The lockdown, which comes after a gap of one year, will remain in force for two weeks i the cities of Lahore, Rawalpindi, Sargodha, Faisalabad, Multan, Gujranwala and Gujrat…reports Asian Lite News
Amid the ongoing third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic in Pakistan, a major lockdown will be imposed in seven cities in Punjab province starting from Monday onwards.
The lockdown, which comes after a gap of one year, will remain in force for two weeks i the cities of Lahore, Rawalpindi, Sargodha, Faisalabad, Multan, Gujranwala and Gujrat, Dawn news reported on Sunday.
According to a statement issued on Saturday by the Punjab provincial government, the major lockdown will restrict the movement of the people; there will be a complete ban on gatherings of all kinds for social, religious or other purposes at any place, public or private; marriage and banquet halls, community centres and marquees will remain closed; and also a complete ban on indoor and outdoor dining while only takeaway and home delivery will be allowed.
People wearing face masks walk on a road in Rawalpindi of Pakistan’s Punjab province
The statement also said that there will be a complete ban on all kind of sports, cultural and other activities and events throughout the province.
Also on Saturday, the Punjab government enforced a smart lockdown in 36 more localities of three cities, including Lahore.
The meeting of India-Pakistan Permanent Indus Commission happens after a period of two and a half years. The last meeting was held in Lahore, Pakistan from August 29-30, 2018….reports Asian Lite News
The Indus Commissioners of India and Pakistan will meet on March 23-24 in New Delhi, according to reports.
The meeting of India-Pakistan Permanent Indus Commission happens after a period of two and a half years. The last meeting was held in Lahore, Pakistan from August 29-30, 2018.
According to The Indian Express, Pakistan’s objections on design of Indian hydropower projects on Chenab River will be discussed in the meeting.
Under the provisions of the Indus Waters Treaty, signed between India and Pakistan in 1960, the Commission shall meet “regularly at least once a year, alternately in India and Pakistan”, The Indian Express reported.
This regular annual meeting shall be held in November or in such other months as may be agreed upon between the Commissioners, states one of the provisions of the treaty.
The Commission was scheduled to meet in March last year but it had to cancel the meeting in view of the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. Later, India proposed to hold the meeting virtually but the Pakistan side insisted on holding the talks at the Attari check post. However, the Indian side conveyed to them that it was not conducive to hold the meeting at the Attari Joint Check Post in view of the pandemic, it was reported.
The meeting of the Indus Commission will be the first after the abrogation of the special provisions under Article 370 that gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir.
Pradeep Kumar Saxena, Commissioner (Indus), will reportedly lead the Indian delegation in the meeting.
It is nice that the US is including India in the Afghan initiative. But on the Afghan process, Pakistan’s centrality has been spelt out by everybody, including Austin. What pleases New Delhi is Austin’s qualifier: Pakistan has not completely put an end to all its terror outfits, writes SAEED NAQVI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOIBp2f8MvI
It is exactly a decade since President Barack Obama set the deadline to start withdrawing troops from Afghanistan. Even then, Obama recalled how the 2001 Bonn conference had only “provisionally” installed Hamid Karzai in Kabul. We all know how long that “provisional” government lasted: 15 years. For Afghanistan, deadlines do not matter.
Are we about to witness Obama’s third term in foreign affairs? The question arises because people fear Joe Biden may have inherited some of his previous bosses’ instincts. No sooner had Obama’s intention to withdraw been announced than qualifications were introduced: the date of withdrawal is not cast in stone. Reminding us of those days, again there is a deadline — May 1, for withdrawal of the remaining 2,500 troops. True, the deadline was set by the Trump administration. But Zalmay Khalilzad, veteran US diplomat and a Pushtoon to boot, is being continued for the time being. Is his earlier recommendation being set aside? Will he be shown the door soon?
Having served four Presidents as Ambassador to Kabul, Baghdad, UN and now trying to bring the Taliban, Kabul, Washington on a platform of lasting peace, it is Khalilzad who knows whether or not there is light at the end of this tunnel. But Secretary of State Antony Blinken has, in a letter, revealed a divergent wish for Afghanistan. He may have to replace Ashraf Ghani with someone who the Taliban may be less averse to. This, Khalilzad may not like. Soon Biden will learn that two swords cannot be kept in the Afghan scabbard.
