Pakistan’s trade with Afghanistan continues to shrink despite big claims by the PTP government. It’s trade with Afghanistan fell by 22 percent to reach $1.18 billion during 2019-2020. This is in contrast to the claims of reaching five billion over the next three years …. Writes Dr Sakariya Kareem
Helping Afghanistan prosper economically and supplying essentials to the landlocked Afghanistan was reiterated by Pakistan at the recent Heart of Asia Conference in Dushanbe. However, facts of its trade performance tell a different story of a shrinking trade.
Pakistan’s trade with Afghanistan fell by 22 percent to reach $1.18 billion during 2019-2020. This is in contrast to the claims of reaching five billion over the next three years. Official sources in Islamabad as well as Kabul admit that the target is rather ambitious and does not take into account the ground reality, especially, of Pakistan’s own capacity to deliver. Notably, Pakistan’s exports to Afghanistan declined 13.6 percent to $629.3 million from $728.3 million. A few years ago, Afghanistan was the second largest export destination after the US.
Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi speaks at a press conference in Kuwait. (Xinhua/Asad/IANS)
Trade Ministry sources in Islamabad explain that low trade performance has much to do with the unsettled conditions on both sides of the border and the Covid-19 pandemic. But the fact is that Pakistan has for long lost the Afghan market to its rivals – China, India and some of the Central Asian countries. The Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) explains that the loss of the Afghan market is because Iran, India and China offer value-added products, relatively attractive transit tariffs, and better consignment handling facilities. China, being the supplier of value-added goods is becoming the leading competitor and taking over the lion’s share in Afghan market. Similarly, Iran offers competitive rates, better consignment handling facilities and cost-effective transportation. In Pakistan, costs for all these facilities have increased substantially over the years.
Chief of Afghanistan High Council for National Reconciliation Abdullah Abdullah meets Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi
Meanwhile, the data of State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) indicates that Pakistan’s trade deficit with the other regional countries narrowed only slightly during the period as imports from these countries also decreased. That, again, points to low capacity and poor performance. A conflict-hit Afghanistan has, actually, performed better. Pakistan’s imports from Afghanistan have surged, especially of essential kitchen items like tomatoes, potatoes, onions and fresh and dried fruits, as per SBP data.
As for land-based trade, Afghan trade transit resumed after Pakistani authorities decided to open up Torkham border on a 24/7 basis. However, every time there is a skirmish along the border due to movement of militant that Pakistan is pursuing, the border post gets closed to trade. As bilateral relations suffer, goods lie stranded and get pilfered. Perishable goods like fruit and vegetables get destroyed.
Afghanistan is compelled to explore other trade routes. Chabahar has come to its aid. Behrouz Aqaei, the Director General of Ports and Maritime Department of Iran’s Sistan-Baluchestan Province explained that Chabahar is believed to be the best and economical transit route into Afghanistan and Central Asian countries.
India has stepped in to help Afghanistan by sending goods via Iran’s Chabahar, or Shahid Behesti, port. In mid-April 2020, a 75,000-metric-ton consignment of Indian wheat heading for Afghanistan arrived at Chabahar to be delivered to the destination country through land borders. According to Aqaei, the Indian government sent the mentioned cargo aiming to support its trade partner during the coronavirus pandemic. The consignment consisted of 203 20-metric-feet containers that had been shipped from Kandla Port in eastern India.
Afghanistan is also acknowledging the prospect of long term change in its trade with Pakistan. Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ACCI) say that Afghanistan’s economic dependency on Pakistan has decreased following the establishment of new alternative trade and transit routes with a number of countries.
The deputy head of the ACCI, Tawfiq Dawari, aid trade and transit volume between Afghanistan and Pakistan has been decreasing. “While we use Karachi port and have bilateral trade ties with Pakistan, our trade relations have been maintained with other countries as well and the reason is that we use other countries and international markets as well,” said Dawari.
Fake news has always remained a favourite tool for propaganda, and it has become even more lethal in the age of social media…reports Asian Lite News
Pakistan has been running anti-India propaganda using Pakistani social media accounts which are the new tools for propagating fake narratives.
According to the Disinfo Lab reports, Easter bombings in Sri Lanka, Islamophobia in India, Galwan valley clash, Farmers’ Protest of India are some of the incidents where Pakistan has made Anti-India fake narratives.
The report revealed that the Pakistan decided to set up a full-scale fake news industry by way of SAUSMF . SAUSMF website was hosted by Pak Cabinet Minister and close aid of PM Imran Khan – Jahangir Tareen on his server.
Disinfo Lab
It is easy to spread disinformation through twitter because of its facility to change the username(name and username).
The major findings of report, which uncovered main members of this nexus included Aftab Afridi, Awas Javed Satti, Asim Khan who has direct links with Pakistan army, team Imran Khan and Pak businessman Jahangir Khan Tareen, who was the man behind Imran Khan’s electoral victory.
