&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-foreign-minister-calls-up-kashmiri-separatist-leader-geelani-194700">Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi </a>Wednesday claimed that India has failed to diplomatically isolate Islamabad, according to a media report.

Briefing Parliament, the minister claimed India on multiple occasions tried to harm Pakistan's diplomatic ties with other countries.

Ties between<a href="http://www.wionews.com/opinions/great-game-ii-india-pakistan-china-gas-pipeline-powered-by-russia-cannot-be-discounted-196820"> India and Pakistan </a>nosedived following a spate of terror attacks on Indian military bases by Pakistan-based terror groups since January 2016.

Following the strikes, India announced it will not engage in talks with Pakistan, saying terror and talks cannot go hand-in-hand.

India in September cancelled the proposed meeting between External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Pakistan counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi in New York citing the brutal killing of security personnel by Pakistan-based entities.&nbsp;

"India's failure to isolate Islamabad diplomatically is a win for the country," Qureshi was quoted as saying by The Express Tribune.

He reiterated to strengthen Pakistan's position in the diplomat and global arena and continue to address any challenges that may arise.

Qureshi also maintained that countries willing to invest in Pakistan and benefit from mutual cooperation shall not be agreeable to India.

"It is to India's discontent that nations are willing to establish mutual trade ties with Pakistan," he said.&nbsp;

Qureshi's assertion of diplomatic successes of Pakistan came days ahead of the planned visit by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman on Saturday to expand economic and defence cooperation.&nbsp;

Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi Wednesday claimed that India has failed to diplomatically isolate Islamabad, according to a media report. Briefing Parliament, the minister claimed India on multiple occasions tried to harm Pakistan's diplomatic ties with other countries.

Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi Wednesday claimed that India has failed to diplomatically isolate Islamabad, according to a media report. Briefing Parliament, the minister claimed India on multiple occasions tried to harm Pakistan's diplomatic ties with other countries. Ties between India and Pakistan nosedived following a spate of terror attacks on Indian military bases by Pakistan-based terror groups since January 2016. Following the strikes, India announced it will not engage in talks with Pakistan, saying terror and talks cannot go hand-in-hand. India in September cancelled the proposed meeting between External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Pakistan counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi in New York citing the brutal killing of security personnel by Pakistan-based entities. "India's failure to isolate Islamabad diplomatically is a win for the country," Qureshi was quoted as saying by The Express Tribune. He reiterated to strengthen Pakistan's position in the diplomat and global arena and continue to address any challenges that may arise. Qureshi also maintained that countries willing to invest in Pakistan and benefit from mutual cooperation shall not be agreeable to India. "It is to India's discontent that nations are willing to establish mutual trade ties with Pakistan," he said. Qureshi's assertion of diplomatic successes of Pakistan came days ahead of the planned visit by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman on Saturday to expand economic and defence cooperation.

India's failure to isolate us diplomatically is a victory for Pak: Foreign minister Qureshi

The US has urged its citizens to reconsider their <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/pak-saudi-arabia-sri-lanka-in-european-commission-blacklist-for-terror-financing-money-laundering-197258">travel to Pakistan</a> mainly due to terrorism and risks to civil aviation operating within or near the country.

The Federal Aviation Administration, in a notice issued on Wednesday, said that terrorist groups continue plotting possible attacks in Pakistan.

"Reconsider travel to Pakistan due to terrorism," the State Department said in the latest travel advisory.

It asked Americans not to travel to<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/fatf-dissatisfied-over-pakistans-efforts-to-combat-terror-financing-report-172508"> Balochistan province and Khyber</a> Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) province, including the former Federally, Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), due to terrorism, and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir area due to terrorism and the potential for armed conflict.

Terrorist groups continue plotting possible attacks in Pakistan, it said, adding that terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting transportation hubs, markets, shopping malls, military installations, airports, universities, tourist locations, schools, hospitals, places of worship and government facilities.

Noting that terrorist attacks continue to happen across Pakistan, with most occurring in Balochistan and KPK, including the former FATA, the State Department said large-scale terrorist attacks have resulted in hundreds of casualties over the last several years.

India and Pakistan maintain a strong military presence on both sides of the border. The only official Pakistan-India border crossing point for persons who are not citizens of India or Pakistan is in the province of Punjab between Wagah, Pakistan, and Attari, India, the advisory said.

Urging its citizens not to travel to PoK, the State Department said militant groups are known to operate in the area.

"The threat of armed conflict between India and Pakistan remains. Indian and Pakistani military forces periodically exchange fire across the Line of Control," it added.&nbsp;

The US has urged its citizens to reconsider their travel to Pakistan mainly due to terrorism and risks to civil aviation operating within or near the country. The Federal Aviation Administration, in a notice issued on Wednesday, said that terrorist groups continue plotting possible attacks in Pakistan.

The US has urged its citizens to reconsider their travel to Pakistan mainly due to terrorism and risks to civil aviation operating within or near the country. The Federal Aviation Administration, in a notice issued on Wednesday, said that terrorist groups continue plotting possible attacks in Pakistan. "Reconsider travel to Pakistan due to terrorism," the State Department said in the latest travel advisory. It asked Americans not to travel to Balochistan province and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) province, including the former Federally, Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), due to terrorism, and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir area due to terrorism and the potential for armed conflict. Terrorist groups continue plotting possible attacks in Pakistan, it said, adding that terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting transportation hubs, markets, shopping malls, military installations, airports, universities, tourist locations, schools, hospitals, places of worship and government facilities. Noting that terrorist attacks continue to happen across Pakistan, with most occurring in Balochistan and KPK, including the former FATA, the State Department said large-scale terrorist attacks have resulted in hundreds of casualties over the last several years. India and Pakistan maintain a strong military presence on both sides of the border. The only official Pakistan-India border crossing point for persons who are not citizens of India or Pakistan is in the province of Punjab between Wagah, Pakistan, and Attari, India, the advisory said. Urging its citizens not to travel to PoK, the State Department said militant groups are known to operate in the area. "The threat of armed conflict between India and Pakistan remains. Indian and Pakistani military forces periodically exchange fire across the Line of Control," it added.

US urges citizens to 'reconsider' travelling to Pakistan due to terrorism

This week’s suicide attack on Revolutionary Guards in Iran’s south-eastern province of Sistan and Baluchistan, the second in two months, could not have come at a more awkward moment for Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan.

The assault on a bus carrying the guards back from patrols on the province’s border with the troubled Pakistani region of Baluchistan killed 27 people and wounded 13 others. It occurred days before Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was scheduled to visit Pakistan as part of a tour of Asian countries.

While Baluchistan is set to figure prominently in Prince Mohammed’s talks with Khan, the attack also coincided with a US-sponsored conference in Warsaw, widely seen as an effort by the Trump administration to further isolate Iran economically and diplomatically.

Inside the conference, dubbed The Ministerial to Promote a Future of Peace and Security in the Middle East, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo insisted that US policy was designed to force Iran to alter its regional and defence policies and not geared towards regime change in Tehran.

Yet, US President Donald J Trump appeared to be sending mixed messages to the Iranians as well as sceptical European governments with his personal lawyer, Rudolph Giuliani, addressing a rally outside the conference organised by the Mujahedeen-e-Khalq, a controversial Iranian exile group believed to enjoy Saudi backing.

Giuliani told the protesters who waved Iranian flags and giant yellow balloons emblazoned with the words, “Regime Change” that “We want to see a regime change in Iran.”

Trump appeared to fuel suspicion that Giuliani represented his true sentiment by tweeting on the eve of the Warsaw conference in a reference to the 40th anniversary of the Islamic revolution: “40 years of corruption. 40 years of repression. 40 years of terror. The regime in Iran has produced only #40YearsofFailure. The long-suffering Iranian people deserve a much brighter future.”

In a statement, the Revolutionary Guards blamed the attack on "mercenaries of intelligence agencies of world arrogance and domination," a reference to Saudi Arabia, the United States and Israel.

Jaish-al-Adl (the Army of Justice), a Pakistan-based splinter group that traces its roots to Saudi-backed anti-Shiite groups with a history of attacks on Iranian and Shiite targets, has claimed responsibility for the attack.

The group says it is not seeking Baluch secession from Iran. Instead, it wants to "Force the regime of the guardianship of jurisconsult (Iran) to respect the demands of the Muslim Baloch and Sunni society alongside the other compatriots of our country."

Militants targeted a Revolutionary Guards headquarters in December in a rare suicide bombing in Chabahar, home to Iran’s Indian-backed port on the Arabian Sea, a mere 70 kilometres from the Chinese supported the port of Gwadar, a crown jewel in the Pakistani leg of the People’s Republic’s Belt and Road initiative.

The attacks coupled with indications that Saudi Arabia and the United States may be contemplating covert action against Iran using Pakistani Balochistan as a launching pad, and heightened Saudi economic and commercial interest in the province, frame Prince Mohammed’s upcoming talks in Islamabad.

During his visit, Prince Mohammed is expected to sign a memorandum of understanding on a framework for $10 billion in Saudi investments. &nbsp;

The memorandum includes a plan by Saudi national oil company Aramco to build a refinery in Gwadar as well as Saudi investment in Baluchistan’s Reko Diq copper and gold mine.

The investments would further enhance Saudi influence in Pakistan as well as the kingdom’s foothold in Balochistan.

