In a setback to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, a Supreme Court ordered probe panel in its final report on the Panamagate today recommended the filing of a corruption case against him and his children after finding &quot;significant&quot; disparities in their income and actual wealth.

The six-member Joint Investigation Team (JIT) that probed the Sharif family&#39;s business dealings in its report submitted to the apex court recommended that a corruption case should be filed against Sharif and his sons Hassan Nawaz and Hussain Nawaz, as well as daughter Maryam Nawaz, under the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) ordinance 1999.

The report, however, was slammed by the Nawaz Sharif government as &quot;trash&quot; with Sharif&#39;s close aide and minister for development Ahsan Iqbal in press conference with other ministers, saying they will challenge the report in the Supreme Court and will &quot;completely expose and unveil its contradictions and falsifications&quot;.

Sharif&#39;s daughter Maryam also rejected the report, saying, &quot;JIT report REJECTED. Every contradiction will not only be contested but decimated in SC. NOT a penny of public exchequer involved.&quot;

The JIT report said the assets of all four respondents were found to be more than the sources of their income.

&quot;Significant gap/disparity amongst the known and declared sources of income and the wealth accumulated by the Respondent No. 1, 6, 7 and 8 have been observed,&quot; the JIT observed in its concluding remarks.

Respondent 1 refers to Prime Minister Sharif; Respondent 6 was Maryam; Respondent 7 Hussain; while Respondent 8 was Hassan.

The report said the financial structure and health of companies in Pakistan having linkages to the Sharif family also do no substantiate their wealth.

It also highlighted &quot;irregular movement&quot; of huge sums of money in the form &quot;loans and gifts&quot; between Sharif and his youngest son from various companies set up in Saudi Arabia, the UK and the UAE.

The report said the role of off-shore companies is critical as they have been identified to be linked with their businesses in UK.

The JIT also said that the Sharifs were unable to provide substantive evidence of a reliable money trail, used to buy expensive properties in London.

Sharif, 67, who has denied money-laundering allegations against him and his family, today held consultations with his close aides after the report was filed with the court.

Sharif&#39;s close aide and minister for development Iqbal later said, &quot;If you review this report, it has no logical argument neither it quoted authentic sources nor material, but is based on things that have no authenticity before the law. Therefore, we are rejecting this report, terming it rubbish.&quot;

Iqbal, while announcing that his party will challenge the report before the apex court, said, &quot;We not only condemn this report but will completely expose and unveil its contradictions and falsification before the Supreme Court. We will demolish this report.&quot;

Iqbal said the report was based on accusations leveled by Imran and his party and there was nothing new in it.

Zafarullah Khan, another close aide of Sharif, said, &quot;It is a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf report and not JIT report...It is Imran Nama.&quot;

He said that the Supreme Court bench will consign the report to a &quot;trash bin, where it rightfully belongs&quot;.

Earlier, JIT chief Wajid Zia presented the 10-volume report along with evidence to the three-member special bench of the Supreme Court comprising Justice Ejaz Afzal, Justice Azmat Saeed and Justice Ijazul Ahsan.

The court ordered that its copies should be provided to the parties in the case, including Sharif family.

However, JIT chief Zia asked the court that its 10th volume of the report should not be made public as it consists of correspondence with a foreign government. 
The bench has adjourned the hearing till Monday.

The six-member JIT was set up in May by the Supreme Court with the mandate to probe the Sharif family for allegedly failing to provide the trail of money used to buy properties in London in 1990s.

The JIT has also probed several serving and former officials in connection with the case.

The six-member JIT included Federal Investigation Agency&#39;s (FIA) Additional Director General Wajid Zia, Military Intelligence&#39;s Brig Kamran Khurshid, National Accountability Bureau&#39;s (NAB) Director Irfan Naeem Mangi, State Bank of Pakistan&#39;s Amer Aziz, Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan&#39;s (SECP) Executive Director Bilal Rasool and Inter- Services Intelligence&#39;s Brig Muhammad Nauman Saeed.

Last year, the Panama Papers revealed that three of Prime Minister Sharif&#39;s children owned offshore companies and assets not shown on his family&#39;s wealth statement. The assets in question include four expensive flats in Park Lane, London.

The top court took up the case in October last year on petitions filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Awami Muslim League and Jamaat-e-Islami and reserved the verdict in February after conducting hearings on a daily basis.

The JIT questioned Sharif family including the Prime Minister, his younger brother and Punjab chief minister Shehbaz Sharif, sons Hassan and Hussain, daughter Maryam, son-in-law Captain Safdar, cousin Tariq Shafi and close relative Ishaq Dar.

It also probed several serving and former officials.

Meanwhile, Sharif&#39;s rival Imran told the media that the PML-N chief should resign as prime minister.

&quot;There is no need of further trial or proceedings. He should go away and should be barred from leaving the country along with other family members,&quot; he said.

A Joint Investigation Team set up to probe the Sharif family's business dealings has found disparities in their income and actual wealth

In a setback to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, a Supreme Court ordered probe panel in its final report on the Panamagate today recommended the filing of a corruption case against him and his children after finding "significant" disparities in their income and actual wealth. The six-member Joint Investigation Team (JIT) that probed the Sharif family's business dealings in its report submitted to the apex court recommended that a corruption case should be filed against Sharif and his sons Hassan Nawaz and Hussain Nawaz, as well as daughter Maryam Nawaz, under the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) ordinance 1999. The report, however, was slammed by the Nawaz Sharif government as "trash" with Sharif's close aide and minister for development Ahsan Iqbal in press conference with other ministers, saying they will challenge the report in the Supreme Court and will "completely expose and unveil its contradictions and falsifications". Sharif's daughter Maryam also rejected the report, saying, "JIT report REJECTED. Every contradiction will not only be contested but decimated in SC. NOT a penny of public exchequer involved." The JIT report said the assets of all four respondents were found to be more than the sources of their income. "Significant gap/disparity amongst the known and declared sources of income and the wealth accumulated by the Respondent No. 1, 6, 7 and 8 have been observed," the JIT observed in its concluding remarks. Respondent 1 refers to Prime Minister Sharif; Respondent 6 was Maryam; Respondent 7 Hussain; while Respondent 8 was Hassan. The report said the financial structure and health of companies in Pakistan having linkages to the Sharif family also do no substantiate their wealth. It also highlighted "irregular movement" of huge sums of money in the form "loans and gifts" between Sharif and his youngest son from various companies set up in Saudi Arabia, the UK and the UAE. The report said the role of off-shore companies is critical as they have been identified to be linked with their businesses in UK. The JIT also said that the Sharifs were unable to provide substantive evidence of a reliable money trail, used to buy expensive properties in London. Sharif, 67, who has denied money-laundering allegations against him and his family, today held consultations with his close aides after the report was filed with the court. Sharif's close aide and minister for development Iqbal later said, "If you review this report, it has no logical argument neither it quoted authentic sources nor material, but is based on things that have no authenticity before the law. Therefore, we are rejecting this report, terming it rubbish." Iqbal, while announcing that his party will challenge the report before the apex court, said, "We not only condemn this report but will completely expose and unveil its contradictions and falsification before the Supreme Court. We will demolish this report." Iqbal said the report was based on accusations leveled by Imran and his party and there was nothing new in it. Zafarullah Khan, another close aide of Sharif, said, "It is a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf report and not JIT report...It is Imran Nama." He said that the Supreme Court bench will consign the report to a "trash bin, where it rightfully belongs". Earlier, JIT chief Wajid Zia presented the 10-volume report along with evidence to the three-member special bench of the Supreme Court comprising Justice Ejaz Afzal, Justice Azmat Saeed and Justice Ijazul Ahsan. The court ordered that its copies should be provided to the parties in the case, including Sharif family. However, JIT chief Zia asked the court that its 10th volume of the report should not be made public as it consists of correspondence with a foreign government. The bench has adjourned the hearing till Monday. The six-member JIT was set up in May by the Supreme Court with the mandate to probe the Sharif family for allegedly failing to provide the trail of money used to buy properties in London in 1990s. The JIT has also probed several serving and former officials in connection with the case. The six-member JIT included Federal Investigation Agency's (FIA) Additional Director General Wajid Zia, Military Intelligence's Brig Kamran Khurshid, National Accountability Bureau's (NAB) Director Irfan Naeem Mangi, State Bank of Pakistan's Amer Aziz, Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan's (SECP) Executive Director Bilal Rasool and Inter- Services Intelligence's Brig Muhammad Nauman Saeed. Last year, the Panama Papers revealed that three of Prime Minister Sharif's children owned offshore companies and assets not shown on his family's wealth statement. The assets in question include four expensive flats in Park Lane, London. The top court took up the case in October last year on petitions filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Awami Muslim League and Jamaat-e-Islami and reserved the verdict in February after conducting hearings on a daily basis. The JIT questioned Sharif family including the Prime Minister, his younger brother and Punjab chief minister Shehbaz Sharif, sons Hassan and Hussain, daughter Maryam, son-in-law Captain Safdar, cousin Tariq Shafi and close relative Ishaq Dar. It also probed several serving and former officials. Meanwhile, Sharif's rival Imran told the media that the PML-N chief should resign as prime minister. "There is no need of further trial or proceedings. He should go away and should be barred from leaving the country along with other family members," he said.

Panamagate: JIT finds disparities in Sharif family income

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz on Saturday threatened to reject the findings of a joint investigation team (JIT) probing Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif&#39;s family for tax evasion, threatening to push the country&#39;s politics against a precipice.

The six-member JIT set up in May by the Supreme Court is investigating the Sharifs for allegedly failing to provide the trail of money used to buy properties in London in 1990s.

The JIT questioned Sharif, his daughter and two sons, and several of his family members, close aides and top current and former officials.

It is expected to submit it report on July 10 at the completion of a 60-day deadline.

Four federal ministers considered close to Sharif in a press conference said the PML-N will not accept the JIT report if it did not record the statements of the former Qatari prime minister Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani.

&quot;The JIT report will be compromised without his (Qatari prince) statements and we will not accept it,&quot; Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique, Petroleum Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal said.

Al-Thani in two letters written to Supreme Court revealed that late Muhammad Shairf, father of Nawaz Sharif, had invested 12 million dirham in real estate business of the royal family.

According to letters by the Qatari royal, the money invested by late Sharif was returned to the family with profits. The Sharifs have maintained that the same money was used to buy properties in London.

However, opposition parties allege that the London properties was bought through ill-gotten money in 1990s when Sharif served twice as Pakistan&#39;s prime minister.

During the week, local media reported that two members of the JIT has gone to Qatar to record his statement but it later emerged that the they had gone to UAE for official work.

It for the first time that PML-N has indicated that it might reject the report. But any such action may result in widespread unrest in the country.

Sharif&#39;s nemesis Imran Khan had already threatened that he would protest if the government tried to derail the probe.

The current crisis started after the Panama Papers showed that Sharif&#39;s children owned the London properties and manage them through offshore companies.

Four federal ministers considered close to Sharif have said that the PML-N will not accept the JIT report if it did not record the statements of the former Qatari prime minister Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz on Saturday threatened to reject the findings of a joint investigation team (JIT) probing Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's family for tax evasion, threatening to push the country's politics against a precipice. The six-member JIT set up in May by the Supreme Court is investigating the Sharifs for allegedly failing to provide the trail of money used to buy properties in London in 1990s. The JIT questioned Sharif, his daughter and two sons, and several of his family members, close aides and top current and former officials. It is expected to submit it report on July 10 at the completion of a 60-day deadline. Four federal ministers considered close to Sharif in a press conference said the PML-N will not accept the JIT report if it did not record the statements of the former Qatari prime minister Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani. "The JIT report will be compromised without his (Qatari prince) statements and we will not accept it," Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique, Petroleum Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal said. Al-Thani in two letters written to Supreme Court revealed that late Muhammad Shairf, father of Nawaz Sharif, had invested 12 million dirham in real estate business of the royal family. According to letters by the Qatari royal, the money invested by late Sharif was returned to the family with profits. The Sharifs have maintained that the same money was used to buy properties in London. However, opposition parties allege that the London properties was bought through ill-gotten money in 1990s when Sharif served twice as Pakistan's prime minister. During the week, local media reported that two members of the JIT has gone to Qatar to record his statement but it later emerged that the they had gone to UAE for official work. It for the first time that PML-N has indicated that it might reject the report. But any such action may result in widespread unrest in the country. Sharif's nemesis Imran Khan had already threatened that he would protest if the government tried to derail the probe. The current crisis started after the Panama Papers showed that Sharif's children owned the London properties and manage them through offshore companies.

Pakistan tense ahead of Sharif probe completion

India and Pakistan take each other on today at the ICC Women&#39;s Cricket World Cup being played in England. &nbsp;

India has so far won their two opening games.&nbsp;

They beat&nbsp;England in the opening game by 35 runs and then beat the West Indies by seven wickets.

Pakistan on the other hand lost both their opening games -- to South Africa and England.&nbsp;

So the pressure will be on Pakistan; they need to win.&nbsp;

Furthermore, the two countries have so far played each other nine times at the World Cup -- with India winning every single time. Which is not going to help ease the pressure.&nbsp;

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The Indian women&#39;s cricket team. (Instagram)
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The Pakistan women&#39;s cricket team. (Instagram)
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Pakistan understands that.&nbsp;

&quot;Playing against India there is always pressure. It is a big game but I am very hopeful of doing much better against India. We beat India in India in the last T20. I believe in my spinners that they will bounce back and take wickets, and we will win the match. Ayesha batted well and gained confidence, which is important before the game against India,&quot; said Pakistan all-rounder Asmavia.

&quot;We are looking forward to the next game, whole Pakistan. In Pakistan they say that you have to win against India, it is very important. We took some positives (from the game against England). Our fast bowling did well, Ayesha played well. But there are many areas to improve, especially fielding, which is letting us down. If we field well, we can beat any team,&quot; she added.

The Indian skipper Mithali Raj responded to that with: &quot;We need to work on our catching, fielding is very crucial and it can win us matches. I&#39;m very pleased with the way the girls responded with crucial run-outs against the West Indies even though there were a couple of lapses in the field (drops). We still have a couple of games more before we can look to the semi-finals and looking at how Sri Lanka has played and how Pakistan has played, every match is going to be crucial for us.&quot;

Social media meanwhile has been abuzz with excitement. See tweets below:&nbsp;

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CT17?src=hash">#CT17</a> has come to an end past week. Now its another big event for women&#39;s cricket <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ICCWomensWorldCup?src=hash">#ICCWomensWorldCup</a> starting today with the group stages. <a href="https://t.co/C7UDDdWtaY">pic.twitter.com/C7UDDdWtaY</a>
&mdash; Hari Charan (@H_Charan03) <a href="https://twitter.com/H_Charan03/status/878440609849032704">June 24, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
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&nbsp;

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MitaliRaj?src=hash">#MitaliRaj</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BestOfLuck?src=hash">#BestOfLuck</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TeamIndia?src=hash">#TeamIndia</a> for today&#39;s match against <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Pakistan?src=hash">#Pakistan</a>-<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ICCWomen?src=hash">#ICCWomen</a>&#39;s <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WorldCup2017?src=hash">#WorldCup2017</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ICCWomensWorldCup?src=hash">#ICCWomensWorldCup</a> <a href="https://t.co/DQ8g99tyOc">pic.twitter.com/DQ8g99tyOc</a>
&mdash; @Swti (@swati_aku_) <a href="https://twitter.com/swati_aku_/status/881410823251386369">July 2, 2017</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

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Wishes to the <a href="https://twitter.com/BCCIWomen">@BCCIWomen</a> fr the world cup. Hope they will do their best nd bring the cup 2 our country. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ICCWomensWorldCup?src=hash">#ICCWomensWorldCup</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BleedBlue?src=hash">#BleedBlue</a> ????????
&mdash; Agilan Agilselvam (@Agilselvam) <a href="https://twitter.com/Agilselvam/status/878447839524732928">June 24, 2017</a></blockquote>
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The two teams face off at 2.30 pm&nbsp;in Derby.

