ISLAMABAD, JUNE 8 / DNA  / = Prominent activist of Tehreek-e-Pakistan and gold medalist of Tehreek-e-Karkunaan-e-Pakistan, Haji Ghulam Nabi Bakhtawari passed away in Islamabad today on 8 June, 2020.

He was 96 years old. He was the father of Former President of Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry Zafar Bakhtawari, Zahid Bakhtawari & Abid Bakhtawari.

He was the grandfather of Ahsan Bakhtawari, Waqar Bakhtawari, Uzair Bakhtawari, Bilal Bakhtawari, Haris Bakhtawari and Salman Bakhtawari. He was laid to rest at H-8 graveyard  in Islamabad. DNA

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ISLAMABAD, JUNE 8  / DNA / = Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi held a telephone conversation with the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Ireland, Mr. Simon Coveney,on a range of issues including the Covid-19 pandemic situation, cooperation at the multilateral fora, and the prospects for enhanced bilateral cooperation.

Underscoring that the pandemic was the gravest challenge to confront humanity in a century, the Foreign Minister offered condolences over loss of precious lives, and commended the effective measures being taken by Ireland to contain the outbreak. He briefed his Irish counterpart about the latest situation of the pandemic in Pakistan and steps taken by the Government of Pakistan to contain its spread. The two Foreign Ministers agreed that working together is the best way forward to fight the pandemic.

While elaborating upon Prime Minister Imran Khan’s call for “Global Initiative on Debt Relief” for developing countries, Foreign Minister Qureshi underlined the need for closer cooperation to mitigate the impact of the economic slowdown and devote more resources to manage the on-going crisis. He underscored that a global approach was required to address the global challenge. The Irish Foreign Minister expressed support for the Debt Relief initiative and assured to play a positive role.

The Foreign Minister expressed deep concerns over continuing double lockdown and intensified military crackdown by Indian Occupation Forces in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOJ&K). He denounced India’s moves to alter the demographic structure of the occupied territory, calling it a clear violation of relevant UN Security Council Resolutions and international law. Foreign Minister Qureshi underlined that the Indian government’s policies were posing a serious threat to regional peace and security. The Foreign Minister also highlighted the rise of Islamophobia in India and expressed concerns over demonization of  Indian Muslims in the context of Covid-19.

The two Foreign Ministers agreed to remain engaged.

Sajjad Shaukat

In the agreement signed between the US and Taliban on February 29, this year, in Doha-the capital of Qatar, it is committed that within the first 135 days of the deal, the US will reduce its forces in Afghanistan to 8,600 from the current 13,000, working with its other NATO allies to proportionally reduce the number of coalition forces over that period—the Pentagon was to bring troop levels down from about 12,000 to 8,600 by mid-July, before withdrawing all forces by May 2021. Other NATO countries will also leave Afghanistan. As desired by the US-led NATO states, the Taliban would not allow Al-Qaeda or any other extremist group to operate in the areas they control and Afghan soil will not be used to conduct attacks in Afghanistan and on Western forces.

Now, the US is considering withdrawal of its troops from Afghanistan head of schedule.

In this respect, The New York Times also wrote on May 29, 2020: “Senior military officials are set to brief President Trump on options for pulling all American troops out of Afghanistan…before the presidential election…a complete withdrawal by November reflects an understanding among military commanders…Mr. Trump’s preferred option may help bolster his campaign”.

In this regard, the prisoners’ exchange is part of the US-Taliban agreement as a confidence-building measure. Kabul freed around 2,700 the total number of prisoners, while Taliban have so far released 420 government prisoners.

In the recent past, the Taliban announced a May 24-26 cease-fire to coincide with the Eid al-Fitr Islamic holiday. It raised prospects of an extended cessation of hostilities and the long-delayed launch of direct talks between the government and the Taliban over a permanent cease-fire and a future power-sharing agreement.

Since the truce ended, the militants have observed an unofficial reduction of violence, despite staging several deadly attacks on government forces in response to the Afghan forces’ strike on the Taliban. But, they did not target NATO forces, as the Taliban leaders have repeatedly made it clear.

US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad who had played a key role in the US-Taliban deal appreciated these developments.

Earlier, the Afghan President Ashraf Ghani had rejected prisoner swap with the Taliban.

Meanwhile, the political crisis in Afghanistan worsened on March 9, 2020, as Ashraf Ghani and former Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah took separate oaths as country’s president.

