By Natalia Garcia Bonet

It appeared to be a confrontation between humanitarianism and military force. In February, the Venezuelan government placed troops along the country’s border with Colombia to block the entry of humanitarian aid coming from the US and supported by the opposition leader, Juan Guaido.

The blockade was widely covered by the news and sparked controversy when the trucks carrying the supplies were accidentally burned during the clashes between the military and those trying to clear their passage.

Similar scenes were repeated on Venezuela’s border with Brazil – albeit with even more tragic consequences. There, the military convoy sent to guard the border was stopped by the local indigenous police in the Pemon community of Kumarakapay – in the Gran Sabana national park, an area considered official indigenous territory. The military opened fire, resulting in at least two casualties. Zoraida Rodriguez – an indigenous woman – was killed in her own home.

The unrest at the border between Venezuela and Brazil, however, received much less media attention than the troubles at the Colombian border – partly because events didn’t fit the western media’s dominant narratives about Venezuela.

These mainly focus on the country’s failing economy, and the threat of a potential US military intervention, based on America’s historic record of involvement in other Latin American nations. In the West, the story is often portrayed as a dispute between the troubled Venezuelan government and US imperialism, assuming the Venezuelan nation is internally homogenous. But this ignores the contentious relationship that many Venezuelans, indigenous people included, have historically had with the government.

A matter of sovereignty

The confrontations between Pemon indigenous people and the military along the Brazilian border, then, should also be understood as an issue of sovereignty over indigenous territories. Indeed, they also stand in sharp contrast to the Venezuelan government’s own rhetoric, which positions the state as a champion of the indigenous cause.

National sovereignty has been a recurrent theme of Venezuela’s Bolivarian Revolution, which was proclaimed by former president Hugo Chavez. This movement espouses socialist policies and a resistance to foreign, particularly US, interference. But the history of indigenous resistance to colonial invasion has also been used by both Chavez and his successor, Nicolas Maduro (who took power in 2013), to symbolise this defiance of foreign intervention.

In 1998, Hugo Chavez gained power with the highest electoral margin in 40 years. His victory was partly because he included marginal populations, such as indigenous people, in his Bolivarian nation-building project.

In fact, many indigenous peoples in Venezuela initially saw their incorporation into the Venezuelan nation as part of the Bolivarian Revolution. The 1999 constitution, for example, was the first to provide a host of rights for indigenous groups, including “native rights over the land”.

In the 20 years that have elapsed since then, however, many of the state’s promises regarding indigenous people and their territories remain largely unfulfilled and disaffection among them is growing.

Digging in

Historically, state expansion into indigenous territories in the south of the country has been linked to natural resources, particularly gold and bauxite, which are abundant in the area. Since colonial times, policing and regional control have been used by the state to exert its monopoly over mining resources.

This hasn’t changed much under the Bolivarian governments since 1998. In 2016, for example, the government launched a large-scale and widespread mining project to combat the economic crisis. This project has resulted in the increased militarisation of mining areas in the north of Bolivar and Amazonas states, near indigenous territories.

In the early 2000s, during the early years of Chavez’s revolution, the authorities’ presence in indigenous territories, such as the area of Gran Sabana – where Zoraida Rodriguez was killed during the recent unrest – was cast in a more “benevolent” light. The state still enforced its control through a heavy police presence, but a number of special programmes (misiones) were also set up by the government, which benefited many local people through goods and other forms of aid. The programmes were made possible thanks to high international oil prices, and reached remote areas of the territory which had been overlooked by previous governments.

Since the beginning of the economic crisis in 2015, however, state aid has reduced, and now reaches indigenous territories only intermittently, or not at all. The military presence, on the other hand, has increased. The result of this is a breakdown of the relationship between the Venezuelan state and indigenous people, and a return to the longstanding struggle over territory and mining resources.

