The United States has imposed sanctions on seven Pakistani companies over suspicion they have links to the nuclear trade, potentially hurting Pakistan's ambitions to join the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).

Pakistani government spokesmen could not be immediately reached for comment on Monday.

Relations between the United States and Pakistan have been strained in recent years over Pakistan's alleged support for Islamist militants waging war in Afghanistan, something Pakistani officials deny.

The US&nbsp;Bureau of Industry and Security, Commerce imposed the sanctions on the Pakistani companies on March 22 by placing them on its "Entity List".

The companies had been "determined by the US&nbsp;government to be acting contrary to the national security or foreign policy interests of the United States", the bureau said in a report on a US&nbsp;government website.

The Department of Commerce's Entity List does not freeze assets but requires that US&nbsp;and foreign companies doing business with those on the list first obtain a license.

Companies placed on the Entity List will need special licenses to do business in the United States.

None of the seven sanctioned Pakistani companies, which are not well known, could be immediately reached for comment, nor could a Singapore-based company which the bureau said was linked to one of the Pakistani companies.

Pakistani officials have in the past been accused of handing over nuclear secrets to North Korea. The government has denied the accusations though Pakistan has a poor record on nuclear proliferation.

The Pakistani scientist lionized as the father of Pakistan’s atomic bomb, Abdul Qadeer Khan, in 2004 said he had sold nuclear secrets to North Korea.

A UN&nbsp;nuclear watchdog said in 2008 that Khan`s network smuggled nuclear weaponization blueprints to Iran, Libya and North Korea and was active in 12 countries.

Sanctioned companies

Of the latest companies to be sanctioned, Singapore-based Mushko Logistics and Pakistan-based Mushko Electronics "procured items for several Pakistani entities on the Entity List", the US&nbsp;bureau said in its report.

Another company, Solutions Engineering, "has been involved in the procurement of US-origin items on behalf of nuclear-related entities in Pakistan that are already listed on the Entity List".&nbsp;

Three of the companies - Akhtar & Munir, Proficient Engineers and Pervaiz Commercial Trading Co. (PCTC) - were on the list due to "involvement in the proliferation of unsafeguarded nuclear activities that are contrary to the national security and/or foreign policy interests of the United States".

Marine Systems was placed on the Entity list for helping other already-sanctioned bodies obtain items without a licence, while Engineering and Commercial Services (ECS) was sanctioned for "involvement in supplying a Pakistani nuclear-related entity on the Entity List".&nbsp;

The sanctions could deal a blow to Pakistan's application to join the NSG, a 48-nation club dedicated to curbing nuclear arms proliferation by controlling the export and re-transfer of materials that could foster nuclear weapons development.

Nuclear-armed Pakistan applied to join the NSG in 2016 but little progress has been made.

The United States has been concerned about Pakistan's development of new nuclear weapons systems, including small tactical nuclear weapons, and has been trying to persuade Islamabad to make a unilateral declaration of "restraint".

Pakistani government spokesmen could not be immediately reached for comment on Monday.

The United States has imposed sanctions on seven Pakistani companies over suspicion they have links to the nuclear trade, potentially hurting Pakistan's ambitions to join the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). Pakistani government spokesmen could not be immediately reached for comment on Monday. Relations between the United States and Pakistan have been strained in recent years over Pakistan's alleged support for Islamist militants waging war in Afghanistan, something Pakistani officials deny. The US Bureau of Industry and Security, Commerce imposed the sanctions on the Pakistani companies on March 22 by placing them on its "Entity List". The companies had been "determined by the US government to be acting contrary to the national security or foreign policy interests of the United States", the bureau said in a report on a US government website. The Department of Commerce's Entity List does not freeze assets but requires that US and foreign companies doing business with those on the list first obtain a license. Companies placed on the Entity List will need special licenses to do business in the United States. None of the seven sanctioned Pakistani companies, which are not well known, could be immediately reached for comment, nor could a Singapore-based company which the bureau said was linked to one of the Pakistani companies. Pakistani officials have in the past been accused of handing over nuclear secrets to North Korea. The government has denied the accusations though Pakistan has a poor record on nuclear proliferation. The Pakistani scientist lionized as the father of Pakistan’s atomic bomb, Abdul Qadeer Khan, in 2004 said he had sold nuclear secrets to North Korea. A UN nuclear watchdog said in 2008 that Khan`s network smuggled nuclear weaponization blueprints to Iran, Libya and North Korea and was active in 12 countries. Sanctioned companies Of the latest companies to be sanctioned, Singapore-based Mushko Logistics and Pakistan-based Mushko Electronics "procured items for several Pakistani entities on the Entity List", the US bureau said in its report. Another company, Solutions Engineering, "has been involved in the procurement of US-origin items on behalf of nuclear-related entities in Pakistan that are already listed on the Entity List". Three of the companies - Akhtar & Munir, Proficient Engineers and Pervaiz Commercial Trading Co. (PCTC) - were on the list due to "involvement in the proliferation of unsafeguarded nuclear activities that are contrary to the national security and/or foreign policy interests of the United States". Marine Systems was placed on the Entity list for helping other already-sanctioned bodies obtain items without a licence, while Engineering and Commercial Services (ECS) was sanctioned for "involvement in supplying a Pakistani nuclear-related entity on the Entity List". The sanctions could deal a blow to Pakistan's application to join the NSG, a 48-nation club dedicated to curbing nuclear arms proliferation by controlling the export and re-transfer of materials that could foster nuclear weapons development. Nuclear-armed Pakistan applied to join the NSG in 2016 but little progress has been made. The United States has been concerned about Pakistan's development of new nuclear weapons systems, including small tactical nuclear weapons, and has been trying to persuade Islamabad to make a unilateral declaration of "restraint".

US sanctions Pakistani companies over nuclear trade

China to the rescue

This week China&rsquo;s Academy of Sciences confirmed it had sold a sophisticated missile defense system which was considerably superior to its &ldquo;home-made missile systems&rdquo;.

The move signaled a dangerous level in arms race in the sub-containment with nuclear powers &ndash; India and Pakistan &ndash; engaged in a low intensity battle in J&amp;K, helped along by Chinese help to the unstable Pakistan regime with ISI and Pak military calling the shots.

Pakistan has been busy on its trying to put together a missile defense system for several years with an eye on &ldquo;thwarting&rdquo; India.

Ababeel

In January last year Pakistan had &ldquo;successfully test-fired&rdquo; the missile capable of delivering multiple warheads known as MIRVs(&nbsp;multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicle).

&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false"><img alt="" draggable="false" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/ababeel-20180325100240.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">
Ababeel (Twitter)
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="javascript:void(0)" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

The missile known as&nbsp;Ababeel took the arms race to another level with Pakistan as the government declared it &ldquo;ensured survivability of Pakistan&#39;s ballistic missiles in the growing regional Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) environment.&quot;

It was Pakistan&#39;s answer to Indian&rsquo;s BrahMos missile.

&nbsp;India&rsquo;s BrahMos&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Two years ago, the China&rsquo;s People&rsquo;s Liberation Army Daily in a statement had complained that India&rsquo;s deployment of &ldquo;supersonic missiles&rdquo;&nbsp;&nbsp;on its border had &ldquo;exceeded its own needs of self-defense and poses a serious threat to China&rsquo;s Tibet and Yunnan provinces&rdquo;

&nbsp;&ldquo;The deployment of BrahMos missile is bound to increase the competition and antagonism in the China&ndash;India relations and will have a negative impact on the stability of the region,&rdquo; the Chinese Army daily said.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false"><img alt="" draggable="false" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/brahmos-20180325100359.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">
BrahMos (Zee News Network)
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="javascript:void(0)" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

China definitely felt a &ldquo;counterweight&rdquo; had to be created against India&rsquo;s much touted BrahMos missile keeping its ally Pakistan in the loop.

India&rsquo;s BrahMos missile which can travel at supersonic speed even at low altitudes makes it an &ldquo;almost invisible&rdquo; weapon difficult to detect an intercept.

Pak&rsquo;s defense

A few years ago, Pakistan nuclear physicist Dr Samar Muarakmand who was responsible for conducting nuclear test after India tested its own in 1998, at a ceremony had said Pakistan&rsquo;s missile defense system was prepared by &ldquo;students of government college University&rdquo; who had worked abroad in NASA and other organizations.

Dr Muarakmand&rsquo;s statement illustrates Pakistan&rsquo;s lack of depth in developing a missile defense system.

Shaheen &amp; Gauri

Pakistan has however developed offensive weapons in an attempt to keep up with India.

Pakistan&rsquo;s Shaheen and Gauri missiles along with the Babur cruise missiles boasts of reaching targets far into India.

However, due to its inability to develop a sound missile defense system in an event of first-strike, Pakistan even toyed with buying Russian-made S-400 missile defense system, according to reports.

The total cost of three regiments of S-400 system was a mega $2.5 billion. In end Pakistan decided to procure the Chinese system which was far cheaper and easily accessible since Pakistan already has several China-based projects running alongside with the CPEC project going on at full tilt.

India&rsquo;s Star Wars programme

In the &ldquo;new&rdquo; arms race with China ably supporting Pakistan providing it with weapons both for defensive and offensive purposes, India has its hands full.

A few months ago, India successfully launched an advanced &ldquo;anti-missile&rdquo; system intercepting the short-range Prithvi ballistic missiles at Chandipur.

In 2007, India had entered the elite club comprising of US, Russia &amp; Israel in developing a ballistic missile system. India also announced its own &ldquo;Star Wars&rdquo; programme to block nuclear missile hits on its territory.

7th&nbsp;Slide:

Pak&rsquo;s missile shield

According to reports, Pakistan&rsquo;s China-based system boasts of&nbsp;&quot;highly sophisticated large-scale optical tracking and measurement system.&quot;

&ldquo;It usually comes with a pair of high-performance telescopes equipped with a laser ranger, high-speed camera, infrared detector and a centralised computer system that automatically captures and follows moving targets,&rdquo; reports say.&rsquo;

India will now be hard pressed to display its weaponry and put in more resources to counter Pakistan&rsquo;s enhanced missile shield.

8th&nbsp;Slide:

Right side of History

As the arms race enters into a dangerous three-way battle, everyone, especially the Trump administration would be watching Pakistan and China&rsquo;s next moves very minutely. The fact that the US has already squeezed its defense budget to Pakistan and engaged in tough talk over Afghanistan, chances are Pakistan will tilt even more on China, after all both have a grudge or two against the current Trump administration.

India will now have to tread carefully, not to be taken in by the race, it will have to strike a balance between development and defense because in an arms race, history suggests, is only won by the country which has a thriving economy that can sustain the &ldquo;resource guzzler&rdquo;.

India has to ensure it is on the right side of history and not in a &ldquo;cold war style&rdquo; Soviet Union vs USA mode. After all the world is watching.

China’s Academy of Sciences confirmed it had sold a sophisticated missile defense system

China to the rescue This week China’s Academy of Sciences confirmed it had sold a sophisticated missile defense system which was considerably superior to its “home-made missile systems”. The move signaled a dangerous level in arms race in the sub-containment with nuclear powers – India and Pakistan – engaged in a low intensity battle in J&K, helped along by Chinese help to the unstable Pakistan regime with ISI and Pak military calling the shots. Pakistan has been busy on its trying to put together a missile defense system for several years with an eye on “thwarting” India. Ababeel In January last year Pakistan had “successfully test-fired” the missile capable of delivering multiple warheads known as MIRVs( multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicle). Ababeel (Twitter) × The missile known as Ababeel took the arms race to another level with Pakistan as the government declared it “ensured survivability of Pakistan's ballistic missiles in the growing regional Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) environment." It was Pakistan's answer to Indian’s BrahMos missile. India’s BrahMos Two years ago, the China’s People’s Liberation Army Daily in a statement had complained that India’s deployment of “supersonic missiles” on its border had “exceeded its own needs of self-defense and poses a serious threat to China’s Tibet and Yunnan provinces” “The deployment of BrahMos missile is bound to increase the competition and antagonism in the China–India relations and will have a negative impact on the stability of the region,” the Chinese Army daily said. BrahMos (Zee News Network) × China definitely felt a “counterweight” had to be created against India’s much touted BrahMos missile keeping its ally Pakistan in the loop. India’s BrahMos missile which can travel at supersonic speed even at low altitudes makes it an “almost invisible” weapon difficult to detect an intercept. Pak’s defense A few years ago, Pakistan nuclear physicist Dr Samar Muarakmand who was responsible for conducting nuclear test after India tested its own in 1998, at a ceremony had said Pakistan’s missile defense system was prepared by “students of government college University” who had worked abroad in NASA and other organizations. Dr Muarakmand’s statement illustrates Pakistan’s lack of depth in developing a missile defense system. Shaheen & Gauri Pakistan has however developed offensive weapons in an attempt to keep up with India. Pakistan’s Shaheen and Gauri missiles along with the Babur cruise missiles boasts of reaching targets far into India. However, due to its inability to develop a sound missile defense system in an event of first-strike, Pakistan even toyed with buying Russian-made S-400 missile defense system, according to reports. The total cost of three regiments of S-400 system was a mega $2.5 billion. In end Pakistan decided to procure the Chinese system which was far cheaper and easily accessible since Pakistan already has several China-based projects running alongside with the CPEC project going on at full tilt. India’s Star Wars programme In the “new” arms race with China ably supporting Pakistan providing it with weapons both for defensive and offensive purposes, India has its hands full. A few months ago, India successfully launched an advanced “anti-missile” system intercepting the short-range Prithvi ballistic missiles at Chandipur. In 2007, India had entered the elite club comprising of US, Russia & Israel in developing a ballistic missile system. India also announced its own “Star Wars” programme to block nuclear missile hits on its territory. 7th Slide: Pak’s missile shield According to reports, Pakistan’s China-based system boasts of "highly sophisticated large-scale optical tracking and measurement system." “It usually comes with a pair of high-performance telescopes equipped with a laser ranger, high-speed camera, infrared detector and a centralised computer system that automatically captures and follows moving targets,” reports say.’ India will now be hard pressed to display its weaponry and put in more resources to counter Pakistan’s enhanced missile shield. 8th Slide: Right side of History As the arms race enters into a dangerous three-way battle, everyone, especially the Trump administration would be watching Pakistan and China’s next moves very minutely. The fact that the US has already squeezed its defense budget to Pakistan and engaged in tough talk over Afghanistan, chances are Pakistan will tilt even more on China, after all both have a grudge or two against the current Trump administration. India will now have to tread carefully, not to be taken in by the race, it will have to strike a balance between development and defense because in an arms race, history suggests, is only won by the country which has a thriving economy that can sustain the “resource guzzler”. India has to ensure it is on the right side of history and not in a “cold war style” Soviet Union vs USA mode. After all the world is watching.

