Terroristan - May 1, 2019

[Peregrine]

Cheers

[venug]

When things are not upfront in our faces, we forget and don't think about it. But Track 2 diplomacy is going on with US help.
https://twitter.com/JinnahInstitute/sta ... 7491095553

[CalvinH]

That Ali Jahangir Sidiqqui guy was a PML supporter who was nominated by them as ambassador to the US (actually not a bad choice, as he was young and dynamic, Cornell-educated and a successful businessman). ISI/PTI guys had a corruption case going against him and had him removed. They probably blackmailed him into talking to Kushner as well.

Wasnt he retained again in a important official position. It was one of the U-turns of PTI government.

[CalvinH]

Open and blatant censorship going on in Pakiland; Najam Sethi living dangerously

I don't think so. People like Najam Sethi are useful for the establishment. They are just pawns and most of what they say is with establishment's blessings. That's my guess. Who do you think his chidiya is? Take another example - Ayesha Siddiqa. She wrote a book on GHQ's businesses called "Military, Inc". She could have only gotten info for the book from the military itself and military allows such books to establish author's credibility among Indian and western media. She regularly writes a column in 'The Print' now and in a recent article she gave out inside details of Bajwa's London visit which reads like it was ghost written by Ghafoora. In it, she says Bajwa talking to a group of people in London delivered a "good news". What's that good news? Apparently Bajwa said Pakistan has decided to get rid of militants. She is selling (to Indian and western audience) that as good news Any serious and independent analyst would laugh at such statements.

If one continues to make money through Pakistan they will have to follow some lines fixed by the establishment (cant praise India openly, cant accept terrorism, cant openly question military budget etc.). That doesnt mean they are doing it for the establishment. And therein lies the difference. Najam Sethi is close to PMLN and he often is critical of the establishment.

Your post overestimates reach of Paki establishment. Opposition exist and need careful cultivation by India.

[Bart S]

^Of course, being anti-establishment does not necessarily make them pro-India (or any less rabidly anti-India) - that is a logical mistake/confusion that many on our side make.

[Vips]

When things are not upfront in our faces, we forget and don't think about it. But Track 2 diplomacy is going on with US help.
https://twitter.com/JinnahInstitute/sta ... 7491095553

What is despicable is that the Indian side on the Track Thoo is led by congressi Manish Tewari. You never know the depths to which congressi can fall. We just had the instance of Hamid Ansari who leaked Indian intelligence info while being posted in Iran.

[SSridhar]

Can somebody (or many) list out the names of those in the photo in order? Much obliged. I can only recognize these:

Seated (from left)
4. Manish Tiwary (India)
5. Sherry Rehman (Pakistan)
6. K.C. Singh (India)

Middle Row (from Left)

8. Lt. Gen Syed Ata Hasnain (India)
10. Barkha Dutt (India)
11. Vivek Katju (India)

Third Row

3. Sidharth Varadarajan (India)
5. Rakesh Sood (India)

[SSridhar]

But Track 2 diplomacy is going on with US help.

Could be even with Chinese help . . . after all, China has in the last several months indicated its willingness to 'facilitate'. Then, there is the SCO rubric and the latest Wuhan spirit. In fact, I would discount any US help at this stage of the US-Pakistan relationship.

[la.khan]

Can somebody (or many) list out the names of those in the photo in order? Much obliged. I can only recognize these:

Seated (from left)
4. Manish Tiwary (India)
5. Sherry Rehman (Pakistan)
6. S.K. Singh (India) Former diplomat K.C. Singh (India)

Middle Row (from Left)

8. Lt. Gen Syed Ata Hasnain (India)
10. Barkha Dutt (India)
11. Vivek Katju (India)

Third Row

3. Sidharth Varadarajan (India)
5. Rakesh Sood (India)
7. Suhasini Haider (India)

Disappointed to see Vivek Katju & Lt. Gen. Hasnain (retd.) mixing up with this crowd

[partha]

^
Why? Best option is to not have track 2 at all. Next best option is to at least have people like Katju and Hasnain in the Indian delegation. Even Ajit Doval was part of Track2 once. Also, is this really Track2 or just Jinnah institute inviting some Indians for a conference and passing it off as Track2 dialogue implying implicit GoI approval?

[Kashi]

This is nothing but derailed-off-the-track gathering. I can only assume that the likes of Lt. Hasnain are there as observers to assess the damage and how deranged the other side has gotten.

Anyway, none of them have any significant measure of influence with the GoI, nor will anyone of significance have much time for anyone of them (except perhaps Lt. Hasnain).

In fact the presence of such "dignitaries" only serves to allow the GoI to stick to its stand and the aam janta to be more aware and more disdainful of these "worthies"- if the comments are anything to go by.