Last year, security and intelligence agencies in India have identified and traced more than 5,000 Pakistan-based social media handles actively spreading fake and false propaganda on Citizenship Amendment Act 2019. Some of them are using “deep fake videos” of protests to incite communal violence in the country.
Social media(IANS)
“Some of prominent Pakistan personalities are also sharing the information through their private handles. These handles are very active for the last 48 hours,” said a source in the security establishment.
Sources said that even Arif Alvi, the President of Pakistan, is tweeting curated deep fakes. He tweeted: “Of the many messages coming from India, I am just tweeting this message. The girl is crying at police brutal violence inside a mosque at Delhi’s Jamia Millia. Prime Minister Modi’s fascist Hindutva government is at war with Muslims.”
The agencies said that Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi commands a troll brigade.
Pakistan social media handlers also tweeted fake news about casualty of a girl student in Jamia Millia during protests on Sunday.
Pakistani President Arif Alvi receives a shot of COVID-19 vaccine in Islamabad
Britain has imposed new travel restrictions on travel from Pakistan. From this Friday onwards (9th April), the passengers from Pakistan will go undergo a self-funded hotel quarantine. The poor vaccination drive is causing troubles for Pakistanis. Lagging behind others in South Asia and slow in its launch, Pakistan’s drive to vaccinate its people against Covid-19 continues to send clear signs of confusion. As a result, just 0.8 million people from a 20 million population have been vaccinated by the end of March. And this is not surprising, experts, concerned at the delay, at home and abroad note …. Writes Dr Amanulla Khan
Covid is dogging everybody in Pakistan. Just after the Prime Minister, the President also tested positive on Covid-19 last month. It may not seem unusual, but that they got infected after being administered first dose of the Chinese-produced Sinopharm vaccine, has caused concern.
For one, it has injected an element of distrust among the population that is awaiting the vaccine as the country experiences its second wave of the pandemic.
Zafar Mirza, a former Special Assistant to Prime Minister Imran Khan on health, has pointed out that Pakistan was one of the trial sites for this vaccine but did not insist for a right to access these vaccines once they were produced and approved.
“This was the first such trial in Pakistan. This anomaly should not be repeated with future trials. Our population should not act as guinea pigs, but instead receive a guaranteed fair share from the manufacturers once the trial is complete.”
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan
Lagging behind others in South Asia and slow in its launch, Pakistan’s drive to vaccinate its people against Covid-19 continues to send clear signs of confusion.
As a result, just 0.8 million people from a 20 million population have been vaccinated by the end of March. And this is not surprising, experts, concerned at the delay, at home and abroad note.
The first batch of vaccines containing 0.5 million vaccines arrived in Pakistan on February 1 from China.
The process started slowly as there were no takers for the Chinese coronavirus vaccine. Many healthcare workers refused to register themselves for the vaccine, expressing concerns regarding the safety or efficacy of the vaccine, officials and experts told Al Jazeera.
Pakistan’s dilemma is manifold. Many in overwhelmingly Muslim nation do not trust a vaccine. The clergy rant against it from microphones at mosques every Friday. Vaccine, any vaccine, could render you impotent, they warn. There is a sordid record of attacks, even killing, of health volunteers who administer polio vaccine. Along with the neighbouring Afghanistan, Pakistan remains among the few nations where polio persists.
A handover ceremony is held for the second batch of COVID-19 vaccines donated by the Chinese government at Noor Khan Air Base near Islamabad, capital of Pakistan
The clergy and the conservatives warn how Osama bin Laden was located and killed in 2011 when a doctor who gathered data for vaccine ‘betrayed’ by passing it on to the Americans.
When it comes to vaccine against Covid-19, there are other aspects of distrust. The government does not trust AstraZeneca that is British-developed, because it is Indian-produced.
The adversarial India may send vials with water filled in, goes the rumour campaign. Till mid-March, the government had not placed any orders, the National Assembly was informed.
People wearing face masks walk on a road in Rawalpindi of Pakistan’s Punjab province
The prime Minister attacked the ‘rich’ and appealed to the world community to help the ‘poorer’ nations meet this urgency. Pakistan kept waiting for GAVI, the global alliance that is engaged in pooling the vaccines to distribute it among the poor nations.
Finally, when orders were placed, they were for either purchase or free supply of the Chinese vaccine that was slow in being cleared for safety and efficacy than the British and the others. Doubts persist and now the public does not trust the vaccine coming from the “all weather friend.”
Conventional medical wisdom about vaccination is that there has got to be some ‘reaction’ or side-effects, like mild fever, that actually indicate that the vaccine is working on the body injected. But the president and the prime minister, by invoking God Almighty and seeming helpless, betrayed both, lack of knowledge and of faith.
