Confirming Gandapur’s arrest, senior PTI leader Omar Ayub said the Peshawar High Court had already approved his bail, however, he was arrested by the government.
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur was “arrested” in Islamabad on charges of misusing government resources, local media reported.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Gandapur was arrested by IG Islamabad Police, Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi, ARY News reported.
Confirming Gandapur’s arrest, senior PTI leader Omar Ayub said the Peshawar High Court had already approved his bail, however, he was arrested by the government.
However, officials denied arresting Gandapur and dubbed the reports false.
The PTI has given a call to reach D-Chowk demanding the release of its leader and former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Gandapur was arrested when he was scheduled to stage a protest at D-Chowk in Islamabad.
The arrest comes after a court in Islamabad issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against Gandapur in connection with illegal arms and liquor cases. The NBW was issued after Gandapur failed to appear before the court despite repeated summons.
The judicial magistrate has ordered authorities to arrest Gandapur and present him in court at the next hearing scheduled for October 12.
Meanwhile, in Islamabad, internet services were disrupted and all routes in and out of Islamabad were completely blocked, leaving the locals without any connectivity.
The day started with an awkward silence and peace before the Friday prayers but quickly turned into a violent confrontation between PTI protesters and the security forces.
Over 800 PTI supporters and members have already been arrested. A case was registered against several PTI workers under anti-terrorism provisions.
The KP Chief Minister was warned that if he tried to enter into the Punjab province or the federal capital, he and his supporters, who are “charged, angry and armed”, would be challenging the writ of the state and would be responsible for any response the state deems fit to stop such an attempt.
EAM Dr S. Jaishankar said that he is traveling to Pakistan only to be a “good member of the SCO”, reports Asian Lite News
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Saturday that he is not going to Islamabad to discuss “India-Pakistan relations” but his visit is all about the multilateral event, which is the SCO Summit 2024, taking place in the neighboring country.
The minister said that he is traveling to Pakistan only to be a “good member of the SCO”.
“Yes, I am scheduled to go to Pakistan in the middle of this month and that is for the meeting of the SCO –the heads of government meeting,” Jaishankar said while delivering the Sardar Patel Lecture on Governance organized by IC Centre for Governance in New Delhi.
“I expect that there would be a lot of media interest because the very nature of the relationship is such and I think we will deal with it. But I do want to say it will be there for a multilateral event, I mean I am not going there to discuss India-Pakistan relations. I am going there to be a good member of the SCO. Since I am a courteous and civil person, I will behave myself accordingly,” he underlined.
The External Affairs Minister highlighted that the SCO Summit is taking place in Islamabad this time, because, similar to India, Pakistan too, is a recent member of the bloc.
“Normally the Prime Minister goes to the high-level meeting, the heads of state, that’s in line with the tradition. It so happens that the meeting is taking place in Pakistan, because, like us, they are a relatively recent member,” Jaishankar added.
On being asked about his planning before he heads to the summit, the EAM stated, “Of course, I am planning for it. In my business, you plan for everything that you are going to do, and for a lot of things that you are not going to do, and which could happen also, you plan for that as well.”
On Friday, the MEA said that External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will be traveling to Pakistan to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit scheduled to take place in October.
On being asked about India’s participation in the upcoming SCO Summit, the MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “EAM Jaishankar will lead a delegation to Pakistan to participate in the SCO summit which will be held in Islamabad on October 15-16.”
Earlier in August, India received an invitation from Pakistan for the SCO Council of Heads of Government (CHG) in-person meeting.
In May 2023, Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari visited India for the SCO meeting in Goa. This was the first visit by a Foreign Minister of Pakistan to India in six years.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation is a permanent intergovernmental international organisation established on June 15, 2001, in Shanghai by Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Its predecessor was the mechanism of the Shanghai Five. Currently, the SCO countries include nine member states: India, Iran, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. The SCO has three observer states: Afghanistan, Mongolia, and Belarus.
At the Samarkand SCO Summit in 2022, the process of raising the status of the Republic of Belarus within the Organisation to the level of a member state started. The SCO has 14 dialogue partners: Azerbaijan, Armenia, Bahrain, Egypt, Cambodia, Qatar, Kuwait, the Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Sri Lanka. (ANI)
With the SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation) summit scheduled to be held in Islamabad on October 15-16 coupled with the fast aggravating security situation on the ground, the Federal Ministry of Interior has ordered handing over the security of the capital to the Pakistan Army, reports Hamza Ameer
Amid the fast-changing security situation on the ground in Islamabad with violent protests, clashes, arrests, cellular services and internet blockades; the government of Pakistan has decided to hand over the security of the capital to the Pakistan Army units officially.
Pakistan’s capital Islamabad and its twin city Rawalpindi, along with the connecting route between Punjab province, Federal Capital Islamabad and the Khyber Pukhtunkhwa (KP) province, have become battlefields between supporters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the security forces throughout Friday and is expected to continue through the weekend as well.
With the SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation) summit scheduled to be held in Islamabad on October 15-16 coupled with the fast aggravating security situation on the ground with fierce clashes being reported amid PTI’s call for protest at D-Chowk in Islamabad on October 4, the Federal Ministry of Interior has ordered handing over the security of the capital to the Pakistan Army.