India and Pakistan have played each other nine times at the World Cup. India has won every single time

India and Pakistan take each other on today at the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup being played in England. India has so far won their two opening games. They beat England in the opening game by 35 runs and then beat the West Indies by seven wickets. Pakistan on the other hand lost both their opening games -- to South Africa and England. So the pressure will be on Pakistan; they need to win. Furthermore, the two countries have so far played each other nine times at the World Cup -- with India winning every single time. Which is not going to help ease the pressure. The Indian women's cricket team. (Instagram) × The Pakistan women's cricket team. (Instagram) × Pakistan understands that. "Playing against India there is always pressure. It is a big game but I am very hopeful of doing much better against India. We beat India in India in the last T20. I believe in my spinners that they will bounce back and take wickets, and we will win the match. Ayesha batted well and gained confidence, which is important before the game against India," said Pakistan all-rounder Asmavia. "We are looking forward to the next game, whole Pakistan. In Pakistan they say that you have to win against India, it is very important. We took some positives (from the game against England). Our fast bowling did well, Ayesha played well. But there are many areas to improve, especially fielding, which is letting us down. If we field well, we can beat any team," she added. The Indian skipper Mithali Raj responded to that with: "We need to work on our catching, fielding is very crucial and it can win us matches. I'm very pleased with the way the girls responded with crucial run-outs against the West Indies even though there were a couple of lapses in the field (drops). We still have a couple of games more before we can look to the semi-finals and looking at how Sri Lanka has played and how Pakistan has played, every match is going to be crucial for us." Social media meanwhile has been abuzz with excitement. See tweets below: #CT17 has come to an end past week. Now its another big event for women's cricket #ICCWomensWorldCup starting today with the group stages. pic.twitter.com/C7UDDdWtaY — Hari Charan (@H_Charan03) June 24, 2017 × #MitaliRaj #BestOfLuck #TeamIndia for today's match against #Pakistan-#ICCWomen's #WorldCup2017#ICCWomensWorldCup pic.twitter.com/DQ8g99tyOc — @Swti (@swati_aku_) July 2, 2017 × Wishes to the @BCCIWomen fr the world cup. Hope they will do their best nd bring the cup 2 our country. #ICCWomensWorldCup #BleedBlue ???????? — Agilan Agilselvam (@Agilselvam) June 24, 2017 × The two teams face off at 2.30 pm in Derby.

ICC Women's World Cup: India take on Pakistan today

Several South Asian migrants employed as domestic workers and farmers are stranded in Saudi Arabia after their Qatari employers were asked to leave the kingdom.

The head of Qatar&#39;s National Human Rights Committee Ali bin Smaikh Al-Marri told the media on Wednesday that the workers, who are from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal, have been left behind without accommodation and money and are living &quot;illegally&quot;.&nbsp;

Many of those affected were farmers who drive livestock between the two countries, Marri said, AFP reported.

&quot;Usually the workers travel with Qataris -- many Qataris employ farmers and travel with their domestic workers and drivers,&quot; he said.

Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt and Bahrain suspended ties with Qatar on June 5 over allegations that the emirate supports extremists. Doha denies the claim.&nbsp;

&quot;The workers were not allowed to travel into&nbsp;Qatar&nbsp;and now they are living illegally in Saudi Arabia and do not have basic needs,&quot; Marri said.&nbsp;

&quot;They have no shelter and cannot access money.&quot;

In Qatar, there is a sponsorship system that ties workers to their employers.

There is no word on the exact number of migrants stranded.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Most of the migrants are from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal

Several South Asian migrants employed as domestic workers and farmers are stranded in Saudi Arabia after their Qatari employers were asked to leave the kingdom. The head of Qatar's National Human Rights Committee Ali bin Smaikh Al-Marri told the media on Wednesday that the workers, who are from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal, have been left behind without accommodation and money and are living "illegally". Many of those affected were farmers who drive livestock between the two countries, Marri said, AFP reported. "Usually the workers travel with Qataris -- many Qataris employ farmers and travel with their domestic workers and drivers," he said. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt and Bahrain suspended ties with Qatar on June 5 over allegations that the emirate supports extremists. Doha denies the claim. "The workers were not allowed to travel into Qatar and now they are living illegally in Saudi Arabia and do not have basic needs," Marri said. "They have no shelter and cannot access money." In Qatar, there is a sponsorship system that ties workers to their employers. There is no word on the exact number of migrants stranded.

South Asian migrants stranded in Saudi Arabia after Qatari bosses ordered to leave

President Donald Trump&#39;s administration appears ready to harden its approach toward Pakistan to crack down on Pakistan-based militants launching attacks in neighbouring Afghanistan, U.S. officials tell Reuters.

Potential Trump administration responses being discussed include expanding U.S. drone strikes, redirecting or withholding some aid to Pakistan and perhaps eventually downgrading Pakistan&#39;s status as a major non-NATO ally, the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Some U.S. officials, however, are skeptical of the prospects for success, arguing that years of previous U.S. efforts to curb Pakistan&#39;s support for militant groups have failed, and that already strengthening U.S. ties to India, Pakistan&#39;s arch-enemy, undermine chances of a breakthrough with Islamabad.

U.S. officials say they seek greater cooperation with Pakistan, not a rupture in ties, once the administration finishes a regional review of the strategy guiding the 16-year-old war in Afghanistan.

Precise actions have yet to be decided.

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<h5>Pakistan fiercely denies allowing any militants safe haven on its territory</h5>
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The White House and Pentagon declined to comment on the review before its completion. Pakistan&#39;s embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

&quot;The United States and Pakistan continue to partner on a range of national security issues,&quot; Pentagon spokesman Adam Stump said.

But the discussions alone suggest a shift toward a more assertive approach to address safe havens in Pakistan that have been blamed for in part helping turn Afghanistan&#39;s war into an intractable conflict.

Experts on America&#39;s longest war argue that militant safe havens in Pakistan have allowed Taliban-linked insurgents a place to plot deadly strikes in Afghanistan and regroup after ground offensives.

Although long mindful of Pakistan, the Trump administration in recent weeks has put more emphasis on the relationship with Islamabad in discussions as it hammers out a the regional strategy to be presented to Trump by mid-July, nearly six months after he took office, one official said.

&quot;We&#39;ve never really fully articulated what our strategy towards Pakistan is. The strategy will more clearly say what we want from Pakistan specifically,&quot; the U.S. official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Other U.S. officials warn of divisions within the government about the right approach and question whether any mix of carrots and sticks can get Islamabad to change its behavior. At the end of the day, Washington needs a partner, even if an imperfect one, in nuclear-armed Pakistan, they say.

The United States is again poised to deploy thousands more troops in Afghanistan, an acknowledgment that U.S.-backed forces are not winning and Taliban militants are resurgent.

Without more pressure on militants within Pakistan who target Afghanistan, experts say additional U.S. troop deployments will fail to meet their ultimate objective: to pressure the Taliban to eventually negotiate peace.

&quot;I believe there will be a much harder U.S. line on Pakistan going forward than there has been in the past,&quot; Hamdullah Mohib, the Afghan ambassador to the United States, told Reuters, without citing specific measures under review.

Kabul has long been critical of Pakistan&#39;s role in Afghanistan.

Pakistan fiercely denies allowing any militants safe haven on its territory. It bristles at U.S. claims that Pakistan&#39;s spy agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) directorate, has ties to Haqqani network militants blamed for some of the deadliest attacks in Afghanistan.

&quot;What Pakistan says is that we are already doing a lot and that our plate is already full,&quot; a senior Pakistani government source told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The source doubted the Trump administration would press too hard, saying: &quot;They don&rsquo;t want to push Pakistan to abandon their war against terrorism.&quot;

Pakistani officials point towards the toll militancy has taken on the country. Since 2003, almost 22,000 civilians and nearly 7,000 Pakistani security forces have been killed as a result of militancy, according to the South Asia Terrorism Portal, which tracks violence.

Experts say Pakistan&#39;s policy towards Afghanistan is also driven in part by fears that India will gain influence in Afghanistan.

IS PAKISTAN AN ALLY?

Nuclear-armed Pakistan won the status as a major non-NATO ally in 2004 from the George Bush administration, in what was at the time seen in part as recognition of its importance in the U.S. battle against al Qaeda and Taliban insurgents.

The status is mainly symbolic, allowing limited benefits such as giving Pakistan faster access to surplus U.S. military hardware.

Some U.S. officials and experts on the region scoff at the title.

&quot;Pakistan is not an ally. It&rsquo;s not North Korea or Iran. But it&rsquo;s not an ally,&quot; said Bruce Riedel, a Pakistan expert at the Brookings Institution.

But yanking the title would be seen by Pakistan as a major blow.

&quot;The Pakistanis would take that very seriously because it would be a slap at their honor,&quot; said a former U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Lisa Curtis, senior director for South and Central Asia at the National Security Council, co-authored a report with Husain Haqqani, Pakistan&#39;s former ambassador to Washington, in which they recommended the Trump administration warn Pakistan the status could be revoked in six months.

&quot;Thinking of Pakistan as an ally will continue to create problems for the next administration as it did for the last one,&quot; said the February report.

It was unclear how seriously the Trump administration was considering the proposal.

The growing danger to Afghanistan from suspected Pakistan-based militants was underscored by a devastating May 31 truck bomb that killed more than 80 people and wounded 460 in Afghanistan&#39;s capital, Kabul.

Afghanistan&#39;s main intelligence agency said the attack - one of the deadliest in memory in Kabul - had been carried out by the Haqqani network with assistance from Pakistan, a charge Islamabad denies.

Washington believes the strikes appeared to be the work of the Haqqani network, U.S. officials told Reuters.

U.S. frustration over the Haqqani&#39;s presence in Pakistan has been building for years. The United States designated the Haqqani network as a terrorist organization in 2012. U.S. Navy Admiral Mike Mullen, then the top U.S. military officer, told Congress in 2011 that the Haqqani network was a &quot;veritable arm&quot; of the ISI.

The potential U.S. pivot to a more assertive approach would be sharply different than the approach taken at the start of the Obama administration, when U.S. officials sought to court Pakistani leaders, including Army chief General Ashfaq Kayani.

David Sedney, who served as Obama&#39;s deputy assistant secretary of defense for Afghanistan, Pakistan and Central Asia from 2009 to 2013, said the attempt to turn Islamabad into a strategic partner was a &quot;disaster.&quot;

&quot;It didn&#39;t affect Pakistan&#39;s behavior one bit. In fact, I would argue it made Pakistan&#39;s behavior worse,&quot; Sedney said.

MORE DRONES, CASH CUT-OFF

Pakistan has received more than $33 billion in U.S. assistance since 2002, including more than $14 billion in so-called Coalition Support Funds (CSF), a U.S. Defense Department program to reimburse allies that have incurred costs in supporting counter-insurgency operations.

It is an important form of foreign currency for the nuclear-armed country and one that is getting particularly close scrutiny during the Trump administration review.

Last year, the Pentagon decided not to pay Pakistan $300 million in CSF funding after then-U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter declined to sign authorization that Pakistan was taking adequate action against the Haqqani network.

U.S. officials said the Trump administration was discussing withholding at least some assistance to Pakistan.

Curtis&#39; report also singled out the aid as a target.

But U.S. aid cuts could cede even more influence to China, which already has committed nearly $60 billion in investments in Pakistan.

Another option under review is broadening a drone campaign to penetrate deeper into Pakistan to target Haqqani fighters and other militants blamed for attacks in Afghanistan, U.S. officials and a Pakistan expert said.

&quot;Now the Americans (will be) saying, you aren&#39;t taking out our enemies, so therefore we are taking them out ourselves,&quot; the Pakistan expert, who declined to be identified, said.

Pakistan&#39;s army chief of staff last week criticized &quot;unilateral actions&quot; such as drone strikes as &quot;counterproductive and against (the) spirit of ongoing cooperation and intelligence sharing being diligently undertaken by Pakistan&quot;.

The Trump administration is also mulling the redirecting or withholding of some aid to Pakistan

President Donald Trump's administration appears ready to harden its approach toward Pakistan to crack down on Pakistan-based militants launching attacks in neighbouring Afghanistan, U.S. officials tell Reuters. Potential Trump administration responses being discussed include expanding U.S. drone strikes, redirecting or withholding some aid to Pakistan and perhaps eventually downgrading Pakistan's status as a major non-NATO ally, the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Some U.S. officials, however, are skeptical of the prospects for success, arguing that years of previous U.S. efforts to curb Pakistan's support for militant groups have failed, and that already strengthening U.S. ties to India, Pakistan's arch-enemy, undermine chances of a breakthrough with Islamabad. U.S. officials say they seek greater cooperation with Pakistan, not a rupture in ties, once the administration finishes a regional review of the strategy guiding the 16-year-old war in Afghanistan. Precise actions have yet to be decided. Pakistan fiercely denies allowing any militants safe haven on its territory × The White House and Pentagon declined to comment on the review before its completion. Pakistan's embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment. "The United States and Pakistan continue to partner on a range of national security issues," Pentagon spokesman Adam Stump said. But the discussions alone suggest a shift toward a more assertive approach to address safe havens in Pakistan that have been blamed for in part helping turn Afghanistan's war into an intractable conflict. Experts on America's longest war argue that militant safe havens in Pakistan have allowed Taliban-linked insurgents a place to plot deadly strikes in Afghanistan and regroup after ground offensives. Although long mindful of Pakistan, the Trump administration in recent weeks has put more emphasis on the relationship with Islamabad in discussions as it hammers out a the regional strategy to be presented to Trump by mid-July, nearly six months after he took office, one official said. "We've never really fully articulated what our strategy towards Pakistan is. The strategy will more clearly say what we want from Pakistan specifically," the U.S. official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Other U.S. officials warn of divisions within the government about the right approach and question whether any mix of carrots and sticks can get Islamabad to change its behavior. At the end of the day, Washington needs a partner, even if an imperfect one, in nuclear-armed Pakistan, they say. The United States is again poised to deploy thousands more troops in Afghanistan, an acknowledgment that U.S.-backed forces are not winning and Taliban militants are resurgent. Without more pressure on militants within Pakistan who target Afghanistan, experts say additional U.S. troop deployments will fail to meet their ultimate objective: to pressure the Taliban to eventually negotiate peace. "I believe there will be a much harder U.S. line on Pakistan going forward than there has been in the past," Hamdullah Mohib, the Afghan ambassador to the United States, told Reuters, without citing specific measures under review. Kabul has long been critical of Pakistan's role in Afghanistan. Pakistan fiercely denies allowing any militants safe haven on its territory. It bristles at U.S. claims that Pakistan's spy agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) directorate, has ties to Haqqani network militants blamed for some of the deadliest attacks in Afghanistan. "What Pakistan says is that we are already doing a lot and that our plate is already full," a senior Pakistani government source told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity. The source doubted the Trump administration would press too hard, saying: "They don’t want to push Pakistan to abandon their war against terrorism." Pakistani officials point towards the toll militancy has taken on the country. Since 2003, almost 22,000 civilians and nearly 7,000 Pakistani security forces have been killed as a result of militancy, according to the South Asia Terrorism Portal, which tracks violence. Experts say Pakistan's policy towards Afghanistan is also driven in part by fears that India will gain influence in Afghanistan. IS PAKISTAN AN ALLY? Nuclear-armed Pakistan won the status as a major non-NATO ally in 2004 from the George Bush administration, in what was at the time seen in part as recognition of its importance in the U.S. battle against al Qaeda and Taliban insurgents. The status is mainly symbolic, allowing limited benefits such as giving Pakistan faster access to surplus U.S. military hardware. Some U.S. officials and experts on the region scoff at the title. "Pakistan is not an ally. It’s not North Korea or Iran. But it’s not an ally," said Bruce Riedel, a Pakistan expert at the Brookings Institution. But yanking the title would be seen by Pakistan as a major blow. "The Pakistanis would take that very seriously because it would be a slap at their honor," said a former U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity. Lisa Curtis, senior director for South and Central Asia at the National Security Council, co-authored a report with Husain Haqqani, Pakistan's former ambassador to Washington, in which they recommended the Trump administration warn Pakistan the status could be revoked in six months. "Thinking of Pakistan as an ally will continue to create problems for the next administration as it did for the last one," said the February report. It was unclear how seriously the Trump administration was considering the proposal. The growing danger to Afghanistan from suspected Pakistan-based militants was underscored by a devastating May 31 truck bomb that killed more than 80 people and wounded 460 in Afghanistan's capital, Kabul. Afghanistan's main intelligence agency said the attack - one of the deadliest in memory in Kabul - had been carried out by the Haqqani network with assistance from Pakistan, a charge Islamabad denies. Washington believes the strikes appeared to be the work of the Haqqani network, U.S. officials told Reuters. U.S. frustration over the Haqqani's presence in Pakistan has been building for years. The United States designated the Haqqani network as a terrorist organization in 2012. U.S. Navy Admiral Mike Mullen, then the top U.S. military officer, told Congress in 2011 that the Haqqani network was a "veritable arm" of the ISI. The potential U.S. pivot to a more assertive approach would be sharply different than the approach taken at the start of the Obama administration, when U.S. officials sought to court Pakistani leaders, including Army chief General Ashfaq Kayani. David Sedney, who served as Obama's deputy assistant secretary of defense for Afghanistan, Pakistan and Central Asia from 2009 to 2013, said the attempt to turn Islamabad into a strategic partner was a "disaster." "It didn't affect Pakistan's behavior one bit. In fact, I would argue it made Pakistan's behavior worse," Sedney said. MORE DRONES, CASH CUT-OFF Pakistan has received more than $33 billion in U.S. assistance since 2002, including more than $14 billion in so-called Coalition Support Funds (CSF), a U.S. Defense Department program to reimburse allies that have incurred costs in supporting counter-insurgency operations. It is an important form of foreign currency for the nuclear-armed country and one that is getting particularly close scrutiny during the Trump administration review. Last year, the Pentagon decided not to pay Pakistan $300 million in CSF funding after then-U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter declined to sign authorization that Pakistan was taking adequate action against the Haqqani network. U.S. officials said the Trump administration was discussing withholding at least some assistance to Pakistan. Curtis' report also singled out the aid as a target. But U.S. aid cuts could cede even more influence to China, which already has committed nearly $60 billion in investments in Pakistan. Another option under review is broadening a drone campaign to penetrate deeper into Pakistan to target Haqqani fighters and other militants blamed for attacks in Afghanistan, U.S. officials and a Pakistan expert said. "Now the Americans (will be) saying, you aren't taking out our enemies, so therefore we are taking them out ourselves," the Pakistan expert, who declined to be identified, said. Pakistan's army chief of staff last week criticized "unilateral actions" such as drone strikes as "counterproductive and against (the) spirit of ongoing cooperation and intelligence sharing being diligently undertaken by Pakistan".

Trump may expand drone strikes in Pakistan, to contain militants attacking Afghanistan

In what is being termed&nbsp;an unprecedented move by a sitting Pakistani&nbsp;prime&nbsp;minister, Nawaz Sharif appeared before a joint investigation team (JIT) formed by&nbsp;Supreme Court&nbsp;to look into Panama papers, which had named 400&nbsp;from Pakistan, including the family of&nbsp;the PM.&nbsp;

The hearing that lasted for four hours started at 11&nbsp;am. Sharif came out and spoke briefly to the press, reading out from a pre-written statement. &quot;We have presented ourselves before the court. I have given account for every penny. Whatever and how big of a conspiracy the opposing forces in the country hatch against me, they will not be able to find any fault,&quot; Sharif told journalists outside the Federal Judicial Academy, which has become the temporary office for the JIT.

Hundreds of&nbsp;workers&nbsp;from&nbsp;Sharif&#39;s party&nbsp;had appeared outside the building to support him, chanting slogans,&nbsp;and holding banners in his&nbsp;favour. More than 2,600 police&nbsp;personnel&nbsp;were deputed to secure the area.

Speaking exclusively to WION, journalist Umar Cheema who was part of the Panama papers investigations,&nbsp;also termed it a historic day&nbsp;for&nbsp;Pakistan.&nbsp;&nbsp;

&quot;Many people had always dreamt of this day and it has finally happened --&nbsp;the top man in the country has appeared for accountability. It is a good day for the rule of law in the country,&quot;&nbsp;Cheema said.&nbsp;

On the other hand, the political opposition in the country, namely the Pakistan&nbsp;Tehreek-e-Insaaf&nbsp;(PTI) took this opportunity to lash out at Sharif and his family, calling them criminals. &quot;Nawaz Sharif has not presented himself, but he was summoned. Let us not forget that he is facing criminal charges. There is no glory in that,&quot;&nbsp;PTI spokesperson&nbsp;Fawad Choudhry&nbsp;said.&nbsp;

Going forward, the Pakistan&nbsp;PM&#39;s brother,&nbsp;Shahbaz Sharif,&nbsp;will&nbsp;appear&nbsp;before the JIT on Saturday,&nbsp;and his son-in-law, Captain&nbsp;Safdar&nbsp;(retd), will be appearing on&nbsp;June&nbsp;24.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Earlier this month, Sharif&#39;s two sons, Hassan Nawaz and Hussain Nawaz,&nbsp;had also been grilled by the JIT in multiple interrogation sessions.&nbsp;&nbsp;

This is the first sitting Pakistan PM to appear before the JIT; a move putting faith in 'rule of law'

In what is being termed an unprecedented move by a sitting Pakistani prime minister, Nawaz Sharif appeared before a joint investigation team (JIT) formed by Supreme Court to look into Panama papers, which had named 400 from Pakistan, including the family of the PM. The hearing that lasted for four hours started at 11 am. Sharif came out and spoke briefly to the press, reading out from a pre-written statement. "We have presented ourselves before the court. I have given account for every penny. Whatever and how big of a conspiracy the opposing forces in the country hatch against me, they will not be able to find any fault," Sharif told journalists outside the Federal Judicial Academy, which has become the temporary office for the JIT. Hundreds of workers from Sharif's party had appeared outside the building to support him, chanting slogans, and holding banners in his favour. More than 2,600 police personnel were deputed to secure the area. Speaking exclusively to WION, journalist Umar Cheema who was part of the Panama papers investigations, also termed it a historic day for Pakistan. "Many people had always dreamt of this day and it has finally happened -- the top man in the country has appeared for accountability. It is a good day for the rule of law in the country," Cheema said. On the other hand, the political opposition in the country, namely the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) took this opportunity to lash out at Sharif and his family, calling them criminals. "Nawaz Sharif has not presented himself, but he was summoned. Let us not forget that he is facing criminal charges. There is no glory in that," PTI spokesperson Fawad Choudhry said. Going forward, the Pakistan PM's brother, Shahbaz Sharif, will appear before the JIT on Saturday, and his son-in-law, Captain Safdar (retd), will be appearing on June 24. Earlier this month, Sharif's two sons, Hassan Nawaz and Hussain Nawaz, had also been grilled by the JIT in multiple interrogation sessions.

Panama Papers: Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif appears before probe body in landmark move

In a first ever penalty over online blasphemy in Pakistan, an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Punjab&#39;s Bahwalpur on Saturday awarded the death sentence to a man on the charges of sharing offensive content about Islam on social media.

Bahawalpur&#39;s ATC Judge Shabir Ahmed announced the death sentence for the 30-year-old accused, who belongs to the Shia community, according to a report appearing in the Dawn

The accused, who hails from Lahore, had allegedly posted derogatory content about prominent Sunni religious figures and wives of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) on Facebook. He was arrested last year from Bahawalpur by the Counter Terrorism Department.

Blasphemy has been a contentious issue in the country as many have called for reforms in the law to prevent its misuse.

Earlier in March, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif ordered the blocking of blasphemous content on social media and action against those propagating such content.

Following this, the Pakistan National Assembly had unanimously resolved to form a 10-member committee to investigate blasphemous content being circulated on social media platforms.

Sharif had directed Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan to take all necessary measures to ensure that the objectionable material was blocked and sought daily reports on developments in this regard.

(ANI)

The accused allegedly posted derogatory content about prominent Sunni religious figures and wives of the Holy Prophet Muhammad

In a first ever penalty over online blasphemy in Pakistan, an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Punjab's Bahwalpur on Saturday awarded the death sentence to a man on the charges of sharing offensive content about Islam on social media. Bahawalpur's ATC Judge Shabir Ahmed announced the death sentence for the 30-year-old accused, who belongs to the Shia community, according to a report appearing in the Dawn The accused, who hails from Lahore, had allegedly posted derogatory content about prominent Sunni religious figures and wives of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) on Facebook. He was arrested last year from Bahawalpur by the Counter Terrorism Department. Blasphemy has been a contentious issue in the country as many have called for reforms in the law to prevent its misuse. Earlier in March, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif ordered the blocking of blasphemous content on social media and action against those propagating such content. Following this, the Pakistan National Assembly had unanimously resolved to form a 10-member committee to investigate blasphemous content being circulated on social media platforms. Sharif had directed Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan to take all necessary measures to ensure that the objectionable material was blocked and sought daily reports on developments in this regard. (ANI)

Pakistan: Shia Man sentenced to death for Facebook posting

Pakistan&#39;s prime minister will appear before an anti-corruption investigation commission over allegations against his family, a government minister said Sunday.&nbsp;

Nawaz Sharif and his children are accused of graft in an ongoing case which has gripped Pakistan and threatened to topple the prime minister after the Panama Papers leak last year linked the family to offshore businesses.

&quot;Yes, the government has received a letter by the Joint Investigation Team in which he has been directed to appear before this committee and he will appear in front of them,&quot; information and broadcast minister Marriyum Aurangzeb told Geo television network.

The letter, circulated on social media, is signed by the head of the JIT and asks Sharif to &quot;appear and associate with the JIT on Thursday, June 15&quot;.

It also asks the prime minister to &quot;bring all relevant record&quot;.

Pakistan&#39;s Supreme Court in April ordered a joint investigation team of anti-corruption officials, along with the powerful Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Military Intelligence, to probe the claims and issue a report within 60 days.

Pakistani cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan, whose Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf party has spearheaded the push against Sharif, has called on the prime minister to resign until the investigation is completed.

The controversy erupted with the publication of 11.5 million secret documents from Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca last year documenting the offshore dealings of many of the world&#39;s rich and powerful.

Three of Sharif&#39;s four children -- his daughter and presumptive political heir Maryam, and his sons Hasan and Hussein -- were implicated.

At the heart of the case is the legitimacy of the funds used by the Sharif family to purchase several high-end London properties via offshore companies.

The ruling PML-N party insists the wealth was acquired legally, through family businesses in Pakistan and the Gulf.&nbsp;

A letter, circulated on social media, is signed by the head of the Joint Investigation Team and asks Sharif to 'appear and associate with the JIT on Thursday, June 15'

Pakistan's prime minister will appear before an anti-corruption investigation commission over allegations against his family, a government minister said Sunday. Nawaz Sharif and his children are accused of graft in an ongoing case which has gripped Pakistan and threatened to topple the prime minister after the Panama Papers leak last year linked the family to offshore businesses. "Yes, the government has received a letter by the Joint Investigation Team in which he has been directed to appear before this committee and he will appear in front of them," information and broadcast minister Marriyum Aurangzeb told Geo television network. The letter, circulated on social media, is signed by the head of the JIT and asks Sharif to "appear and associate with the JIT on Thursday, June 15". It also asks the prime minister to "bring all relevant record". Pakistan's Supreme Court in April ordered a joint investigation team of anti-corruption officials, along with the powerful Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Military Intelligence, to probe the claims and issue a report within 60 days. Pakistani cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan, whose Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf party has spearheaded the push against Sharif, has called on the prime minister to resign until the investigation is completed. The controversy erupted with the publication of 11.5 million secret documents from Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca last year documenting the offshore dealings of many of the world's rich and powerful. Three of Sharif's four children -- his daughter and presumptive political heir Maryam, and his sons Hasan and Hussein -- were implicated. At the heart of the case is the legitimacy of the funds used by the Sharif family to purchase several high-end London properties via offshore companies. The ruling PML-N party insists the wealth was acquired legally, through family businesses in Pakistan and the Gulf.

Panama papers case: Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif to appear before anti-graft probe team

Three men who have fathered nearly 100 children among them are doing their bit for Pakistan&#39;s skyrocketing population, which is being counted for the first time in 19 years.&nbsp;

But in a country where experts warn the surging populace is gouging into hard-won economic gains and social services, the three patriarchs are unconcerned. Allah, they say, will provide.

Pakistan has the highest birth rate in South Asia at around three children per woman, according to the World Bank and government figures, and the census is expected to show that growth remains high.

&quot;God has created the entire universe and all human beings, so why should I stop the natural process of a baby&#39;s birth?&quot; asks Gulzar Khan, a father of 36, citing one of the strongest influences in the region: the belief that Islam prevents family planning. &nbsp;

Tribal enmity is another factor in the north-west, where the 57-year-old lives in the city of Bannu with his third wife, who is pregnant.

&quot;We wanted to be stronger,&quot; the 57-year-old tells AFP, surrounded by 23 of his offspring -- so many, he observes, they don&#39;t need friends to play a full cricket match.&nbsp;

Polygamy is legal but rare in Pakistan, and families like Khan&#39;s are not the norm, though the beliefs he holds are widespread.

The last census, held in 1998, showed Pakistan had a population of up to 135 million. Estimates suggest the new census -- carried out earlier this year, with the preliminary results due by the end of July -- will put the figure closer to 200 million.&nbsp;

The economy is expanding faster than it has in a decade, and last month Islamabad hiked its development budget by 40 percent.&nbsp;

But observers have warned the population boom is negating any progress, using up valuable resources in a young country where jobs are scarce and nearly 60 million people live below the poverty line.&nbsp;

&quot;It definitely is a problem because it is affecting health outcomes adversely and also eating into development gains,&quot; says Zeba A. Sathar, country director for the UN population council.&nbsp;

Sathar predicted the census would show growth has slowed due to lower fertility rates, though she added it would remain among the highest rates in the region.

&quot;There has to be a clear enunciation of need to slow growth as a positive policy lever,&quot; she said. &quot;And then next a good, effective health system that provides information and services of quality.&quot;&nbsp;

&#39;God will provide&#39;

Khan&#39;s brother, Mastan Khan Wazir -- one of his 15 siblings -- also has three wives. So far, Wazir has only fathered 22 children but, like his brother, he says his grandchildren are too numerous to count.&nbsp;

The 70-year-old, with his bushy moustaches and bejewelled fingers, is a minor celebrity in North Waziristan tribal district, where his blinged out jeep -- done in the style of Pakistan&#39;s famous &quot;jingle trucks&quot;, with Pashto music pouring from the stereo -- is a familiar sight.&nbsp;

&quot;God has promised that he will provide food and resources but people have weak faith,&quot; he tells AFP, wearing a traditional Waziristani turban.&nbsp;

In the southwestern city of Quetta in Balochistan province, Jan Mohammed -- the father of 38 children -- agrees, despite having previously called on the government to provide resources for his family.

Jan spoke with AFP in 2016 to voice his desire for a fourth wife as he continues his mission of having 100 children. No woman has yet agreed, he says, but he has not given up.&nbsp;

&quot;The more Muslims grow, the more their enemies will fear them... Muslims should go for more and more children,&quot; he said.

Empowering women&nbsp;

Denied their husbands&#39; permission to speak, none of the three men&#39;s wives could give their views on family planning in Islam.

But there is already &quot;abundant&quot; awareness in Pakistan about the need for birth spacing, or allowing a woman&#39;s body to rest for at least 18 months between pregnancies, Sathar said.

&quot;The need is for clear information about the methods available, how they work, their possible side effects and where to get them. That is missing,&quot; she added.

Giving women more of a choice in the matter could help, argues Aisha Sarwari, a feminist activist who has previously written on population and women&#39;s rights.

&quot;Access to birth control for women can be a game changer,&quot; she told AFP. &quot;Ultimately the impact is that there are more resources to go around ... Empowered women have fewer children, and this creates a mindset that leads to prosperity within families that is likely to be emulated across communities.&quot;

Khan, at least, admitted there could be some benefits to slowing down.