President Arif Alvi took this further by saying that he was hoping to get cured after the second dose, again casting doubts about the first one.
Issuing a clarification on Khan’s vaccination, the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination said that antibodies develop two to three weeks after the 2nd dose of the 2-dose COVID-19 vaccines.
“Prime Minister Imran Khan was not fully vaccinated when he contracted the virus. He only got the 1st dose and merely 2 days ago which is too soon for ANY vaccine to become effective. Anti-bodies develop 2-3 weeks after the 2nd dose of COVID vaccines,” it said on Twitter.
By contrast, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi let it be known that he did not even realise when the jab was administered, to boost public confidence and trust. He extended his best wishes to his Pakistani counterpart for a speedy recovery from COVID-19.
Writing in Dawn, Zafar Mirza warns the government on the need to take the public into confidence. “Citizens have questions and misconceptions regarding the vaccines. It is imperative that these concerns are proactively addressed and not permitted to spread unabated.”
The US report mentions disappearances of rights activists, politicians in Balochistan province of Pakistan, which remains under a global spotlight owing to an ongoing struggle for independence as well as massive Chinese investment in the CPEC, a project strongly resented by the local people reports Rahul Kumar
The 2020 Country Reports on Human Rights, released by the US on Tuesday, castigates Pakistan for arbitrary killings and disappearances of Pashtun, Sindhi and Baloch human rights activists.
The State Department’s annual human rights report was released by Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The report says: “Terrorist violence and human rights abuses by non-state actors contributed to human rights problems, although to a lesser extent than in previous years… Military, police and law enforcement agencies continued to carry out significant campaigns against militant and terrorist groups.”
Workers sit outside a collapsed coal mine in Pir Ismail Marwar area near Quetta the provincial capital of Balochistan (Xinhua Stringer IANS)
Talking about Balochistan, where a raging insurgency for independence is going on since the time Pakistan was carved out from India, the report says: “Security forces in Balochistan continued to disappear pre-trail suspects, along with human rights activists, politicians and teachers. The Baloch Human Rights Organisation noted 45 individuals had disappeared and that assailants had killed 15 persons in seven districts in July alone.”
The report adds that violations in Balochistan also include, “… attempts to control or block websites that advocated Baloch independence and that the government used surveillance software.”
Balochistan remains under a global spotlight owing to an ongoing struggle for independence as well as massive Chinese investment in the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)�a project strongly resented by the local people. The Baloch feel that the project is undermining their economic and financial sovereignty as both China and Pakistan will usurp their natural resources.
The US human rights report also took up the case of Pakistan’s media. It said: “Threats, harassment, and violence against journalists who reported on sensitive issues such as civil-military tension or abuses by security forces occurred with increasing frequency during the year.”
Balochistan, Sindhi nationalists unite to oppose Pak, China, CPEC.
It noted that the government has not done anything to alleviate the situation for media organisations. It said: “Both the military, through the Director-General of the Inter-Services Public Relations, and government oversight bodies, such as the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA), enforced censorship.”
The Country Report on Pakistan took up the cause of another conflict-torn region�Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where the Pashtuns have expressed their unhappiness with the Pakistan government. The Pashtuns resent terrorist activity in their region which increased due to the training camps and cross-border movement of terror organisations. The Pashtuns, who live on both sides of the Afghan-Pakistan, border also feel torn over their division by the Durand Line.
Talking about Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, located on the Afghan border, the report says that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Actions Ordinance of 2019 gives the authorities power to detain civilians indefinitely without charge in internment camps, occupy property, conduct operations, and convict detainees in the province. The report said: “The provincial high court ruled the ordinance unconstitutional, but the Supreme Court suspended this ruling. …pending the outcome of this appeal, the military retains control of detention centers and law enforcement activities in much of the former FATA.”
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan
The report has upbraided Pakistan for lack of accountability by the government, fostering a culture of impunity among the perpetrators and sheltering officials for human rights abuses.
The UN report follows a Human rights Watch report released in January this year which too hauled up the Pakistan government for not taking note of increased persecution of women and minorities.
The HRW report, World Report 2021, said that the Pakistan government intensified its crackdown on media, political opponents and civil society in 2020. It also said that the government failed to curb violence against women and minorities. It mentioned that Pakistan used the anti-corruption watchdog, the National Accountability Bureau, to detain opponents and critics including the Jang editor, Mir Shakil-ur-Rehman.
The international community is now aware about Turkey and its notorious army’s role in the Armenian genocide. But, how can they ignore the killing of 300,000 unarmed civilians during the liberation war in Bangladesh. Do we have right to seek justice and heal our buried wounds? .…. A special report Farzana Mahmood (Barrister-at-Law), Advocate, Supreme Court of Bangladesh, Human rights activist and Researcher
The brutal killings of 30,00,000 unarmed and innocent civilians during the 1971 liberation war by the Pakistani army and their local collaborators in Bangladesh with the intention of exterminating the Bengalis as well as the religious minorities, specifically the Hindus, falls within the ambit of crimes of genocide under the Genocide Convention of 1949.