The orders have been issued under Article 245 of the Constitution, which states “The Armed Forces shall, under the directions of the Federal Government, defend Pakistan against external aggression or threat of war, and, subject to law, act in aid to civil power when called upon to do so”.
After directives from the ministry, army units have taken over security duties in Islamabad — a move by the government to maintain law and order amid escalating PTI protests in the capital.
Official sources confirmed that the capital has been handed over to the armed forces from October 4 till October 17. The role of the armed forces includes patrolling at key locations to safeguard citizens and public property. This would also now include ensuring security protocols during the SCO summit, where dignitaries from member states will be landing in Pakistan.
Pertinent to note that External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will be leading India’s delegation and travelling to Islamabad for the summit also, making the event even more important, critical and crucial.
But on the ground, the security situation amid PTI-led protests resulting in violent clashes with the police authorities has made the political situation extremely sensitive for the government and has spread confusion about probable outcomes, which may be witnessed in the coming hours in the country.
“I am very worried about how the military establishment and the government have decided to handle this situation. They have called in the army to take control of the capital for 17 long days. They have applied Article 245, which means that they are referring to a political party PTI as either an external force which threatens war against the state. This is dangerous…,” said senior analyst Najam Sethi.
“Keeping in view the current situation… where you have KP CM Ali Amin Gandapur with his barrage of people, armed with weapons and threatening to breach through the blockades to reach Islamabad… he is confronted with the army now. And god forbid, if a gunshot is fired in these days, by any of his angry protestors who have been difficult to control as we have seen in the recent past, the situation may go completely out of hand and end up in a disaster,” added Sethi.
It would not be wrong to maintain that deployment of armed forces in the capital basically put the military establishment and former premier and currently incarcerated Imran Khan’s PTI directly standing against each other. Any wrong move now, from the military establishment or PTI, may just be the final showdown that would push the country into anarchy and chaos.
While the suspicions and stakes remain high with all eyes stuck on the ticking clock, the next 24 to 48 hours have become highly critical.
However, for others, especially with a close watch on the developing situation — the matter will not be allowed to escalate, while the prime demand of PTI, seeking engagement between imprisoned Imran Khan and the military establishment, may also not be entertained.
“The military establishment has maintained what it had been stating in the past. There can be no talks with Imran Khan — not after what he and his party did on 9th May 2023. It will remain the same. Even this current tactic to create pressure and spread riots to force the military establishment to reconsider engagement with Imran Khan is not going to be entertained,” said a reliable source on the condition of anonymity.
“Ali Amin Gandapur and his people violently protesting at the edge of KP, are not left with too many options and are seeking help from the military establishment to retreat. He has the army standing in front of him, and the armed forces have also been called in from his province KP, who have maintained their positions close to the Burhan interchange. So Gandaur is trapped in his own misadventure,” he added.
The source said that the doors of the military establishment will remain shut for Imran Khan as they have been in the past. And his loudest voice Gandapur will have a decision to make for himself and his provincial government.
“KP CM Gandapur is leading a group of people, who are armed, who are ready to kill or be killed, who have said that they would use their weapons to fight and remove the blockades to enter into the capital, which is now controlled by the Pakistan armed forces. It’s a recipe for his own crash. Any wrong move and he will have terrorism cases against him, a change of command in his province with a governor rule imposed and an end to his political party PTI, which is left with Gandapur only as their voice. Imran Khan also supports Gandapur, so as the ship falls, so will the man behind the bars as his pressure tactics will fail yet again,” the source said.
While the claims made by the source are based on expected outcomes, the ground situation in Pakistan remains extremely tense and is expected to retain is sensitivity for at least the next 48 hours.
None of the world leaders who have spoken so far have even mentioned Kashmir – not even Turkey, which had made an anodyne reference last year.
Totally isolated at the world organisation in trying to raise the Kashmir issue, Pakistan Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif in a sabre-rattling speech at the General Assembly, on Friday threatened a decisive response to a “limited war” by India that he made up.
He made up the claim that India’s “war doctrines envisage a surprise attack and a limited war under the nuclear overhang” to capture the Kashmir territory it occupies.
“Let me state in no uncertain terms that Pakistan will respond most decisively to any Indian negation,” he said of the imagined threat in a bid to get attention to Pakistan’s version of the Kashmir issue.
It takes an ominous tone because on at least three occasions Pakistan launched invasions of India under various pretenses, leading to two wars and a more limited conflict.
Sharif asserted that “thoughtlessly, India has spurned Pakistan’s proposals for a mutual, strategic, restrained regime” and “its leadership has often threatened to cross the line of control and take over territories it occupies”.
Sharif set revoking the changes made in August 2019 a condition for a dialogue.
India’s condition for talks, on the other hand, is an end terrorism emanating from Pakistan.
In setting the condition, Sharif was referring to India ending the special status Kashmir had under Article 370 of the Constitution and integrating Kashmir more closely with the rest of the country.
He said: “To secure durable peace, India must reverse the unilateral and illegal measures it has taken since 5th of August 2019 and enter into a dialogue for a peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the UN Security resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people.”
However, in fact, Security Council Resolution 47 adopted on April 21, 1948, requires the Pakistani government to first withdraw all its troops and infiltrators from the State of Jammu and Kashmir.
That resolution also requires Islamabad not to fund or arm terrorists who continue attacks in Kashmir, an element Pakistan ignores.