Americans are faced with an impossible task. They do not wish to be seen to be installing a Taleb Emirate in Kabul. If identified with such action they may never look like harbingers of democracy, part of their manifest destiny. There is advantage in striking the modernist stance. They will look loyal to Ghani, whom they installed twice over, by hook or by crook even though Ghani had, in reality not won the elections. His school education in Oregon and his “loyalties” at the World Bank, clearly helped. The 1978 Saur revolution ended 200 years of Durrani rule. Ghilzai, proletariat Pushtoons came to power and they will not let power slip from their hands. Ghani is a Ghilzai but Talebs see him as an American stooge, like the Durranis of yore.
“Democracy” particularly during the “sole superpower” moment was the cover for advancing American strategic and economic interests. To continue playing that sort of hand requires unbridled power. It vanished for a range of reasons but in popular perception worldwide what stayed were US brutalities in Iraq, Syria, Libya. The image of America as a destructive power gained ground.
When Donald Trump sought Jimmy Carter’s advice on what to do because “China is going ahead of US”, Carter’s response was sobering: “China has not been in a conflict since the 1979 war with Vietnam.” Carter added: “We have never stopped being at war.”
A realisation of decline may yet set the US on the path to recovery but in Afghanistan, as elsewhere, a certain fear lurks: a touch of Obama in Biden’s make-up. Gen. Lloyd Austin elevated as Defence Secretary, for example, was during Obama years responsible for the entire project of training Syrian “rebels” to fight Assad’s forces.
He did not endear himself to the Senate Armed Services Select Committee who asked him tough questions: what happened to the men he had trained? His answer was “three or four men are still fighting.” The remainder walked away with the equipment and joined the Jabhat al Nusra, the terrorist group. Google for a clip of the classic Senate hearing. This $500 million project was then discontinued. Obviously, Syria for Gen. Austin is “incomplete” business. Little wonder, the administration’s first military action were air strikes on Syria albeit on Iranian supplies to bolster Assad.
The fact that the May 1 deadline for the withdrawal of the remaining 2,500 troops has already been changed to some future date, points to the uncertainties ahead. Austin has vast field experience in Afghanistan. His “ears-to-ground” inputs will, therefore, influence Afghan policy.
It is nice that the US is including India in the Afghan initiative. But on the Afghan process, Pakistan’s centrality has been spelt out by everybody, including Austin. What pleases New Delhi is Austin’s qualifier: Pakistan has not completely put an end to all its terror outfits.
India being included in the process, significantly moved from Qatar to Turkey, has to be seen in perspective. Pakistan has excellent relations with Turkey, plus, there is universal acceptance of Pakistan’s importance in the process. New Delhi has an opportunity to balance issues. This, ironically, is also where New Delhi may be seen to be placing the odd spanner in the works.
After travelling extensively in Afghanistan some years ago, I had written a paper for the Observer Research Foundation in which I had praised India’s low key diplomacy. This diplomacy had the effect of conferring on India heaps of goodwill among the Afghan people.
A country which has known conflict for 40 years found India’s non-lethal, soft-touch soothing. Schools, hospitals, technical training institutes, hospitality to the injured by flying them to Indian hospitals — all of this found way to Afghan hearts. Visit parts of Hauz Rani opposite Max hospital in Saket, and you have Afghan eating houses complete with Chapli Kebabs, giant size naans, and travel agents offering amazing rates for Delhi-Kabul-Delhi journey. Above all is the magic of Bollywood: India’s most effective soft power. After evening prayers, every house in Kabul is watching an Indian movie. Whatever role Americans assign New Delhi, nothing can compare with the effectiveness of India’s “Diplomacy by Default”. Remember, in 2011, Gen. Stanley McChrystal, US Force Commander, had openly complained that India’s soft diplomacy distracts Pakistan from being constructive in Afghanistan. Who knows, Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa-Imran Khan duet may be inclined not to complain on that count.
(Saeed Naqvi is a senior commentator on political and diplomatic issues. The views expressed are personal. He can be reached on saeednaqvi@hotmail.com)
India's External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar
Indian External Affair Minister Jaishankar says protests in front of Indian missions abroad aren’t being held by “nice people” who want a debate over an issue …. reports Asian Lite Newsdesk
In a hard-hitting statement, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said the protests against India abroad in times of the pandemic has to be seen politically.
Indian missions in London and Canada were rocked by protests organised by anti-India organisations in solidarity with farmers who are on agitation against the new farm laws.
Jaishanker was responding to queries at India Today Conclave 2021 on whether his ministry was harsh to criticise the comments of climate activist Greta Thunberg and pop star Rihanna.
“There were posts in social media asking people to demonstrate in front of Indian embassies across the world. I am responsible for my embassies,” the minister said. “What do you think it was like being inside the Indian High Commission in London when mobs were converging in large numbers to protest? See what happened in Canada.”