[chetak]

When things are not upfront in our faces, we forget and don't think about it. But Track 2 diplomacy is going on with US help.
https://twitter.com/JinnahInstitute/sta ... 7491095553

none of the guys here from India are even considered by the govt as being even remotely influential or representing them or even representing the views of the GoI in any way.

how is this track thoo at all.

just one bunch of jokers meeting another bunch of jokers and some of them are khalistanis to boot

burka butt is there because she has cadged an invitation via her shillary connections and her depraved ravings in the WAPO

even with those "connections" she wouldn't be able to rate an invitation to any of the local municipal schools in dilli for flag raising day

[chetak]

Can somebody (or many) list out the names of those in the photo in order? Much obliged. I can only recognize these:

Seated (from left)
4. Manish Tiwary (India)
5. Sherry Rehman (Pakistan)
6. S.K. Singh (India)

Middle Row (from Left)

8. Lt. Gen Syed Ata Hasnain (India)
10. Barkha Dutt (India)
11. Vivek Katju (India)

Third Row

3. Sidharth Varadarajan (India)
5. Rakesh Sood (India)

it says #EmergingLeadersForum #IndoPak.

emerging from where the gutter

such a representative ensemble of certifiable gadaaris.

[chetak]

^
Why? Best option is to not have track 2 at all. Next best option is to at least have people like Katju and Hasnain in the Indian delegation. Even Ajit Doval was part of Track2 once. Also, is this really Track2 or just Jinnah institute inviting some Indians for a conference and passing it off as Track2 dialogue implying implicit GoI approval?

most track thoo is not govt approved but lootyens liberandus being paid off in kind for services rendered

[SSridhar]

la_khan, thanks for correcting. Yes, of course, it is K.C.Singh.

[Peregrine]

Pak will not open airspace until India withdraws fighter jets from forward airbases: Official – PTI

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has told India that it will not open its airspace for commercial flights until New Delhi removes its fighter jets from forward IAF airbases, Pakistan's Aviation Secretary Shahrukh Nusrat has informed a parliamentary committee.

Pakistan fully closed its airspace on February 26 after the Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter jets struck a Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorist training camp in Balakot following the Pulwama terror attack in Kashmir. So the Terroristanis in General and the PAF in Particular are admitting Indian Success in the IAF’s Balakot Attacks!


Aviation secretary Nusrat, who is also the Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), on Thursday informed the Senate Standing Committee on Aviation that his department has intimated Indian officials that Pakistani airspace would remain unavailable for use by India until the country withdraws its fighter jets from forward positions, Dawn News reported.

"The Indian government approached asking us to open the airspace. We conveyed our concerns that first India must withdraw its fighter planes placed forward, " Nusrat told the committee.

Pakistan airspace to open only if India promises to not repeat Balakot Of course Terroristanis can Practice Kitman and Taqquia, while the Indians cannot.

He further apprised the committee that Indian officials have contacted Pakistan requesting it to lift the airspace restrictions.

"However, Indian officials have been told that Indian airbases are still laden with fighter jets and Pakistan will not allow resumption of flight operations from India until their removal,” said Nusrat.

After the restrictions, all the passenger flights are being diverted to alternative routes by India, The Express Tribune reported.

The CAA official also contested India's claim that Delhi had opened its airspace for Pakistan, the report said.

"Pakistani flights from Thailand have not been restored since the closure of the Indian airspace.Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flights for Malaysia also remain suspended, "the CAA DG informed the committee.

Last month, Pakistan gave special permission to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's VVIP flight to use its airspace for his official trip to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan.

However Prime Minister Modi's VVIP aircraft avoided flying over Pakistan. Earlier, Pakistan had allowed India's former External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to fly directly though Pakistani airspace to participate in the meeting of SCO foreign ministers in Bishkek on May 21.

India aviation industry has suffered huge losses due to the airspace ban by Pakistan. On Thursday, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri told Parliament that due to the closure of Pakistan airspace, Air India had to spend an extra Rs 430 crore on longer routes.

In Video: Pak will not open airspace until India removes its fighter jets from forward airbases

One Serious Pooch from BRF Gurus : Would it be possible for India to withdraw ALL TRAFFIC RIGHTS from and to Terroristan whether it is a Terroristani Air Craft or Foreign Flag Air Craft!

Cheers

[Peregrine]

World media boycotts session with Pak FM at media freedom moot

LONDON: International media on Thursday boycotted session with Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi at the “Defend Media Freedom” conference as was greeted by empty seats as journalists protested over ‘free speech concerns’ in Pakistan.

Qureshi, who is in the British capital on an official visit, attended the conference with journalists posting videos of a nearly deserted hall.

Qureshi was questioned about the censorship in Pakistan. “Believe you me, there is no question of gagging or controlling media,” he told the conference co-hosted by Britain and Canada. “That time has gone and with the new social media, the advent of social media, even if you want to gag you can gag nothing.”

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that Pakistan suffers from negative characterisation in western media, which is not reflective of the reality of Pakistani media. Amid rising questions about the issue of freedom of speech and recent actions takenagainst news channels by Pemra, Shah Mahmood Qureshi told the conference in London that Pakistan’s reality is overlooked by western media.