They would come on the back of significant Saudi aid to help Pakistan evade a financial crisis that included a $3 billion deposit in Pakistan’s central bank to support the country’s balance of payments and another $3 billion in deferred payments for oil imports.

Taken together, the refinery, a strategic oil reserve in Gwadar and the mine would also help Saudi Arabia in potential efforts to prevent Chabahar from emerging as a powerful Arabian Sea hub.

Saudi funds have been flowing for some time into the coffers of ultra-conservative anti-Shiite, anti-Iranian Sunni Muslim Madrassahs or religious seminars in Balochistan. It remains unclear whether they originate with the Saudi government or Saudi nationals of Baloch descent and members of the two million-strong Pakistani Diaspora in the kingdom.&nbsp;

The funds help put in place potential building blocks for possible covert action should the kingdom and/or the United States decide to act on proposals to support irredentist activity.

The flow started at about the time that the Riyadh-based International Institute for Iranian Studies, formerly known as the Arabian Gulf Centre for Iranian Studies, an allegedly Saudi government-backed think tank, published &nbsp;a study that argued that Chabahar posed “a direct threat to the Arab Gulf states” that called for “immediate countermeasures.”

If executed, covert action could jeopardise Indian hopes to use Chabahar to bypass Pakistan, significantly enhance its trade with Afghanistan and Central Asian nations and create an antidote to Gwadar.

Pakistani analysts expect an estimated $5 billion in Afghan trade to flow through Chabahar after India in December started handling the port’s operations.

Iranian concerns that the attacks represent the US and/or Saudi covert effort are grounded not only in more recent US and Saudi policies, including Trump’s withdrawal last year from the 2015 international agreement to curb Iran's nuclear program despite confirmation of its adherence to the accord and re-imposition of harsh economic sanctions against the Islamic republic.

They are also rooted in US and Saudi backing of Iraq in the 1980s Gulf war, US overtures in the last year to Iranian Kurdish insurgents, the long-standing broad spectrum of support of former and serving US officials for the Mujahedeen-e-Khalq and in recent years of Prince Turki al-Faisal, a former head of Saudi intelligence and ex-ambassador to the United States and Britain.

Said Ali Vaez, the International Crisis Group’s Iran analyst: “The concern was never that the Trump admin would avert its eyes from Iran, but rather that is in inflicted by an unhealthy obsession with it. In hyping the threat emanating from Iran, Trump is more likely than not to mishandle it and thus further destabilise the Middle East.”

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

This week’s suicide attack on Revolutionary Guards in Iran’s south-eastern province of Sistan and Baluchistan, the second in two months, could not have come at a more awkward moment for Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan.

This week’s suicide attack on Revolutionary Guards in Iran’s south-eastern province of Sistan and Baluchistan, the second in two months, could not have come at a more awkward moment for Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan. The assault on a bus carrying the guards back from patrols on the province’s border with the troubled Pakistani region of Baluchistan killed 27 people and wounded 13 others. It occurred days before Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was scheduled to visit Pakistan as part of a tour of Asian countries. While Baluchistan is set to figure prominently in Prince Mohammed’s talks with Khan, the attack also coincided with a US-sponsored conference in Warsaw, widely seen as an effort by the Trump administration to further isolate Iran economically and diplomatically. Inside the conference, dubbed The Ministerial to Promote a Future of Peace and Security in the Middle East, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo insisted that US policy was designed to force Iran to alter its regional and defence policies and not geared towards regime change in Tehran. Yet, US President Donald J Trump appeared to be sending mixed messages to the Iranians as well as sceptical European governments with his personal lawyer, Rudolph Giuliani, addressing a rally outside the conference organised by the Mujahedeen-e-Khalq, a controversial Iranian exile group believed to enjoy Saudi backing. Giuliani told the protesters who waved Iranian flags and giant yellow balloons emblazoned with the words, “Regime Change” that “We want to see a regime change in Iran.” Trump appeared to fuel suspicion that Giuliani represented his true sentiment by tweeting on the eve of the Warsaw conference in a reference to the 40th anniversary of the Islamic revolution: “40 years of corruption. 40 years of repression. 40 years of terror. The regime in Iran has produced only #40YearsofFailure. The long-suffering Iranian people deserve a much brighter future.” In a statement, the Revolutionary Guards blamed the attack on "mercenaries of intelligence agencies of world arrogance and domination," a reference to Saudi Arabia, the United States and Israel. Jaish-al-Adl (the Army of Justice), a Pakistan-based splinter group that traces its roots to Saudi-backed anti-Shiite groups with a history of attacks on Iranian and Shiite targets, has claimed responsibility for the attack. The group says it is not seeking Baluch secession from Iran. Instead, it wants to "Force the regime of the guardianship of jurisconsult (Iran) to respect the demands of the Muslim Baloch and Sunni society alongside the other compatriots of our country." Militants targeted a Revolutionary Guards headquarters in December in a rare suicide bombing in Chabahar, home to Iran’s Indian-backed port on the Arabian Sea, a mere 70 kilometres from the Chinese supported the port of Gwadar, a crown jewel in the Pakistani leg of the People’s Republic’s Belt and Road initiative. The attacks coupled with indications that Saudi Arabia and the United States may be contemplating covert action against Iran using Pakistani Balochistan as a launching pad, and heightened Saudi economic and commercial interest in the province, frame Prince Mohammed’s upcoming talks in Islamabad. During his visit, Prince Mohammed is expected to sign a memorandum of understanding on a framework for $10 billion in Saudi investments. The memorandum includes a plan by Saudi national oil company Aramco to build a refinery in Gwadar as well as Saudi investment in Baluchistan’s Reko Diq copper and gold mine. The investments would further enhance Saudi influence in Pakistan as well as the kingdom’s foothold in Balochistan. They would come on the back of significant Saudi aid to help Pakistan evade a financial crisis that included a $3 billion deposit in Pakistan’s central bank to support the country’s balance of payments and another $3 billion in deferred payments for oil imports. Taken together, the refinery, a strategic oil reserve in Gwadar and the mine would also help Saudi Arabia in potential efforts to prevent Chabahar from emerging as a powerful Arabian Sea hub. Saudi funds have been flowing for some time into the coffers of ultra-conservative anti-Shiite, anti-Iranian Sunni Muslim Madrassahs or religious seminars in Balochistan. It remains unclear whether they originate with the Saudi government or Saudi nationals of Baloch descent and members of the two million-strong Pakistani Diaspora in the kingdom. The funds help put in place potential building blocks for possible covert action should the kingdom and/or the United States decide to act on proposals to support irredentist activity. The flow started at about the time that the Riyadh-based International Institute for Iranian Studies, formerly known as the Arabian Gulf Centre for Iranian Studies, an allegedly Saudi government-backed think tank, published a study that argued that Chabahar posed “a direct threat to the Arab Gulf states” that called for “immediate countermeasures.” If executed, covert action could jeopardise Indian hopes to use Chabahar to bypass Pakistan, significantly enhance its trade with Afghanistan and Central Asian nations and create an antidote to Gwadar. Pakistani analysts expect an estimated $5 billion in Afghan trade to flow through Chabahar after India in December started handling the port’s operations. Iranian concerns that the attacks represent the US and/or Saudi covert effort are grounded not only in more recent US and Saudi policies, including Trump’s withdrawal last year from the 2015 international agreement to curb Iran's nuclear program despite confirmation of its adherence to the accord and re-imposition of harsh economic sanctions against the Islamic republic. They are also rooted in US and Saudi backing of Iraq in the 1980s Gulf war, US overtures in the last year to Iranian Kurdish insurgents, the long-standing broad spectrum of support of former and serving US officials for the Mujahedeen-e-Khalq and in recent years of Prince Turki al-Faisal, a former head of Saudi intelligence and ex-ambassador to the United States and Britain. Said Ali Vaez, the International Crisis Group’s Iran analyst: “The concern was never that the Trump admin would avert its eyes from Iran, but rather that is in inflicted by an unhealthy obsession with it. In hyping the threat emanating from Iran, Trump is more likely than not to mishandle it and thus further destabilise the Middle East.” (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

The significance of Saudi Crown Prince's visit to Pakistan

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/saudi-crown-prince-expected-to-seal-multi-billion-dollar-deals-in-pakistan-196969">Pakistan is preparing to welcome Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman </a>for a state visit over the weekend, the foreign ministry confirmed Wednesday, as Islamabad hopes to sign various investment deals to prop up its slumping economy.

The two-day visit will kick off on February 16 and include a raft of high-level talks with Prime Minister Imran Khan along with Pakistan's military chief.

"During his stay, Pakistan and <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/saudi-crown-prince-mohammad-bin-salman-to-visit-india-on-february-19-20-196873">Saudi Arabia </a>will be signing a number of agreements... related to diverse sectors," Pakistan's foreign ministry said in a statement.

"The two countries will also discuss ways and means to develop a robust follow-up mechanism to ensure effective implementation and quick progress on tangible areas of cooperation."

Two five-star hotels have been fully booked by the Saudi delegation while the Kingdom's elite royal guards arrived in Pakistan earlier this week to assist with security arrangements, according to a municipal official in Islamabad. &nbsp;

Riyadh and Islamabad, decades-old allies, have been involved for months in talks to iron out details of the deals in time for the crown prince's visit.

