ISLAMABAD, SEPT 3 /DNA/ – Complementing the natural beauty and dramatic splendour of Attabad Lake with a blend of premium hospitality, a new Pearl-Continental Hotel will open its doors to the scenic Hunza Valley soon.

Overlooking the turquoise-blue lake and surrounded by the majestic Karakoram Mountains, the five-star Pearl-Continental Hotel Attabad Lake will attract both travellers and adventure enthusiasts alike.

In this connection, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Pakistan Services Limited and Road & Story at Islamabad Marriott Hotel on Friday, 3rd September.

At the launching ceremony, the Chief Operating Officer Hospitality and Education Division Hashoo Group, Mr. Haseeb A. Gardezi said: “With Attabad Lake being one of the wonders of Pakistan, we are pleased to bring our five-star brand, Pearl-Continental here for welcoming guests to an extraordinary lodging experience with the unparalleled service which is our trademark.”

Chief Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan, Mr. Khalid Khurshid said: “Following the Prime Minister’s Tourism vision, we can retire Pakistan’s debt through the revamping of infrastructure and building facilities for tourists across the country. Investors are encouraged to come and we will facilitate them. The government of GB is also focusing on the development of new cities while ensuring preservation of the environment.”

Hashoo Group is the leading chain of hotels, which owns and operates the five-star Pearl-Continental Hotels & Resorts, Marriott Hotels, PC Legacy Hotels, and the select-service Hotel One brand in Pakistan.

Director of Road & Story, Mr. Yasar Rashid said: “Our mission is to develop quality hotels and resorts while protecting the natural environment, uplifting local communities and helping to transfer latest construction technologies in the area.” He further added: “Besides developing quality resorts, Road & Story is also in the process of developing Pakistan’s 1st tourism city, amusement park, high altitude international training grounds and ski resorts in under developed northern areas.”

Road & Story is a tourism and travels firm, offering unique experiences tailored to let travel enthusiasts explore and enjoy Pakistan through its rich cultural heritage and beauty.

For their stay, guests can choose from a total of 112 standard rooms and 4 guest suites extending into a terrace and private dining facilities. They can also enjoy dining from a selection of cuisines in the all-day restaurant, mezzanine coffee, bar lounge, at the patio, on the roof, or by the poolside. 

Catering to a host of wellness and recreational facilities, the hotel will house a gym, fitness centre, spa, and swimming pool. The hotel will also host yoga retreats for yoga practitioners.

To keep up with their official assignments, business travellers can utilise the latest technology and services available at the Business Centre. From conferences to celebrations, the multiple Conference Rooms and halls can accommodate a wide range of private and corporate events.

Attabad Lake is one of the biggest tourist attractions in Gilgit-Baltistan, offering travel enthusiasts scores of exciting recreational activities such as boating, jet skiing, and fishing amongst others. 

Guests can travel to Attabad from Islamabad by first flying to Gilgit and then driving to the destination in around 2 hours, or they can fly to Skardu and drive forth in around 4 hours. Alternately, they can also enjoy a scenic road trip of about 598.7 kilometres within eight hours and 15 minutes from the capital city, with a reduced time to reach Hunza.

The lake-front hotel promises to provide a refreshing getaway for guests, families, and business professionals seeking a rejuvenating experience filled with northern charm and premium hospitality the Pearl-Continental brand is known for.

The event was also attended by high-profile dignitaries including the Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Mr. Khalid Khurshid and the Bank Alfalah CEO Mr. Atif Bajwa.

The end of the conflict in the Nagorno-Karabakh region paves the way for improvement in Turkish-Armenian relations, Russia’s foreign minister said on Friday.

Speaking at the New Knowledge Forum in Moscow, Sergey Lavrov said Ankara and Yerevan should resume efforts towards normalization after Armenia and neighboring Azerbaijan signed an agreement on Nagorno-Karabakh last year.