“There are supposedly Covid protocols in place limiting the number of people congregating. But for some reason, these protocols don’t apply in front of Indian High Commissions. Why is that so? Let us not pretend that comments and protests are just innocent exercise of nice people who are having a debate. These have practical consequences on the ground. If I feel that my people, embassies or High Commissions are threatened, I will react. What kind of minister will I be if I didn’t?” the minister said.
Anti-India activists protest near Indian High Commission in London
Jaishankar also slammed two international organisations — US NGO ‘Freedom House’ and Sweden’s V-DEM — which criticised India over freedom and democracy, calling it hypocrisy.
Citing the supply of Covid vaccines to more than 70 countries by India’s “nationalist” government, he asked about the contribution of “internationalist countries” in this regard.
On India-China ties, he indicated that if China extends a hand, then India will do as well — but if it points a gun, then India’s response would be similar.
Referring to the reports, he said, “We are supposed to be the nationalist. So let’s talk nationalism. Okay, we are the nationalist guys, we have given vaccines to 70 countries in the world. So tell me, the internationalist countries, how many vaccines have they given, which one of these countries has said, while I’m doing my people, I will also do people outside who need as much as my people. So suddenly, where are these people when it comes to that. We are supposed to be, you know, shrinking civil rights because of, you know, apparently, our mindset.”
On China, the foreign minister gave a more sobering assessment. Making it clear that it could not be business as usual between the two countries until there was total disengagement and peace on the border, he said, “We went through a very difficult period and I think we are still not past it.” Disengagement, he said, happened in the “most close-up friction area”, but there were some areas that needed resolving. “The fact is that if the integrity and sovereignty of a country are threatened, as a government official you do what it takes to face up to the challenge,” he added.
Jaishankar said the border stand-off with China had some tense moments but “we had belief in the military, we trusted them professionally to do what was required.”
On LoC ceasefire
Reacting to questions on the recent announcement by the Director General of Military Operations’ (DGMO) of India and Pakistan in the ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) Jaishankar said, “It is certainly a positive step.” However, he added that in the case of ties with Pakistan, “Not every positive direction unfolds without its complications.”
The External Affair Minister said, “Pakistan is out neighbour. Everybody wants to get along well with their neighbour, provided they are normal. If the neighbour says that there will be no terrorist crossing over, why would one not welcome this?”
Clarifying that there was no linkage to the ceasefire with the tension with China in Eastern Ladakh, Jaishankar said, “Why wouldn’t we accept a ceasefire with Pakistan even if there wasn’t a standoff with China? I don’t see any correlation between the two at all. Our relationship with Pakistan has logic of its own.”
Narendra Modi with the Prime Minister of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa, at Hyderabad House, in New Delhi
‘Lanka a crucial partner’
Clearing the air over Sri Lankan decision reneging on the 2019 agreement on the East Container Terminal (ECT) at the Colombo Port, Jaishankar said, “It was Lanka’s call not to take a loan but seek investors from India and Japan and also shift the project to East Container Terminal. I may have an opinion on that, but ultimately it’s their call. I don’t see any strategic implications in that.”
The External Affairs Minister added that on the trade and business front India and Lanka shared a “decent” relationship.
This happened a few days after a student was shot dead by the cops in Peshawar
The student was arrested on Sunday after a heated argument with a shopkeeper and a pointing weapon at him…reports Asian Lite News
A class seven student died under mysterious circumstances in police custody in Pakistan’s Peshawar city, triggering a protest outside the station, the media reported on Monday.
In response, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan suspended the entire staff of the Gharbi police station, where the boy died on Sunday, and ordered a judicial inquiry into the incident, Dawn news reported.
According to a statement issued by Chief City Police Officer Abbas Ihsan’s office, the student was arrested on Sunday after a heated argument with a shopkeeper and a pointing weapon at him.
The police registered an FIR against him and later he committed suicide inside the lockup, the statement added.
But refuting the suicide claim, the boy’s father died in the lockup due to police torture.
On Sunday night, a large number of people and relatives of the victim staged a protest demonstration outside the Gharbi police station and chanted slogans against the police highhandedness and misuse of power.
This is the second such incident in Peshawar in recent days, Dawn news said.
A few days ago, two policemen were arrested for killing a male student after the latter did not stop on their signalling.
In 2019, four incidents of custodial deaths had occurred in police lockups.
Iran has been demanding lifting Western sanctions that have crippled its economy.