In fact, President Ghani thought that if the US-led NATO forces which are well-equipped with latest arms failed in coping with the Taliban fighters, as to how Afghan forces can encounter them. Therefore, he wants that NATO forces should continued their presence in the country.

Likewise, India which does not intend to see peace in Afghanistan and is undermining regional stability by creating unrest in Afghanistan, also desires the presence of the NATO forces in that country in order to protect its billions of dollars-investment there.

However, it was due to the US pressure that President Ghani agreed to release the Taliban prisoners, while Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah resolved their differences and signed a power sharing deal on May 17, this year.

In this context, Abdullah Abdullah said on May 31, 2020, “The negotiating team [of Afghanistan] is ready to begin the talks [With Taliban] at any moment.

Despite all of this, the implementation of the US-Taliban peace agreement has been delayed. In this context, besides late release of the Taliban prisoners and the peace talks between the government and Taliban, which were scheduled to begin before March 10, 2020 has not been started.

While setting aside the completion of various phases of the US-Taliban deal, America has started withdrawing its troops from Afghanistan.

Nevertheless, the US-led NATO’s withdrawal from Afghanistan will have drastic implications inside that war-torn country by creating further unrest which will affect the entire the region, especially Pakistan.

After the departure of the US and other NATO forces from Afghanistan, international donors who are fighting the COVID-19 endemic will be unlikely to step in to replace US spending. Reduction in funding will impact on the government and its combat capabilities. Governance structures in Afghanistan consist of overlapping layers of formal, centralized de jure authorities; regional power brokers with mixed official and informal authority at the local level. So, like the past, a civil war will start in Afghanistan among various local warlords who control their own Militias. It is likely to weaken the center, resulting into the rule of Taliban who already control almost 70 percent areas of the country, will defeat the Northern Alliance and afterwards, will occupy the non-Pashtun areas dominated by other warlords.

Because of this future scenario, Indian and Afghan rulers who are feeling the pinch of the US-Taliban peace agreement are trying to sabotage it for their collective interests.

Notably, Pakistan’s Armed Forces and particularly Army have successfully broken the backbone of the foreign-backed terrorists by the military operations Zarb-e-Azb and Radd-ul-Fasaad, while ISI has broken the network of these terrorist groups by capturing several militants and thwarting a number of terror attempts. So, peace has been restored in various regions of the country, especially in Balaochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) provinces.

Undoubtedly, after NATO’s withdrawal, Afghan regime will fall like a house of cards owing to the Taliban assault. Even, India would not be in a position to maintain its network in wake of the successful guerrilla warfare of the Taliban—rendering Indian proxy support against Pakistan ineffective.

Regarding Indian activities in Afghanistan the then NATO commander, Gen. McChrystal had pointed out: “Indian political and economic influence is increasing in Afghanistan…is likely to exacerbate regional tensions.”

So, Washington must be aware of the coming developments, which could create misunderstanding between America and the Taliban, as before the NATO’s departure, RAW and NDS can use some terror outfits like TTP and Daesh (ISIS) for targeting the military installations of the US and its allies to shift the blame game towards those Taliban whose leader has signed the peace deal. Even after the NATO’s withdrawal, when Afghanistan will further face lawlessness and civil war owing to the negative role of these secret entities, New Delhi and Kabul could also accuse Islamabad of cross-border terrorism in Afghanistan like the past approach, because the US and Pakistan have been promoting cordial relations due to President Trump’s positive approach towards the latter.

In the meantime, if any terror attack occurs in the US homeland, Indian-Afghan rulers are likely to manipulate it against Pakistan by convincing Washington that Islamabad is behind it.

And like other countries, coronavirus has also affected Afghanistan which has reported more than 14,057 cases, infected by this deadly virus and more than 265 deaths. In America, more than 1,861,200 cases have been recorded with more than 107,100 deaths. Besides the spread of COVID-19, the US is also not taking much interest in completion of the US-Taliban agreement owing to unending violent protests across the country over the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died on May 25, 2020 in the police custody in Minneapolis. During clashes, the police killed several black people.

By availing this golden opportunity, Afghan rulers may create complications which could castigate the US-Taliban deal.

We may conclude that besides the whole region, US-led NATO’s withdrawal from Afghanistan will create unrest in that country, particularly affecting Pakistan which will, again, face the drastic fallout in wake of the COVID-19 pandemic which impacted 90,000 persons with death toll of 1,800 people.