China's missile defense system for Pakistan aimed at India's BrahMos missile

Every autumn on the mountainous Karakoram Highway, part of the ancient Silk Road, groups of Pakistani merchants living in China&#39;s far west would wave goodbye to their Chinese wives and cross the border to spend winter in their home country.

As the snow piled high, the men would stay in touch with their families by phone, longing for the spring thaw that would allow them to be reunited in Xinjiang.

But last year many of their calls suddenly went unanswered.

Their families, they learned, had disappeared into a growing network of shadowy &quot;re-education centres&quot; that have swept up the region&#39;s Uighur Muslim minority over fears of Islamic militancy crossing the border from Pakistan.

&quot;My wife and kids were taken away by the Chinese authorities in March last year and I haven&#39;t heard from them since,&quot; said Iqbal, a Pakistani businessman who declined to give his surname over concern about his family&#39;s safety.

Last July, he headed to China to find them, but was turned away at the border. Authorities &quot;said my wife was in &#39;training&#39; and the government was taking care of my kids&quot;, he told AFP.

&quot;I begged them to let me talk to my daughters, but they refused.&quot;

Iqbal is one of dozens of merchants from Gilgit-Baltistan who return to Pakistan for visa reasons or to run their businesses and have been unable to contact their Uighur families living in China, according to Javed Hussain, a member of the local assembly for the Pakistani region that borders Xinjiang.

Earlier this month, the delegates passed a unanimous resolution protesting the &quot;illegal detention&quot; of the men&#39;s families.

&quot;The Chinese authorities should at least allow the men to meet their wives and children,&quot; Hussain said.

&quot;China is our friend and this incident will leave a bad taste.&quot;

China&#39;s foreign ministry said that the &quot;two sides are maintaining communication about problems related to interactions between both countries&#39; people&quot;, while Pakistan&#39;s said the issue was being &quot;actively discussed with the government of China&quot;.

&#39;Eliminating extremism&#39;&nbsp;

Like many of the men, Iqbal&#39;s family lived in Kashgar, an ancient city along the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a trade route connecting China&#39;s far west to the Arabian Sea port of Gwadar.

In recent years, China has heavily pushed its relationship with Pakistan, investing tens of billions of dollars in CPEC infrastructure projects in the country, and Beijing has upgraded the treacherous mountain road connecting Gilgit-Baltistan to Xinjiang.

But China has had difficulty reconciling its desire for development with fears that Uighur separatists will import violence from Pakistan.

Chinese authorities have long linked their crackdown on Xinjiang&#39;s Muslims to international counter-terrorism, arguing that separatists are bent on joining foreign extremists like Al-Qaeda.

Uighurs have been tied to mass stabbings and bombings that left dozens dead in recent years across the country. Riots and clashes with the government killed hundreds more.

Over the past year, China has turned to increasingly drastic methods to eliminate what it describes as the &quot;three forces&quot;: terrorists, religious extremists and separatists.

In 2017, the government flooded Xinjiang with tens of thousands of security personnel, with police stations on nearly every block in urban areas and tough regulations to &quot;eliminate extremism&quot;.

This included the increased use of compulsory &quot;re-education&quot; for anyone suspected of harbouring separatist sympathies.

&nbsp;Threat&#39; from Pakistan&nbsp;

Iqbal and the other Pakistani men believe their wives -- and even business associates -- have been targeted because they received calls and messages from Pakistan.

&quot;Any communication from Pakistan is considered a threat,&quot; said Qurban, a businessman who has worked in Kashgar for over 30 years.

&quot;One of my employees, a Uighur, was picked up two years back just because he was in touch with me when I went to Pakistan.&quot;

Chinese authorities have denied the existence of re-education centres.

But regulations against extremism adopted by Xinjiang last March call for authorities to step up political re-education.

In Kashgar alone, more than 120,000 people -- about three percent of the area&#39;s population -- were being held in the facilities in January, according to Radio Free Asia.

An AFP review of state media reports and government documents verified the existence of at least 30 such centres and almost 4,000 cases of people being sent to them.

Regulations posted on a local website in Xinjiang&#39;s Hejing county explained that even minor transgressions of strict religious regulations can be punished with up to three months in a centre.

Ali, a businessman who lost contact with his wife in December, said she had been taken by authorities to do a &quot;sort of training where they teach them about Communism and prepare them to be patriotic citizens&quot;.

&quot;My wife told me that Chinese police had come to her house and asked her about the calls from Pakistan and asked her to explain her links with ETIM,&quot; said Ali, referring to the East Turkestan Islamic Movement, a militant group China has accused of attempting to foment Uighur separatism.

He plans to cross the border in May to find his family, but has been told his children are in the custody of the Chinese government and doesn&#39;t know if he will see them again.

&quot;They never tell you anything, they just say your family will come back to you when they finish their training.&quot;

The Pakistani merchants living in Xinjiang would return home every winter. Last spring, they were not allowed to enter China

Every autumn on the mountainous Karakoram Highway, part of the ancient Silk Road, groups of Pakistani merchants living in China's far west would wave goodbye to their Chinese wives and cross the border to spend winter in their home country. As the snow piled high, the men would stay in touch with their families by phone, longing for the spring thaw that would allow them to be reunited in Xinjiang. But last year many of their calls suddenly went unanswered. Their families, they learned, had disappeared into a growing network of shadowy "re-education centres" that have swept up the region's Uighur Muslim minority over fears of Islamic militancy crossing the border from Pakistan. "My wife and kids were taken away by the Chinese authorities in March last year and I haven't heard from them since," said Iqbal, a Pakistani businessman who declined to give his surname over concern about his family's safety. Last July, he headed to China to find them, but was turned away at the border. Authorities "said my wife was in 'training' and the government was taking care of my kids", he told AFP. "I begged them to let me talk to my daughters, but they refused." Iqbal is one of dozens of merchants from Gilgit-Baltistan who return to Pakistan for visa reasons or to run their businesses and have been unable to contact their Uighur families living in China, according to Javed Hussain, a member of the local assembly for the Pakistani region that borders Xinjiang. Earlier this month, the delegates passed a unanimous resolution protesting the "illegal detention" of the men's families. "The Chinese authorities should at least allow the men to meet their wives and children," Hussain said. "China is our friend and this incident will leave a bad taste." China's foreign ministry said that the "two sides are maintaining communication about problems related to interactions between both countries' people", while Pakistan's said the issue was being "actively discussed with the government of China". 'Eliminating extremism' Like many of the men, Iqbal's family lived in Kashgar, an ancient city along the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a trade route connecting China's far west to the Arabian Sea port of Gwadar. In recent years, China has heavily pushed its relationship with Pakistan, investing tens of billions of dollars in CPEC infrastructure projects in the country, and Beijing has upgraded the treacherous mountain road connecting Gilgit-Baltistan to Xinjiang. But China has had difficulty reconciling its desire for development with fears that Uighur separatists will import violence from Pakistan. Chinese authorities have long linked their crackdown on Xinjiang's Muslims to international counter-terrorism, arguing that separatists are bent on joining foreign extremists like Al-Qaeda. Uighurs have been tied to mass stabbings and bombings that left dozens dead in recent years across the country. Riots and clashes with the government killed hundreds more. Over the past year, China has turned to increasingly drastic methods to eliminate what it describes as the "three forces": terrorists, religious extremists and separatists. In 2017, the government flooded Xinjiang with tens of thousands of security personnel, with police stations on nearly every block in urban areas and tough regulations to "eliminate extremism". This included the increased use of compulsory "re-education" for anyone suspected of harbouring separatist sympathies. Threat' from Pakistan Iqbal and the other Pakistani men believe their wives -- and even business associates -- have been targeted because they received calls and messages from Pakistan. "Any communication from Pakistan is considered a threat," said Qurban, a businessman who has worked in Kashgar for over 30 years. "One of my employees, a Uighur, was picked up two years back just because he was in touch with me when I went to Pakistan." Chinese authorities have denied the existence of re-education centres. But regulations against extremism adopted by Xinjiang last March call for authorities to step up political re-education. In Kashgar alone, more than 120,000 people -- about three percent of the area's population -- were being held in the facilities in January, according to Radio Free Asia. An AFP review of state media reports and government documents verified the existence of at least 30 such centres and almost 4,000 cases of people being sent to them. Regulations posted on a local website in Xinjiang's Hejing county explained that even minor transgressions of strict religious regulations can be punished with up to three months in a centre. Ali, a businessman who lost contact with his wife in December, said she had been taken by authorities to do a "sort of training where they teach them about Communism and prepare them to be patriotic citizens". "My wife told me that Chinese police had come to her house and asked her about the calls from Pakistan and asked her to explain her links with ETIM," said Ali, referring to the East Turkestan Islamic Movement, a militant group China has accused of attempting to foment Uighur separatism. He plans to cross the border in May to find his family, but has been told his children are in the custody of the Chinese government and doesn't know if he will see them again. "They never tell you anything, they just say your family will come back to you when they finish their training."

Pakistanis distressed as China 're-educates' Uighur wives

In a new construction activity by China that could be seen as a provocation to India, China is constructing a new road near Line of Control area news Siachen says a defence ministry report accessed by Zee News.

Made from the northern bank of Shaksgam valley, the new road will give directed access to Line of control area near Siachen to the Chinese army.

Construction activities of a military post in Shaksgam valley were also reported.

According to report the initial stretch of the road will approximately be 21.3 km is completed with paved surface of 7-meter width.

The remaining 14.5 km of the road is still under construction.

The earlier detection of these activities is based on Google Earth Images where two new posts and five construction camps are seen astride a new road construction in Shaksgam Valley.

A total of two posts have been found from which post 1 is near the tri-junction of Pakistan occupied Kashmir, China and Shaksgam Valley boundaries at the river confluence of Oprang River and Shaksgam river.

Post 2 &nbsp;is located astride the new road approximately 20.5 km from the Post -1. It comprises a long building and a Watch Tower.

Sources say that the possible motive of such construction is to use this to take a step towards gaining claim over the sovereignty of Shaksgam Valley in future.

In view of China tacit support to Pakistan claim of Siachen up to the line of Karakoram Pass.

The Military implication of the activities in Shaksgam Valley with regard to Siachen Glacier cannot be ruled out as the Skasgam Valley runs along the northern watershed of&nbsp; 
the Karakoram Range which gives Chinese Army the access to Line of Control near Siachen.

Shaksgam Valley is part of Pakistan occupied Kashmir and it borders with Xinjiang province of China, as well as with the Siachen Glacier.&nbsp;

The valley was given by Pakistan to China in 1963 when they signed a boundary settlement agreement.&nbsp;

However, India does not recognise this agreement and considers the valley to be a part of the state of Jammu and Kashmir.

(Reported by Manish Shukla)

Made from the northern bank of Shaksgam valley, the new road will give directed access to Line of control area near Siachen to the Chinese army

In a new construction activity by China that could be seen as a provocation to India, China is constructing a new road near Line of Control area news Siachen says a defence ministry report accessed by Zee News. Made from the northern bank of Shaksgam valley, the new road will give directed access to Line of control area near Siachen to the Chinese army. Construction activities of a military post in Shaksgam valley were also reported. According to report the initial stretch of the road will approximately be 21.3 km is completed with paved surface of 7-meter width. The remaining 14.5 km of the road is still under construction. The earlier detection of these activities is based on Google Earth Images where two new posts and five construction camps are seen astride a new road construction in Shaksgam Valley. A total of two posts have been found from which post 1 is near the tri-junction of Pakistan occupied Kashmir, China and Shaksgam Valley boundaries at the river confluence of Oprang River and Shaksgam river. Post 2 is located astride the new road approximately 20.5 km from the Post -1. It comprises a long building and a Watch Tower. Sources say that the possible motive of such construction is to use this to take a step towards gaining claim over the sovereignty of Shaksgam Valley in future. In view of China tacit support to Pakistan claim of Siachen up to the line of Karakoram Pass. The Military implication of the activities in Shaksgam Valley with regard to Siachen Glacier cannot be ruled out as the Skasgam Valley runs along the northern watershed of the Karakoram Range which gives Chinese Army the access to Line of Control near Siachen. Shaksgam Valley is part of Pakistan occupied Kashmir and it borders with Xinjiang province of China, as well as with the Siachen Glacier. The valley was given by Pakistan to China in 1963 when they signed a boundary settlement agreement. However, India does not recognise this agreement and considers the valley to be a part of the state of Jammu and Kashmir. (Reported by Manish Shukla)

China constructing 36 Km road for direct access to LoC near Siachen: Report

Freedom fighter Bhagat Singh&#39;s 87th death anniversary was observed here by two groups of people who demanded declaring him a &quot;national hero&quot; of Pakistan.

Singh was hanged at the age of 23 in Lahore on March 23, 1931 along with Rajguru and Sukhdev. The capital punishment had inspired thousands of people to take up the cause of the freedom movement.

The Bhagat Singh Memorial Foundation (BSMF) and the Bhagat Singh Foundation Pakistan (BSFP) yesterday held separate functions at Shadman Chowk where they were hanged.

The participants paid rich tribute to the three freedom fighters. Some relatives of Singh made a telephonic address.

BSMF Chairman Imtiaz Rashid presented a resolution demanding the British Queen to tender an apology for hanging the three freedom fighters and compensate their families.

He demanded naming a road after his name and including a chapter in the school curriculum besides issuing a postal ticket and installation of Singh&#39;s statue at Shadman Chowk.

BSFP Founder President Abdullah Malik said: &quot;Bhagat Singh raised his voice against imperialism. He will be remembered as a great freedom fighter&quot;.

He demanded that the governments of India and Pakistan declare Singh and his comrades as &quot;national heroes&quot;.

The events were held under strict security in the face of threats from extremists.

