Syed Sajjad Shaukat

It was due to the selfless practical unity among the Muslims under the leadership of Quaid-i-Azam Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah that Pakistan became a tangible reality on August 14, 1947. But, that unity started declining after passing through various crises, and the result was separation of East Pakistan in 1971, as India manipulated differences between East Pakistan and the West Pakistan.Although the 14^thAugust is celebrated every year as the Independence Day, but, this time, it has come at a time when Pakistan is facing multiple threats of grave nature externally and internally, which are worrying all the citizens.

More than 12 months have passed. But, Indian fanatic government of the ruling party BJP led by the extremist Prime Minister Narendra Modi continued lockdown in the Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK)—since August 5, 2019 when Indian government revoked articles 35A and 370 of the Constitution, which gave a special status to the disputed territory of the Jammu & Kashmir (J&K). Thus, New Delhi unilaterally annexed the region with the Indian Federation to turn Muslim majority into minority. Acting upon the ideology of Hindutva ((Hindu Nationalism), Indian biased rulers also issued domicile certificates to 40000 non-Kashmiris.

While, Indian fanatic rulers are also escalating tensions with Pakistan and have continued shelling inside Pakistani side of Kashmir by violating the ceasefire agreement in relation to the Line of Control (LoC).Externally, Pakistan’s forces, especially, Pak Army and Rangers have been boldly responding to India’s unprovoked firing at the LoC. Notably, the Indian Citizenship Amendment Act 2019 (CAA), passed by the Indian Parliament further exposed the discriminatory policies of the Modi regime. The CAA coupled with the National Register of Citizens (NRC) is mainly against the Muslim immigrants particularly from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. Since last year, daily mass protests continued across every state in India against the CAA and the NRC. Despite criticism of the rights groups, foreign leaders, the UNO and moderate Hindus in wake of violent protests which killed and injured hundreds of persons—mostly Muslims by the police and fanatic Hindus, Modi’s government has not withdrawn the CAA/NRC.

In this regard, a government-appointed-the Delhi Minorities Commission (DMC) said in its  recent report: “At least 53 people, mostly Muslims, were killed and more than 200 were injured in the worst communal violence in the Indian capital Delhi…against a new citizenship law [CAA] in February, this year…laying out the path to citizenship for six religious groups from neighbouring countries except Muslims…the law was discriminatory…Muslim homes, shops and vehicles…mosques were selectively targeted during the rioting…broke out across the country…with support of the administration and police, a retaliatory plan of pro-CAA protesters was worked out to trigger violence at a large scale…Some senior BJP leaders like former member of Delhi legislative assembly Kapil Mishra of fuelling the Feb 23 violence”.

Besides, despite the new agreement to resolve the issue of eastern Ladakh through dialogue, border dispute between Chinaand India, which remains unsettled, has increased tension between the two countries.In this context, Pakistan’s civil and military leadership has repeatedly stated that in order to divert attention from internal crises and border dispute with China, New Delhi can arrange another Pulwama-type false flag terror attack in the Indian Held Kashmir to justify military adventure against Pakistan. In response, Chief of the Army Staff Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa hasfrequently said that Pakistan’s Armed Forces are fully ready to meet any prospective aggression or invasion by India.

Internally, Pakistan’s Armed Forces and country’s primarily intelligence agency ISI have successfully broken the backbone of the foreign-backed terrorists. Peace has been restored in the Balochistan province and Karachi, including other vulnerable regions.  Despite it, in the recent past, terrorist attacks particularly in the provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistanwhich is central point of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) show that the CIA-led Indian RAW, Afghanistan’s intelligence agency National Directorate of Security and Israeli Mossad are destabilising Pakistan and want to damage the CPEC project which is part of China’s One Belt, One Road (OBOR) initiative or BRI, as the US and India have already opposed this project.

