MOSCOW, FEB 16 /DNA/ – Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed on the invitation of United Russia Party (Ruling and Largest political party in RF) paid a visit to Moscow to participate in the Constituent Meeting of the Forum of Supporters of the Struggle Against Modern Neocolonialism Practices for the Freedom of Nations.

As part of the visit program Senator MHS participated as a panelist in the Forum and held a tete-a-tete with Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of Russia/Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Global Forum Against NeoColonialism and for Freedom of Nations Mr. Dmitry Medvedev (Former President of Russian Federation).

During the visit Senator MHS also delivered a lecture at the Russian Diplomatic Academy. The topic of the talk was Pakistan and the changing regional scenario. Senator Hussain during his talk also highlighted the growing relations between Pakistan and Russia especially in the field of energy, connectivity, regional security including Afghanistan and cooperation at multilateral fora including SCO and UN. He also appreciated President Putin’s stance on Islamophobia. The lecture was followed by a question and answer session from the students of the diplomatic academy. Senator Chizhov of the Russian Federation Council also graced the occasion.

Post the lecture the Senator held a meeting with the Rector of the Diplomatic academy to exchange views on the emerging trends in global politics as well as on bilateral cooperation between Pakistan and Russia. The exchange of views proved to be constructive as both sides displayed congruence on a number of issues of mutual interest.

Overall Senator Mushahid Hussain had a very successful visit to Moscow and his engagements with the Russian leadership and intelligentsia were a great contribution towards strengthening Pakistan-Russia relations.

ISLAMABAD, FEB 16 /DNA/ – PML-N leader Malik Ahmad Khan has claimed that former army chief retired General Qamar Javed Bajwa had advised the then-opposition to withdraw the vote of no confidence (VONC) against former prime minister Imran Khan.

His statement comes a day after Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman claimed that Gen Bajwa and ex-spymaster Lt Gen Faiz Hameed, who was the then-Peshawar corps commander, had orchestrated the no-trust motion that resulted in Imran’s ouster in April 2022.

Pakistan had seen for the first time in its history the ouster of a prime minister through a VONC, the efforts for which were led by the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), an alliance of parties led by the PML-N.

For its part, the PTI accused the PDM of colluding with the US and hatching a regime change conspiracy to topple Imran’s government and blamed the military, which was led by Bajwa at the time, for letting the then-dispensation in Islamabad go ahead with the alleged conspiracy. The US has repeatedly denied any interference.

In a TV interview last night, Fazl had said: “They (Bajwa and Faiz) were in contact with all political parties regarding the no-confidence motion and they told us the way of going about it.”

When asked whether the move was the brainchild of the two generals, the JUI-F chief replied in the affirmative but added that ultimately, both the PPP and the PML-N had supported the move.

The JUI-F chief had further said: “I was not in favour of the no-confidence move. Just for my friends, I sacrificed my opinion.”

In a contrasting statement, PML-N’s Malik Ahmad today claimed that Gen Bajwa had instead advised against bringing a no-confidence motion against Imran’s government.

Addressing a press conference in Lahore, Ahmad said: “The meeting in which the heads of all political parties were present […] in that, if he (Fazl) is saying that Gen Bajwa told to bring a VONC — I am presenting the incident that unfolded before me — in fact he (Bajwa) was saying to not bring a VONC.”

“He (Bajwa) was Imran’s representative, which I also objected to and asked ‘what is the [army] chief saying’,” he added.

Ahmad specified the meeting was held on March 26, 2022 at the “B-Mess near the Punjab House”. He termed the VONC an “organic, political move resulting from Imran’s administrative destruction”.

He said that his party was of the view that if Imran was to “step down and immediately proceed towards elections”, there was no need to go through the “ordeal” of a VONC.

The PML-N leader then recalled that during the said high-level meeting, Fazl questioned this line of thought and asked: “Why are you saying this after we have organised all this.”

“The way Maulana [Fazl] resisted, I thought of him as a great man,” Ahmad said. Recalling that Gen Bajwa had “come and urged us to withdraw the VONC so they could proceed towards elections”, he wondered how it “connected” to the recent claim made by Fazl.

“Does Maulana have any one person who can come forward and tell when he met him (Bajwa)?” he asked.

The aide to ex-PM Shehbaz also highlighted that Gen Faiz was not even present during the meeting as he was “probably serving as a corps commander somewhere at that time”.

“Did he (Fazl) submit the VONC on someone’s advice? Absolutely not, as Maulana was involved in its filing, the manner of its filing and the political discussion held,” Ahmad claimed. “I wonder why he felt the need to say this today,” he added.

The PML-N leader said he thought of the meeting as Gen Bajwa “bringing his [Imran’s] message”, emphasising that Fazl “took a firm stand” at that time by asking: “Gen sahib, how can you tell us to withdraw [the VONC]?”

Ahmad further wondered why Gen Bajwa was allegedly advising the then-opposition to withdraw the no-confidence motion when, according to Fazl, he was the one who had orchestrated it. “I fail to understand.”

DNA

ISLAMABAD: The Centre for Aerospace & Security Studies (CASS), Islamabad, successfully hosted a seminar titled ‘Shifting Battlefields: Impact of Emerging Technologies on the Character of Warfare in South Asia’. This event convened distinguished experts from the defence, technology, and academic sectors to discuss the transformative role of emerging technologies in modern warfare, with a particular focus on South Asia.

Air Marshal Farooq Habib (Retd), Senior Director at CASS, opened the seminar by stressing the complexity and unpredictability of technological evolution in military contexts. He emphasised the necessity for Pakistan’s defence sector to adapt and evolve in response to these advancements to maintain strategic and tactical superiority.

Lieutenant General Aamer Riaz (Retd), former President of the National Defense University, in his Keynote Address, underscored the profound influence of technological advancements on the character of warfare. He predicted a technological upheaval, highlighting the need for strategic adaptation to innovations in space, cyber, AI, and more. General Riaz called for a revision of traditional warfare strategies to include emerging technologies that are redefining conflict dynamics.

Mr Fawad Zahir, a Defence and Strategic Studies Expert, focused on the importance of airpower, enhanced by big data analysis, quantum computing, and Machine Learning. He urged for robust civilian-military collaboration to harness technological advancements for defence purposes. Mr Zahir also strongly advocated strategic investment in technologies that align with Pakistan’s core defence needs, given the country’s budgetary constraints.

Prof. Dr Yasar Ayaz, Chairman/CPD of the National Centre of Artificial Intelligence (NCAI), highlighted AI’s potential to revolutionise warfare, marking it the third major evolution after gunpowder and nuclear power. He stressed the importance of indigenous development of AI technologies to ensure strategic autonomy and technological sovereignty, highlighting the need for a balance between innovation and regulatory oversight.

Mr Khawaja Mohammad Ali, a Cyber Security, Data Privacy, and Digital Forensics Expert, delineated the critical role of cyber operations in modern conflict, advocating for the establishment of a national cybersecurity authority; extensive training and awareness programmes; cyber diplomacy; and indigenous development in cybersecurity solutions.

Senior Journalist and Columnist, Mr Zarar Khurro, focused on the strategic importance of narrative building in the context of advanced technological warfare. He discussed the long-term process of narrative construction facilitated by technology,

pointing to the need for authenticity and the significant impact of social media on public opinion. President CASS-Islamabad, Air Marshal Farhat Hussain Khan (Retd), in his Concluding Remarks, reiterated the critical importance of first-shot capability in modern warfare, driven by advancements in sensors and detection technologies. He called for an indigenisation strategy that supports the development of homegrown technologies, ensuring that Pakistan’s defence sector remains competitive and innovative.

The seminar underscored the urgent need for Pakistan to embrace indigenisation and support homegrown technologies for enhanced national security and defence autonomy. As emerging technologies continue to reshape the landscape of modern warfare, strategic, policy-oriented approaches are essential for Pakistan to deal with the challenges and opportunities presented by this new era of conflict.

The presentations were followed by active participation from a diverse audience, including retired military officers, scholars, journalists, and students, who engaged in an interactive Question and Answer session, further enriching the discourse on this critical subject.

ISLAMABAD/DNA: Chairman of National Business Group Pakistan, President Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum, and All Karachi Industrial Alliance, and former provincial minister Mian Zahid Hussain said on Friday that the wrong decisions of economic managers have never allowed financial stability in the country.

He said that merit has always been ignored for the benefit of a small group, and the direction of the economy was deliberately kept wrong, which bankrupted the country.

Mian Zahid Hussain said that Pakistan is currently surviving because of IMF loans and support from some countries that are fed up with providing continued help.

Talking to the business community, the veteran business leader said that the new government should hand over the economy to serious people instead of illusionists to improve matters.

The business leader said that Pakistan’s economy can no longer bear the burden of power theft, line losses, and capacity charges.

The only options for running the country are immediately selling failed government agencies, expanding the tax base, and observing merit.

Mian Zahid Hussain said the economic steps taken for the short-lived benefits resulted in applause and headlines. Still, they also shake the foundations of the economy, which the masses must brave.

He said the incoming government should choose serious people to manage the economy instead of magicians seeking cheap popularity.

Failed politicians consider it necessary to cheat the masses. Sometimes, the public is told that people from the United States and other rich nations will come here for jobs, and occasionally, such benefits are doled out, which many rich countries cannot afford.

We don’t need rulers tackling circular debt and other problems through borrowing. Instead of ensuring economic development, some rulers try to increase GDP to cheat the public by increasing imports.

A former prime minister set a record of $72 billion in imports to boost GDP, shaking the country’s foundations but managing to fool the people.

He questioned how someone could reduce the dollar’s value and increase the value of the local currency without increasing exports when the economy is on the verge.

A performer recently jumped into the economic arena, damaged the economy by his policies, and ruined a deal with the IMG before leaving the country.

Mian Zahid Hussain further said that the new government should avoid such people, avoid quick actions to give an impression of development, and ensure merit in decision-making; otherwise, it will pay a cost in the shape of failure.

      ISLAMABAD, Feb 15 (DNA):The European Union and its Member States will organize the popular, family-focused festival ‘EuroVillage’ on February 17 at Jinnah Convention Center, Islamabad.

“The doors of the family event will open at 2 pm to welcome the Pakistani public to get a taste of European food, culture, music, and sustainable actions,” said a news release issued here on Thursday.

The EU and Member States are centering this year’s celebration around the theme of co-creating a sustainable future.

Titled “Stronger Together – Sustainable Forever,” the event aims to showcase the 60+ years of a strong connection between the EU and Pakistan.

This celebration underscores the collaborative partnership in development, economics, culture, research and education, and political engagement, demonstrating how the EU and Pakistan are stronger together.

EuroVillage is co-organized by the diplomatic missions of the European Union and of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, and Spain.

It will include information and activity booths for both adults and children with interactive games, selfie corners, food, and an opportunity to meet the diplomatic teams and learn about areas of our evolving partnership.

The event will feature live performances by European performers and Pakistani artists including Farhan Saeed and

Qurat-ul-ain Baloch.