With the aim to change the race of the Bengalis, rape was carried out in a systematic way against 2,00,000 women of Bangladesh by the Pakistani army1. The widespread atrocities, degrading, and inhuman treatment and rape committed by the Pakistani forces can be identified as crimes against humanity. Though the Hamoodur Rahman Commission Report of Pakistan concealed data about the immensity of the atrocities, it admitted that approximately 26,000 innocent Bengalis had been killed by the Pakistani army.
After the victory of Bangladesh when Pakistani army surrendered nearly 93,000 Pakistani civilians and army officers were taken to Indian custody as Prisoners of War (POWs) while more than 1,20,000 Bengalis were trapped in West Pakistan. The United Nations Security Council passed a resolution on December 21, 1971 asking the countries involved in War to observe the Geneva Convention and not to attach any conditions to the repatriation of the POWs.
Immediately after his return in Bangladesh from the Pakistani jail, the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman initiated the formal process of war crimes trial. While Bangabandhu lead Awami League Government had identified 195 Pakistan army personnel as Pakistani POWs for trail, Pakistan Government seized 203 Bengalis in Pakistan as hostage. In April 1973, Pakistan issued a statement saying, “Pakistani Government rejects the right of the authorities in Dhaka to try any among the prisoners of war on criminal charges, because the alleged criminal acts were committed in a part of Pakistan by citizens of Pakistan. But Pakistan expresses its readiness to constitute a judicial tribunal of such character and composition as will inspire international confidence to try the persons charged with offenses”.
The Hamoodur Rahman Commission report recommended to take effective action to punish those POWs in Pakistan who were responsible for committing the alleged atrocities in East Pakistan. While Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto announced that if Bangladesh carries out the trial, Pakistan would also hold similar tribunals against the Bangladeshi army officers who were serving in West Pakistan. In an interview on May 27, 1973, Bhutto also said: “Public opinion will demand trials of Bangladeshis here. We know that the Bengalis passed on information during the war. There will be specific charges. How many will be tried, I cannot say.” In such a tense situation, the concern over the lives of the Bengalis trapped in Pakistan and regional peace became serious issues, which were under clear threat.
Moreover, Bangladesh needed global recognition as an independent state and access to the United Nations. Pakistan continued its lobby not to let that happen and Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto insisted that Pakistan would accept Bangladesh as a separate state if the Pakistani POWs were released. Bangabandhu was determined to try the Pakistani POWs for the atrocities and genocide committed against the Bengalis, but in this endeavour he did not get support from any corner. As a party to the Geneva Convention India was obliged to promptly start the repatriation of the Pakistanis and could not lawfully transfer the hostage Pakistani POWs to Bangladesh’s custody.
The Simla Agreement signed between India and Pakistan in July 1972 allowed the simultaneous release of most of the Bengalis and Pakistanis held in Pakistan and India respectively. Pakistan and India agreed that the issue of 195 Pakistani POWs would be settled between Bangladesh and Pakistan. Eventually, Bangladesh accepted Pakistan’s proposal to withdrew the demand for trying the Pakistani POWs in Dhaka- fearing for the life of the Bengalis trapped in Pakistan, regional peace and to gain the much-needed international recognition and access to the United Nations. The listed POWs were repatriated to Pakistan after an Agreement was signed between India-Pakistan-Bangladesh in Delhi, in April 1974. The 195 Pakistani POWs though repatriated were not freed from criminal charges. Also, Bangladesh expected that Pakistan would hold the trials of the Pakistani POWs as promised by the Pakistan Government, but this never happened.
After 38 years of Independence in 2009 the Awami League Government established a tribunal named International Crimes Tribunals, Bangladesh under the International Crimes Tribunals Act (ICT), 1973 to try and punish both the local and principal Pakistani perpetrators who committed crimes against humanity and genocide against the Bengalis. The trail of the local perpetrators started in 2012, few notorious war criminals have been punished and the trials of the rest of the offenders are continuing. On many occasions the Awami League Government has expressed sincere desire to try and punish those 195 Pakistani POWs as principal perpetrators of the 1971 genocide.
This desire became a concern for the Pakistani Government and they have referred the 1974 trilateral Agreement to negate the claims of Bangladesh on the trail issue of the Pakistani POWs. The Bangladesh Government contends that the clemency mentioned in the trilateral Agreement never implied that the masterminds and principal perpetrators of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide would continue to enjoy impunity. This assertion is implicit in the policies taken by the Awami League Government during the early years of independence. Bangladesh Collaborators (Special Tribunals) Order, 1972 and ICT Act 1973 were promulgated to try and punish the perpetrators of 1971 war. The 1972 Constitution of Bangladesh contained provision that barred from holding office by anyone convicted by the collaborators tribunal, which was later deleted from the Constitution by Major Ziaur Rahman.