“The rapporteur will also take steps to form a global front against violation of human rights of independent nations as a result of unjust sanctions by the US and other western countries,” he said., said Baqeri Kani…reports Asian Lite News
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcupTPO2xsk
Iran will appoint a special rapporteur pertaining to the impact of western sanctions on the Iranian people, a senior official said
“We have decided to appoint a special rapporteur to assess the impact of unjust sanctions imposed by the US and Europe on the Iranian nation,” Ali Baqeri Kani, the head of the Iranian Judiciary’s High Council for Human Rights, was quoted as saying on Sunday by Xinhua news agency.
The results of rapporteur’s work will be submitted to judicial and human rights authorities at international, regional and national levels, said Baqeri Kani.
“The rapporteur will also take steps to form a global front against violation of human rights of independent nations as a result of unjust sanctions by the US and other western countries,” he said.
Iran will “support the victims of such unjust sanctions in various regional and human rights forums”, the top official added.
Covid cases are on the rise in Iran. The decision to ban the Iraqi flight was made on Sunday as a pre-emptive measure to protect the the Iranian citizens against the variant which was first detected in Britain late last year…reports Asian Lite News
The Iranian Civil Aviation Organization announced that all flights to the country from Iraq have been suspended for a week in an effort to curb the spread of a Covid-19 strain.
This decision was made on Sundat as a pre-emptive measure to protect the the Iranian citizens against the variant which was first detected in Britain late last year, Xinhua news agency quoted the Organization as saying in a statement.
All the airlines are required to inform their passengers about the new measure in a timely manner, it added.
Last month, Iraq resumed flights to Tehran, as restrictions on issuing flight permits to Iranian airlines were lifted.
Iraqi authorities banned flights with several countries, including Iran, on January 14 due to concerns over the spread of a newly-discovered coronavirus disease strain.
High-level officials, including President Ghani, Abdullah and foreign envoys, along with Taliban representatives, are expected to attend the meeting in Moscow…..reports Asian Lite News
Afghanistan’s National Security Adviser Hamdullah Mohib said that the Kabul government will participate in the UN-led conference in Turkey, proposed by the US, and the Moscow conference on the war-torn country’s peace process.
Addressing a press briefing on Saturday, Mohib said that the Afghan government is working on a delegation for the two events, TOLO News reported.
The Turkey conference was proposed by the US in a letter by Secretary of State Antony Blinken to President Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah, the chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation, this month.
Russian President Vladimir Putin
It is slated to take place in Istanbul next month.
High-level officials, including President Ghani, Abdullah and foreign envoys, along with Taliban representatives, are expected to attend the meeting in Moscow on March 18 to discuss the Afghan peace process.
“When it comes to participation, we will participate in the meetings,” Mohib told the press briefing.
In his letter, Blinken put forth suggestions to the Afghan government to accelerate the peace process, including convening a UN-facilitated conference with international stakeholders; proposals to facilitate discussion between the two sides to form a negotiated settlement and ceasefire; a meeting in Turkey between both sides to finalize a peace agreement; and a revised proposal for a 90-day reduction in violence.
Photo taken on Aug. 14, 2020 shows damages at the Port of Beirut in Lebanon. Two explosions rocked Beirut on Aug. 4, killing 177 people and wounding at least 6,000
No justice has been served even after 7 months
Two huge explosions ripped through the Port of Beirut on August 4, 2020, killing about 200 people, injuring at least 6,000 others and leaving 300,000 homeless…reports Asian Lite News
Najat Rochdi, a UN special coordinator for Lebanon, has urged for a swift and transparent investigation into the August 2020 Port of Beirut blasts which killed over 200 people.
“A swift, credible and transparent investigation that ensures full accountability is the only way for those affected by this tragedy, and for Lebanon, to start to heal,” Rochdi tweeted on Saturday after her meeting with families of the firefighters who were killed in the blasts.
Two huge explosions ripped through the Port of Beirut on August 4, 2020, killing about 200 people, injuring at least 6,000 others and leaving 300,000 homeless, reports Xinhua news agency.
2/4 A swift, credible and transparent investigation that ensures full accountability is the only way for those affected by this tragedy, and for Lebanon, to start to heal. @UNSCOL@UN_Lebanon
A big part of the Lebanese capital was destroyed in the disaster.
Investigations pointed to the roughly 500 tonnes of ammonium nitrate left at the port as the cause of the explosions.
The Lebanese, especially families of the victims, are still waiting for justice now, and continue to call for accountability as no one has been sentenced yet in connection to the explosions.
Myanmar refugees staged a protest against China's support to the new military rule in Myanmar at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Wednesday 03rd March, 2021. (Photo: IANS)
Myanmar’s anti-coup protest leaders said they have decided to initiate a nationwide boycott of Chinese goods, reports Subir Bhaumik
The wrath of Myanmarese protesters seeking a return to parliamentary democracy have turned against China and its multiple projects.