“I urge you not to be swayed by negative characterisation in international media about Pakistan, which tends to overlook Pakistan’s accomplishments in media and other areas,” said Qureshi.

He was repeatedly asked by journalists about concerns surrounding allegations by media and journalist organisation that there are increasing restrictions on media and that Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) has taken harsh actions against TV channels recently for airing speeches of Maryam Nawaz without censoring.

Qureshi said close to 89 private TV channels were operating in Pakistan. "Three of them were taken off, I´m told for 6-8 hours, and now they are functioning again," he said.

He said the channels had "issues" with the regulatory body, adding: "Those issues have been settled." He said that Pakistan is more free, diverse and vibrant today than before and better than many developing worlds, freer than many other developing countries.

Qureshi denied that media was under restrictions, adding that there are certain rules, which must be followed by all. Qureshi said he always stood by democracy and freedom and continued to support the same values. Qureshi said he held Geo anchor Hamid Mir in high regard but said his interview with Asif Ali Zardari was not aired because the former president was interviewed when he was produced in the assembly from his cell and therefore he was not entitled to give his opinion.

The foreign minister was hackled by a Canadian journalist at the end of his speech. The journalist alleged that Pakistani government got his Twitter account shut down. In the video footage, which went viral, it can be seen that the Canadian man says: “You censored me, I had a Twitter account here [in Canada].”

“You sir should be ashamed, who are you to silence me in Canada… Answer? You don’t like free speech,” the journalist at the foreign minister. FM Qureshi responded by saying: “First of all you want your sentiments to be respected but look at the tone in which you are speaking… Is that the correct way?” The minister said that he did not block his Twitter account. “You have double standards and what you are propping up a certain sections agenda. I have been respectful to you.”

Cheers

[Aditya_V]

Pak will not open airspace until India withdraws fighter jets from forward airbases: Official – PTI

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has told India that it will not open its airspace for commercial flights until New Delhi removes its fighter jets from forward IAF airbases, Pakistan's Aviation Secretary Shahrukh Nusrat has informed a parliamentary committee.

Pakistan fully closed its airspace on February 26 after the Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter jets struck a Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorist training camp in Balakot following the Pulwama terror attack in Kashmir. So the Terroristanis in General and the PAF in Particular are admitting Indian Success in the IAF’s Balakot Attacks!


Aviation secretary Nusrat, who is also the Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), on Thursday informed the Senate Standing Committee on Aviation that his department has intimated Indian officials that Pakistani airspace would remain unavailable for use by India until the country withdraws its fighter jets from forward positions, Dawn News reported.

"The Indian government approached asking us to open the airspace. We conveyed our concerns that first India must withdraw its fighter planes placed forward, " Nusrat told the committee.

Pakistan airspace to open only if India promises to not repeat Balakot Of course Terroristanis can Practice Kitman and Taqquia, while the Indians cannot.

He further apprised the committee that Indian officials have contacted Pakistan requesting it to lift the airspace restrictions.

"However, Indian officials have been told that Indian airbases are still laden with fighter jets and Pakistan will not allow resumption of flight operations from India until their removal,” said Nusrat.

After the restrictions, all the passenger flights are being diverted to alternative routes by India, The Express Tribune reported.

The CAA official also contested India's claim that Delhi had opened its airspace for Pakistan, the report said.

"Pakistani flights from Thailand have not been restored since the closure of the Indian airspace.Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flights for Malaysia also remain suspended, "the CAA DG informed the committee.

Last month, Pakistan gave special permission to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's VVIP flight to use its airspace for his official trip to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan.

However Prime Minister Modi's VVIP aircraft avoided flying over Pakistan. Earlier, Pakistan had allowed India's former External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to fly directly though Pakistani airspace to participate in the meeting of SCO foreign ministers in Bishkek on May 21.

India aviation industry has suffered huge losses due to the airspace ban by Pakistan. On Thursday, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri told Parliament that due to the closure of Pakistan airspace, Air India had to spend an extra Rs 430 crore on longer routes.

In Video: Pak will not open airspace until India removes its fighter jets from forward airbases

One Serious Pooch from BRF Gurus : Would it be possible for India to withdraw ALL TRAFFIC RIGHTS from and to Terroristan whether it is a Terroristani Air Craft or Foreign Flag Air Craft!

Cheers

Why let's mix fighters near these paths and keep Pakis on tenterhooks and if only a few trees were hit why are Pakis soo worried? Hain ji

[menon s]

https://twitter.com/WaxirKochaii/status ... 0951506944



Bannu cantonment,directive, to TTP, a list of weapons they can carry around.

[Peregrine]

PTI human rights adviser accused of sexual abuse - Hafeez Tunio

KARACHI: Voices from both political and civil society circles are demanding that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government reverse the appointment of Iftikhar Lund as the focal person for human rights in Sindh following allegations of sexual abuse against the local party leader.

