Pakistan on Tuesday fully opened its airspace, nearly a month after shutting it for commercial flights following escalating tensions with India after the Pulwama terror attack and the subsequent aerial strike by Indian jets on a training camp of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/month-after-balakot-strikes-pakistan-continues-to-block-airspace-205852">Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) in Balakot</a>.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) announced the complete opening of Pakistan's airspace, with the national carrier resuming its flights across the country.

On Tuesday, two-way flights from Lahore to Islamabad and flights from Karachi to Multan departed as per schedule, said a statement issued by the national carrier - Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) - on Tuesday.

Flights have also been resumed for Bahawalpur, Raheem Yar Khan and Dera Ghazi Khan. Flights from Sialkot will resume from March 28, after necessary repairs are carried out on the Sialkot airport runway, it said.

Earlier in February, the CAA partially opened the country's airspace after keeping it closed for several hours following a rare aerial dogfight between Indian and Pakistani jets.

The CAA had also declared an aerial emergency, saying Pakistani airspace is closed until further notice.

Pakistan closed its airspace on February 27 following escalating tensions with India.&nbsp;

The tension between the two nuclear-armed neighbours escalated after the February 14 Pulwama terror attack and a subsequent aerial strike by India on a JeM training camp in Balakot on February 26.&nbsp;

Pakistan retaliated the strike next day by unsuccessfully attempting to target Indian military installations. The JeM claimed responsibility for the Pulwama attack.

Pakistan on Tuesday fully opened its airspace, nearly a month after shutting it for commercial flights following escalating tensions with India after the Pulwama terror attack and the subsequent aerial strike by Indian jets on a training camp of the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) in Balakot.

Pakistan on Tuesday fully opened its airspace, nearly a month after shutting it for commercial flights following escalating tensions with India after the Pulwama terror attack and the subsequent aerial strike by Indian jets on a training camp of the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) in Balakot. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) announced the complete opening of Pakistan's airspace, with the national carrier resuming its flights across the country. On Tuesday, two-way flights from Lahore to Islamabad and flights from Karachi to Multan departed as per schedule, said a statement issued by the national carrier - Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) - on Tuesday. Flights have also been resumed for Bahawalpur, Raheem Yar Khan and Dera Ghazi Khan. Flights from Sialkot will resume from March 28, after necessary repairs are carried out on the Sialkot airport runway, it said. Earlier in February, the CAA partially opened the country's airspace after keeping it closed for several hours following a rare aerial dogfight between Indian and Pakistani jets. The CAA had also declared an aerial emergency, saying Pakistani airspace is closed until further notice. Pakistan closed its airspace on February 27 following escalating tensions with India. The tension between the two nuclear-armed neighbours escalated after the February 14 Pulwama terror attack and a subsequent aerial strike by India on a JeM training camp in Balakot on February 26. Pakistan retaliated the strike next day by unsuccessfully attempting to target Indian military installations. The JeM claimed responsibility for the Pulwama attack.

Pakistan reopens airspace month after Balakot strikes

PTI: Virtual SIM Cards were used in Pulwama attack by JeM

JeM terrorist arrested from Delhi, terrorist was recruiting sleeper cells

JeM terrorist arrested from Delhi, was roaming as shawl trader in Red Fort area

Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist Sajjad Khan has been arrested by Delhi Police Special Cell. Khan is believed to be a close associate of Pulwama terror attack mastermind Mudassir who had been killed earlier this month.&nbsp;

Sajjad Khan, 27, a resident of Pulwama was arrested near the Lajpat Rai market late Thursday night, officials said.

"Mudasir, the mastermind of Pulwama attack was killed in an exchange of fire with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir recently," Pramod Singh Kushwah, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) said.

Sajjad was tasked by Mudassir to establish a sleeper cell in Delhi, the officer added.&nbsp;

Jammu and Kashmir Police and the Army in Srinagar held a joint briefing earlier this month. T<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/key-pulwama-conspirator-killed-in-tral-encounter-today-44-terrorists-eliminated-in-first-70-days-of-2019-army-jk-police-202613">op officials told media that the security forces had "eliminated" another JeM commander</a>, a key conspirator of the Pulwama terror attack.&nbsp;

The briefing was jointly addressed by Lt General KJS Dhillon, GoC 15 Corps, and SP Pani, IG, J&amp;K Police.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Jaish e Mohammad terrorist Sajjad Khan arrested by Delhi Police Special Cell. He was a close associate of Pulwama attack mastermind Mudassir who had been eliminated earlier this month
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1108973027323195392?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 22, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

"In last 21 days, we have eliminated 18 terrorists, out of the 14 being from JeM, 6 out of 14 were main commanders. JeM's 2nd commander Mudasir-main conspirator in national highway convoy attack has also been eliminated," Dhillon, Corps Commander of the Chinar Corps, said. Pakistani militant Khalid was also killed in the encounter.&nbsp;

"The main conspirators (of Pulwama) Mudasir and Kamran have been killed. We have gone with all force against JeM. Six terrorists killed since attack are A+ category," he said.&nbsp;

The officials added that in the first 70 days of 2019, security forces have been successful in eliminating 44 terrorists, mainly from Jaish-e-Mohammed. "Against 1629 ceasefire violations along Line of Control in 2018, this year 478 ceasefire violations have already taken place along LoC," the officials stated.&nbsp;

Over 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were killed in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district after a JeM terrorist rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into their bus, which was part of a convoy going to Srinagar from Jammu in February.&nbsp;

Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist Sajjad Khan has been arrested by Delhi Police Special Cell. Khan is believed to be a close associate of Pulwama terror attack mastermind Mudassir who had been killed earlier this month.

Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist Sajjad Khan has been arrested by Delhi Police Special Cell. Khan is believed to be a close associate of Pulwama terror attack mastermind Mudassir who had been killed earlier this month. Sajjad Khan, 27, a resident of Pulwama was arrested near the Lajpat Rai market late Thursday night, officials said. "Mudasir, the mastermind of Pulwama attack was killed in an exchange of fire with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir recently," Pramod Singh Kushwah, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) said. Sajjad was tasked by Mudassir to establish a sleeper cell in Delhi, the officer added. Jammu and Kashmir Police and the Army in Srinagar held a joint briefing earlier this month. Top officials told media that the security forces had "eliminated" another JeM commander, a key conspirator of the Pulwama terror attack. The briefing was jointly addressed by Lt General KJS Dhillon, GoC 15 Corps, and SP Pani, IG, J&K Police. Jaish e Mohammad terrorist Sajjad Khan arrested by Delhi Police Special Cell. He was a close associate of Pulwama attack mastermind Mudassir who had been eliminated earlier this month — ANI (@ANI) March 22, 2019 × "In last 21 days, we have eliminated 18 terrorists, out of the 14 being from JeM, 6 out of 14 were main commanders. JeM's 2nd commander Mudasir-main conspirator in national highway convoy attack has also been eliminated," Dhillon, Corps Commander of the Chinar Corps, said. Pakistani militant Khalid was also killed in the encounter. "The main conspirators (of Pulwama) Mudasir and Kamran have been killed. We have gone with all force against JeM. Six terrorists killed since attack are A+ category," he said. The officials added that in the first 70 days of 2019, security forces have been successful in eliminating 44 terrorists, mainly from Jaish-e-Mohammed. "Against 1629 ceasefire violations along Line of Control in 2018, this year 478 ceasefire violations have already taken place along LoC," the officials stated. Over 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were killed in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district after a JeM terrorist rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into their bus, which was part of a convoy going to Srinagar from Jammu in February.

Pulwama terror attack: Delhi Police's Special Cell arrests close aide of JeM mastermind Mudasir Khan

China backed its "iron friend" Pakistan on Tuesday, applauding its recent<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/willing-to-hold-more-talks-with-india-on-blacklisting-masood-azhar-china-203655"> counter-terrorism measures</a> as Islamabad faces criticism for harbouring militants.

"China commends Pakistan's recent strong counter-terrorism measures at home," foreign minister Wang Yi told reporters after meeting with his Pakistani counterpart&nbsp;Shah Mehmood Qureshi

"We fully support Pakistan in carrying through its counter-terrorism campaign," Wang said.

Since March 5, Pakistani authorities have arrested hundreds of suspected militants and shuttered more than 700 madrassas, mosques, and clinics linked to banned groups.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GKb16_MxfIc" width="560"></iframe>

Islamabad has come under pressure to demonstrate it is sincere about eliminating militancy, but the crackdown has yet to convince the international community.

"We also call on the international community to adopt a fair perspective of the commitments and efforts made by Pakistan over the years to combat terrorism," Wang said as he stood beside Pakistani foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi.

New Delhi has long accused Islamabad of harbouring terrorist&nbsp;groups, which it says are used by Pakistan intelligence agencies to launch attacks on India.

On&nbsp;February 14 suicide blast in Pulwama in J&amp;K&nbsp;killed over 40 CRPF troops - claimed by <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/european-union-begins-discussions-on-declaring-masood-azhar-a-terrorist-204354">Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed(JeM)</a>. However, China a long-time ally of Pakistan, last week blocked measures by the UN Security Council to blacklist JeM leader Masood Azhar.&nbsp;

It was the fourth time China has blocked such attempts, reinforcing suspicions that it was acting on Pakistan's behest.&nbsp;

On Tuesday, Pakistan expressed gratitude for China's continued support as it faces international criticism.

"Pakistan appreciates the role China has played once again, standing by Pakistan in these difficult times," Shah said.

"We have been cooperating against this menace of terrorism, and we feel strengthening this in relevant fields is important," Shah said.

"We have made considerable progress vis-a-vis terrorism, we have paid a huge price, everybody recognises that," Shah said.&nbsp;

Wang welcomed Shah to Beijing by noting China calls&nbsp;Pakistan "our iron friends" because Islamabad "provides us with iron-like support" on Beijing's core issues of concern. &nbsp;

"Of course, China does the same," Wang said.

China backed its "iron friend" Pakistan on Tuesday, applauding its recent counter-terrorism measures as Islamabad faces criticism for harbouring militants. "China commends Pakistan's recent strong counter-terrorism measures at home," foreign minister Wang Yi told reporters after meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi "We fully support Pakistan in carrying through its counter-terrorism campaign," Wang said.

China backed its "iron friend" Pakistan on Tuesday, applauding its recent counter-terrorism measures as Islamabad faces criticism for harbouring militants. "China commends Pakistan's recent strong counter-terrorism measures at home," foreign minister Wang Yi told reporters after meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi "We fully support Pakistan in carrying through its counter-terrorism campaign," Wang said. Since March 5, Pakistani authorities have arrested hundreds of suspected militants and shuttered more than 700 madrassas, mosques, and clinics linked to banned groups. Islamabad has come under pressure to demonstrate it is sincere about eliminating militancy, but the crackdown has yet to convince the international community. "We also call on the international community to adopt a fair perspective of the commitments and efforts made by Pakistan over the years to combat terrorism," Wang said as he stood beside Pakistani foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi. New Delhi has long accused Islamabad of harbouring terrorist groups, which it says are used by Pakistan intelligence agencies to launch attacks on India. On February 14 suicide blast in Pulwama in J&K killed over 40 CRPF troops - claimed by Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed(JeM). However, China a long-time ally of Pakistan, last week blocked measures by the UN Security Council to blacklist JeM leader Masood Azhar. It was the fourth time China has blocked such attempts, reinforcing suspicions that it was acting on Pakistan's behest. On Tuesday, Pakistan expressed gratitude for China's continued support as it faces international criticism. "Pakistan appreciates the role China has played once again, standing by Pakistan in these difficult times," Shah said. "We have been cooperating against this menace of terrorism, and we feel strengthening this in relevant fields is important," Shah said. "We have made considerable progress vis-a-vis terrorism, we have paid a huge price, everybody recognises that," Shah said. Wang welcomed Shah to Beijing by noting China calls Pakistan "our iron friends" because Islamabad "provides us with iron-like support" on Beijing's core issues of concern. "Of course, China does the same," Wang said.

Fully support Pakistan in carrying out counter-terrorism campaign: China

China said on Friday it was willing to have more discussions with all parties concerned including India on blacklisting the head of Pakistan-based militant group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), which claimed responsibility for the attack on a CRPF convoy in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama&nbsp;in February.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/china-defends-move-to-block-ban-on-jem-chief-masood-azhar-says-needs-time-to-conduct-thorough-probe-203277">China prevented a UN&nbsp;Security Council committee on Wednesday</a> from blacklisting JeM founder Masood Azhar.

India said it was disappointed at the block, which sparked calls for boycotts of Chinese products on domestic social media, while the United States said it was counter to a goal it shared with China of achieving regional peace and stability.

In a statement faxed to Reuters late on Friday, China's Foreign Ministry reiterated that the "technical hold" on the blacklisting was to give more time for the committee to have further consultations and study on the issue.

China hopes the committee's actions can "benefit reducing the tense situation and protect regional stability", the ministry said, responding to a Reuters question on the boycott calls in India.

"China is willing to strengthen communication with all parties, including India, to appropriately handle this issue," it added, without elaborating.

The United States, Britain and France had asked the Security Council's Islamic State and al Qaeda sanctions committee to subject Azhar to an arms embargo, travel ban and asset freeze. The 15-member committee operates by consensus.

China had previously prevented the sanctions committee from sanctioning Azhar in 2016 and 2017.

The February 14 attack that killed over 40 paramilitary police was the deadliest in Kashmir's 30-year-long insurgency, escalating tension between India and Pakistan.

Western powers could also blacklist Azhar by adopting a Security Council resolution, which needs nine votes in favour and no vetoes by Russia, China, the United States, Britain or France.

Blacklisted by the UN&nbsp;Security Council in 2001, JeM is a primarily anti-India group that forged ties with al Qaeda.

China said on Friday it was willing to have more discussions with all parties concerned including India on blacklisting the head of Pakistan-based militant group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), which claimed responsibility for the attack on a CRPF convoy in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama in February.

China said on Friday it was willing to have more discussions with all parties concerned including India on blacklisting the head of Pakistan-based militant group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), which claimed responsibility for the attack on a CRPF convoy in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama in February. China prevented a UN Security Council committee on Wednesday from blacklisting JeM founder Masood Azhar. India said it was disappointed at the block, which sparked calls for boycotts of Chinese products on domestic social media, while the United States said it was counter to a goal it shared with China of achieving regional peace and stability. In a statement faxed to Reuters late on Friday, China's Foreign Ministry reiterated that the "technical hold" on the blacklisting was to give more time for the committee to have further consultations and study on the issue. China hopes the committee's actions can "benefit reducing the tense situation and protect regional stability", the ministry said, responding to a Reuters question on the boycott calls in India. "China is willing to strengthen communication with all parties, including India, to appropriately handle this issue," it added, without elaborating. The United States, Britain and France had asked the Security Council's Islamic State and al Qaeda sanctions committee to subject Azhar to an arms embargo, travel ban and asset freeze. The 15-member committee operates by consensus. China had previously prevented the sanctions committee from sanctioning Azhar in 2016 and 2017. The February 14 attack that killed over 40 paramilitary police was the deadliest in Kashmir's 30-year-long insurgency, escalating tension between India and Pakistan. Western powers could also blacklist Azhar by adopting a Security Council resolution, which needs nine votes in favour and no vetoes by Russia, China, the United States, Britain or France. Blacklisted by the UN Security Council in 2001, JeM is a primarily anti-India group that forged ties with al Qaeda.