“The parties saw the process of resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh issue differently. But now, when the war in Nagorno-Karabakh is over, there are grounds for unblocking the political process, transport, and economic ties, it would be logical if Armenia and Turkey resumed efforts to normalize relations,” the minister said.

Russia is ready to actively support this process, he added.

On Thursday Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova also said Russia always supported the normalization of Armenian-Turkish ties and has in the past participated in mediation efforts towards this end.

She noted that Russia welcomed the signing of the Zurich Protocols in 2009, which suggested a gradual improvement in relations between Armenia and Turkey without preliminary conditions.

“Along with the normalization of Azerbaijani-Armenian relations in the context of the implementation of the statements signed by the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia on November 9, 2020, and January 11 this year, this (normalization between Armenia and Turkey) would work for peace, stability, and prosperity in the region,” she said.

Relations between the former Soviet republics of Azerbaijan and Armenia have been tense since 1991 when the Armenian military occupied Nagorno-Karabakh, also known as Upper Karabakh, a territory internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, and seven adjacent regions.

When new clashes erupted on Sept. 27, 2020, the Armenian army launched attacks on civilians and Azerbaijani forces and violated several humanitarian cease-fire agreements.

During the 44-day conflict, Azerbaijan liberated several cities and nearly 300 settlements and villages from the nearly three-decade occupation.

On Nov. 10, 2020, the two countries signed a Russian-brokered agreement to end the fighting and work toward a comprehensive resolution.

On Jan. 11, the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia signed a pact to develop economic ties and infrastructure to benefit the entire region. It included the establishment of a trilateral working group on the Karabakh issue.

The cease-fire is seen as a victory for Azerbaijan and a defeat for Armenia, whose armed forces withdrew in line with the agreement.

Prior to this victory, about 20% of Azerbaijan’s territory had been under illegal occupation for nearly 30 years.

KABUL, SEP 03 (DNA) – The Taliban says China will maintain diplomatic relations with Afghanistan and the new rulers in Kabul will rely on Beijing for economic support after the withdrawal of U.S.-led international forces.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told the Italian newspaper La Repubblica that China was the group’s “main partner” to halt an economic collapse and rebuild the country.

The Taliban has pledged to be more moderate since they toppled Afghanistan’s Western-backed government on August 15, promising to protect some human rights and refrain from reprisals against old enemies., Radio Free Europe reported

The United States and its allies have closed their diplomatic missions and conditioned any recognition of a Taliban government – as well as economic aid that propped up the previous government – on the group’s actions.

In particular, Western powers are calling on the Taliban to allow people to leave the country, enable access of humanitarian aid, make a complete break with international terrorist organizations, and respect human rights, especially for women.

Without aid, humanitarian organizations have warned of catastrophe as severe drought and war have forced tens of thousands of families to flee their homes. The U.S. government has also frozen Afghanistan’s Central Bank reserves, helping to fuel a banking and payments crisis.

China, however, is unlikely to make aid and political ties contingent on human rights issues, preferring instead hard economic, political, and security interests. “China is our main partner and represents a fundamental and extraordinary opportunity for us because it is ready to invest and rebuild our country,” Mujahid told La Repubblica.

Mujahid said the Taliban are interested in the Belt and Road Initiative, China’s global infrastructure and resource development plan designed to tighten economic and political ties across dozens of countries.

“We own rich copper mines, which, thanks to the Chinese, will be modernized. Finally, China represents our ticket to the markets around the world,” Mujahid. Another Taliban spokesman said on September 2 that China has promised to keep its embassy in Afghanistan open and “beef up” relations as well as increase humanitarian aid.

Abdul Salam Hanafi, a member of the Islamist group’s political office in Doha, Qatar, “held a phone conversation with Wu Jianghao, Deputy Foreign Minister of the People’s Republic of China,” spokesman Suhail Shaheen tweeted.