The February confrontations between the military and indigenous people over the entry of US aid are symptomatic of this increasingly contentious relationship. These tensions have been exacerbated by the internal contradictions of the Bolivarian Revolution, which seemingly acknowledges indigenous people’s autonomy and rights over their lands, while simultaneously exercising control over the territory they occupy in the name of national sovereignty. And with the economy in freefall, things may only get worse.

 
(This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/venezuela-indigenous-people-are-forgotten-victims-of-crisis-115724">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)&nbsp;

By Natalia Garcia Bonet It appeared to be a confrontation between humanitarianism and military force. In February, the Venezuelan government placed troops along the country’s border with Colombia to block the entry of humanitarian aid coming from the US and supported by the opposition leader, Juan Guaido.

By Natalia Garcia Bonet It appeared to be a confrontation between humanitarianism and military force. In February, the Venezuelan government placed troops along the country’s border with Colombia to block the entry of humanitarian aid coming from the US and supported by the opposition leader, Juan Guaido. The blockade was widely covered by the news and sparked controversy when the trucks carrying the supplies were accidentally burned during the clashes between the military and those trying to clear their passage. Similar scenes were repeated on Venezuela’s border with Brazil – albeit with even more tragic consequences. There, the military convoy sent to guard the border was stopped by the local indigenous police in the Pemon community of Kumarakapay – in the Gran Sabana national park, an area considered official indigenous territory. The military opened fire, resulting in at least two casualties. Zoraida Rodriguez – an indigenous woman – was killed in her own home. The unrest at the border between Venezuela and Brazil, however, received much less media attention than the troubles at the Colombian border – partly because events didn’t fit the western media’s dominant narratives about Venezuela. These mainly focus on the country’s failing economy, and the threat of a potential US military intervention, based on America’s historic record of involvement in other Latin American nations. In the West, the story is often portrayed as a dispute between the troubled Venezuelan government and US imperialism, assuming the Venezuelan nation is internally homogenous. But this ignores the contentious relationship that many Venezuelans, indigenous people included, have historically had with the government. A matter of sovereignty The confrontations between Pemon indigenous people and the military along the Brazilian border, then, should also be understood as an issue of sovereignty over indigenous territories. Indeed, they also stand in sharp contrast to the Venezuelan government’s own rhetoric, which positions the state as a champion of the indigenous cause. National sovereignty has been a recurrent theme of Venezuela’s Bolivarian Revolution, which was proclaimed by former president Hugo Chavez. This movement espouses socialist policies and a resistance to foreign, particularly US, interference. But the history of indigenous resistance to colonial invasion has also been used by both Chavez and his successor, Nicolas Maduro (who took power in 2013), to symbolise this defiance of foreign intervention. In 1998, Hugo Chavez gained power with the highest electoral margin in 40 years. His victory was partly because he included marginal populations, such as indigenous people, in his Bolivarian nation-building project. In fact, many indigenous peoples in Venezuela initially saw their incorporation into the Venezuelan nation as part of the Bolivarian Revolution. The 1999 constitution, for example, was the first to provide a host of rights for indigenous groups, including “native rights over the land”. In the 20 years that have elapsed since then, however, many of the state’s promises regarding indigenous people and their territories remain largely unfulfilled and disaffection among them is growing. Digging in Historically, state expansion into indigenous territories in the south of the country has been linked to natural resources, particularly gold and bauxite, which are abundant in the area. Since colonial times, policing and regional control have been used by the state to exert its monopoly over mining resources. This hasn’t changed much under the Bolivarian governments since 1998. In 2016, for example, the government launched a large-scale and widespread mining project to combat the economic crisis. This project has resulted in the increased militarisation of mining areas in the north of Bolivar and Amazonas states, near indigenous territories. In the early 2000s, during the early years of Chavez’s revolution, the authorities’ presence in indigenous territories, such as the area of Gran Sabana – where Zoraida Rodriguez was killed during the recent unrest – was cast in a more “benevolent” light. The state still enforced its control through a heavy police presence, but a number of special programmes (misiones) were also set up by the government, which benefited many local people through goods and other forms of aid. The programmes were made possible thanks to high international oil prices, and reached remote areas of the territory which had been overlooked by previous governments. Since the beginning of the economic crisis in 2015, however, state aid has reduced, and now reaches indigenous territories only intermittently, or not at all. The military presence, on the other hand, has increased. The result of this is a breakdown of the relationship between the Venezuelan state and indigenous people, and a return to the longstanding struggle over territory and mining resources. The February confrontations between the military and indigenous people over the entry of US aid are symptomatic of this increasingly contentious relationship. These tensions have been exacerbated by the internal contradictions of the Bolivarian Revolution, which seemingly acknowledges indigenous people’s autonomy and rights over their lands, while simultaneously exercising control over the territory they occupy in the name of national sovereignty. And with the economy in freefall, things may only get worse. (This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Indigenous people are forgotten victims of the ongoing crisis in Venezuela