At this juncture, Pakistan is also facing multi-faceted crises and challenges like corruption, soaring prices, energy-shortage, unemployment, crimes, lack of health facilities, and dependence upon the US-led developed countries, IMF and World Bank for financial aid.And coronavirus pandemic has affected Pakistan in wake of country’s fragile economy. In this respect, civil and army institutes are implementing comprehensive plans for treatment of the patients and to further stop the spread of this novel virus. Moreover, Pakistan’s security forces have been facing a different war, while enemy is also different, who employ subversive activities of various kinds which include both internal and external challenges. In these terms, Pakistan is in the state of new war, being waged by the Armed Forces and intelligence agencies against terrorists.At this critical moment, this significant day emphasizes that our political leaders must pledge that they will not support their parties at the cost of the country. In order to castigate the conspiracy of the external enemies against the integrity of the country, our political leaders and human rights groups must also stop manipulating any crisis against Pak Army and ISI whose image are deliberately being tarnished by the external plotters.

As regards the Independence Day, the 23rd of March 1940 was a watershed in the history of the Sub-continent, when All India Muslim League passed the Resolution in Lahore for the creation of an independent state. Earlier, in his address to the Muslim League at Allahabad in 1930, the idea of a homeland for Muslims in their majority areas had been envisioned by the poet Allama Sir Muhammad Iqbal, and had become the aspiration of Indian Muslims.In fact, the British colonialists in connivance with majority Hindu population had manipulated and targeted Muslims through every possible way. In that background, Muslims had started struggle for a separate state.Nevertheless, prior to the Lahore session of Muslim League, Muhammad Ali Jinnah had specified to this historical congregation of the Muslims, the watch-words of ‘Faith, Unity and Discipline’ which were not only necessary for waging the battle for an independent homeland, but also for present Pakistan. The essence of these watch-words is unity which is also the real spirit of the Independence Day.

However, it is good development that despite differences, Pakistan’s ruling party PTI, opposition parties and military are on one page regarding Indian prospective aggression and military lockdown in the IOK.On this occasion, the government, the opposition leaders, civil societies and media owners, including all other segments of society must sign a charter of unity which is very necessary to pull the country out of the ongoing serious crises and to meet the Indian war-mongering designs.

(The writer is author of “Invisible Balance of Power”)

Dr. Mehmood Ul Hassan Khan

Sustainable peace in Afghanistan has regional as well as international ramifications which will definitely further enhance regional connectivity, trade activities and economy and commerce too. Regional countries especially, Uzbekistan and Pakistan have played tremendous role to bring peace in Afghanistan through negotiations, track-II diplomacy, dialogue and development.

Uzbekistan first president Islam Karimov proposed “6+3 Contact Group” to resolve the issue of Afghanistan. It was initiated during NATO/EAPC Summit in Bucharest in April 2008. Islam Karimov proposed five vital of stabilization of the situation in Afghanistan.

A trilateral summit was held in Istanbul and Turkey, Pakistan and Afghanistan actively participated in the summit. The government of Pakistan initiated the new formula i.e. six plus two formula in the summit. Pakistan, Iran, China, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, all immediate neighbours of Afghanistan had to be consulted to bring peace in Afghanistan. Russia and the US would also be part of six plus two formula. Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that Afghanistan’s six immediate neighbours, as well as China and Russia.

Right from the beginning, Uzbekistan has desired to find a “workable” formula to win hearts and souls of people of Afghanistan through “intensive” “economic cooperation” at least with the northern regions of Afghanistan, successful implementation of transport and logistics projects, and the expansion of educational programs.

Tashkent was succeeded to achieve bilateral cooperation with Kabul through the implementation of various befitting economic propositions and meaningful logistics projects to further enhance regional connectivity.

President of the Republic of Uzbekistan adapted new “holistic” approach towards resolution of Afghanistan issue and introduced new “innovative” and result oriented strategies to bring peace in Afghanistan.

Tashkent has been cooperating with international main stakeholders and offers various projects in different sectors i.e. economic, logistics, education, etc., and even considers prospects for organizing negotiations between the government of Afghanistan and the Taliban on its soil.