Moreover, the Constitution also banned those religious political parties whose leaders were involved in the war crimes and genocide. In November 1973, the Awami League Government with the hope to unify the country and maintain internal peace granted a general amnesty for the war criminals except those accused of murder, arson, rape and genocide. Even until the end of 1975, a large number of Bangladeshi war criminals were captivated in different jails of Bangladesh for trials, who were released after the brutal murder of Bangabandhu.
The ICT Act 1973 was enacted with the aim to detain, prosecute and punish the perpetrators of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and other related crimes punishable under international laws. Section 3 of the ICT Act unambiguously states that any tribunal established under this Act shall have power to try and punish any person accused of war crimes committed in the territory of Bangladesh regardless of their nationality. Bangabandhu declared the independence of Bangladesh in the early morning of 26th March, 1971 and the Pakistani army started committing genocide and war crimes since 25th March midnight which continued till 15th of December, 1971. Therefore, the war crimes were committed in the territory of independent Bangladesh and Bangladesh has every right to try the Pakistani POWs. Under the Act the tribunal has jurisdiction to try a group of individuals, or member of armed, defence, or auxiliary forces, irrespective of his nationality, who has committed genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes or other related crimes under international law in the territory of Bangladesh. The provisions of the ICT Act clearly mandate the trial of the 195 Pakistani POWs, for committing war crimes and genocide, and the Pakistani political leaders and policy makers who ordered them to commit such crimes.
It is worth mentioning that for the validity of the 1974 trilateral Agreement it must be ratified by the parties concerned. Article 145A of the Constitution of Bangladesh requires that all international treaties to be submitted to the president who will place them before the Parliament for ratification. Till today, Bangladesh has not ratified the trilateral Agreement of 1974, hence the Agreement is not legally binding on Bangladesh and there is no obstacle to try the 195 Pakistani POWs.
The customary international laws also provide ample opportunity for Bangladesh to try the Pakistani POWs. The Hague Convention 1907, Genocide Convention 1948, Geneva Conventions 1949 and their protocols 1977, defines genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity and makes them punishable offence. Article 4 of the Genocide Convention 1948 articulates that persons committing genocide shall be punished whether they are constitutionally recognizable rulers, public officials or individuals.
The report of United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, 2009 titled “International Law and United Nations Policy on Amnesty” clearly stipulated that under various sources of international law and United Nations international policy, amnesties are not permissible if they prevent prosecution of individuals who may be criminally responsible for war crimes and genocide. Under the Geneva Convention, state parties have right to try and punish the war criminals for genocide and crime against humanity and amnesties that prevent the prosecution of such offences are inconsistent with the state’s obligations. Countries which have signed and ratified the Geneva Convention and the Protocols are obliged to find out war criminals and try them. As per customary international laws, atrocities or acts of criminal violence amount to the breach of a peremptory norm of international laws. Article 53 and 64 of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, 1969 stipulate that treaties in conflict with the peremptory norms of international law (either existing or emerging) are void and terminated. Article 71 of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, releases the parties to a treaty void under Articles 53 and 64 from any obligation to perform the treaty.
Memorial of clay of refugees of the Bangladesh genocide.(WIKIPEDIA)
The 1974 tripartite Agreement was an executive act and it can not create any bar to prosecute member of auxiliary force or an individual or member of a group for committing war crimes, since by giving immunity to the offenders of genocide and war crimes the Agreement is in breach of customary international laws. Therefore, the 1974 trilateral Agreement can not set aside the norms of the customary international laws by prohibiting the trail of genocide and war time atrocities committed in Bangladesh. The 1974 Agreement is void to the extent it is inconsistent with the peremptory norms of general international law. Hence, under the 1974 Agreement Bangladesh is not bound to perform the obligations pertaining the prohibition of trials of the Pakistani war criminals. Bangladesh can procced with the trial of the Pakistani POWs anytime because criminal trials are not barred by any time limitation. If Nazis could be tried after 70 years of committing war crimes then a similar trial of the war criminals of Pakistani army and politicians can be started as well.
In one occasion while talking about the liberation war of Bangladesh Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto himself admitted the atrocities of the Pakistani army by saying- “The world saw what they were doing. They witnessed their cruelty’’. The gravity and extent of the war crimes committed by the Pakistani army in 1971 against the innocent people left a deep scar in the hearts and psyche of the millions of Bengalis. The pain that my mother has been bearing since 1971 after the brutal killing of my grandfather by the Pakistani army is an example among thousands of such wounded hearts. Through the trials of the notorious local war criminals the buried wounds of millions of hearts have healed to a great extent. But the impunity of the Pakistani POWs and unapologistic behaviour of the Pakistani authorities remind us that until the last offender of 1971 war crimes is tried and punished the wounds and trauma of the Bengalis would remain open for further damage. The buried wounds of the victims of war crimes and their families can be healed with pride if we can secure justice for the 1971 genocide and war crimes.