Saudi Arabia is reportedly preparing to sign a record investment package with Pakistan aiming to provide welcome relief for its cash-strapped Muslim ally.&nbsp;

At the heart of the investment is a reported $10-billion refinery and oil complex in the strategic Gwadar Port on the Arabian Sea, the ultimate destination for the massive multi-billion dollar China Pakistan Economic Corridor.

The visit comes just weeks after Pakistan rolled out the red carpet for Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, shortly after the emirate pledged to provide $3 billion to support Pakistan's battered economy.

The Wall Street Journal reported last month that both Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, Islamabad's biggest trading partner in the Middle East, have offered Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan some $30 billion in investment and loans.

Pakistan has been courting its Gulf allies for months as Khan's new government desperately seeks to stave off an ongoing balance of payments crisis and reduce the size of any potential bailout from the International Monetary Fund.

Pakistan is preparing to welcome Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for a state visit over the weekend, the foreign ministry confirmed Wednesday, as Islamabad hopes to sign various investment deals to prop up its slumping economy.

Pakistan is preparing to welcome Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for a state visit over the weekend, the foreign ministry confirmed Wednesday, as Islamabad hopes to sign various investment deals to prop up its slumping economy. The two-day visit will kick off on February 16 and include a raft of high-level talks with Prime Minister Imran Khan along with Pakistan's military chief. "During his stay, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia will be signing a number of agreements... related to diverse sectors," Pakistan's foreign ministry said in a statement. "The two countries will also discuss ways and means to develop a robust follow-up mechanism to ensure effective implementation and quick progress on tangible areas of cooperation." Two five-star hotels have been fully booked by the Saudi delegation while the Kingdom's elite royal guards arrived in Pakistan earlier this week to assist with security arrangements, according to a municipal official in Islamabad. Riyadh and Islamabad, decades-old allies, have been involved for months in talks to iron out details of the deals in time for the crown prince's visit. Saudi Arabia is reportedly preparing to sign a record investment package with Pakistan aiming to provide welcome relief for its cash-strapped Muslim ally. At the heart of the investment is a reported $10-billion refinery and oil complex in the strategic Gwadar Port on the Arabian Sea, the ultimate destination for the massive multi-billion dollar China Pakistan Economic Corridor. The visit comes just weeks after Pakistan rolled out the red carpet for Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, shortly after the emirate pledged to provide $3 billion to support Pakistan's battered economy. The Wall Street Journal reported last month that both Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, Islamabad's biggest trading partner in the Middle East, have offered Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan some $30 billion in investment and loans. Pakistan has been courting its Gulf allies for months as Khan's new government desperately seeks to stave off an ongoing balance of payments crisis and reduce the size of any potential bailout from the International Monetary Fund.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to visit cash-strapped Pakistan on February 16

Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain appealed to the Indian citizens to help <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/mohajirs-welcome-indias-statement-against-pak-in-un-human-rights-session-nadeem-nusrat-35323">Mohajirs in Pakistan</a>.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-gravitas-minorities-in-pakistan-speak-out-corner-pak-army-at-home--136850">WION Gravitas: Minorities in Pakistan speak out; Corner Pak army at home</a>

The Mohajirs are Urdu-speaking people who had migrated to Pakistan after the Partition in 1947.

In his message to Hindus, Sikhs and Christians of India, Hussain said that Mohajirs were Indian citizens.

"Pakistan was not founded by Mohajirs of Pakistan but they were their forefathers who did it. Mohajirs are facing genocide in Pakistan since 1947 and their children are a victim of sheer bias and discretion at the hands of the military establishment," he asserted.

He said that Pakistan is being sold to China and Pakistani military would stand the ultimate beneficiary instead.

The MQM founding leader also called upon the Indian parliamentarians to step forward for the help of Mohajirs in the name of humanity.

"India and Mohajirs are of same origins and hence the Indian parliamentarians should recognise them as their own family," said Hussain.

He expressed hope that the Indian parliamentarians would ultimately raise their voice for the Mohajirs.

"The Indian parliamentarians should also raise their voice at the UN for the oppressed communities in Pakistan like Pashtuns, Balochs and religious minorities like Shiite, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/hindu-temple-vandalised-in-pakistan-pm-imran-khan-orders-decisive-action-195710">Hindu</a>, Ahmadi, Parsi and others," he added.

Hussain asserted that Mohajirs had been duped in the garb of Islam, adding they chose to migrate to Pakistan while leaving their homes and graves of their forefathers, their culture and traditions behind in India.

He accused the Pakistani military of treating the Mohajirs like "animals", saying that the military "crossed all limits of cruelty."

Dubbing the Partition as a "vast blunder", the MQM chief asserted that the break-up divided the Mohajirs of both India and Pakistan.

Hussain urged the Mohajirs in Pakistan and across the globe that they should approach their relatives in India and inform them of the "devastating situation" they are passing through in Pakistan.&nbsp;

Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain appealed to the Indian citizens to help Mohajirs in Pakistan. WION Gravitas: Minorities in Pakistan speak out; Corner Pak army at home The Mohajirs are Urdu-speaking people who had migrated to Pakistan after the Partition in 1947.

Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain appealed to the Indian citizens to help Mohajirs in Pakistan. WION Gravitas: Minorities in Pakistan speak out; Corner Pak army at home The Mohajirs are Urdu-speaking people who had migrated to Pakistan after the Partition in 1947. In his message to Hindus, Sikhs and Christians of India, Hussain said that Mohajirs were Indian citizens. "Pakistan was not founded by Mohajirs of Pakistan but they were their forefathers who did it. Mohajirs are facing genocide in Pakistan since 1947 and their children are a victim of sheer bias and discretion at the hands of the military establishment," he asserted. He said that Pakistan is being sold to China and Pakistani military would stand the ultimate beneficiary instead. The MQM founding leader also called upon the Indian parliamentarians to step forward for the help of Mohajirs in the name of humanity. "India and Mohajirs are of same origins and hence the Indian parliamentarians should recognise them as their own family," said Hussain. He expressed hope that the Indian parliamentarians would ultimately raise their voice for the Mohajirs. "The Indian parliamentarians should also raise their voice at the UN for the oppressed communities in Pakistan like Pashtuns, Balochs and religious minorities like Shiite, Hindu, Ahmadi, Parsi and others," he added. Hussain asserted that Mohajirs had been duped in the garb of Islam, adding they chose to migrate to Pakistan while leaving their homes and graves of their forefathers, their culture and traditions behind in India. He accused the Pakistani military of treating the Mohajirs like "animals", saying that the military "crossed all limits of cruelty." Dubbing the Partition as a "vast blunder", the MQM chief asserted that the break-up divided the Mohajirs of both India and Pakistan. Hussain urged the Mohajirs in Pakistan and across the globe that they should approach their relatives in India and inform them of the "devastating situation" they are passing through in Pakistan.

MQM chief Altaf Hussain urges India to help Mohajirs in Pakistan

Pakistani authorities Wednesday vowed to carry out a "massive" crackdown targeting <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/pakistan-using-social-media-to-radicalise-kashmiri-youths-jk-police-chief-193786">hate speech and extremism on social media,</a> as a minister boasted arrests have already been made.&nbsp;

Officials in Pakistan are frequently accused of muzzling the media and targeting individuals critical of the country’s powerful military establishment and have blocked hundreds of websites and social media accounts over the years.

Information minister Fawad Chaudhry announced the government was setting up a new enforcement arm to regulate social media during a speech in the capital Islamabad.

"We made some arrests last week and by the will of Allah we are launching a massive crackdown against social media users spreading hate speech and violence," he said.

Self-censorship in the South Asia nation is widely believed to be rife at traditional news outlets.

"Our problem is that digital media is overtaking formal media so it is important for us to regulate this," Chaudhry added, saying: "Informal media is a greater problem than formal media.”

The announcement comes days after authorities arrested a journalist for allegedly posting defamatory content on social media.&nbsp;

And on Tuesday an opinion piece in the International New York Times criticising Pakistan's powerful army was censored by its local publisher and replaced by a blank space.

Activists and bloggers frequently report receiving warnings from Facebook and Twitter for posting unlawful content.

Local media also complained about pressure in the run-up to a general election in July to self-censor in favour of the eventual victor, cricketer-turned-prime-minister Imran Khan.

The Committee to Protect Journalists said the army had "quietly but effectively, set restrictions on reporting" in a report released September last year.

Pakistani authorities Wednesday vowed to carry out a "massive" crackdown targeting hate speech and extremism on social media, as a minister boasted arrests have already been made.

Pakistani authorities Wednesday vowed to carry out a "massive" crackdown targeting hate speech and extremism on social media, as a minister boasted arrests have already been made. Officials in Pakistan are frequently accused of muzzling the media and targeting individuals critical of the country’s powerful military establishment and have blocked hundreds of websites and social media accounts over the years. Information minister Fawad Chaudhry announced the government was setting up a new enforcement arm to regulate social media during a speech in the capital Islamabad. "We made some arrests last week and by the will of Allah we are launching a massive crackdown against social media users spreading hate speech and violence," he said. Self-censorship in the South Asia nation is widely believed to be rife at traditional news outlets. "Our problem is that digital media is overtaking formal media so it is important for us to regulate this," Chaudhry added, saying: "Informal media is a greater problem than formal media.” The announcement comes days after authorities arrested a journalist for allegedly posting defamatory content on social media. And on Tuesday an opinion piece in the International New York Times criticising Pakistan's powerful army was censored by its local publisher and replaced by a blank space. Activists and bloggers frequently report receiving warnings from Facebook and Twitter for posting unlawful content. Local media also complained about pressure in the run-up to a general election in July to self-censor in favour of the eventual victor, cricketer-turned-prime-minister Imran Khan. The Committee to Protect Journalists said the army had "quietly but effectively, set restrictions on reporting" in a report released September last year.