None of the world leaders who have spoken so far have even mentioned Kashmir – not even Turkey, which had made an anodyne reference last year.
Given the isolation, Sharif tried to link the Kashmir issue to Palestine, which has roused widespread attention.
“Like the people of Palestine, the people of Jammu and Kashmir, too, have struggled for a century for their freedom and right to self-determination,” he asserted.
The leader of the Islamic Republic that denies equal rights to non-Muslim minorities, also tried to link the wider concerns over Islamaphobia to India.
He claimed that the “Hindu supremacist agenda in India” foments Islamaphobia and “aggressively seeks the subjugation of 200 million Muslims and the obliteration of India’s Islamic heritage”.
He said that Pakistan and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation “will work with the UN Secretary General and a special envoy to implement a plan of action to combat the scourge”.
While Pakistan exports terror, Sharif played the victim of terrorism, rattling of a string of names of terrorist organisations like ISIL-K, al-Qaeda, and TTP.
He also spoke of the “90,000” Indian troops stationed in Kashmir, what he said were human rights violations there, and attempts to turn Muslims into a minority there.
India rebukes, calls out cross-border terrorism
India has warned Pakistan that cross-border terrorism against India will “inevitably invite consequences” and ruled out any agreement while the military-run government indulges in terrorism.
Bhavika Mangalanandan, a First Secretary in India’s UN mission, delivered the stern message on Friday while exercising India’s right of reply to Shehbaz Sharif’s attacks on New Delhi.
She said, “Pakistan should realise that cross-border terrorism against India will inevitably invite consequences.”
It was a “travesty” for “a country run by the military with a global reputation for terrorism, narcotics trade. and transnational crime” to have “the audacity to attack the world’s largest democracy,” she said.
Sharif asserted that India had spurned his offer of “a mutual Strategic Restraint Regime.”
Explaining India’s rejection, Mangalanandan said, “There can be no compact with terrorism.”
“Pakistan has long employed cross-border terrorism as a weapon against its neighbours; it has attacked our Parliament, our financial capital, Mumbai, marketplaces, and pilgrimage routes. The list is long,” she said.
Appropriate for raising Pakistan’s terrorism links, Mangalanandan, who is a 2015 batch Indian Foreign Service officer with an MTech degree from IIT Delhi, deals with counter-terrorism matters at the UN.
“The world can see for itself what Pakistan really is,” she said. “We are talking about a nation that for long hosted (al-Qaeda terrorist organisation’s leader) Osama bin Laden, a country whose fingerprints are on so many terrorist incidents across the world, whose policies attract the dregs of many societies to make it their home.”
“For such a country to speak about violence anywhere is hypocrisy at its worst,” she said.
On the subject of hypocrisy, Managalanandan said, “It is even more extraordinary for a country with a history of rigged elections to talk about political choices that too in a democracy.”
Bhavika Mangalanandan, a First Secretary in India’s UN mission
“The real truth is that Pakistan covets our territory and, in fact, has continuously used terrorism to disrupt elections in Jammu and Kashmir, an inalienable and integral part of India,” she said.
Hammering on the topic of hypocrisy, she added, “It is ridiculous that a nation that committed genocide in 1971 and which persecutes its minorities relentlessly, even now, dares speak about intolerances and phobias.”
Sharif had accused India of promoting Islamaphobia and persecuting minorities.
Managalanandan said it was no surprise that Sharif should make such accusations against India.
“Yet we must make clear how unacceptable his words are to all of us. We know that Pakistan will seek to counter the truth with more lies. Repetition will change nothing. Our stand is clear and needs no reiteration,” she said.
In reply, Muhammad Faheem, a Third Secretary in Pakistan, repeated most of what Sharif had said in the morning.
He denied that Pakistan had carried out a genocide in Bangladesh during the country’s 1971 War of Independence and denigrated it as “foreign aggression.”
He mentioned allegations that India was involved in a killing in Canada and an attempted murder in the US.
A ceremony is held to mark the second-stage river closure of Suki Kinari (SK) Hydropower Project in Mansehra district, Pakistan, April 30, 2021. (Xinhua/Deng Kaiyin/IANS)
Beijing has become increasingly vocal in expressing its frustration over Islamabad’s failure to address economic and security challenges, writes Dr Sakariya Kareem
China-Pakistan ties are seeing a downward trajectory amidst growing differences over several bilateral issues. Beijing is getting impatient over Islamabad’s failure to repay debts and provide adequate security to Chinese nationals in Pakistan. Despite external fundings from global institutions and China’s financial support, Pakistan has failed to stabilize the economy. Consequently, China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is facing a slowdown amidst reports of several projects facing delays or possible shutdowns. While Beijing is trying to somehow save CPEC and other projects, Islamabad is more interested in bilateral defence and security cooperation, mostly targeted against India.
According to reports, Pakistan has been pressing China to hold anti-terrorism exercises in areas along the India-Pakistan border. China has reportedly shown reluctance to the Pakistani proposal, which can unnecessarily cause tensions with India. This shows that Islamabad is not serious about ensuring safety and security of Chinese citizens in Pakistan, rather it wants to use bilateral and multilateral military exercises to provoke India and hide its counterterrorism failures.
Since the launch of the new military operation, Azm-i-Istehkam (Resolve for Stability), on June 22, terror attacks in Pakistan have surged substantially. According to a report from the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), at least 254 people, including 92 civilians and 54 security personnel, were killed in militant attacks and bombings in August, making it the deadliest month for Pakistan in the past six years. More concerning is that the majority of these attacks occured in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, regions hosting several China-sponsored projects. Balochistan saw a sharp rise in violence, with at least 125 people killed, including 80 civilians, 22 security personnel, and 23 militants. In recent years, Chinese nationals have been frequent targets of deadly attacks in these provinces. On March 26, a suicide bombing claimed the lives of five Chinese engineers working on the Dasu dam project in Shangla district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
Dasu bus blast
Furthermore, hardly a week before the suicide attack, Baloch insurgents targeted Chinese interests by storming the Gwadar Port Authority (GPA) complex and Turbat naval base near China-run Gwadar Port, which is a key component of the CPEC, in Balochistan province. These incidents renewed serious concerns about the safety and security of Chinese personnel and projects in Pakistan. Just two days after the Dasu bombing, a Chinese company suspended civil works at the Tarbela 5th Extension Hydropower Project and laid off more than 2,000 workers due to “security reasons”. In 2021, Pakistani authorities had awarded a USD 355 million contract to Power Construction Corporation of China Ltd for civil works on the project. The 1,530MW Tarbela dam was scheduled to start power production before 2026.
Attacks on Chinese nationals come at a significant financial cost for Pakistan, which is already grappling with a severe economic crisis. Beijing has become increasingly vocal in expressing its frustration over Islamabad’s failure to address economic and security challenges. In June, Chinese President Xi Jinping cautioned Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif that while China was open to expanding and upgrading economic ties, Islamabad needed to first establish a “safe, stable, and predictable” business environment for Chinese companies and personnel.
Similarly, Liu Jianchao, the Minister of the International Liaison Department of the Communist Party of China—responsible for managing China’s relations with political organizations globally—highlighted Pakistan’s “internal security deficit” as a major factor eroding Chinese investors’ confidence. He stated that “security threats are the main hazards to CPEC cooperation.” Liu also pointed to Pakistan’s ongoing political instability as a key reason for its economic failures, urging Pakistani politicians to unite and address the complex challenges the country faces.
Shehbaz Sharif and Xi Jinping
Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif, visited China from June 4-8 with a large ministerial delegation, including Pakistan Army chief General Syed Asim Munir, in a desperate attempt to revive bilateral ties with their “all-weather” ally. It was Sharif’s first extended visit to China after becoming the prime minister in March. During his visit, Sharif reportedly sought fresh loans from Beijing and requested more time to repay outstanding debts. However, he did not get anything substantial in return besides few Memoranda of Understandings and lots of warnings from the Chinese side. In August, Sharif had written a letter to the Chinese government requesting debt reprofiling for Pakistan in an apparent bid to secure the International Monetary Fund’s approval for a USD 7 billion economic bailout by next month.
China is increasingly concerned about its financial investments in Pakistan, fearing that they may not yield any positive returns in the future. Notably, a third of Pakistan’s total external debt is owed to China. However, Islamabad appears more focused on using multilateral and regional platforms like the United Nations or the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to target India. Beijing is growing frustrated with Pakistan’s attempts to use it as a tool in advancing its anti-India agenda. Instead of addressing the alleged cross-border terror attacks from Afghanistan and Iran, Pakistan’s military wants to conduct more anti-terrorism exercises with China in areas near the border with India. Reports indicate that Baloch insurgents and Tehreek-i-Taliban are behind many attacks targeting Chinese nationals in Pakistan, with groups having a reported presence in Pakistan’s western neighbours. Yet, Pakistan Army remains hesitant to hold joint counterterrorism exercises with China in either Balochistan or Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, showing Pakistan’s duplicity when it comes to addressing terrorism.
Despite Pakistan’s false assurances to strengthen security at China’s repeated request, including a new counterterrorism operation, the situation continue to deteriorate, with increasing unrest and violence targeting key Chinese projects under the Belt and Road Initiative. The ongoing instability presents unprecedented challenges to the Gwadar port, CPEC and China’s “all-weather” partnership with Pakistan. Ultimately, the responsibility for these setbacks lies with Pakistan’s incompetence, duplicitous behaviour, and its continuous attempts to use its relationship with China against India.
The influence of Pakistan on the Afghan political scenario has always far exceeded that of any other foreign power. The massive role that Pakistan has played throughout in ensuring a constant state of chaos and disruption to fill its coffers is well evident through its (again, not so) coveted action of arranging funding for the Taliban, writes Dr Sakariya Kareem
Over the last many decades, Pakistan has been involved in managing a two-face where it is bound to join the international coalition against terrorism, but at the same time (not so) covertly supports the terrorist activities and wars in its neighborhood. Moreover, Pakistan has not used wars only to support its political agenda but has also shown vicious rent-seeking behavior to benefit its economy by supporting the war. A clear and unfortunate example of the same is Afghanistan, where Pakistan has been fuelling its economy at the cost of the war-torn nation.