Willing to hold more talks with India on blacklisting Masood Azhar: China

On the occasion of 70th years of the establishment of the people’s republic of China, it is crucial to analyze the future direction in the thirteenth national people’s congress this week. The salient feature of this ongoing national congress signifies how the defence spending rate is outpacing economic growth rate despite ongoing tariff war and rising debts in belt and road projects in many parts of the world. In this background, with utmost importance, one needs to analyse the implications of defence spending and economic growth rates for the year 2019 and beyond.   &nbsp;

Recently, Chinese prime minister Li Keqiang announced a projected GDP growth rate between 6 per cent and 6.5 per cent in 2019. He himself, earlier on many counts, mentioned about the manipulation in provided provincial economic data and statistics. For this, perhaps Chinese meritocratic system needs to blamed, where the success of provincial leaders to climb the CCP hierarchy ladder is primarily based on the economic performance of their province. &nbsp;

Thanks to Brookings Institution which, in the latest report, mentions that in 2017, the actual Chinese GDP was $10.77 trillion with the GDP growth rate at 4.9 per cent. For the same period, however, the overstated official figures on Chinese GDP was $12.24 trillion with the GDP growth rate of 6.9 per cent.  &nbsp;

Capital Economics one of the leading independent economic research companies recently reveals that China’s actual growth rate will be around 4.5 per cent for the period of 2018-2022; 2.8 per cent for the period of 2023-2030; and 1.5 per cent in the following decade. Against this backdrop of economic slowdown, China is pursuing a sort of foreign-economic relations to reclaim centre-stage in world politics. In this regard, the two latest incidents are worth mentioning to understand the Chinese foreign policy decision-making process through a realist lens in world politics. &nbsp;

Sino-Indian relations have been always bumpier but, it seems that both countries somehow learned to safeguard their national interests in multilateral forums like the United Nations, World Trade Organisation, BRICS, and Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. India is the first country, who refused to join belt and road initiative (BRI) on the ground of sovereignty concern in China-Pakistan economic corridor (CPEC) and non-transparency in dual-use (i.e. civil and military) infrastructure investments. One might argue that China is using terrorism as a foreign policy tool in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to maximise their geopolitical gains at the cost of the brutal killing of innocent civilians for example, China has put a technical hold fourth time on Pakistan-based UN-designated terrorist organisation Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar.&nbsp;

China-Russia strategic partnership is not going through the best phase in their bilateral relationships too. In the latest event Gou Yunhai, a diplomat in the Chinese embassy of Moscow sent an offensive letter to the editorial team of Russian daily Nezavisimaya Gazeta (NG). In an attempt to curb the freedom of the Russian press, the diplomat demanded the immediate deletion of the published article regarding slowdown of the Chinese economy. Moreover, he also threatened the author of the published piece, Anastasia Bashkatova, deputy head of the economics department of the NG to put on the blacklist as a punishment to deny the possibility of any future visit to China. In the published piece, she mentioned about possible forthcoming social instability due to rising unemployment and poor health-care facilities in China. Then after referred the period between 2010 and 2018, where Chinese growth rate slowed down from 10.6 per cent to 6.6 per cent in accordance with the international monetary funds. Furthermore, she highlighted that due to fall in exports, unavailability of cheap labour and low domestic demands, this declining economic trend is going to be continued in the coming years too.  &nbsp;

Another takeaway is regarding the official Chinese narrative of slowing defence spending when indigenous military modernisation programme is in full swing. In 2019, China’s defence spending allocation is $177.5 billion in comparison with $750 billion for the US military budget. However, many believe that the actual Chinese defence spending is three times more than the official statistics for any given year. International Institute for Strategic Studies 2018 report mentions that China has launched more indigenous submarines, warships, amphibious vessels and auxiliaries than the total number of ships currently serving in the navies of Germany, India, Spain, Taiwan and the United Kingdom. An introduction of indigenous twin-engine J-20 stealth fighter has added another feather in the Chinese air power cap.  &nbsp;

Russian daily Nezavisimaya Gazeta (NG) quoted Wang Yongfei, a Chinese defence expert that despite the ongoing tariff war, China will not cut the budget for 04 aircraft carriers scheduled to be deployed by 2022. Many Russian strategic experts believe that with such large-scale financing, almost four times Russian defence spending, China has the potential to overtake Russia in terms of military power in the foreseeable future.  &nbsp;

In the backdrop of growing Chinese military prowess, hence one should ponder about some important questions: To what extent, China has leverage in political interference of the liberal democratic world order? Does China really need a military alliance to reclaim a centre-stage in world politics? Is China destined to fall into Thucydides’ trap? What will be the status of freedom of navigation in south china sea, east china sea, Taiwan Strait and Indo-pacific region in the future? Indeed, interesting times are ahead however, at this critical moment one can conclude the uncertainty in world politics is the only certain thing.&nbsp; 
 
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

&nbsp;

On the occasion of 70th years of the establishment of the people’s republic of China, it is crucial to analyze the future direction in the thirteenth national people’s congress this week.

On the occasion of 70th years of the establishment of the people’s republic of China, it is crucial to analyze the future direction in the thirteenth national people’s congress this week. The salient feature of this ongoing national congress signifies how the defence spending rate is outpacing economic growth rate despite ongoing tariff war and rising debts in belt and road projects in many parts of the world. In this background, with utmost importance, one needs to analyse the implications of defence spending and economic growth rates for the year 2019 and beyond.    Recently, Chinese prime minister Li Keqiang announced a projected GDP growth rate between 6 per cent and 6.5 per cent in 2019. He himself, earlier on many counts, mentioned about the manipulation in provided provincial economic data and statistics. For this, perhaps Chinese meritocratic system needs to blamed, where the success of provincial leaders to climb the CCP hierarchy ladder is primarily based on the economic performance of their province.  Thanks to Brookings Institution which, in the latest report, mentions that in 2017, the actual Chinese GDP was $10.77 trillion with the GDP growth rate at 4.9 per cent. For the same period, however, the overstated official figures on Chinese GDP was $12.24 trillion with the GDP growth rate of 6.9 per cent.   Capital Economics one of the leading independent economic research companies recently reveals that China’s actual growth rate will be around 4.5 per cent for the period of 2018-2022; 2.8 per cent for the period of 2023-2030; and 1.5 per cent in the following decade. Against this backdrop of economic slowdown, China is pursuing a sort of foreign-economic relations to reclaim centre-stage in world politics. In this regard, the two latest incidents are worth mentioning to understand the Chinese foreign policy decision-making process through a realist lens in world politics.  Sino-Indian relations have been always bumpier but, it seems that both countries somehow learned to safeguard their national interests in multilateral forums like the United Nations, World Trade Organisation, BRICS, and Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. India is the first country, who refused to join belt and road initiative (BRI) on the ground of sovereignty concern in China-Pakistan economic corridor (CPEC) and non-transparency in dual-use (i.e. civil and military) infrastructure investments. One might argue that China is using terrorism as a foreign policy tool in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to maximise their geopolitical gains at the cost of the brutal killing of innocent civilians for example, China has put a technical hold fourth time on Pakistan-based UN-designated terrorist organisation Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar. China-Russia strategic partnership is not going through the best phase in their bilateral relationships too. In the latest event Gou Yunhai, a diplomat in the Chinese embassy of Moscow sent an offensive letter to the editorial team of Russian daily Nezavisimaya Gazeta (NG). In an attempt to curb the freedom of the Russian press, the diplomat demanded the immediate deletion of the published article regarding slowdown of the Chinese economy. Moreover, he also threatened the author of the published piece, Anastasia Bashkatova, deputy head of the economics department of the NG to put on the blacklist as a punishment to deny the possibility of any future visit to China. In the published piece, she mentioned about possible forthcoming social instability due to rising unemployment and poor health-care facilities in China. Then after referred the period between 2010 and 2018, where Chinese growth rate slowed down from 10.6 per cent to 6.6 per cent in accordance with the international monetary funds. Furthermore, she highlighted that due to fall in exports, unavailability of cheap labour and low domestic demands, this declining economic trend is going to be continued in the coming years too.   Another takeaway is regarding the official Chinese narrative of slowing defence spending when indigenous military modernisation programme is in full swing. In 2019, China’s defence spending allocation is $177.5 billion in comparison with $750 billion for the US military budget. However, many believe that the actual Chinese defence spending is three times more than the official statistics for any given year. International Institute for Strategic Studies 2018 report mentions that China has launched more indigenous submarines, warships, amphibious vessels and auxiliaries than the total number of ships currently serving in the navies of Germany, India, Spain, Taiwan and the United Kingdom. An introduction of indigenous twin-engine J-20 stealth fighter has added another feather in the Chinese air power cap.   Russian daily Nezavisimaya Gazeta (NG) quoted Wang Yongfei, a Chinese defence expert that despite the ongoing tariff war, China will not cut the budget for 04 aircraft carriers scheduled to be deployed by 2022. Many Russian strategic experts believe that with such large-scale financing, almost four times Russian defence spending, China has the potential to overtake Russia in terms of military power in the foreseeable future.   In the backdrop of growing Chinese military prowess, hence one should ponder about some important questions: To what extent, China has leverage in political interference of the liberal democratic world order? Does China really need a military alliance to reclaim a centre-stage in world politics? Is China destined to fall into Thucydides’ trap? What will be the status of freedom of navigation in south china sea, east china sea, Taiwan Strait and Indo-pacific region in the future? Indeed, interesting times are ahead however, at this critical moment one can conclude the uncertainty in world politics is the only certain thing. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Decoding China's objection to UN ban on JeM chief Masood Azhar

Terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), in its mouthpiece Al Qalam, mentioned&nbsp;Zee News programme DNA&nbsp;while writing a piece on the Indian media.

In the editorial piece, Al Qalam said, "India's famous channel Zee-DNA's anchor Sudhir Chaudhary said that India was behind the breakdown of Bangladesh. The Indian government should intensify its action in Pakistan so that Pakistan should get fragmented. Not only this, but in the prime time program, it has been emphasising that Pakistan should be attacked and war is the only way."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/decoding-xi-jinpings-new-era-and-chinas-objection-to-un-ban-on-jem-chief-masood-azhar-203227">Masood Azhar-led JeM</a>, which has openly spread its anti-India hate campaign through its media outlet accused the Indian media of being a "black spot" in the name of journalism. Clearly, the fact that post-Pulwama, the Indian media openly castigated the terror outfit hasn't gone down well with Masood Azhar.

In fact, Zee News Editor-in-Chief Sudhir Chaudhary&nbsp;in his programme on March 6 had said that "when India gets angry, Pakistan is blown to smithereens."

"This happened in 1971 when Pakistan was divided into two, but now they are beginning to forget the biggest loss in their history. Pakistan is under immense pressure, and one of its regions - Balochistan - is fighting to be free from its rule. The people of Balochistan are fed up of the torture meted out by Pakistan army and want independence," Sudhir Chaudhary said in his programme.

The JeM mouthpiece was caught off-guard as the programme aired on Zee exposed the real feeling prevailing inside Pakistan.

"Balochistan constitutes 44 per cent of Pakistan's total land area. If the region gets independence, Pakistan will lose its identity as a country. If Pakistan doesn't give up their Kashmir dream and focus on fulfilling the wishes on Balochistan, it will lose out 44 per cent of its territory," Zee Network's anchor and editor-in-chief said.

"Balochistan is now a conflict zone where no reporting is allowed because it is controlled by the Pakistani Army. It is a tough job to present the truth of Balochistan to the world. It is heavily guarded by Pakistani military, so the true picture of the torture is never revealed," Sudhir Chaudhary said.

"The only way to understand the real situation is through some videos posted on social media by the residents. People making these videos have to travel hundreds of kilometres to areas where internet is available. They then upload the video for the world to see," the programme revealed.

Terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), in its mouthpiece Al Qalam, mentioned Zee News programme DNA while writing a piece on the Indian media. In the editorial piece, Al Qalam said, "India's famous channel Zee-DNA's anchor Sudhir Chaudhary said that India was behind the breakdown of Bangladesh.

Terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), in its mouthpiece Al Qalam, mentioned Zee News programme DNA while writing a piece on the Indian media. In the editorial piece, Al Qalam said, "India's famous channel Zee-DNA's anchor Sudhir Chaudhary said that India was behind the breakdown of Bangladesh. The Indian government should intensify its action in Pakistan so that Pakistan should get fragmented. Not only this, but in the prime time program, it has been emphasising that Pakistan should be attacked and war is the only way." Masood Azhar-led JeM, which has openly spread its anti-India hate campaign through its media outlet accused the Indian media of being a "black spot" in the name of journalism. Clearly, the fact that post-Pulwama, the Indian media openly castigated the terror outfit hasn't gone down well with Masood Azhar. In fact, Zee News Editor-in-Chief Sudhir Chaudhary in his programme on March 6 had said that "when India gets angry, Pakistan is blown to smithereens." "This happened in 1971 when Pakistan was divided into two, but now they are beginning to forget the biggest loss in their history. Pakistan is under immense pressure, and one of its regions - Balochistan - is fighting to be free from its rule. The people of Balochistan are fed up of the torture meted out by Pakistan army and want independence," Sudhir Chaudhary said in his programme. The JeM mouthpiece was caught off-guard as the programme aired on Zee exposed the real feeling prevailing inside Pakistan. "Balochistan constitutes 44 per cent of Pakistan's total land area. If the region gets independence, Pakistan will lose its identity as a country. If Pakistan doesn't give up their Kashmir dream and focus on fulfilling the wishes on Balochistan, it will lose out 44 per cent of its territory," Zee Network's anchor and editor-in-chief said. "Balochistan is now a conflict zone where no reporting is allowed because it is controlled by the Pakistani Army. It is a tough job to present the truth of Balochistan to the world. It is heavily guarded by Pakistani military, so the true picture of the torture is never revealed," Sudhir Chaudhary said. "The only way to understand the real situation is through some videos posted on social media by the residents. People making these videos have to travel hundreds of kilometres to areas where internet is available. They then upload the video for the world to see," the programme revealed.

JeM mentions Sudhir Chaudhary's DNA programme in its mouthpiece

As the United Nations Security Council(UNSC) gets set to discuss the resolution to<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/pakistan-must-take-meaningful-action-against-terrorists-on-its-soil-says-pompeo-in-meeting-with-gokhale-202720"> list Jaish-e-Mohammed(JeM)</a> chief Masood Azhar as a "global terrorist" on Wednesday, the Chinese foreign ministry said today that a decision needs to be arrived at through "responsible and serious discussions" over the issue.

The UNSC had moved the resolution just days after the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/18-terrorists-killed-in-21-days-succeeded-in-eliminating-jem-leadership-lt-gen-dhillon-202727">Pulwama terrorist attack</a> in which India blamed the JeM chief of masterminding the attack. The JeM had taken responsibility&nbsp;for the attack on a CRPF bus on February 14th at Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir(J&amp;K)&nbsp;in which over 40 personnel were killed.

“China will continue to communicate and work with relevant parties in a responsible manner so as to properly resolve this matter. Only by making a decision through responsible and serious discussions can we resolve the issue in a sustainable manner,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said during a media briefing on Masood's issue.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8bb8lFaX9hI" width="560"></iframe>

France, US and UK had proposed the listing of Azhar as an international terrorist and if no country raises any issue by March 13, Azhar will be put on the UN terror list.

China has vetoed Azhar's resolution&nbsp;thrice earlier - 2009, 2016, 2017, however in recent days pressure has grown to list Masood as a "global terrorist" after France backed India's stand on the issue.

On Monday, India's foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale met US secretary of state Mike Pompeo to press the terror issue. Pompeo told the Indian foreign secretary that Pakistan should &nbsp;to take "meaningful action" against terrorist groups.

During the Pulwama attack, Gokhale had briefed the media during which he had said there was credible information information that &nbsp;Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terror group was attempting suicide attacks at various parts of the country, as a result a pre-emptive strike became important and India struck the biggest camp of JeM at Balakot.

As Indian Air Force jets pounded targets Balakot in February, China had called for calm and had said it was in touch with both India and Pakistan regarding recent tensions. During a press conference, Kang had expressed the hope that India and Pakistan would maintain "good neighbourly&nbsp;and friendly ties and settle issues through friendly consultation." 
&nbsp;

As the United Nations Security Council(UNSC) gets set to discuss the resolution to list Jaish-e-Mohammed(JeM) chief Masood Azhar as a "global terrorist" on Wednesday, the Chinese foreign ministry said today that a decision needs to be arrived at through "responsible and serious discussions" over the issue.

As the United Nations Security Council(UNSC) gets set to discuss the resolution to list Jaish-e-Mohammed(JeM) chief Masood Azhar as a "global terrorist" on Wednesday, the Chinese foreign ministry said today that a decision needs to be arrived at through "responsible and serious discussions" over the issue. The UNSC had moved the resolution just days after the Pulwama terrorist attack in which India blamed the JeM chief of masterminding the attack. The JeM had taken responsibility for the attack on a CRPF bus on February 14th at Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir(J&K) in which over 40 personnel were killed. “China will continue to communicate and work with relevant parties in a responsible manner so as to properly resolve this matter. Only by making a decision through responsible and serious discussions can we resolve the issue in a sustainable manner,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said during a media briefing on Masood's issue. France, US and UK had proposed the listing of Azhar as an international terrorist and if no country raises any issue by March 13, Azhar will be put on the UN terror list. China has vetoed Azhar's resolution thrice earlier - 2009, 2016, 2017, however in recent days pressure has grown to list Masood as a "global terrorist" after France backed India's stand on the issue. On Monday, India's foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale met US secretary of state Mike Pompeo to press the terror issue. Pompeo told the Indian foreign secretary that Pakistan should to take "meaningful action" against terrorist groups. During the Pulwama attack, Gokhale had briefed the media during which he had said there was credible information information that Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terror group was attempting suicide attacks at various parts of the country, as a result a pre-emptive strike became important and India struck the biggest camp of JeM at Balakot. As Indian Air Force jets pounded targets Balakot in February, China had called for calm and had said it was in touch with both India and Pakistan regarding recent tensions. During a press conference, Kang had expressed the hope that India and Pakistan would maintain "good neighbourly and friendly ties and settle issues through friendly consultation."

Responsible discussions can resolve the issue in a sustainable manner: China on listing JeM chief Masood Azhar as global terrorist at UNSC

The United States has asked Pakistan to take "meaningful steps" against Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). US National Security Adviser John Bolton who spoke with Pakistani Foreign Minister SM Qureshi in a tweet said&nbsp;encouraged "meaningful steps against JeM and other terrorist groups operating from Pakistan."

Adding further that the Pakistani Foreign Minister assured "me that Pakistan would deal firmly with all terrorists and will continue steps to deescalate tensions with India."

The readout of the same conversation between Bolton and Qureshi from Pakistani Foriegn Ministry, on the other hand, makes no mention of US NSA asking Pakistan to act on JeM.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Spoke with Pakistani FM Qureshi to encourage meaningful steps against JeM and other terrorist groups operating from Pakistan. The FM assured me that Pakistan would deal firmly with all terrorists and will continue steps to deescalate tensions with India.
— John Bolton (@AmbJohnBolton) <a href="https://twitter.com/AmbJohnBolton/status/1105188397541408768?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 11, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

The development comes even as Indian Foreign Secretary is in US and met US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. A read out from the US State Department said, "Secretary Pompeo and Foreign Secretary Gokhale discussed the importance of bringing those responsible for the attack to justice and the urgency of Pakistan taking meaningful action against terrorist groups operating on its soil."

It is important to note that US NSA and Indian NSA Ajit Doval have spoken three times since the Pulwama terror attack whose responsibility was taken by UN-listed terror group JeM emanating from Pakistan.

The first time when the US NSA spoke with Indian NSA was February 15, just a day after Pulwama terror attack and tweeted "Pakistan must crack down on JeM and all terrorists operating from its territory" adding "Countries should uphold UNSC responsibilities to deny safe haven and support for terrorists".

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
I expressed condolences to NSA Doval yesterday for the reprehensible terrorist attack on India. Pakistan must crack down on JeM and all terrorists operating from its territory. Countries should uphold UNSC responsibilities to deny safe haven and support for terrorists <a href="https://twitter.com/nsaajit?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nsaajit</a>
— John Bolton (@AmbJohnBolton) <a href="https://twitter.com/AmbJohnBolton/status/1096743998625062912?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 16, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

The Ministry of External Affairs readout of the Bolton-Doval talks of February 15 had mentioned that Ambassador Bolton supports India's right to self-defence against cross-border terrorism.

He also offered "all assistance" to India to bring the perpetrators and backers of the Pulwama terror attack promptly to justice.

India on February 26 launched strikes against JeM terror camp in Balakot, Pakistan. United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called the strikes as a "counter-terrorism action". In a statement, he said," following Indian counter-terrorism action on February 26, I spoke with Indian minister of external affairs Sushma Swaraj to emphasise our close security partnership and shared goal of maintaining peace and security in the region". 
&nbsp;

The United States has asked Pakistan to take "meaningful steps" against Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). US National Security Adviser John Bolton who spoke with Pakistani Foreign Minister SM Qureshi in a tweet said encouraged "meaningful steps against JeM and other terrorist groups operating from Pakistan.

The United States has asked Pakistan to take "meaningful steps" against Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). US National Security Adviser John Bolton who spoke with Pakistani Foreign Minister SM Qureshi in a tweet said encouraged "meaningful steps against JeM and other terrorist groups operating from Pakistan." Adding further that the Pakistani Foreign Minister assured "me that Pakistan would deal firmly with all terrorists and will continue steps to deescalate tensions with India." The readout of the same conversation between Bolton and Qureshi from Pakistani Foriegn Ministry, on the other hand, makes no mention of US NSA asking Pakistan to act on JeM. Spoke with Pakistani FM Qureshi to encourage meaningful steps against JeM and other terrorist groups operating from Pakistan. The FM assured me that Pakistan would deal firmly with all terrorists and will continue steps to deescalate tensions with India. — John Bolton (@AmbJohnBolton) March 11, 2019 × The development comes even as Indian Foreign Secretary is in US and met US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. A read out from the US State Department said, "Secretary Pompeo and Foreign Secretary Gokhale discussed the importance of bringing those responsible for the attack to justice and the urgency of Pakistan taking meaningful action against terrorist groups operating on its soil." It is important to note that US NSA and Indian NSA Ajit Doval have spoken three times since the Pulwama terror attack whose responsibility was taken by UN-listed terror group JeM emanating from Pakistan. The first time when the US NSA spoke with Indian NSA was February 15, just a day after Pulwama terror attack and tweeted "Pakistan must crack down on JeM and all terrorists operating from its territory" adding "Countries should uphold UNSC responsibilities to deny safe haven and support for terrorists". I expressed condolences to NSA Doval yesterday for the reprehensible terrorist attack on India. Pakistan must crack down on JeM and all terrorists operating from its territory. Countries should uphold UNSC responsibilities to deny safe haven and support for terrorists @nsaajit — John Bolton (@AmbJohnBolton) February 16, 2019 × The Ministry of External Affairs readout of the Bolton-Doval talks of February 15 had mentioned that Ambassador Bolton supports India's right to self-defence against cross-border terrorism. He also offered "all assistance" to India to bring the perpetrators and backers of the Pulwama terror attack promptly to justice. India on February 26 launched strikes against JeM terror camp in Balakot, Pakistan. United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called the strikes as a "counter-terrorism action". In a statement, he said," following Indian counter-terrorism action on February 26, I spoke with Indian minister of external affairs Sushma Swaraj to emphasise our close security partnership and shared goal of maintaining peace and security in the region".

US National Security Adviser Bolton asks Pakistan to take steps against JeM

The Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, in a recent statement, mentioned ‘age-old ties’ and ‘friendship’ that India and China have sustained using the metaphor of life-sustaining streams of water meandering through vast stretches of land in their long journey from source to the sea.&nbsp;

Names of rivers like Ganga and Yangtze do evoke historic civilisational memories of people but it would be naive to imagine that poetic imagery alone can help sustain meaningful, substantial relationships between nations. In the same speech, Wang reiterated that for China friendship with Pakistan remain important and he expressed hope that both India and Pakistan would respect each other's sovereignty and work for a stable peace. 
 
We can’t overlook that even after the terrorist attack in Pulwama and its aftermath nothing seems to have changed as far as China is concerned. 
 
It may be argued that the great rivers in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent all originate in the Tibetan plateau-conceded by India to be an integral part of the Peoples Republic of China albeit autonomous, and hence, China is entwined inextricably with events in neighbourhood downstream. It cant be denied that the most populous country in the world also shares thousands of kilometres long land border with India Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar. 
 
Bilateral disputes regarding border apart, this fact too appears to strengthen China’s claims to be ‘an interested party’ in South Asia’s future. However, to concede this without voicing legitimate apprehensions can only jeopardise our national interests. 
 
At the moment China, like the US, has also offered to help resolve explosive outstanding disputes between India and Pakistan. The wording may be cautious and euphemistic but let there be no doubt it is trying to make bilateral issues trilateral. By no stretch of imagination can China be considered an unbiased ‘honest broker’.&nbsp; 
 
Ever since Donald Trump declared ‘trade war’ against China there has been loose talk about unprecedented opportunities opening up for India to leverage this in its relations with China particularly in the context of its relations with Pakistan. Months have passed and by now it is clear there is no point in chasing this mirage. If we are to successfully resist arm twisting by anyone we have to rely on our own strength and unwavering resolve. Once we concede that any external power is ‘required’ to reduce ‘dangerous tensions’ in South Asian Nuclear Flashpoint, we will lose our autonomy forever. It is only in Pakistan’s interest to ‘invite’ friends getting impatient to gatecrash.

India at the moment should be consolidating its ties with other South Asian neighbours to make the point that it is a predominant regional power.

Much too easily, we have fallen in the trap laid by foreign analysts who have ‘theorised’ that India’s smaller neighbours look at it as a ‘bullying Big Brother’; they don’t trust her. In the past few decades, this analysis has spawned diplomatic strategies and economic aid programmes by the US, China and some European countries to alienate Nepal and Sri Lanka from India. Apprehensions have been systematically fuelled to become anxieties causing serious alienation.&nbsp; 
 
Take a close look, from Bangladesh and Myanmar to the Maldives, India is being encircled to cripple and curb it from operating in its natural sphere of influence. After all the subcontinent and the Ocean are identified as Indian. The legacy of history can't be wished away. The footprint of Indian civilisation-Hindu, Buddhist, Islamic- extends from Central Asia to Farthest reaches of South East Asia. It is this footprint that China is keen to erode and as fast as possible. If it succeeds in this design then it will emerge as the solitary power in Asia. Neither the US nor Russia could then think of balancing it with India.&nbsp; 
 
It is in this context that India needs to assess developments in the region and recast its policies. In Nepal, the rebel leadership has made peace with Kathmandu and the remains splinter group of Maoist guerrillas have signalled a willingness to join mainstream politics. This should remove outstanding irritants in our bilateral relationships with that landlocked neighbour. Rohingya refugees are a common problem shared by Myanmar, Bangladesh and India. One has to be extremely sensitive to its dangerous potential. The violation of human rights and genocide are allegations that are used opportunistically as weapons of mass destructions by Big Powers. Sri Lanka continues to be in the dock for atrocities committed by its armed forces particularly in the last phase of its long drawn civil war but one dare not question the US about its savagery in Iraq and Syria.

Nor are such concerns raised about Israel and Palestine or China and Tibet. Words like ‘People’s Inherent and Inalienable Right to Self Determination’ have lost all meaning due to selective prejudiced use and hypocrisy. India doesn’t have to be defensive at all.

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

&nbsp;

The Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, in a recent statement, mentioned ‘age-old ties’ and ‘friendship’ that India and China have sustained using the metaphor of life-sustaining streams of water meandering through vast stretches of land in their long journey from source to the sea.

The Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, in a recent statement, mentioned ‘age-old ties’ and ‘friendship’ that India and China have sustained using the metaphor of life-sustaining streams of water meandering through vast stretches of land in their long journey from source to the sea. Names of rivers like Ganga and Yangtze do evoke historic civilisational memories of people but it would be naive to imagine that poetic imagery alone can help sustain meaningful, substantial relationships between nations. In the same speech, Wang reiterated that for China friendship with Pakistan remain important and he expressed hope that both India and Pakistan would respect each other's sovereignty and work for a stable peace. We can’t overlook that even after the terrorist attack in Pulwama and its aftermath nothing seems to have changed as far as China is concerned. It may be argued that the great rivers in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent all originate in the Tibetan plateau-conceded by India to be an integral part of the Peoples Republic of China albeit autonomous, and hence, China is entwined inextricably with events in neighbourhood downstream. It cant be denied that the most populous country in the world also shares thousands of kilometres long land border with India Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar. Bilateral disputes regarding border apart, this fact too appears to strengthen China’s claims to be ‘an interested party’ in South Asia’s future. However, to concede this without voicing legitimate apprehensions can only jeopardise our national interests. At the moment China, like the US, has also offered to help resolve explosive outstanding disputes between India and Pakistan. The wording may be cautious and euphemistic but let there be no doubt it is trying to make bilateral issues trilateral. By no stretch of imagination can China be considered an unbiased ‘honest broker’. Ever since Donald Trump declared ‘trade war’ against China there has been loose talk about unprecedented opportunities opening up for India to leverage this in its relations with China particularly in the context of its relations with Pakistan. Months have passed and by now it is clear there is no point in chasing this mirage. If we are to successfully resist arm twisting by anyone we have to rely on our own strength and unwavering resolve. Once we concede that any external power is ‘required’ to reduce ‘dangerous tensions’ in South Asian Nuclear Flashpoint, we will lose our autonomy forever. It is only in Pakistan’s interest to ‘invite’ friends getting impatient to gatecrash. India at the moment should be consolidating its ties with other South Asian neighbours to make the point that it is a predominant regional power. Much too easily, we have fallen in the trap laid by foreign analysts who have ‘theorised’ that India’s smaller neighbours look at it as a ‘bullying Big Brother’; they don’t trust her. In the past few decades, this analysis has spawned diplomatic strategies and economic aid programmes by the US, China and some European countries to alienate Nepal and Sri Lanka from India. Apprehensions have been systematically fuelled to become anxieties causing serious alienation. Take a close look, from Bangladesh and Myanmar to the Maldives, India is being encircled to cripple and curb it from operating in its natural sphere of influence. After all the subcontinent and the Ocean are identified as Indian. The legacy of history can't be wished away. The footprint of Indian civilisation-Hindu, Buddhist, Islamic- extends from Central Asia to Farthest reaches of South East Asia. It is this footprint that China is keen to erode and as fast as possible. If it succeeds in this design then it will emerge as the solitary power in Asia. Neither the US nor Russia could then think of balancing it with India. It is in this context that India needs to assess developments in the region and recast its policies. In Nepal, the rebel leadership has made peace with Kathmandu and the remains splinter group of Maoist guerrillas have signalled a willingness to join mainstream politics. This should remove outstanding irritants in our bilateral relationships with that landlocked neighbour. Rohingya refugees are a common problem shared by Myanmar, Bangladesh and India. One has to be extremely sensitive to its dangerous potential. The violation of human rights and genocide are allegations that are used opportunistically as weapons of mass destructions by Big Powers. Sri Lanka continues to be in the dock for atrocities committed by its armed forces particularly in the last phase of its long drawn civil war but one dare not question the US about its savagery in Iraq and Syria. Nor are such concerns raised about Israel and Palestine or China and Tibet. Words like ‘People’s Inherent and Inalienable Right to Self Determination’ have lost all meaning due to selective prejudiced use and hypocrisy. India doesn’t have to be defensive at all. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