Both the foundations have been demanding renaming the Shadman Chowk as &#39;Bhagat Singh Chowk&#39;. However, the Hurmat-e-Rasool, a sister organisation of Mumbai terror attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed-led Jamaat-u-Dawah, opposes the proposal and suggests to rename it as &#39;Hurmat Chowk&#39;.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Two groups of people demanded that he be declared a 'national hero'

Freedom fighter Bhagat Singh's 87th death anniversary was observed here by two groups of people who demanded declaring him a "national hero" of Pakistan. Singh was hanged at the age of 23 in Lahore on March 23, 1931 along with Rajguru and Sukhdev. The capital punishment had inspired thousands of people to take up the cause of the freedom movement. The Bhagat Singh Memorial Foundation (BSMF) and the Bhagat Singh Foundation Pakistan (BSFP) yesterday held separate functions at Shadman Chowk where they were hanged. The participants paid rich tribute to the three freedom fighters. Some relatives of Singh made a telephonic address. BSMF Chairman Imtiaz Rashid presented a resolution demanding the British Queen to tender an apology for hanging the three freedom fighters and compensate their families. He demanded naming a road after his name and including a chapter in the school curriculum besides issuing a postal ticket and installation of Singh's statue at Shadman Chowk. BSFP Founder President Abdullah Malik said: "Bhagat Singh raised his voice against imperialism. He will be remembered as a great freedom fighter". He demanded that the governments of India and Pakistan declare Singh and his comrades as "national heroes". The events were held under strict security in the face of threats from extremists. Both the foundations have been demanding renaming the Shadman Chowk as 'Bhagat Singh Chowk'. However, the Hurmat-e-Rasool, a sister organisation of Mumbai terror attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed-led Jamaat-u-Dawah, opposes the proposal and suggests to rename it as 'Hurmat Chowk'.

Bhagat Singh remembered in Pakistan on 87th death anniversary

Mohajirs-- Muslims who migrated to Pakistan from India during post-partition period-- demand redrawing of geographical boundaries in Pakistan in line with the true spirit of the 1940 Lahore Resolution and according to the aspirations of the country&#39;s ethnic groups.

This was stated by Nadeem Nusrat, former convener of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and spokesperson for the &#39; Free Karachi &#39; campaign, in a special message on the Pakistan Day.

The Pakistan Day is celebrated on March 23 to commemorate the famous Lahore Resolution. The Lahore Resolution (Qarardad-e-Lahore), also known as the Pakistan Resolution (Qarardad-e-Pakistan) was a political resolution drafted between March 22 to 24, 1940, by the 25-member Working Committee of the All-India Muslim League, and was then formally adopted by the Muslim League membership at its general session on March 23,1940, held at Lahore.

This resolution had asked for greater Muslim autonomy within British India.

In a statement issued by the &#39; Free Karachi &#39; campaign, Nusrat said that Muslims in India had supported its partition only to achieve freedom, equality and all other human rights in their new homeland. Pakistan, however, has miserably failed to deliver even the basic human rights to its citizens.

Ethnic Bengalis have been denied their rights since the breakup of Pakistan in 1971; it is Mohajirs, Balochs, Pashtuns, Hazaras, people of Gilgit-Baltistan and religious minorities who are being victimised by Punjabi elite and military establishment.

Nusrat reminded that the 1940 Resolution had categorically and unequivocally called for the formation of autonomous &quot;Independent States&quot; in India, and not a single Muslim State.

He said that the original resolution was highly pragmatic and sensible in its demand for the creation of &quot;Independent States&quot;, as the Muslim-majority areas which became part of Pakistan were culturally and ethnically diverse. Even after 70 years of its existence and despite state-sponsored efforts to use religion as a binding force to create national unity in Pakistan, the country remains as ethnically divided and polarised as it could get, he reiterated.

The &#39;Free Karachi&#39; campaign spokesperson further highlighted that in its state-sponsored cultural shows, Pakistan presents itself as a country of many cultures and languages. This diversity, however, does not reflect in the running of the country. Every institution in Pakistan is dominated by people from one province, Punjab. The resources of smaller province are plundered by the Punjabi establishment.

Pakistan at the moment is bleeding at the hands of its own security forces, whose overwhelming majority hails from Punjab. The country needs a complete overhaul as well as geographical restructuring, he added.

The only way for Pakistan to become a viable state is to afford its ethnic minority&#39;s equal representation in the parliament, national policy-making process as well as in the armed forces, Nusrat stressed.

The dominance of one ethnic group, the Punjabis, must come to an end now. 70-millions Mohajirs, whose forefathers played the decisive part during the movement to create Pakistan, also need administrative autonomy in areas where they form majority, he said.

Nusrat said that Karachi, the main majority city in Pakistan, has been colonised by Punjabi military and Sindhi feudal lords, both of whom are busy looting the city and gradually handing over its financial and industrial institutions to the Chinese.

The turmoil that Pakistan is facing today can only be addressed by forming many autonomous states and by ensuring equal participation of all ethnic and religious groups in the affairs of the country, the spokesperson said.

Nusrat believed that creation of such autonomous states will guarantee the national unity, peace and stability and will also weaken the forces of religious extremism that at the moment enjoy unbridled support from Pakistan&#39;s military establishment.

He added that the ethnic fault lines in Pakistan have deepened further in the last few years, as rights movements in Karachi, other areas of urban Sindh, Balochistan, KPK and FATA are becoming more visible and vocal despite the inhuman practices of Pakistan army to suppress them.

In fact, Pakistani military establishment&#39;s excessive use of force in non-Punjabi areas is fanning separatist forces in Pakistan. The only thing that could save Pakistan from completely falling apart is the creation of many autonomous states with a loose federation, he said.

Nusrat said that this is a final wake up call for Pakistan to address its policies which are based on racism, discrimination and persecution.

He urged the policymaking institutions of the country to listen to the grievances of ethnic groups and immediately announce a powerful commission to work on the re-drawing of geographical boundaries according to the aspirations of ethnic groups and in line with the original Lahore Resolution of 1940.

Mohajirs-- Muslims who migrated to Pakistan from India during post-partition period-- demand redrawing of geographical boundaries in Pakistan in line with the true spirit of the 1940 Lahore Resolution and according to the aspirations of the country's ethnic groups

Mohajirs-- Muslims who migrated to Pakistan from India during post-partition period-- demand redrawing of geographical boundaries in Pakistan in line with the true spirit of the 1940 Lahore Resolution and according to the aspirations of the country's ethnic groups. This was stated by Nadeem Nusrat, former convener of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and spokesperson for the ' Free Karachi ' campaign, in a special message on the Pakistan Day. The Pakistan Day is celebrated on March 23 to commemorate the famous Lahore Resolution. The Lahore Resolution (Qarardad-e-Lahore), also known as the Pakistan Resolution (Qarardad-e-Pakistan) was a political resolution drafted between March 22 to 24, 1940, by the 25-member Working Committee of the All-India Muslim League, and was then formally adopted by the Muslim League membership at its general session on March 23,1940, held at Lahore. This resolution had asked for greater Muslim autonomy within British India. In a statement issued by the ' Free Karachi ' campaign, Nusrat said that Muslims in India had supported its partition only to achieve freedom, equality and all other human rights in their new homeland. Pakistan, however, has miserably failed to deliver even the basic human rights to its citizens. Ethnic Bengalis have been denied their rights since the breakup of Pakistan in 1971; it is Mohajirs, Balochs, Pashtuns, Hazaras, people of Gilgit-Baltistan and religious minorities who are being victimised by Punjabi elite and military establishment. Nusrat reminded that the 1940 Resolution had categorically and unequivocally called for the formation of autonomous "Independent States" in India, and not a single Muslim State. He said that the original resolution was highly pragmatic and sensible in its demand for the creation of "Independent States", as the Muslim-majority areas which became part of Pakistan were culturally and ethnically diverse. Even after 70 years of its existence and despite state-sponsored efforts to use religion as a binding force to create national unity in Pakistan, the country remains as ethnically divided and polarised as it could get, he reiterated. The 'Free Karachi' campaign spokesperson further highlighted that in its state-sponsored cultural shows, Pakistan presents itself as a country of many cultures and languages. This diversity, however, does not reflect in the running of the country. Every institution in Pakistan is dominated by people from one province, Punjab. The resources of smaller province are plundered by the Punjabi establishment. Pakistan at the moment is bleeding at the hands of its own security forces, whose overwhelming majority hails from Punjab. The country needs a complete overhaul as well as geographical restructuring, he added. The only way for Pakistan to become a viable state is to afford its ethnic minority's equal representation in the parliament, national policy-making process as well as in the armed forces, Nusrat stressed. The dominance of one ethnic group, the Punjabis, must come to an end now. 70-millions Mohajirs, whose forefathers played the decisive part during the movement to create Pakistan, also need administrative autonomy in areas where they form majority, he said. Nusrat said that Karachi, the main majority city in Pakistan, has been colonised by Punjabi military and Sindhi feudal lords, both of whom are busy looting the city and gradually handing over its financial and industrial institutions to the Chinese. The turmoil that Pakistan is facing today can only be addressed by forming many autonomous states and by ensuring equal participation of all ethnic and religious groups in the affairs of the country, the spokesperson said. Nusrat believed that creation of such autonomous states will guarantee the national unity, peace and stability and will also weaken the forces of religious extremism that at the moment enjoy unbridled support from Pakistan's military establishment. He added that the ethnic fault lines in Pakistan have deepened further in the last few years, as rights movements in Karachi, other areas of urban Sindh, Balochistan, KPK and FATA are becoming more visible and vocal despite the inhuman practices of Pakistan army to suppress them. In fact, Pakistani military establishment's excessive use of force in non-Punjabi areas is fanning separatist forces in Pakistan. The only thing that could save Pakistan from completely falling apart is the creation of many autonomous states with a loose federation, he said. Nusrat said that this is a final wake up call for Pakistan to address its policies which are based on racism, discrimination and persecution. He urged the policymaking institutions of the country to listen to the grievances of ethnic groups and immediately announce a powerful commission to work on the re-drawing of geographical boundaries according to the aspirations of ethnic groups and in line with the original Lahore Resolution of 1940.

Mohajirs demand redrawing of geographical boundaries within Pakistan

&nbsp;The newly appointed United States National Security Advisor (NSA), John Bolton, who had been a US ambassador to the United Nations, has had grave concerns about Pakistan&#39;s nuclear arsenal.

Last year, he said if Pakistan&#39;s nuclear arms fall into the hands of terrorists, it would be like NorthKorea or Iran on steroids.

&quot;Pakistan is a nuclear power and if it were to tip into terrorist control it would be like #NorthKorea or #Iran on steroids,&quot; Bolton tweeted last year.

Bolton, who was also an analyst on the Fox News Channel, is also of the opinion that more pressure should be exerted on Pakistan government to compel it to take action against terrorist groups operating from their territory.

&quot;Look, I think Afghanistan will be won or lost in Pakistan. And I certainly think that more pressure on the government there because of its support for terrorist groups, giving them safe haven in Pakistan is welcome,&quot; he said on the channel last year.

Yesterday, President Trump appointed Bolton as the NSA, replacing HR McMaster.

Bolton served as the ambassador to the United Nations under former US President George W Bush during parts of 2005 and 2006.&nbsp;

"Pakistan is a nuclear power and if it were to tip into terrorist control it would be like #NorthKorea or #Iran on steroids," Bolton tweeted last year

The newly appointed United States National Security Advisor (NSA), John Bolton, who had been a US ambassador to the United Nations, has had grave concerns about Pakistan's nuclear arsenal. Last year, he said if Pakistan's nuclear arms fall into the hands of terrorists, it would be like NorthKorea or Iran on steroids. "Pakistan is a nuclear power and if it were to tip into terrorist control it would be like #NorthKorea or #Iran on steroids," Bolton tweeted last year. Bolton, who was also an analyst on the Fox News Channel, is also of the opinion that more pressure should be exerted on Pakistan government to compel it to take action against terrorist groups operating from their territory. "Look, I think Afghanistan will be won or lost in Pakistan. And I certainly think that more pressure on the government there because of its support for terrorist groups, giving them safe haven in Pakistan is welcome," he said on the channel last year. Yesterday, President Trump appointed Bolton as the NSA, replacing HR McMaster. Bolton served as the ambassador to the United Nations under former US President George W Bush during parts of 2005 and 2006.

New US  National Security Advisor once compared Pak's nukes to 'North Korea on steroids'

Following reports of <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/harassment-row-pakistan-high-commissioner-sohail-mehmood-to-return-to-india-36728" target="_blank">alleged harassment of Indian diplomats in Pakistan</a>,&nbsp;Pakistan High Commissioner to India, Sohail Mahmood, has said that the Pakistan&nbsp;government want&nbsp;to sort out the issue as soon as possible.&nbsp;

The issue has affected ties between the two countries, he added.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
I discussed this issue with our govt &amp; we want to sort this out as soon as possible because it affects the relationship between our countries: Pakistan High Commissioner to India Sohail Mahmood to ANI on reports stating alleged harassment of diplomats (File Pic) <a href="https://t.co/rDHUyQExpv">pic.twitter.com/rDHUyQExpv</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/977045619465388035?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 23, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

The Pakistan government had accused India of harassing its diplomats and their families in the country. India&#39;s Deputy High Commissioner J P Singh was summoned by Pakistan authorities a few weeks over the issue.

A demarche was earlier made to the Indian High Commission in Islamabad and the external affairs ministry in Delhi.

As the &quot;harassment&quot; row escalated, the Pakistan government summoned Sohail Mehmood to Islamabad in an attempt to keep the focus on the issue.

In a similar incident, the Indian High Commission in Islamabad sent a note verbale to the Pakistan foreign ministry on continuing &quot;harassment&quot; and &quot;intimidation&quot; of Indian officials and staff members.

Reports said the vehicles of India&#39;s Deputy High Commissioner Syed Haider Shah including the military attach&eacute;, air attach&eacute; and naval attach&eacute; was aggressively &quot;tailed&quot; on motorbikes at close proximity in Pakistan.

Indian officials asked Pakistani authorities to look into the incident.