Pakistan announces 'massive' social media crackdown

Pakistan has taken the right direction in strengthening its defence and acquired nuclear prowess to avoid being coerced, a top Pakistan Army official said on Monday.&nbsp;

Addressing a seminar, "Understanding Strategic Coercion in the Realm of Hybrid Gray Conflict: Implications for Pakistan", Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Zubair Mahmood Hayat said, "Beginning as early as the partition, coercive statecraft and hostility from our neighbour is not new."

"However, with the accession of hyper-Pakistan had taken the right direction and strengthened its defence. We continue to build our Minimum Credible Deterrence. Nuclear power of 2020 million cannot be coerced," he said.

He said with the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the evolving dynamics of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), Pakistan was set to play an important role. "We succeeded in the past, we'll succeed in the future," he added.

In the prevailing international environment, the subject of the seminar, organised by the Institute of Strategic Studies Ismalabad, was of great relevance and interests to Pakistan because "it was enduring a subtle and, at times, not so subtle strategic coercion," he said.

"In fact, it was not just Pakistan but the entire region was subjected to the strategic coercion and even the South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC) had become a hostage to this phenomenon," said Gen Hayat.

Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Baloch nationalist and the arrest of Indian national Kalbhushan Yadav, are all manifestation of this evolving challenge," he said.

The General said that the strategic coercion was undermining the regional strategic calculus and negatively affecting the internal politics as well, and to ward off the spectre of strategic coercion in the realm of hybrid warfare, new methods and modalities were required.

"We have taken the direction and come a long way in establishing and strengthening our defence. We fought off the scourge of terrorism, not only physically, but emotionally and psychologically as well," he said.

Apart from Gen Hayat, Leonid Savin from geopolitical analyst, Russia; Ikram Sehgal, defence and security analyst; and Lt&nbsp;Gen&nbsp;(Retd) Naeem Khalid Lodhi, former defence secretary.

Savin say that the concept of gray hybrid conflict&nbsp;was a western construct and the rest of the world should come up with its own narrative.

"Before 2014, hybrid warfare was discussed mostly in military affairs but, after the Ukraine crisis, it has expanded to the political domain as well," he said.

Sehgal described hybrid warfare as a mix of all the linear and non-linear, kinetic and non-kinetic warfare whose all components were inter-connected, applied simultaneously and adopted likewise in time and space.

"Propaganda, social implosion and cyber warfare are some of its expressions," he said.

Lt Gen Lodhi said that hybrid warfare was an acme of strategy to win a battle without fighting. He said that it was unleashed to impact worldviews, politics, culture, social bonds and economy.

Pakistan has taken the right direction in strengthening its defence and acquired nuclear prowess to avoid being coerced, a top Pakistan Army official said on Monday.

Pakistan has taken the right direction in strengthening its defence and acquired nuclear prowess to avoid being coerced, a top Pakistan Army official said on Monday. Addressing a seminar, "Understanding Strategic Coercion in the Realm of Hybrid Gray Conflict: Implications for Pakistan", Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Zubair Mahmood Hayat said, "Beginning as early as the partition, coercive statecraft and hostility from our neighbour is not new." "However, with the accession of hyper-Pakistan had taken the right direction and strengthened its defence. We continue to build our Minimum Credible Deterrence. Nuclear power of 2020 million cannot be coerced," he said. He said with the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the evolving dynamics of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), Pakistan was set to play an important role. "We succeeded in the past, we'll succeed in the future," he added. In the prevailing international environment, the subject of the seminar, organised by the Institute of Strategic Studies Ismalabad, was of great relevance and interests to Pakistan because "it was enduring a subtle and, at times, not so subtle strategic coercion," he said. "In fact, it was not just Pakistan but the entire region was subjected to the strategic coercion and even the South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC) had become a hostage to this phenomenon," said Gen Hayat. Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Baloch nationalist and the arrest of Indian national Kalbhushan Yadav, are all manifestation of this evolving challenge," he said. The General said that the strategic coercion was undermining the regional strategic calculus and negatively affecting the internal politics as well, and to ward off the spectre of strategic coercion in the realm of hybrid warfare, new methods and modalities were required. "We have taken the direction and come a long way in establishing and strengthening our defence. We fought off the scourge of terrorism, not only physically, but emotionally and psychologically as well," he said. Apart from Gen Hayat, Leonid Savin from geopolitical analyst, Russia; Ikram Sehgal, defence and security analyst; and Lt Gen (Retd) Naeem Khalid Lodhi, former defence secretary. Savin say that the concept of gray hybrid conflict was a western construct and the rest of the world should come up with its own narrative. "Before 2014, hybrid warfare was discussed mostly in military affairs but, after the Ukraine crisis, it has expanded to the political domain as well," he said. Sehgal described hybrid warfare as a mix of all the linear and non-linear, kinetic and non-kinetic warfare whose all components were inter-connected, applied simultaneously and adopted likewise in time and space. "Propaganda, social implosion and cyber warfare are some of its expressions," he said. Lt Gen Lodhi said that hybrid warfare was an acme of strategy to win a battle without fighting. He said that it was unleashed to impact worldviews, politics, culture, social bonds and economy.

Pakistan took right direction in acquiring nuclear prowess: Army official

January Ceasefire Violations: India raises the matter with Pakistan

International skiers take to slopes in Pakistan

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan will meet International Monetary Fund (IMF) chief Christine Lagarde in Dubai on Sunday for talks on issues which have held up bailout negotiations, a Pakistani minister said on Saturday.

Pakistan is seeking its 13th bailout since the late 1980s to deal with a current account deficit that threatens to trigger a balance of payments crisis, but talks have been delayed by difficulties in reconciling IMF reform demands with Islamabad`s fears the push is too drastic and could hurt economic growth.

Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry told Reuters Khan will meet IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde on the sidelines of the World Government Summit in Dubai.

"This will give us a chance to understand the IMF views and we will be able to give our version to (Lagarde)," said Chaudhry, who will accompany Khan to Dubai along with Finance Minister Asad Umar.

Chaudhry said Pakistan wants any agreed bailout package, which would be the country's second IMF bailout since 2013, to be the nation`s last such economic rescue by the IMF.&nbsp;

Officials had expected talks to conclude in November but they have been delayed as Islamabad harbours concerns that the programme could derail the economy and Khan`s plans for his term in office.

Pakistan has in the meantime sought financial assistance from Middle Eastern allies such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, who have loaned it in excess of $10 billion to ease the pressure on its dwindling foreign currency reserves.

"The problem is not the (IMF) deal, the problem is the condition attached to the deal," Chaudhry said.&nbsp;

"We don’t want conditions that hurt Pakistan’s growth prospects. We want a fair deal that can actually help Pakistan in the short term, without affecting our long-term economic goals."

The IMF talks come amid a worsening macroeconomic outlook, with growth expectations slashed for the current fiscal year to about 4 per cent from 6 per cent previously forecast.

On Saturday, Pakistan also revised its growth figures for the last financial year to 5.2 per cent from a previously reported 5.8 per cent, after a sharp cut in the figure for large-scale manufacturing, the statistics office said.

When the original estimate was reported in April by the government of Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi it was hailed as the strongest growth in 13 years.

Before the revisions to last year`s GDP figures, Pakistan`s deficit to GDP ratio, estimated at 5.8 per cent in 2017-18, was expected to hit 6.9 per cent this year, according to IMF data.

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan will meet International Monetary Fund (IMF) chief Christine Lagarde in Dubai on Sunday for talks on issues which have held up bailout negotiations, a Pakistani minister said on Saturday.

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan will meet International Monetary Fund (IMF) chief Christine Lagarde in Dubai on Sunday for talks on issues which have held up bailout negotiations, a Pakistani minister said on Saturday. Pakistan is seeking its 13th bailout since the late 1980s to deal with a current account deficit that threatens to trigger a balance of payments crisis, but talks have been delayed by difficulties in reconciling IMF reform demands with Islamabad`s fears the push is too drastic and could hurt economic growth. Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry told Reuters Khan will meet IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde on the sidelines of the World Government Summit in Dubai. "This will give us a chance to understand the IMF views and we will be able to give our version to (Lagarde)," said Chaudhry, who will accompany Khan to Dubai along with Finance Minister Asad Umar. Chaudhry said Pakistan wants any agreed bailout package, which would be the country's second IMF bailout since 2013, to be the nation`s last such economic rescue by the IMF. Officials had expected talks to conclude in November but they have been delayed as Islamabad harbours concerns that the programme could derail the economy and Khan`s plans for his term in office. Pakistan has in the meantime sought financial assistance from Middle Eastern allies such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, who have loaned it in excess of $10 billion to ease the pressure on its dwindling foreign currency reserves. "The problem is not the (IMF) deal, the problem is the condition attached to the deal," Chaudhry said. "We don’t want conditions that hurt Pakistan’s growth prospects. We want a fair deal that can actually help Pakistan in the short term, without affecting our long-term economic goals." The IMF talks come amid a worsening macroeconomic outlook, with growth expectations slashed for the current fiscal year to about 4 per cent from 6 per cent previously forecast. On Saturday, Pakistan also revised its growth figures for the last financial year to 5.2 per cent from a previously reported 5.8 per cent, after a sharp cut in the figure for large-scale manufacturing, the statistics office said. When the original estimate was reported in April by the government of Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi it was hailed as the strongest growth in 13 years. Before the revisions to last year`s GDP figures, Pakistan`s deficit to GDP ratio, estimated at 5.8 per cent in 2017-18, was expected to hit 6.9 per cent this year, according to IMF data.