By David Smilde

Even in a country where the crisis has become the norm, the past month has been eventful for Venezuela.

On April 3 Juan Guaidó, the Venezuelan National Assembly president who is leading an effort to remove President Nicolás Maduro from office, was stripped of his parliamentary immunity. The arrest seems increasingly likely. Guaidó’s chief-of-staff was jailed on March 22, on charges of organising a “terrorist cell.”

Two days later, two Russian military planes carrying 35 tons of unspecified equipment and 100 soldiers landed at the international airport in Caracas.

Meanwhile, three blackouts leftover 90 per cent of the country in the dark. Since water pumps need electricity to run, neighbourhoods and families were forced to organise water rationing systems or fetch water from polluted rivers and streams.

Maduro blames the blackouts on “sabotage” by Guaidó and the United States. The opposition blames government corruption and neglect of Venezuela’s energy grid.

Thousands of Venezuelans protesting the power outages on March 30 were met with violent repression. Counter-protestors came out to support the Maduro government.

These extraordinary events may give the appearance that armed conflict is on the horizon. But having researched Venezuela for over 25 years, I believe a prolonged deadlock – and deeper human suffering – is the more likely result.

International conflict

Each side in Venezuela’s political struggle has powerful international backers.

Guaidó has been coordinating with the Trump administration since before assuming the interim presidency, and Trump has made regime change in Venezuela a foreign policy priority. Over 50 countries now recognise Guaidó as Venezuela’s legitimate president.

Maduro’s government retains important support from Cuba, Turkey and China – though China, which has loaned Venezuela some $60 billion over the last 12 years, has diminished its public backing of Maduro.

Russia has become Maduro’s most important ally. The Russian military equipment and personnel sent in March will likely help maintain and operate Venezuela’s sophisticated Russian-made S-300 air defence system, which protects the capital and key military bases from air attack.

The missile defence system may have been damaged in recent power outages or left understaffed by desertions from Venezuela’s military.

In a March 29 press statement, White House national security adviser John Bolton called Russia’s military assistance to Venezuela a “direct threat to international peace and security in the region” that will “perpetuate the economic crisis that has destroyed Venezuela’s economy.”

Russian officials retorted that the deployment is part of a prior bilateral arms trade agreement with Venezuela.

“The United States is present in many parts of the world and no one is telling it where it should or shouldn’t be,” said Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov at a March 28 Kremlin press conference.

Regime change stalled

Venezuela’s opposition coalition and its allies in the US appear to have thought that global rejection of Maduro’s re-election and Guaidó’s assuming the interim presidency – coupled with threats of a US military invasion and sanctions on Venezuelan oil – would lead Venezuela’s armed forces to turn against Maduro.&nbsp;

That would then usher in a democratic transition.

Recent events have shown that this strategy was simplistic.

More than 500 Venezuelan soldiers have defected to Colombia and Brazil. But most have stayed loyal, as have the generals who hold high positions in Maduro’s government. And Maduro has shown himself quite adept at using dispersed violence to discourage dissent.

Despite President Donald Trump’s repeated mentions of a “military option” for dealing with Venezuela, it’s become clear in recent weeks that the US has no actual plans for military action. Indeed, it does not have significant military assets in position near Venezuela.

Venezuela’s armed forces are the fifth most powerful in Latin America, according to Global Fire Power, which ranks military strength. It has around 200,000 troops, a volunteer militia, plus paramilitary forces and a fleet of Russian Sukhoi fighter jets.

The presence of Russian troops in Venezuela further complicates any plans for US intervention. Russia is a nuclear power, so incurring Russian casualties is probably too big of a risk for the US to take.

Adam Isacson, a defence expert at the Washington Office on Latin America, a human rights organization, suggests that removing Maduro by force would not only kill thousands of people on the ground, it would likely require tens of thousands of US troops to occupy Venezuela for years in order to stabilize it.

Outside of South Florida, where some 200,000 Venezuelan exiles are clamouring for Maduro’s ouster, few Americans would have an appetite for such a prolonged operation.

US economic sanctions – which are now targeting Venezuelan oil – appear to be hurting the Venezuelan people more than Maduro’s government.

That will only make a democratic transition more elusive. Depriving the Venezuelan government of cash and credit will impede it from fixing the electrical grid by preventing the purchase of new equipment. And without electricity and water, Venezuelans, who in their vast majority oppose Maduro, will be concentrating on survival rather than protest.

Working for peace

An international effort led by the European Union, Uruguay, Ecuador and Costa Rica is seeking to negotiate new elections. Calling itself the International Contact Group, this coalition has sent technical teams to Caracas twice to meet with the Maduro government and the opposition.

The International Contact Group has not actually found much interest on either side.

The opposition and its allies in the Trump administration still believe that their strategy of political pressure and economic punishment will lead to the government’s collapse. Maduro, it appears, thinks he can hunker down and wait out the storm.

There is one glimmer of hope.

After years of political wrangling over humanitarian aid, on March 29 the International Committee of the Red Cross announced that it had brokered agreements with both the Maduro government and the opposition. They will allow the Red Cross to distribute food and medicine to Venezuelans, who have suffered severe shortages of both since 2015.

The United Nations estimates that 94 per cent of Venezuela’s population now lives in poverty, and a quarter of its people urgently need humanitarian assistance.

The Red Cross deal shows what can be achieved with “satellite diplomacy” – that is, negotiations that engage with rival factions independently rather than requiring them to meet face to face.

This is significant. It is the first time that this diplomatic technique has succeeded in Venezuela’s conflict.

In the best-case scenario, the humanitarian aid agreement will stick. And it could serve as a model for how international actors can facilitate a democratic transition in Venezuela.

(David Smilde is Professor of Sociology, Tulane University)

(This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/venezuelas-power-struggle-reaches-a-tense-stalemate-as-human-suffering-deepens-114545">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

By David Smilde Even in a country where the crisis has become the norm, the past month has been eventful for Venezuela. On April 3 Juan Guaidó, the Venezuelan National Assembly president who is leading an effort to remove President Nicolás Maduro from office, was stripped of his parliamentary immunity.

By David Smilde Even in a country where the crisis has become the norm, the past month has been eventful for Venezuela. On April 3 Juan Guaidó, the Venezuelan National Assembly president who is leading an effort to remove President Nicolás Maduro from office, was stripped of his parliamentary immunity. The arrest seems increasingly likely. Guaidó’s chief-of-staff was jailed on March 22, on charges of organising a “terrorist cell.” Two days later, two Russian military planes carrying 35 tons of unspecified equipment and 100 soldiers landed at the international airport in Caracas. Meanwhile, three blackouts leftover 90 per cent of the country in the dark. Since water pumps need electricity to run, neighbourhoods and families were forced to organise water rationing systems or fetch water from polluted rivers and streams. Maduro blames the blackouts on “sabotage” by Guaidó and the United States. The opposition blames government corruption and neglect of Venezuela’s energy grid. Thousands of Venezuelans protesting the power outages on March 30 were met with violent repression. Counter-protestors came out to support the Maduro government. These extraordinary events may give the appearance that armed conflict is on the horizon. But having researched Venezuela for over 25 years, I believe a prolonged deadlock – and deeper human suffering – is the more likely result. International conflict Each side in Venezuela’s political struggle has powerful international backers. Guaidó has been coordinating with the Trump administration since before assuming the interim presidency, and Trump has made regime change in Venezuela a foreign policy priority. Over 50 countries now recognise Guaidó as Venezuela’s legitimate president. Maduro’s government retains important support from Cuba, Turkey and China – though China, which has loaned Venezuela some $60 billion over the last 12 years, has diminished its public backing of Maduro. Russia has become Maduro’s most important ally. The Russian military equipment and personnel sent in March will likely help maintain and operate Venezuela’s sophisticated Russian-made S-300 air defence system, which protects the capital and key military bases from air attack. The missile defence system may have been damaged in recent power outages or left understaffed by desertions from Venezuela’s military. In a March 29 press statement, White House national security adviser John Bolton called Russia’s military assistance to Venezuela a “direct threat to international peace and security in the region” that will “perpetuate the economic crisis that has destroyed Venezuela’s economy.” Russian officials retorted that the deployment is part of a prior bilateral arms trade agreement with Venezuela. “The United States is present in many parts of the world and no one is telling it where it should or shouldn’t be,” said Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov at a March 28 Kremlin press conference. Regime change stalled Venezuela’s opposition coalition and its allies in the US appear to have thought that global rejection of Maduro’s re-election and Guaidó’s assuming the interim presidency – coupled with threats of a US military invasion and sanctions on Venezuelan oil – would lead Venezuela’s armed forces to turn against Maduro. That would then usher in a democratic transition. Recent events have shown that this strategy was simplistic. More than 500 Venezuelan soldiers have defected to Colombia and Brazil. But most have stayed loyal, as have the generals who hold high positions in Maduro’s government. And Maduro has shown himself quite adept at using dispersed violence to discourage dissent. Despite President Donald Trump’s repeated mentions of a “military option” for dealing with Venezuela, it’s become clear in recent weeks that the US has no actual plans for military action. Indeed, it does not have significant military assets in position near Venezuela. Venezuela’s armed forces are the fifth most powerful in Latin America, according to Global Fire Power, which ranks military strength. It has around 200,000 troops, a volunteer militia, plus paramilitary forces and a fleet of Russian Sukhoi fighter jets. The presence of Russian troops in Venezuela further complicates any plans for US intervention. Russia is a nuclear power, so incurring Russian casualties is probably too big of a risk for the US to take. Adam Isacson, a defence expert at the Washington Office on Latin America, a human rights organization, suggests that removing Maduro by force would not only kill thousands of people on the ground, it would likely require tens of thousands of US troops to occupy Venezuela for years in order to stabilize it. Outside of South Florida, where some 200,000 Venezuelan exiles are clamouring for Maduro’s ouster, few Americans would have an appetite for such a prolonged operation. US economic sanctions – which are now targeting Venezuelan oil – appear to be hurting the Venezuelan people more than Maduro’s government. That will only make a democratic transition more elusive. Depriving the Venezuelan government of cash and credit will impede it from fixing the electrical grid by preventing the purchase of new equipment. And without electricity and water, Venezuelans, who in their vast majority oppose Maduro, will be concentrating on survival rather than protest. Working for peace An international effort led by the European Union, Uruguay, Ecuador and Costa Rica is seeking to negotiate new elections. Calling itself the International Contact Group, this coalition has sent technical teams to Caracas twice to meet with the Maduro government and the opposition. The International Contact Group has not actually found much interest on either side. The opposition and its allies in the Trump administration still believe that their strategy of political pressure and economic punishment will lead to the government’s collapse. Maduro, it appears, thinks he can hunker down and wait out the storm. There is one glimmer of hope. After years of political wrangling over humanitarian aid, on March 29 the International Committee of the Red Cross announced that it had brokered agreements with both the Maduro government and the opposition. They will allow the Red Cross to distribute food and medicine to Venezuelans, who have suffered severe shortages of both since 2015. The United Nations estimates that 94 per cent of Venezuela’s population now lives in poverty, and a quarter of its people urgently need humanitarian assistance. The Red Cross deal shows what can be achieved with “satellite diplomacy” – that is, negotiations that engage with rival factions independently rather than requiring them to meet face to face. This is significant. It is the first time that this diplomatic technique has succeeded in Venezuela’s conflict. In the best-case scenario, the humanitarian aid agreement will stick. And it could serve as a model for how international actors can facilitate a democratic transition in Venezuela. (David Smilde is Professor of Sociology, Tulane University) (This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Venezuela’s power struggle reaches a tense stalemate as human suffering deepens

A US military transport plane carrying humanitarian aid meant for Venezuelans landed in the Colombian border city of Cucuta on Saturday, where food and medicine is being stored amidst uncertainty over <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/maduro-making-terrible-mistake-by-not-allowing-aid-to-enter-venezuela-trump-197250">how and where aid will be distributed</a>.

The shipment will be the second arrival of large-scale US and international aid for Venezuelans, many of whom have scant access to food and medicine, since opposition leader <a href="http://www.wionews.com/opinions/venezuela-crisis-can-nicolas-maduro-with-support-of-foreign-powers-state-that-hugo-chavez-is-not-actually-the-president-197536">Juan Guaido</a> declared himself interim president in defiance of socialist <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-raises-pressure-on-venezuelas-maduro-via-sanctions-aid-airlift-197708">President Nicolas Maduro</a>.

Guaido, who invoked constitutional provisions to declare himself the country's leader last month, arguing Maduro's 2018 re-election was a sham, has said aid will enter Venezuela on February 23.

But it remains unclear whether Maduro, who has called the aid a US-orchestrated show and denies any crisis, will allow the supplies to cross into Venezuela.

Millions of Venezuelans will be traveling to the border to safeguard arriving aid, Lester Toledo, a Guaido representative, said at a press conference in Cucuta.

"We are seven days from this being a reality, we are going to have the accompaniment of people, of hundreds of thousands, of millions of Venezuelans that our president Juan Guaido has called upon, who we have asked to go to the border dressed in white as a sign of peace," said Toledo.

A US official told Reuters the aid delivered on Saturday amounted to more than 200 tonnes, but a US embassy representative said they had no measurements of the shipment. Toledo said three planes would eventually arrive.

Most Western countries and many of Venezuela's neighbors have recognized Guaido as the legitimate head of state, while Maduro retains the backing of Russia and China and control of Venezuelan state institutions including the military.

The supplies, including hygiene kits and special products meant for children suffering malnutrition, are arriving from an air force base in Florida aboard C-17 military cargo planes, the US embassy said in a statement.

Additional aid flights will take place over the coming days, the statement added, and medical supplies and pharmaceuticals meant for use in hospitals will arrive early next week.

A US military transport plane carrying humanitarian aid meant for Venezuelans landed in the Colombian border city of Cucuta on Saturday, where food and medicine is being stored amidst uncertainty over how and where aid will be distributed.

A US military transport plane carrying humanitarian aid meant for Venezuelans landed in the Colombian border city of Cucuta on Saturday, where food and medicine is being stored amidst uncertainty over how and where aid will be distributed. The shipment will be the second arrival of large-scale US and international aid for Venezuelans, many of whom have scant access to food and medicine, since opposition leader Juan Guaido declared himself interim president in defiance of socialist President Nicolas Maduro. Guaido, who invoked constitutional provisions to declare himself the country's leader last month, arguing Maduro's 2018 re-election was a sham, has said aid will enter Venezuela on February 23. But it remains unclear whether Maduro, who has called the aid a US-orchestrated show and denies any crisis, will allow the supplies to cross into Venezuela. Millions of Venezuelans will be traveling to the border to safeguard arriving aid, Lester Toledo, a Guaido representative, said at a press conference in Cucuta. "We are seven days from this being a reality, we are going to have the accompaniment of people, of hundreds of thousands, of millions of Venezuelans that our president Juan Guaido has called upon, who we have asked to go to the border dressed in white as a sign of peace," said Toledo. A US official told Reuters the aid delivered on Saturday amounted to more than 200 tonnes, but a US embassy representative said they had no measurements of the shipment. Toledo said three planes would eventually arrive. Most Western countries and many of Venezuela's neighbors have recognized Guaido as the legitimate head of state, while Maduro retains the backing of Russia and China and control of Venezuelan state institutions including the military. The supplies, including hygiene kits and special products meant for children suffering malnutrition, are arriving from an air force base in Florida aboard C-17 military cargo planes, the US embassy said in a statement. Additional aid flights will take place over the coming days, the statement added, and medical supplies and pharmaceuticals meant for use in hospitals will arrive early next week.

More US aid for Venezuela touches down in Colombia

Thousands of volunteers in Venezuela will begin mobilising on Sunday to bring American aid into their crisis-hit country despite a blockade by President Nicolas Maduro who claims the assistance could be cover for a US invasion.

Once-wealthy Venezuela is gripped by a power struggle between socialist leader Maduro and Juan Guaido, the head of the National Assembly who proclaimed himself interim president last month and now has the backing of more than 50 countries.&nbsp;

But even as the political battle pitting Guaido against Maduro continued to deepen, Caracas confirmed talks had taken place with an envoy for US President Donald Trump's administration.

The oil-rich country's economic meltdown under Maduro has left millions in poverty facing shortages of medicine and food, with hyperinflation making purchases impossible.

US aid that has been piling up in the Colombian border town of Cucuta has become the frontline of the confrontation between Guaido and Maduro.

"Venezuela is preparing for the humanitarian avalanche," Guaido told about 4,000 supporters clad in white T-shirts and green scarves who gathered Saturday to sign up as volunteers.

The throng included doctors, nurses and students.

Six hundred thousand people have registered to help bring aid in through border points, Guaido told the Caracas rally, asking the volunteers to meet in town councils on Sunday to get instructions about the process.

Without revealing details that could jeopardize the operation, Guaido said volunteer brigades will travel in a bus caravan to entry points for the aid which he wants to come in next Saturday.

Coromoto Crespo, 58, told AFP he volunteered because of the urgent need for supplies.

"To find medicines requires a miracle. I need tablets for high blood pressure, and what I find, I can't pay for," Crespo said.

"One of my relatives died because of a lack of antibiotics."

Guaido has targeted February 23 for entry of the aid, more of which arrived for the stockpile on Saturday. Three US military cargo planes delivered several dozen more tons (tonnes) of food assistance to Cucuta.&nbsp;

Another US aircraft is due in the Caribbean island of Curacao from Miami on Tuesday, and a collection centre for Brazilian aid will open Monday on the border, Guaido's team said.

The US shipment Saturday was accompanied by a delegation led by Mark Green, head of the US Agency for International Development.&nbsp;

US assistance has been blocked by containers which Maduro loyalists placed on a border bridge to prevent access.

On another front, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza confirmed having held two meetings with special US envoy Elliott Abrams. Arreaza, who traveled to New York on February 13, said he held the talks with Abrams at the request of the State Department. He declined to comment on the substance of their discussions.

Guaido repeated his call on Venezuela's military -- whose support for Maduro has been crucial -- to let the aid pass.

"You have, in your hands, the possibility of fighting alongside the people who are suffering the same shortages you are," Guaido said in a tweet addressed to soldiers.

A State Department spokeswoman, Julie Chung, issued a similar plea during a news conference in Cucuta, urging the military to stand aside at a time when Venezuelans are "dying of hunger."&nbsp;

'Crumbs' and 'rotten food'

Maduro asserts that aid could be used as a way for the United States to invade. He called for reinforced border security and dismissed the arriving "crumbs" as "rotten and contaminated food."

On Friday Maduro instructed his army to prepare a "special deployment plan" for the 2,200-kilometer (1,370-mile) border with Colombia. He said he would examine "what new forces" might be needed to keep the frontier "inviolable."&nbsp;

Maduro has assailed the US aid as a "show" but Arreaza said he would be willing to meet with "the devil" if it helped ensure Venezuelan sovereignty.

About 2.3 million Venezuelans have fled the country since 2015 as the crisis intensified, according to the United Nations.

Guaido accuses Maduro of being a "usurper" over his controversial reelection last year in polls widely branded as fraudulent.

Maduro, the hand-picked successor to socialist firebrand Hugo Chavez, blames Venezuela's woes on US sanctions, more of which were added on Friday.

He said six million families had benefited from subsidized food boxes and he claimed to have bought 933 tons of medicines and medical supplies from China, Cuba and Russia, his main international allies.

"We paid for it with our own money because we're beggars to no one," Maduro said.

Thousands of volunteers in Venezuela will begin mobilising on Sunday to bring American aid into their crisis-hit country despite a blockade by President Nicolas Maduro who claims the assistance could be cover for a US invasion.

Thousands of volunteers in Venezuela will begin mobilising on Sunday to bring American aid into their crisis-hit country despite a blockade by President Nicolas Maduro who claims the assistance could be cover for a US invasion. Once-wealthy Venezuela is gripped by a power struggle between socialist leader Maduro and Juan Guaido, the head of the National Assembly who proclaimed himself interim president last month and now has the backing of more than 50 countries. But even as the political battle pitting Guaido against Maduro continued to deepen, Caracas confirmed talks had taken place with an envoy for US President Donald Trump's administration. The oil-rich country's economic meltdown under Maduro has left millions in poverty facing shortages of medicine and food, with hyperinflation making purchases impossible. US aid that has been piling up in the Colombian border town of Cucuta has become the frontline of the confrontation between Guaido and Maduro. "Venezuela is preparing for the humanitarian avalanche," Guaido told about 4,000 supporters clad in white T-shirts and green scarves who gathered Saturday to sign up as volunteers. The throng included doctors, nurses and students. Six hundred thousand people have registered to help bring aid in through border points, Guaido told the Caracas rally, asking the volunteers to meet in town councils on Sunday to get instructions about the process. Without revealing details that could jeopardize the operation, Guaido said volunteer brigades will travel in a bus caravan to entry points for the aid which he wants to come in next Saturday. Coromoto Crespo, 58, told AFP he volunteered because of the urgent need for supplies. "To find medicines requires a miracle. I need tablets for high blood pressure, and what I find, I can't pay for," Crespo said. "One of my relatives died because of a lack of antibiotics." Guaido has targeted February 23 for entry of the aid, more of which arrived for the stockpile on Saturday. Three US military cargo planes delivered several dozen more tons (tonnes) of food assistance to Cucuta. Another US aircraft is due in the Caribbean island of Curacao from Miami on Tuesday, and a collection centre for Brazilian aid will open Monday on the border, Guaido's team said. The US shipment Saturday was accompanied by a delegation led by Mark Green, head of the US Agency for International Development. US assistance has been blocked by containers which Maduro loyalists placed on a border bridge to prevent access. On another front, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza confirmed having held two meetings with special US envoy Elliott Abrams. Arreaza, who traveled to New York on February 13, said he held the talks with Abrams at the request of the State Department. He declined to comment on the substance of their discussions. Guaido repeated his call on Venezuela's military -- whose support for Maduro has been crucial -- to let the aid pass. "You have, in your hands, the possibility of fighting alongside the people who are suffering the same shortages you are," Guaido said in a tweet addressed to soldiers. A State Department spokeswoman, