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Putin, Aliyev hold talks on Nagorno-Karabakh ceasefire control

Photo taken on Sept. 29, 2020 shows a man walking by a house damaged during clashes in the Tartar district bordering the Nagorno-Karabakh region. (Photo by Tofik Babayev/Xinhua)

Putin and Aliyev expressed hope that the centre’s efforts will contribute to the further stabilisation of the situation around Nagorno-Karabakh…reports Asian Lite News

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev discussed the ongoing efforts to secure the ceasefire in the Nagorno-Karabakh region recently freed from armed conflict, the Kremlin said.

During a phone call on Saturday, the Presidents welcomed the launch of the joint Russian-Turkish centre “for monitoring the ceasefire and any military activities in the conflict zone”, Xinhua news agency quoted he Kremlin as saying in a statement.

Putin and Aliyev expressed hope that the centre’s efforts will contribute to the further stabilisation of the situation around Nagorno-Karabakh and the proper observance of the agreement reached by the two Presidents and the Prime Minister of Armenia in November 2020.

“The two leaders also discussed some issues of Russian-Azerbaijani bilateral cooperation,” the Kremlin statement added.

  • Russian President Vladmir Putin

The joint Turkish-Russian observation centre began operations on Saturday.

According to Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar, one general from Ankara and 38 military personnel will work at the centre as part of efforts to “monitor and inspect” the ceasefire.

In November 2020, the Turkish Parliament had approved a motion for the deployment of troops in Nagorno-Karabakh for one year as part of an accord between Ankara and Moscow.

Aliyev had announced earlier that the Joint Turkish-Russian Centre will be in Aghdam, a district in Nagorno-Karabakh that was handed over to the Azerbaijani military on November 20, 2020 as a condition of the truce.

On November 10, 2020, Armenia and Azerbaijan ended a 44-day conflict in the region claimed the two countries after a ceasefire was reached under the mediation of Russia.

  • A man shows a house damaged during the new round of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia in Fuzuli district of Azerbaijan, Sept. 30, 2020. (Photo by Tofik Babayev/Xinhua/IANS)

Three earlier ceasefires — two brokered by Russia (October 10, 17, 2020) and one by the US (October 26, 2020) — collapsed after Armenia and Azerbaijan traded accusations and attacks.

A new round of armed conflict broke out on September 27, 2020, along the contact line of the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region, which is internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan but mostly governed by the Republic of Artsakh, a de facto independent state with an Armenian ethnic majority.

Armenia and Azerbaijan went to war over the region in 1988-94, eventually declaring a ceasefire.

However, a settlement was never reached.

Also read:Putin signs extension of Russia-US nuke treaty

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Afghanistan Asia News

Taliban shadow governor captured

The arrested Taliban leader was also a military chief for several Afghan central provinces, according to the agency…reports Asian Lite News

A Taliban militant group’s acting provincial governor for Kabul province has been arrested, the Afghan National Directorate for Security (NDS), the country’s national intelligence agency, confirmed on Sunday.

“Taliban’s acting provincial shadow governor Mohammad alias Hajji Lala has been arrested by NDS Special Forces,” Xinhua news agency quoted the NDS as saying in an announcement.

The arrested Taliban leader was also a military chief for several Afghan central provinces, according to the agency.

https://twitter.com/NDSAfghanistan/status/1355505775381250049

Meanwhile, Zabihullah Mujahid, a purported Taliban spokesman, rejected the report as a baseless claim.

Taliban militants, who ruled the country before being ousted in late 2001, renewed armed insurgency, killing government troops as well as civilians.

Their so-called leadership council has appointed governors as well as judges for nearly all 34 Afghan provinces.

Also read:8,500 Afghan civilians killed, wounded in 2020

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Japan likely to extend state of emergency

The final decision on whether to extend the current state of emergency in 11 of the country’s 47 prefectures beyond February 7 will be made next week…reports Asian Lite News

Japan is set to extend the state of emergency over the raging Covid-19 pandemic, as Tokyo and other surrounding areas continue to register a high number of confirmed cases, according to authorities.

The final decision on whether to extend the current state of emergency in 11 of the country’s 47 prefectures beyond February 7 will be made next week, reports Xinhua new agency.

However, a local media report on Saturday quoted a source close to Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga as saying that eight of the 11 prefectures are subject to an extension, covering Tokyo, Kanagawa, Chiba, Saitama, Osaka, Kyoto, Hyogo and Fukuoka.

Suga said on Saturday that he needs to “observe the situation a little more” before making a decision.

The extension may range from another three weeks to one month, according to the local media report.

