The Centre for Aerospace and Security Studies (CASS) hosted a webinar titled “China-India Standoff: Implications for Regional Security” to discuss the rapidly evolving situation on China-India border and risks of further escalation. The session was chaired by Air Chief Marshal Kaleem Saadat (Retd), President CASS.  

Mr Shashank Joshi, the defence editor at the Economist magazine, Professor Shen Dingli, Fudan University, Lt General Naeem Khalid Lodhi (Retd), former Defense Secretary and Amb Jalil Abbas Jillani, Director CASS were the four speakers.

President CASS initiated the discussion with his opening remarks and provided an overview of the current situation on the China-India border and shared his concern over the potential further escalation. Mr Shahsank Joshi shared his views on the recent crisis and stated that neither China nor India anticipated the current level of escalation and it resulted due to extremely worrying deterioration of protocols on both sides. He termed it a watershed moment in the history of the two countries. Professor Shen Ding Li expressed his views on the Chinese position and stressed that China was not looking for war and would not want to escalate further. He added that China would not compromise and agree to the Indian perception of Line of Actual Control as well. He also emphasized the importance of strong Pak-China relations. Lt. General Lodhi (Retd) shared his insights on the military and operational significance of the crisis and stressed that the skirmish may seem tactical, but it may have strategic consequences. He explained the potential risks for Pakistan as well. Ambassador Jillani traced the history of the China-India relationship and shared its linkage with the current crisis.

In his concluding remarks, President CASS made a comparison of the Indian response to China and Pakistan during Balakot crisis. He shared the concern that India may direct its misplaced anger towards Pakistan; nonetheless, it will not solve India’s China problem. He added that in an attempt to isolate Pakistan, India had isolated itself in this crisis.

ISLAMABAD: (DNA) UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency said on Friday that the year 2019 saw a sharp increase in global displacement, affecting more than 1 per cent of humanity. Every year, UNHCR releases the Global Trends report around World Refugee Day, which is marked on 20 June as a tribute to the courage and resilience of the millions of people uprooted as a result of ongoing conflicts, war and natural disasters globally.

According to this report, some 79.5 million were displaced by the end of last year. Of them, 45.7 million people fled to other areas of their own country, while 29.6 million were refugees and others forcibly displaced outside their country. Some 4.2 million are also awaiting the outcome of asylum requests. Eleven million people were newly displaced, fleeing wars, violence or persecution.

In Islamabad, UNHCR and the Office of the Chief Commissioner for Afghan Refugees, Ministry of States and Frontier Regions (SAFRON), organized a virtual event to express solidarity with those forced to flee their home and the communities that so generously host them.

The event was attended by the UNHCR Representative in Pakistan, Noriko Yoshida, the Chief Commissioner for Afghan Refugees, Saleem Khan, other government officials, representatives from diplomatic missions, UN agencies, partners, civil society and refugees.

Speaking at the occasion, Yoshida said that these mounting figures are increasingly worrying. “Behind every statistics are people and their personal journeys. Now, 1 in every 97 people in this world are displaced, representing more than 1 per cent of humanity,” she added. Yoshida also said that forced displacement has doubled since 2010, as the figures stood at 41 million one decade ago.

“Another fact is that 85 per cent of refugees are in developing countries, despite their own challenges,” she added. She lauded the people and Government of Pakistan for hosting refugees for over four decades. “Pakistan’s hospitality and generosity are exemplary,” she said.  She indicated that UNHCR is advocating for greater support for refugee-hosting countries.

The launch of the Support Platform for the Solutions Strategy for Afghan Refugees (SSAR) is one such example where UNHCR is helping to mobilize the international community to channel investments in Afghanistan and support for refugee-hosting countries like Pakistan and Iran.

Azerbaijan has extended until August 1 the special quarantine regime in the country, the coronavirus task force under the Cabinet of Ministers said in a briefing on June 18.

The task force also announced the decision to impose a strict quarantine regime from 00:00 on June 21 to 06:00 on July 5 in the territories of Baku, Ganja, Sumgayit, Lankaran, Yevlakh, Masalli, Jalilabad and Absheron region.

Under the new lockdown rule, system of obtaining SMS-permissions for leaving the place of residence will be re-activated.

Operation of shopping centers, catering facilities, beauty salons, as well as museums, exhibition halls, sport and beaches was also suspended until July 5.

Thus, restaurants and cafes will be closed during the period of strict quarantine regime and will only work in the delivery mode.

Unlike the previous quarantine regime, this time persons over 65 years are not prohibited from leaving the place of residence, although they are strongly advised not to leave home without need.

The work of public transport will not be restricted; parks, boulevards and recreation centers will remain open.

Furthermore it was stated it was stated during the briefing that state borders will remain closed until August 1, although measures on the repatriate Azerbaijani citizens to the country will continue.

In the meantime, chairman of the Association for Management of Medical Territorial Subdivisions (TABIB) Ramin Bayramli stated that preparations for treatment of coronavirus infected people at home are currently underway. For this purpose mobile surveillance methods will be introduced to E-tabib, which will monitor the conditions of patients.

“Patients will be instructed not to leave home until they are cured. Questions will be sent to the district doctor every 12 hours by mobile phone. On this basis, decisions will be made whether to continue treatment at home or to hospitalize the patient. For now, patients continue to be hospitalised,” Ramin Bayramli said.