The influence of Pakistan on the Afghan political scenario has always far exceeded that of any other foreign power. The massive role that Pakistan has played throughout in ensuring a constant state of chaos and disruption to fill its coffers is well evident through its (again, not so) coveted action of arranging funding for the Taliban. It has also been financially supporting the Taliban’s activities in Afghanistan, along with diplomatic assistance to their missions. The support has not just been financial but also extended to the capacity-building of the militia. Pakistan has been involved in providing training and recruitment of resources to the Taliban to inflict terror and perpetuate war in the region.
Pakistani military has been a major beneficiary of the conflict in the region. For long, the smuggling business between the two has worked as a symbiotic economic relationship between the Taliban and the Pakistan army, characterized by smuggling of goods from Pakistan to Afghanistan. Moreover, there has been evidence produced by Human Rights Watch that how Pakistan military advisers have been involved in ensuring the effectiveness of the military operations of the Taliban on the battlefield.
Historically, it has been of interest for Pakistan to ensure a state of chaos in Afghanistan for several reasons. One reason stems from the colonial past, with the conflict about the Durand Line, resulting in the erstwhile Afghan governments’ refusal to accept the border and demand for Pashtun territories. Secondly, the rise of the Taliban was unacceptable to India, eliminating the chances of amicability between formal Afghan governments and India, which added to the reasons for Pakistan to support the Taliban for its border security, again at the cost of the Afghani population.
Pakistan has been preying on Afghanistan for procuring resources for running its own economy for decades. During the Cold War era, Pakistan’s economy was faltering due to oil price shock, crop failure, floods, and curtailment of aid from the West. At that time, Pakistan found avenues through its involvement in the war in Afghanistan to earn revenues. In 1979, it got involved in a proxy war against the USSR invasion of Afghanistan, reaping economic support from the USA and Saudi Arabia. Thus, the assembly-line production of mujahideens became an important economic activity for Pakistan, for which it was well-compensated, eventually helping Islamabad to pull the economy out of a slump.
The terrorist production factory of Pakistan got further impetus during the 1979 Islamic revolution in Iran. In order to ensure a stronger disposition for Sunni Muslims in Pakistan in the wake of Iran’s revolution, Saudi Arabia gave massive funding to Islamabad. This led to a cultural change as well in Pakistan, through increased radicalization via education, ensuring continuous supply, and a “reserve army of terrorists.”
Cut to the 2000s, in the backdrop of 9/11 and the US’s global war on terror, Pakistan received massive compensation of US$62.2 billion from the US for providing bases and transit facilities for Afghanistan operations till 2010. However, in late 2018, under the Trump administration, there was a slackening of the relations and funding to Islamabad.
Currently, Pakistan’s economy is staggering and facing its worst economic crisis since independence. The economy, over the last two years, has faced massive floods and has been hard hit by inflation, along with the burden of a pandemic. The IMF, with many stringent conditions, has agreed to provide a $7 billion bailout package to Pakistan. However, many experts fear that the bailout package will not ensure sustainable growth of the economy if measures are not taken to stabilize the economy. Moreover, given the exceptional record of Pakistan, of maintaining a parasitic relationship with its poor neighbour, experts opine that Islamabad is looking for yet another sadistic-strategic move into Afghanistan with the re-rise of Taliban after 2021. However, the IMF funding, fear of FATF and global opposition to the Afghan Taliban are major barriers to Islamabad’s possible intentions to unscrupulously support its crumbling economy.
The recent Pakistan airstrikes in Afghanistan are a result of months of tensions between the two states. The blame game is on where Pakistan warns Afghanistan to limit the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan’s (TTP) activities, and Afghan Taliban, in return, asks Pak to address their grievances. The strikes backfired against Pakistan. As they alleged, the strikes did not kill any TTP leader, but rather, civilians were murdered.
(Str/Xinhua/IANS)
However, despite the TTP, which threatens Pakistan’s safety, there is no apparent strong motivation in Pakistan to vehemently oppose the Taliban. This may be due to its expectations to limit India’s influence on the Taliban in the future and use the Taliban again as prey for the extraction of quick-fix economic benefits. It is yet to see when and how Pakistan, yet again executes its economic parasitic policies towards Afghanistan.
As per the opinion, the next few months seem very critical for Pakistan’s future political course, while the spectre of despotism is looming large over the political spectrum with an increasingly fragmented civilian setup struggling with legitimacy questions and resorting to draconian measures, a report by Dr Sakariya Kareem
Pakistan’s judiciary has been experiencing endless attacks on the system and in the latest example of efforts to curtail rule of law, an alleged ‘enforced’ decision by the Karachi University syndicate stripped a sitting high court judge, who spoke out against the establishment’s interference in judicial matters, of his law degree.
According to local media reports, the syndicate of the University of Karachi last week cancelled the degree and enrolment of a candidate, who is said to be a high court judge, on the recommendation of its Unfair Means (UFM) Committee.
The decision came a few hours after the detention of academic and syndicate member Riaz Ahmed, who was picked up by police in what appeared to be an attempt to stop him from attending the key meeting, reports Pakistan’s leading English daily, Dawn.
Riaz Ahmed, an associate professor at the Karachi University’s department of applied chemistry, was released in the evening only after the syndicate decided to cancel the degree, as per reports.
Riaz, while speaking to rights activists and media personnel after being released, claimed in a video statement that the degree issue involved Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri of the Islamabad High Court.
Riaz Ahmed (Image X@riazahmedis)
However, neither Karachi University Vice Chancellor Khalid Iraqi nor any other official of the university were immediately available for comment on the matter, the report said.
Riaz, who had already objected to an agenda item of the syndicate meeting pertaining to the case involving the judge’s law degree after 40 years, claimed that he was picked up from Tipu Sultan Road when he was on his way to the university to attend the said meeting.
According to Dawn, the syndicate meeting was held without Riaz and among other decisions it gave consent to the cancellation of the judge’s degree.
“The members also approved the recommendations of the KU UFM [unfair means] Committee which has proposed cancellation of the degree and enrolment cards of the candidate(s) who were found in unethical and immoral acts,” Karachi University stated in a press release, without naming the candidate.
Over the past week, the University of Karachi has faced an unusual level of external pressure. The Senate meeting was postponed at the last moment on the orders of the Secretary of Boards (in reality, the Chief Minister). Today, a 40-year-old. 1/3 @Jaferii@SalAhmedPK
Riaz, however, said he was released eight hours after the “illegal detention”.
Condemning the detention, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) wrote on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), “HRCP is deeply concerned by reports that Karachi University academic and political activist Dr Riaz Ahmed was earlier taken into custody and then reportedly disappeared forcibly by unidentified persons. Strangely, he was brought back to the police station after the police denied that they had detained him.”
“This is the second time Dr Ahmad has been disappeared. In this case, no FIR was lodged against him, begging the question as to why he was detained at all. The use of such tactics must cease,” HRCP added.
HRCP is deeply concerned by reports that Karachi University academic and political activist Dr Riaz Ahmed @riazahmedis was earlier taken into custody and then reportedly disappeared forcibly by unidentified persons. Strangely, he was brought back to the police station after the…
— Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (@HRCP87) August 31, 2024
It should be noted that Justice Jahangiri, whose law degree has been cancelled by the Karachi University, is among the six judges who previously complained to the Supreme Judicial Council about chief justice and accused the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) of interfering in judicial affairs.
The complaint included allegations of spy cameras being detected at the entrance and in the bedroom of a judge, a matter that was reportedly conveyed to the chief justice but to no avail, as per reports.
An opinion piece by writer-journalist Zahid Hussain published in Dawn describes the Karachi University incident as another instance of growing brazenness of powers in the country.
Commenting on Riaz’s “illegal detention” the opinion piece noted, “In a country where enforced disappearances are a common phenomenon, such brief illegal confinement would not have raised an eyebrow.”
As per the opinion piece, the fate of Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri as a judge seems to have now been sealed, and the action against the judge seems to be a warning to other judges who refuse to toe the line.
“It’s now also a test for the chief justice to defend the independence of the judiciary and protect the judges from such revengeful actions. The pressure on the judges is also growing with the apex court increasingly becoming the battleground for resolving political and constitutional disputes as parliament is becoming increasingly redundant,” according to the Dawn opinion piece.
Dr. Riaz Ahmed @riazahmedis of Karachi University was abducted as he had expressed his views on how the university authorities were being pressured to declare that Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri's educational record from four decades ago is questionable.
The writer opined it is not surprising that every effort is being used by the Pakistani government to divide the institution and curtail its power.
“The Supreme Court’s ruling on redistribution of reserved seats may have deprived the ruling coalition of the two-thirds majority in parliament required for a constitutional amendment in the pretext of judicial reform, but the current dispensation has not yet given up hope for reversal of the majority decision,” the writer highlighted.
As per the opinion, the next few months seem very critical for Pakistan’s future political course, while the spectre of despotism is looming large over the political spectrum with an increasingly fragmented civilian setup struggling with legitimacy questions and resorting to draconian measures.
“The attack on the independence of the judiciary and the clampdown on freedom of expression are part of the moves to strengthen despotism,” the opinion piece read.
“Setting up firewalls and downgrading internet services are not going to work for the dispensation mired in deep muddy waters,” the opinion added. “The challenges are too serious for a government lacking public mandate to deal with, and take the country out of, the morass. Its increasing dependence on the security establishment has removed even the pretence of civilian rule. The establishment’s hold is evident in all aspects of decision-making.”
Muhammad Shahzeb Khan is charged with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organisation.
The US Department of Justice has charged a Pakistani national with allegedly plotting to attack Jews in New York on the anniversary of the October 7 terror attacks in Israel, media reported.
Muhammad Shahzeb Khan, 20, was going to carry out the attack in support of ISIS, prosecutors allege, and told an undercover agent he wanted to target New York because it has the “largest Jewish population in America”, CNN reported.
Khan is charged with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organisation. He was arrested on Wednesday in Canada. The charges were unsealed on Friday.
“The defendant was allegedly determined to kill Jewish people here in the United States, nearly one year after Hamas’ horrific attack on Israel. This investigation was led by the FBI, and I am proud of the terrific work by the FBI team and our partners to disrupt Khan’s plan,” FBI Director Christopher Wray said.
“The FBI will continue to work closely with our partners to investigate and hold accountable those who seek to commit violence in the name of ISIS or other terrorist organizations. Fighting terrorism remains the FBI’s top priority,” Wray added.
“The defendant is alleged to have planned a terrorist attack in New York City around October 7 of this year with the stated goal of slaughtering, in the name of ISIS, as many Jewish people as possible,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement, adding that “Jewish communities — like all communities in this country — should not have to fear that they will be targeted by a hate-fueled terrorist attack”.
In November 2023, Khan, who lives in Canada, began allegedly discussing his support for ISIS on an encrypted messaging application with two people who, unknown to him, were undercover law enforcement officers, CNN reported.
Khan told the officers that he was trying to create “a real offline cell” of ISIS that would target Jewish institutions around an unnamed city, according to court documents, and instructed the officers to buy firearms for those attacks.
Khan allegedly told the officers that he wanted to carry out the attacks on either October 7 or 11, because “October 7 they will surely have some protests and October 11 is yom.kippur,” a major Jewish holiday.
By August of this year, prosecutors allege, Khan decided that he wanted to carry out the attacks at a Jewish centre in Brooklyn.
It is easy to “target jews” in New York because of the large Jewish population, he allegedly told the undercover officers, adding that “even if we don’t attack an Event, we could rack up easily a lot of Jews”. Once he decided on the location of the attack, Khan allegedly paid a human smuggler to help him cross the border into the US.
On September 4, Khan allegedly used three separate cars as he tried to cross Canada and enter the US. He was stopped nearly 12 miles from the US-Canada border, according to the Justice Department.
The Pakistani national is charged with one count of attempting to provide material support and resources to a designated foreign terrorist organisation. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the US Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Israel Defense Forces on October 7 last year declared a state of readiness for war following a massive barrage of rockets from the Gaza Strip and infiltration of Hamas terrorists into Israel, and the war is on ever since.
The story of Balochistan and CPEC is a complex one, characterized by a mix of hope and despair, promise and betrayal.
Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest and most resource-rich province, remains a region marred by conflict, underdevelopment, and deprivation. Despite its vast natural wealth, the people of Balochistan have largely been left out of the economic prosperity that these resources should ideally provide.
The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a massive infrastructure and economic project touted as a game-changer for Pakistan, has been particularly contentious in Balochistan. While CPEC is often promoted as a vehicle for regional development and economic upliftment, many argue that it has exacerbated the existing inequalities and exploitation in Balochistan.
Historical context: Balochistan’s plight
To understand the dynamics at play, it’s essential to delve into the historical background of Balochistan. Balochistan has a long history of resistance against what many Baloch people see as the exploitation of their resources by external powers. Since the accession of Balochistan to Pakistan in 1948, there have been multiple insurgencies, driven by grievances related to political marginalisation, economic exploitation, and cultural suppression.
Despite being home to vast mineral resources, including natural gas, coal, copper, and gold, Balochistan remains the poorest province in Pakistan. According to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, Balochistan’s contribution to the national GDP is disproportionately low compared to its resource wealth, with a GDP per capita significantly lower than the national average.
These figures highlight the stark disparities between Balochistan and the rest of Pakistan, illustrating the longstanding neglect and underdevelopment that has fueled resentment and unrest in the province.
Promise and perils of CPEC
The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a flagship project of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), aiming to connect Gwadar Port in Balochistan with China’s Xinjiang region through a network of highways, railways, and pipelines.
With an estimated investment of over $62 billion, CPEC is marketed as a transformative project that will bring prosperity to Pakistan, particularly its less developed regions like Balochistan.
However, the reality on the ground in Balochistan paints a different picture. Critics argue that CPEC has primarily served the interests of the central government in Islamabad and Chinese investors, with little regard for the local population’s needs and aspirations. The following points shed light on how CPEC exploits Balochistan rather than fulfilling its promise of development:
1. Resource exploitation and environmental degradation: Balochistan’s natural resources have long been extracted without adequate compensation or reinvestment in the local economy. CPEC has exacerbated this issue, with large-scale projects often leading to environmental degradation and displacement of local communities. For example, the extraction of minerals and the construction of infrastructure have led to deforestation, loss of arable land, and pollution of water sources.
2. Marginalisation of local workforce: One of the most significant grievances related to CPEC in Balochistan is the marginalisation of the local workforce. Despite promises of job creation, a large portion of the labour force employed in CPEC projects comes from other provinces or China. This exclusion has left the local population feeling alienated and resentful.
3. Security concerns and human rights violations: The militarisation of Balochistan under the guise of securing CPEC projects has led to widespread human rights abuses. The Baloch people have been subjected to enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and a heavy military presence, further alienating them from the state.
4. Economic disparities and unequal distribution of benefits: The economic benefits of CPEC have largely been concentrated in other regions, particularly Punjab, while Balochistan continues to lag in terms of infrastructure development, healthcare, and education. This unequal distribution of benefits has deepened the sense of deprivation in Balochistan.
Voices of dissent: Mahrang Baloch and Baloch resistance
In recent years, voices from within Balochistan have become increasingly vocal in their opposition to CPEC and the broader policies of the Pakistani state. Among these voices is Mahrang Baloch, a prominent Baloch activist who has consistently highlighted the exploitation and marginalisation of the Baloch people under CPEC.
Mahrang Baloch has criticised CPEC as a project that primarily serves the interests of the Pakistani elite and foreign investors while further entrenching the economic and political disenfranchisement of the Baloch people.
In a recent statement, she said: “CPEC is not a development project for the people of Balochistan. It is a tool of exploitation that has only brought more suffering to our land. Our resources are being taken, our environment is being destroyed, and our people are being displaced, all in the name of development. But where is this development? It is not in our schools, our hospitals, or our roads. It is in the pockets of the rich and powerful.”