In a video which went viral two months ago, a former employee of Lund accused the latter of beating him up and sexually assaulting him with a metal object in the presence of a ‘large gathering’.

As soon as the notification announcing Lund’s appointment was issued on July 10, people from all walks of life condemned the move on social media.

“Instead of giving punishment, the PTI government, which claims to make a new Pakistan, has rewarded the human rights office to a man who violates human rights. This is intolerable,” said Mustafa Nawaz Khokar, the chairman of the Senate panel on human rights. Khokhar has sought a report on the incident from Ghotki police.

Labour rights activist Shuja Qureshi, who has been pursuing the case since day one, said: “There is no sense in this decision. I wonder why the PTI gave this post to such an ugly feudal character.” According to Qureshi, Lund pressured his alleged victim into settling the matter out of court.

Lund himself has denied the allegations and claimed they are part of a smear campaign against him motivated by his stance against Pakistan Peoples Party’s support for feudalism. “A fake case was registered against me and it has been disposed of by the court. I had no part in any torture. Some other employees who worked for me carried out the assault. The issue has been resolved and I am innocent,” he told The Express Tribune.

The alleged torture took place after certain individuals lodged a complaint against the employee with Lund. “Some people told Lund that the employee, who worked as a driver for his passenger van company, had harassed some women passengers,” said Ghotki journalist Abdul Hae. “Upon hearing the complaint, Lund and some of his employees beat the driver up.”

According to Hae, however, the reports of sexual assault are exaggerated. He claimed Lund and his employees only physically assaulted the driver. Police have registered a case against Lund and his employees who carried out the assault under sections 324 and 255.

Cheers

[Peregrine]

Cheers

[Vips]

Track Thoo is Back.

India and Pakistan on Friday revived Track II diplomacy with a meet in Islamabad, the first one since the Pulwama terror attack on February 14.
The two-day talks will be attended by Pakistani foreign ministry officials along with former envoys of both countries among others, people familiar with the development said. It comes ahead of a formal dialogue between the two sides on the Kartarpur corridor on Sunday.

The second round of Track II talks — or, informal and unofficial backchannel diplomacy — will be held in Delhi.

The Track II dialogue — or, informal and unofficial backchannel diplomacy — has been organised by the Regional Peace Institute (RPI), Pakistan.
RPI chief Raoof Hasan said it is a way forward for improving relations between the two governments, which have been lukewarm after the high-tension standoff following India’s airstrike on Balakot terror camps in retaliation to Pulwama attack in late February.

Experts from the two countries discussed a number of issues including Kashmir, Siachen (WT Bloody F), Sir Creek, cross-border terrorism, and the regional situation, people familiar with the matter told ET. After the dialogue, the two sides would present their proposals to their government for consideration, the sources said.

The original Track-II initiative — the Neemrana Dialogue —was first held in 1991-1992. The two countries revived it when an Indian side
led by former foreign ministry secretary Vivek Katju visited Islamabad last year. The Pakistani side included former minister Javed Jabbar among others.

The Neemrana Dialogue included influential former diplomats, military veterans and academics, who had the unofficial backing from the
respective governments.

Earlier when asked whether the dialogue had the government’s backing, external affairs ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said there was no change in India’s “clear and consistent” policy towards Pakistan.

“There is no dilution in our position that talks and terror cannot go together,” he said.

Incidentally, the Track II dialogue is happening ahead of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s USA trip, which is expected to cover among other issues regional peace.

Meanwhile, Pakistan has turned down India’s request to open its airspace for commercial flights, saying it will not lift the restrictions until
New Delhi removes its fighter jets from forward Indian Air Force airbases.

[Peregrine]

'Pakistani mafia' uses bribes, blackmail to pressurise judiciary to protect their laundered money: PM

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday likened Pakistani money laundering suspects to the Sicilian Mafia, saying they, like their Italian counterparts, use bribes, threats and blackmail to pressurise state institutions and the judiciary to protect their billions illegally stashed abroad.

The premier's remark came in a tweet accompanied by a four-year-old news article about a testimony given by former Italian president Giorgio Napolitano during a trial regarding bombings carried out by mobsters in the 1990s.

Napolitano was reported to have told prosecutors that the attacks were a form of "extortion or outright pressure aimed at destabilising the entire system". The bombings had allegedly led to high-ranking Italian ministers negotiating with the Sicilian Mafia to end the violence in exchange for softer jail sentences and better conditions in prison for convicted mobsters, according to The Local's report.

"In a similar vein to the 'Sicilian mafia', the Pakistani mafia uses tactics of bribe, threat, blackmail and begging to pressurise state institutions and judiciary in order to protect their billions of money laundering stashed abroad," Prime Minister Imran wrote on Twitter today.