In March 2017, the Law Minister Anisul Haq stated that Bangladesh will approach the International Court of Justice to try the 195 Pakistani POWs. This commitment of the Government generates hope for us. This year we when are observing the golden jubilee of Bangladesh’s independence, it is imperative that we seek justice and compensation for the genocide and crime against humanity committed by the Pakistani forces to make our freedom meaningful. It is high time for us to build a national consensus for initiating the trial process of the Pakistani POWs. Ensuring trial, compensation and apology for the heinous war crimes committed by the Pakistani forces would secure our pride and self-esteem.
(Farzana Mahmood (Barrister-at-Law) is an advocate at Supreme Court of Bangladesh and a prominent human rights activist)
People walk at a market in eastern Pakistan's Rawalpindi
Pakistan authorities have banned all kinds of gatherings, indoor or outdoor, with immediate effect due to the 3rd Covid wave…reports Asian Lite News.
Pakistan has imposed a complete ban on public gatherings in strengthened efforts to counter the ongoing third wave of the coronavirus pandemic, according to a statement from the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC).
All kinds of gatherings, indoor or outdoor, will be banned with immediate effect, Xinhua news agency quoted the statement issued on Sunday ass aying.
It added that the ban covers all social, cultural, political, sports and other events.
There will also be a complete ban on marriage functions, indoor or outdoor, from April 5.
However, provinces will be at liberty to implement restrictions in early time frame as per the situation on ground, said the statement.
Amid a rising number of coronavirus cases, Prime Minister Imran Khan, who had also tested positive for the virus earlier this week, on Sunday urged citizens to strictly follow the standard operating procedures as the country cannot afford a complete lockdown.
The third wave of the pandemic is more severe than the previous ones, therefore Pakistanis should strictly adhere to the health guidelines, including wearing a mask and avoiding gatherings, Khan said in a televised address to the nation.
According to data released by the NCOC on Sunday, 4,767 new confirmed coronavirus cases were reported in Pakistan in the last 24 hours, taking the country’s total tally to 654,591 with 14,215 deaths.
Protest held in Brussels against genocide by Pak army in Bangladesh(Twitter)
Protestors raised demand for EU,UN recognition of 1971 genocide…reports Asian Lite News
A protest was staged in front of the European institutions to mark the 50th anniversary of 1971 Bangladesh genocide.
The demonstration was organised by various civil society and human rights organisations in Europe as well as the Bengali organisations.
The demonstration paid tribute to the 2-3 Million victims of genocide which was committed by the Pakistan army and also called for its international recognition.
“We need to remember this genocide incident 50 years later and never forget the brutality of this massacre in which Hindus, Muslims, Christians and Buddhists in Bangladesh were oppressed and tortured. The Hindu community lost its land and was slaughtered by the Pakistani army ,said human right activist Manel Msalmi.
She also called for global Acknowledgment of 1971 genocide mainly because it remains unrecognized in comparison to the other genocides in Europe and Africa.
The Bengali Genocide Remembrance Day is a national day commemorated on March 25 in Bangladesh to pay tribute to the victims of the 1971 genocide.
Andy Vermaut, organiser of this protest stressed that “3 million people were killed in Bangladesh in 1971 in an organized genocide. More than two hundred thousand girls were brutally raped. “The old patterns of behavior of the Pakistan of yesteryear, has scarred the people of Bangladesh to this day” “The wounds are impossible to heal if the world does not dare to officially recognize the horror of 50 years ago”.
“I ask for a general pardon from all member states in the face of inaction on the scenes Bangladesh has faced” ‘I wish to apologize on my own behalf for what the international community failed to do, thus causing so many casualties’. I hope you can muster the spiritual and moral sense of duty to do”,he added.
Once the High Court clears Jabir Motiwala’s extradition, intelligence sources said his subsequent trial in the US will unmask D-company’s link with the ISI and its entire underworld operations, reports Asian Lite News
In a last ditch effort, Pakistani agencies exercised all available resources to thwart extradition of Dawood’s Ibrahim’s key finance manager and drug operator Jabir Motiwala to the US.
Officials of Pakistan’s High Commission in London were reportedly seen with Motiwala’s pleaders, pursuing D-company aide’s appeal in High Court, in a bid to prevent D-company’s ultimate trial in the US, sources in Indian Intelligence agencies said.
Intelligence sources said that once the High Court clears Jabir Motiwala’s extradition, his subsequent trial in the US on charges of drug trafficking and money laundering will unmask D-company’s link with the ISI and its entire underworld operations in a US Court.