Email: [email protected]

By Lieutenant Colonel Khalid Taimur Akram (Retd), Executive Director, Center for Global & Strategic Studies (CGSS), Islamabad

As the whole world is struggling to combat one of the biggest crises of the century caused by Covid-19, the BJP government’s propensity for violence and hegemonic attitude remains intact. Pursuing coercive and expansionist policies in the region has become an established norm in India since the moment it gained independence and has compounded under the Modi administration. This is not only becoming a serious threat to India’s bordering states but to the security and stability of the entire region.

Just recently, the Modi government has triggered tensions with China in several disputed areas along the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh region and has stationed thousands of troops on the ceasefire line. BJP’s illicit actions demonstrate its ill-intentions to assert control over the disputed territory by construction of roads and airstrips through the valley, thereby drawing Beijing’s ire. As a necessary response, Chinese troops appear to be heading towards a face-off and India’s aggressive military activities near the border are mounting insecurities and concerns between the world actors since both China and India are nuclear-armed states.

Since last month, India has been violating the boundary line in the valley and building defense fortifications to disrupt Chinese border defense troops’ regular patrol activities. This shows nothing but an intentionally evoked conflict and a blatant attempt by the Indian government to create chaos in the disputed territory. These actions by the Indian military have not only breached the border agreements between the two countries but have violated China’s territorial sovereignty as well.

Modi’s Hegemonic Aspirations and Competition Over Great Power Status

India and China have experienced border frictions in the past like the Doklam standoff in 2017, but this time the military build-up is the largest and Chinese response is believed to be the strongest military response to India’s illegal intruding incident along the Actual Line of Control. This indicates the strong determination and preparedness of China to defend its sovereignty against any hindering element. The balance of power between China and India is incomparable and India’s relative strength to China is extremely shallow.

Modi’s political ideology is based on the persuasion of hard power to advocate ‘Hindutva’, marginalize minorities and his hegemonic aspirations to gain regional economic and geopolitical influence. China’s dominance in the region and the path to rising global power is seen as a potential threat by Modi. However, India by no means can compete with the unparalleled economic and military might of China, and thus any entanglement with China would cost India more than it can ever imagine. China has all the military, technological, and strategic superiority over India to retort forcefully and firmly.

Modi’s Misadventure; A Distraction from Domestic Setbacks

We have observed time and again that whenever the BJP government is undergoing a political crisis and being pressured by the public for its malicious decisions and major policy failures, it conducts such misadventures to distract the attention of the people as well as the international community. The same has happened in the current border incident with China. India being an extremely populous country has adopted no appropriate measures to contain the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic in the country. Moreover, India’s economy is weakening and the Modi administration has failed to address these major issues.

According to international reports, the Indian economy will undergo a major recession shortly. Other issues including the discrimination against minorities, mass violence in Indian Occupied Kashmir, unemployment, and various domestic challenges have raised a question on the effectiveness of Modi government. Thus, a border issue with China would serve as a key element to divert the public and international attention by hyping nationalism against China, which Modi has continued to do against Kashmiri Muslims for a long time. However, Modi has misperceived the fact that facing countless internal and external challenges during the coronavirus pandemic, India can ill-afford any risky adventurism.

The Iron Brothers –Pakistan & China Raise BJP’s Concerns

In addition to the territorial disputes, one of the core issues in the Sino-Indian rivalry include the burgeoning China-Pakistan relations. Sino-Pakistan relations have gained momentum over the years. India feels that the mega project, Pakistan China Economic Corridor (CPEC) is detrimental to her overall hegemonic designs for gaining regional supremacy. Moreover, China’s support for Pakistan has also become more overt on the occupied Kashmir issue. China vigorously supported Pakistan against India’s abrogation of article 370 at the United Nations Security Council.  Modi fears this strengthening relationship and wishes to prove that India aloe is a dominant player in the region.

China is well aware of Modi’s expansionist mindset as what happened in Kashmir when its special status was revoked on August 5, 2019. BJP government has repeatedly, illegally demanded the return of Azad Kashmir, Gilgit, and Baltistan, and openly stated on many occasions that the people of Baluchistan province will be given independence from Pakistan by Narendra Modi. China is a rising power and has a pragmatic foreign policy. The Indian annexation of Ladakh is a blow to China’s sovereignty and would be responded seriously.