Although the premier did not name any individual or political party, his observation comes a day after accountability judge Arshad Malik claimed in an affidavit that he was offered a Rs500 million cash bribe by the son of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, Hussain Nawaz, who demanded that the judge resign on the grounds that he "could no longer deal with the guilt of having convicted" Nawaz under duress in the Al-Azizia/Hill Metal Establishment reference in December 2018.

On July 6, PML-N vice president Maryam Nawaz had opened a Pandora’s box with a startling claim that judge Malik had "confessed" that he had been “pressurised and blackmailed” to convict her father in the Al-Azizia reference. A video containing the judge’s alleged confession during his conversation with a ‘sympathiser’ of the PML-N, Nasir Butt, was screened at a presser. The next day, the judge had denied the allegation and being under any pressure, but admitted that Butt was an acquaintance.

On Saturday, Maryam was quick to hit back at the prime minister's insinuation that members of the country's opposition acted as a "mafia".

"You’re a part of the mafia that pressurises judges into targeting & punishing your political opponents. It is you who used the institutions to settle scores with your opponents & defaced & maligned them in the process. Shame on you," she wrote, addressing Imran.

In a second tweet in Urdu, she alleged that the prime minister was "part of the heinous conspiracy that was staged to punish Nawaz Sharif and keep him out of the field".

She further alleged that judge Malik had exposed the premier through his alleged confession.

"Don't hide behind your elders now," the PML-N leader told the prime minister.

Cheers

[Peregrine]

Track Thoo is Back.

Meanwhile, Pakistan has turned down India’s request to open its airspace for commercial flights, saying it will not lift the restrictions until New Delhi removes its fighter jets from forward Indian Air Force airbases.

Vips Ji :

Would it be possible for India to withdraw ALL TRAFFIC RIGHTS from and to Terroristan whether it is a Terroristani Air Craft or Foreign Flag Air Craft!

Cheers

[Lisa]

Peregrineji,

Please, not just aeroplanes but also ships.

[Vips]

Track Thoo is Back.

Meanwhile, Pakistan has turned down India’s request to open its airspace for commercial flights, saying it will not lift the restrictions until New Delhi removes its fighter jets from forward Indian Air Force airbases.

Vips Ji :

Would it be possible for India to withdraw ALL TRAFFIC RIGHTS from and to Terroristan whether it is a Terroristani Air Craft or Foreign Flag Air Craft!

Cheers

No ji please. I think we would be breaking international civil aviation rules or undertaking if we do that.Besides the countries whose airlines are affected would likely impose reciprocal restrictions on us/our airlines.

[Peregrine]

Peregrineji,

Please, not just aeroplanes but also ships.

Lisa Ji:

Many thanks about the Ships.

Cheers

[Peregrine]

Vips Ji :

Would it be possible for India to withdraw ALL TRAFFIC RIGHTS from and to Terroristan whether it is a Terroristani Air Craft or Foreign Flag Air Craft!

Cheers

No ji please. I think we would be breaking international civil aviation rules or undertaking if we do that.Besides the countries whose airlines are affected would likely impose reciprocal restrictions on us/our airlines.

Vips Ji :

1. Kindly accept my respectful form of Address.

2. Many thanks for the information. So, seemingly, India is Up the Creek - Without a Paddle!

Cheers

[Peregrine]

US general wants strong military-to-military ties with Pakistan

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump's selection to head the Joint Chiefs of Staff has said that the US needs to maintain strong military-to-military ties with Pakistan due to shared interests of the two countries.

During a nomination hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee, General Mark Milley maintained that his objective would be to preserve the defence relationship between the United States and Pakistan even as "we press Pakistan to take action on US requests."

He told the lawmakers that, "while we have suspended security assistance and paused major defence dialogues, we need to maintain strong military-to-military ties based on our shared interests."

The President's South Asia Strategy recognizes Pakistan as a key partner in achieving US interests in South Asia, including developing a political settlement in Afghanistan; defeating al-Qaeda (AQ) and ISIS-Khorasan; providing logistical access for US forces; and enhancing regional stability, he said in his written answers to the Committee adding that the US relationship with Pakistan is part of a broader South Asia strategy with the State Department in lead and Department of Defence in support.

Pakistan has made positive contributions in support of Afghan Reconciliation; General Milley said adding "However, since the suspension of security assistance, Pakistan has also expanded its outreach to other countries, including Russia and China, to meet its security and economic assistance needs." What a load of Cobblers. Terroristan has been TOTALLY ANTI-USA, A Double Agent for China and even Housed Ossie Bin Laden!

The statement comes ahead of Prime Minister Imran Khan's meeting with President Donald Trump later this month. Imran Khan will be in the US for three days along with his cabinet members as well as top military leadership.

Cheers

[Peregrine]

Cheers

[Peregrine]

Kartarpurtalks: No anti-India acts to be allowed, Pakistan assures – PTI

ATTARI/WAGAH: India on Sunday conveyed its concerns to Pakistan on possible flooding of areas adjoining the Kartarpur Sahib gurdwara due to the construction of a causeway by the neighbouring nation and urged it to make a bridge like India is doing.