“The trial of the Jabir could also highlight, how Dawood, a global terrorist wanted in serial bomb blasts in Mumbai has been operating from Karachi and sharing drug routes with major terror outfits patronised by ISI,” said a senior IPS officer in New Delhi.
Mumbai blasts
Motiwala, who operates for Dawood Ibrahim, is a Pakistani National, presently imprisoned in Wandsworth jail in south west London.
The High Court on Thursday reserved its judgement on Jabir Motiwala’s extradition to the US, earlier granted by a Westminster Magistrate’s court, last year.
Sources said that in a few weeks time, the High Court’s judgement on Motiwala’s fate could be expected. A section of Pakistani media, meanwhile has said that Motiwala, who hails from a well to do family in Karachi has been framed by US law enforcing agencies in drugs operations.
On the other hand, the US agencies have provided documentary evidence of drug dealing and handling finance of D-Company including tapes, against Motiwala in the court.
Pakistani diplomats had earlier tried to thwart the extradition move by submitting a letter on behalf of accused’s lawyer in the Magistrate’s court, saying Motiwala was a “well known respected businessman in the Pakistan”.
Dawood Ibrahim
In fact Pakistani diplomats fear that once Motiwala is extradited to US, the close aide of D-company can reveal the entire nexus between Dawood Ibrahim’s underworld network (being operated from Karachi) and don’s connection with Pakistan’s spy agency Inter Services Intelligence (ISI).
The US had already declared Dawood a global terrorist running international drug syndicate and sharing gang’s routes with Pakistan based terror outfits.
Sources said that Dawood’s key finance aide Jabir Motiwala, was produced in Magistrates courts in London after his arrest by Scotland Yard Extradition Unit on charges of money laundering and sharing proceeds of narcotics money earned on behalf of the D-company.
Sources said that Barrister John Hardy, appearing on behalf of the US government, had earlier revealed to the Magistrate’s Court that Jabir Motiwala, a close aide of Dawood, travelled extensively and conducted (underworld crimes related) meetings for his boss Dawood Ibrahim, an Indian who along with his brother Anees, are wanted for terror crimes in India.
During the extradition trial Defence lawyer for the D-company member, told the Court that Motiwala was suffering from depression and had made several suicide attempts in the past few years.
Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan. (File Photo: IANS)
The lawyer argued that in such a situation, Motiwala cannot be extradited to the US to face trial.
Sources said that contrary to the Defence lawyers claim, Motiwala has been investing D-company’s black money into various projects abroad. He is said to be involved in drug trafficking and also travels to collect money on behalf of the D-company in Europe.
Sources said that Motiwala’s extradition to the US, if endorsed by higher Court would be a setback for Dawood as well as his patrons in Pakistani establishment.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina
Islamist radical groups like Hifazat have threatened to block Modi’s entry into Dhaka city from the airport, prompting furious security preparations by Bangladesh security forces..By Ayesha Zaman Shimu
A fierce social media ‘war’ has erupted between pro-Liberation Bangladeshis and the Pakistanis resenting Bangladesh’s much vaunted progress and growing relations with India ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the country.
Modi will be the Guest of Honour at the Golden Jubilee of Bangladesh Independence on March 26, the day in 1971 when Pakistan’s brutal army started ‘Operation Searchlight’, a genocidal campaign to stamp out the Bengali revolt for Independence.
Islamist radical groups like Hifazat have threatened to block Modi’s entry into Dhaka city from the airport, prompting furious security preparations by Bangladesh security forces. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has ordered tough action against anyone trying to disrupt Modi’s visit .
Modi’s visit is significant because it comes at a time when bilateral relations have peaked, despite occasional hiccups. There is also promise of mutual growth on the horizon with a latest World Bank report suggesting that India and Bangladesh can augment their national incomes by 8 to 10 per cent in a few years if the two neighbours can ensure “seamless transport connectivity”.
The visit also comes at a time when Bangladesh has achieved ‘Developing Nation’ status , up from Least Developed Country (LDC) category . The UN citation announcing that upgrade is a testimony to Bangladesh’s success in national building through practice of moderate Islam, tolerance of other religions, abiding faith in liberal Bengali culture and its syncretic traditions and focus on economic growth and human development.
This is stark contrast to Pakistan’s slide in economy and society with analysts across the world suggesting it has all the bearings of a failed state. And all because of the Pakistani state and its powerful army’s obsession in using terrorism as an instrument of national policy and its lopsided defence spending at the cost of neglect for infrastructure and social sector investments.
The Twitter war has been sparked by some Bangladeshi radicals backing the Hifazat-e-Islam’s announcement to stop ” Modi from entering Dhaka.” Pro-liberation forces who express gratitude to India for its role in Bangladesh’s liberation promptly denounced the Hifazat move as an ‘evil ploy’ by Pakistani intelligence ISI to disrupt not only Modi’s visit but also the celebrations of 50th anniversary of Bangladesh’s independence.