India needs to recast its neighbourhood policies as China remains cryptic on Masood Azhar

The Indian government, in the aftermath of Pulwama, announced its intention to maximise the use of water flowing to Pakistan via the Indus system. As a multipronged strategy, India shifted its focus on the Indus Water Treaty (IWT).&nbsp;

The geographical setting of the Indus river system has facilitated partitioning of the six rivers in equal numbers between the two riparian countries under the 1960 IWT, which was achieved after nine years of intense negotiation under the aegis of the World Bank. &nbsp;

Pakistan, being one the world’s most arid countries, with an average rainfall of less than 240 mm, is quite dependent on Indus waters. Under the Treaty, India was given control over the water flowing in the three 'eastern' rivers of the Indus River System (Beas, Ravi and Sutlej) with the mean flow of 33 million acre-feet (MAF), which is 20 per cent of the annual flow of all Indus Rivers (168 MAF). In contrast, Pakistan was given control over the water flowing from the 2 'western’ rivers (Chenab and Jhelum) with a mean flow of 80 MAF that corresponds to 80 per cent of the annual flow.&nbsp;

Although India has retained the right to use the 'western' rivers on the non-consumptive basis (power generation/industrial consumption/navigation) so as not to affect the volume of water flowing into these rivers, it has done little in effectively addressing the severe water crisis afflicting the Indian portion of the Indus Basin.&nbsp;

Political ecologists and critics of the scarcity discourse have established that social power dynamics shape water issues in the Indus basin, especially when both countries deal with acute drought. &nbsp;&nbsp;

In 2003, the Jammu &amp; Kashmir state assembly passed an unanimous resolution for the abrogation of the Treaty, which further re-asserted the need for its revision in 2016. &nbsp;

On the face of it, this Treaty is heavily skewed in favour of Pakistan, which enjoys a lion’s share of the water and its utilisation. The treaty has not considered Gujarat – the lowermost riparian area - as part of the Indus river basin, as the Great Rann of Kutch area was disputed territory between the two nations. This was settled in 1968 by sharing the total disputed area in a 9:1 ratio between India and Pakistan.&nbsp;

Since the ratification of the treaty, over the past over 58 years, India and Pakistan have not engaged in any water wars. This is partly due to the fact that India has failed to utilise its share of the waters, allowing unused waters to flow into Pakistan.&nbsp;

Effective and complete utilisation of Indus waters falling in India’s share is the first step towards harvesting the Treaty and this has not been objected to by Pakistan, as evidenced from the February 21, 2019, statement of its Ministry of Water Resources. It is imperative that India should consider active utilisation of the 'western' rivers, albeit for non-consumptive basis.&nbsp;

The formal inauguration of the Kishanganga Hydropower project in J&amp;K in May 2018 is a salutary step in this direction, even though it just marks a beginning.&nbsp;

India has an abundance of small dams and barrages in the Indus basin. Pakistan’s objection to such projects was overruled by the Court of Arbitration under the Treaty, which paves the way for India to install and run several projects on the `western’ rivers, hitherto flowing un-channelled into Pakistan.&nbsp;

These projects will serve as an effective tool in India’s hand to remind Pakistan that India will not hesitate to harness the waters flowing into Pakistan beyond the contours of the Treaty, in the event of a war or war-like situation between the two nations.&nbsp;

Every single dimension of human activity in this basin, whether economic, social, or political, is burdened with a huge handicap arising from the basin’s sovereignty-based, resource-dividing and relentless unilateralism.

India must consider setting up of a dedicated specialised body dealing exclusively with effective utilisation of the rivers under the Treaty. This body may be tasked with the study of the Indus river basins in India, determination of the needs of each state wherein the river basins exist, formulating state-wise projects on the rivers and their basins and time-bound implementation of these projects.&nbsp;

Besides ensuring the development of effective canal systems to ease the perennial water shortages for home consumption and agriculture, the body could also explore the feasibility of channeling excess water from these rivers to other river basins.&nbsp;

This will usher a new phase of infrastructure development and economic growth in this perennially neglected basin.&nbsp;

The two co-riparian neighbours are often at loggerheads over water resources. It is frequently asked whether India or Pakistan can unilaterally abrogate the treaty? The answer is No.&nbsp;

Article 12 of the treaty states that “the provisions of this Treaty, or, the provisions of this Treaty as modified under the provisions of Paragraph (3), shall continue in force until terminated by a duly ratified treaty concluded for that purpose between the two governments.”

The IWT is about sharing of water of six rivers — Indus, Chenab, Jhelum, Beas, Ravi and Sutlej — between India and Pakistan. The importance of the Indus basin to the co-riparian states extends far beyond the immediately tangible material benefits in terms of its waters and any failure to cooperate risks the future of this basin and the future water security of generations to come. &nbsp;

(This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the <a href="https://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-the-classic-no-win-situation-2728748">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

The Indian government, in the aftermath of Pulwama, announced its intention to maximise the use of water flowing to Pakistan via the Indus system. As a multipronged strategy, India shifted its focus on the Indus Water Treaty (IWT).

The Indian government, in the aftermath of Pulwama, announced its intention to maximise the use of water flowing to Pakistan via the Indus system. As a multipronged strategy, India shifted its focus on the Indus Water Treaty (IWT). The geographical setting of the Indus river system has facilitated partitioning of the six rivers in equal numbers between the two riparian countries under the 1960 IWT, which was achieved after nine years of intense negotiation under the aegis of the World Bank. Pakistan, being one the world’s most arid countries, with an average rainfall of less than 240 mm, is quite dependent on Indus waters. Under the Treaty, India was given control over the water flowing in the three 'eastern' rivers of the Indus River System (Beas, Ravi and Sutlej) with the mean flow of 33 million acre-feet (MAF), which is 20 per cent of the annual flow of all Indus Rivers (168 MAF). In contrast, Pakistan was given control over the water flowing from the 2 'western’ rivers (Chenab and Jhelum) with a mean flow of 80 MAF that corresponds to 80 per cent of the annual flow. Although India has retained the right to use the 'western' rivers on the non-consumptive basis (power generation/industrial consumption/navigation) so as not to affect the volume of water flowing into these rivers, it has done little in effectively addressing the severe water crisis afflicting the Indian portion of the Indus Basin. Political ecologists and critics of the scarcity discourse have established that social power dynamics shape water issues in the Indus basin, especially when both countries deal with acute drought. In 2003, the Jammu & Kashmir state assembly passed an unanimous resolution for the abrogation of the Treaty, which further re-asserted the need for its revision in 2016. On the face of it, this Treaty is heavily skewed in favour of Pakistan, which enjoys a lion’s share of the water and its utilisation. The treaty has not considered Gujarat – the lowermost riparian area - as part of the Indus river basin, as the Great Rann of Kutch area was disputed territory between the two nations. This was settled in 1968 by sharing the total disputed area in a 9:1 ratio between India and Pakistan. Since the ratification of the treaty, over the past over 58 years, India and Pakistan have not engaged in any water wars. This is partly due to the fact that India has failed to utilise its share of the waters, allowing unused waters to flow into Pakistan. Effective and complete utilisation of Indus waters falling in India’s share is the first step towards harvesting the Treaty and this has not been objected to by Pakistan, as evidenced from the February 21, 2019, statement of its Ministry of Water Resources. It is imperative that India should consider active utilisation of the 'western' rivers, albeit for non-consumptive basis. The formal inauguration of the Kishanganga Hydropower project in J&K in May 2018 is a salutary step in this direction, even though it just marks a beginning. India has an abundance of small dams and barrages in the Indus basin. Pakistan’s objection to such projects was overruled by the Court of Arbitration under the Treaty, which paves the way for India to install and run several projects on the `western’ rivers, hitherto flowing un-channelled into Pakistan. These projects will serve as an effective tool in India’s hand to remind Pakistan that India will not hesitate to harness the waters flowing into Pakistan beyond the contours of the Treaty, in the event of a war or war-like situation between the two nations. Every single dimension of human activity in this basin, whether economic, social, or political, is burdened with a huge handicap arising from the basin’s sovereignty-based, resource-dividing and relentless unilateralism. India must consider setting up of a dedicated specialised body dealing exclusively with effective utilisation of the rivers under the Treaty. This body may be tasked with the study of the Indus river basins in India, determination of the needs of each state wherein the river basins exist, formulating state-wise projects on the rivers and their basins and time-bound implementation of these projects. Besides ensuring the development of effective canal systems to ease the perennial water shortages for home consumption and agriculture, the body could also explore the feasibility of channeling excess water from these rivers to other river basins. This will usher a new phase of infrastructure development and economic growth in this perennially neglected basin. The two co-riparian neighbours are often at loggerheads over water resources. It is frequently asked whether India or Pakistan can unilaterally abrogate the treaty? The answer is No. Article 12 of the treaty states that “the provisions of this Treaty, or, the provisions of this Treaty as modified under the provisions of Paragraph (3), shall continue in force until terminated by a duly ratified treaty concluded for that purpose between the two governments.” The IWT is about sharing of water of six rivers — Indus, Chenab, Jhelum, Beas, Ravi and Sutlej — between India and Pakistan. The importance of the Indus basin to the co-riparian states extends far beyond the immediately tangible material benefits in terms of its waters and any failure to cooperate risks the future of this basin and the future water security of generations to come. (This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

India must ensure effective and complete utilisation of Indus waters

Security forces have gone very forcefully after the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/videos/kjs-dhillon-corps-commander-of-chinar-corps-pak-army-involved-in-crpf-attack-198271">Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) t</a>errorist outfit in the wake of February 14 Pulwama attack and have succeeded in eliminating its leadership in Kashmir, a top Army officer said on Monday (March 11).

General Officer Commanding (GoC) of the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/army-asks-mothers-to-stop-their-sons-from-joining-militancy-202199">Srinagar-based Chinar Corps</a>, Lt General KJS Dhillon, told a press conference that the security forces have killed 18 militants, including JeM's second-in-command, over 21 days.

"We have gone very forcefully after the JeM, and we have reasonably succeeded in our aim of eliminating them at the earliest so that they are not able to carry out a Pulwama-like attack," he said.

Of the 18 militants killed, 14 belonged to JeM including its "six main commanders", the Lt. General flanked by IGP Kashmir S P Pani and IG Central Reserve Police Force(CRPF) Zulfiqar Hassan, said.

"We have also eliminated JeM's second-in-command Mudasir Khan, the main conspirator in the attack on a CRPF convoy on February 14. He was active for more than a year," he said.

He added that of the militants killed, eight were from Pakistan and 10 were locals, including two each of Lashkar-e-Toiba and Hizbul Mujahideen.

"Our emphasis after the February 14 attack has been on the elimination of the JeM leadership and we have been very successful in doing that in about three weeks since the attack The leadership of the JeM has been hit very badly," he said.

However, the Army officer said, it does not mean the forces have stopped "looking at the LeT or Hizb. They are very much on our radar".

Dhillon said operations against foreign militants and the JeM leadership will continue "till we eliminate all of them". Asked if there were more suicide bombers active in the valley, Dhillon said: "We are aware and keeping a track of all such modus operandi. We are prepared for it and are taking corrective measures."

Referring to the encounter in Pinglish area of Tral, the IG CRPF said it was "doubly" significant for the paramilitary force as Mudasir was involved in the 2017 Lethpora camp attack as well.

"It was a clean operation, but our job is not done yet. Very important players in the dramatis personae still remain - the people who motivated and radicalised Mudasir, those who gave him explosives and other means to carry out these attacks. We are working in close coordination with the NIA," he said.

IGP Kashmir said Mudasir lured youths into militancy. 
"Initial inputs about Mudasir started surfacing a year ago and subsequently, he joined JeM. The operations over the last fortnight have caused a lot of damage to the outfit," he said.

Pani said the militant recruitment in the last three months has also come down significantly. Also, participation in the funeral processions of militants has reduced.

"Of course, there are miscreants who try to do these things, but police are keeping a watch," Pani said.

Asked if Mudasir made the IED used in the Pulwama attack, Lt General Dhillon said as the main conspirator, he helped and coordinated the attack, "but it is a matter of investigation whether he himself made the IED".

About ceasefire violations along the LoC, the army officer said Pakistan has been targeting civilians as it cannot hit the military. "Ceasefire violations have been going on in the Uri sector.

However, no such incident has taken place in the recent past in other areas of the valley. Kamalkote in Uri has come under tremendous fire from the Pakistani side. Five civilians were injured yesterday.

"Pakistan has not been able to hit the army (targets), so it is hitting civilians. But, the Indian Army has given a befitting reply and we have hit their military targets," he said.

The Lt. General said there are intelligence reports that militants were waiting in the launch pads across the LoC to infiltrate "whenever they get a chance". He, however, said, "we are alert to it".

Security forces have gone very forcefully after the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terrorist outfit in the wake of February 14 Pulwama attack and have succeeded in eliminating its leadership in Kashmir, a top Army officer said on Monday (March 11).

