facilities will be provided to the injured policeman.
Terrorists deserve no mercy, he said.
The police in the city have been targeted by terrorists of late. In April, separate blasts had left four police personnel dead and nearly two-dozen wounded.
In May, Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) emir Sirajul Haq narrowly escaped a suicide attack which the police had said targeted his convoy in Balochistan’s Zhob, leaving six people injured, Dawn reported.
That same month, a police officer was killed during a raid in Balochistan’s Sohbatpur district.
A committee has been appointed to identify the mechanisms to control and eradicate the drug menace in the country…reports Asian Lite News
Sri Lanka’s parliament said it appointed a parliamentary select committee to control and eradicate the rapidly spreading drug menace in the country.
This was announced by Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena on Saturday and the committee is chaired by Public Security Minister Tiran Alles, Xinhua news agency reported.
The committee is to identify the mechanisms to control and eradicate the drug menace in the country, and it will soon submit its observations and recommendations, according to the parliament.
According to the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board, the total number of people arrested for drug-related offences was 152,979 in 2022, of which 45.6 per cent were for heroin, and 35 per cent for cannabis.
Foreign Policyemphasizes India’s deepening and expanding relationships with key countries in the region, such as Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.
An article in Foreign Policy, a prominent US magazine focused on global affairs, has highlighted India’s emergence as a “major player” in the Middle East, marking one of the region’s most intriguing geopolitical developments in recent years.
The piece emphasizes India’s deepening and expanding relationships with key countries in the region, such as Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. This evolution reflects the changing international order and the eagerness of these nations to benefit from the new multipolarity.
The author, Steven A. Cook, argues that the United States has limited influence over this development but may paradoxically benefit from it. According to Cook, if the US partners in the Middle East seek an alternative to Washington’s dominance, it is preferable for New Delhi to be among their choices. This ensures that neither Russia nor China can assume the role of the undisputed regional power as long as India expands its presence in the Middle East.
The author recalls a visit to India around a decade ago, noting that at the time, Indians did not express a desire to play a larger role in the Middle East. However, in the past ten years, there has been a notable shift. While US officials and analysts closely scrutinize China’s diplomatic moves and view Chinese investments in the Middle East with suspicion, they have overlooked the emergence of India as a major player in the region, which Cook believes is a significant geopolitical development.
The article highlights the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia’s efforts to strengthen relations with India in the Gulf region. This shift is noteworthy because both countries, particularly Saudi Arabia, traditionally aligned with Pakistan. The pivot toward India is driven in part by a shared interest in containing Islamist extremism but is predominantly motivated by economic considerations. The article underscores the growing economic ties between India and these two countries.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman meets Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House in New Delhi
Regarding India’s relationship with Israel, the article suggests it is the most well-developed among India’s regional ties. The bilateral relationship, especially in high-tech and defence sectors, has rapidly progressed since Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s historic visit to Israel in 2017, followed by his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu’s return visit a year later. While India’s business community previously hesitated to invest in Israel due to its small market and controversial politics, this perception is changing. Notably, the Adani Group and an Israeli partner won a $1.2 billion tender for Haifa Port in 2022, and negotiations for an India-Israel Free Trade Agreement are ongoing.
The article acknowledges the complexity of the India-Israel relationship, noting that India remains supportive of the Palestinians, maintains friendly ties with Iran (from which it purchases significant amounts of oil), and often views Israel through the lens of its own colonial experience.
Referring to Prime Minister Modi’s recent visit to Egypt, the article describes it as part of the ongoing Egyptian-Indian friendship, following Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s three visits to India since assuming power. Similar to China, India sees Egypt as a gateway for trade with Africa and Europe.
The author suggests that while it is tempting for US policymakers and analysts to view India’s growing role in the region within the context of great-power competition with China, India’s expanding presence could serve as an additional counterweight to Beijing in the Middle East. As the Biden administration shifts its approach from de-emphasizing the region to considering it as an area of opportunity to contain China, the article argues that India’s involvement can be helpful.
Recently, the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) set fire to 20 coal trucks in Harnai, Balochistan, reports Rahul Kumar
Baloch armed rebels are systematically targeting Pakistan’s energy sector by attacking coal mined in Balochistan province, where resource nationalism is rife.
Recently, the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) set fire to 20 coal trucks in Harnai, Balochistan. These trucks were reportedly ferrying coal to thermal power plants in Punjab. The BLA fighters also attacked the motorcade of the deputy commissioner of Harani.
In a press release, the BLA said: “Freedom fighters of Baloch Liberation Army targeted convoy of Deputy Commissioner and vehicles transporting plundered Baloch national resources in Harnai last night. A suspicious individual was also arrested”.
Highlighting the modus operandi, the BLA statement added: “The main highway was blocked throughout the night and at least 20 vehicles involved in plunder of Baloch natural resources were destroyed”.
Giving insight into the targeted attacks on the coal mining operations, Qazi Rehan, Spokesperson of the Baloch National Movement (BNM), told India Narrative that Coal from Chamalang mines in Balochistan is transported to various cities in Punjab for industrial purposes and generation of electricity.
“This activity has been a source of constant conflict between the Baloch nation and Punjab since the seventies. In the past some Baloch sardars wanted to assert their authority for these resources and collaborate with people in Punjab for industrial development but the Baloch fighters have been resisting this through continuous attacks”, Rehan said.
Pictorial highlight of last night's gruesome incident.
Armed individuals set coal-loaded trucks on fire last night in Harnai, Balochistan.
He added that the resistance to the exploitation of mineral wealth has affected Pakistan’s economy in the past and will continue to affect the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which has at least six coal-fired power plants out of a total of 21 power plants.
Coal trucks in Balochistan were attacked at the beginning of this month also. On June 1, 42 coal trucks from Harnai and Duki coal fields were held up at gunpoint on the Harnai road. At that time the Baloch fighters opened fire and punctured the tyres and damaged the trucks.
The frequent attacks on the coal trucks has rattled the Pakistan Coal Suppliers Association and Good Transport Association. It has asked Islamabad to provide proper security to the truck drivers and the coal supplying firms.
Dawn reports that the associations have claimed that they are “paying Rs 230 per tonne to the Frontier Corps [the Pakistani paramilitary forces guarding Balochistan] for providing security to the trucks transporting coal to other cities” and have threatened to stop coal supply.
Baloch resource nationalism was also evident on Wednesday, after a blast took place at an ammunition store related to the Saindak mining project in Balochistan, injuring three soldiers and a watchman.
The Saindak management issued a press release saying that a sudden explosion occurred in an ammunition store of the Wah Noble Company in a hilly area five km away from the Sendak project and township.
The statement added that the explosion in the ammunition store might have been caused by an electrical short circuit or due to heat from the sun.
Pakistan has given the Saindak gold and copper mines to Chinese company Metallurgical Corporation of China (MCC), a subsidiary of the China Metallurgical Group Corporation. Saindak mines are located in the Chagai district near the Afghan-Iran border.
Incidentally, the spate of attacks are also driving fissures among the various ethnic communities in a highly radicalised Pakistan as some social media tweets have said that Pashtun businessmen and Pashtun laborers are being targeted through the attacks on coal trucks.
Some of the Twitter users have blamed the Pakistani security forces for usurping Pashtun resources by allowing attacks on the trucks.