For one thing, tribal enmity in the north-west has decreased in recent years, he said. &quot;Now, with the grace of God, the situation has changed -- war and fighting is finished -- so, now, a decrease in the population would not be bad.&quot;

It would also free him up for other leisure activities, he says, adding wistfully: &quot;If one had fewer children, one would have more time to make love with his wives.&quot;

(AFP)

Experts warn the surging populace is gouging into hard-won economic gains and social services

Three men who have fathered nearly 100 children among them are doing their bit for Pakistan's skyrocketing population, which is being counted for the first time in 19 years. But in a country where experts warn the surging populace is gouging into hard-won economic gains and social services, the three patriarchs are unconcerned. Allah, they say, will provide. Pakistan has the highest birth rate in South Asia at around three children per woman, according to the World Bank and government figures, and the census is expected to show that growth remains high. "God has created the entire universe and all human beings, so why should I stop the natural process of a baby's birth?" asks Gulzar Khan, a father of 36, citing one of the strongest influences in the region: the belief that Islam prevents family planning. Tribal enmity is another factor in the north-west, where the 57-year-old lives in the city of Bannu with his third wife, who is pregnant. "We wanted to be stronger," the 57-year-old tells AFP, surrounded by 23 of his offspring -- so many, he observes, they don't need friends to play a full cricket match. Polygamy is legal but rare in Pakistan, and families like Khan's are not the norm, though the beliefs he holds are widespread. The last census, held in 1998, showed Pakistan had a population of up to 135 million. Estimates suggest the new census -- carried out earlier this year, with the preliminary results due by the end of July -- will put the figure closer to 200 million. The economy is expanding faster than it has in a decade, and last month Islamabad hiked its development budget by 40 percent. But observers have warned the population boom is negating any progress, using up valuable resources in a young country where jobs are scarce and nearly 60 million people live below the poverty line. "It definitely is a problem because it is affecting health outcomes adversely and also eating into development gains," says Zeba A. Sathar, country director for the UN population council. Sathar predicted the census would show growth has slowed due to lower fertility rates, though she added it would remain among the highest rates in the region. "There has to be a clear enunciation of need to slow growth as a positive policy lever," she said. "And then next a good, effective health system that provides information and services of quality." 'God will provide' Khan's brother, Mastan Khan Wazir -- one of his 15 siblings -- also has three wives. So far, Wazir has only fathered 22 children but, like his brother, he says his grandchildren are too numerous to count. The 70-year-old, with his bushy moustaches and bejewelled fingers, is a minor celebrity in North Waziristan tribal district, where his blinged out jeep -- done in the style of Pakistan's famous "jingle trucks", with Pashto music pouring from the stereo -- is a familiar sight. "God has promised that he will provide food and resources but people have weak faith," he tells AFP, wearing a traditional Waziristani turban. In the southwestern city of Quetta in Balochistan province, Jan Mohammed -- the father of 38 children -- agrees, despite having previously called on the government to provide resources for his family. Jan spoke with AFP in 2016 to voice his desire for a fourth wife as he continues his mission of having 100 children. No woman has yet agreed, he says, but he has not given up. "The more Muslims grow, the more their enemies will fear them... Muslims should go for more and more children," he said. Empowering women Denied their husbands' permission to speak, none of the three men's wives could give their views on family planning in Islam. But there is already "abundant" awareness in Pakistan about the need for birth spacing, or allowing a woman's body to rest for at least 18 months between pregnancies, Sathar said. "The need is for clear information about the methods available, how they work, their possible side effects and where to get them. That is missing," she added. Giving women more of a choice in the matter could help, argues Aisha Sarwari, a feminist activist who has previously written on population and women's rights. "Access to birth control for women can be a game changer," she told AFP. "Ultimately the impact is that there are more resources to go around ... Empowered women have fewer children, and this creates a mindset that leads to prosperity within families that is likely to be emulated across communities." Khan, at least, admitted there could be some benefits to slowing down. For one thing, tribal enmity in the north-west has decreased in recent years, he said. "Now, with the grace of God, the situation has changed -- war and fighting is finished -- so, now, a decrease in the population would not be bad." It would also free him up for other leisure activities, he says, adding wistfully: "If one had fewer children, one would have more time to make love with his wives." (AFP)

Three men, 96 children: Pakistan's population boom threatens economic gains

The Islamic State group on Thursday claimed the killing of two Chinese citizens who were kidnapped last month by armed gunmen in southwestern Pakistan&#39;s restive Balochistan province. The jihadist group made the claim in a brief Arabic message carried by the group&#39;s Amaq news agency. There was no immediate confirmation from Chinese or Pakistan officials.

Hours earlier, Pakistan&#39;s army issued a statement saying its forces conducted an operation against the IS group earlier this month, killing up to 15 militants from the Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Jhangvi Al-Almi who were in communication with IS about establishing a base in Balochistan.

The two Chinese workers were abducted in Quetta, where the pair had been studying Urdu at a language centre, according to a Chinese envoy in the country. China&#39;s foreign ministry said it was working to &quot;verify relevant information through various channels, including working with Pakistani authorities&quot;.

&quot;We have taken note of relevant reports and we express our grave concern. We have been trying to rescue the two kidnapped hostages over the past days,&quot; the official Xinhua news agency quoted spokeswoman Hua Chunying as saying.

Beijing is ramping up investment in its South Asian neighbour as part of a plan unveiled in 2015 that will link its far-western Xinjiang region to Gwadar port in Balochistan with a series of infrastructure, power and transport upgrades.

Pakistan has been battling Islamist and nationalist insurgencies in mineral-rich Balochistan since 2004, with hundreds of soldiers and militants killed in the fighting. Bordering Iran and Afghanistan, it is the largest of Pakistan&#39;s four provinces, but the roughly seven million inhabitants have long complained they do not receive a fair share of its gas and mineral wealth.

The IS group has been making inroads in the country through alliances with local militant outfits, although its presence is generally downplayed by the government.

(AFP)

There was no immediate confirmation from Chinese or Pakistan officials

The Islamic State group on Thursday claimed the killing of two Chinese citizens who were kidnapped last month by armed gunmen in southwestern Pakistan's restive Balochistan province. The jihadist group made the claim in a brief Arabic message carried by the group's Amaq news agency. There was no immediate confirmation from Chinese or Pakistan officials. Hours earlier, Pakistan's army issued a statement saying its forces conducted an operation against the IS group earlier this month, killing up to 15 militants from the Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Jhangvi Al-Almi who were in communication with IS about establishing a base in Balochistan. The two Chinese workers were abducted in Quetta, where the pair had been studying Urdu at a language centre, according to a Chinese envoy in the country. China's foreign ministry said it was working to "verify relevant information through various channels, including working with Pakistani authorities". "We have taken note of relevant reports and we express our grave concern. We have been trying to rescue the two kidnapped hostages over the past days," the official Xinhua news agency quoted spokeswoman Hua Chunying as saying. Beijing is ramping up investment in its South Asian neighbour as part of a plan unveiled in 2015 that will link its far-western Xinjiang region to Gwadar port in Balochistan with a series of infrastructure, power and transport upgrades. Pakistan has been battling Islamist and nationalist insurgencies in mineral-rich Balochistan since 2004, with hundreds of soldiers and militants killed in the fighting. Bordering Iran and Afghanistan, it is the largest of Pakistan's four provinces, but the roughly seven million inhabitants have long complained they do not receive a fair share of its gas and mineral wealth. The IS group has been making inroads in the country through alliances with local militant outfits, although its presence is generally downplayed by the government. (AFP)

Islamic State claims killing two Chinese citizens kidnapped in southwest Pakistan

India is set to become a member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) even as its arch-rival Pakistan will be gaining entry into the security grouping as well.&nbsp;

The ties between India and Pakistan have been in a free fall since the Pathankot air base attack in January 2016.&nbsp;

There are speculations that the two prime ministers might hold an informal interaction during the two-day summit but there is no official word on it.

&quot;There was neither any request from their side nor any such proposal from our side,&quot; MEA spokesperson Gopal Baglay said on the possibility of the two prime ministers meeting at Astana during the two-day summit, reported Economic Times.

The process to make both the countries a full member of the inter-governmental bloc was started last year when they signed the memorandum of obligations on 24 June 2016 at Tashkent.&nbsp;

Briefing media in Delhi last evening, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Gopal Baglay said, &quot;India will be benefited in trade and economic activity after it becomes a full member. He said that trade, connectivity, energy, banking and fight against terrorism are the main areas of cooperation.&quot;

Joint Secretary, Eurasia, G V Srinivas said, &quot;India is joining SCO with an open mind for peace and stability in the region. Strengthening mutual trust and neighbourliness, promoting cooperation in politics, trade, economy, research, technology and culture and other areas are the main goals of SCO.&quot;

&quot;So that process has been completed from our side - essentially entailing to a couple of agreements as per the calendar drawn by the memorandum of obligations - something which we have relayed to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation secretariat in Beijing. They have also confirmed that India has completed this process,&quot; Srinivas said.

&quot;The indications are that the last leg of the entire membership process that is the confirmation by the heads of state of existing members of the SCO, is going to happen in Astana,&quot; he added.

Narendra Modi is expected to hold bilateral talks with a number of SCO member countries including China&#39;s President Xi Jinping.

He will also meet Kazakhstan&#39;s President Nursultan Nazarbayev to promote ties in the fields of trade and commerce, education, tourism and other sectors, ANI reported.

Kazakhstan is India&#39;s largest trading partner in Central Asia and the total trade volume between the two countries rose from 120 million US dollars to around 900 million dollars in recent years, according to ANI.

(WION with inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

The two-day summit will start at Astana Thursday

India is set to become a member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) even as its arch-rival Pakistan will be gaining entry into the security grouping as well. The ties between India and Pakistan have been in a free fall since the Pathankot air base attack in January 2016. There are speculations that the two prime ministers might hold an informal interaction during the two-day summit but there is no official word on it. "There was neither any request from their side nor any such proposal from our side," MEA spokesperson Gopal Baglay said on the possibility of the two prime ministers meeting at Astana during the two-day summit, reported Economic Times. The process to make both the countries a full member of the inter-governmental bloc was started last year when they signed the memorandum of obligations on 24 June 2016 at Tashkent. Briefing media in Delhi last evening, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Gopal Baglay said, "India will be benefited in trade and economic activity after it becomes a full member. He said that trade, connectivity, energy, banking and fight against terrorism are the main areas of cooperation." Joint Secretary, Eurasia, G V Srinivas said, "India is joining SCO with an open mind for peace and stability in the region. Strengthening mutual trust and neighbourliness, promoting cooperation in politics, trade, economy, research, technology and culture and other areas are the main goals of SCO." "So that process has been completed from our side - essentially entailing to a couple of agreements as per the calendar drawn by the memorandum of obligations - something which we have relayed to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation secretariat in Beijing. They have also confirmed that India has completed this process," Srinivas said. "The indications are that the last leg of the entire membership process that is the confirmation by the heads of state of existing members of the SCO, is going to happen in Astana," he added. Narendra Modi is expected to hold bilateral talks with a number of SCO member countries including China's President Xi Jinping. He will also meet Kazakhstan's President Nursultan Nazarbayev to promote ties in the fields of trade and commerce, education, tourism and other sectors, ANI reported. Kazakhstan is India's largest trading partner in Central Asia and the total trade volume between the two countries rose from 120 million US dollars to around 900 million dollars in recent years, according to ANI. (WION with inputs from agencies)

SCO summit 2017 to begin today, India and Pakistan set to become full members

Pakistan&#39;s top diplomat in the US was laughed at by a Washington audience when he repeatedly insisted that there are no safe sanctuaries for terrorists in Pakistan and that the Taliban leader, who reportedly died in a hospital in Karachi, never left Afghanistan.

&quot;What is there funny about,&quot; a visibly irritated Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry, the Pakistan Ambassador to the US, told a Washington think-tank audience which burst into laughter when he repeatedly argued that there are&nbsp;no terrorist safe havens in Pakistan and that Mullah Omar never left Afghanistan to visit Pakistan.

The reality is, however, different, argued former US diplomat Zalmay Khalilzad, who served as his country&#39;s ambassador to Afghanistan, Iraq and the UN.

&quot;We have very firm evidence of his (Mullah Omar) presence in Pakistan, where he went, lived, ...Hospital,&quot; he said, adding that for a long time there was the idea that bin Laden never left Afghanistan.

&quot;There is ample evidence that while the operation was going on Haqqani network was being evacuated to safer location,&quot; the former US Ambassador to Pakistan said during a panel discussion on &#39;Regional Perspectives on the US Strategy in Afghanistan&#39;, at the Atlantic Council&#39;s South Asia Center.

Chaudhry appeared to be isolated as two other panelist--the former Indian minister Manish Tewari and top American think-tank expert Ashley Tellis--joined Khalilzad to say that terrorist safe havens continues to exist in Pakistan and there is level of support from the Pakistani establishment.

&quot;What sanctuaries you are talking about? If you want to live in the past, you cannot solve the present. Haqqani and the Taliban are not our friends. They are not our proxies. What Quetta Shura you are talking about? What Peshawar Shura?&quot; the Pak Ambassador questioned to an amused Washington audience, who was witness to sharp debate between him and Khalilzad. The panel discussion had an abrupt end as the two exchanged words.

Tellis said while the safe havens continue to exist in Pakistan, a great deal of financial and personnel supply does come from Afghanistan. But there is no denying that the Taliban leadership are based in Pakistan, he said.

Tewari said it is time that Pakistan should introspect as to why the Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, who went to Rawalpindi to meet the Pakistan Army Chief, has turned against Pakistan. Ghani is actually constrained to say Pakistan is having an undeclared war with Afghanistan.

&quot;Those are extremely strong statements coming from the head of state,&quot; he said.

During the question and answer session, a Afghan diplomat, Muhammad Asad, and an Afghan woman journalist Nazira Karimi of Ariana television joined the three other panelist to challenge Chaudhry&#39;s assertion about terrorist safe haven.

&quot;Our allegation is evidence based,&quot; Asad said adding that while the carrot formula has not worked, it is time for the US to look the other way around. Karimi referred to the allegations of US lawmakers about continued terrorist safe havens in Pakistan, which he dismissed.

The Pakistan Ambassador said his country wants a peaceful, stable, sovereign and prosperous Afghanistan. 
&quot;Afghan soil should not be used against Pakistan. Other than that, we want to facilitate reconciliation. ..Just blaming Pakistan all the time will not help. What will help is recognise what Pakistan has done for Afghanistan,&quot; he said.

Chaudhry also accused India of being a part of a &quot;double squeeze strategy&quot;.

Asserting that India has a &quot;strategic&quot; interest in Afghanistan, he alleged that this is part of the &quot;double squeeze strategy&quot; of New Delhi against Islamabad.

&quot;India does have strategic interest in Afghanistan. It could be part of the double squeeze strategy against Pakistan. To that end an Afghanistan that is not stable would serve India&#39;s purpose and that&#39;s why India is opposing reconciliation with Taliban of any kind,&quot; Chaudhry told a Washington audience.

Participating in a panel discussion on &quot;Regional Perspectives on the US Strategy in Afghanistan&quot;, at the Atlantic Council&#39;s South Asia Center, Chaudhry accused India of trying to be a &quot;hegemonic&quot; power in the region.