Security forces have gone very forcefully after the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terrorist outfit in the wake of February 14 Pulwama attack and have succeeded in eliminating its leadership in Kashmir, a top Army officer said on Monday (March 11). General Officer Commanding (GoC) of the Srinagar-based Chinar Corps, Lt General KJS Dhillon, told a press conference that the security forces have killed 18 militants, including JeM's second-in-command, over 21 days. "We have gone very forcefully after the JeM, and we have reasonably succeeded in our aim of eliminating them at the earliest so that they are not able to carry out a Pulwama-like attack," he said. Of the 18 militants killed, 14 belonged to JeM including its "six main commanders", the Lt. General flanked by IGP Kashmir S P Pani and IG Central Reserve Police Force(CRPF) Zulfiqar Hassan, said. "We have also eliminated JeM's second-in-command Mudasir Khan, the main conspirator in the attack on a CRPF convoy on February 14. He was active for more than a year," he said. He added that of the militants killed, eight were from Pakistan and 10 were locals, including two each of Lashkar-e-Toiba and Hizbul Mujahideen. "Our emphasis after the February 14 attack has been on the elimination of the JeM leadership and we have been very successful in doing that in about three weeks since the attack The leadership of the JeM has been hit very badly," he said. However, the Army officer said, it does not mean the forces have stopped "looking at the LeT or Hizb. They are very much on our radar". Dhillon said operations against foreign militants and the JeM leadership will continue "till we eliminate all of them". Asked if there were more suicide bombers active in the valley, Dhillon said: "We are aware and keeping a track of all such modus operandi. We are prepared for it and are taking corrective measures." Referring to the encounter in Pinglish area of Tral, the IG CRPF said it was "doubly" significant for the paramilitary force as Mudasir was involved in the 2017 Lethpora camp attack as well. "It was a clean operation, but our job is not done yet. Very important players in the dramatis personae still remain - the people who motivated and radicalised Mudasir, those who gave him explosives and other means to carry out these attacks. We are working in close coordination with the NIA," he said. IGP Kashmir said Mudasir lured youths into militancy. "Initial inputs about Mudasir started surfacing a year ago and subsequently, he joined JeM. The operations over the last fortnight have caused a lot of damage to the outfit," he said. Pani said the militant recruitment in the last three months has also come down significantly. Also, participation in the funeral processions of militants has reduced. "Of course, there are miscreants who try to do these things, but police are keeping a watch," Pani said. Asked if Mudasir made the IED used in the Pulwama attack, Lt General Dhillon said as the main conspirator, he helped and coordinated the attack, "but it is a matter of investigation whether he himself made the IED". About ceasefire violations along the LoC, the army officer said Pakistan has been targeting civilians as it cannot hit the military. "Ceasefire violations have been going on in the Uri sector. However, no such incident has taken place in the recent past in other areas of the valley. Kamalkote in Uri has come under tremendous fire from the Pakistani side. Five civilians were injured yesterday. "Pakistan has not been able to hit the army (targets), so it is hitting civilians. But, the Indian Army has given a befitting reply and we have hit their military targets," he said. The Lt. General said there are intelligence reports that militants were waiting in the launch pads across the LoC to infiltrate "whenever they get a chance". He, however, said, "we are alert to it".

18 terrorists killed in 21 days, succeeded in eliminating JeM leadership: Lt Gen Dhillon

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday slammed <a href="http://www.wionews.com/opinions/is-it-going-to-be-rahul-gandhi-vs-narendra-modi-in-2019-185056">Congress president Rahul Gandhi</a> for referring to terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed chief as Masood Azhar "ji" during his public address.&nbsp;

Gandhi, in his address, said that "You would remember that during their (NDA) last government, current National Security Advisor Ajit Doval went to Kandahar to hand over Masood Azhar ji."

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> Rahul Gandhi in Delhi: You would remember that during their(NDA) last Govt, current National Security Advisor Ajit Doval went to Kandahar to hand over Masood Azhar. <a href="https://t.co/xTErFR6rjV">pic.twitter.com/xTErFR6rjV</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1105082740712660992?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 11, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

The BJP did not bat an eye in attacking Gandhi with scores of party leaders joining in, including Union ministers, who took to Twitter and trolled the Congress chief.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Come on “Rahul Gandhi Ji”! 
 
Earlier it were the likes of Digvijay Ji who called “Osama Ji” and “Hafiz Saeed Sahab”. 
 
Now you are saying “Masood Azhar Ji”. 
 
What is happening to Congress Party? <a href="https://t.co/fIB4FoOFOh">pic.twitter.com/fIB4FoOFOh</a>
— Ravi Shankar Prasad (@rsprasad) <a href="https://twitter.com/rsprasad/status/1105102694891601920?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 11, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

"Come on “Rahul Gandhi Ji”! Earlier it were the likes of Digvijay Ji who called “Osama Ji” and “Hafiz Saeed Sahab”. Now you are saying “Masood Azhar Ji”. What is happening to Congress Party?" Ravi Shankar Prasad tweeted.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
What is common between Rahul Gandhi and Pakistan? 
 
Their love for terrorists. 
 
Please note Rahul ji’s reverence for terrorist Masood Azhar - a testimony to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RahulLovesTerrorists?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RahulLovesTerrorists</a> <a href="https://t.co/CyqoZ7b9CF">pic.twitter.com/CyqoZ7b9CF</a>
— Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) <a href="https://twitter.com/smritiirani/status/1105097551039082497?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 11, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

"What is common between Rahul Gandhi and Pakistan? Their love for terrorists. Please note Rahul ji’s reverence for terrorist Masood Azhar - a testimony to," read Smriti Irani's tweet.&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday slammed Congress president Rahul Gandhi for referring to terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed chief as Masood Azhar "ji" during his public address.

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday slammed Congress president Rahul Gandhi for referring to terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed chief as Masood Azhar "ji" during his public address. Gandhi, in his address, said that "You would remember that during their (NDA) last government, current National Security Advisor Ajit Doval went to Kandahar to hand over Masood Azhar ji." #WATCH Rahul Gandhi in Delhi: You would remember that during their(NDA) last Govt, current National Security Advisor Ajit Doval went to Kandahar to hand over Masood Azhar. pic.twitter.com/xTErFR6rjV — ANI (@ANI) March 11, 2019 × The BJP did not bat an eye in attacking Gandhi with scores of party leaders joining in, including Union ministers, who took to Twitter and trolled the Congress chief. Come on “Rahul Gandhi Ji”! Earlier it were the likes of Digvijay Ji who called “Osama Ji” and “Hafiz Saeed Sahab”. Now you are saying “Masood Azhar Ji”. What is happening to Congress Party? pic.twitter.com/fIB4FoOFOh — Ravi Shankar Prasad (@rsprasad) March 11, 2019 × "Come on “Rahul Gandhi Ji”! Earlier it were the likes of Digvijay Ji who called “Osama Ji” and “Hafiz Saeed Sahab”. Now you are saying “Masood Azhar Ji”. What is happening to Congress Party?" Ravi Shankar Prasad tweeted. What is common between Rahul Gandhi and Pakistan? Their love for terrorists. Please note Rahul ji’s reverence for terrorist Masood Azhar - a testimony to #RahulLovesTerrorists pic.twitter.com/CyqoZ7b9CF — Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) March 11, 2019 × "What is common between Rahul Gandhi and Pakistan? Their love for terrorists. Please note Rahul ji’s reverence for terrorist Masood Azhar - a testimony to," read Smriti Irani's tweet.

'What's happening to Congress?' asks BJP after Rahul says 'Masood Azhar ji'

Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) carried out infiltrations and transportation of terrorists seven times during 2017-18, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has said in a charge-sheet.

“Pakistan based leadership of JeM illegally infiltrated armed and trained terrorists in India using the services of an organised network of Over Ground Workers (OGWs). The investigation revealed that in the period from 23rd October 2017 till September 2018, seven such infiltrations and transportations took place,” the charge-sheet, filed in a court here, said.

The arrested OGWs used to transport Pakistani terrorists after their infiltration in India by illegally crossing the International Border (IB) in Kathua-Samba sector. During the investigation, a larger conspiracy was unearthed wherein Pakistan based leadership of JeM was conspiring to wage a war against India.

The charge-sheet names two arrested suspected terrorists—Mohd Iqbal Rather, and Riyaz Ahmed Nengroo—and one absconding suspect Ashaq Ahmed Nengroo.

While Rather is a Nursing student at Kashmir Institute of Medical Institute while the Nengroo brothers are truck drivers by profession.

&nbsp;A non-bailable warrant is also issued against Ashaq Ahmed Nengroo.The charge-sheet was filed in connection with the incident of firing by terrorists in Jhajahar Kotli area of Jammu and consequent encounter of three Pakistani terrorists in Katra area of Reasi district in September last year.

In September last year, while checking of a Kashmir bound truck, the staff of Jhajjhar Kotli Police Station Jammu was fired upon by three Pakistani terrorists of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) sitting in a cargo cabin.

“After the firing, the terrorists ran towards adjoining forest area injuring one civilian on the way. After the conclusion of the chase, the OGWs were arrested and a huge cache of arms ammunition, explosives and combat equipment were seized from the truck in which the three terrorists were being ferried by the arrested persons,” the NIA further stated in the charge-sheet.

A case was registered under Sections 307, 120-B, 121, 122 and 123 of the Ranbir Penal Code and Sections 7, 25, 26, 27 of the Indian Arms Act and Sections 16 and 18 of the Unlawful Activities (Preventions) Act.

Next day, a cordon and search operation by security forces was on, the three terrorists hiding inside a house in village Dirthi, Police Station Katra, Jammu, started firing indiscriminately at the security forces.

In a resultant encounter, all three terrorists were killed. Some security personnel was also injured. A large number of arms, ammunition, and explosive articles was recovered from the slain terrorists. Another case was registered and an investigation was taken up. Further investigation in the matter is underway. 
&nbsp;

Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) carried out infiltrations and transportation of terrorists seven times during 2017-18, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has said in a charge-sheet.

Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) carried out infiltrations and transportation of terrorists seven times during 2017-18, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has said in a charge-sheet. “Pakistan based leadership of JeM illegally infiltrated armed and trained terrorists in India using the services of an organised network of Over Ground Workers (OGWs). The investigation revealed that in the period from 23rd October 2017 till September 2018, seven such infiltrations and transportations took place,” the charge-sheet, filed in a court here, said. The arrested OGWs used to transport Pakistani terrorists after their infiltration in India by illegally crossing the International Border (IB) in Kathua-Samba sector. During the investigation, a larger conspiracy was unearthed wherein Pakistan based leadership of JeM was conspiring to wage a war against India. The charge-sheet names two arrested suspected terrorists—Mohd Iqbal Rather, and Riyaz Ahmed Nengroo—and one absconding suspect Ashaq Ahmed Nengroo. While Rather is a Nursing student at Kashmir Institute of Medical Institute while the Nengroo brothers are truck drivers by profession. A non-bailable warrant is also issued against Ashaq Ahmed Nengroo.The charge-sheet was filed in connection with the incident of firing by terrorists in Jhajahar Kotli area of Jammu and consequent encounter of three Pakistani terrorists in Katra area of Reasi district in September last year. In September last year, while checking of a Kashmir bound truck, the staff of Jhajjhar Kotli Police Station Jammu was fired upon by three Pakistani terrorists of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) sitting in a cargo cabin. “After the firing, the terrorists ran towards adjoining forest area injuring one civilian on the way. After the conclusion of the chase, the OGWs were arrested and a huge cache of arms ammunition, explosives and combat equipment were seized from the truck in which the three terrorists were being ferried by the arrested persons,” the NIA further stated in the charge-sheet. A case was registered under Sections 307, 120-B, 121, 122 and 123 of the Ranbir Penal Code and Sections 7, 25, 26, 27 of the Indian Arms Act and Sections 16 and 18 of the Unlawful Activities (Preventions) Act. Next day, a cordon and search operation by security forces was on, the three terrorists hiding inside a house in village Dirthi, Police Station Katra, Jammu, started firing indiscriminately at the security forces. In a resultant encounter, all three terrorists were killed. Some security personnel was also injured. A large number of arms, ammunition, and explosive articles was recovered from the slain terrorists. Another case was registered and an investigation was taken up. Further investigation in the matter is underway.

JeM infiltrated India 7 times in one year: NIA

India on Saturday said its non-military strike on <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/air-strike-heres-why-balakot-was-chosen-by-indian-air-force-199792">JeM camp in Pakistan</a> achieved its desired objective and demonstrated the country's firm resolve to take decisive action against <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-carries-out-air-strikes-in-pakistan-199776">cross border terrorism.</a>

Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar, at a media briefing, also said that an Indian Air Force MiG-21 Bison, piloted by Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, shot down a Pakistan Air Force F-16 fighter aircraft and there were eyewitness accounts and electronic evidence for it.

"We have also shared evidence in the form of parts of AMRAAM missile which were recovered from the site and are only carried by F-16 aircraft of the PAF," he said.

"Our non-military counter-terrorism strike achieved the desired objective. It has demonstrated our firm resolve to take decisive action against cross border terrorism," he said.

Only one aircraft was lost by India during Pakistan's unsuccessful attempt at targeting Indian military installations, he said.

Kumar also said if, as Pakistan claims, it has evidence of downing of second Indian aircraft then why has it not shared it.

Since the Pulwama terror attack the international community has stood by India, Kumar said.

It is unfortunate that Pakistan still continues to deny JeM's own claim of carrying out the Pulwama attack in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed, he said.

Kumar asserted that Pakistan-based terror groups were conducting their activities without any hindrance.

Pakistan must show credible, verifiable and sustained action against terror groups operating from its soil, he said.

On the issue of the fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi's extradition, the MEA spokesperson said the UK is still considering India's request.

India is taking all steps necessary for his extradition, he asserted.

India on Saturday said its non-military strike on JeM camp in Pakistan achieved its desired objective and demonstrated the country's firm resolve to take decisive action against cross border terrorism.

India on Saturday said its non-military strike on JeM camp in Pakistan achieved its desired objective and demonstrated the country's firm resolve to take decisive action against cross border terrorism. Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar, at a media briefing, also said that an Indian Air Force MiG-21 Bison, piloted by Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, shot down a Pakistan Air Force F-16 fighter aircraft and there were eyewitness accounts and electronic evidence for it. "We have also shared evidence in the form of parts of AMRAAM missile which were recovered from the site and are only carried by F-16 aircraft of the PAF," he said. "Our non-military counter-terrorism strike achieved the desired objective. It has demonstrated our firm resolve to take decisive action against cross border terrorism," he said. Only one aircraft was lost by India during Pakistan's unsuccessful attempt at targeting Indian military installations, he said. Kumar also said if, as Pakistan claims, it has evidence of downing of second Indian aircraft then why has it not shared it. Since the Pulwama terror attack the international community has stood by India, Kumar said. It is unfortunate that Pakistan still continues to deny JeM's own claim of carrying out the Pulwama attack in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed, he said. Kumar asserted that Pakistan-based terror groups were conducting their activities without any hindrance. Pakistan must show credible, verifiable and sustained action against terror groups operating from its soil, he said. On the issue of the fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi's extradition, the MEA spokesperson said the UK is still considering India's request. India is taking all steps necessary for his extradition, he asserted.

Balakot counter-terrorism strike on JeM camp in Pakistan achieved its objective, says India

A Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terrorist from Pakistan was killed in an encounter with security forces in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday, police said.

Security forces launched a cordon-and-search operation in the Kralgund area of Handwara in the north Kashmir district late Wednesday night following information about the presence of some terrorists in the area, a police official said.

He said the cordon was maintained during the night and contact was established with them in the morning after the forces zeroed in on the location.

There was an exchange of firing between the two sides, in which one terrorist was killed, the official said.

He said the slain terrorist was identified as a Pakistani national, known as Anwar, who was affiliated to the JeM.

Incriminating materials, including arms and ammunition, were recovered from the site of the encounter, he added.&nbsp;

A Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terrorist from Pakistan was killed in an encounter with security forces in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday, police said.

A Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terrorist from Pakistan was killed in an encounter with security forces in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday, police said. Security forces launched a cordon-and-search operation in the Kralgund area of Handwara in the north Kashmir district late Wednesday night following information about the presence of some terrorists in the area, a police official said. He said the cordon was maintained during the night and contact was established with them in the morning after the forces zeroed in on the location. There was an exchange of firing between the two sides, in which one terrorist was killed, the official said. He said the slain terrorist was identified as a Pakistani national, known as Anwar, who was affiliated to the JeM. Incriminating materials, including arms and ammunition, were recovered from the site of the encounter, he added.

JeM terrorist killed in encounter in J&K's Kupwara

When India is fighting a war against terror and has even conducted an airstrike and bombed the Jaish-e-Mohammed's (JeM) terrorist training facility at Balakot in Pakistan, the leaders of Congress and other opposition parties are busy targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the ruling BJP by casting aspersions and ascribing motives to the direct offensive launched by India to uproot and destroy the terror factories in Pakistan.

After the Pulwama attack, Prime Minister Modi was quick in announcing that the Indian Armed Forces have been given full powers to handle the situation and counter cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan.

After the February 26 airstrike that targeted the terror infrastructure at Balakot, Pakistan Air force F-16 jets entered the Indian territory to target military installations. They were intercepted and chased away by Indian Air Force pilots. The Pakistani offensive resulted in the downing of an F-16 aircraft. India's brave fighter pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan, whose aircraft was also hit, was captured when he ejected and landed inside the Pakistani territory. Under immense diplomatic pressure mounted by India and also the threat of direct action in case Pakistan chose to remain defiant, Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan announced in his Parliament that Abhinandan would be released.

“The Indian Air Defence system was on full alert in the morning of 27 February - a day after the Balakot airstrike. Build up of Pakistan Air Force aircraft on their side of LoC was noticed in time and additional aircraft were scrambled to tackle Pak incursion. When there was an attempt to attack Indian military installations, PAF aircraft were engaged and forced to withdraw by Mirage-2000, Su-30 and MiG-21 Bison aircraft from the Indian side. They left in a hurry as demonstrated by large missed distances of the weapons dropped by them. &nbsp;During combat, use of F-16 by PAF and multiple launches of AMRAAM (American beyond visual range air-to-air missile) were conclusively observed. Prompt and correct tactical action by Su-30 aircraft, in response to AMRAAM launch, defeated the missile. Parts of the missile fell in area East of Rajouri in J&amp;K, injuring a civilian on ground.” With this statement on Tuesday, the Indian Ministry of Defence has blasted the false claim by Pakistan of shooting down an Su-30, which was obviously a cover up for loss of its own aircraft.

In the meanwhile, even as Pakistan imposed a ban on Mumbai terror attack mastermind Hafeez Saeed led Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) on Tuesday, there has been no let up and Pakistan has continued to violate the ceasefire along the line of control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir and there have been civilian casualties too.

When troops on both sides are in a state of combat readiness and it is time for the nation to remain united to face the enemy, the Congress party and other opposition parties are working overtime and throwing posers about the outcome of the February 26 airstrike. They all are asking the same question in tandem and the people at large are viewing this as an attempt by the opposition to politicise the situation keeping in view the upcoming general election. What is also alarming is that the opposition leaders are even pointing their fingers questioning the “timing of the post-Pulwama offensive (ahead of the Lok Sabha polls).

Gloating over the situation prevailing in India are those at the helm of affairs in Pakistan. That country’s Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, in an interview, has talked of differences among the political parties in India with regard to the numbers of terrorists killed in the airstrike. In a video that’s gone viral, Qureshi is heard saying, "The Congress party is questioning the claim that terror camps have been destroyed and a large number of terrorists have been killed."

On the current situation, the nation is also witnessing a war of words on social media between the BJP and opposition leaders. What is particularly capturing headlines are a couple of tweets by senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh. After citing a certain news-report and asking “what is the truth behind the bombing of Balakot”, Singh said in another tweet:&nbsp;

After the Air Strike conducted by our Air Force in the wake of the Pulwama attack, doubt is being expressed in a section of foreign media and as a consequence of this, the credibility of the government of India is being questioned. 
 
The remarks by opposition leaders are being seen as an attempt by the opposition leaders to dilute the gravity of the Pulwama attack and undermine India’s war against terror. The direct beneficiary of this is Pakistan.

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

&nbsp;

When India is fighting a war against terror and has even conducted an airstrike and bombed the Jaish-e-Mohammed's (JeM) terrorist training facility at Balakot in Pakistan, the leaders of Congress and other opposition parties are busy targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the ruling BJP by casting aspersions and ascribing motives to the direct offensive launched by India to uproot and destroy the terror factories in Pakistan.

When India is fighting a war against terror and has even conducted an airstrike and bombed the Jaish-e-Mohammed's (JeM) terrorist training facility at Balakot in Pakistan, the leaders of Congress and other opposition parties are busy targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the ruling BJP by casting aspersions and ascribing motives to the direct offensive launched by India to uproot and destroy the terror factories in Pakistan. After the Pulwama attack, Prime Minister Modi was quick in announcing that the Indian Armed Forces have been given full powers to handle the situation and counter cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan. After the February 26 airstrike that targeted the terror infrastructure at Balakot, Pakistan Air force F-16 jets entered the Indian territory to target military installations. They were intercepted and chased away by Indian Air Force pilots. The Pakistani offensive resulted in the downing of an F-16 aircraft. India's brave fighter pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan, whose aircraft was also hit, was captured when he ejected and landed inside the Pakistani territory. Under immense diplomatic pressure mounted by India and also the threat of direct action in case Pakistan chose to remain defiant, Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan announced in his Parliament that Abhinandan would be released. “The Indian Air Defence system was on full alert in the morning of 27 February - a day after the Balakot airstrike. Build up of Pakistan Air Force aircraft on their side of LoC was noticed in time and additional aircraft were scrambled to tackle Pak incursion. When there was an attempt to attack Indian military installations, PAF aircraft were engaged and forced to withdraw by Mirage-2000, Su-30 and MiG-21 Bison aircraft from the Indian side. They left in a hurry as demonstrated by large missed distances of the weapons dropped by them. During combat, use of F-16 by PAF and multiple launches of AMRAAM (American beyond visual range air-to-air missile) were conclusively observed. Prompt and correct tactical action by Su-30 aircraft, in response to AMRAAM launch, defeated the missile. Parts of the missile fell in area East of Rajouri in J&K, injuring a civilian on ground.” With this statement on Tuesday, the Indian Ministry of Defence has blasted the false claim by Pakistan of shooting down an Su-30, which was obviously a cover up for loss of its own aircraft. In the meanwhile, even as Pakistan imposed a ban on Mumbai terror attack mastermind Hafeez Saeed led Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) on Tuesday, there has been no let up and Pakistan has continued to violate the ceasefire along the line of control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir and there have been civilian casualties too. When troops on both sides are in a state of combat readiness and it is time for the nation to remain united to face the enemy, the Congress party and other opposition parties are working overtime and throwing posers about the outcome of the February 26 airstrike. They all are asking the same question in tandem and the people at large are viewing this as an attempt by the opposition to politicise the situation keeping in view the upcoming general election. What is also alarming is that the opposition leaders are even pointing their fingers questioning the “timing of the post-Pulwama offensive (ahead of the Lok Sabha polls). Gloating over the situation prevailing in India are those at the helm of affairs in Pakistan. That country’s Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, in an interview, has talked of differences among the political parties in India with regard to the numbers of terrorists killed in the airstrike. In a video that’s gone viral, Qureshi is heard saying, "The Congress party is questioning the claim that terror camps have been destroyed and a large number of terrorists have been killed." On the current situation, the nation is also witnessing a war of words on social media between the BJP and opposition leaders. What is particularly capturing headlines are a couple of tweets by senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh. After citing a certain news-report and asking “what is the truth behind the bombing of Balakot”, Singh said in another tweet: After the Air Strike conducted by our Air Force in the wake of the Pulwama attack, doubt is being expressed in a section of foreign media and as a consequence of this, the credibility of the government of India is being questioned. The remarks by opposition leaders are being seen as an attempt by the opposition leaders to dilute the gravity of the Pulwama attack and undermine India’s war against terror. The direct beneficiary of this is Pakistan. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

By politicising Balakot airstrike, opposition leaders have given Pakistan a big reason to cheer

Israeli fingerpints on spice smart bombs, Balakot, Kargil & 71' Indo-Pak war

Pakistan's latest lie: Pak Army says Jaish-e-Mohammad does not exist in the country

Breaking News: JeM does not exist in Pakistan, says Pak Army

Breaking News: Pakistan government bans Masood Azhar's JeM

Sometime in 1997, the Jammu and Kashmir government had invited journalists to visit the Kot Balwal jail on the outskirts of Jammu city, which houses dreaded terrorists.

While walking through the pathways, a bearded and overweight Moulvi with a limp tried his best to attract the attention of the visiting media persons. From behind the grills, he tried telling the scribes that he was one of them — a writer.

The visitors, more eager to see Afghan war veterans and highly placed Harkat-ul-Ansar commanders, Nasrullah Mansoor Khan Langrial and Sajjad Khan Afghani, declined. 
 
The Moulvi - none other than Maulana Masood Azhar - is currently the most wanted man in India.

Azhar had come to discipline Afghani

Ironically, it was not just the media which was taken in by the looks of a short squat man who was dismissed as no more than a harmless terrorist sympathiser. The investigating agencies thought the same! They neither filed a case against him nor began prosecution till they were forced to release him in exchange of passengers of the IC814 plane hijacked in December 1999.

Azhar had been sent to Kashmir to discipline Afghani, who had gone berserk after security forces had captured his colleague, Langrial, in January 1994.

An enraged Afghani attacked an Army camp at Elahi Bagh in Srinagar on January 16, but was pushed back. He later kidnapped Major Bhupinder Singh to negotiate Langrial’s release. When authorities refused to negotiate, he executed the officer. Afghani’s actions were creating concern back in Pakistan, where Harkat had planned to lie low and seek entrenchment in South Kashmir.

The problem was - who would bell the errant commander? The planners zeroed in on the innocuous-looking general secretary of the dreaded organisation, Maulana Masood Azhar.

With Portuguese passport in hand, he arrived at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) at New Delhi on January 29, 1994, on a Bangladesh Biman flight from Dhaka. Attired in a western suit, with a trimmed beard, he looked every inch an executive, but the immigration officer checked his passport several times. According to Azhar’s own confession, he was sweating down his trousers. But he was allowed to go and he headed for Ashoka Hotel at Chanakyapuri.

Before boarding for Srinagar on February 9, he visited Deoband, getting rid of his western dress. He arrived in Srinagar wearing a skull cap and kurta-pajama to pass off as someone returning from Mecca after performing the pilgrimage.

How Azhar was accidentally captured in 1994

After meeting his contacts in Srinagar, he summoned all commanders who were busy setting embryonic cells for the Harkat in the region. After lecturing the terrorists, urging them not to deviate from the plan, Afghani suggested him to deliver the Friday sermon at the Jamia mosque in Anantnag, to make a defiant statement. Leaving the guards behind, Afghani and South Kashmir local commander, Sikandar’s deputy, Raees, walked to the car.

Interrogation reports later suggested that the car broke down midway and they took an auto-rickshaw. But short of reaching Anantnag, they were encircled by a posse of BSF, who had somehow tracked Raees. The latter opened fire and lobbed grenades, before melting into the forest.

Masood and Afghani were taken to the Khundroo Army camp. Nobody recognised the catch. Intelligence records suggest that at the camp, Afghani, in order to save Azhar, revealed his identity, but not of the short portly man by his side. He told interrogators that this Moulvi has nothing to do with him: “I had kidnapped him. He was arrested when you arrested me.”

Authorities almost caved in, but before releasing, called Azhar into the interrogation room, where he broke down within 30 minutes and blurted out the truth, state intelligence records.

Several attempts were made to free Azhar

Despite several audacious attempts to free Masood, no effort was made to try him in a court of law. The first attempt came in early summer of 1994, when Harkat district commander Sikandar kidnapped two British citizens Kim Housego and producer David Mackie, but had to release them after Housego’s father, a former British journalist based in New Delhi, launched a public campaign.

The same year in October 1994, British Pakistani Omar Sheikh Sayeed lured three British and one American backpacker away from their guest houses in Paharganj and held them hostage at a remote house in a Ghaziabad village. The next day, Sayeed delivered a note at Delhi’s BBC office, demanding the release of Masood Azhar and his two associates, along with passport details of hostages. The BBC office passed on the documents to the Ministry of External Affairs, who sought information from Ministry of Home Affairs and the Delhi Police.

Upon confirmation that foreigners had been kidnapped, intelligence and security officials went into a tizzy. Nobody had a clue about the kidnappers, but good luck came their way when two UP police constables chased a petty thief, who had taken refuge in the same house where Sheikh, who had just returned from Delhi after delivering the note, was stationed. The British Pakistani took it as a police raid and started firing from an AK-47 rifle. Puzzled, the UP policemen called for reinforcements and found a few western hostages, all tied and trussed up. While other terrorists escaped, Omar Sheikh was arrested.

Another bid to release him again came on July 4, 1995, when a little known terrorist group, Al-Faran, kidnapped six western tourists in the Pahalgam mountains. Author Adrian Levy says the incident changed the face of modern terrorism. Finally, in December 1999, the biggest plan to secure Azhar’s release was sought in exchange of passengers of the hijacked IC814 flight. Along with Omar Sheikh Sayeed and Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar, Azhar was transported to Kandahar.

Just a month ago, Sajjad Afghani was killed during an unsuccessful attempt at escape from the Kot Balwal Jail. Curiously, plane hijackers didn’t demand the release of Langrial, whose arrest had triggered the entire chain of events. He, after spending 18 years in jail, was finally repatriated in 2011.

(This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the <a href="https://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-maulana-masood-azhar-the-moulvi-with-a-limp-who-became-india-s-most-wanted-man-2725831">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Sometime in 1997, the Jammu and Kashmir government had invited journalists to visit the Kot Balwal jail on the outskirts of Jammu city, which houses dreaded terrorists.