Mahrang Baloch’s words resonate with many in Balochistan who feel that their voices are being ignored in the national discourse. Her activism has brought international attention to the plight of the Baloch people, shedding light on the darker side of CPEC.
Gwadar Port controversy
At the heart of CPEC is Gwadar Port, a deep-sea port in Balochistan that is strategically located on the Arabian Sea. Gwadar is often portrayed as the crown jewel of CPEC, with promises of turning it into a bustling trade hub that will bring prosperity to the region.
However, the reality for the people of Gwadar has been quite different. Despite the massive investment in the port and its surrounding infrastructure, the local population has seen little improvement in their living conditions. Basic amenities such as clean drinking water, electricity, and healthcare remain scarce.
The fishing community, which has traditionally been the backbone of Gwadar’s economy, has been particularly hard hit by the development of the port, with many fishermen losing their livelihoods due to restricted access to the sea.
In response to these grievances, protests have erupted in Gwadar, with local residents demanding their rights and a fair share of the benefits from the port. The “Gwadar Ko Haq Do” (Give Gwadar Its Rights) movement has gained momentum, highlighting the disconnect between the grand promises of CPEC and the reality on the ground.
CPEC and the Baloch Nationalist Movement
The perceived exploitation of Balochistan under CPEC has also fueled the Baloch nationalist movement, which seeks greater autonomy or even independence for Balochistan. Baloch nationalist groups argue that the central government’s policies, including CPEC, are designed to extract resources from Balochistan without giving the local population a say in how their land and resources are used.
The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), a separatist group, has been particularly active in targeting CPEC projects and personnel, viewing them as symbols of the state’s exploitation of Balochistan. The BLA has carried out several high-profile attacks on Chinese nationals and CPEC infrastructure, further complicating the security situation in the region.
Economic impact of CPEC on Balochistan
Despite the criticism, the Pakistani government and proponents of CPEC argue that the project has the potential to bring economic development to Balochistan. They cite the construction of roads, energy projects, and industrial zones as evidence of CPEC’s positive impact on the region.
However, the data suggests that the economic benefits of CPEC in Balochistan have been limited and unevenly distributed. While there has been some improvement in infrastructure, the overall economic impact on the province has been modest at best.
The slight improvements in GDP growth and industrial growth have not translated into significant reductions in poverty or unemployment, suggesting that the benefits of CPEC have not reached the broader population.
The story of Balochistan and CPEC is a complex one, characterized by a mix of hope and despair, promise and betrayal. While CPEC has the potential to bring much-needed development to Balochistan, the current approach has largely marginalized the local population and exacerbated existing inequalities.
For CPEC to truly benefit Balochistan, there needs to be a shift in how development is approached in the province. This includes ensuring that the local population is genuinely involved in decision-making processes, that the economic benefits are equitably distributed, and that the environmental and social impacts of projects are carefully managed.
The voices of dissent, like that of Mahrang Baloch, should not be ignored. Instead, they should be seen as a crucial part of the conversation on how to build a more just and inclusive future for Balochistan.
Without addressing the underlying grievances of the Baloch people, CPEC risks becoming yet another chapter in the long history of exploitation and neglect in Balochistan.
The British High Commission has been amongst the earliest organisations to provide relief interventions, following devastating floods in Chitral…reports Asian Lite News
From July 29 to August 3, Chitral faced severe destruction caused by torrential rains, flash floods, and glacial lake outburst floods. The catastrophic events led to the obliteration of 14 drinking water supply schemes, 15 jeep-accessible bridges, 55 irrigation channels, 9 link roads, 3 school buildings, 4,000 feet of protection walls, and 20 local shops.
In response, the British High Commission utilized its presence in the region, collaborating with Concern Worldwide and the Aga Khan Foundation to deliver emergency relief and support the restoration of essential infrastructure and livelihoods.
So far, the UK has funded essential items like kitchen sets, hygiene kits, water storage containers and more for around 300 families. Partners continue to work on immediate restoration of damaged drinking water systems, the restoration of essential irrigation channels, and debris removal to re-enable access and livelihoods, UK support is expected to benefit over 20,000 people in Chitral. The UK are also considering on longer-term recovery plans for affected areas, in close coordination with government counterparts and humanitarian partners.
Chargé d’Affaires of the British High Commission, Andrew Dalgleish said that, ‘The recent floods in Chitral are devastating. Lives and livelihoods have been destroyed. The UK is here to support Pakistan. These floods are a stark reminder that there is much more to be done to improve Pakistan’s climate resilience.’
Floods have already led to 141 deaths, 266 injuries and damage to over 1,000 houses in Pakistan this year. Climate change is a priority for the UK Government. During the devastating floods of 2022, the UK helped over 2.3 million people, dedicating a total of £39 million in UK aid. The British public mobilised, and raised £41.5m as part of the Disasters Emergency Committee appeal. Support included emergency cash assistance, shelter kits, nutritional support, learning kits and infrastructure repair.
The UK’s focus is on improving Pakistan’s climate resilience long-term, rather than purely responding to disasters. The UK has already helped 1.5 million people improve their resilience to extreme climate events, and aims to support a further 3 million people in the next 4-5 years.