At a bilateral meeting held here, New Delhi also urged Islamabad to take into consideration the sentiments of pilgrims to have smooth, easy, unrestricted access throughout the year for visiting the Kartarpur Sahib gurdwara, the final resting place of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, an official statement said.

A dossier was handed over to Pakistan to highlight India's concerns to which it assured the Indian delegation that no anti-India activity would be allowed.

In this context, concerns regarding individuals or organisations based in Pakistan who might try to disrupt the pilgrimage and misuse the opportunity to play with the pilgrims' sentiments were shared, the statement issued after the second round of discussions on the project said.

The Indian delegation has also sought consular presence in the gurudwara to be able to provide assistance to the pilgrims, if required.

The Indian side conveyed concerns regarding the possible flooding of the Dera Baba Nanak and adjoining areas on the Indian side as a result of earth-filled embankment road or a causeway that is proposed to be built by Pakistan on their side.

The Indian delegation shared detailed flood analysis with Pakistan to underscore these concerns.

It was clearly conveyed that an earth-filled embankment or a causeway will create problems for Indian people and should not be built even in the interim, the statement said.

Details of the bridge that India is building on its side were shared, and Pakistan side was urged to also build a bridge on their side.

This would not only address the flooding related concerns, but also ensure smooth, hassle-free, all-weather pilgrimage to the holy Gurudwara Kartarpur Sahib throughout the year.

The Pakistan side agreed, in principle, to build a bridge at the earliest, it said. Pending the construction of the bridge over the old Ravi creek by Pakistan on their territory, India offered to make interim arrangements for making the corridor operational in November, given the historic importance of the 550th Birth Anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji.

The talks with Pakistan on the modalities for operationalisation of the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor was held at the Pakistan side in Wagah for which an Indian delegation crossed over to the other side of the international border.

The Indian delegation was led by Home Ministry joint secretary S C L Das and comprised representatives from the Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Defence, the Punjab government and the National Highway Authorities of India.

The meeting discussed the modalities and draft agreement for facilitation of pilgrims on the Kartarpur Sahib corridor, as also the infrastructure being developed for it.

The meeting reviewed the progress reached in the three rounds of technical meeting that were held in March, April and May 2019.

They endorsed the crossing point "zero point" coordinates that were agreed to at the technical level.

It was agreed to allow visa-free travel for the Indian passport holders and OCI card holders seven days a week.

Throughout the year, 5,000 pilgrims will be allowed to visit Kartarpur Sahib gurudwara per day.

The pilgrims will be allowed to travel as individuals or in groups and also on foot, the statement said.

Pakistan highlighted the infrastructural constraints on their side and conveyed that they might be able to accommodate many of India's proposals in a phased manner.

Pakistan was asked to reconsider its position as the corridor is a long pending demand of the pilgrims and there is expectation that Pakistan would be liberal in allowing more pilgrims and facilities for them.

Both sides have agreed to maintain a channel of communication and work towards finalisation of the agreement on the Kartarpur Sahib corridor.

The technical teams would meet again to ensure that seamless connectivity for the corridor is operational in time so the pilgrimage can begin in November.

In this context, they reiterated the following requests- there should be no restrictions on the pilgrims in terms of their faith, provisions should be made for preparation and distribution of 'langar' and 'prasad' for the pilgrims. The importance for ensuring safe and secure environment for the pilgrims was also underscored.

Based on the representations that were received by the government, the issue of encroachment of land belonging to the gurudwara was once again raised and Pakistani authorities were asked to restore the land to honour religious sentiments.

The Pakistani side agreed to look at this issue.

Government of India has made significant progress in building a state-of-the-art infrastructure, including passenger terminal on the Indian side that can handle over 15,000 pilgrims in a day. This is targeted to be completed by October 31.

The work on the four-lane highway to the crossing point at the international boundary is progressing satisfactorily and is on schedule. It will be completed by September-end.

It has also been proposed to Pakistan to allow 10,000 Indian pilgrims to visit the country under the 1974 protocol on the auspicious occasion.

Progress was made in finalising the draft agreement with regard to the modalities.

In Video : Kartarpur talks: India, Pakistan agree on visa-free travel

Comments : India must be careful to ensure that no Khalistani Terrorists get into India.

Cheers

[darshan]

Sikhs, Hindus Unite In Protest Against Persecution, Forced Conversion of Minor Hindu Girls In Pakistan https://swarajyamag.com/insta/sikhs-hin ... n-pakistan
A large number of members of the Pakistani minority groups, Hindus and Sikhs, facig persecution, gathered in Jacobabad city of Pakistan's Sindh province to raise their voice against the forced conversion of Hindu girls by Muslims, reports Business Standard.