“The Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister said that they would maintain their embassy in Kabul, adding our relations would beef up as compared to the past… China will also continue and increase its humanitarian assistance especially for treatment of COVID-19,” he wrote.

Close ties between China and the Taliban could undermine the Western strategy of using economic leverage to pressure the new rulers in Kabul. Russia, as well, has maintained its diplomatic mission in Kabul.

Relations with Russia are “mainly political and economic. Russia continues to mediate for us and with us to create the conditions for international peace,” Mujahid said. In a report, Fitch Solutions said on September 2 that it expects Afghanistan’s economy to collapse as international money that funded the previous government dries up.

“The highly disruptive manner in which the U.S.’s security forces left the country and the Taliban takeover will mean that the economic pains for the country will be felt acutely over the short term,” said the research arm of credit ratings agency Fitch Group.

It expects the country’s real gross domestic product (GDP) to shrink by 9.7 percent this year, with a further drop of 5.2 percent next year. Foreign investment would be needed to support a more optimistic case, Fitch said.

“An alternative and more positive economic scenario would entail Afghanistan’s growth averaging around 2.2 percent in 2023-2030, which assumes that some major economies, namely China and potentially Russia, would accept the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan and begin major investment projects,” it said. = DNA

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ISLAMABAD, SEPT 3 /DNA/ – British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab called on Prime Minister Imran Khan. during the meeting ​views were exchanged on the latest developments in Afghanistan as well as bilateral matters and regional and international issues.   ​Recalling his telephonic conversation with Prime Minister Boris Johnson, the Prime Minister shared Pakistan’s perspective on the evolving situation in Afghanistan. 

  ​The Prime Minister underlined the importance of a peaceful, secure and stable Afghanistan for Pakistan and regional stability.   The Prime Minister noted that it was critical to stabilize the security situation in Afghanistan, take steps to consolidate peace, and preclude any mass exodus. In this context, preventing humanitarian crisis and stabilizing the economy were the urgent needs. 

The Prime Minister stressed that the international community should stand in solidarity with the Afghan people, undertake positive engagement, and create incentives for ensuring a peaceful, stable and inclusive polity. The Prime Minister also cautioned against the role of “spoilers”, both inside and outside Afghanistan, which could destabilize the situation. 

The Prime Minister further sensitized the UK side on the gross human rights violations in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), including the inhuman snatching away of the mortal remains of Ali Shah Geelani, the senior Kashmiri leader. ​On the bilateral plane, the Prime Minister inter alia noted the long-standing relationship and strong people-to-people ties between the two countries.   ​The Prime Minister shared concerns on the retention of Pakistan on the Red List, causing inconvenience to dual nationals.   ​Matters relating to climate change, peace and stability in South Asia, and global geopolitical situation were also discussed.

Until his last breath, he refused to compromise on the 72-year-old UN-sanctioned plebiscite, which was never held in Kashmir. And for that, he spent the last decade under house arrest.

A few years ago, a video went viral in Kashmir in which an old man is seen banging a steel gate with both fists. Through a small, rectangular opening in the gate, he is heard telling a policeman on the other side, in chaste Urdu, ‘open the gate, your democracy is dead, its funeral is underway’.

The old man was Syed Ali Geelani, the most defiant face of the Kashmiri resistance to the Indian rule, who passed away on Wednesday night at his residence in Srinagar, the capital of Indian administered Jammu and Kashmir. He was 91.

For the better part of the past decade, he was never allowed to step out of the gate, not even for specialised treatment in hospitals outside Kashmir, nor for the brief winter stay he would make in the warmer Indian capital for health reasons. He wasn’t allowed to address the media.

Only his family members and a few associates were let inside the residence by a posse of policemen and paramilitary soldiers who stood outside the gate around the clock in a vehicle, or vehicles, depending upon the political atmosphere.

After August 2019, when the Hindu nationalist Indian government scrapped the disputed region’s autonomy, Geelani had virtually become a Twitter account that was operated by a nominated leader who lives in Pakistan. 