Pakistan PM Imran Khan to meet IMF chief Lagarde for talks on bailout

A Pakistani journalist under scrutiny for anti-government social media posts was beaten and seized outside his home on Saturday, his son said, in the latest sign of pressure on media.

Rizwan Razi, who worked for private Din TV in the city of Lahore, was being investigated for "defamatory and obnoxious" comments about the judiciary, government and intelligence services, according to Pakistan`s law enforcement agency.&nbsp;

However, there was no official confirmation he had been arrested.

"My father went out of home to see off friends," his son Osama told Reuters of the incident on Saturday morning.

"When the friends left, unknown persons, riding a black Honda Civic car, thrashed and dragged him in the car and fled away ... I ran after the car but could not do anything."

Pakistani journalists say they face an increasingly hostile climate since the vote last year that saw Prime Minister Imran Khan`s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) take power.

A report from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), dated Saturday and seen by Reuters, said Razi had previously been questioned about his Twitter comments. It said authorization had been granted to register a case against him.

His account @RaziDada appeared to be offline on Saturday.

FIA officials in Lahore referred questions to the main office in Islamabad, where officials could not be reached.

Khan`s government replaced the party of ousted former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who was at odds with the powerful military and is currently serving a seven-year prison sentence for corruption.

The increased official pressure has come at a difficult time for the media in general as advertising revenues have plunged and newsroom budgets been slashed.

Government officials say Pakistan has an independent media and the military denies pressuring journalists.&nbsp;

In a separate case, Ammar Ali Jan, an academic also based in Lahore, was arrested over his involvement in a protest at the death of Arman Loni, a regional leader of the Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement. He was later released on bail.

A message on Ammar`s Facebook page on Saturday said he was taken at 4 am "I am a law-abiding citizen and will not be deterred in the fight for justice," it said.

Police official Azhar Naveed confirmed the brief detention and bail, which followed other arrests over the protests earlier this week. He said Ammar was charged with taking part in a rally, blocking a road and making "anti-state" speeches.&nbsp;

A Pakistani journalist under scrutiny for anti-government social media posts was beaten and seized outside his home on Saturday, his son said, in the latest sign of pressure on media.

A Pakistani journalist under scrutiny for anti-government social media posts was beaten and seized outside his home on Saturday, his son said, in the latest sign of pressure on media. Rizwan Razi, who worked for private Din TV in the city of Lahore, was being investigated for "defamatory and obnoxious" comments about the judiciary, government and intelligence services, according to Pakistan`s law enforcement agency. However, there was no official confirmation he had been arrested. "My father went out of home to see off friends," his son Osama told Reuters of the incident on Saturday morning. "When the friends left, unknown persons, riding a black Honda Civic car, thrashed and dragged him in the car and fled away ... I ran after the car but could not do anything." Pakistani journalists say they face an increasingly hostile climate since the vote last year that saw Prime Minister Imran Khan`s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) take power. A report from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), dated Saturday and seen by Reuters, said Razi had previously been questioned about his Twitter comments. It said authorization had been granted to register a case against him. His account @RaziDada appeared to be offline on Saturday. FIA officials in Lahore referred questions to the main office in Islamabad, where officials could not be reached. Khan`s government replaced the party of ousted former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who was at odds with the powerful military and is currently serving a seven-year prison sentence for corruption. The increased official pressure has come at a difficult time for the media in general as advertising revenues have plunged and newsroom budgets been slashed. Government officials say Pakistan has an independent media and the military denies pressuring journalists. In a separate case, Ammar Ali Jan, an academic also based in Lahore, was arrested over his involvement in a protest at the death of Arman Loni, a regional leader of the Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement. He was later released on bail. A message on Ammar`s Facebook page on Saturday said he was taken at 4 am "I am a law-abiding citizen and will not be deterred in the fight for justice," it said. Police official Azhar Naveed confirmed the brief detention and bail, which followed other arrests over the protests earlier this week. He said Ammar was charged with taking part in a rally, blocking a road and making "anti-state" speeches.

Pakistani journalist critical of government seized outside home

Pakistan has revised its economic growth figures for the last financial year to 5.2 per cent from a previously reported figure of 5.8 per cent, after a sharp cut in the figure for large-scale manufacturing, the statistics office said.

The revision of figures reported by the previous government underlines the economic headwinds facing Pakistan which is holding discussions over a possible bailout from the International Monetary Fund.

When the original estimate was reported in April by the government of Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, it was hailed as the strongest growth in 13 years.

The office, in a statement issued after a meeting of the national accounts committee late on Friday, said gross domestic product in the 2017/18 financial year to June rose 5.22 per cent compared with a previously reported 5.79 per cent.

Growth in the industrial sector was revised to 5.01 per cent from a previously reported 5.8 per cent in the provisional estimate. The biggest change came in the large-scale manufacturing segment, which saw growth revised to 5.01 per cent from 6.13 per cent previously.

In the agriculture sector, growth was revised to 3.7 per cent, from a previous 3.81 per cent, while in services, growth was revised to 5.78 per cent from 6.43 per cent previously. 
Growth in the current year is expected to slow further to 4 per cent this year, according to an IMF forecast from November.

Before the revisions to last year`s GDP figures, Pakistan`s deficit to GDP ratio, estimated at 5.8 per cent in 2017-18, was expected to hit 6.9 per cent this year, according to IMF data.

Pakistan has revised its economic growth figures for the last financial year to 5.2 per cent from a previously reported figure of 5.8 per cent, after a sharp cut in the figure for large-scale manufacturing, the statistics office said.

Pakistan has revised its economic growth figures for the last financial year to 5.2 per cent from a previously reported figure of 5.8 per cent, after a sharp cut in the figure for large-scale manufacturing, the statistics office said. The revision of figures reported by the previous government underlines the economic headwinds facing Pakistan which is holding discussions over a possible bailout from the International Monetary Fund. When the original estimate was reported in April by the government of Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, it was hailed as the strongest growth in 13 years. The office, in a statement issued after a meeting of the national accounts committee late on Friday, said gross domestic product in the 2017/18 financial year to June rose 5.22 per cent compared with a previously reported 5.79 per cent. Growth in the industrial sector was revised to 5.01 per cent from a previously reported 5.8 per cent in the provisional estimate. The biggest change came in the large-scale manufacturing segment, which saw growth revised to 5.01 per cent from 6.13 per cent previously. In the agriculture sector, growth was revised to 3.7 per cent, from a previous 3.81 per cent, while in services, growth was revised to 5.78 per cent from 6.43 per cent previously. Growth in the current year is expected to slow further to 4 per cent this year, according to an IMF forecast from November. Before the revisions to last year`s GDP figures, Pakistan`s deficit to GDP ratio, estimated at 5.8 per cent in 2017-18, was expected to hit 6.9 per cent this year, according to IMF data.

Pakistan cuts 2017/18 economic growth estimate to 5.2 per cent

WION Fineprint, 8th February, 2019

India protests against Hafiz Saeed's rally, sends 'note verbale' to Pakistan

India protests against Hafiz Saeed roaming freely, sends 'note verbale' to Pakistan

Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani on Thursday voiced serious concern over the violence perpetrated against peaceful protestors and civil activists in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan and warned that it could have “long-standing negative consequences".

Pakistan government has been resorting to violence to crush protests in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. Recently, a local Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) leader Arman Loni died after Pakistani forces opened fire when he and his supporters were peacefully protesting against the growing forced evictions in the region."

"The Afghan government has serious concerns about the violence perpetrated against peaceful protestors and civil activists in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan," Ghani tweeted.

“We believe it is the moral responsibility of every government to support civil activities that take a stand against the terrorism and extremism that plagues and threatens our region and collective security. Otherwise, there could be long-standing negative consequences,” Ghani tweeted.

Pakistan has been carrying out oppressive activities against ethnic Pashtuns, who have been regularly protesting and seeking justice for the atrocities committed by security forces in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Federally Administered Tribal Areas.

Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi criticised the Afghan President for his statement.

"We reject the tweet by President Ashraf Ghani. Such irresponsible statements are only gross interference. Afghan leadership needs to focus on long-standing serious grievances of the Afghan people,” Qureshi tweeted.

Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani on Thursday voiced serious concern over the violence perpetrated against peaceful protestors and civil activists in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan and warned that it could have “long-standing negative consequences".

Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani on Thursday voiced serious concern over the violence perpetrated against peaceful protestors and civil activists in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan and warned that it could have “long-standing negative consequences". Pakistan government has been resorting to violence to crush protests in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. Recently, a local Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) leader Arman Loni died after Pakistani forces opened fire when he and his supporters were peacefully protesting against the growing forced evictions in the region." "The Afghan government has serious concerns about the violence perpetrated against peaceful protestors and civil activists in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan," Ghani tweeted. “We believe it is the moral responsibility of every government to support civil activities that take a stand against the terrorism and extremism that plagues and threatens our region and collective security. Otherwise, there could be long-standing negative consequences,” Ghani tweeted. Pakistan has been carrying out oppressive activities against ethnic Pashtuns, who have been regularly protesting and seeking justice for the atrocities committed by security forces in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Federally Administered Tribal Areas. Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi criticised the Afghan President for his statement. "We reject the tweet by President Ashraf Ghani. Such irresponsible statements are only gross interference. Afghan leadership needs to focus on long-standing serious grievances of the Afghan people,” Qureshi tweeted.

Afghan President expresses concern over violence by Pakistani forces against Pashtuns, Balochistan

One of Pakistan's leading women's rights activists has been released from police custody, she told AFP Thursday, after Amnesty International said she and others had been detained "arbitrarily".

Gulalai Ismail was arrested along with 17 other members of the Pashtun Protection Movement (PTM), a peaceful organisation defending the rights of ethnic Pashtuns, during a protest in Islamabad on Tuesday.&nbsp;

"It was very painful for my family, who tool 30 hours to know where I was," she told AFP, adding that she had been freed late Wednesday.

She was separated from the other activists, she said, and was not placed under official arrest.

"They didn't charge me with anything. They didn't let me contact my lawyer. They just kept moving me around," she said.&nbsp;

"You cannot arrest citizens and just disappear them."

An Islamabad police official dealing with the case swept the claims aside.

Police follow "a proper procedure and her claims of an encounter are unthinkable," he told AFP, referring to extra-judicial murders, or "encounter killings" as they are commonly known in Pakistan.&nbsp;

He accused Ismail and the other activists of uttering "anti-state slogans".

Ismail was briefly detained in October after speaking at another PTM meeting. Her brief disappearance this week has inflamed social networks, with the hashtag #WhereIsGulalai going viral.&nbsp;&nbsp;

She has been freed, but "as a human rights defender, she is still not safe," said Rabia Mehmood, a researcher for Amnesty International.

"It is really alarming that peaceful protests are constantly targeted by the Pakistani state," she added.

The PTM is demanding, among other things, an end to what it says are enforced disappearances and extra-judicial murders of ethnic Pashtuns by police and other security officials.&nbsp;

Ismail is also the co-founder of Aware Girls, an NGO that promotes gender equality. She has received several international awards.&nbsp;

One of Pakistan's leading women's rights activists has been released from police custody, she told AFP Thursday, after Amnesty International said she and others had been detained "arbitrarily".

One of Pakistan's leading women's rights activists has been released from police custody, she told AFP Thursday, after Amnesty International said she and others had been detained "arbitrarily". Gulalai Ismail was arrested along with 17 other members of the Pashtun Protection Movement (PTM), a peaceful organisation defending the rights of ethnic Pashtuns, during a protest in Islamabad on Tuesday. "It was very painful for my family, who tool 30 hours to know where I was," she told AFP, adding that she had been freed late Wednesday. She was separated from the other activists, she said, and was not placed under official arrest. "They didn't charge me with anything. They didn't let me contact my lawyer. They just kept moving me around," she said. "You cannot arrest citizens and just disappear them." An Islamabad police official dealing with the case swept the claims aside. Police follow "a proper procedure and her claims of an encounter are unthinkable," he told AFP, referring to extra-judicial murders, or "encounter killings" as they are commonly known in Pakistan. He accused Ismail and the other activists of uttering "anti-state slogans". Ismail was briefly detained in October after speaking at another PTM meeting. Her brief disappearance this week has inflamed social networks, with the hashtag #WhereIsGulalai going viral. She has been freed, but "as a human rights defender, she is still not safe," said Rabia Mehmood, a researcher for Amnesty International. "It is really alarming that peaceful protests are constantly targeted by the Pakistani state," she added. The PTM is demanding, among other things, an end to what it says are enforced disappearances and extra-judicial murders of ethnic Pashtuns by police and other security officials. Ismail is also the co-founder of Aware Girls, an NGO that promotes gender equality. She has received several international awards.

Pakistan women's rights activist released from detention

A Pakistani team will visit India on March 13 to discuss <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/kartarpur-corridor-land-acquisition-underway-india-to-send-draft-plan-to-pakistan-in-1-month-195400">the modalities of the Kartarpur corridor</a>, which will then be followed by the visit of an Indian team to Pakistan.&nbsp;

Pakistan has proposed two new dates — in responsed to an Indian proposal — March 13 for the visit of the Pakistani delegation, followed by a return visit of the Indian delegation on March 28 to finalise the draft agreement for the Kartarpur corridor.

The Indian proposal on January 22 had proposed the dates of February 26 and March 7 for the Indian and Pakistani officials to meet on.&nbsp;

In a tweet on Thursday evening, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said, "We welcome the visit of Pakistan team to discuss and finalise modalities for facilitating visit of pilgrims through Kartarpur Sahib Corridor on 13 March 2019 to India. Follow up meeting can be held in Pakistan, as required."

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
We welcome the visit of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Pakistan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Pakistan</a> team to discuss and finalise modalities for facilitating visit of pilgrims through <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Kartarpur?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Kartarpur</a> Sahib Corridor on 13 March 2019 to India. Follow up meeting can be held in Pakistan, as required. 1/2
— Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/MEAIndia/status/1093525950111727616?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 7, 2019</a></blockquote>
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India has also proposed technical-level discussions between engineers on both sides without waiting for the discussion on the modalities.&nbsp;

"We hope Pakistan would positively respond &amp; confirm coordinates of crossing point as well," Kumar tweeted Thursday.&nbsp;

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For expeditious realisation of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/kartarpurcorridor?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#kartarpurcorridor</a>, India has also proposed technical level discussions between engineers on both sides without waiting for discussion on the modalities. We hope <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Pakistan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Pakistan</a> would positively respond &amp; confirm coordinates of crossing point as well. 2/2
— Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/MEAIndia/status/1093525952041168902?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 7, 2019</a></blockquote>
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India has already shared with Pakistan the coordinates of the corridor's zero or crossing point along the International Border.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, speaking to the Pakistani media, Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan Ajay Bisaria called the Kartarpur corridor a "corridor of faith" that will build trust between the two countries. "I am certain this vision will drive the relationship between India and Pakistan," he said.&nbsp;

Earlier this week, the second inter-agency meet on the Kartarpur corridor took place at the home ministry. The meet was chaired by Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba and attended by the Punjab chief secretary, Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan Ajay Bisaria and BSF Director General RK Misra.

India will be sending Pakistan a draft proposal on the corridor very soon, even as the process of land acquisition for the corridor gathers pace.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, Punjab Chief Secretary Karan Avtar Singh said, "We are hopeful that we will send the draft proposal to Pakistan and complete legal modalities within a month."

India and Pakistan approved the building of the Kartarpur corridor last year so that Indian pilgrims could easily visit the Kartarpur gurudwara in Pakistan to celebrate the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak this year. Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, lived for 18 years at Kartarpur gurudwara.&nbsp;

India's Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu laid the foundation stone for the corridor on the Indian side on November 26 2018 while Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan laid the foundation stone for the corridor on the Pakistan side on November 28.&nbsp;

A Pakistani team will visit India on March 13 to discuss the modalities of the Kartarpur corridor, which will then be followed by the visit of an Indian team to Pakistan.

A Pakistani team will visit India on March 13 to discuss the modalities of the Kartarpur corridor, which will then be followed by the visit of an Indian team to Pakistan. Pakistan has proposed two new dates — in responsed to an Indian proposal — March 13 for the visit of the Pakistani delegation, followed by a return visit of the Indian delegation on March 28 to finalise the draft agreement for the Kartarpur corridor. The Indian proposal on January 22 had proposed the dates of February 26 and March 7 for the Indian and Pakistani officials to meet on. In a tweet on Thursday evening, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said, "We welcome the visit of Pakistan team to discuss and finalise modalities for facilitating visit of pilgrims through Kartarpur Sahib Corridor on 13 March 2019 to India. Follow up meeting can be held in Pakistan, as required." We welcome the visit of #Pakistan team to discuss and finalise modalities for facilitating visit of pilgrims through #Kartarpur Sahib Corridor on 13 March 2019 to India. Follow up meeting can be held in Pakistan, as required. 1/2 — Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) February 7, 2019 × India has also proposed technical-level discussions between engineers on both sides without waiting for the discussion on the modalities. "We hope Pakistan would positively respond & confirm coordinates of crossing point as well," Kumar tweeted Thursday. For expeditious realisation of #kartarpurcorridor, India has also proposed technical level discussions between engineers on both sides without waiting for discussion on the modalities. We hope #Pakistan would positively respond & confirm coordinates of crossing point as well. 2/2 — Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) February 7, 2019 × India has already shared with Pakistan the coordinates of the corridor's zero or crossing point along the International Border. Meanwhile, speaking to the Pakistani media, Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan Ajay Bisaria called the Kartarpur corridor a "corridor of faith" that will build trust between the two countries. "I am certain this vision will drive the relationship between India and Pakistan," he said. Earlier this week, the second inter-agency meet on the Kartarpur corridor took place at the home ministry. The meet was chaired by Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba and attended by the Punjab chief secretary, Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan Ajay Bisaria and BSF Director General RK Misra. India will be sending Pakistan a draft proposal on the corridor very soon, even as the process of land acquisition for the corridor gathers pace. Briefing reporters after the meeting, Punjab Chief Secretary Karan Avtar Singh said, "We are hopeful that we will send the draft proposal to Pakistan and complete legal modalities within a month." India and Pakistan approved the building of the Kartarpur corridor last year so that Indian pilgrims could easily visit the Kartarpur gurudwara in Pakistan to celebrate the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak this year. Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, lived for 18 years at Kartarpur gurudwara. India's Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu laid the foundation stone for the corridor on the Indian side on November 26 2018 while Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan laid the foundation stone for the corridor on the Pakistan side on November 28.