Pakistan has supported Beijing on the issue and expressed concerns over the illegal construction in the disputed territory of Ladakh as it would disrupt regional peace. Modi has continued to suppress the Kashmiris right to self-determination, has been a spoiler in the Afghan peace process, and trying to create chaos and unrest in Pakistan by promoting ethnic violence in Balochistan.

India’s Continual History of Military Adventurism

Neville Maxwell, a British journalist and scholar, who authored the famous book ‘India’s China War’ has conducted a detailed analysis of the 1962 Sino-Indian War. He has explained and claimed that India provoked China into the war. Many other international experts have also proved how India pursued a flawed strategy of provoking China in the 1962 war. Similarly, revocation of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir was a clear indication of provoking Pakistan for confrontation.

The BJP government has failed to realize that China is a potent regional power and not far from reaching the status of global power. Chinese leadership under President Xi Jinping has a great vision of creating a multipolar world, creating the conditions of mutual development of nations. These territorial skirmishes and irrational border claims to provoke China would not harm Chinese sovereignty and power dynamics.  To malign and prompt Pakistan, India has tried to conduct numerous false flag operations, violations of international law especially in Kashmir, breaching the line of control, etc. but has not been able to succeed in these evil intentions.

Trump’s Mediation Offer

US President Donald Trump waded into the Sino-Indian standoff, affirming that he is willing and able to mediate or arbitrate the border dispute. This mediation offer had come at the time when China ordered massive military deployment in the disputed territory and brace themselves for worst-case scenarios, scaling up the training and battle preparedness to promptly and effectively deal with all possible complex situations. China demonstrated that it is all set to resolutely safeguard the national sovereignty, security, and development interests of the country.

Rising China is a big challenge for the United States and the latter supports India to maintain a foothold in the region to contain China’s influence and dominance. Thus, Trump fears any serious situation that enables China to portray its power capabilities and establish influence over the region, and so he immediately offered to mediate and resolve the dispute. Moreover, under the prevailing pandemic crisis, Washington and Beijing are engaged in a war of words over the origin of the coronavirus pandemic, where the former has continued to blame the latter. Under such circumstances, President Trump can least afford Chinese hegemony or confrontation in a region that is vital for US interests in many ways.

What Next?

History holds difficult lessons for India. India suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of China during the border conflict in 1962. China controls the Aksai Chin area and this region holds strategic importance for Beijing as it connects its Xinjiang province with western Tibet. To maintain peace, stability, and security in the region, India should be compelled to stop breaching the bilateral as well as international agreements and laws, which it has continued to violate. China and India have signed an agreement on the “Maintenance of Peace and Tranquility” along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in 1993. Modi has failed to comply with the agreement continued to give belligerent posture over the issue. There is no military or political solution for the border conflict at the time being and India does not have the military and economic might of China. Therefore it is in favor of all parties to maintain and sustain conditions for peace rather than chaos in the region.

In just under a month, Kenya will be on the ballot for one of the five vacant slots reserved for non-permanent members of the United Nations Security Council. Kenya’s bid follows a resounding endorsement by the African Union in August 2019; a reaffirmation of the trust the Union has in Kenya’s leadership to pursue the continent’s interests in the Council.

Kenya is renowned for many things: it is the archeological cradle of mankind; its galaxy of middle and long distance runners have dominated the world athletics scene for decades; and, its tourist attractions, that includes the great annual wildebeest migration, the Great Rift Valley, the Maasaii Mara, the expansive beaches and mountainous landscape, are, probably, unrivalled. In addition to these and many others is that the country stands out as a global thought leader and a champion for galvanizing regional and global consensus on matters of international concern.

Following its endorsement as African Union’s candidate, Kenya has run a campaign based on a “Ten Point Agenda”. The Agenda focuses on regional and global concerns that the country champions, namely: building bridges; peace keeping and support operations; regional peace and security; countering terrorism and prevention of extremism; women, peace and security; youth empowerment; humanitarian action; justice, human rights and democracy; environment and climate change; and, sustainable development goals.