Sometime in 1997, the Jammu and Kashmir government had invited journalists to visit the Kot Balwal jail on the outskirts of Jammu city, which houses dreaded terrorists. While walking through the pathways, a bearded and overweight Moulvi with a limp tried his best to attract the attention of the visiting media persons. From behind the grills, he tried telling the scribes that he was one of them — a writer. The visitors, more eager to see Afghan war veterans and highly placed Harkat-ul-Ansar commanders, Nasrullah Mansoor Khan Langrial and Sajjad Khan Afghani, declined. The Moulvi - none other than Maulana Masood Azhar - is currently the most wanted man in India. Azhar had come to discipline Afghani Ironically, it was not just the media which was taken in by the looks of a short squat man who was dismissed as no more than a harmless terrorist sympathiser. The investigating agencies thought the same! They neither filed a case against him nor began prosecution till they were forced to release him in exchange of passengers of the IC814 plane hijacked in December 1999. Azhar had been sent to Kashmir to discipline Afghani, who had gone berserk after security forces had captured his colleague, Langrial, in January 1994. An enraged Afghani attacked an Army camp at Elahi Bagh in Srinagar on January 16, but was pushed back. He later kidnapped Major Bhupinder Singh to negotiate Langrial’s release. When authorities refused to negotiate, he executed the officer. Afghani’s actions were creating concern back in Pakistan, where Harkat had planned to lie low and seek entrenchment in South Kashmir. The problem was - who would bell the errant commander? The planners zeroed in on the innocuous-looking general secretary of the dreaded organisation, Maulana Masood Azhar. With Portuguese passport in hand, he arrived at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) at New Delhi on January 29, 1994, on a Bangladesh Biman flight from Dhaka. Attired in a western suit, with a trimmed beard, he looked every inch an executive, but the immigration officer checked his passport several times. According to Azhar’s own confession, he was sweating down his trousers. But he was allowed to go and he headed for Ashoka Hotel at Chanakyapuri. Before boarding for Srinagar on February 9, he visited Deoband, getting rid of his western dress. He arrived in Srinagar wearing a skull cap and kurta-pajama to pass off as someone returning from Mecca after performing the pilgrimage. How Azhar was accidentally captured in 1994 After meeting his contacts in Srinagar, he summoned all commanders who were busy setting embryonic cells for the Harkat in the region. After lecturing the terrorists, urging them not to deviate from the plan, Afghani suggested him to deliver the Friday sermon at the Jamia mosque in Anantnag, to make a defiant statement. Leaving the guards behind, Afghani and South Kashmir local commander, Sikandar’s deputy, Raees, walked to the car. Interrogation reports later suggested that the car broke down midway and they took an auto-rickshaw. But short of reaching Anantnag, they were encircled by a posse of BSF, who had somehow tracked Raees. The latter opened fire and lobbed grenades, before melting into the forest. Masood and Afghani were taken to the Khundroo Army camp. Nobody recognised the catch. Intelligence records suggest that at the camp, Afghani, in order to save Azhar, revealed his identity, but not of the short portly man by his side. He told interrogators that this Moulvi has nothing to do with him: “I had kidnapped him. He was arrested when you arrested me.” Authorities almost caved in, but before releasing, called Azhar into the interrogation room, where he broke down within 30 minutes and blurted out the truth, state intelligence records. Several attempts were made to free Azhar Despite several audacious attempts to free Masood, no effort was made to try him in a court of law. The first attempt came in early summer of 1994, when Harkat district commander Sikandar kidnapped two British citizens Kim Housego and producer David Mackie, but had to release them after Housego’s father, a former British journalist based in New Delhi, launched a public campaign. The same year in October 1994, British Pakistani Omar Sheikh Sayeed lured three British and one American backpacker away from their guest houses in Paharganj and held them hostage at a remote house in a Ghaziabad village. The next day, Sayeed delivered a note at Delhi’s BBC office, demanding the release of Masood Azhar and his two associates, along with passport details of hostages. The BBC office passed on the documents to the Ministry of External Affairs, who sought information from Ministry of Home Affairs and the Delhi Police. Upon confirmation that foreigners had been kidnapped, intelligence and security officials went into a tizzy. Nobody had a clue about the kidnappers, but good luck came their way when two UP police constables chased a petty thief, who had taken refuge in the same house where Sheikh, who had just returned from Delhi after delivering the note, was stationed. The British Pakistani took it as a police raid and started firing from an AK-47 rifle. Puzzled, the UP policemen called for reinforcements and found a few western hostages, all tied and trussed up. While other terrorists escaped, Omar Sheikh was arrested. Another bid to release him again came on July 4, 1995, when a little known terrorist group, Al-Faran, kidnapped six western tourists in the Pahalgam mountains. Author Adrian Levy says the incident changed the face of modern terrorism. Finally, in December 1999, the biggest plan to secure Azhar’s release was sought in exchange of passengers of the hijacked IC814 flight. Along with Omar Sheikh Sayeed and Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar, Azhar was transported to Kandahar. Just a month ago, Sajjad Afghani was killed during an unsuccessful attempt at escape from the Kot Balwal Jail. Curiously, plane hijackers didn’t demand the release of Langrial, whose arrest had triggered the entire chain of events. He, after spending 18 years in jail, was finally repatriated in 2011. (This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Masood Azhar: 'The Moulvi with a limp' who became India's most wanted man

Amid Pakistan's flip-flop over reports of death of&nbsp; <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/jaish-e-mohammed-chief-masood-azhar-alive-says-pakistan-media-200960">Jaish-e-Mohammed(JeM)</a> chief Masood Azhar,50, sources have told WION that Masood Azhar was never hospitalised although his dialysis was done twice a week but his condition has deteriorated since January.

Pakistan media quoting "unnamed sources" had said that the JeM chief was alive, although there was no official confirmation.&nbsp;

During an interview during the weekend, Pakistan foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi had told a US news channel that the JeM chief was in the country and was &nbsp;"very unwell" but added that government can act against him only if India presents "solid" and "inalienable" evidence that can stand in a court of law.

"He is in Pakistan, according to my information. He is unwell to the extent that he can't leave his house, because he's really unwell," Qureshi said.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/R0XO0hOlYQ4" width="560"></iframe>

India blames Azhar for the 2001 Parliament attack including the Pulwama terror strike on February 14th. He was released by the NDA government in 1999 during exchange of hostages in the &nbsp;hijacked Indian Airlines plane IC-814 in Khandhar.

Pakistan's senior security official had earlier said it was suspected that Azhar was afflicted with renal failure and was under regular dialysis at an army hospital in Rawalpindi in Pakistan

However, sources close to Azhar's family have told WION that the JeM chief is "fine and alive"&nbsp;and is likely to release a "message" very soon.

Last week, US, the UK and France had moved a fresh proposal in the UN Security Council to designate Azhar as a global terrorist. The proposal moved earlier was vetoed by China.

The Security Council Sanctions Committee will have 10 working days to consider the fresh proposal submitted by the three permanent members. It is the third attempt by UNSC members to impose sanctions on Azhar.

China has blocked the move twice - in 2016 and 2017. 
&nbsp; &nbsp; 
JeM had claimed responsibility for the February 14 attack in Pulwama that killed over 40 CRPF&nbsp;personnel. 
&nbsp;

Amid Pakistan's flip-flop over reports of death of Jaish-e-Mohammed(JeM) chief Masood Azhar,50, sources have told WION that Masood Azhar was never hospitalised although his dialysis was done twice a week but his condition has deteriorated since January.

Amid Pakistan's flip-flop over reports of death of Jaish-e-Mohammed(JeM) chief Masood Azhar,50, sources have told WION that Masood Azhar was never hospitalised although his dialysis was done twice a week but his condition has deteriorated since January. Pakistan media quoting "unnamed sources" had said that the JeM chief was alive, although there was no official confirmation. During an interview during the weekend, Pakistan foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi had told a US news channel that the JeM chief was in the country and was "very unwell" but added that government can act against him only if India presents "solid" and "inalienable" evidence that can stand in a court of law. "He is in Pakistan, according to my information. He is unwell to the extent that he can't leave his house, because he's really unwell," Qureshi said. India blames Azhar for the 2001 Parliament attack including the Pulwama terror strike on February 14th. He was released by the NDA government in 1999 during exchange of hostages in the hijacked Indian Airlines plane IC-814 in Khandhar. Pakistan's senior security official had earlier said it was suspected that Azhar was afflicted with renal failure and was under regular dialysis at an army hospital in Rawalpindi in Pakistan However, sources close to Azhar's family have told WION that the JeM chief is "fine and alive" and is likely to release a "message" very soon. Last week, US, the UK and France had moved a fresh proposal in the UN Security Council to designate Azhar as a global terrorist. The proposal moved earlier was vetoed by China. The Security Council Sanctions Committee will have 10 working days to consider the fresh proposal submitted by the three permanent members. It is the third attempt by UNSC members to impose sanctions on Azhar. China has blocked the move twice - in 2016 and 2017. JeM had claimed responsibility for the February 14 attack in Pulwama that killed over 40 CRPF personnel.

Amid conflicting reports, sources say Masood Azhar never hospitalised, plans to release message soon

After India successfully conducted air strikes on terror camps operated by Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) inside Pakistan, experts observed that New Delhi had ‘crossed the Rubicon’ this time around. It’s a good time to recall that, within Pakistan too, the Rubicon had been crossed in different ways on a few occasions in the recent past by intrepid people, but the outcome had been less than fortunate for the initiators. The Pakistani deep state had prevailed.&nbsp; 
 
Pakistani journalist Syed Saleem Shahzad had dared to explore the complex links between religiously fanatic elements within the Pakistan army and outside. He relied on inside information to report on the continuing infiltration of extremists into the Army and the Jihadi connect. But when he put out a story on the Mehran naval base attack in 2011, saying that it had been an insider job, he had crossed the line as far as the deep state was concerned. In the last week of May, Shahzad was kidnapped, tortured and killed, and his body was left in a drain as a grim reminder to anyone who may have harboured thoughts challenging the status quo. &nbsp; 
 
The heavily protected Mehran naval base, situated near Karachi, had been attacked by a handful of Pakistani Jihadists, and several names complicit in the incident, including retired defence personnel, came to light. The audacious attempt was eventually contained, but not before severe damage was done to some of the navy's expensive assets and the Pakistani defence force’s image. Predictably, in the hysteria that erupted, two things happened. First, denial. And second, approving blame to the US, India and Israel. The second was not bought by the world community, and the first had no leg to stand on after the Pakistani establishment led by General Pervez Musharraf had to crack down on the local perpetrators and weed out radical elements from within the ranks of its Armed Forces.&nbsp;

Shahzad’s Mehran report was the last major one that he would file. He not only wrote that the Mehran attack was an insider job, but also reported that a purge had been in progress which had divided security personnel as well as the rogue elements outside along ethnic and religious lines. But he was not the only journalist to be punished thus. There was the American Daniel Pearl, who too had crossed the Rubicon almost a decade before Shahzad did.&nbsp;

Pearl, who was primarily based in Mumbai while reporting on the south Asian region for The Wall Street Journal, had visited Pakistan as part of an investigative report he was working on, with a view to unravel links involving the Al Qaeda and a British citizen, better known as the ‘Shoe Bomber’. In February 2002, he was kidnapped, tortured and executed by his captors. His decomposed body and the severed head were discovered a few months later. He had entered dangerous territory, one that could expose the complicity of the deep state.&nbsp; 
 
The group that claimed ‘credit’ for the kidnapping and subsequent action was the National Movement for the Restoration of Pakistani Sovereignty. This outfit accused Pearl of being an American spy. It demanded the release of all Pakistani terror detainees as well as lifting of the embargo on the US shipment of F-16 fighter planes to Pakistan, as some of the conditions for Pearl’s release. It is inconceivable that an outfit could so brazenly function right inside Pakistan without some sort of official ‘turning the blind eye’ at the least.&nbsp;

It’s not only journalists in Pakistan, whether Pakistani or otherwise, who have paid with their lives for crossing the Rubicon. Even high-profile politicians who summoned the courage to challenge extremist elements, either inside or out of the system, fell to radical elements while the official establishment remained inactive — or implicitly supportive of the fanatics. Salman Taseer is a case in point. A liberal politician associated with the Pakistan Peoples Party of Benazir Bhutto, he was assassinated in January 2011 in Islamabad by his bodyguard, who shot him with an assault rifle 27 times hear his home. Taseer’s crime was that he had vehemently and publicly opposed his country’s blasphemy law, which had the backing of not just extremist groups but also influential sections of the Pakistani Deep State. A show of state mourning was thereafter organised but it deceived none. &nbsp;

Radical elements, both outside the political system and within, had been enraged by his public pronouncements in support of one Asia Bibi, who had been sentenced to death by a court of law for having ‘blasphemed’ Islam. After the assassination, hundreds of prominent Pakistan clerics had lent support to the assassin and urged the people to boycott Taseer’s funeral. &nbsp; 
 
The connect between extremist elements and the Pakistani state has been often commented upon by one of the country’s most prominent former envoy, Husain Haqqani, in his books and public discourses. Haqqani is now located outside Pakistan and has many times quipped that terrorists are more secure in Pakistan than he would be if he were to return to his country. He too crossed the Rubicon many times, but fortunately, he remains safe for now.&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

After India successfully conducted air strikes on terror camps operated by Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) inside Pakistan, experts observed that New Delhi had ‘crossed the Rubicon’ this time around.

After India successfully conducted air strikes on terror camps operated by Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) inside Pakistan, experts observed that New Delhi had ‘crossed the Rubicon’ this time around. It’s a good time to recall that, within Pakistan too, the Rubicon had been crossed in different ways on a few occasions in the recent past by intrepid people, but the outcome had been less than fortunate for the initiators. The Pakistani deep state had prevailed. Pakistani journalist Syed Saleem Shahzad had dared to explore the complex links between religiously fanatic elements within the Pakistan army and outside. He relied on inside information to report on the continuing infiltration of extremists into the Army and the Jihadi connect. But when he put out a story on the Mehran naval base attack in 2011, saying that it had been an insider job, he had crossed the line as far as the deep state was concerned. In the last week of May, Shahzad was kidnapped, tortured and killed, and his body was left in a drain as a grim reminder to anyone who may have harboured thoughts challenging the status quo. The heavily protected Mehran naval base, situated near Karachi, had been attacked by a handful of Pakistani Jihadists, and several names complicit in the incident, including retired defence personnel, came to light. The audacious attempt was eventually contained, but not before severe damage was done to some of the navy's expensive assets and the Pakistani defence force’s image. Predictably, in the hysteria that erupted, two things happened. First, denial. And second, approving blame to the US, India and Israel. The second was not bought by the world community, and the first had no leg to stand on after the Pakistani establishment led by General Pervez Musharraf had to crack down on the local perpetrators and weed out radical elements from within the ranks of its Armed Forces. Shahzad’s Mehran report was the last major one that he would file. He not only wrote that the Mehran attack was an insider job, but also reported that a purge had been in progress which had divided security personnel as well as the rogue elements outside along ethnic and religious lines. But he was not the only journalist to be punished thus. There was the American Daniel Pearl, who too had crossed the Rubicon almost a decade before Shahzad did. Pearl, who was primarily based in Mumbai while reporting on the south Asian region for The Wall Street Journal, had visited Pakistan as part of an investigative report he was working on, with a view to unravel links involving the Al Qaeda and a British citizen, better known as the ‘Shoe Bomber’. In February 2002, he was kidnapped, tortured and executed by his captors. His decomposed body and the severed head were discovered a few months later. He had entered dangerous territory, one that could expose the complicity of the deep state. The group that claimed ‘credit’ for the kidnapping and subsequent action was the National Movement for the Restoration of Pakistani Sovereignty. This outfit accused Pearl of being an American spy. It demanded the release of all Pakistani terror detainees as well as lifting of the embargo on the US shipment of F-16 fighter planes to Pakistan, as some of the conditions for Pearl’s release. It is inconceivable that an outfit could so brazenly function right inside Pakistan without some sort of official ‘turning the blind eye’ at the least. It’s not only journalists in Pakistan, whether Pakistani or otherwise, who have paid with their lives for crossing the Rubicon. Even high-profile politicians who summoned the courage to challenge extremist elements, either inside or out of the system, fell to radical elements while the official establishment remained inactive — or implicitly supportive of the fanatics. Salman Taseer is a case in point. A liberal politician associated with the Pakistan Peoples Party of Benazir Bhutto, he was assassinated in January 2011 in Islamabad by his bodyguard, who shot him with an assault rifle 27 times hear his home. Taseer’s crime was that he had vehemently and publicly opposed his country’s blasphemy law, which had the backing of not just extremist groups but also influential sections of the Pakistani Deep State. A show of state mourning was thereafter organised but it deceived none. Radical elements, both outside the political system and within, had been enraged by his public pronouncements in support of one Asia Bibi, who had been sentenced to death by a court of law for having ‘blasphemed’ Islam. After the assassination, hundreds of prominent Pakistan clerics had lent support to the assassin and urged the people to boycott Taseer’s funeral. The connect between extremist elements and the Pakistani state has been often commented upon by one of the country’s most prominent former envoy, Husain Haqqani, in his books and public discourses. Haqqani is now located outside Pakistan and has many times quipped that terrorists are more secure in Pakistan than he would be if he were to return to his country. He too crossed the Rubicon many times, but fortunately, he remains safe for now. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Crossing the Rubicon: Many Pakistani nationals have paid a heavy price for exposing army and jihadi connect

JeM admits to damage caused by IAF strike, says India struck our centre in Balakot

In the latest development with respect to the Pulwama terror attack, an audio clip has emerged which is believed to carry a message from Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar's brother.&nbsp;

In the clip, accessed by WION, the JeM leader admits damage to its training centre by Indian aircraft. The clip has surfaced even when Pak Prime Minister Imran Khan has denied the presence of any terror camps in Balakot when the Indian Air Force carried out strikes earlier this week.&nbsp;

The audio message is believed to be delivered by Azhar's younger brother Maulana Amman who is heard admitting that the Indian aircraft have bombed shelters where jihadis were being trained.