Kartarpur corridor: Pakistani team to visit India on March 13, discuss modalities

In a positive development, India and Pakistan both cleared each other's pending diplomatic and official visas on Thursday. Both the countries also agreed on visas of air advisors which had become a thorny issue. The issue of visas for air advisors was agreed after intervention at the High Commissioner level.&nbsp;

Senior officials while confirming the development to WION said, "Fruit of intense diplomacy through High Commission. Diplomats should continue labouring to promote understanding, even when relations are strained"

Visa exchange is a routine issue but given the nature of India, Pakistan ties and current developments such as Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi calling separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq which led to the summoning of Pakistan High Commissioner by India, the development shows a working relationship, at least, at a diplomatic level between the two countries.

This is also significant given the fact that tension between the two countries was high after Pakistani Foreign Minster participated in a number of anti-India events including "Kashmir solidarity day" in London.&nbsp;

The month of January saw Indian High Commissioner Ajay Bisaria meeting Pakistan Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua and Pakistani High Commissioner Sohail Mahmood called on Indian Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale.

Both countries are now working on India Pakistan officials meet to decide on the modalities for the Kartarpur corridor. The first of such meet will take place on March 13 in India.

The functioning of diplomatic missions between India and Pakistan is governed by the bilateral Code of Conduct signed by the two countries in 1992 among other protocols.&nbsp;

The code of conduct calls for "smooth and unhindered" functioning of diplomatic and consular officials in conformity with "recognised norms of international law and practice."

In a positive development, India and Pakistan both cleared each other's pending diplomatic and official visas on Thursday. Both the countries also agreed on visas of air advisors which had become a thorny issue.

In a positive development, India and Pakistan both cleared each other's pending diplomatic and official visas on Thursday. Both the countries also agreed on visas of air advisors which had become a thorny issue. The issue of visas for air advisors was agreed after intervention at the High Commissioner level. Senior officials while confirming the development to WION said, "Fruit of intense diplomacy through High Commission. Diplomats should continue labouring to promote understanding, even when relations are strained" Visa exchange is a routine issue but given the nature of India, Pakistan ties and current developments such as Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi calling separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq which led to the summoning of Pakistan High Commissioner by India, the development shows a working relationship, at least, at a diplomatic level between the two countries. This is also significant given the fact that tension between the two countries was high after Pakistani Foreign Minster participated in a number of anti-India events including "Kashmir solidarity day" in London. The month of January saw Indian High Commissioner Ajay Bisaria meeting Pakistan Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua and Pakistani High Commissioner Sohail Mahmood called on Indian Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale. Both countries are now working on India Pakistan officials meet to decide on the modalities for the Kartarpur corridor. The first of such meet will take place on March 13 in India. The functioning of diplomatic missions between India and Pakistan is governed by the bilateral Code of Conduct signed by the two countries in 1992 among other protocols. The code of conduct calls for "smooth and unhindered" functioning of diplomatic and consular officials in conformity with "recognised norms of international law and practice."

India, Pakistan approve long pending diplomatic visas

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani was stopped from leaving the country by security officials at the Lahore airport late Tuesday night.

According to the Federal Investigation Agency, Gilani had reached the Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore to catch his flight for South Korea via Bangkok to attend a conference. However, his name was on the no-fly list.

"At the immigration counter, Mr Gilani was told that his name was placed on them, therefore, he could not leave the country," the FIA said, adding that it was following orders from the interior ministry.

Reacting strongly, the senior Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader said he had always appeared in court in the different ongoing cases against him.

"There was no point in placing my name on (the) no-fly list. I was not fleeing the country. Prime Minister Imran Khan's sole agenda seems to be targeting his political opponents," he said.

The ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government should have informed me about blacklisting my name, Gilani said, adding that he will challenge the "illegal decision of the government".

Gilani is facing several corruption cases and last week, the accountability court of Islamabad had rejected his plea seeking exemption from personal appearance in a case related to awarding alleged illegal advertising contract to a private ad agency.

He is accused of misusing authority to illegally grant Messrs Midas an advertising contract in contravention of the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) rules.

The act is reported to have cost the national treasury Rs 129.07 million.&nbsp;

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani was stopped from leaving the country by security officials at the Lahore airport late Tuesday night. According to the Federal Investigation Agency, Gilani had reached the Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore to catch his flight for South Korea via Bangkok to attend a conference.

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani was stopped from leaving the country by security officials at the Lahore airport late Tuesday night. According to the Federal Investigation Agency, Gilani had reached the Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore to catch his flight for South Korea via Bangkok to attend a conference. However, his name was on the no-fly list. "At the immigration counter, Mr Gilani was told that his name was placed on them, therefore, he could not leave the country," the FIA said, adding that it was following orders from the interior ministry. Reacting strongly, the senior Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader said he had always appeared in court in the different ongoing cases against him. "There was no point in placing my name on (the) no-fly list. I was not fleeing the country. Prime Minister Imran Khan's sole agenda seems to be targeting his political opponents," he said. The ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government should have informed me about blacklisting my name, Gilani said, adding that he will challenge the "illegal decision of the government". Gilani is facing several corruption cases and last week, the accountability court of Islamabad had rejected his plea seeking exemption from personal appearance in a case related to awarding alleged illegal advertising contract to a private ad agency. He is accused of misusing authority to illegally grant Messrs Midas an advertising contract in contravention of the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) rules. The act is reported to have cost the national treasury Rs 129.07 million.

Former Pakistan PM Gilani stopped from leaving country

Pakistan's anti-graft body on Wednesday arrested Punjab government's powerful senior minister Abdul Aleem Khan for possessing assets beyond his known sources of income.

The arrest has come as a jolt for Prime Minister Imran Khan who is already facing a barrage of criticism for running the province of over 100 million people through his 'puppet' Chief Minister Usman Buzdar.

"We have arrested Punjab senior minister Abdul Aleem Khan for possessing assets beyond his known sources of income and he will be presented before an accountability court in Lahore on Thursday," National Accountability Bureau spokesperson Nawazish Ali Asim said in a statement.

The NAB has been probing Aleem Khan in multiple inquiries, including his offshore company Hexam Investment Overseas Ltd, owning assets beyond his known sources of income and his two housing societies - Park View housing society and River Age Housing Society in Lahore - for the last one year or so.

Punjab Information Minister Fayazul Hasan Chohan said the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf party will not protest over the NAB's decision to arrest the minister. "Unlike the opposition, we will not surround the NAB offices," he said.

Opposition Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has welcomed the arrest of the minister and said that there should be across the board possibility.&nbsp;

"We want PM Khan to sack all those cabinet members who are facing NAB investigation on corruption charges," PML-N senior leader and former Sindh governor Muhammad Zubair said.

PML-N president and opposition leader in the National Assembly, Shehbaz Sharif, the younger brother of former premier Nawaz Sharif, is also in jail in NAB's custody in a corruption case.

Pakistan's anti-graft body on Wednesday arrested Punjab government's powerful senior minister Abdul Aleem Khan for possessing assets beyond his known sources of income.

Pakistan's anti-graft body on Wednesday arrested Punjab government's powerful senior minister Abdul Aleem Khan for possessing assets beyond his known sources of income. The arrest has come as a jolt for Prime Minister Imran Khan who is already facing a barrage of criticism for running the province of over 100 million people through his 'puppet' Chief Minister Usman Buzdar. "We have arrested Punjab senior minister Abdul Aleem Khan for possessing assets beyond his known sources of income and he will be presented before an accountability court in Lahore on Thursday," National Accountability Bureau spokesperson Nawazish Ali Asim said in a statement. The NAB has been probing Aleem Khan in multiple inquiries, including his offshore company Hexam Investment Overseas Ltd, owning assets beyond his known sources of income and his two housing societies - Park View housing society and River Age Housing Society in Lahore - for the last one year or so. Punjab Information Minister Fayazul Hasan Chohan said the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf party will not protest over the NAB's decision to arrest the minister. "Unlike the opposition, we will not surround the NAB offices," he said. Opposition Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has welcomed the arrest of the minister and said that there should be across the board possibility. "We want PM Khan to sack all those cabinet members who are facing NAB investigation on corruption charges," PML-N senior leader and former Sindh governor Muhammad Zubair said. PML-N president and opposition leader in the National Assembly, Shehbaz Sharif, the younger brother of former premier Nawaz Sharif, is also in jail in NAB's custody in a corruption case.