The account was named Syed Ali Geelani (Official). The last tweet was the announcement of his death and his will to be buried in the Martyrs Graveyard.

Another tweet said the “shameless” local government and police were trying to pressurise the family into burying the leader in the dead of the night at some obscure place. 

Hundreds of policemen and paramilitary soldiers were deployed in the area to prevent demonstrations. The police chief of Kashmir announced restrictions would be imposed and the internet would be suspended.

A few days ago, a military drill in northern Kashmir that people said appeared like a routine search operation Indian forces carried out in the region, triggered speculations that the authorities were readying themselves for the aftermath of Geelani’s death.

Why did Geelani scare the Indian state, both in life and death? The answer probably lies in a slogan with which people would greet his presence in both small and mammoth anti-India demonstrations: na jhukney wala, the one who doesn’t bend.

Implicit in the slogan was the indictment that there were many who had succumbed to the machinations of the Indian state in the past and there were others to follow suit.

After all, the once hugely popular Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah, had his grave guarded by policemen lest Kashmiris would defile it for his capitulation before the Indian government. 

Whenever Geelani appealed to the people to boycott elections for the local assembly of Indian parliament, reasoning that India showcased them abroad as an acknowledgment of its rule over Kashmir, his critics reminded him of the several elections he had fought under the rubric of the Indian Constitution.

His answer, which had a poetic flourish, was: azmaye huwe ko kya azmana, nothing will come out of trusting the one who has betrayed you. 

After all, he had been a lawmaker thrice. His stint in the Indian electoral system had witnessed the gradual disempowerment of a semi-sovereign Jammu and Kashmir, with its own constitution, prime minister and a flag, into a political backwater that India would hold onto with military might, constitutional frauds, installation of puppet regimes and subversion of any fledgling democratic system.

Born into a poor rural family in Sopore, a place famous for apples, Geelani rose in the ranks to become one of the most outspoken members of Jamaat-e-Islami, the largest religio-political organisation in Kashmir. 

The largest Kashmiri militant organisation, Hizbul Mujahideen, was widely seen as an armed extension of Jamaat, which was banned by the Indian state last year.

When relentless persecution of its members forced the Jamaat to distance itself from the armed insurgency, Geelani formed his own party, Tehreek-e-Hurriyat. He was also the chief of a faction of an alliance of pro-freedom parties, Hurriyat Conference, until last year when he stepped down citing differences with the constituents.  

Right from the eruption of the anti-India insurgency in 1990, Geelani was branded as a ‘hardliner’ for his refusal to engage with the Indian government. 

It was not an outright refusal. For him, no engagement was meaningful until the Indian state recognised Kashmir as a disputed region in the spirit of a raft of UN Security Council Resolutions. 

The insistence on this point annoyed even his associates in the pro-freedom alliance. He had warned about India’s designs to reduce Kashmir’s Muslim-majority into a powerless minority. 

His most often prescribed method of resistance, the strike, would sometimes evoke public ridicule but he would counter his critics by asking them to suggest alternatives.

Jamaat, a proponent of political Islam, had shaped his political outlook. But he aligned with those whose idea of a free Kashmir was completely different from that of his ideological forebears. When an academic recommended to him to separate the accounts of his political and private lives in his multi-volume biography, he wrote:

“When you separate the soul from the body, the burden of the body cannot be tolerated for long. My entire life has revolved around the orbit of Islam and freedom. These two are therefore central to my autobiography too.”  He denounced Daesh (Islamic State) as inimical to Kashmiri struggle for right to self-determination.

He remained a votary of Pakistan but, surprisingly, was the only top leader to oppose former Pakistan President Parvez Musharraf’s now famous four-point formula for resolution of Kashmir. 

And for all his ‘rigidity’ and religious moorings, the majority of his press releases were addressed to the United Nations.