Following reports of alleged harassment of diplomats of India in Pakistan, Pakistan High Commissioner to India Sohail Mahmood has said that the Pakistan government wanted to sort out the issue as soon as possible

Following reports of alleged harassment of Indian diplomats in Pakistan, Pakistan High Commissioner to India, Sohail Mahmood, has said that the Pakistan government want to sort out the issue as soon as possible. The issue has affected ties between the two countries, he added. I discussed this issue with our govt & we want to sort this out as soon as possible because it affects the relationship between our countries: Pakistan High Commissioner to India Sohail Mahmood to ANI on reports stating alleged harassment of diplomats (File Pic) pic.twitter.com/rDHUyQExpv — ANI (@ANI) March 23, 2018 × The Pakistan government had accused India of harassing its diplomats and their families in the country. India's Deputy High Commissioner J P Singh was summoned by Pakistan authorities a few weeks over the issue. A demarche was earlier made to the Indian High Commission in Islamabad and the external affairs ministry in Delhi. As the "harassment" row escalated, the Pakistan government summoned Sohail Mehmood to Islamabad in an attempt to keep the focus on the issue. In a similar incident, the Indian High Commission in Islamabad sent a note verbale to the Pakistan foreign ministry on continuing "harassment" and "intimidation" of Indian officials and staff members. Reports said the vehicles of India's Deputy High Commissioner Syed Haider Shah including the military attaché, air attaché and naval attaché was aggressively "tailed" on motorbikes at close proximity in Pakistan. Indian officials asked Pakistani authorities to look into the incident.

Harassment row: Now, Pakistan wants solution, says it affects bilateral ties

The Democracy Forum (TDF), a prominent London-based think tank, hosted a seminar titled &#39;Economic &amp; Political Power of the Military: Its Impact on Democracy&#39;, at the St James&#39; Court Hotel, London on Monday.

The seminar, chaired by senior journalist Humphrey Hawksley, was addressed by TDF President Lord Bruce, and featured a distinguished panel of experts comprising Pervez Hoodbhoy, Ayesha Siddiqa, Myra MacDonald, Dr. Hamid Hussain, Dr. Rosena Khan and Dr. David Brenner.

Setting the tone for the discussions, Lord Bruce, in his opening remarks stated that it was a sine qua non that the role of the military is a frequent and sometimes nefarious participant in the suspension of democratic institutions across the world.

According to the Democracy Index, none of the four countries selected for discussion in the seminar - Pakistan, Myanmar, Turkey and Egypt, scores more than five out of ten in the Index&#39;s 2017 international survey, which covers indicators including pluralism, civil liberties and political culture.

Dr. Hoodbhoy, Zohra and Z.Z. Ahmed Foundation Distinguished Professor at Forman Christian College, who focused on Pakistan, opened his speech by referring to two media articles that clearly demonstrated the all-encompassing influence that the Pakistan Army had over the civilian government.

The first article referred to how members of the outgoing Senate, who requested for a presentation of the Nuclear Command Authority Act, passed by Parliament in 2010, were never shared the outlines of the Act on grounds that it related to national security.

According to Dr. Hoodbhoy, this was hardly surprising, as the Pakistan Army has always said that matters of national security can be entrusted only to those who are &#39;worthy&#39; of such trust.

The second article concerned the worry, in Pakistani financial circles, on ways to deal with the &#39;grey-listing&#39; of Pakistan by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). Though the Army&#39;s official mouthpiece, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) stated that this was not a matter for the army to resolve, Dr. Hoodbhoy was of the opinion that all Pakistanis were aware that this issue was largely dependent on the army&#39;s change of policy on supporting Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)-associated institutions.

To underline the deep-rooted links between the Pakistan Army and terrorist groups, he gave the example of former Pakistan President and Army Chief General Pervez Musharraf banning the LeT in January 2002 following American pressure, while admitting in November 2017 of the Army&#39;s links with the group and declaring them &#39;excellent institutions of Pakistan&#39;.

Dr. Hoodbhoy, however, believed that the message from the FATF would affect Rawalpindi, the heart of real power in Pakistan as the army had huge financial interests in Pakistan&#39;s national economy, and these interests would be affected by the grey-listing, and even more so by any blacklisting.

Former Reuters journalist and author Myra MacDonald drew on the research conducted for two books she has written - Heights of Madness, about the Siachen war between India and Pakistan, and Defeat is an Orphan: How Pakistan Lost the Great South Asian War - to compare the power of the military in both countries.

MacDonald looked at India and Pakistan&#39;s evolving relationship and said that the nuclear tests of 1998 should, in theory, have created parity between them, since Pakistan no longer had any reason to feel insecure about an Indian invasion. However, in reality, India had used the time since 1998 to emerge as a rising world power, while Pakistan had declined into a &#39;tottering&#39; state, weakened by its absence of democracy.

MacDonald argued that Indian democracy, combined with diplomacy, had helped to underpin its success while the dominance of the military in Pakistan not only undermined democracy but threatened to turn it into a failing state.

Asking why we value democracy so highly, she said that it allowed for the legitimacy of the State, peaceful settlement of disputes and domestic stability that then led to international strength. Based on these four criteria, India has thrived and Pakistan has been weakened, as the Pakistan army presented itself as the guardian of the nation, yet in reality created instability rather than stability by running foreign and security policy, manipulating the democratic process and dominating the economy.

She stated that such a centralised, military-dominated economy prohibited poor or middle class people from accessing more resources, building a recipe for conflict, apart from leading people to turn to Islamist or other right-wing religious groups to try and expand their power.

She added that rather than holding the country together, the army&#39;s power exaggerated the existing power of Punjab province and caused conflict in smaller provinces such as Balochistan, whose people resented the domination of both the military and of Punjab.

MacDonald, however, expressed optimism that Pakistan&#39;s vibrant civil society, as recently illustrated by the Pashtun Long March, would continue its peaceful opposition to the military&#39;s influence.

In her presentation, Dr. Siddiqa, well known for her book on the Pakistani military, focused on comparing the fledging democracies of Pakistan and Egypt and the role of their militaries.

Dr. Siddiqa said that her now-famous concept of &#39;Milbus&#39; (military business) is not benign wherever it takes place, as no matter how it is justified, it has an inherent illegality because it is meant for the personal benefit of the military fraternity, yet is neither recorded nor part of the defence budget.

&quot;So, when militaries engage in business, it is about a military organisation proactively partaking in resource generation, and thus blurring the line between what is for the public and private good,&quot; said Dr Siddiqa.

She highlighted both key differences and similarities between the Egyptian and Pakistani military systems. According to her, the Pakistan army was much more hierarchical, with fewer chances of coups from within, though in both nations the military had a greater sense of the national good.

The fall of the Turkish army was the main focus for military commentator Dr Hamid Hussain, who described the army&#39;s view of itself as a doctor tending to the sick child, secularism, that resulted from the marriage of democracy and Islam. He offered an overview of the Turkish army&#39;s role as guardian of the Kemalist tradition and spoke about Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan&#39;s rise to power, and the dynamic between him and the military.

Dr. Brenner from the University of Surrey spoke on the Myanmar military and the country&#39;s move towards democracy in a top-down, military-led transition. He gave a short history of Tatmadaw&#39;s (the army&#39;s) emergence from the struggle for independence from Britain, considering its perception of itself as a &#39;guardian of the nation&#39; that prevents the Union of Burma from disintegrating, and spoke of how it maintained its economic sources of power through control of assets, resources such as jade and gold, and strategic infrastructure.

Also speaking on the subject of Myanmar was Dr. Khan, Labour MP from Tooting, who has personally witnessed the humanitarian crisis of the Rohingya people in the refugee camps in Bangladesh&#39;s Cox&#39;s Bazar.

Describing what is happening to the Rohingyas in Myanmar as &#39;nothing short of a genocide&#39;, she condemned the West&#39;s failure to call to account those who perpetrate such atrocities.

Senior journalist Hawksley, thereafter successfully steered a very lively Q&amp;A session.

The closing proceedings was TDF chair Barry Gardiner MP, Shadow Secretary of State for International Trade. He thanked the panel, and TDF for organising the event, which was, he said, a timely reminder of why democracy is valuable.

He urged everyone present to use the analysis of the seminar to consider the dangers to democracy and to think about how lack of transparency and accountability can affect us all, not only those living under authoritarian regimes.

The event was well attended, including by members of the Henry Jackson Society, postgraduate students from King&#39;s College London, University College of London and the University of Westminster, members of the print and TV media, representatives from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community UK, and several embassies and High Commissions. Baroness Shreela Flather was also in attendance.&nbsp;

A distinguished panel of experts gave the example of former Pakistan President and Army Chief General Pervez Musharraf banning the LeT in January 2002 following American pressure, while admitting in November 2017 of the Army's links with the group and declaring them 'excellent institutions of Pak'

The Democracy Forum (TDF), a prominent London-based think tank, hosted a seminar titled 'Economic & Political Power of the Military: Its Impact on Democracy', at the St James' Court Hotel, London on Monday. The seminar, chaired by senior journalist Humphrey Hawksley, was addressed by TDF President Lord Bruce, and featured a distinguished panel of experts comprising Pervez Hoodbhoy, Ayesha Siddiqa, Myra MacDonald, Dr. Hamid Hussain, Dr. Rosena Khan and Dr. David Brenner. Setting the tone for the discussions, Lord Bruce, in his opening remarks stated that it was a sine qua non that the role of the military is a frequent and sometimes nefarious participant in the suspension of democratic institutions across the world. According to the Democracy Index, none of the four countries selected for discussion in the seminar - Pakistan, Myanmar, Turkey and Egypt, scores more than five out of ten in the Index's 2017 international survey, which covers indicators including pluralism, civil liberties and political culture. Dr. Hoodbhoy, Zohra and Z.Z. Ahmed Foundation Distinguished Professor at Forman Christian College, who focused on Pakistan, opened his speech by referring to two media articles that clearly demonstrated the all-encompassing influence that the Pakistan Army had over the civilian government. The first article referred to how members of the outgoing Senate, who requested for a presentation of the Nuclear Command Authority Act, passed by Parliament in 2010, were never shared the outlines of the Act on grounds that it related to national security. According to Dr. Hoodbhoy, this was hardly surprising, as the Pakistan Army has always said that matters of national security can be entrusted only to those who are 'worthy' of such trust. The second article concerned the worry, in Pakistani financial circles, on ways to deal with the 'grey-listing' of Pakistan by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). Though the Army's official mouthpiece, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) stated that this was not a matter for the army to resolve, Dr. Hoodbhoy was of the opinion that all Pakistanis were aware that this issue was largely dependent on the army's change of policy on supporting Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)-associated institutions. To underline the deep-rooted links between the Pakistan Army and terrorist groups, he gave the example of former Pakistan President and Army Chief General Pervez Musharraf banning the LeT in January 2002 following American pressure, while admitting in November 2017 of the Army's links with the group and declaring them 'excellent institutions of Pakistan'. Dr. Hoodbhoy, however, believed that the message from the FATF would affect Rawalpindi, the heart of real power in Pakistan as the army had huge financial interests in Pakistan's national economy, and these interests would be affected by the grey-listing, and even more so by any blacklisting. Former Reuters journalist and author Myra MacDonald drew on the research conducted for two books she has written - Heights of Madness, about the Siachen war between India and Pakistan, and Defeat is an Orphan: How Pakistan Lost the Great South Asian War - to compare the power of the military in both countries. MacDonald looked at India and Pakistan's evolving relationship and said that the nuclear tests of 1998 should, in theory, have created parity between them, since Pakistan no longer had any reason to feel insecure about an Indian invasion. However, in reality, India had used the time since 1998 to emerge as a rising world power, while Pakistan had declined into a 'tottering' state, weakened by its absence of democracy. MacDonald argued that Indian democracy, combined with diplomacy, had helped to underpin its success while the dominance of the military in Pakistan not only undermined democracy but threatened to turn it into a failing state. Asking why we value democracy so highly, she said that it allowed for the legitimacy of the State, peaceful settlement of disputes and domestic stability that then led to international strength. Based on these four criteria, India has thrived and Pakistan has been weakened, as the Pakistan army presented itself as the guardian of the nation, yet in reality created instability rather than stability by running foreign and security policy, manipulating the democratic process and dominating the economy. She stated that such a centralised, military-dominated economy prohibited poor or middle class people from accessing more resources, building a recipe for conflict, apart from leading people to turn to Islamist or other right-wing religious groups to try and expand their power. She added that rather than holding the country together, the army's power exaggerated the existing power of Punjab province and caused conflict in smaller provinces such as Balochistan, whose people resented the domination of both the military and of Punjab. MacDonald, however, expressed optimism that Pakistan's vibrant civil society, as recently illustrated by the Pashtun Long March, would continue its peaceful opposition to the military's influence. In her presentation, Dr. Siddiqa, well known for her book on the Pakistani military, focused on comparing the fledging democracies of Pakistan and Egypt and the role of their militaries. Dr. Siddiqa said that her now-famous concept of 'Milbus' (military business) is not benign wherever it takes place, as no matter how it is justified, it has an inherent illegality because it is meant for the personal benefit of the military fraternity, yet is neither recorded nor part of the defence budget. "So, when militaries engage in business, it is about a military organisation proactively partaking in resource generation, and thus blurring the line between what is for the public and private good," said Dr Siddiqa. She highlighted both key differences and similarities between the Egyptian and Pakistani military systems. According to her, the Pakistan army was much more hierarchical, with fewer chances of coups from within, though in both nations the military had a greater sense of the national good. The fall of the Turkish army was the main focus for military commentator Dr Hamid Hussain, who described the army's view of itself as a doctor tending to the sick child, secularism, that resulted from the marriage of democracy and Islam. He offered an overview of the Turkish army's role as guardian of the Kemalist tradition and spoke about Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's rise to power, and the dynamic between him and the military. Dr. Brenner from the University of Surrey spoke on the Myanmar military and the country's move towards democracy in a top-down, military-led transition. He gave a short history of Tatmadaw's (the army's) emergence from the struggle for independence from Britain, considering its perception of itself as a 'guardian of the nation' that prevents the Union of Burma from disintegrating, and spoke of how it maintained its economic sources of power through control of assets, resources such as jade and gold, and strategic infrastructure. Also speaking on the subject of Myanmar was Dr. Khan, Labour MP from Tooting, who has personally witnessed the humanitarian crisis of the Rohingya people in the refugee camps in Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar. Describing what is happening to the Rohingyas in Myanmar as 'nothing short of a genocide', she condemned the West's failure to call to account those who perpetrate such atrocities. Senior journalist Hawksley, thereafter successfully steered a very lively Q&A session. The closing proceedings was TDF chair Barry Gardiner MP, Shadow Secretary of State for International Trade. He thanked the panel, and TDF for organising the event, which was, he said, a timely reminder of why democracy is valuable. He urged everyone present to use the analysis of the seminar to consider the dangers to democracy and to think about how lack of transparency and accountability can affect us all, not only those living under authoritarian regimes. The event was well attended, including by members of the Henry Jackson Society, postgraduate students from King's College London, University College of London and the University of Westminster, members of the print and TV media, representatives from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community UK, and several embassies and High Commissions. Baroness Shreela Flather was also in attendance.

Dominance of military turns Pakistan into a failing state, say experts

Two army helicopters were employed on Wednesday to dry out the rain-hit wet pitch and outfield before the second eliminator to be played between Karachi Kings and Peshawar Zalmi at Lahore&#39;s Gaddafi Cricket Stadium.

In the match, Kamran Akmal knocked a quickfire half-century to take defending champions Peshawar Zalmi into the Pakistan Super League final with a 13-run victory.

The 36-year-old scored a 27-ball 77 studded with eight well-timed sixes and five boundaries to lift his team to 170-7 in a 16-over-a-side game following a rain delay.

Peshawar Zalmi will now meet former champions Islamabad United in the final in Karachi on Sunday.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Second helicopter makes its way to GSL to help dry the wet outfield. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DilSeJaanLagaDe?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DilSeJaanLagaDe</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KKVPZ?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KKVPZ</a> <a href="https://t.co/UZh6RgC9x0">pic.twitter.com/UZh6RgC9x0</a>
&mdash; PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) <a href="https://twitter.com/thePSLt20/status/976440459882098688?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 21, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

Watch the video here:

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Reporting for duty...pakha kidder lana?<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/psl?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#psl</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/helicopter?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#helicopter</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/livefromGaddafi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#livefromGaddafi</a> <a href="https://t.co/y4abbWGeMY">pic.twitter.com/y4abbWGeMY</a>
&mdash; Abdul Ahad (@Abdul88Ahad) <a href="https://twitter.com/Abdul88Ahad/status/976506958151856129?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 21, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Helicopter being used to Dry the Gaddafi Stadium Lahore - Eliminator 2 Match - PSL 3 <a href="https://t.co/ZFb4dMOHlF">pic.twitter.com/ZFb4dMOHlF</a>
&mdash; ???????????????????????????????? ???????????????????????????? (@MaimoonaSherazi) <a href="https://twitter.com/MaimoonaSherazi/status/976594472149635073?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 21, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Helicopter being used to dry Qaddafi stadium for today&#39;s match after heavy rain! 
 
Edit: To those criticizing, PSL is a business, it&#39;ll be a bigger loss not having a match. Kitnay liter petrol laga hoga? <a href="https://t.co/QR5v0gcujv">pic.twitter.com/QR5v0gcujv</a>
&mdash; Haris (@Harisali303) <a href="https://twitter.com/Harisali303/status/976493922477277184?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 21, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Level of PSL. 
 
Helicopter used to dry the Rain Water from Qaddafi Stadium Lahore before 2nd Eliminator Match of HBL PSL 3<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KKvPZ?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KKvPZ</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/QaddafiStadium?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#QaddafiStadium</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HBLPSL3?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HBLPSL3</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PCB?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PCB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/preperations?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#preperations</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KarachiKings?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KarachiKings</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PeshawarZalmi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PeshawarZalmi</a> <a href="https://t.co/Q1gRyWnYvx">pic.twitter.com/Q1gRyWnYvx</a>
&mdash; خرم سلیم (@KhuramKTS) <a href="https://twitter.com/KhuramKTS/status/976464798467706886?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 21, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

&nbsp;

Kamran Akmal inspired Peshawar Zalmi into the Pakistan Super League final with a 13-run victory

Two army helicopters were employed on Wednesday to dry out the rain-hit wet pitch and outfield before the second eliminator to be played between Karachi Kings and Peshawar Zalmi at Lahore's Gaddafi Cricket Stadium. In the match, Kamran Akmal knocked a quickfire half-century to take defending champions Peshawar Zalmi into the Pakistan Super League final with a 13-run victory. The 36-year-old scored a 27-ball 77 studded with eight well-timed sixes and five boundaries to lift his team to 170-7 in a 16-over-a-side game following a rain delay. Peshawar Zalmi will now meet former champions Islamabad United in the final in Karachi on Sunday. Second helicopter makes its way to GSL to help dry the wet outfield. #DilSeJaanLagaDe #KKVPZ pic.twitter.com/UZh6RgC9x0 — PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 21, 2018 × Watch the video here: Reporting for duty...pakha kidder lana?#psl #helicopter #livefromGaddafi pic.twitter.com/y4abbWGeMY — Abdul Ahad (@Abdul88Ahad) March 21, 2018 × Helicopter being used to Dry the Gaddafi Stadium Lahore - Eliminator 2 Match - PSL 3 pic.twitter.com/ZFb4dMOHlF — ???????????????????????????????? ???????????????????????????? (@MaimoonaSherazi) March 21, 2018 × Helicopter being used to dry Qaddafi stadium for today's match after heavy rain! Edit: To those criticizing, PSL is a business, it'll be a bigger loss not having a match. Kitnay liter petrol laga hoga? pic.twitter.com/QR5v0gcujv — Haris (@Harisali303) March 21, 2018 × Level of PSL. Helicopter used to dry the Rain Water from Qaddafi Stadium Lahore before 2nd Eliminator Match of HBL PSL 3#KKvPZ #QaddafiStadium #HBLPSL3 #PCB #preperations #KarachiKings #PeshawarZalmi pic.twitter.com/Q1gRyWnYvx — خرم سلیم (@KhuramKTS) March 21, 2018 ×

Watch: Pakistan uses military helicopter to dry wet pitch at Gaddafi Stadium

Responding on the treason case registered against him in Karachi on Wednesday, former Pakistan Ambassador to the United States Husain Haqqani said that it was an attempt to &#39;harass&#39; and &#39;silence&#39; a dissident voice that questions wrong policies.

&quot;It seems to be Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI)&#39;s Standard Operating Procedure to file multiple cases in multiple locations to generate local media activity. It is absurd to say that I have committed treason by expressing my opinions in TV interviews, as the latest case says. Outside the propaganda bubble in Pakistan, this will be seen for what it is: an attempt to harass and silence a dissident voice that questions questionable policies,&quot; Haqqani said, in a statement.

&quot;I thank the ISI and its various henchmen for making it obvious to the world that their authoritarian mind cannot countenance dissent and disagreement,&quot; he added.

An FIR was registered against Haqqani for allegedly causing harm to the national security in Karachi&#39;s Perredy Police Station on Wednesday on the complaint of advocate Molvi Iqbal Haider.

The FIR stated that the former envoy to the US made anti-state remarks during recent interviews with television talks shows in the US.

An FIR was registered against Haqqani for allegedly causing harm to the national security in Karachi's Perredy Police Station on Wednesday on the complaint of advocate Molvi Iqbal Haider

Responding on the treason case registered against him in Karachi on Wednesday, former Pakistan Ambassador to the United States Husain Haqqani said that it was an attempt to 'harass' and 'silence' a dissident voice that questions wrong policies. "It seems to be Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI)'s Standard Operating Procedure to file multiple cases in multiple locations to generate local media activity. It is absurd to say that I have committed treason by expressing my opinions in TV interviews, as the latest case says. Outside the propaganda bubble in Pakistan, this will be seen for what it is: an attempt to harass and silence a dissident voice that questions questionable policies," Haqqani said, in a statement. "I thank the ISI and its various henchmen for making it obvious to the world that their authoritarian mind cannot countenance dissent and disagreement," he added. An FIR was registered against Haqqani for allegedly causing harm to the national security in Karachi's Perredy Police Station on Wednesday on the complaint of advocate Molvi Iqbal Haider. The FIR stated that the former envoy to the US made anti-state remarks during recent interviews with television talks shows in the US.

Former Pakistan Ambassador to US rubbishes reports of treason case registered against him

Five people were killed and 13 others injured when a pickup truck veered off the road and plunged into a ravine in the mountainous region of north west Pakistan, police said today.

The accident occurred yesterday at Sharono Hill in Shangla district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa when driver lost control over the vehicle which fell into the ravine, they said.

Police pulled out the bodies and injured with the help of local people.

The injured were rushed to a hospital in Alpuri, while some of them, in critical condition, were taken to a hospital in Swat, the police said.

The driver lost control over the vehicle which fell into the ravine

Five people were killed and 13 others injured when a pickup truck veered off the road and plunged into a ravine in the mountainous region of north west Pakistan, police said today. The accident occurred yesterday at Sharono Hill in Shangla district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa when driver lost control over the vehicle which fell into the ravine, they said. Police pulled out the bodies and injured with the help of local people. The injured were rushed to a hospital in Alpuri, while some of them, in critical condition, were taken to a hospital in Swat, the police said.

Pickup truck falls into ravine in Pakistan; 5 killed, 13 injured

Pakistan today strongly condemned a suicide attack near a Shia shrine in the Afghan capital that killed 29 people and wounded 52 others.

&quot;We are grieved at the loss of precious and innocent lives in this brutal attack of terrorism.We express our deepest sympathies and condolences to the bereaved families and pray for the speedy recovery of the injured,&quot; the Foreign Office said in a statement.

Pakistan reiterates its unequivocal condemnation of terrorism in all forms and manifestations and expresses solidarity with the government and people of Afghanistan in their fight against the menace of terrorism, it further said.

An Islamic State suicide bomber struck on the road to a Shia shrine in Kabul today, killing at least 29 people.

The Afghan Public Health Ministry said another 52 people were wounded in the attack.&nbsp;

Pakistan today strongly condemned a suicide attack near a Shia shrine in the Afghan capital that killed 29 people and wounded 52 others

Pakistan today strongly condemned a suicide attack near a Shia shrine in the Afghan capital that killed 29 people and wounded 52 others. "We are grieved at the loss of precious and innocent lives in this brutal attack of terrorism.We express our deepest sympathies and condolences to the bereaved families and pray for the speedy recovery of the injured," the Foreign Office said in a statement. Pakistan reiterates its unequivocal condemnation of terrorism in all forms and manifestations and expresses solidarity with the government and people of Afghanistan in their fight against the menace of terrorism, it further said. An Islamic State suicide bomber struck on the road to a Shia shrine in Kabul today, killing at least 29 people. The Afghan Public Health Ministry said another 52 people were wounded in the attack.

Pakistan condemns suicide attack in Kabul

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/cambridge-analytica-ceo-claims-influence-on-us-election-facebook-questioned-36557" target="_blank">Suspended Cambridge Analytica CEO claims influence on US election, Facebook questioned</a>

The suspended chief executive of Cambridge Analytica said in a secretly recorded video broadcast on Tuesday that his UK-based political consultancy&rsquo;s online campaign played a decisive role in US President Donald Trump&rsquo;s 2016 election victory.&nbsp;

 
<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/team-rahul-gandhi-set-to-take-charge-of-congress-top-leaders-resign-36565" target="_blank">Top leaders resign as Team Rahul gets set to take charge of Congress</a>

Resignations in the Congress have begun ahead of party President Rahul Gandhi&#39;s announcement of his new team.&nbsp;

Actor-politician Raj Babbar has quit as chief of the party&#39;s UP unit.&nbsp;

News reports added that Gujarat Congress chief Bharatsinh Solanki is also believed to have tendered his resignation to the party&#39;s central leadership. The reports added that a number of further resignations are expected.&nbsp;

 
<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/former-playboy-model-karen-mcdougal-sues-to-break-silence-on-alleged-trump-affair-36563" target="_blank">Now, ex-Playboy model wants to talk about </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/former-playboy-model-karen-mcdougal-sues-to-break-silence-on-alleged-trump-affair-36563" target="_blank">affair</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/former-playboy-model-karen-mcdougal-sues-to-break-silence-on-alleged-trump-affair-36563" target="_blank"> with Trump</a>

A former Playboy model who said she had an affair with President Donald Trump filed suit in California on Tuesday to release her from a legal agreement requiring her to stay silent, becoming the second woman this month to contest an arrangement to keep quiet about an alleged extramarital relationship with Trump.

 
<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-renews-pervez-musharrafs-passport-fearing-he-may-not-return-36558" target="_blank">Pakistan renews Pervez Musharraf&#39;s passport fearing he may not return</a>

Pakistan&#39;s former dictator General (retd) Pervez Musharraf&#39;s diplomatic passport was renewed two months before its expiry as the government feared that he might not return to face the high treason case, the country&#39;s Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal has said.

 
<a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/nobody-is-better-than-me-on-pitch-cristiano-ronaldo-36564" target="_blank">Nobody better than me on the pitch: Cristiano Ronaldo</a>

Cristiano Ronaldo has revealed the secret of his success ahead of the FIFA World Cup.

In a recent media interaction, he said, &quot;We should always believe we are the best.&quot;

&quot;You need to think big. I always believe that nobody is better than me, out on the pitch at least,&quot; he said.

Suspended Cambridge Analytica CEO claims influence on US election, Facebook questioned The suspended chief executive of Cambridge Analytica said in a secretly recorded video broadcast on Tuesday that his UK-based political consultancy’s online campaign played a decisive role in US President Donald Trump’s 2016 election victory. Top leaders resign as Team Rahul gets set to take charge of Congress Resignations in the Congress have begun ahead of party President Rahul Gandhi's announcement of his new team. Actor-politician Raj Babbar has quit as chief of the party's UP unit. News reports added that Gujarat Congress chief Bharatsinh Solanki is also believed to have tendered his resignation to the party's central leadership. The reports added that a number of further resignations are expected. Now, ex-Playboy model wants to talk about affair with Trump A former Playboy model who said she had an affair with President Donald Trump filed suit in California on Tuesday to release her from a legal agreement requiring her to stay silent, becoming the second woman this month to contest an arrangement to keep quiet about an alleged extramarital relationship with Trump. Pakistan renews Pervez Musharraf's passport fearing he may not return Pakistan's former dictator General (retd) Pervez Musharraf's diplomatic passport was renewed two months before its expiry as the government feared that he might not return to face the high treason case, the country's Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal has said. Nobody better than me on the pitch: Cristiano Ronaldo Cristiano Ronaldo has revealed the secret of his success ahead of the FIFA World Cup. In a recent media interaction, he said, "We should always believe we are the best." "You need to think big. I always believe that nobody is better than me, out on the pitch at least," he said.

WION Morning News Brief, March 21, 2018

Pervez Musharraf has sought adequate security from the government for his return from the UAE to appear before a special Pakistani court in a high-profile treason case, according to a media report.

The 74-year-old retired general has been living in Dubai since last year when he was allowed to leave Pakistan on the pretext of medical treatment.

The former president was indicted in March, 2014 on treason charges for imposing emergency in the country which led to the confinement of a number of superior court judges in their houses and sacking of over 100 judges.

Musharraf&#39;s lawyer had moved a petition to the interior ministry, stating that the former president faced security threats.

The ministry accepted his plea and said it was willing to provide adequate security to him, Geo News reported.

The ministry, in its response, has sought the details of Musharraf&#39;s travel itinerary and &quot;his stay here in Pakistan so that necessary foolproof security arrangements can be made for him well in time&quot;, the report said.

Responding to the ministry&#39;s notification, Musharraf&#39;s lawyer expressed reservations over the security arrangements to be provided by the government.

On Friday, the special court hearing the treason case against him ordered the federal government to put special measures in place to bring the ex-military ruler back from the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The court had ordered that the interior ministry should take action for the arrest of Musharraf through the Interpol.

The special court had also asked the interior ministry to take action to revoke his National Identity Card and passport.

The bench, formed in 2013, is hearing the case of imposition of extra-constitutional emergency by Musharraf in November 2007.

A conviction for high treason carries the death penalty or life imprisonment.

Musharraf, who ruled Pakistan from 1999 to 2008, is wanted in Pakistan in several criminal cases including in the assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.

Musharraf, who ruled Pakistan from 1999 to 2008, is wanted in Pakistan in several criminal cases

Pervez Musharraf has sought adequate security from the government for his return from the UAE to appear before a special Pakistani court in a high-profile treason case, according to a media report. The 74-year-old retired general has been living in Dubai since last year when he was allowed to leave Pakistan on the pretext of medical treatment. The former president was indicted in March, 2014 on treason charges for imposing emergency in the country which led to the confinement of a number of superior court judges in their houses and sacking of over 100 judges. Musharraf's lawyer had moved a petition to the interior ministry, stating that the former president faced security threats. The ministry accepted his plea and said it was willing to provide adequate security to him, Geo News reported. The ministry, in its response, has sought the details of Musharraf's travel itinerary and "his stay here in Pakistan so that necessary foolproof security arrangements can be made for him well in time", the report said. Responding to the ministry's notification, Musharraf's lawyer expressed reservations over the security arrangements to be provided by the government. On Friday, the special court hearing the treason case against him ordered the federal government to put special measures in place to bring the ex-military ruler back from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The court had ordered that the interior ministry should take action for the arrest of Musharraf through the Interpol. The special court had also asked the interior ministry to take action to revoke his National Identity Card and passport. The bench, formed in 2013, is hearing the case of imposition of extra-constitutional emergency by Musharraf in November 2007. A conviction for high treason carries the death penalty or life imprisonment. Musharraf, who ruled Pakistan from 1999 to 2008, is wanted in Pakistan in several criminal cases including in the assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.

Musharraf seeks security from Pakistan government upon return from Dubai

The United States<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/us-seeks-real-action-from-pakistan-on-taliban-haqqani-network-36116"> has ruled out the possibility of </a>&quot;hot pursuit&quot; to pursue the Taliban into Pakistan.

Lt Col Mike Andrews, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/us-drone-strike-kills-taliban-deputy-commander-3-haqqani-network-militants-32314">spokesman for the Department of </a>Defence said &quot;US military forces will remain within the borders of Afghanistan only.&quot;

The Pentagon official said US&nbsp;forces do not have the &quot;authority&quot;&nbsp;to cross over to Pakistan from the Afghan border.

&quot;To be clear, US military authorities are within the borders of Afghanistan only. We have no authority to go into Pakistan. If there is a way to get that authority, but that would certainly be the exception and not the norm and would not be,&quot; Lt Col Mike Andrews said.

Pakistan is under increasing pressure by the US to track down and eliminate the Taliban militants in its territory including the Haqqani Network, a strategy laid down by President Trump.

&quot;Say, for example, we have troops in contact and then the Taliban militants go across the border. They are clearly inside Pakistan then. There&#39;s no change with regards to respecting the territorial sovereignty of Pakistan,&quot; Andrews declared.

&quot;If the Taliban reside in Pakistan and we are able to provide safety and support and to help secure districts and provinces within the borders of Afghanistan, I think that that is a tradeoff that we&#39;re willing to make,&quot; Andrews said, adding, &quot;Because it&#39;s not necessarily about these people over in Pakistan, its about the Afghan people.&quot;

 
<iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wYsp78vek4k" width="560"></iframe> 
&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Lt Col Mike Andrews, spokesman for the Department of Defence said "US military forces will remain within the borders of Afghanistan only."

The United States has ruled out the possibility of "hot pursuit" to pursue the Taliban into Pakistan. Lt Col Mike Andrews, spokesman for the Department of Defence said "US military forces will remain within the borders of Afghanistan only." The Pentagon official said US forces do not have the "authority" to cross over to Pakistan from the Afghan border. "To be clear, US military authorities are within the borders of Afghanistan only. We have no authority to go into Pakistan. If there is a way to get that authority, but that would certainly be the exception and not the norm and would not be," Lt Col Mike Andrews said. Pakistan is under increasing pressure by the US to track down and eliminate the Taliban militants in its territory including the Haqqani Network, a strategy laid down by President Trump. "Say, for example, we have troops in contact and then the Taliban militants go across the border. They are clearly inside Pakistan then. There's no change with regards to respecting the territorial sovereignty of Pakistan," Andrews declared. "If the Taliban reside in Pakistan and we are able to provide safety and support and to help secure districts and provinces within the borders of Afghanistan, I think that that is a tradeoff that we're willing to make," Andrews said, adding, "Because it's not necessarily about these people over in Pakistan, its about the Afghan people."

US military won't cross border from Afghanistan into Pak to pursue Taliban: Pentagon

Pakistan&#39;s former dictator General (retd) Pervez Musharraf&#39;s diplomatic passport was renewed two months before its expiry as the government feared that he might not return to face the high treason case, the country&#39;s Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal has said.

The former military ruler has been declared &quot;proclaimed offender&quot; by courts, including in the high treason case and the Benazir Bhutto assassination case.

A special court had recently ordered the government to arrest the Dubai-based former president and confiscate all his properties as it heard the high treason case against him for imposing emergency rule in the country in 2007.

The 74-year-old military dictator&#39;s passport was to expire on March 16, but he sought an early renewal as international travel, in many cases, was not possible with a passport having less than six-month validity.

Former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf was issued a new passport two months before the expiry of his travel document, and it was again a diplomatic passport for which he was entitled to being a former head of state, Mr Iqbal was quoted as saying by Dawn newspaper.

He said that Mr Musharraf&#39;s diplomatic passport was renewed out of fear that he might use it as a pretext for not returning home to face the treason case.

&quot;He needs a passport to travel back to Pakistan. He would have contended that without a passport he cannot travel and would have blamed the government for blocking his return,&quot; the Minister said.

On March 16, the special court hearing the high treason case against him authorised the government to suspend his passport as well as his computerised national identity card (CNIC). The court had earlier directed the Interior Ministry to approach the Interpol for the arrest of the former president.

Initially, the government was reluctant to renew his passport and also withheld his application for nearly two months but it was finally renewed from Dubai on January 5 for the next five years, the report said.

According to a source in Mr Musharraf&#39;s party, the All Pakistan Muslim League (APML), the Foreign Office (FO) was holding the application but when the former president&#39;s aide-de-camp Major Shehryar &quot;contacted someone&quot;, the process went ahead.

The authorisation for the issuance of a diplomatic passport is given by the FO as per the Passport and Visa Manual 2006, the source said.

The report also said that any correspondence regarding renewal of Musharraf&#39;s passport could not be traced in the FO&#39;s consular section.

Musharraf&#39;s case was referred to the FO by the Pakistani consulate in Dubai seeking approval in view of the high-profile cases against him.

The former military dictator had expressed willingness to return home to avoid possible suspension of his CNIC and a diplomatic passport.

Mr Musharraf ruled Pakistan from 1999 to 2008.

The former military ruler has been declared "proclaimed offender" by courts, including in the high treason case and the Benazir Bhutto assassination case

Pakistan's former dictator General (retd) Pervez Musharraf's diplomatic passport was renewed two months before its expiry as the government feared that he might not return to face the high treason case, the country's Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal has said. The former military ruler has been declared "proclaimed offender" by courts, including in the high treason case and the Benazir Bhutto assassination case. A special court had recently ordered the government to arrest the Dubai-based former president and confiscate all his properties as it heard the high treason case against him for imposing emergency rule in the country in 2007. The 74-year-old military dictator's passport was to expire on March 16, but he sought an early renewal as international travel, in many cases, was not possible with a passport having less than six-month validity. Former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf was issued a new passport two months before the expiry of his travel document, and it was again a diplomatic passport for which he was entitled to being a former head of state, Mr Iqbal was quoted as saying by Dawn newspaper. He said that Mr Musharraf's diplomatic passport was renewed out of fear that he might use it as a pretext for not returning home to face the treason case. "He needs a passport to travel back to Pakistan. He would have contended that without a passport he cannot travel and would have blamed the government for blocking his return," the Minister said. On March 16, the special court hearing the high treason case against him authorised the government to suspend his passport as well as his computerised national identity card (CNIC). The court had earlier directed the Interior Ministry to approach the Interpol for the arrest of the former president. Initially, the government was reluctant to renew his passport and also withheld his application for nearly two months but it was finally renewed from Dubai on January 5 for the next five years, the report said. According to a source in Mr Musharraf's party, the All Pakistan Muslim League (APML), the Foreign Office (FO) was holding the application but when the former president's aide-de-camp Major Shehryar "contacted someone", the process went ahead. The authorisation for the issuance of a diplomatic passport is given by the FO as per the Passport and Visa Manual 2006, the source said. The report also said that any correspondence regarding renewal of Musharraf's passport could not be traced in the FO's consular section. Musharraf's case was referred to the FO by the Pakistani consulate in Dubai seeking approval in view of the high-profile cases against him. The former military dictator had expressed willingness to return home to avoid possible suspension of his CNIC and a diplomatic passport. Mr Musharraf ruled Pakistan from 1999 to 2008.

Pakistan renews Pervez Musharraf's passport fearing he may not return

Amnesty International said today <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/receiving-threats-from-pak-military-wions-pakistan-bureau-chief-taha-siddiqui-35563">that Pakistan should take steps </a>to resolve &quot;enforced disappearances&quot;, calling it a &quot;tool of terror&quot;.

Pakistan has reportedly accepted <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/monitoring-developments-in-pakistan-says-us-state-department-on-wions-taha-siddiquis-attempted-abduction-29178">UN recommendations that make</a> &quot;enforced disappearances&quot; a crime but has refused to ratify an international convention protecting anyone from enforced disappearances.

&quot;Disappearances are a tool of terror... if committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack, they constitute a crime against humanity,&quot; Amnesty International said, adding,&quot;as cruel and deliberate.... families are plunged into a state of anguish, trying to keep the flame of hope alive while fearing the worst. They may be in this limbo for years.&quot;

According to Amnesty International, the United Nations has more than 700 cases pending in Pakistan, while a state commission of inquiry into enforced disappearances lists hundreds of additional cases, AFP reported.

The victims include bloggers, journalists, students, peace activists and other human rights defenders.

Recently, WION&#39;s Pakistan bureau chief Taha Siddiqui had said he was receiving threats from Pakistan&#39;s military. Taha&#39;s family and friends were also reportedly receiving similar threats.

Taha Siddiqui has since left Pakistan and is living in Europe.

Last year, five social media activists who had been critical of the military as well as extremism &quot;disappeared&quot; mysteriously, with abductions sparking nationwide protests. Although&nbsp;four were released, the fate of the fifth person is still unknown.

WION's Pakistan bureau chief Taha Siddiqui had said he was receiving threats from Pakistan's military

Amnesty International said today that Pakistan should take steps to resolve "enforced disappearances", calling it a "tool of terror". Pakistan has reportedly accepted UN recommendations that make "enforced disappearances" a crime but has refused to ratify an international convention protecting anyone from enforced disappearances. "Disappearances are a tool of terror... if committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack, they constitute a crime against humanity," Amnesty International said, adding,"as cruel and deliberate.... families are plunged into a state of anguish, trying to keep the flame of hope alive while fearing the worst. They may be in this limbo for years." According to Amnesty International, the United Nations has more than 700 cases pending in Pakistan, while a state commission of inquiry into enforced disappearances lists hundreds of additional cases, AFP reported. The victims include bloggers, journalists, students, peace activists and other human rights defenders. Recently, WION's Pakistan bureau chief Taha Siddiqui had said he was receiving threats from Pakistan's military. Taha's family and friends were also reportedly receiving similar threats. Taha Siddiqui has since left Pakistan and is living in Europe. Last year, five social media activists who had been critical of the military as well as extremism "disappeared" mysteriously, with abductions sparking nationwide protests. Although four were released, the fate of the fifth person is still unknown.

Resolve 'enforced disappearances': Amnesty International to Pakistan

Pakistan Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal has said that Pakistan would be the &#39;industrial hub&#39; of the entire South Asian region soon, after the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project is built.

In an interview with a private television channel, Iqbal said that the CPEC project would help to improve drastically in social infrastructure, industrial cooperation, agriculture, energy and other key sectors, adding that it would help to create millions of job opportunities for the Pakistani youth&nbsp;

The minister said in 2013 when the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) came in to power, the country was facing many challenges, including terrorism, energy shortfall, and deteriorating law and order situation. The government with its effective policies, reduced terrorist acts, overcame energy shortage and improved the law and order situation.

&quot;Some 11,500-megawatt electricity was added to the national grid during the last four years. About USD 35 billion has been spent in the energy sector only and there was not even a single penny of loan included in it, rather it was investment under the CPEC,&quot; Iqbal asserted.

The Pakistani leader further said that the USD 62 billion economic corridor was launched after &#39;comprehensive consultation and consensus&#39; from all political parties which is a combination of uilding roads, rails, power plants and economic free zones in Pakistan. He also termed the CPEC project as a &#39;gamechanger&#39; for the country&#39;s economy as well.

He said that Gilgit-Baltistan and Balochistan would become the &#39;gateways&#39; for the economic corridor and trade zones would be set up at all provinces in Pakistan.

He added that Chinese and Pakistani companies would make large-scale investment in the trade zones, which would not only create new jobs for the citizens but also help to transfer &#39;new technology to Pakistan&#39;.

Last week, Iqbal had said that complete development og Gwadar will make Pakistan a hub of regional trade. He further announced that &nbsp;a genuine programme was initiated to mine coal from Thar, and first coal-based power project in the area which will become operational by the end of this year. He said Thar coal is enough to generate five thousand megawatts of electricity for four hundred years.

Further, he talked about the level of improvement in Balochistan and measures the Government had tajen to address the conditions in the state.&nbsp;

India is against the CPEC project since it passes through the disputed Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) region.&nbsp;

(With inputs from ANI) 
&nbsp;

Iqbal said that the CPEC project would help to improve drastically in social infrastructure, industrial cooperation, agriculture, energy and other key sectors

Pakistan Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal has said that Pakistan would be the 'industrial hub' of the entire South Asian region soon, after the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project is built. In an interview with a private television channel, Iqbal said that the CPEC project would help to improve drastically in social infrastructure, industrial cooperation, agriculture, energy and other key sectors, adding that it would help to create millions of job opportunities for the Pakistani youth The minister said in 2013 when the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) came in to power, the country was facing many challenges, including terrorism, energy shortfall, and deteriorating law and order situation. The government with its effective policies, reduced terrorist acts, overcame energy shortage and improved the law and order situation. "Some 11,500-megawatt electricity was added to the national grid during the last four years. About USD 35 billion has been spent in the energy sector only and there was not even a single penny of loan included in it, rather it was investment under the CPEC," Iqbal asserted. The Pakistani leader further said that the USD 62 billion economic corridor was launched after 'comprehensive consultation and consensus' from all political parties which is a combination of uilding roads, rails, power plants and economic free zones in Pakistan. He also termed the CPEC project as a 'gamechanger' for the country's economy as well. He said that Gilgit-Baltistan and Balochistan would become the 'gateways' for the economic corridor and trade zones would be set up at all provinces in Pakistan. He added that Chinese and Pakistani companies would make large-scale investment in the trade zones, which would not only create new jobs for the citizens but also help to transfer 'new technology to Pakistan'. Last week, Iqbal had said that complete development og Gwadar will make Pakistan a hub of regional trade. He further announced that a genuine programme was initiated to mine coal from Thar, and first coal-based power project in the area which will become operational by the end of this year. He said Thar coal is enough to generate five thousand megawatts of electricity for four hundred years. Further, he talked about the level of improvement in Balochistan and measures the Government had tajen to address the conditions in the state. India is against the CPEC project since it passes through the disputed Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) region. (With inputs from ANI)

Pakistan to be 'industrial hub' of South Asia after CPEC project: Pak Interior Minister

UN chief Antonio Guterres is following the situation in Kashmir &quot;closely&quot; and encourages a dialogue between India and Pakistan to settle any outstanding differences, his spokesperson said.&nbsp;

Spokesman for Secretary-General Stephane Dujarric made the comment while responding to a question on the tensions between India and Pakistan over the Kashmir issue.

&quot;Obviously, we are following the situation there as closely, as we always do, and we would encourage dialogue between the parties to settle any outstanding differences,&quot;&nbsp;Dujarric told reporters here yesterday at his daily briefing.

On whether the Secretary General has talked with the prime ministers of Pakistan or India, Dujarric said there is &quot;nothing to report&quot; on that currently.

In the past, Dujarric, when asked at press briefings about the Secretary General&#39;s response to the situation in Kashmir, has repeatedly said that Guterres follows the situation in the region closely.

The UN chief reiterated his call for India and Pakistan to find a peaceful solution through engagement and dialogue to resolve the Kashmir issue.&nbsp;

'Obviously, we are following the situation there as closely, as we always do, and we would encourage dialogue between the parties to settle any outstanding differences,' the spokesperson said

UN chief Antonio Guterres is following the situation in Kashmir "closely" and encourages a dialogue between India and Pakistan to settle any outstanding differences, his spokesperson said. Spokesman for Secretary-General Stephane Dujarric made the comment while responding to a question on the tensions between India and Pakistan over the Kashmir issue. "Obviously, we are following the situation there as closely, as we always do, and we would encourage dialogue between the parties to settle any outstanding differences," Dujarric told reporters here yesterday at his daily briefing. On whether the Secretary General has talked with the prime ministers of Pakistan or India, Dujarric said there is "nothing to report" on that currently. In the past, Dujarric, when asked at press briefings about the Secretary General's response to the situation in Kashmir, has repeatedly said that Guterres follows the situation in the region closely. The UN chief reiterated his call for India and Pakistan to find a peaceful solution through engagement and dialogue to resolve the Kashmir issue.

UN Secretary General following Kashmir 'closely', encourages dialogue between India, Pakistan: Spokesperson

A former member of the European Parliament, Paulo Casaca, recently raised questions over the European Union&#39;s ignorance towards human rights violations, minority rights, and terror-funding activities in Pakistan.

Casaca, who is now an executive director of Brussels-based south Asia Democratic Forum, said, &quot;There are laws that should be followed. The European Union is now giving to Pakistan the very rare distinction of being considered to be one utmost follower of international laws and namely of human rights conventions and also of conventions against terrorism. And, it cannot ignore what is going on. I think that the European Union with this attitude actually gives a lot of incentive for the Pakistani authorities to ignore human rights. The European Union has a lot of responsibility of what is going on in Pakistan&quot;.

Recently, the European Parliament expressed satisfaction on the progress achieved by Pakistan in enacting new laws and developing new institutions for implementation of 27 core conventions of Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) Plus.

The international committee on international trade also agreed to deliberate upon the possibility of up-scaling the relationship with Pakistan from a beneficiary of GSP Plus to a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) partner in the future.

Paulo Casaca, who addressed a side event on the human rights situation in Pakistan during the 37th session of United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva told, &quot;There is an article that clearly states that for being eligible for any trade preference a country must apply United Nations&#39; Conventions and it very clearly the case that Pakistan is not doing. At last, the President of United States said it in a very clear way, it is a declaration that is late for some decades, but better late than never, This is so obvious what it says that I cannot understand how can someone ignore it.&quot;

Pakistan maintains a poor record on human rights as the country witnesses a rise in the incidents of enforced disappearances, tortures, attack on minorities under blasphemy laws, military courts and rise of extremism.

While reacting to the issue of minorities, Paulo said the Pakistan government should be held accountable for.

He said, &quot;Very much so! Because, the way the blasphemy laws have been dealt with and the fact that actually nobody is allowed to protest against these blasphemy laws as we are seeing with the former governor of Punjab was a very important personality within at a time the ruling party of the civilians authorities in Pakistan shows that this is a terror law. Whoever considers themselves to be the owners of Islam are at their will can kill whoever they want by calling them as blasphemers, without any objective basis.&quot;

Favouring strict sanctions on Pakistan by the European Union, Paulo said, &quot;This would actually be a very important cause of action. I think before giving sanctions, the most obvious step is to withdraw the very favourable concessions that have been given to Pakistan. This should have been made clear to the Pakistani authorities and I have to say that if this was the case, the Pakistani authorities would be now behaving differently. I am absolutely convinced.&quot;

While reacting to the issue of minorities, Paulo (a former member of the European Parliament) said the Pakistan government should be held accountable for

A former member of the European Parliament, Paulo Casaca, recently raised questions over the European Union's ignorance towards human rights violations, minority rights, and terror-funding activities in Pakistan. Casaca, who is now an executive director of Brussels-based south Asia Democratic Forum, said, "There are laws that should be followed. The European Union is now giving to Pakistan the very rare distinction of being considered to be one utmost follower of international laws and namely of human rights conventions and also of conventions against terrorism. And, it cannot ignore what is going on. I think that the European Union with this attitude actually gives a lot of incentive for the Pakistani authorities to ignore human rights. The European Union has a lot of responsibility of what is going on in Pakistan". Recently, the European Parliament expressed satisfaction on the progress achieved by Pakistan in enacting new laws and developing new institutions for implementation of 27 core conventions of Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) Plus. The international committee on international trade also agreed to deliberate upon the possibility of up-scaling the relationship with Pakistan from a beneficiary of GSP Plus to a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) partner in the future. Paulo Casaca, who addressed a side event on the human rights situation in Pakistan during the 37th session of United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva told, "There is an article that clearly states that for being eligible for any trade preference a country must apply United Nations' Conventions and it very clearly the case that Pakistan is not doing. At last, the President of United States said it in a very clear way, it is a declaration that is late for some decades, but better late than never, This is so obvious what it says that I cannot understand how can someone ignore it." Pakistan maintains a poor record on human rights as the country witnesses a rise in the incidents of enforced disappearances, tortures, attack on minorities under blasphemy laws, military courts and rise of extremism. While reacting to the issue of minorities, Paulo said the Pakistan government should be held accountable for. He said, "Very much so! Because, the way the blasphemy laws have been dealt with and the fact that actually nobody is allowed to protest against these blasphemy laws as we are seeing with the former governor of Punjab was a very important personality within at a time the ruling party of the civilians authorities in Pakistan shows that this is a terror law. Whoever considers themselves to be the owners of Islam are at their will can kill whoever they want by calling them as blasphemers, without any objective basis." Favouring strict sanctions on Pakistan by the European Union, Paulo said, "This would actually be a very important cause of action. I think before giving sanctions, the most obvious step is to withdraw the very favourable concessions that have been given to Pakistan. This should have been made clear to the Pakistani authorities and I have to say that if this was the case, the Pakistani authorities would be now behaving differently. I am absolutely convinced."

'European Union must take note of human rights violations in Pakistan'

The founder leader of Pakistan&#39;s political party Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Altaf Hussain, has claimed that he has never been against the country and only wants to eliminate the repressive and exploitative feudal system from there.

He said that in reality, the progressive people of Pakistan are eager to have friendly ties with the neighbouring countries of India, Afghanistan, and Iran.

Hussain asserted that he has always wished and struggled for a liberal and democratic Pakistan, where the judiciary works independently - free from the country&#39;s military control and military force, which should be public-serving, and not authoritarian.

The MQM wants to transform Pakistan into a state where all institutions, military, judiciary and Parliament should work in strict accordance with the Constitution.

&quot;Pakistan should not be ruled over by the military or judiciary but the people. Military generals violated the Constitution, broke Pakistan but they have never been tried for treason. The government of Pakistan should allow overseas Pakistanis to have their say through ballots in elections. The military should now stop humiliating tribal areas&#39; people especially women on the pretext of search. Sindh has to be divided under 26 parallel. Mohajirs population has been cut to a peanut size but the true census would reveal the actual strength of Mohajirs,&quot; Hussain said addressing the 34th Foundation Day of MQM in London, which was largely attended by people, intellects, writers, and academicians, among others.

Hussain said that his ideology can never be suppressed with state force.

All the oppressed masses of Pakistan should get united under one banner of the MQM, recognise the common enemy, and retrieve their rights, he appealed.

Hussain further said that his address to the participants of the 34th Foundation Day is also being watched by the military establishment and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) at the General Headquarters (GHQ) and Aabpara respectively, which is a proof that despite restrictions on local media to cover him, the military and ISI have failed.

It is with the blessings of Allah that he alone can change the course, he said.

Hussain asserted that a war among the oppressed and the tyrant is not new and would continue, as is happening today, and the struggle for rights from Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) has now engulfed Balochistan, with their voices of concern being heard worldwide.

Now, the oppressed Sindhis should rise in light of the teaching of late G. M. Syed and commence practical struggle for their rights as Hussain is doing for the Mohajirs and others.

The people of Punjab, especially students, should not listen to propaganda. The case is simple that he only wants to see them free from the shackles of the military and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). They are the corrupt military generals who are responsible for the country&#39;s devastating situation, Hussain said.

The military generals are protecting and promoting the decayed feudal system as their existence lies in it. Pakistanis, Pashtuns, Sindhis, Punjabis, Balochs, Pakhtoons, Kashmiris, Hazarwals, Gilgiti and Baltistani should recognise their first and common enemy - the military and feudal system, he appealed.

Today, the people of FATA are saying that it is Pakistan&#39;s military behind every act of repression and evil. In the past, the military establishment conspired against different communities to confront each other.

According to Hussain, Pakistan&#39;s former interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, who is a member of the feudal system advised his mother party, Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) (PML-N), not to confront the institutions. He, in fact, wanted to say that the PML-N should not challenge the tyranny of the military establishment and the faulty judiciary.

Conversely, the ISI-paid TV anchors are safeguarding their interests and the interests of the tyrant military and faulty judiciary.

MQM founder Altaf Hussain said that everyone should bear in mind that the military dictators, who toppled democratic governments and suspended the constitution, were guilty of treason, as suspending the Constitution is an act of treason.

However, not a single military general has so far been punished by the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

Instead, the anti-terrorist court directed the government to approach the Interpol for bringing general (retired) Pervez Musharraf back as the later has been implicated in a treason case.

Musharraf should also review as to why he alone has been charged with treason while the other military generals had initiated the coup d&#39;etat, but the court did not include them, he said.

Hussain added that ironically the Chief Justice of Pakistan, Saquib Nisar, is very active on taking suo motu notices on the prices of milk and drugs, but he is silent over the genocide of Mohajirs, Balochs and Pashtuns.

Further, Hussain asserted that it has been two months since the cold-blooded assassination of Professor Dr Hassan Zafar Arif. Naqeebullah Mehsood has been in custody, but the law enforcement authorities and the Supreme Court have not moved an inch for dispensing justices to the aggrieved families.

The killer Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Rao Anwar is under the shelter of the military establishment and ISI, Hussain said. If the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) is interested in dispensing justice, he should summon the Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), Director General (DG) of ISI and other military heads and give them a three day deadline for the production of Anwar, and rest assured the killer cop would be available.

He said that it was the military establishment and the ISI that created a rift among different ethnic communities.

The ethnic folks of Pakistan should recognise the perpetrators or else the ethnic violence would never end in Pakistan, he urged.

In ethnic violence, numerous Mohajirs were slain.

However, he said, that he still looks forward and seeks Allah&#39;s refuge, hoping that Allah would pardon the assassins of Mohajirs.

It is now high time for unity against the common enemy and retrieval of rights.

He said that the Supreme Court in Pakistan is acting as on payroll of the military establishment.

The Supreme Court judges are only after Nawaz Sharif, but are turning a blind eye to Imran Khan. Sharif is paying the price of what Khan had done to Mohajirs in the past.

Hussain said that the military establishment has imposed a ban on him in Pakistan and under that ban, the media has been restricted to publish his statements and pictures, and the electronic media is restricted to telecast his talks and speeches.

The military establishment has declared him as a traitor while the fact is that he neither conspired against Pakistan nor broke it into two pieces, he said.

He also said, &quot;He is against all kinds of terrorism and extremism because those who are extremists and terrorists are on the sides of the evil. They are the forces of evil on Earth.&quot;

Therefore, everybody should seek Allah&#39;s refuge from military and judiciary as these are the real goons.

He invited all ethnic folks of Pakistan to come forward and unite for the retrieval of the suppressed rights to transform Pakistan into a state, where the democracy should be the only option in letter and spirit.

The military and judiciary should be working for the service of the people of Pakistan, the real owners of the country, he urged.

&quot;Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) should now keep in mind that Sindh has to be divided under 26 parallel formulas. People of urban Sindh (Mohajirs) have been fed up with PPP&#39;s crooked measures and discrimination,&quot; he said.

He also asked the Chief of Army Staff to stop humiliating women of tribal areas on the pretext of search for safety.

He demanded the government of Pakistan to allow the overseas Pakistanis to have their say through the ballot in elections.

Hussain thanked the participants and also felicitated Mohajirs in Karachi, Hyderabad, Mirpur Khas, Sukkur, Nawab Shah, Sangarh, Tando Allah Yar, Tando Muhammad Jam and other citifies and towns of Sindh for commemorating the 34th Foundation Day at home.

He said that the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) party wants to transform Pakistan into a state where all institutions, military, judiciary and Parliament should work in strict accordance with the Constitution

The founder leader of Pakistan's political party Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Altaf Hussain, has claimed that he has never been against the country and only wants to eliminate the repressive and exploitative feudal system from there. He said that in reality, the progressive people of Pakistan are eager to have friendly ties with the neighbouring countries of India, Afghanistan, and Iran. Hussain asserted that he has always wished and struggled for a liberal and democratic Pakistan, where the judiciary works independently - free from the country's military control and military force, which should be public-serving, and not authoritarian. The MQM wants to transform Pakistan into a state where all institutions, military, judiciary and Parliament should work in strict accordance with the Constitution. "Pakistan should not be ruled over by the military or judiciary but the people. Military generals violated the Constitution, broke Pakistan but they have never been tried for treason. The government of Pakistan should allow overseas Pakistanis to have their say through ballots in elections. The military should now stop humiliating tribal areas' people especially women on the pretext of search. Sindh has to be divided under 26 parallel. Mohajirs population has been cut to a peanut size but the true census would reveal the actual strength of Mohajirs," Hussain said addressing the 34th Foundation Day of MQM in London, which was largely attended by people, intellects, writers, and academicians, among others. Hussain said that his ideology can never be suppressed with state force. All the oppressed masses of Pakistan should get united under one banner of the MQM, recognise the common enemy, and retrieve their rights, he appealed. Hussain further said that his address to the participants of the 34th Foundation Day is also being watched by the military establishment and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) at the General Headquarters (GHQ) and Aabpara respectively, which is a proof that despite restrictions on local media to cover him, the military and ISI have failed. It is with the blessings of Allah that he alone can change the course, he said. Hussain asserted that a war among the oppressed and the tyrant is not new and would continue, as is happening today, and the struggle for rights from Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) has now engulfed Balochistan, with their voices of concern being heard worldwide. Now, the oppressed Sindhis should rise in light of the teaching of late G. M. Syed and commence practical struggle for their rights as Hussain is doing for the Mohajirs and others. The people of Punjab, especially students, should not listen to propaganda. The case is simple that he only wants to see them free from the shackles of the military and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). They are the corrupt military generals who are responsible for the country's devastating situation, Hussain said. The military generals are protecting and promoting the decayed feudal system as their existence lies in it. Pakistanis, Pashtuns, Sindhis, Punjabis, Balochs, Pakhtoons, Kashmiris, Hazarwals, Gilgiti and Baltistani should recognise their first and common enemy - the military and feudal system, he appealed. Today, the people of FATA are saying that it is Pakistan's military behind every act of repression and evil. In the past, the military establishment conspired against different communities to confront each other. According to Hussain, Pakistan's former interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, who is a member of the feudal system advised his mother party, Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) (PML-N), not to confront the institutions. He, in fact, wanted to say that the PML-N should not challenge the tyranny of the military establishment and the faulty judiciary. Conversely, the ISI-paid TV anchors are safeguarding their interests and the interests of the tyrant military and faulty judiciary. MQM founder Altaf Hussain said that everyone should bear in mind that the military dictators, who toppled democratic governments and suspended the constitution, were guilty of treason, as suspending the Constitution is an act of treason. However, not a single military general has so far been punished by the Supreme Court of Pakistan. Instead, the anti-terrorist court directed the government to approach the Interpol for bringing general (retired) Pervez Musharraf back as the later has been implicated in a treason case. Musharraf should also review as to why he alone has been charged with treason while the other military generals had initiated the coup d'etat, but the court did not include them, he said. Hussain added that ironically the Chief Justice of Pakistan, Saquib Nisar, is very active on taking suo motu notices on the prices of milk and drugs, but he is silent over the genocide of Mohajirs, Balochs and Pashtuns. Further, Hussain asserted that it has been two months since the cold-blooded assassination of Professor Dr Hassan Zafar Arif. Naqeebullah Mehsood has been in custody, but the law enforcement authorities and the Supreme Court have not moved an inch for dispensing justices to the aggrieved families. The killer Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Rao Anwar is under the shelter of the military establishment and ISI, Hussain said. If the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) is interested in dispensing justice, he should summon the Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), Director General (DG) of ISI and other military heads and give them a three day deadline for the production of Anwar, and rest assured the killer cop would be available. He said that it was the military establishment and the ISI that created a rift among different ethnic communities. The ethnic folks of Pakistan should recognise the perpetrators or else the ethnic violence would never end in Pakistan, he urged. In ethnic violence, numerous Mohajirs were slain. However, he said, that he still looks forward and seeks Allah's refuge, hoping that Allah would pardon the assassins of Mohajirs. It is now high time for unity against the common enemy and retrieval of rights. He said that the Supreme Court in Pakistan is acting as on payroll of the military establishment. The Supreme Court judges are only after Nawaz Sharif, but are turning a blind eye to Imran Khan. Sharif is paying the price of what Khan had done to Mohajirs in the past. Hussain said that the military establishment has imposed a ban on him in Pakistan and under that ban, the media has been restricted to publish his statements and pictures, and the electronic media is restricted to telecast his talks and speeches. The military establishment has declared him as a traitor while the fact is that he neither conspired against Pakistan nor broke it into two pieces, he said. He also said, "He is against all kinds of terrorism and extremism because those who are extremists and terrorists are on the sides of the evil. They are the forces of evil on Earth." Therefore, everybody should seek Allah's refuge from military and judiciary as these are the real goons. He invited all ethnic folks of Pakistan to come forward and unite for the retrieval of the suppressed rights to transform Pakistan into a state, where the democracy should be the only option in letter and spirit. The military and judiciary should be working for the service of the people of Pakistan, the real owners of the country, he urged. "Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) should now keep in mind that Sindh has to be divided under 26 parallel formulas. People of urban Sindh (Mohajirs) have been fed up with PPP's crooked measures and discrimination," he said. He also asked the Chief of Army Staff to stop humiliating women of tribal areas on the pretext of search for safety. He demanded the government of Pakistan to allow the overseas Pakistanis to have their say through the ballot in elections. Hussain thanked the participants and also felicitated Mohajirs in Karachi, Hyderabad, Mirpur Khas, Sukkur, Nawab Shah, Sangarh, Tando Allah Yar, Tando Muhammad Jam and other citifies and towns of Sindh for commemorating the 34th Foundation Day at home.

Progressive people of Pakistan eager to have friendly ties with India: MQM founder

The Pentagon said <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/us-seeks-real-action-from-pakistan-on-taliban-haqqani-network-36116">today that it won&#39;t resume security aid</a> to Pakistan until it addresses US concerns on terror safe havens.

&quot;The US government <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-providing-covert-support-to-taliban-35966">has been very honest and open both publicly</a> and privately with Pakistan on the things that they need to address before we can move forward with the resumption of the aid that has been suspended,&quot; Lt Col Mike Andrews, a spokesperson of the Department of Defence told PTI.

Mike Andrews had recently visited Afganistan with US defense secretary James Mattis last week to review security in the region.

&quot;I won&#39;t get into real specifics. The sanctuaries inside of Pakistan where were Taliban fighters can go over the border, can attack and come back and be safe,&quot; Andrews said, adding,&quot;So if Pakistan does this, it would be good for Pakistan, Afghanistan, good for India, be good for the entire region.&quot;&nbsp;

&quot;That&#39;s what we want...a safe and secure region where terrorists cannot launch attacks like 9/11 or launch attacks into Europe or into India,&quot; he asserted.

In an attempt to keep the pressure on Pakistan, US Vice President Mike Pence had recently told&nbsp;Pakistan PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi that his country &quot;must do more&quot; against the Taliban and other militants as the relations between the two nations continued to on the boil.

The US government had suspended $1.5 security assistance to Pakistan in January accusing the Abbassi-led government of providing safe havens to Taliban and the Haqqani Network.

&quot;The US government has been very honest and open both publicly and privately with Pakistan on the things that they need to address before we can move forward with the resumption of the aid that has been suspended,&quot; Lt Col Mike Andrews said.

 
<iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wYsp78vek4k" width="560"></iframe> 
&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Mike Andrews recently visited Afganistan with US defense secretary James Mattis last week to review security in the region.

The Pentagon said today that it won't resume security aid to Pakistan until it addresses US concerns on terror safe havens. "The US government has been very honest and open both publicly and privately with Pakistan on the things that they need to address before we can move forward with the resumption of the aid that has been suspended," Lt Col Mike Andrews, a spokesperson of the Department of Defence told PTI. Mike Andrews had recently visited Afganistan with US defense secretary James Mattis last week to review security in the region. "I won't get into real specifics. The sanctuaries inside of Pakistan where were Taliban fighters can go over the border, can attack and come back and be safe," Andrews said, adding,"So if Pakistan does this, it would be good for Pakistan, Afghanistan, good for India, be good for the entire region." "That's what we want...a safe and secure region where terrorists cannot launch attacks like 9/11 or launch attacks into Europe or into India," he asserted. In an attempt to keep the pressure on Pakistan, US Vice President Mike Pence had recently told Pakistan PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi that his country "must do more" against the Taliban and other militants as the relations between the two nations continued to on the boil. The US government had suspended $1.5 security assistance to Pakistan in January accusing the Abbassi-led government of providing safe havens to Taliban and the Haqqani Network. "The US government has been very honest and open both publicly and privately with Pakistan on the things that they need to address before we can move forward with the resumption of the aid that has been suspended," Lt Col Mike Andrews said.

No resumption of security aid until Pak addresses terror concerns: US

The<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-summons-pakistan-deputy-high-commissioner-over-unprovoked-firing-at-loc-and-civilian-killings-36400"> Indian High Commission in Islamabad </a>today sent a note verbale to the Pakistan foreign ministry on continuing &quot;harassment&quot; and &quot;intimidation&quot; of Indian officials and staff members.

Newswire ANI reported that the vehicles of India&#39;s Deputy High Commissioner Syed Haider Shah including the military attach&eacute;, air attach&eacute; and naval attach&eacute; was aggressively &quot;tailed&quot; on motorbikes at close proximity.

The sources said staff members of the high commission received unsolicited and objectionable calls from Pakistan registered numbers on their phones five-six times since Monday.

The sources also added that the website of the High Commission of India continues to be intermittently blocked and it is causing inconvenience and has affected normal functioning of the mission.

On Monday, a similar incident was reported when four officials of the Indian High Commission were &quot;aggressively followed&quot; while they were travelling to Aabpara market in Pakistan.&nbsp;

Indian officials asked Pakistani authorities to look into the incident.

Pakistan has also been accusing India of harassing its diplomats and releasing videos of alleged intimidation of its officials. However, the veracity of these videos could not be ascertained.

Islamabad has also called its High Commissioner to India back home for consultations on the issue.

&nbsp;

Indian officials asked Pakistani authorities to look into the incident

The Indian High Commission in Islamabad today sent a note verbale to the Pakistan foreign ministry on continuing "harassment" and "intimidation" of Indian officials and staff members. Newswire ANI reported that the vehicles of India's Deputy High Commissioner Syed Haider Shah including the military attaché, air attaché and naval attaché was aggressively "tailed" on motorbikes at close proximity. The sources said staff members of the high commission received unsolicited and objectionable calls from Pakistan registered numbers on their phones five-six times since Monday. The sources also added that the website of the High Commission of India continues to be intermittently blocked and it is causing inconvenience and has affected normal functioning of the mission. On Monday, a similar incident was reported when four officials of the Indian High Commission were "aggressively followed" while they were travelling to Aabpara market in Pakistan. Indian officials asked Pakistani authorities to look into the incident. Pakistan has also been accusing India of harassing its diplomats and releasing videos of alleged intimidation of its officials. However, the veracity of these videos could not be ascertained. Islamabad has also called its High Commissioner to India back home for consultations on the issue.

Indian Deputy High Commissioner's vehicle 'aggressively tailed' in Pakistan: Report

pakistan-0

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

pakistan 0