Tashkent has been trying to act in all directions of the foreign policy on Afghan issue by covering the maximum number of spheres i.e. in terms of bilateral relations, there has been rigorous sincere efforts of initiating ambitious and large-scale projects, reformation/redesigning of national priority towards Afghanistan, rebuilding the dialogue with the international community and systematic efforts to further enhance soft power image projection and separation of its regional Central Asian agenda from the Afghan one.

By all means Pakistan has had been important to bring peace in Afghanistan. Singing of latest peace deal between the US and Taliban at Doha “reconfirmed” positive and “participatory” role of government of Pakistan in the peace process of Afghanistan.

The government of Pakistan and armed forces are doing their levels best to support the West and especially the US to curb the terrorist incidents. The successful military operations in the tribal areas by Pakistan’s armed forces spoke louder than words and showed our commitment to fight against terrorism.

President Mirziyoyev followed a holistic approach towards Afghanistan and strongly “discarded” a “military solution”. He facilitated peace talks between all parties of the conflict, and implemented economic projects. In 2017, the position of President’s Special Representative on Afghanistan was introduced. This step aimed at promoting Afghan vector into a separate sphere of Uzbek foreign policy.

Economic cooperation with Afghanistan focused on a number of aspects: infrastructure construction, energy, and trade. Uzbekistan opened customs point in Termez to ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid, restored 11 bridges between Mazar-i-Sharif and Kabul. With the support of ADB, the Hairatan-Mazar-i-Sharif railway was constructed.

Uzbekistan also showed keen interest in the construction of the “Mazar-i-Sharif-Herat” railway in the framework of the Trans-Afghan Transport Corridor project. In addition, Uzbekistan has become a leading electricity supplier to Afghanistan. In 2009, the “Guzar-Surkhan” transmission line was initiated, which increased the supply to 300 MW. As a result, its electricity supplies reached to 1.5 billion kW / h of electricity to Afghanistan by 2016.

Uzbekistan held a conference on Afghanistan in Tashkent during March 2018 which subsequently emerged a useful platform to restart stalemate talks and prompted track-II diplomacy. It pioneered the Kabul process, the Moscow format, the SCO-Afghanistan Contact Group, etc. However, the high turnout from the international community allowed Uzbekistan to emerge from the shadow.

The activities of Uzbekistan over the past 3 years suggest that the Afghan strategy is based mainly on a combination of economic and soft power image projection. Stability in Afghanistan and at least in the northern regions is important for promoting its economic expansion.

Uzbekistan is interested in playing a greater economic role in Afghanistan. The Surkhan-Puli Khumri energy project aimed at increasing the delivery of electricity from Uzbekistan to Afghanistan, and a transportation project to extend the existing Hairatan-Mazar-i-Sharif railroad to Herat. The latter project has a long-term implication for Tashkent, because once realized the railroad will become the shortest route for the country’s goods to reach a sea port.

Uzbekistan-Pakistan bilateral relations has been further strengthened during recent times because of the better political understanding, improvement in bilateral trade, phenomenal rise to tourism and the last but not the least joint efforts to bring peace and harmony in the region.

Uzbekistan Foreign Minister H.E. Abdulaziz Kamilov visited Pakistan and met with his counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Prime Minister Imran Khan. During his stay he thoroughly discussed means and ways to non-military solution in Afghanistan, increase in trade and commerce and enhance bilateral cooperation in diversified sectors of economy.

Both foreign ministers conducted a purposeful joint press conference which showed high level of political understanding, strong commitments to achieve desired goals of socio-economic prosperity and connectivity through peace and harmony in the region, connecting through rail corridor, investments in diverse sectors of economy, tourism and other befitting propositions between the two countries. It also showed Uzbekistan sincere efforts to bring peace in Afghanistan through regional resolve, dialogue and development.

Speaking at a joint news conference Uzbek Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov and his counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi said both the countries shared views on Afghanistan. They expressed the resolve to further enhance bilateral cooperation to promote peace and stability in the region.