The country’s second state of emergency, first declared for Tokyo and three neighbouring prefectures on January 7, was expanded to seven other prefectures six days later.

The emergency state included measures such as calling on the public to avoid unnecessary outings and urging food and drink service facilities to shorten their operation hours.

The Japanese government is considering adding Okinawa prefecture where the coronavirus has continued to spread on remote islands to areas subject to the state of emergency.

Meanwhile, the government will consider lifting the emergency in Tochigi prefecture north of Tokyo, as new confirmed cases have dropped significantly.

For a prefecture to lift the state of emergency, its Covid-19 situation must improve from Stage 4 which indicates the worst level on the government’s four-point scale.

The standard to determine the stages is based on six key indicators, including the weekly number of infections per 100,000 people and the percentage of available hospital beds for infected patients.

Also read:Japan jobless rate surges for 1st time in 11 yrs

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Western weapons main cause for Gulf instability: Iran

Western weapons are not only the cause of death of many Yemenis but also the main cause for instability in the Gulf, said Saeed Khatibzadeh, spokesman of the Iranian foreign ministry…reports Asian Lite News

Iran warned that Western weapons are “the main cause for instability” in the Gulf.

Western weapons are not only the cause of death of many Yemenis but also the main cause for instability in the Gulf, Saeed Khatibzadeh, spokesman of the Iranian foreign ministry, was quoted by the ministry’s official website as saying on Saturday, Xinhua news agency reported.

Without stopping the “flood” of arms exports, stability and calm cannot be expected in the Gulf region, he noted.

On the possibility of renegotiating the Iranian nuclear deal and including more participants, Khatibzadeh stated that the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action is a “non-renegotiable” international multilateral agreement with defined and “unchangeable” participants and was ratified by UN Security Council Resolution 2231.

Also read:Israel threats are psychological warfare: Iran

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Not bound by treaty prohibiting nuclear weapons: Pakistan

In a sensational observation which will have far reaching ramifications particularly in the highly volatile nuclear armed South Asian neighbourhood, Pakistan has said that it does not consider itself bound to any obligation preserved under the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons as it was not part of its negotiations.

During a weekly press briefing, the Foreign Office spokesperson said that “none of the nuclear-armed states, including Pakistan took part in the negotiations of the Treaty which failed to take on board the legitimate interests of all the stakeholders”.

“Many non-nuclear armed states have also refrained from becoming parties to the treaty,” he said.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan

Pakistan has maintained that the UN General Assembly had agreed by consensus, during its first special session focused on nuclear disarmament in 1978, that disarmament measures will be adopted, keeping in mind the right of each state to security.

“The UNGA, at its first special session devoted to nuclear disarmament in 1978, had agreed by consensus that the adoption of disarmament measures, the right of each state to security should be kept in mind, and at each stage of the disarmament process, the objective would be undiminished security for all states at the lowest possible level of armament and military forces,” the Foreign Office said in a statement.

“Pakistan believes that this cardinal objective can only be achieved as a cooperative and universally agreed undertaking, through a consensus-based process involving all the relevant stakeholders, which results in equal and diminished security for all states.”

Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi (Xinhua/Asad/IANS)

Pakistan has highlighted and urged that “it is indispensable for any initiative on nuclear disarmament to take into account the vital security considerations of each and every state”, adding that the current treaty does not contribute to progress or development of customary international law.

“Pakistan stresses that this Treaty neither forms a part of, nor contributes to the development of customary international law in any manner,” the Foreign Office statement added.

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Omar Sheikh acquittal: Pakistan under pressure as Blinken dials Qureshi

Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi

Soon after Saeed’s acquittal was announced on Thursday, President Joe Biden’s Spokesperson Jan Psaki, Blinken and Acting Attorney General Monty Wilkinson said the US could try him, reports Arul Louis

Pressure mounted on Pakistan to act against terrorist Ahmad Omar Saeed Sheikh with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken calling up Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi about Pakistan Supreme Court quashing his conviction in the murder US journalist Daniel Pearl.

“The Secretary reinforced US concern about the Pakistani Supreme Court ruling and potential release of these prisoners’ responsible for Pearl’s murder, State Department Spokesperson Ned Price said about the call on Friday.

They “discussed how to ensure accountability for convicted terrorist Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh and others responsible for the kidnapping and murder of American journalist Daniel Pearl,” he said.

Soon after Saeed’s acquittal was announced on Thursday, President Joe Biden’s Spokesperson Jan Psaki, Blinken and Acting Attorney General Monty Wilkinson said the US could try him.

Wilkinson said that the US was ready to take custody of Saeed and bring him to trial in the US.

Daniel Pearl

British-born Saeed was charged in a US court in 2002 with hostage-taking in connection with the murder of Pearl that year and the kidnapping of an American tourist, Bela Nuss, in India in 1994.

Pearl, who was The Wall Street Journal’s South Asia bureau chief, was kidnapped by the terrorists in Karachi in 2002 and murdered by having his throat slit.

The gruesome act was videotaped by his captors and circulated on the internet.

In the multi-pronged US campaign, Blinken said on Thursday, “We are also prepared to prosecute Sheikh in the United States for his horrific crimes against an American citizen. We are committed to securing justice for Daniel Pearl’s family and holding terrorists accountable.”

Psaki said, “We call on the Pakistani government to expeditiously review its legal options, including allowing the United States to prosecute Sheikh for the brutal murder of an American citizen and journalist.”

Omar Sheikh

The Pakistani government also faces domestic pressure against taking further action against Saeed who is considered a hero by some in that country.

Pakistan and the US do not have an extradition treaty.

Under international pressure Pakistan had Saeed tried in a court in the Sindh province and he was sentenced to death.

He and three of his fellow terrorists were acquitted by the Sindh High Court and that ruling was upheld by the Supreme Court.

During the phone call on Friday, Blinken and Qureshi also “discussed the importance of continued US-Pakistan cooperation on the Afghan peace process, support for regional stability, and the potential to expand our trade and commercial ties,” Price said.

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Pak stresses need for closer ties with US

Following Biden’s inauguration on January 20, Prime Minister Imran Khan congratulated the new President, saying that Pakistan was looking forward to build a stronger bilateral partnership through trade and economic engagement..reports Asian Lite News

Joe Biden

Pakistan has emphasised for closer engagement with the administration of new US President Joe Biden, a Foreign Office official said, adding Islamabad valued its ties with Washington which helped maintain regional peace and stability.

“We have achieved a lot by working together in the past. The logic for continued engagement and coordination is even more compelling in the context of shared geopolitical and security challenges,” Dawn news quoted spokesman Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri as saying at a briefing on Thursday while replying to a query about Islamabad’s strategy to engage with the Biden administration.

“We look forward to working with the new administration to further strengthen our bilateral ties to make it multifaceted, sustainable and mutually beneficial and continue our partnership to achieve peace, stability and prosperity in the region,” the spokesman added.

Following Biden’s inauguration on January 20, Prime Minister Imran Khan congratulated the new President, saying that Pakistan was looking forward to build a stronger bilateral partnership through trade and economic engagement; countering climate change; improving public health; combating corruption; and promoting peace in the region and beyond.

Also readDaniel Pearl murder : Pak SC orders release of accused:

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Philippines to ease travel ban from Feb 1

The ban from 36 countries and regions, including the UK, China and the US, is scheduled to end on January 31…reports Asian Lite News

Starting February 1, the Philippines will relax a ban on foreign travellers from over 30 countries and regions that have confirmed cases of more transmissible Covid-19 variants, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said on Friday.

The ban from 36 countries and regions, including the UK, China and the US, is scheduled to end on January 31, reports Xinhua news agency.

“The restriction remains until January 31, and would lapse after the aforesaid date,” Roque said in a statement.

The government clarified that foreign nationals who are not allowed entry to the Philippines as stated by previous orders, including those holding tourist visas, are still prohibited to enter the country.

Roque reiterated that travellers allowed entry still need to complete the 14-day quarantine.

On the same day, the spokesman announced that President Rodrigo Duterte has retained the general community quarantine for the capital city of Manila until the end of February to curb the virus spread.

Aside from Manila, Roque said Duterte also placed a number of provinces across the country under the same restrictions.

Many provinces in other parts of the country are put under more relaxed restrictions, he added.

The Philippines has been put under varying degrees of lockdowns since March last year.

The country has so far registered a total of 519,575 coronavirus cases, with 10,552 deaths

Also read:Japan jobless rate surges for 1st time in 11 yrs

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BLINKEN: US ready to prosecute Omar Sheikh

Both President Joe Biden’s spokesperson and Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that US is prepared to prosecute the acquitted Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh in US if Pakistan cannot hold him accountable, reports Arul Louis

Expressing outrage at the Pakistan Supreme Court’s decision to affirm the acquittal of Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, the key accused in the 2002 kidnap and murder of American journalist Daniel Pearl, Washington has said it was prepared to prosecute him in the US.

Both President Joe Biden’s spokesperson Jan Psaki and Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday made the suggestion to have the British-born terrorist tried in the US if Pakistan cannot hold him accountable.

“We call on the Pakistani government to expeditiously review its legal options, including allowing the US to prosecute Sheikh for the brutal murder of an American citizen and journalist,” Psaki said at her daily briefing here.

Omar Sheikh

She said the US is outraged by the Pakistani apex court’s decision to exonerate him and the three other suspects in the brutal killing of The Wall Street Journal’s South Asia bureau chief and called it “an affront to terrorism victims everywhere, including in Pakistan”.

The spokeswoman added the US recognised that the Pakistani government had tried to hold Saeed accountable and was holding him under national security laws.

In his statement, Blinken said: “We are also prepared to prosecute Sheikh in the US for his horrific crimes against an American citizen. We are committed to securing justice for Daniel Pearl’s family and holding terrorists accountable.”

He said that the US is deeply concerned about any possible action to release him after the Supreme Court acquitted him.

The new Secretary of State said that Saeed was charged in a US court in 2002 with hostage-taking in connection with the murder of Pearl that year and the kidnapping of an American tourist Bela Nuss in India in 1994, suggesting he could be tried in that case.

Daniel Pearl



Pakistani governments have been ambivalent about prosecuting Saeed, considered a hero by some, for the murder of the 38-year-old journalist, who was decapitated by the terrorists.

A graphic video showing his beheading was delivered to the US consulate a month later. Since then, at least 23 suspects were produced in the case while Sheikh being the prime suspect.

Under international pressure, Pakistan had him tried in a court in the Sindh province and he was sentenced to death.

On April 2, 2020, the Sindh High Court, however, acquitted him and the three others charged in the murder.

The Supreme Court upheld the decision on Thursday.

The provincial high court had also acquitted three other men namely Fahad Naseem, Sheikh Adil and Salman Saqib, who had been earlier sentenced to life imprisonment by an Anti-Terrorism Court in Karachi.

The decision holds great importance as the US has kept a close eye on the proceedings and has called on Pakistan to punish the accused.

However, the top court order may have an impact on Pakistan’s bid to find pathways with the newly elected administration under President Joe Biden.

The 38-year-old South Asia bureau chief of The Wall Street Journal was doing research on religious extremism in Karachi when he was abducted in January 2002.

Also read:Taliban imperils agreement with US: Pentagon

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Taliban imperils agreement with US: Pentagon

Former President Donald Trump had sought a full withdrawal of forces from the country, but some of his senior aides from the military and the Pentagon suggested a more cautious approach…reports Asian Lite News

In its first address to the media under the Joe Biden administration, the Pentagon has claimed that the Taliban was jeopardising the landmark agreement it signed with the US in February 2020.

“The Taliban have not met their commitments. Without them meeting their commitments to renounce terrorism and to stop the violent attacks on the Afghan National Security Forces, and by dint of that the Afghan people, it’s very hard to see a specific way forward for the negotiated settlement,” The Hill news website quoted Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby as saying at the briefing on Thursday.

“But we’re still committed to that, there’s no question about that… We need to find a reasonable, rational end to this war, and that it’s got to be done through a negotiated settlement that includes the Afghan government,” he added.

The US and Taliban signed the historic agreement on February 29, 2020, which called for a full withdrawal of the American military forces from the war-torn country by May 2021 if the militant group meets the conditions of the deal, including severing ties with other terrorist organisations.

Last week, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan spoke with his Afghan counterpart Hamdullah Mohib during which he made clear Washington’s intention to review the agreement, including to assess whether the Taliban was living up to its commitments to cut ties with terrorist groups, to reduce violence in Afghanistan, and to engage in meaningful negotiations with the Kabul government and other stakeholders.

In response, a Taliban spokesman Mohammad Naeem told an Afghan media outlet that the group remains committed to the agreement “and we call on the other side to stay firm on its commitments”.

During Thursday’s briefing when Kirby was asked about the Biden administration’s present stand on the agreement, he said the “goal” was to reach the May deadline for the withdrawal of troops,

“We’re going to be making our decisions in a sober, rational manner that is driven by what’s in our best interests and the interests of our partner in Afghanistan, as well as our NATO partners and allies,” he added.

The war in Afghanistan, which has caused about 2,400 US military deaths, is the longest one in American history.

Former President Donald Trump had sought a full withdrawal of forces from the country, but some of his senior aides from the military and the Pentagon suggested a more cautious approach.

Currently there are about 2,500 US troops in Afghanistan.

Also read:8,500 Afghan civilians killed, wounded in 2020

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