A Hindu teenage girl was abducted by her teacher Kamran Soomor from Thatta in Sindh. The protesters are demanding justice for the abducted girl and are urging the government to bring in strong anti-conversion law.

The protesters blamed Prime Minister Imran Khan for being silent on such grave issues.

[Peregrine]

Pakistan among 37 states at UN defending China on HR cause

GENEVA: UN ambassadors from 37 countries, including Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, have released a letter defending China's "contribution to the international human rights cause" in the Xinjiang region, in direct response to Western criticism earlier this week.

On July 10, a group of 22 countries, including the member states of the European Union, joined by Japan, Australia, Canada and New Zealand, issued a statement urging China to stop the mass detention and arbitrary incarceration of ethnic Uighurs and other Muslims in its western Xinjiang region, The New York Times reported.

On Friday a diverse group of states including Russia, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Algeria and North Korea replied on Beijing's behalf, claiming China had faced terrorism, separatism and religious extremism in Xinjiang, the vast northwest region that is mainly Muslim. But through counter-terrorism measures and vocational training, these states said, China had restored peace and security there. "We note with appreciation that human rights are respected and protected in China in the process of counter-terrorism and de-radicalization," they said in the letter to the UN.

China denounced the West's letter as "distortions" and "hypocrisy" of the Western media, and insisted that the region's people "feel much better and much more happy and secure."

Chinese diplomats further suggested that China's experience in tackling terrorism could even be usefully shared with other countries. China has been condemned internationally for setting up detention camps, which it describes as "education training centres" helping to stamp out "extremism" and giving people new skills.

Cheers

[CalvinH]

In Pakistan everyone is labeling PMLN as the Sicilian Mafia without pointing fingers at the real Sicilian Mafia which is the establishment. In the judge's case where the judge was videotaped accepting that he was blackmailed by the establishment, the judge has come out with an affidavit that he was being blackmailed by the PMLN. And now all media is questioning PMLN and its back to the Sicilian Mafia label of bribing and coercing the judges.

No one in this has questioned the real Sicilian Mafia the establishment and military under whose direct orders Supreme court judges ordered hanging of ZA Bhutto. The establishment that keeps the judiciary, politicians and media on their payroll to do as they want to.

[sunnyP]

These assurances by the Pakistanis are worthless. They will definitely use this corridor to stoke the Khalistan issue.

The centre should listen to the Punjab CM......

“ ‘Cannot trust intent of Pakistan on Kartarpur. It’s an ISI project for Khalistan 20:20 agenda. Pakistan’s agenda is political and nefarious and aimed at exploiting sentiments of Sikh community’.”

https://mobile.twitter.com/AdityaRajKau ... 3069564928

Kartarpurtalks: No anti-India acts to be allowed, Pakistan assures – PTI

ATTARI/WAGAH: India on Sunday conveyed its concerns to Pakistan on possible flooding of areas adjoining the Kartarpur Sahib gurdwara due to the construction of a causeway by the neighbouring nation and urged it to make a bridge like India is doing.

At a bilateral meeting held here, New Delhi also urged Islamabad to take into consideration the sentiments of pilgrims to have smooth, easy, unrestricted access throughout the year for visiting the Kartarpur Sahib gurdwara, the final resting place of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, an official statement said.

A dossier was handed over to Pakistan to highlight India's concerns to which it assured the Indian delegation that no anti-India activity would be allowed.

In this context, concerns regarding individuals or organisations based in Pakistan who might try to disrupt the pilgrimage and misuse the opportunity to play with the pilgrims' sentiments were shared, the statement issued after the second round of discussions on the project said.

The Indian delegation has also sought consular presence in the gurudwara to be able to provide assistance to the pilgrims, if required.

The Indian side conveyed concerns regarding the possible flooding of the Dera Baba Nanak and adjoining areas on the Indian side as a result of earth-filled embankment road or a causeway that is proposed to be built by Pakistan on their side.

The Indian delegation shared detailed flood analysis with Pakistan to underscore these concerns.

It was clearly conveyed that an earth-filled embankment or a causeway will create problems for Indian people and should not be built even in the interim, the statement said.

Details of the bridge that India is building on its side were shared, and Pakistan side was urged to also build a bridge on their side.

This would not only address the flooding related concerns, but also ensure smooth, hassle-free, all-weather pilgrimage to the holy Gurudwara Kartarpur Sahib throughout the year.

The Pakistan side agreed, in principle, to build a bridge at the earliest, it said. Pending the construction of the bridge over the old Ravi creek by Pakistan on their territory, India offered to make interim arrangements for making the corridor operational in November, given the historic importance of the 550th Birth Anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji.

The talks with Pakistan on the modalities for operationalisation of the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor was held at the Pakistan side in Wagah for which an Indian delegation crossed over to the other side of the international border.

The Indian delegation was led by Home Ministry joint secretary S C L Das and comprised representatives from the Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Defence, the Punjab government and the National Highway Authorities of India.