They also attacked Hifazat-Khilafat leaders as ‘powerhungry’ and ‘traders of religion’. Some tweets and Facebook posts also showcased Bangladesh’s economic and human development achievements cited in top global publications like ‘Diplomat’ and ‘Wall Street Journal’ and contrasted this with Pakistan’s downslide.
That provoked a strong riposte from Pakistani Twitterati and Facebookers with some presenting absolute cooked up statistics to show Pakistan was ahead of Bangladesh in many respects. Bangladesh’s net warriors shot back immediately asking uncomfortable questions.
Sheikh Hasina.
“Ask your PM Imran, has he paid up the PMO’s electricity bills” and “30 rupees for an egg, 1,000 rupees for a kilo of ginger, what do you eat Pakistanis, only dry wheat” are some of the shoot-back posts that escalated into direct allegations of Pakistani funding for Bangladesh’s Islamist radicals to disrupt the Modi visit and adversely impact India-Bangladesh relations. Citing a ‘Times of India’ opinion piece, a tweet said: ” India and Bangladesh, Made for Each Other, Destined to Grow Together’.
Bangladesh has a passionate and fiercely secular bloggers community who have never hesitated to attack Islamist radical politics.
In the aftermath of the 1971 War Crimes Trials, that began after PM Hasina assumed power, scores of bloggers like Rajiv Haider were hacked to death by the fundamentalists along with secular publishers and intellectuals like Faisal Ahmed Dipon and Abhijit Roy.
The bloggers were targetted after they demanded death penalty for the Bengali Islamist collaborators of Pakistan army who helped their campaign of massacres and mass rapes, mass conversions of non-Muslims under duress, all well documented in books compiled by Barrister Tureen Afroz, who led the prosecution of the war criminals.
Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh(Wikipedia)
But the attacks have not deterred Bangladesh’s passionate net warriors to uphold their country’s glory and road to recovery after the devastation of the 1971 war and 20 years of debilitating military rule by two Bengali generals Ziaur Rahman and H.M. Ershad, who put back Bangladesh’s “Unfinished revolution” by decades through constitutional changes that made the country an Islamic Republic by undermining the secular values of Bengali linguistic nationalism that made possible our Independence over an ‘ocean of blood’.
What has unnerved Pakistan and his active netizens is the obvious lack of ammunition they have to defend their ‘failed state’ and the matter has been aggravated after PM Hasina’s government raised the pitch for UN recognition of the 1971 genocide and demanded a formal apology from Pakistan.
At a time when Islamabad faces restive ethnic minorities like the Baloch and the Pashtuns, Sindhis and Baltistanis, the Bangladesh example is an uncomfortable foreboding on the wall for Pakistan’s rulers. No wonder, their generals are almost begging India for peace and Imran Khan is confusing Japan as Germany’s neighbours. With the Damocles Sword of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) hanging on Pakistan’s head, their only saving grace appears to be a peace deal in Afghanistan which gives the Taliban a prepoderant position in running the war-ravaged country.
Bangladesh has as much strategic advantage as Pakistan but it is poor — and a very military– approach to pitch national policy just on leveraging strategic advantage , neglecting the hard work to develop economic and social infrastructure for stimulating growth in economy and human development. Bangladesh is all that Pakistan is not. Thankfully, our great leader ‘Bangabandhu’ Sheikh Mujibur Rahman led us to independence and abandon the sinking ship called Pakistan at the right time.
The Heart of Asia process facilitates a platform for regional ties with Afghanistan at its centre and with the recognition by the participants that a secure and stable Afghanistan is vital to the bringing peace to the region….reports Asian Lite News
Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi will attend the Heart of Asia meeting, which will also see the participation of his Indian counterpart S. Jaishankar, a media report said on Tuesday.
The meeting will take place in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, the Dawn news report said.
The Heart of Asia process provides a platform for regional cooperation with Afghanistan at its centre and with the recognition by the participants that a secure and stable Afghanistan is vital to the prosperity of the region.
The process involves 15 participating countries, 17 supporting countries and 12 regional and international organisations.
This development comes a week after Pakistan Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa asked India “to bury the past and move forward” while saying the military was ready to enter talks to resolve “all our outstanding issues”.
Bajwa’s comments came following Prime Minister Imran Khan call for a resolution on Kashmir, which he described as “the one issue that holds us back”.
If Qureshi and Jaishankar meet in Dushanbe it would be the first meeting between the two top officials, the Dawn news report said.
In May 2019, Qureshi met the then Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj during an informal interaction in Bishkek on the sidelines of an SCO meeting.
According to the report, Pakistani officials have not yet commented on the Qureshi-Jaishankar meeting but did not rule out a possibility.
“In view of the events taking place around us, we cannot say it’s impossible,” the Dawn news report quoted one of the officials as saying.