(PTI)

'What is there funny about', a visibly irritated Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry asked a Washington think-tank audience which burst into laughter

Pakistan's top diplomat in the US was laughed at by a Washington audience when he repeatedly insisted that there are no safe sanctuaries for terrorists in Pakistan and that the Taliban leader, who reportedly died in a hospital in Karachi, never left Afghanistan. "What is there funny about," a visibly irritated Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry, the Pakistan Ambassador to the US, told a Washington think-tank audience which burst into laughter when he repeatedly argued that there are no terrorist safe havens in Pakistan and that Mullah Omar never left Afghanistan to visit Pakistan. The reality is, however, different, argued former US diplomat Zalmay Khalilzad, who served as his country's ambassador to Afghanistan, Iraq and the UN. "We have very firm evidence of his (Mullah Omar) presence in Pakistan, where he went, lived, ...Hospital," he said, adding that for a long time there was the idea that bin Laden never left Afghanistan. "There is ample evidence that while the operation was going on Haqqani network was being evacuated to safer location," the former US Ambassador to Pakistan said during a panel discussion on 'Regional Perspectives on the US Strategy in Afghanistan', at the Atlantic Council's South Asia Center. Chaudhry appeared to be isolated as two other panelist--the former Indian minister Manish Tewari and top American think-tank expert Ashley Tellis--joined Khalilzad to say that terrorist safe havens continues to exist in Pakistan and there is level of support from the Pakistani establishment. "What sanctuaries you are talking about? If you want to live in the past, you cannot solve the present. Haqqani and the Taliban are not our friends. They are not our proxies. What Quetta Shura you are talking about? What Peshawar Shura?" the Pak Ambassador questioned to an amused Washington audience, who was witness to sharp debate between him and Khalilzad. The panel discussion had an abrupt end as the two exchanged words. Tellis said while the safe havens continue to exist in Pakistan, a great deal of financial and personnel supply does come from Afghanistan. But there is no denying that the Taliban leadership are based in Pakistan, he said. Tewari said it is time that Pakistan should introspect as to why the Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, who went to Rawalpindi to meet the Pakistan Army Chief, has turned against Pakistan. Ghani is actually constrained to say Pakistan is having an undeclared war with Afghanistan. "Those are extremely strong statements coming from the head of state," he said. During the question and answer session, a Afghan diplomat, Muhammad Asad, and an Afghan woman journalist Nazira Karimi of Ariana television joined the three other panelist to challenge Chaudhry's assertion about terrorist safe haven. "Our allegation is evidence based," Asad said adding that while the carrot formula has not worked, it is time for the US to look the other way around. Karimi referred to the allegations of US lawmakers about continued terrorist safe havens in Pakistan, which he dismissed. The Pakistan Ambassador said his country wants a peaceful, stable, sovereign and prosperous Afghanistan. "Afghan soil should not be used against Pakistan. Other than that, we want to facilitate reconciliation. ..Just blaming Pakistan all the time will not help. What will help is recognise what Pakistan has done for Afghanistan," he said. Chaudhry also accused India of being a part of a "double squeeze strategy". Asserting that India has a "strategic" interest in Afghanistan, he alleged that this is part of the "double squeeze strategy" of New Delhi against Islamabad. "India does have strategic interest in Afghanistan. It could be part of the double squeeze strategy against Pakistan. To that end an Afghanistan that is not stable would serve India's purpose and that's why India is opposing reconciliation with Taliban of any kind," Chaudhry told a Washington audience. Participating in a panel discussion on "Regional Perspectives on the US Strategy in Afghanistan", at the Atlantic Council's South Asia Center, Chaudhry accused India of trying to be a "hegemonic" power in the region. (PTI)

Pak's US envoy laughed at for saying Pakistan has no safe terror sanctuaries

People at the border between Pakistan and India have been living in uncertainty due to constant conflicts at the borderline.

Tensions have spiralled&nbsp;in Kashmir since last July after the death of&nbsp;Hizbul Mujahideen&nbsp;commander Burhan Wani in an encounter with security forces in Kashmir, leading to months of widespread protests and security crackdown in the Valley.

The Hizbul Mujahideen&nbsp;is declared a terrorist organisation by India, the United States and&nbsp;UN. 
 
Burhan Wani, who gained popularity among the Kashmiri youth for his social media posts against the Indian government, was killed in an encounter with security forces on July 8.

The Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist featured in videos circulated on Facebook and WhatsApp aimed at recruiting young Kashmiri men for terror. A month before his death, he had&nbsp;released a video warning of attacks on separate colonies for Sainiks (soldiers) and Kashmiri Pandits if they are set up in the Kashmir Valley.&nbsp;The major part of the video message&nbsp;was directed at the Jammu and Kashmir Police warning them of more attacks.

Tensions further escalated along the border after a raid in September on an Indian military base in Uri by Pakistan-based terrorist&nbsp;group Lashkar-e-Taiba. Eighteen soldiers were killed in the attack.

76-year-old Abdul Aziz, a resident of Chikoti --&nbsp;a town along the volatile Pakistan-India border -- lost his life in&nbsp;border firing&nbsp;when he mistakenly crossed the line of control.

&quot;It was 4 o&#39;clock in the evening and it was the beginning of the holy month of Ramzan, my father went out to gather firewood and he was shot by the Indian forces,&quot; Tariq Mehmood, son of Aziz.

Abdul Aziz was killed and buried across the border, media reports state.&nbsp;His family wants his body to be handed back to them.

&quot;They killed my husband and took his body away. I just want them to give his dead body back. I am an old woman, how will I live the rest of my life without him?&quot; said Sakeena Begum, wife of Aziz.

Protests have erupted, following the killings. Protesters blocked the road and said they won&#39;t leave till the bodies of their loved ones are handed back to them.

Incidents of cross-border conflict has become the norm since the last months of 2016&nbsp;as tensions simmer between Pakistan and India over the Kashmir issue.

The Pakistan army claims&nbsp;that civilians living near the line of control mostly become the victims of unprovoked firing from the Indian side.

Pakistan and India, which have been at loggerheads since the partition in 1947,&nbsp;maintain a 2003 ceasefire agreement across the Line of Control, but it is frequently violated. Both sides blame&nbsp;each other for instigating hostilities.

(WION with inputs from Reuters)

Following killings, protesters block the road and say they won't leave until the bodies of their loved ones are handed back to them

People at the border between Pakistan and India have been living in uncertainty due to constant conflicts at the borderline. Tensions have spiralled in Kashmir since last July after the death of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter with security forces in Kashmir, leading to months of widespread protests and security crackdown in the Valley. The Hizbul Mujahideen is declared a terrorist organisation by India, the United States and UN. Burhan Wani, who gained popularity among the Kashmiri youth for his social media posts against the Indian government, was killed in an encounter with security forces on July 8. The Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist featured in videos circulated on Facebook and WhatsApp aimed at recruiting young Kashmiri men for terror. A month before his death, he had released a video warning of attacks on separate colonies for Sainiks (soldiers) and Kashmiri Pandits if they are set up in the Kashmir Valley. The major part of the video message was directed at the Jammu and Kashmir Police warning them of more attacks. Tensions further escalated along the border after a raid in September on an Indian military base in Uri by Pakistan-based terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba. Eighteen soldiers were killed in the attack. 76-year-old Abdul Aziz, a resident of Chikoti -- a town along the volatile Pakistan-India border -- lost his life in border firing when he mistakenly crossed the line of control. "It was 4 o'clock in the evening and it was the beginning of the holy month of Ramzan, my father went out to gather firewood and he was shot by the Indian forces," Tariq Mehmood, son of Aziz. Abdul Aziz was killed and buried across the border, media reports state. His family wants his body to be handed back to them. "They killed my husband and took his body away. I just want them to give his dead body back. I am an old woman, how will I live the rest of my life without him?" said Sakeena Begum, wife of Aziz. Protests have erupted, following the killings. Protesters blocked the road and said they won't leave till the bodies of their loved ones are handed back to them. Incidents of cross-border conflict has become the norm since the last months of 2016 as tensions simmer between Pakistan and India over the Kashmir issue. The Pakistan army claims that civilians living near the line of control mostly become the victims of unprovoked firing from the Indian side. Pakistan and India, which have been at loggerheads since the partition in 1947, maintain a 2003 ceasefire agreement across the Line of Control, but it is frequently violated. Both sides blame each other for instigating hostilities. (WION with inputs from Reuters)

People living in uncertainty due to Pakistan-Indian border tension

India&rsquo;s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party has demanded an FIR against the Congress for releasing a booklet with a map of Jammu and Kashmir shown as &lsquo;Indian Occupied Kashmir&rsquo;. 
&nbsp; 
Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad released the booklet at a press conference in Lucknow, which has since drawn a lot of criticism from the BJP. 
&nbsp; 
The BJP spokesperson Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga initiated the investigation under various laws including Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Prevention on Insults of National Honour Act, or any other law deemed applicable and appropriate on Monday, according to a report on ANI. 
&nbsp; 
Bagga stressed that the map is derogatory to the spirit of Constitution of India and also offending and insulting to the emotions of the general public. 
&nbsp; 
Congress leader Ajay Maken said it was a &quot;printing error&quot; but admitted that it was his party&#39;s responsibility to ensure that such a mistake was not allowed. 
&nbsp; 
&quot;This is a printing error. However, we should have taken caution, we have committed a grave mistake, and we will ensure that such type of errors is not repeated,&quot; Congress leader Ajay Makan told ANI. 
&nbsp; 
Congress, however, claimed the BJP had released a similar map on its website but never admitted to the mistake. 
&nbsp; 
&nbsp;&quot;But the difference between Congress and the BJP is that we apologise for our mistake immediately. In 2014, the BJP displayed the map with the same error on their website. Till now they have not apologised,&quot; Makan said. 
&nbsp; 
(WION)

The BJP has demanded an FIR against the Congress for publication of a booklet that shows a map of Pakistan, wherein the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir has been shown as part and territory of Pakistan.

India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party has demanded an FIR against the Congress for releasing a booklet with a map of Jammu and Kashmir shown as ‘Indian Occupied Kashmir’. Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad released the booklet at a press conference in Lucknow, which has since drawn a lot of criticism from the BJP. The BJP spokesperson Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga initiated the investigation under various laws including Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Prevention on Insults of National Honour Act, or any other law deemed applicable and appropriate on Monday, according to a report on ANI. Bagga stressed that the map is derogatory to the spirit of Constitution of India and also offending and insulting to the emotions of the general public. Congress leader Ajay Maken said it was a "printing error" but admitted that it was his party's responsibility to ensure that such a mistake was not allowed. "This is a printing error. However, we should have taken caution, we have committed a grave mistake, and we will ensure that such type of errors is not repeated," Congress leader Ajay Makan told ANI. Congress, however, claimed the BJP had released a similar map on its website but never admitted to the mistake. "But the difference between Congress and the BJP is that we apologise for our mistake immediately. In 2014, the BJP displayed the map with the same error on their website. Till now they have not apologised," Makan said. (WION)

BJP files complaint against Congress over 'India Occupied Kashmir' booklet

The Bharatiya Janata Party has demanded an FIR against the Congress for publication of a booklet that shows a map of Pakistan, wherein the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir has been shown as part and territory of Pakistan, labelled as &#39;India Occupied Kashmir&#39;.&nbsp;

The BJP spokesperson Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga demanded for a probe to be initiated by the police for breaching the National Honour Act.

On June 3,&nbsp;the Congress published and distributed a booklet titled &#39;Rashtriya Suraksha Par Aanch &#39;, in&nbsp;which Jammu and Kashmir has been erroneously shown to be a part of Pakistan.

Bagga lashed out at the gaffe, dubbing the map to be &quot;derogatory&quot; and &quot;offensive&quot; to the public of the country.&nbsp;

However, the Congress has swung into defensive mode, calling the blooper a &quot;printing error&#39;.

&quot;This is a printing error. However, we should have taken caution, we have committed a grave mistake, and we will ensure that such type of errors is not repeated,&quot; Congress leader Ajay Makan told ANI.

Makan went on to further add that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had committed the same mistake in 2014, where it had displayed the same map on their website.

&quot;But the difference between Congress and the BJP is that we apologise for our mistake immediately. In 2014, the BJP displayed the map with same error on their website. Till now they have not apologised,&quot; he said.

(ANI)

The Congress recently published a booklet titled 'Rashtriya Suraksha Par Aanch ', in?which Jammu and Kashmir has been erroneously shown to be a part of Pakistan

The Bharatiya Janata Party has demanded an FIR against the Congress for publication of a booklet that shows a map of Pakistan, wherein the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir has been shown as part and territory of Pakistan, labelled as 'India Occupied Kashmir'. The BJP spokesperson Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga demanded for a probe to be initiated by the police for breaching the National Honour Act. On June 3, the Congress published and distributed a booklet titled 'Rashtriya Suraksha Par Aanch ', in which Jammu and Kashmir has been erroneously shown to be a part of Pakistan. Bagga lashed out at the gaffe, dubbing the map to be "derogatory" and "offensive" to the public of the country. However, the Congress has swung into defensive mode, calling the blooper a "printing error'. "This is a printing error. However, we should have taken caution, we have committed a grave mistake, and we will ensure that such type of errors is not repeated," Congress leader Ajay Makan told ANI. Makan went on to further add that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had committed the same mistake in 2014, where it had displayed the same map on their website. "But the difference between Congress and the BJP is that we apologise for our mistake immediately. In 2014, the BJP displayed the map with same error on their website. Till now they have not apologised," he said. (ANI)

BJP seeks action against Congress for 'anti-India map'

The Pakistan Army today released a video purportedly showing destruction caused to the Indian military posts across the Line of Control.

The 27-second video was released a day after it claimed to have killed five Indian soldiers while retaliating to India&#39;s &quot;unprovoked ceasefire violation&quot; in Tatta Pani sector along the LoC.

Pakistan Army spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor posted the video on twitter in the wee hours today.

&quot;Video clip showing destruction of Indian posts on LOC by Pak Army in response to unprovoked Indian firing on innocent citizens,&quot; he said in a brief statement with the video.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Ref PR285/17 
Video clip showing destruction of Indian posts on LOC by Pak Army in response to unprovoked Indian firing on innocent citizens. <a href="https://t.co/ceErT8KzlC">pic.twitter.com/ceErT8KzlC</a>
&mdash; Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor (@OfficialDGISPR) <a href="https://twitter.com/OfficialDGISPR/status/871121797575397377">June 3, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
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This is the second time in two weeks when Pakistan army released such a video.

On May 24, it released a video purportedly showing heavy damage caused to the Indian posts across the LoC, in a tit- for-tat action after the Indian Army released a clip of the &quot;punitive fire assaults&quot; on Pakistani positions.

Army&#39;s media wing Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Saturday claimed to have killed five Indian soldiers and destroyed Indian bunkers in the firing.

No further details of the cross-border exchange of fire were provided by the Pakistan Army.

On Saturday, the Indian Army said that a woman was injured when the Pakistani Army violated ceasefire twice in two sectors of Poonch district by firing mortar shells on forward posts and civilian areas along the LoC, prompting Indian troops to retaliate.&nbsp;

(PTI)

The video was released a day after Pakistan?claimed to have killed five Indian soldiers

The Pakistan Army today released a video purportedly showing destruction caused to the Indian military posts across the Line of Control. The 27-second video was released a day after it claimed to have killed five Indian soldiers while retaliating to India's "unprovoked ceasefire violation" in Tatta Pani sector along the LoC. Pakistan Army spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor posted the video on twitter in the wee hours today. "Video clip showing destruction of Indian posts on LOC by Pak Army in response to unprovoked Indian firing on innocent citizens," he said in a brief statement with the video. Ref PR285/17 Video clip showing destruction of Indian posts on LOC by Pak Army in response to unprovoked Indian firing on innocent citizens. pic.twitter.com/ceErT8KzlC — Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor (@OfficialDGISPR) June 3, 2017 × This is the second time in two weeks when Pakistan army released such a video. On May 24, it released a video purportedly showing heavy damage caused to the Indian posts across the LoC, in a tit- for-tat action after the Indian Army released a clip of the "punitive fire assaults" on Pakistani positions. Army's media wing Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Saturday claimed to have killed five Indian soldiers and destroyed Indian bunkers in the firing. No further details of the cross-border exchange of fire were provided by the Pakistan Army. On Saturday, the Indian Army said that a woman was injured when the Pakistani Army violated ceasefire twice in two sectors of Poonch district by firing mortar shells on forward posts and civilian areas along the LoC, prompting Indian troops to retaliate. (PTI)

Pakistan Army releases video claiming destruction of Indian posts across Line of Control

Nearly 67 per cent&nbsp;or two out of three Pakistanis&nbsp;support&nbsp;the imposition of Sharia as the only law of the land,&nbsp;showed a survey by&nbsp;Gallup Pakistan and the Gilani Research Foundation.

The results of the survey show a more radicalised Pakistan as a similar survey carried out by the same agency seven years ago showed only 51 per cent&nbsp;of the people surveyed had said that the Sharia should be the only law applicable to their society.

Today, only five per cent of those surveyed this year have said that they are not in favour of the Sharia being imposed on society.

The Gallup Pakistan-Gilani Research Foundation survey said that they asked a nationally representative sample of men and women from all four provinces of Pakistan (Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtukhwa) what described their understanding of Sharia and its implementation in Pakistan, and 67 per cent said that the Sharia should be the only law, 24 per cent said that the Sharia should be the law, but not the only law (that is other legislation is also possible), while five per cent said Sharia should not be the law of the land, while four per cent said they had no opinion on the matter.

In 2010, 51 per cent said Sharia should be the only law, 30 per cent said Sharia should not be the only law applicable, eight per cent said Sharia should not be the law of the land and 11 per cent said they had no opinion or view on the matter.

If a comparison is done over the change in the mindset of Pakistanis, then the poll finds that there is a 16 percent increase in the proportion of Pakistanis who have become more radicalized and believe that Sharia should be the only law, while&nbsp;there is a six per cent decrease in the proportion of Pakistanis who say Sharia should not be the only law.