The meeting discussed the modalities and draft agreement for facilitation of pilgrims on the Kartarpur Sahib corridor, as also the infrastructure being developed for it.

The meeting reviewed the progress reached in the three rounds of technical meeting that were held in March, April and May 2019.

They endorsed the crossing point "zero point" coordinates that were agreed to at the technical level.

It was agreed to allow visa-free travel for the Indian passport holders and OCI card holders seven days a week.

Throughout the year, 5,000 pilgrims will be allowed to visit Kartarpur Sahib gurudwara per day.

The pilgrims will be allowed to travel as individuals or in groups and also on foot, the statement said.

Pakistan highlighted the infrastructural constraints on their side and conveyed that they might be able to accommodate many of India's proposals in a phased manner.

Pakistan was asked to reconsider its position as the corridor is a long pending demand of the pilgrims and there is expectation that Pakistan would be liberal in allowing more pilgrims and facilities for them.

Both sides have agreed to maintain a channel of communication and work towards finalisation of the agreement on the Kartarpur Sahib corridor.

The technical teams would meet again to ensure that seamless connectivity for the corridor is operational in time so the pilgrimage can begin in November.

In this context, they reiterated the following requests- there should be no restrictions on the pilgrims in terms of their faith, provisions should be made for preparation and distribution of 'langar' and 'prasad' for the pilgrims. The importance for ensuring safe and secure environment for the pilgrims was also underscored.

Based on the representations that were received by the government, the issue of encroachment of land belonging to the gurudwara was once again raised and Pakistani authorities were asked to restore the land to honour religious sentiments.

The Pakistani side agreed to look at this issue.

Government of India has made significant progress in building a state-of-the-art infrastructure, including passenger terminal on the Indian side that can handle over 15,000 pilgrims in a day. This is targeted to be completed by October 31.

The work on the four-lane highway to the crossing point at the international boundary is progressing satisfactorily and is on schedule. It will be completed by September-end.

It has also been proposed to Pakistan to allow 10,000 Indian pilgrims to visit the country under the 1974 protocol on the auspicious occasion.

Progress was made in finalising the draft agreement with regard to the modalities.

In Video : Kartarpur talks: India, Pakistan agree on visa-free travel

Comments : India must be careful to ensure that no Khalistani Terrorists get into India.

Cheers

[MeshaVishwas]

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore on Monday granted pre-arrest bail to Jamatud Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed and four others in a case pertaining to the outfit's alleged illegal use of land for its seminary.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1494212/atc-g ... d-4-others

[Peregrine]

Fully Posted on the Analyzing CPEC Thread

Will CPEC survive the IMF bailout? - Afshan Subohi

The staff report released by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) last week must have provided some measure of comfort to the champions of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as well as China that chose Pakistan to be the first key destination for the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which aims to sustain its economic triumph and realise future ambitions.

According to insiders, not all of the 22 projects in the first phase of the CPEC worth about $29bn have been completed yet. Some eight projects in the power sector that are completed are said to be in financial troubles for the non-payment of dues.

Cheers

[darshan]

Diplomatic gifts for CPEC loans and blatant human rights violations by both parties involved. Must be allowed in pure islam. Also to note that the white christians are pretty quiet about it for the usual racism. Do white missionaries even learn Urdu and go to the land of poor for brainwashing missions?

Pakistani Christian brides forced into prostitution in China, trafficking rackets targeting poor Christians in Pakistan
https://www.opindia.com/2019/07/pakista ... -pakistan/
Many instances of Pakistani Christian women being married to Chinese men and then being forced into prostitution have emerged in several areas in Pakistan. In a recent case, a 27-year-old woman named Rimsha had reached out to her family members in Lahore via a messaging app, claiming that her Chinese husband has been physically abusing her and forcing her into prostitution.

[g.sarkar]

https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-ne ... kVreJ.html
Closed since Balakot strike, Pakistan reopens airspace for all civilian traffic
The country had earlier claimed that it would not open its airspace for commercial flights until India removed its fighter jets from forward Indian airbases.
Jul 16, 2019 08:57 IST
Pakistan has said it has reopened its airspace to all civilian planes following months of restrictions after the Indian Air Force (IAF) carried out airstrikes on a Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror camp in Balakot earlier this year.
Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority cancelled the Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) for its airspace from 12:38am on Tuesday, a step taken by India as well. Airlines are likely to resume normal routes through Pakistan airspace after the restrictions were lifted.
“With immediate effect, Pakistan airspace is open for all type of civilian traffic on published ATS (Air Traffic Service) routes,” the NOTAM issued by the authority said. Pakistan had earlier said it would not open its airspace for commercial flights until India removed its fighter jets from forward Indian airbases.
....
Gautam

[CalvinH]

2 days ago Pakistani anchors were praising the Paki CAA decision to not open the skies to Indians and calling it the main reason why Indian airlines are going bankrupt.