It should be noted that currently about 25 laboratories are doing coronavirus tests, and the cost of the test is about AZN 40.

Azerbaijan registered its first coronavirus case in February and imposed a nationwide lockdown on March 24. The fourth stage of quarantine regime easing came into force on May 31.

The country imposed two-day special quarantine regimes on June 6-7 and June 14-16 to curb the spread of COVID-19. The Azerbaijani Management Union of Medical Territorial Units (TABIB) warned on June 12 that the country may transition from weekend lockdowns to long- term tightened quarantine regime if there is further surge in infection cases.

As of June 19, the country has registered 11,329 COVID-19 cases and 139 coronavirus-related cases.

ISLAMABAD, JUNE 19 (DNA) – On the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict, we draw the world’s attention to the plight of Kashmiri women in Indian Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IOJ&K),who have been frequent targets of sexual violence by Indian occupation forces.

In the past three decades, more than 11,000 women have been victims of rape or gang-rape at the hands of Indian occupation forces in occupied Jammu & Kashmir. We reaffirm our complete solidarity with these Kashmiri women and their families.

Women in IOJ&K have frequently been targets of violence and aggression as a means to punishing their families and communities for standing up against illegal and forcible Indian occupation. Abduction and molestation of young women during so-called “cordon-and-search operations”has been used as a punitive tool by Indian occupation forces to punish entire communities.

These repugnant acts of violence against women are enabled through a pervasive culture of impunity, reinforced by draconian laws such as Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) that shield the Indian security forces from prosecution from their crimes of sexual violence.

India’s resort to sexual violence in the conflict situation of IOJ&K has been documented by the two reports of the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) as well as global media and civil society organizations.

The horrific mass rape of Kashmiri women in Kunan Poshpura villages of IOJ&K on 23 February 1991 is one of many evidences of systematic use of rape by Indian occupation forces to terrorize the entire population.

Lack of accountability of perpetrators and absence of justice for victims of rape of this and other incidents in the occupied region continue to define India’s deliberate disregard of rule of law and human rights.

Pakistan condemns India’s use of rape as an instrument of state policy to subjugate the Kashmiri people in the occupied territory. The world must wake up to these war tactics in IOJ&K, in violation of International Humanitarian and Human Rights Law as well as applicable UN Security Council Resolutions.

The UN Security Council, OHCHR, the UN human rights mechanisms, the UN Secretary General’s Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict must take cognizance of these crimes and hold Indian state actors to account who abet and partake in acts of sexual violence against women in IOJ&K.

ISLAMABAD, JUNE 19 (DNA)  – The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has joined hands with United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and UN Women to launch a series of webinars on Gender and Shadow Pandemic as part of a joint Virtual Advocacy Campaign (VAC) on COVID-19 mitigation measures.

The first webinar of the series was curated on 18 June 2020 with support from the stakeholders of the Criminal Justice Institutions through a virtual exchange on “Reporting and Underreporting of Sexual and Gender Based Violence: Gender Responsive Policing” in collaboration with the provincial Police Departments.

Inaugurating the webinar, Jeremy Milsom, Country Representative, UNODC Pakistan emphasized on the ominous nature of the ‘shadow pandemic’ that intensifies gender-based violence and said “UNODC is committed to support, strengthen and implement gender responsive policing reforms to address the magnified nature of Gender Based Violence in Pakistan.” Ms. Lina Mousa, Country Representative, UNFPA Pakistan remarked “Pre-existing vulnerabilities that subject women and girls to Sexual and Gender-Based Violence are further exacerbated during a pandemic. In this regard, UNFPA has been actively supporting the government departments and the NDMA, with a specific focus on vulnerable segments of the society such as women, children and people living with disabilities.” Aisha Mukhtar, Country Representative a.i., UN Women Pakistan highlighted, “Vulnerable populations experience the COVID-19 outbreak differently, which is likely to reinforce their marginalized position in society. Their experience of discrimination, violence and stigma further limits their access to essential support and services and increases their risk of experiencing violence. Our collective efforts will ensure that no-one is left behind in the response to COVID-19.”

The webinar brought together a diverse mix of eminent speakers and stakeholders, including legal policy, human rights, gender and empowerment experts. Barrister Benazir Jatoi and Gender Expert Nazish Brohi highlighted the trends in the reporting of GBV crimes influenced by the societal power structures, traditional mindsets and challenges of pre-trial reporting on violence against women to seek justice from the criminal justice institutions.

Senior leadership from provincial police departments included Abdul Khalique Shaikh, Additional Inspector General of Police, Sindh; Muhammad Ali Babakhel, Deputy Inspector General of Police; Tariq Abbas Qureshi, Deputy Inspector General of Police, Punjab; Dr. Farhan Zahid, Deputy Inspector General of Police, Balochistan. Taking stock of the issues surrounding gender responsive policing, it was mutually agreed by all among other recommendations that partnerships with civil society, evidence-based initiatives informed by the relevant data, institutional reforms, awareness raising and sensitization, targeting the public, particularly women educating them on their rights as well as capacity building of the police as front-line responders, including induction of women police at all levels will act as a force multiplier to tackle the unprecedented nature of the pandemic. Ms. Jouhaida Hanano, Criminal Justice Advisor extended a note of thanks to all on the successful conclusion of the webinar, reinforcing the commitment of UNODC and its partner agencies, UNFPA and UN Women towards supporting stakeholders to minimize the GBV risks of the shadow pandemic.