Myanmar protest leaders said they have decided to initiate a nationwide boycott of Chinese goods.
One of them, on the condition of anonymity, said that neighbourhood protest committees have been asked to spread by word of mouth the appeal to boycott Chinese goods.
“Indian businesses should open marts here. Our people will switch over to Indian products even if they are slightly more expensive,” the protest leader in commercial hub Yangon said over the phone.
But he appealed to India not to turn back those fleeing into the country, specially the eight policemen who fled into Mizoram from Myanmar’s Chin state.
Chin state authorities have formally sought their early repatriation as a “goodwill gesture”.
“These policemen will be executed by the military because they refused to shoot on peaceful protesters,” the protest leader said.
Mizoram Chief Minister Pu Zoramthanga has pitched for sheltering those who have fled into his state.
A local group, Zoram Reunification Organisation which seeks integration of the Mizo-Kuki-Chin ethnic groups, has petitioned Indian President Ramnath Kovind and the Centre not to deny refuge to those fleeing into Myanmar from Myanmar.
This after the Centre asked northeastern states bordering Myanmar and the Assam Rifles, which guards the 1643 India-Myanmar border, to stop a large scale influx from the neighbouring country.
Delhi is yet to take a call on the Myanmar request to hand back the eight policemen.
Protesters in Yangon are carrying placards “Myanmar coup, Made in China” during the demonstrations.
Some of them during the rallies this week also raised slogans like “Burn the Chinese gas pipeline”.
Hailed by China as a symbol of “mutually beneficial cooperation”, the 770-km pipeline connecting the Burmese port of Kyaukphyu to China’s Yunnan province was the focal point of public rage due to local perception that Beijing was backing the military that seized power on February 1.
On Friday, protesters shouted “Chinese business, Out! Out!”, in Mandalay city, a staging point on pipelines across Myanmar from the Indian Ocean to China.
Myanmar refugees staged a protest against China’s support to the new military rule in Myanmar at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Wednesday 03rd March, 2021. (Photo: IANS)
Burmese social media carried many more such threats.
Mandalay’s iconic jade market is now largely controlled by the Chinese traders who are unpopular because they often manipulate prices owing to their bulk buying clout.
The Kyaukphyu-Yunnan gas pipeline, which carries gas from Myanmar’s offshore fields, opened in 2013, as Myanmar’s military allowed the nation moved towards democracy.
The $1.5 billion oil pipelinenbrings crude mainly from the Middle East for Chinese market.
A PetroChina official who declined identification said there had been no problems with the operation of the oil pipeline so far .
It is the only source of crude for the state energy giant’s refinery in Kunming, Yunnan.
Protests over the pipeline flared after a Myanmar government document leaked from a February 24 meeting showed Chinese officials had asked Myanmar’s junta to provide better security – and intelligence on ethnic minority armed groups on the pipeline route.
Myanmar refugees staged a protest against China’s support to the new military rule in Myanmar at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Wednesday 03rd March, 2021. (Photo: IANS)
“Safeguarding the security of bilateral cooperation projects is the common responsibility of both China and Myanmar,” China’s Foreign Ministry said in response to questions on the document.
It reiterated its call for “all sides in Myanmar to exercise calm and restraint” and to resolve their differences.
“This would also benefit the secure operations of bilateral cooperation projects,” it said.
China has earmarked billions of dollars for such projects, including an economic corridor ending at a $1.3 billion deepwater port, industrial zones, a new city next to the commercial hub of Yangon and a railway to the border.
“Hostile public opinion will inflict long-term threats and damage to China’s plan,” said Yun Sun, director of the China Program at the Washington-based Stimson Center.
Beijing’s reputation was hit over the failed $6 billion Myitsone Dam project in Kachin state.
The project was shelved in 2011 over stiff Kachin tribal unrest because the entire 6,000MW output was marked for export to China from a state where less than 2 per cent of the household have electricity.
Myanmar refugees staged a protest against China’s support to the new military rule in Myanmar at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Wednesday 03rd March, 2021. (Photo: IANS)
Myammarese environmentalists and political parties also opposed the project fearing sharp downstream drop in water volume on Irrawaddy river which could threaten the country’s agriculture and food security.
Sustained Chinese lobbying failed to revive the project during the last decade.
Kachin leaders have told mediapersons any Chinese effort to revive the Myitsone dam project will be “furiously resisted”.
Chinese projects like the Lepetdaung copper mine also face local resistance over forced landgrabs with military backing.