Pakistan has maintained that India bombed what was apparently a forest reserve.

Meanwhile, an <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/up-to-50-killed-in-indian-air-strike-on-pakistans-balakot-italian-journalist-quoting-eyewitness-200787">Italian journalist has told WION</a> that between 40 to 50 people were killed in the Indian air strikes on Pakistan's Balakot on Tuesday night. The air strikes — carried out by Mirage 2000s — Indian authorities have said, targeted a Jaish-e-Mohammed training camp.&nbsp;

Reports in the Indian media had earlier said the death toll may have been as high as 350. The Pakistanis had said there had been no deaths at all.&nbsp;

The journalist — Francesca Marino — told WION that she had got confirmation from her source that the death toll was between 40 and 50, and the wounded between 35 to 40.&nbsp;

She told WION's Bhairavi Singh her source was a person living in the area.&nbsp;

"Yesterday I've got confirmations... 100% reliable confirmations," Marino, who was speaking from Rome, told WION.&nbsp;

She added that the dead included 12 young trainees of the Jaish-e-Mohammed terror group who had all been sleeping in the same area.&nbsp;

Marino told WION that the dead included a JeM trainer called Mufti Moeen, and a bomb expert called Usman Ghani. &nbsp;

Mario added that "the population there is very scared, it is very difficult to get evidence out of there" but that "I am confident I will also get some video proof".&nbsp;

In the latest development with respect to the Pulwama terror attack, an audio clip has emerged which is believed to carry a message from Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar's brother.

In the latest development with respect to the Pulwama terror attack, an audio clip has emerged which is believed to carry a message from Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar's brother. In the clip, accessed by WION, the JeM leader admits damage to its training centre by Indian aircraft. The clip has surfaced even when Pak Prime Minister Imran Khan has denied the presence of any terror camps in Balakot when the Indian Air Force carried out strikes earlier this week. The audio message is believed to be delivered by Azhar's younger brother Maulana Amman who is heard admitting that the Indian aircraft have bombed shelters where jihadis were being trained. Pakistan has maintained that India bombed what was apparently a forest reserve. Meanwhile, an Italian journalist has told WION that between 40 to 50 people were killed in the Indian air strikes on Pakistan's Balakot on Tuesday night. The air strikes — carried out by Mirage 2000s — Indian authorities have said, targeted a Jaish-e-Mohammed training camp. Reports in the Indian media had earlier said the death toll may have been as high as 350. The Pakistanis had said there had been no deaths at all. The journalist — Francesca Marino — told WION that she had got confirmation from her source that the death toll was between 40 and 50, and the wounded between 35 to 40. She told WION's Bhairavi Singh her source was a person living in the area. "Yesterday I've got confirmations... 100% reliable confirmations," Marino, who was speaking from Rome, told WION. She added that the dead included 12 young trainees of the Jaish-e-Mohammed terror group who had all been sleeping in the same area. Marino told WION that the dead included a JeM trainer called Mufti Moeen, and a bomb expert called Usman Ghani. Mario added that "the population there is very scared, it is very difficult to get evidence out of there" but that "I am confident I will also get some video proof".

In audio message, JeM admits damage to training camp in Pakistan after Indian strikes

A day after admitting Masood Azhar's presence in his country,&nbsp;Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi denied&nbsp;Jaish-e-Mohammed's role in the ghastly Pulwama terror attack that killed more than 40 CRPF personnel in Jammu and Kashmir on February 14.

In an interview to BBC, Qureshi said people&nbsp;contacted JeM over its responsibility in the attack with the terror group clarifying they had no responsibility. &nbsp;

Qureshi said&nbsp;"They have not claimed (responsibility)... there is confusion on that... leadership was contacted and they said no". When asked who contacted JeM leadership, the Pak minister said "There are people who are known to them".

Jaish-e-Mohammed claimed responsibility for the attack and released a video of suicide bomber&nbsp;Adil Ahmad Dar who had carried out the attack.

India has already given a dossier regarding JeM's involvement in the attack to Pakistan.

When asked about the dossier, Qureshi reacted said "we are studying it".

On Friday, speaking to CNN, Qureshi said JeM chief Masood <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/jem-chief-masood-azhar-is-in-pakistan-and-is-very-unwell-pakistan-foreign-minister-shah-mahmood-qureshi-200428">Azhar is in Pakistan but very unwell</a>.&nbsp;

Qureshi told CNN," He is in Pakistan... He is unwell to the extent that he can't leave his house, because he is really unwell".

India is hoping that Azhar is listed as an international terrorist under the United Nations Security Council's 1267 committee. France, UK, US have already proposed his listing. China is the only worry for New Delhi since Beijing has been scuttling India's effort citing lack of consensus.&nbsp;

A day after admitting Masood Azhar's presence in his country, Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi denied Jaish-e-Mohammed's role in the ghastly Pulwama terror attack that killed more than 40 CRPF personnel in Jammu and Kashmir on February 14.

A day after admitting Masood Azhar's presence in his country, Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi denied Jaish-e-Mohammed's role in the ghastly Pulwama terror attack that killed more than 40 CRPF personnel in Jammu and Kashmir on February 14. In an interview to BBC, Qureshi said people contacted JeM over its responsibility in the attack with the terror group clarifying they had no responsibility. Qureshi said "They have not claimed (responsibility)... there is confusion on that... leadership was contacted and they said no". When asked who contacted JeM leadership, the Pak minister said "There are people who are known to them". Jaish-e-Mohammed claimed responsibility for the attack and released a video of suicide bomber Adil Ahmad Dar who had carried out the attack. India has already given a dossier regarding JeM's involvement in the attack to Pakistan. When asked about the dossier, Qureshi reacted said "we are studying it". On Friday, speaking to CNN, Qureshi said JeM chief Masood Azhar is in Pakistan but very unwell. Qureshi told CNN," He is in Pakistan... He is unwell to the extent that he can't leave his house, because he is really unwell". India is hoping that Azhar is listed as an international terrorist under the United Nations Security Council's 1267 committee. France, UK, US have already proposed his listing. China is the only worry for New Delhi since Beijing has been scuttling India's effort citing lack of consensus.

Day after admitting Masood Azhar's presence in country, Pakistan denies JeM role in Pulwama terror attack

Imran Khan’s offer to return the Indian fighter pilot in their custody has once again triggered a debate about how to deal with a neighbour whose conduct rekindles memories of the strange case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. And what we do to protect ourselves from an unpredictable neighbour who turns hot and cold in a blink? &nbsp;

There is a poem by Robert Frost that tells us that strong fences make good neighbours. How one wishes that those in charge of our foreign policy had pondered on the wisdom of these words. Now it is too late to mend badly breached fences. India has wasted too much time and effort chasing the mirage of living in peace with a neighbour with whom we don’t share much anymore.

It’s the fatal nostalgia of the pre-partition refugees that has caused most of the havoc. The memories of a childhood spent in a village across the Ravi or any other river in Punjab or carefree student days in Lahore have fueled futile dreams of unhindered passage from one country to another.

These dreams have changed into nightmares more than once because we choose to remain blind to ground reality. It’s not just that Pakistan is a theocratic state and we are secular or they are ruled by the armed forces and we are a democracy.&nbsp;

Ever since the reign of General Zia, the spread of fanatical aggressive version of Wahabi Islam has changed the whole context of our bilateral relations. Two generations have grown up in Pakistan and India who have shared memories only of clashes on the battlefield and cricket pitches. You may argue that that love for Bollywood, shared taste in food continue to act as strong glue between the two people divided in 1947 but we fool no one but ourselves.&nbsp; 
 
When it comes to war and peace it is the coincidence or conflict of national interest that is decisive. It is impossible to overlook that India and Pakistan have followed divergent trajectories for decades. Pakistan had opted long before its break up in 1971 to look West. 
 
It's forged close relationships with Saudi Arabia, Libya and other oil-rich fundamentalist countries that funded its nuclear programme. But more grace from Indians point of view is the alliance it has skillfully reinforced with People's Republic of China. China has stood steadfast with Pakistan since 1962. One may chant ad nauseam that in international relations there are no permanent friend and no eternal enemies but the enduring strategic ties between Pakistan and China seem to refute Palmerston effectively.&nbsp;

The enmity between India and Pakistan has not really abated despite numerous confidence-building measures and countless rounds of talks at various levels. What explains the failure of diplomacy is the basic incompatibility of national interests defined in terms of vested interests of ruling elites.&nbsp; 
 
When we talk of neighbours and friends we should not forget that the power equations are unbalanced by distant friends tilting the balance in favour of proximate neighbours. A former President of Pakistan had titled his autobiography as ‘Friends not Masters’ but the harsh reality is that it is the 'Puppet Master' who has been pulling the strings from behind not so opaque a curtain since the years of Cold War. Pakistan remains an invaluable strategic asset for both the US and China. We should not hasten to rejoice that both have admonished Pakistan after Pulwama.&nbsp;

China has advised both its friends to respect the concept of sovereignty and the POTUS has grandly pronounced that he is confident that good sense will prevail on both sides to deescalate. The majority of members of the Security Council have agreed on a resolution naming Masood Azhar as an international terrorist. In past, China has blocked all such moves to save Pakistan from embarrassment. It may do so again. What are India’s options if this happens?

With the passage of time, Pakistan has succeeded in transforming bilateral disputes with India into trilateral issues. China’s OBOR project passing through POK is just one example, hyphenating Af-Pak has muddied water further. Its sanctions against Iran have tightened the role on which India is walking.&nbsp; 
 
Cancer treatment isn’t based on surgical strikes. Chemotherapy is not done without painful after effects and grave hazards. No one can in his wildest dreams dare utter the word radiation. You can’t nuke the malignancy in this case. Haste can only result in waste. Slow and Steady should be the resolve.&nbsp; 
 
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.) 
&nbsp;

Imran Khan’s offer to return the Indian fighter pilot in their custody has once again triggered a debate about how to deal with a neighbour whose conduct rekindles memories of the strange case of Dr.

Imran Khan’s offer to return the Indian fighter pilot in their custody has once again triggered a debate about how to deal with a neighbour whose conduct rekindles memories of the strange case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. And what we do to protect ourselves from an unpredictable neighbour who turns hot and cold in a blink? There is a poem by Robert Frost that tells us that strong fences make good neighbours. How one wishes that those in charge of our foreign policy had pondered on the wisdom of these words. Now it is too late to mend badly breached fences. India has wasted too much time and effort chasing the mirage of living in peace with a neighbour with whom we don’t share much anymore. It’s the fatal nostalgia of the pre-partition refugees that has caused most of the havoc. The memories of a childhood spent in a village across the Ravi or any other river in Punjab or carefree student days in Lahore have fueled futile dreams of unhindered passage from one country to another. These dreams have changed into nightmares more than once because we choose to remain blind to ground reality. It’s not just that Pakistan is a theocratic state and we are secular or they are ruled by the armed forces and we are a democracy. Ever since the reign of General Zia, the spread of fanatical aggressive version of Wahabi Islam has changed the whole context of our bilateral relations. Two generations have grown up in Pakistan and India who have shared memories only of clashes on the battlefield and cricket pitches. You may argue that that love for Bollywood, shared taste in food continue to act as strong glue between the two people divided in 1947 but we fool no one but ourselves. When it comes to war and peace it is the coincidence or conflict of national interest that is decisive. It is impossible to overlook that India and Pakistan have followed divergent trajectories for decades. Pakistan had opted long before its break up in 1971 to look West. It's forged close relationships with Saudi Arabia, Libya and other oil-rich fundamentalist countries that funded its nuclear programme. But more grace from Indians point of view is the alliance it has skillfully reinforced with People's Republic of China. China has stood steadfast with Pakistan since 1962. One may chant ad nauseam that in international relations there are no permanent friend and no eternal enemies but the enduring strategic ties between Pakistan and China seem to refute Palmerston effectively. The enmity between India and Pakistan has not really abated despite numerous confidence-building measures and countless rounds of talks at various levels. What explains the failure of diplomacy is the basic incompatibility of national interests defined in terms of vested interests of ruling elites. When we talk of neighbours and friends we should not forget that the power equations are unbalanced by distant friends tilting the balance in favour of proximate neighbours. A former President of Pakistan had titled his autobiography as ‘Friends not Masters’ but the harsh reality is that it is the 'Puppet Master' who has been pulling the strings from behind not so opaque a curtain since the years of Cold War. Pakistan remains an invaluable strategic asset for both the US and China. We should not hasten to rejoice that both have admonished Pakistan after Pulwama. China has advised both its friends to respect the concept of sovereignty and the POTUS has grandly pronounced that he is confident that good sense will prevail on both sides to deescalate. The majority of members of the Security Council have agreed on a resolution naming Masood Azhar as an international terrorist. In past, China has blocked all such moves to save Pakistan from embarrassment. It may do so again. What are India’s options if this happens? With the passage of time, Pakistan has succeeded in transforming bilateral disputes with India into trilateral issues. China’s OBOR project passing through POK is just one example, hyphenating Af-Pak has muddied water further. Its sanctions against Iran have tightened the role on which India is walking. Cancer treatment isn’t based on surgical strikes. Chemotherapy is not done without painful after effects and grave hazards. No one can in his wildest dreams dare utter the word radiation. You can’t nuke the malignancy in this case. Haste can only result in waste. Slow and Steady should be the resolve. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Pakistan has long been an unpredictable and unreliable neighbour

Jem, News on Jem, stories on Jem, articles on Jem, Jem stories at Wion, Jem news, Jem latest news