Qureshi said both countries shared common views on Afghanistan as they feel that there was no military solution to the Afghan problem. He added: “We are prepared to facilitate and support the dialogue process in Afghanistan.” Both Pakistan and Uzbekistan want peace in Afghanistan and were willing to support the efforts he added. Pakistan is ready to promote connectivity in the region for the benefit of our people, he said.

The Foreign Office says that the visit strengthened meaningful deliberations in all areas of bilateral cooperation including political, security & defence cooperation, peace process in Afghanistan as well as trade and investment promotion. Areas of mutual interest for future collaboration were also identified, including agriculture, tourism and cultural cooperation.

On his part, Uzbek FM Abdulaziz Kamilov said Pakistan, as a regional power, can play role in guaranteeing regional peace and stability.  The minister said: “Pakistan and Uzbekistan have common views on regional security, especially peace and stability in Afghanistan.”

Uzbek FM Kamilov acknowledged Pakistan’s vital role in the fight against terrorism and its efforts to bring peace and stability to the region. He said the two countries have a common approach to encouraging the peace process in Afghanistan, combating terrorism and facing other challenges.

Uzbekistan Foreign Minister H.E. Abdulaziz Kamilov also called on Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan at Prime Minister’s Office. Prime Minister Imran Khan expressed his strong desire to see rapid increase in economic cooperation with Uzbekistan.

Suggestions

1. Being prominent regional expert of Uzbekistan & CIS, I humbly suggest that President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev should pay official visit to Pakistan so that regional equation of power may be in favour of both the sides. Pakistan is the only easy and shortest gate-way to Central Asia and base of “CPEC and One Road One Belt” which should not be ignored.
2. There should be a closed mechanism at the highest level for political consultations on the issue and emerging trends in Afghanistan so that both countries should play positive and contributory role to bring peace.
3. Pakistan also provides immense opportunities of greater regional connectivity which government of Uzbekistan should be tapped for a win-win situation for both sides. Gwadar seaport has been activated and in this connection first cargo consignment of Afghanistan transit trade reached from Afghanistan. Uzbekistan may consider utilizing its seaport for its greater sustainable connectivity with South East Asia.
4. Uzbekistan shows great interest to build Hairatan-Mazar-i-Sharif railway and Pakistan under the framework of the CPEC has approved US$6.5 billion Railway M1 mega project. Both countries should explore befitting propositions to extend cooperation in the fields of construction and railways.
5. Energy sector would create win-win propositions for both the countries so both countries should also explored chances of joint ventures in the mix of energy power generation in the days to come.
6. Close liaison in the field of agro economy is the need of the hour. Both countries have comparative advantages in the production of cotton which must be clubbed to initiate a joint venture in textile and garments. Uzbekistan blesses with colored cotton which should be shared with Pakistan.  
7. President Mirziyoyev has initiated the “Strategy for the Further Development of Uzbekistan 2017-2021”. It is indeed a blue print of its socio-economic development in the next five years. It highlighted five principles i.e. improvement of state construction, economic liberalization, development of the social sphere and implementation of active foreign policy. Due to which now Uzbekistan is on the right path to achieve the desired goals of socio-economic prosperity, further politicization, democratization, greater attraction of FDIs, and the last but not the least people and business friendly bureaucracy in the country.
8. Government of Uzbekistan should consider joining CPEC which will bring immense socio-economic, geopolitical and geo-strategic dividends to macro-economy of it.
9. Center for Global & Strategic Studies has the capacity and expertise to create bridges of better understanding among all the main stakeholders to expedite desired socio-economic integration in the sectors of construction, energy, agricultural, industries, tourism and above all people-to-people contact. CGSS is the prime institute of policy and public diplomacy too for which both countries should take advantage. Moreover, its proven specialty in the Euro-Asian Region would be value-addition to disseminate falsified propaganda of the west and make a trustworthy and heart-to-heart connection, vital for achieving all desired goals of greater regional connectivity, greater socio-economic prosperity, tourism and above all business development.