Pakistan's anti-graft body arrests Punjab government's senior minister

Two vehicles carrying passengers collided head-on in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Wednesday, killing at least 16 people and injuring four others, police said.&nbsp;

The passenger van was travelling to Dera Ismail Khan from Peshawar when it collided with a pick-up truck near the Sipena Bandi Village in Karak, resulting in the death of 16 people.&nbsp;

Four other injured were taken to a nearby hospital, police said.

"The collision caused bursting of the CNG cylinder of the van, thereby causing casualties, the investigation is underway," police said.&nbsp;

Two vehicles carrying passengers collided head-on in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Wednesday, killing at least 16 people and injuring four others, police said.

Two vehicles carrying passengers collided head-on in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Wednesday, killing at least 16 people and injuring four others, police said. The passenger van was travelling to Dera Ismail Khan from Peshawar when it collided with a pick-up truck near the Sipena Bandi Village in Karak, resulting in the death of 16 people. Four other injured were taken to a nearby hospital, police said. "The collision caused bursting of the CNG cylinder of the van, thereby causing casualties, the investigation is underway," police said.

Pakistan: 16 dead, four injured in road accident in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province

The second major inter-agency coordination meet on the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-pak-agree-to-build-kartarpur-corridor-imran-khan-to-break-ground-on-november-28-178837">Kartapur Corridor</a> took place on Tuesday at the Ministry of Home Affairs with authorities saying India was hopeful of sending a draft of the plan to Pakistan within a month.&nbsp;

Tuesday's meet was chaired by Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba and attended by the Punjab chief secretary, the Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan Ajay Bisaria, and the BSF Director General RK Misra.

Briefing the media after the meeting, Punjab Chief Secretary Karan Avtar Singh said, "All concerned GOI stakeholders and Indian High Commissioner Ajay Bisaria attended the meeting. We discussed on aspects of the agreement that we want to finalise with Pakistan. We are hopeful that we will send the draft proposal to Pakistan and complete legal modalities within a month."

He also confirmed that the land acquisition process has started.&nbsp;

"Land acquisition work is in progress. This involves four stages, we are in the second stage as of now. We are hopeful that in a month and a half we will complete this process," Singh said

Top sources told WION that land acquisition for a highway and an integrated checkpost (ICP) was discussed at Tuesday's meeting. On Wednesday, February 6, India will issue a notification to acquire land for the ICP with a detailed plan for it is being finalised within the next few days.

A preliminary notification for land acquisition for the highway has already been issued.

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the Land Ports Authority of India (LPAI) will be constructing the highway and the ICP, with the Punjab government assuring the availability of land for them by mid-march.

The first meet on the corridor took place on January 15.&nbsp;

India shared coordinates of the corridor's Zero Point (crossing point) along the International Border with Pakistan on November 22. New Delhi has also invited a Pakistani delegation to India to discuss and finalise the modalities of the corridor and suggested two sets of dates — February 12 and March 7, 2019.&nbsp;

Pakistan has not yet responded.&nbsp;

The founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak, lived for 18 years in Pakistan's Kartarpur gurudwara.

India approved the building of the Kartarpur Corridor last year so that pilgrims can easily visit the gurudwara to celebrate the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak this year. Pakistan later announced that it would also build, on its side of the border, a corridor from the Kartarpur gurudwara to the international border.&nbsp;

India's Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu laid the foundation stone for the corridor on the Indian side of the border on November 26, 2018 while Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan laid the foundation stone for the corridor on the Pakistani side on November 28.

The second major inter-agency coordination meet on the Kartapur Corridor took place on Tuesday at the Ministry of Home Affairs with authorities saying India was hopeful of sending a draft of the plan to Pakistan within a month.

The second major inter-agency coordination meet on the Kartapur Corridor took place on Tuesday at the Ministry of Home Affairs with authorities saying India was hopeful of sending a draft of the plan to Pakistan within a month. Tuesday's meet was chaired by Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba and attended by the Punjab chief secretary, the Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan Ajay Bisaria, and the BSF Director General RK Misra. Briefing the media after the meeting, Punjab Chief Secretary Karan Avtar Singh said, "All concerned GOI stakeholders and Indian High Commissioner Ajay Bisaria attended the meeting. We discussed on aspects of the agreement that we want to finalise with Pakistan. We are hopeful that we will send the draft proposal to Pakistan and complete legal modalities within a month." He also confirmed that the land acquisition process has started. "Land acquisition work is in progress. This involves four stages, we are in the second stage as of now. We are hopeful that in a month and a half we will complete this process," Singh said Top sources told WION that land acquisition for a highway and an integrated checkpost (ICP) was discussed at Tuesday's meeting. On Wednesday, February 6, India will issue a notification to acquire land for the ICP with a detailed plan for it is being finalised within the next few days. A preliminary notification for land acquisition for the highway has already been issued. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the Land Ports Authority of India (LPAI) will be constructing the highway and the ICP, with the Punjab government assuring the availability of land for them by mid-march. The first meet on the corridor took place on January 15. India shared coordinates of the corridor's Zero Point (crossing point) along the International Border with Pakistan on November 22. New Delhi has also invited a Pakistani delegation to India to discuss and finalise the modalities of the corridor and suggested two sets of dates — February 12 and March 7, 2019. Pakistan has not yet responded. The founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak, lived for 18 years in Pakistan's Kartarpur gurudwara. India approved the building of the Kartarpur Corridor last year so that pilgrims can easily visit the gurudwara to celebrate the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak this year. Pakistan later announced that it would also build, on its side of the border, a corridor from the Kartarpur gurudwara to the international border. India's Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu laid the foundation stone for the corridor on the Indian side of the border on November 26, 2018 while Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan laid the foundation stone for the corridor on the Pakistani side on November 28.

Kartarpur Corridor: Land acquisition underway, India to send draft plan to Pakistan in 1 month

In a pre-emptive strike to stop the Pashtuns from backing the Baloch cause of freedom from Pakistan, the Pakistani security forces heckled, harassed and arrested a <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-police-arrest-pashtun-rights-activist-amnesty-calls-for-release-192075">group of Pashtun leaders</a>, when they were going to attend the funeral of Arman Loni.

A local <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pashtun-council-canada-holds-protest-to-condemn-killing-of-prominent-activist-by-pakistan-195017">Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) leader Arman Loni </a>died after Pakistani forces opened fire when he and his supporters were peacefully protesting against the growing forced evictions in the region.

It is pertinent to mention here that this is not the only incident which sheds light on Pakistan’s brutality that uses military high-handedness to keep control over the people and the resources of the region.

This incident has sparked a widespread rage on social media as well.

People are demanding authorities to bring the culprits to justice.

Pakistan has also been carrying out a similar oppressive agenda against ethnic Pashtuns.

Islamabad leadership, which largely works at the commands of army Generals sitting in Rawalpindi, has been committing human rights violations of the highest degree to keep people of the region at bay from the mainstream.

The Pashtun community has been regularly protesting and seeking justice for the atrocities committed by security forces in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Federally Administered Tribal Areas.

However, a new liaison between Sindhis and Balochs is set to pose a bigger challenge to authoritarian leadership of Pakistan which has separately and systematically been carrying out its oppression in the region.&nbsp;

Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) - a political movement, which has been campaigning extensively against the Pakistani military’s cruelty has been rapidly gaining ground in Balochistan and have been successful at gathering traction amongst the masses of Balochistan, who have been seeking freedom from Pakistani clutches for decades now.

 
&nbsp;

In a pre-emptive strike to stop the Pashtuns from backing the Baloch cause of freedom from Pakistan, the Pakistani security forces heckled, harassed and arrested a group of Pashtun leaders, when they were going to attend the funeral of Arman Loni.

In a pre-emptive strike to stop the Pashtuns from backing the Baloch cause of freedom from Pakistan, the Pakistani security forces heckled, harassed and arrested a group of Pashtun leaders, when they were going to attend the funeral of Arman Loni. A local Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) leader Arman Loni died after Pakistani forces opened fire when he and his supporters were peacefully protesting against the growing forced evictions in the region. It is pertinent to mention here that this is not the only incident which sheds light on Pakistan’s brutality that uses military high-handedness to keep control over the people and the resources of the region. This incident has sparked a widespread rage on social media as well. People are demanding authorities to bring the culprits to justice. Pakistan has also been carrying out a similar oppressive agenda against ethnic Pashtuns. Islamabad leadership, which largely works at the commands of army Generals sitting in Rawalpindi, has been committing human rights violations of the highest degree to keep people of the region at bay from the mainstream. The Pashtun community has been regularly protesting and seeking justice for the atrocities committed by security forces in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Federally Administered Tribal Areas. However, a new liaison between Sindhis and Balochs is set to pose a bigger challenge to authoritarian leadership of Pakistan which has separately and systematically been carrying out its oppression in the region. Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) - a political movement, which has been campaigning extensively against the Pakistani military’s cruelty has been rapidly gaining ground in Balochistan and have been successful at gathering traction amongst the masses of Balochistan, who have been seeking freedom from Pakistani clutches for decades now.

Pak security forces arrest Pashtun leaders backing Baloch freedom

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