The ‘building bridges’ agenda resonates at the domestic level in deepening our democratic credentials while securing the peace during political transitions and elections. This agenda is particularly relevant today as the world needs multilateral consensus the global COVID-19 pandemic and its adverse effects. President Uhuru Kenyatta who is the current President of the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States and a member of the Bureau of African Union Heads of State and Government has been at the forefront engaging world leaders and institutions in proffering solutions for concerted response measures. During its tenure in the UNSC, Kenya will pursue an approach that ensures the achievement of world peace, security and sustainable development.

Kenya has played a leading role in promoting inclusive and sustainable development in Africa and beyond. It co-facilitated with Ireland the post-2015 Development Agenda Process leading to adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Domestically, Kenya has made substantial progress towards the achievement of SDGs, also developed under its co-chairpersonship, recognizing that sustainable development and peace and security are mutually dependent.

In Africa, Kenya is an anchor state and guarantor of regional peace and security. Kenya made immense contributions in the process leading to the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement also known as the “Naivasha Agreement” in 2005 between the Government of the Sudan the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement. It also played a key role in the Somali peace process and continues to support South Sudan and Somalia in their peace and state building efforts.  Additionally, Kenya has taken part in peace missions across 40 countries and runs one of the largest and oldest peacekeeping training centers on the continent; the International Peace Support Training Center. Further, Kenya stands out as an excellent example for the progressive achievement of gender equality in peace keeping, having one of the highest percentage of female officers serving in peacekeeping missions. Kenya intends to vigorously pursue the promotion of the women, peace and security agenda during its tenure as non-permanent member of the UNSC.

Over the years, Kenya, which was home to the late Prof. Wangari Maathai – the first African Woman Nobel Peace Laureate- has a long and distinguished tradition in conservation and environmental protection. It is the first East African nation to establish a legal framework on climate change with laws against high carbon development and a ban on single-use plastic. Kenya will leverage on her experience and position as host country for the United Nations Environmental Programme to give a fresh momentum and support to the global environmental agenda.

On humanitarian action, Kenya has demonstrated its commitment to standing for peace by providing a haven for over 600,000 refugees fleeing conflict and instability in Somalia, South Sudan and other parts of Africa and indeed further afield. By the same token, the 2010 Kenyan Constitution is one of the most transformative and progressive documents on the African continent based on its guarantees of basic human rights and the power it gives citizens to determine how they are to be led.

One of the most significant threats to Kenya’s security has been terrorism and violent extremism. Apart from counter terrorism measures at the domestic level, Kenya has been an integral part of regional and global efforts particularly in putting in place punitive measures to dismantle terrorist networks wherever they are. Kenya will vigorously pursue this agenda in the Council with a view to creating an environment for the achievement of long-lasting and sustainable peace and development.

With this set of credentials, it is evident that Kenya has a wealth of experience that it would bring to bear as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.

Amb. Raychelle Omamo, SC,EGH

Kenya’s Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary

Indian Ministry of External Affairs’statement of 5 June 2020 is continuation of their desperate campaign to divert international attention from India’s state-terrorism in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

Ansar Bhatti

ISLAMABAD, JUNE 8 /DNA / = Pakistan has categorically rejected India’s malicious assertions based on complete distortion of facts to advance its false and self-serving narrative. Even the remarks of the Prime Minister of Pakistan have been completely twisted. This mischievous attempt is highly condemnable.

According to Foreign Office spokesperson Aisha Farooque, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs’statement of 5 June 2020 is continuation of their desperate campaign to divert international attention from India’s state-terrorism in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOJ&K) and its continuing crimes against the Kashmiri people.

Pakistan has been the principal victim of terrorism, including terrorism perpetrated against our people from across the border. Tens of thousands of our citizens have lost their lives,while thousands of our valiant law enforcement personnel have made the ultimate sacrifice in Pakistan’s resolute fight against terrorism. Pakistan’s sacrifices and contribution in combating the scourge of terrorism have been recognized by the international community.

Senior Indian officials and other Indian commentators have frequently boasted about destabilizing parts of Pakistan and of their nefarious designs to use terrorism as state policy against Pakistan.Today, the Hindutva-driven saffron terror against India’s minorities, Indian state-terrorism in IOJ&K, and India’s use of terrorism as an instrument to destabilize its neighbours stands fully exposed.

It is India that is seeking to distort and misrepresent the report of the UN Security Council’s Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team to promote its anti-Pakistan propaganda. We are sure that the world community will not be misled.

Pakistan’s role as a facilitator to the ongoing peace process in Afghanistan has been widely acknowledged by the relevant international partners.