The survey was carried out recently. Around 1846 men and women took part in it, and they were from both rural and urban areas in all four provinces.

The margin of error in the survey was approximately &plusmn; 2-3 per cent at 95 per cent confidence level.

&nbsp;Pakistan population is equivalent to 2.62 per cent of the total world population and ranks sixth in list of countries (and dependencies) by population.

About 39.2 per cent of the population is urban while the median age in Pakistan is 22.7 years.

The Gilani Research Foundation is headed by Dr&nbsp;Ijaz Shafi Gilani, a pioneer in the field of opinion polling in Pakistan. He is also the Chairman of Gallup Pakistan.&nbsp;

(ANI)

Nearly 67 per cent of the Pakistani population supports the imposition of Sharia as the only law in a country where the median age is 22.7 years.

Nearly 67 per cent or two out of three Pakistanis support the imposition of Sharia as the only law of the land, showed a survey by Gallup Pakistan and the Gilani Research Foundation. The results of the survey show a more radicalised Pakistan as a similar survey carried out by the same agency seven years ago showed only 51 per cent of the people surveyed had said that the Sharia should be the only law applicable to their society. Today, only five per cent of those surveyed this year have said that they are not in favour of the Sharia being imposed on society. The Gallup Pakistan-Gilani Research Foundation survey said that they asked a nationally representative sample of men and women from all four provinces of Pakistan (Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtukhwa) what described their understanding of Sharia and its implementation in Pakistan, and 67 per cent said that the Sharia should be the only law, 24 per cent said that the Sharia should be the law, but not the only law (that is other legislation is also possible), while five per cent said Sharia should not be the law of the land, while four per cent said they had no opinion on the matter. In 2010, 51 per cent said Sharia should be the only law, 30 per cent said Sharia should not be the only law applicable, eight per cent said Sharia should not be the law of the land and 11 per cent said they had no opinion or view on the matter. If a comparison is done over the change in the mindset of Pakistanis, then the poll finds that there is a 16 percent increase in the proportion of Pakistanis who have become more radicalized and believe that Sharia should be the only law, while there is a six per cent decrease in the proportion of Pakistanis who say Sharia should not be the only law. The survey was carried out recently. Around 1846 men and women took part in it, and they were from both rural and urban areas in all four provinces. The margin of error in the survey was approximately ± 2-3 per cent at 95 per cent confidence level. Pakistan population is equivalent to 2.62 per cent of the total world population and ranks sixth in list of countries (and dependencies) by population. About 39.2 per cent of the population is urban while the median age in Pakistan is 22.7 years. The Gilani Research Foundation is headed by Dr Ijaz Shafi Gilani, a pioneer in the field of opinion polling in Pakistan. He is also the Chairman of Gallup Pakistan. (ANI)

Two out of three Pakistanis favour Sharia: Survey

Afghanistan has&nbsp;cancelled proposed home and away cricket fixtures with Pakistan after a deadly bomb attack blamed by the country&#39;s intelligence agency on militants allegedly backed by Islamabad.

Pakistan were set to play their first Twenty20 match in Kabul later this year in what was seen as an opportunity for the neighbours to ease tensions over border skirmishes and alleged proxy warfare.

The Kabul match, set for July or August, would have been followed by a fixture in Pakistan and a full series at an unspecified date.

But the Afghanistan Cricket Board issued a strongly worded statement late on Wednesday, cancelling the matches in light of a truck bombing in the city&#39;s diplomatic quarter that killed at least 90 people.

No group has claimed responsibility for Wednesday&#39;s attack, although the Taliban has denied involvement.

&quot;The ACB hereby cancel all kinds of cricket matches and initial mutual relationship agreement with the Pakistan Cricket Board,&quot; the Afghan board said on its Facebook page.

&quot;No agreement of friendly matches and mutual relationship agreement is possible with a country where terrorists are housed and provided safe havens.&quot;&nbsp;

Afghanistan&#39;s intelligence agency has blamed the Taliban-allied Haqqani Network for the attack, which has been linked to Pakistan&#39;s military in the past.

&nbsp;

Isolation:

The development leaves Pakistan&#39;s cricketers even more isolated in the region.&nbsp;

India has refused to play a full series since the 2008 Mumbai attacks, while ties with fellow Test team Bangladesh have also soured after Pakistan pulled out of a planned series in July.

Pakistani officials said they were unhappy that Bangladesh were not willing to send their team to Pakistan.

Only minnows Zimbabwe have been willing to tour the insecurity-wracked country since a 2009 militant attack on the visiting Sri Lanka team.

Cricketing relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan were not always so frosty. Afghans learned to play cricket in refugee camps in Pakistan after they were forced to leave their homes in the wake of the Soviet invasion in 1979.

The sport struggled to get a foothold in Afghanistan under the hardline Taliban, but has become hugely popular since the Islamist regime was toppled in a US-led invasion in 2001.

While Pakistan has supported the Afghan team by supplying equipment and arranging fixtures with the fledgling side, rival India has also been keen to lend its support.

Last year, Afghanistan&#39;s national team shifted its base from Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates to Noida, Delhi, while India&#39;s former batsman Lalchand Rajput replaced Pakistan&#39;s Inzamam-ul-Haq as their national team coach.

(AFP)

'No agreement of friendly matches and mutual relationship agreement is possible with a country where terrorists are housed'

Afghanistan has cancelled proposed home and away cricket fixtures with Pakistan after a deadly bomb attack blamed by the country's intelligence agency on militants allegedly backed by Islamabad. Pakistan were set to play their first Twenty20 match in Kabul later this year in what was seen as an opportunity for the neighbours to ease tensions over border skirmishes and alleged proxy warfare. The Kabul match, set for July or August, would have been followed by a fixture in Pakistan and a full series at an unspecified date. But the Afghanistan Cricket Board issued a strongly worded statement late on Wednesday, cancelling the matches in light of a truck bombing in the city's diplomatic quarter that killed at least 90 people. No group has claimed responsibility for Wednesday's attack, although the Taliban has denied involvement. "The ACB hereby cancel all kinds of cricket matches and initial mutual relationship agreement with the Pakistan Cricket Board," the Afghan board said on its Facebook page. "No agreement of friendly matches and mutual relationship agreement is possible with a country where terrorists are housed and provided safe havens." Afghanistan's intelligence agency has blamed the Taliban-allied Haqqani Network for the attack, which has been linked to Pakistan's military in the past. Isolation: The development leaves Pakistan's cricketers even more isolated in the region. India has refused to play a full series since the 2008 Mumbai attacks, while ties with fellow Test team Bangladesh have also soured after Pakistan pulled out of a planned series in July. Pakistani officials said they were unhappy that Bangladesh were not willing to send their team to Pakistan. Only minnows Zimbabwe have been willing to tour the insecurity-wracked country since a 2009 militant attack on the visiting Sri Lanka team. Cricketing relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan were not always so frosty. Afghans learned to play cricket in refugee camps in Pakistan after they were forced to leave their homes in the wake of the Soviet invasion in 1979. The sport struggled to get a foothold in Afghanistan under the hardline Taliban, but has become hugely popular since the Islamist regime was toppled in a US-led invasion in 2001. While Pakistan has supported the Afghan team by supplying equipment and arranging fixtures with the fledgling side, rival India has also been keen to lend its support. Last year, Afghanistan's national team shifted its base from Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates to Noida, Delhi, while India's former batsman Lalchand Rajput replaced Pakistan's Inzamam-ul-Haq as their national team coach. (AFP)

Cricket: Afghanistan cancels Pakistan games after Kabul attack

Afghanistan has blamed the Pakistan intelligence agency ISI for being&nbsp;involved in the blast in Kabul that claimed the lives of 90 people and injured hundreds&nbsp;of others.

Afghanistan president&#39;s spokesperson Nazibullah Azad told WION that the Pakistan-based Haqqani network was behind the attack.

In addition, Afghanistan&#39;s intelligence agency blamed the Taliban-allied Haqqani Network for the attack.

Former US intel officer Glenn Carle also blamed Pakistan for the attack.

Watch what Carle had to tell WION:

<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-QiXAlZ7SdE" width="560"></iframe>

A massive truck bomb ripped through Kabul&#39;s diplomatic quarter, bringing carnage to the streets of the Afghan capital just days into the holy fasting month of Ramzan. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far.

The bomb, one of the deadliest in Kabul and coming at the start of the holy month of Ramadan, exploded close to the fortified entrance to the German embassy, wounding some staff, German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said.&nbsp;

One Afghan security guard was killed and others were likely among the dead, Gabriel said. A spokeswoman for the German foreign ministry said the bomber&#39;s target was unknown.

Embassies damaged&nbsp;

The sound of the bomb, which went off near Kabul&#39;s busy Zanbaq Square, reverberated across the Afghan capital, with residents comparing it to an earthquake. Most victims appear to be civilians.

&quot;The vigilance and courage of Afghan security forces prevented the VBIED (vehicle-borne improvised explosive device) from gaining entry to the Green Zone, but the explosion caused civilian casualties,&quot; NATO said in a statement.

The explosion damaged several embassies in the area, which houses diplomatic and government buildings and is a maze of concrete blast walls, vehicle barriers and armed security guards.

German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said the &quot;despicable&quot; attack killed an Afghan guard from the German embassy, and added that some employees had been injured, though he did not give further details.

He said the bomb had gone off &quot;in the immediate vicinity&quot; of the German embassy.&nbsp;

France, India, Turkey, Japan, the United Arab Emirates and Bulgaria similarly reported damage to their embassies, including shattered windows, as the blast drew an avalanche of international condemnation.&nbsp;

The White House issued a scathing statement condemning the &quot;atrocious&quot; attack.

&quot;That this attack would occur during the holy month of Ramadan underscores the senseless and barbaric nature of this attack,&quot; a White House spokesman said.

Amnesty International said the bombing shows that the conflict in Afghanistan is &quot;dangerously widening in a way that should&nbsp;alarm the international community&quot;.

Germany was forced to postpone a scheduled deportation flight of rejected Afghan asylum-seekers in the wake of the attack. The European nation has drawn criticism for sending back Afghans to an increasingly dangerous country.

Wednesday&#39;s blast was the latest in a string of attacks in Kabul. The province surrounding the capital had the highest number of casualties in the country in the first three months of 2017 due to multiple attacks in the city, with civilians bearing the brunt of the violence.

Afghan troops are backed by US and NATO forces, and the White House is considering sending thousands more soldiers to break the deadlock in the battle against the Taliban.

US troops in Afghanistan number about 8,400 now, and there are another 5,000 from NATO allies. They mainly serve in an advisory capacity -- a far cry from the US presence of more than 100,000 six years ago.

Barbaric attack: Trump

US President Donald Trump spoke with his Afghan counterpart Ashraf Ghani and condemned the terror attack in Kabul, describing it as &quot;barbaric&quot;.

He condemned the attack, which occurred during the holy month of Ramadan, underscoring the barbaric nature of the terrorists who are enemies of all civilised peoples,&quot; the White House said in a readout of the telephonic conversation between the two leaders.

Conveying condolences to the families and friends of those killed and injured in the blast, Trump commended the bravery of the first responders, who worked quickly to support the wounded.

&quot;He also commended Afghan security forces for their steadfast efforts to defend their people from enemies who would seek to deny them the security and prosperity,&quot; the White House said.

(WION with inputs from agencies)

Though security agencies have blamed Pakistan, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack that has left 90 people dead

Afghanistan has blamed the Pakistan intelligence agency ISI for being involved in the blast in Kabul that claimed the lives of 90 people and injured hundreds of others. Afghanistan president's spokesperson Nazibullah Azad told WION that the Pakistan-based Haqqani network was behind the attack. In addition, Afghanistan's intelligence agency blamed the Taliban-allied Haqqani Network for the attack. Former US intel officer Glenn Carle also blamed Pakistan for the attack. Watch what Carle had to tell WION: A massive truck bomb ripped through Kabul's diplomatic quarter, bringing carnage to the streets of the Afghan capital just days into the holy fasting month of Ramzan. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far. The bomb, one of the deadliest in Kabul and coming at the start of the holy month of Ramadan, exploded close to the fortified entrance to the German embassy, wounding some staff, German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said. One Afghan security guard was killed and others were likely among the dead, Gabriel said. A spokeswoman for the German foreign ministry said the bomber's target was unknown. Embassies damaged The sound of the bomb, which went off near Kabul's busy Zanbaq Square, reverberated across the Afghan capital, with residents comparing it to an earthquake. Most victims appear to be civilians. "The vigilance and courage of Afghan security forces prevented the VBIED (vehicle-borne improvised explosive device) from gaining entry to the Green Zone, but the explosion caused civilian casualties," NATO said in a statement. The explosion damaged several embassies in the area, which houses diplomatic and government buildings and is a maze of concrete blast walls, vehicle barriers and armed security guards. German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said the "despicable" attack killed an Afghan guard from the German embassy, and added that some employees had been injured, though he did not give further details. He said the bomb had gone off "in the immediate vicinity" of the German embassy. France, India, Turkey, Japan, the United Arab Emirates and Bulgaria similarly reported damage to their embassies, including shattered windows, as the blast drew an avalanche of international condemnation. The White House issued a scathing statement condemning the "atrocious" attack. "That this attack would occur during the holy month of Ramadan underscores the senseless and barbaric nature of this attack," a White House spokesman said. Amnesty International said the bombing shows that the conflict in Afghanistan is "dangerously widening in a way that should alarm the international community". Germany was forced to postpone a scheduled deportation flight of rejected Afghan asylum-seekers in the wake of the attack. The European nation has drawn criticism for sending back Afghans to an increasingly dangerous country. Wednesday's blast was the latest in a string of attacks in Kabul. The province surrounding the capital had the highest number of casualties in the country in the first three months of 2017 due to multiple attacks in the city, with civilians bearing the brunt of the violence. Afghan troops are backed by US and NATO forces, and the White House is considering sending thousands more soldiers to break the deadlock in the battle against the Taliban. US troops in Afghanistan number about 8,400 now, and there are another 5,000 from NATO allies. They mainly serve in an advisory capacity -- a far cry from the US presence of more than 100,000 six years ago. Barbaric attack: Trump US President Donald Trump spoke with his Afghan counterpart Ashraf Ghani and condemned the terror attack in Kabul, describing it as "barbaric". He condemned the attack, which occurred during the holy month of Ramadan, underscoring the barbaric nature of the terrorists who are enemies of all civilised peoples," the White House said in a readout of the telephonic conversation between the two leaders. Conveying condolences to the families and friends of those killed and injured in the blast, Trump commended the bravery of the first responders, who worked quickly to support the wounded. "He also commended Afghan security forces for their steadfast efforts to defend their people from enemies who would seek to deny them the security and prosperity," the White House said. (WION with inputs from agencies)

Trump condemns Kabul blast as Afghanistan blames Pakistan-backed Haqqani network

The United Nations has dismissed Pakistan Army&#39;s claim that its military observers came under attack from Indian troops near the Line of Control, saying there was &quot;no evidence&quot; of them being targeted.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres&#39; spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said there was no evidence that an UNMOGIP (United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan) vehicle was targeted by the Indian Army along the LoC near the Khanjar sector.

&quot;I can say to you that this afternoon in Bhimber District, in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, UNMOGIP military observers accompanied by Pakistani Army escorts heard gunshots in their vicinity. There is no evidence that the UNMOGIP military observers were targeted by the gunfire. No UN military observer was injured,&quot; he told reporters yesterday.

In a statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistan Armed Forces, had said that a vehicle carrying two officers of the UN military observer group came under attack by Indian troops during a visit to the LoC.

The Pakistan Army had claimed the vehicle was carrying UNMOGIP officers Major Emmanual of the Philippines and Major Mirko of Croatia.

Asked about the increasing tension between the south Asian neighbours and whether the UN secretary-general will look into the situation, Dujarric reiterated, &quot;we&#39;re obviously concerned at the situation in Kashmir, and it&#39;s an issue that the secretary-general is following closely.&quot;

According to the UN Security Council mandate of 1971, UNMOGIP observes and reports on ceasefire violations along and across the LoC and the Working Boundary between India and Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir, as well as reports developments that could lead to ceasefire violations.

India has maintained that UNMOGIP has outlived its utility and is irrelevant after the Simla Agreement and the consequent establishment of the Line of Control.

The observer group is headed by Major Gen Per Lodin of Sweden. It currently has 38 military observers and 73 civilian personnel.

(PTI)&nbsp;

Pakistan had said a vehicle carrying two officers of the UN military observer group in Kashmir was targeted by the Indian Army

The United Nations has dismissed Pakistan Army's claim that its military observers came under attack from Indian troops near the Line of Control, saying there was "no evidence" of them being targeted. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres' spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said there was no evidence that an UNMOGIP (United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan) vehicle was targeted by the Indian Army along the LoC near the Khanjar sector. "I can say to you that this afternoon in Bhimber District, in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, UNMOGIP military observers accompanied by Pakistani Army escorts heard gunshots in their vicinity. There is no evidence that the UNMOGIP military observers were targeted by the gunfire. No UN military observer was injured," he told reporters yesterday. In a statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistan Armed Forces, had said that a vehicle carrying two officers of the UN military observer group came under attack by Indian troops during a visit to the LoC. The Pakistan Army had claimed the vehicle was carrying UNMOGIP officers Major Emmanual of the Philippines and Major Mirko of Croatia. Asked about the increasing tension between the south Asian neighbours and whether the UN secretary-general will look into the situation, Dujarric reiterated, "we're obviously concerned at the situation in Kashmir, and it's an issue that the secretary-general is following closely." According to the UN Security Council mandate of 1971, UNMOGIP observes and reports on ceasefire violations along and across the LoC and the Working Boundary between India and Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir, as well as reports developments that could lead to ceasefire violations. India has maintained that UNMOGIP has outlived its utility and is irrelevant after the Simla Agreement and the consequent establishment of the Line of Control. The observer group is headed by Major Gen Per Lodin of Sweden. It currently has 38 military observers and 73 civilian personnel. (PTI)

UN says Indian Army did not target UN vehicle near LoC

Indian national Uzma, who had accused her Pakistani husband of marrying her at gunpoint, has finally returned to India, a day after the Islamabad High Court (IHC) granted her the permission to.

External Affairs minister Sushma Swaraj met her in the Indian capital soon after her return.

The IHC had also ordered police to provide her security till the Wagah Border.

An IHC bench, headed by Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, returned Uzma her original immigration form, which her husband Tahir had submitted to the court on Tuesday, reported Geo News.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Uzma - Welcome home India&#39;s daughter. I am sorry for all that you have gone through.
&mdash; Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) <a href="https://twitter.com/SushmaSwaraj/status/867611568124645376">May 25, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Tahir also expressed his desire to meet Uzma in private, which the latter refused.

Justice Kayani remarked that if Uzma does not want to meet Tahir, then she won&#39;t be forced.&nbsp;

Wasim Ahmad, brother of Uzma, said the Indian government had done more than expected for Uzma, who got permission from the Islamabad High Court to return to India.

He also said that the Indian Embassy treated Uzma with full care. She took shelter in the Indian High Commission in Islamabad on May 5, 2017.

He added that he had no words to thank the government, Swaraj, and Indian High Commission in Pakistan.

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash">#WATCH</a> Indian woman Uzma returns to India via Attari-Wagah border, she alleged she was forced to marry a Pakistani <a href="https://t.co/x5FeEos6lS">pic.twitter.com/x5FeEos6lS</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/867618328872837120">May 25, 2017</a></blockquote>
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On May 19, Uzma had submitted a six-page reply to the High Court and reiterated her earlier claims and said that she was forced to sign the Nikkahnama [marriage papers].

The reply also claimed that Tahir`s affidavit was based on lies. The reply also requested that Uzma was allowed to travel to India as her visa would expire on May 30.

Earlier, while recording her statement before the Court of a Judicial Magistrate Uzma (20) also alleged that she was sedated, assaulted, tortured mentally and physically by the man in Pakistan who had invited her to visit his family in Pakistan.

Uzma, who hails from New Delhi, also stated the she had taken shelter in High Commission of India of her own accord and would stay there till she is sent back to India with security.

The case came to the forefront after her husband claimed that Indian High Commission has stopped her wife from leaving the premises during their visit to apply for visa on May 7.&nbsp;

(ANI)

Indian national Uzma, who had accused her Pakistani husband of marrying her at gunpoint, has finally returned to India, a day after the Islamabad High Court (IHC) granted her the permission to. External Affairs minister Sushma Swaraj met her in the Indian capital soon after her return. The IHC had also ordered police to provide her security till the Wagah Border. An IHC bench, headed by Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, returned Uzma her original immigration form, which her husband Tahir had submitted to the court on Tuesday, reported Geo News. Uzma - Welcome home India's daughter. I am sorry for all that you have gone through. — Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) May 25, 2017 × Tahir also expressed his desire to meet Uzma in private, which the latter refused. Justice Kayani remarked that if Uzma does not want to meet Tahir, then she won't be forced. Wasim Ahmad, brother of Uzma, said the Indian government had done more than expected for Uzma, who got permission from the Islamabad High Court to return to India. He also said that the Indian Embassy treated Uzma with full care. She took shelter in the Indian High Commission in Islamabad on May 5, 2017. He added that he had no words to thank the government, Swaraj, and Indian High Commission in Pakistan. #WATCH Indian woman Uzma returns to India via Attari-Wagah border, she alleged she was forced to marry a Pakistani pic.twitter.com/x5FeEos6lS — ANI (@ANI_news) May 25, 2017 × On May 19, Uzma had submitted a six-page reply to the High Court and reiterated her earlier claims and said that she was forced to sign the Nikkahnama [marriage papers]. The reply also claimed that Tahir`s affidavit was based on lies. The reply also requested that Uzma was allowed to travel to India as her visa would expire on May 30. Earlier, while recording her statement before the Court of a Judicial Magistrate Uzma (20) also alleged that she was sedated, assaulted, tortured mentally and physically by the man in Pakistan who had invited her to visit his family in Pakistan. Uzma, who hails from New Delhi, also stated the she had taken shelter in High Commission of India of her own accord and would stay there till she is sent back to India with security. The case came to the forefront after her husband claimed that Indian High Commission has stopped her wife from leaving the premises during their visit to apply for visa on May 7. (ANI)

Uzma, who said she was forced to marry Pakistani man at gunpoint, returns to India

Agnisheik Chatterji

United States President Donald Trump&#39;s annual budget proposal to convert grants given to Pakistan into loans will have significant ramifications -- both in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The White House on Tuesday (May 23) said the &quot;Foreign Military Funding for Pakistan may be provided in the form of a loan&quot;, though the Trump administration has let the State Department take a call on it.

If the proposal is implemented, it will be a sharp departure from Washington&#39;s decades-long policy vis-a-vis its aid to Pakistan.

Crucially, the plan coincides with Washington&#39;s deliberation on whether to renew its military presence on Afghan soil.

The impending decision may boomerang on the United States on three fronts, all involving a possible pivot in Pakistan&#39;s foreign policy: Islamabad may shun the US and look to China for its source of aid, escalate its covert militant operations in Afghanistan and scythe its decades-long civilian and military cooperation with Washington.

Although US-Pakistan ties have ebbed and flowed ever since the latter&#39;s creation in 1947, the potential quagmire is likely to undermine the US&#39; geopolitical advantage and be viewed by many as a very expensive failure.

At one point, Pakistan was the third-largest recipient of US assistance -- Washington gave Islamabad nearly $19 billion in aid between 2002 and 2010 and nearly $75 billion since 1951.

And although their partnership has largely served its utilitarian purpose -- during the US&#39; proxy war against the Soviet Union in Afghanistan and its war on terror in the South Asian region in the noughties -- their worsening relations will only indicate that Pakistan has been a black hole for US funds.

A history of mistrust and friendship

Their partnership has been viewed by many as a marriage of convenience.

US&#39; economic assistance to Pakistan peaked in the Cold War-dominated 1960s, while its military aid spiked during the 1980s (Soviet Union) and 2000s (Taliban).

But there have been periods of lull as well. 
&nbsp; 
Washington scrapped its aid during the India-Pakistan wars in 1965 and 1971, and when Islamabad forged ahead with its uranium enrichment programme.

The 9/11 attack in 2001 significantly altered Washington&#39;s South Asia praxis when they decided to give large tranches of aid to Islamabad in their fight to remove the last vestige of Taliban from Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Since 2010, the assistance monies have sharply declined and the current administration&#39;s decision to convert future military funding into loans will irk the Pakistani establishment.

Washington&#39;s re-evaluation of its aid programme came in 2008 when the Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act of 2009, or the Kerry-Lugar-Berman bill, increased accountability of the Pakistan army and lay down strict caveats.

Till then, between 2001 and 2010, there were scant conditions imposed by the US. 
&nbsp; 
Pakistan was now required to certify that they didn&#39;t stockpile its weaponry to augment its military against India. They also had to promise that they had stopped supporting extremist forces and had dismantled terror launchpads.

Washington&#39;s doctrinal shift came amid concerns over Islamabad&#39;s misuse of aid. Reports had emanated about how Pakistan used half the funds to purchase F-16s and anti-missile defence systems.&nbsp;

But Trump&#39;s proposal is a major political gamble for the US.

A glance at their past does suggest that the potential impasse is not unprecedented.

However, China&#39;s rising influence in Pakistan is too close for comfort for the White House. And conversion of grants into loans might unhinge the decades-long bilateral ties.

China has already made its foray in the region, with Beijing signing a massive $54 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, aimed to upgrade and boost the south Asian nation&#39;s infrastructure and economy.

The Afghanistan conundrum&nbsp;

A potential frostiness would also put the US on the back foot in the region.

Pakistan&#39;s importance to the US was underpinned by Senator John McCain, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, who said that it was &iuml;mperative&quot; for the ties to remain harmonious as it would enhance &quot;the safety of American troops&quot; and success of their Afghanistan mission&quot;.

If Pakistan were to row back on its association with the White House, it would endanger the already-perilous security status in Afghanistan.

This period is even more crucial for the Trump administration as it coincides with them mulling redeployment of 3,000 to 5,000 US troops in Afghanistan.

Currently, there are US troops, but only in an advisory capacity.

But the situation is turning bleak, with Taliban&#39;s annual Spring Offensive blowing considerable holes in the indigenous Afghan security forces.

The Taliban has gradually regained lost ground in Afghanistan ever since NATO troops departed the country&#39;s shores. They currently hold sway over 40 per cent of the war-torn country.

Moreover, the Afghan security forces have been beset by spike in casualty toll, desertion and fragging. A US watchdog said there was a 35 per cent increase in Afghan soldiers and police killed during last year&#39;s Spring Offensive.

Alienating Pakistan at this juncture is likely to backfire on the US as Islamabad has supported the Afghan Taliban over the last few years as a tool to meddle in the internal affairs of their neighbours.

Though Pakistan has denied supporting terror networks, various US-based white papers and senior administrative officials have blamed Islamabad and their intel agency Inter-Services Intelligence of playing a double game.

Washington has pressured Pakistan in the past to crack down on Taliban but their efforts have borne little results.

Several analysts believe Islamabad provides Afghan Taliban safe havens in their country to launch attacks across the Durand Line -- the controversial border that politically separates Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Further, a spurned Pakistan could activate the sleeping cells of the Haqqani network in Pakistan, which could spell further trouble for Afghanistan and the US.

If the US administration is to pull the plug on its aid and convert them into loans, they would lose a crucial ally in Pakistan and further lose ground in Afghanistan.

Calls for stripping aid to Pakistan have grown louder in recent years, but the timing of it would likely erode US&#39; policy in the region. For now, it&#39;s all about the timing.

(WION)

United States President Donald Trump's annual budget has thought of converting grants given to Pakistan to purchase military hardware into loans

Agnisheik Chatterji United States President Donald Trump's annual budget proposal to convert grants given to Pakistan into loans will have significant ramifications -- both in Pakistan and Afghanistan. The White House on Tuesday (May 23) said the "Foreign Military Funding for Pakistan may be provided in the form of a loan", though the Trump administration has let the State Department take a call on it. If the proposal is implemented, it will be a sharp departure from Washington's decades-long policy vis-a-vis its aid to Pakistan. Crucially, the plan coincides with Washington's deliberation on whether to renew its military presence on Afghan soil. The impending decision may boomerang on the United States on three fronts, all involving a possible pivot in Pakistan's foreign policy: Islamabad may shun the US and look to China for its source of aid, escalate its covert militant operations in Afghanistan and scythe its decades-long civilian and military cooperation with Washington. Although US-Pakistan ties have ebbed and flowed ever since the latter's creation in 1947, the potential quagmire is likely to undermine the US' geopolitical advantage and be viewed by many as a very expensive failure. At one point, Pakistan was the third-largest recipient of US assistance -- Washington gave Islamabad nearly $19 billion in aid between 2002 and 2010 and nearly $75 billion since 1951. And although their partnership has largely served its utilitarian purpose -- during the US' proxy war against the Soviet Union in Afghanistan and its war on terror in the South Asian region in the noughties -- their worsening relations will only indicate that Pakistan has been a black hole for US funds. A history of mistrust and friendship Their partnership has been viewed by many as a marriage of convenience. US' economic assistance to Pakistan peaked in the Cold War-dominated 1960s, while its military aid spiked during the 1980s (Soviet Union) and 2000s (Taliban). But there have been periods of lull as well. Washington scrapped its aid during the India-Pakistan wars in 1965 and 1971, and when Islamabad forged ahead with its uranium enrichment programme. The 9/11 attack in 2001 significantly altered Washington's South Asia praxis when they decided to give large tranches of aid to Islamabad in their fight to remove the last vestige of Taliban from Afghanistan and Pakistan. Since 2010, the assistance monies have sharply declined and the current administration's decision to convert future military funding into loans will irk the Pakistani establishment. Washington's re-evaluation of its aid programme came in 2008 when the Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act of 2009, or the Kerry-Lugar-Berman bill, increased accountability of the Pakistan army and lay down strict caveats. Till then, between 2001 and 2010, there were scant conditions imposed by the US. Pakistan was now required to certify that they didn't stockpile its weaponry to augment its military against India. They also had to promise that they had stopped supporting extremist forces and had dismantled terror launchpads. Washington's doctrinal shift came amid concerns over Islamabad's misuse of aid. Reports had emanated about how Pakistan used half the funds to purchase F-16s and anti-missile defence systems. But Trump's proposal is a major political gamble for the US. A glance at their past does suggest that the potential impasse is not unprecedented. However, China's rising influence in Pakistan is too close for comfort for the White House. And conversion of grants into loans might unhinge the decades-long bilateral ties. China has already made its foray in the region, with Beijing signing a massive $54 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, aimed to upgrade and boost the south Asian nation's infrastructure and economy. The Afghanistan conundrum A potential frostiness would also put the US on the back foot in the region. Pakistan's importance to the US was underpinned by Senator John McCain, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, who said that it was ïmperative" for the ties to remain harmonious as it would enhance "the safety of American troops" and success of their Afghanistan mission". If Pakistan were to row back on its association with the White House, it would endanger the already-perilous security status in Afghanistan. This period is even more crucial for the Trump administration as it coincides with them mulling redeployment of 3,000 to 5,000 US troops in Afghanistan. Currently, there are US troops, but only in an advisory capacity. But the situation is turning bleak, with Taliban's annual Spring Offensive blowing considerable holes in the indigenous Afghan security forces. The Taliban has gradually regained lost ground in Afghanistan ever since NATO troops departed the country's shores. They currently hold sway over 40 per cent of the war-torn country. Moreover, the Afghan security forces have been beset by spike in casualty toll, desertion and fragging. A US watchdog said there was a 35 per cent increase in Afghan soldiers and police killed during last year's Spring Offensive. Alienating Pakistan at this juncture is likely to backfire on the US as Islamabad has supported the Afghan Taliban over the last few years as a tool to meddle in the internal affairs of their neighbours. Though Pakistan has denied supporting terror networks, various US-based white papers and senior administrative officials have blamed Islamabad and their intel agency Inter-Services Intelligence of playing a double game. Washington has pressured Pakistan in the past to crack down on Taliban but their efforts have borne little results. Several analysts believe Islamabad provides Afghan Taliban safe havens in their country to launch attacks across the Durand Line -- the controversial border that politically separates Pakistan and Afghanistan. Further, a spurned Pakistan could activate the sleeping cells of the Haqqani network in Pakistan, which could spell further trouble for Afghanistan and the US. If the US administration is to pull the plug on its aid and convert them into loans, they would lose a crucial ally in Pakistan and further lose ground in Afghanistan. Calls for stripping aid to Pakistan have grown louder in recent years, but the timing of it would likely erode US' policy in the region. For now, it's all about the timing. (WION)

US' Pakistan aid-to-loan proposal is fraught with danger

Pakistan has asked the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to hold an early hearing in the case of Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav, who has been sentenced to death by a military court, a media report said today.

The Express Tribune, citing sources, reported that the Pakistan Foreign Office has sent a letter to the Hague-based ICJ&#39;s registrar, expressing Pakistan&#39;s desire for a quick hearing, preferably over the next few weeks.

The request was made in view of the upcoming elections for ICJ judges, scheduled to be held in November, it quoted the sources as saying.

A senior official, however, was quoted as saying that the ICJ might resume the hearing in the case in October.

&quot;The government (however) wants the hearing (to be held in the) next six weeks,&quot; he said.

Pakistan&#39;s attorney-general Ashtar Ausaf Ali is expected to attend the ICJ proceedings.

The federal government, however, has not taken any decision about replacing Pakistan&#39;s attorney Khawar Quraishi.

&quot;His performance is satisfactory...He raised all (relevant) legal points during the hearing,&quot; a senior official of the law ministry was quoted as saying.

The report, citing sources, also said the government was considering a few names for nominating them for the post of ad-hoc ICJ judge.

The name of a senior lawyer was also under consideration, it said.

The report comes just days after ICJ stayed Jadhav&#39;s execution and also endorsed the Indian request for consular access to him.

India on May 8 had moved the ICJ against the death penalty handed down to Jadhav by a Pakistani military court.

Legal experts were beginning to wonder why Pakistan wants to appoint a foreigner as an ad-hoc judge when every state prefers to nominate its own lawyers, the report said.

They are calling on the attorney-general&#39;s office to consult local lawyers before finalising a legal strategy in this regard, it said.

A senior lawyer, with vast experience of international arbitration, was quoted as saying that it was necessary to revamp the legal wing of the Foreign Office because it failed to give proper advice to deal with Jadhav&#39;s case.

Pakistan Bar Council&#39;s (PBC) executive member Raheel Kamran Sheikh expressed concern over Pakistan&#39;s dismal success rate in international arbitration at just two per cent.

He pointed out that &quot;India&#39;s success rate was 60 per cent&quot;.

&quot;We have lost important cases at international forums over the past couple of years, while spending more than a billion rupees in lawyers&#39; fees,&quot; he said.

According to Sheikh, the mishandling of Jadhav&#39;s case was a classic example of how the power struggle between military and political institutions played out and gaps in foreign policy and national security perspectives grew.

&quot;State may suffer irreparable damage if gaps are not immediately bridged...In the national interest by both centres of power,&quot; Sheikh said.

A senior official in the attorney-general&#39;s office was quoted as saying that although India got the stay on Jadhav&#39;s execution, ultimately Pakistan would win the case.

&quot;We are in no hurry to execute him (Jadhav) as he is making more disclosures,&quot; he claimed.

Jadhav&#39;s case is the latest flash-point in the tensions between Pakistan and India. The two countries last faced off at the ICJ 18 years ago when Islamabad sought its intervention over the shooting down of its naval aircraft.

(PTI)

 
&nbsp;

The request was reportedly made in view of the upcoming elections for ICJ judges which are scheduled to be held in November

Pakistan has asked the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to hold an early hearing in the case of Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav, who has been sentenced to death by a military court, a media report said today. The Express Tribune, citing sources, reported that the Pakistan Foreign Office has sent a letter to the Hague-based ICJ's registrar, expressing Pakistan's desire for a quick hearing, preferably over the next few weeks. The request was made in view of the upcoming elections for ICJ judges, scheduled to be held in November, it quoted the sources as saying. A senior official, however, was quoted as saying that the ICJ might resume the hearing in the case in October. "The government (however) wants the hearing (to be held in the) next six weeks," he said. Pakistan's attorney-general Ashtar Ausaf Ali is expected to attend the ICJ proceedings. The federal government, however, has not taken any decision about replacing Pakistan's attorney Khawar Quraishi. "His performance is satisfactory...He raised all (relevant) legal points during the hearing," a senior official of the law ministry was quoted as saying. The report, citing sources, also said the government was considering a few names for nominating them for the post of ad-hoc ICJ judge. The name of a senior lawyer was also under consideration, it said. The report comes just days after ICJ stayed Jadhav's execution and also endorsed the Indian request for consular access to him. India on May 8 had moved the ICJ against the death penalty handed down to Jadhav by a Pakistani military court. Legal experts were beginning to wonder why Pakistan wants to appoint a foreigner as an ad-hoc judge when every state prefers to nominate its own lawyers, the report said. They are calling on the attorney-general's office to consult local lawyers before finalising a legal strategy in this regard, it said. A senior lawyer, with vast experience of international arbitration, was quoted as saying that it was necessary to revamp the legal wing of the Foreign Office because it failed to give proper advice to deal with Jadhav's case. Pakistan Bar Council's (PBC) executive member Raheel Kamran Sheikh expressed concern over Pakistan's dismal success rate in international arbitration at just two per cent. He pointed out that "India's success rate was 60 per cent". "We have lost important cases at international forums over the past couple of years, while spending more than a billion rupees in lawyers' fees," he said. According to Sheikh, the mishandling of Jadhav's case was a classic example of how the power struggle between military and political institutions played out and gaps in foreign policy and national security perspectives grew. "State may suffer irreparable damage if gaps are not immediately bridged...In the national interest by both centres of power," Sheikh said. A senior official in the attorney-general's office was quoted as saying that although India got the stay on Jadhav's execution, ultimately Pakistan would win the case. "We are in no hurry to execute him (Jadhav) as he is making more disclosures," he claimed. Jadhav's case is the latest flash-point in the tensions between Pakistan and India. The two countries last faced off at the ICJ 18 years ago when Islamabad sought its intervention over the shooting down of its naval aircraft. (PTI)

Pakistan asks ICJ for early hearing in Jadhav case: Report

By Agnisheik Chatterji

Nineteen years. That&#39;s how long after Pakistan launched its national census this year.&nbsp;

The two-phase counting, which started on March 15, will culminate on May 25. The result is expected to be announced by end-July.

But what made Islamabad delay a fresh headcount by nine years?

The problems are manifold.&nbsp;Lack of political will, ethnic insecurity, security concerns, redistribution of wealth and political clout, are but some of the main reasons for the years-long delay.

Finally, the Pakistan government had to follow the orders of the country&#39;s supreme court. After all, the government is constitutionally bound to conduct a census every decade.

Largest-ever national headcount

Let&#39;s get down to the brass tacks of the nationwide enumeration first.

The government has spent 14.5 billion Pakistan rupees.

Around 200,000 army personnel were deployed and 118,000 civilian enumerators hired to compile the data.

Why even have a census?

It is vital for socio-economic planning.&nbsp;

And if the United Nations&#39; word is to believed, census is a &quot;powerful tool for planning&quot; not only for religious minorities &quot;but all the population of Pakistan&quot;.

For instance, if the government needs to put a schooling system in place, the census data can make their job a lot easier. Prior to building a school, the planning team will know the number of children that will benefit from this, and also the most conducive location.

Likewise with constructing roads, hospitals and other key institutions that can bolster social indices of a country.

The data will also help Islamabad in tracking internal migration.

For a fast-growing country like Pakistan, this is vital. The country is in the throes of rapid urbanisation. Three per cent every year -- the fastest in South Asia.&nbsp;

The data will help the country know the resources required to keep pace with the burgeoning population in urban centres.&nbsp;

Also, the matter of Afghan migrants. This census will count them as well. It will help the administration to keep a track on the influx of refugees in their country.

To surmise, the census is a key source tool for every country.&nbsp;

Experts say it is improbable for a country to implement social policies based on guesstimates. Especially for a developing country like Pakistan, which is hobbled by a lack of basic infrastructure.

The 1998 census pegged Pakistan&#39;s head count at 132.35 million. But experts suggest the number might now be around 200 million.

To nick a quote from the head of an Islamabad-based think tank, Abid Suleri, implementing policies in Pakistan is akin to &quot;stitching someone&rsquo;s clothes without knowing the age, height, weight and measurements&quot;.

Loss of status quo

So why has the establishment been so queasy about holding a census?

As mentioned earlier, there will be a redistribution of wealth and electoral seats.

There is a vested interest in maintaining a status quo. The powers-that-are are the keenest to keep things as they are.

Electoral seats in Pakistan are determined by population density. So, the flow of internal migration in recent years would upend the existing balance of power.&nbsp;

That has made powerful feudal landlords and political families squeamish.

At the moment, Punjab is the most politically critical province in Pakistan. Of the 342 seats in the national assembly, Punjab has 183.&nbsp; 
That means the province can single-handedly decide the outcome of a national election.

The powerful political parties enjoy widespread support in the province.&nbsp;

So, if there is a &#39;devolution&#39; of electoral seats in Punjab, parties would have to redraw their political blueprint.

Political power is likely to change hands in the country&#39;s southeast Sindh province.&nbsp;

Currently, upper Sindh is the political underdog but the recent counting is likely to change that. Lower and middle part of the province -- the hitherto political heavyweights -- would lose their current status.

Also, one of the observations gleaned from the 2013 national election is that sharp ethnic faultlines have riven the country&#39;s rural areas.&nbsp;

But rapid urbanisation, coupled with the eventual loss of electoral seats in rural areas in the aftermath of the national head count, would bring an end to such vicious votebank politics.

Regional concerns

Several concerns have been raised from various parts of the country.&nbsp;

None more so than in Pakistan&#39;s poorest province Balochistan.

Balochistan is a sparsely populated region. To give perspective, the province comprises 44 per cent area of the country, yet contributes just 4.96 per cent of the total population.&nbsp;

The federal government&#39;s decision to count Afghan refugees have been stoutly opposed by the Baloch populace.

They fear they would be relegated to minority status in their own heartland as there has been a steady influx of Afghan refugees in their province.&nbsp;

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has also raised the government&#39;s intention to count the data in Islamabad.&nbsp;

While lack of equipment has been cited as the official reason, Pashtun leaders fear data would be fudged (read undercounting) to perpetuate the region in socio-economic doldrums.

They believe that undercounting would result in the region continuing to get less funds from the federal government.

The country&#39;s 500,000-odd Ahmadis -- who are viewed by the Sunni-dominant people of Pakistan as heretics -- are also worried about the census, though they have only spoken about it in hushed tones, given the levels of persecution they have been subjected to in the last seven decades.

They are concerned that identifying themselves as Ahmadis would expose them to discrimination.

Also, Ahmadi names are not different from a Muslim name. There is a danger that the enumerator might tick an uneducated Ahmadi as a Muslim on their behalf. If caught, the person might be jailed for three years for falsely identifying himself as a Muslim.

There was also a brief flutter over the lack of recognition of all religious minorities.

The initial census form had drawn up different categories for people to state their religion -- Muslim, Christian, Hindu, Ahmadi and &#39;others&#39;.

But there was a conspicuous omission -- the Sikhs were left out.

Ironically, the Sikh religion was founded about 500 years back in what is now Pakistan.

But that was later sorted out when the courts intervened.&nbsp;

And the shining beacon of this census is that transgenders will be counted for the first time. However, there was a fork in the soup.&nbsp;

People in Peshawar were given forms without that choice. But that glitch was later wrinkled out.

(WION)

The headcount gets over on May 25, but the multi-million dollar programme has been 19 years in the making

By Agnisheik Chatterji Nineteen years. That's how long after Pakistan launched its national census this year. The two-phase counting, which started on March 15, will culminate on May 25. The result is expected to be announced by end-July. But what made Islamabad delay a fresh headcount by nine years? The problems are manifold. Lack of political will, ethnic insecurity, security concerns, redistribution of wealth and political clout, are but some of the main reasons for the years-long delay. Finally, the Pakistan government had to follow the orders of the country's supreme court. After all, the government is constitutionally bound to conduct a census every decade. Largest-ever national headcount Let's get down to the brass tacks of the nationwide enumeration first. The government has spent 14.5 billion Pakistan rupees. Around 200,000 army personnel were deployed and 118,000 civilian enumerators hired to compile the data. Why even have a census? It is vital for socio-economic planning. And if the United Nations' word is to believed, census is a "powerful tool for planning" not only for religious minorities "but all the population of Pakistan". For instance, if the government needs to put a schooling system in place, the census data can make their job a lot easier. Prior to building a school, the planning team will know the number of children that will benefit from this, and also the most conducive location. Likewise with constructing roads, hospitals and other key institutions that can bolster social indices of a country. The data will also help Islamabad in tracking internal migration. For a fast-growing country like Pakistan, this is vital. The country is in the throes of rapid urbanisation. Three per cent every year -- the fastest in South Asia. The data will help the country know the resources required to keep pace with the burgeoning population in urban centres. Also, the matter of Afghan migrants. This census will count them as well. It will help the administration to keep a track on the influx of refugees in their country. To surmise, the census is a key source tool for every country. Experts say it is improbable for a country to implement social policies based on guesstimates. Especially for a developing country like Pakistan, which is hobbled by a lack of basic infrastructure. The 1998 census pegged Pakistan's head count at 132.35 million. But experts suggest the number might now be around 200 million. To nick a quote from the head of an Islamabad-based think tank, Abid Suleri, implementing policies in Pakistan is akin to "stitching someone’s clothes without knowing the age, height, weight and measurements". Loss of status quo So why has the establishment been so queasy about holding a census? As mentioned earlier, there will be a redistribution of wealth and electoral seats. There is a vested interest in maintaining a status quo. The powers-that-are are the keenest to keep things as they are. Electoral seats in Pakistan are determined by population density. So, the flow of internal migration in recent years would upend the existing balance of power. That has made powerful feudal landlords and political families squeamish. At the moment, Punjab is the most politically critical province in Pakistan. Of the 342 seats in the national assembly, Punjab has 183. That means the province can single-handedly decide the outcome of a national election. The powerful political parties enjoy widespread support in the province. So, if there is a 'devolution' of electoral seats in Punjab, parties would have to redraw their political blueprint. Political power is likely to change hands in the country's southeast Sindh province. Currently, upper Sindh is the political underdog but the recent counting is likely to change that. Lower and middle part of the province -- the hitherto political heavyweights -- would lose their current status. Also, one of the observations gleaned from the 2013 national election is that sharp ethnic faultlines have riven the country's rural areas. But rapid urbanisation, coupled with the eventual loss of electoral seats in rural areas in the aftermath of the national head count, would bring an end to such vicious votebank politics. Regional concerns Several concerns have been raised from various parts of the country. None more so than in Pakistan's poorest province Balochistan. Balochistan is a sparsely populated region. To give perspective, the province comprises 44 per cent area of the country, yet contributes just 4.96 per cent of the total population. The federal government's decision to count Afghan refugees have been stoutly opposed by the Baloch populace. They fear they would be relegated to minority status in their own heartland as there has been a steady influx of Afghan refugees in their province. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has also raised the government's intention to count the data in Islamabad. While lack of equipment has been cited as the official reason, Pashtun leaders fear data would be fudged (read undercounting) to perpetuate the region in socio-economic doldrums. They believe that undercounting would result in the region continuing to get less funds from the federal government. The country's 500,000-odd Ahmadis -- who are viewed by the Sunni-dominant people of Pakistan as heretics -- are also worried about the census, though they have only spoken about it in hushed tones, given the levels of persecution they have been subjected to in the last seven decades. They are concerned that identifying themselves as Ahmadis would expose them to discrimination. Also, Ahmadi names are not different from a Muslim name. There is a danger that the enumerator might tick an uneducated Ahmadi as a Muslim on their behalf. If caught, the person might be jailed for three years for falsely identifying himself as a Muslim. There was also a brief flutter over the lack of recognition of all religious minorities. The initial census form had drawn up different categories for people to state their religion -- Muslim, Christian, Hindu, Ahmadi and 'others'. But there was a conspicuous omission -- the Sikhs were left out. Ironically, the Sikh religion was founded about 500 years back in what is now Pakistan. But that was later sorted out when the courts intervened. And the shining beacon of this census is that transgenders will be counted for the first time. However, there was a fork in the soup. People in Peshawar were given forms without that choice. But that glitch was later wrinkled out. (WION)

Enumerating Pakistan's census exercise

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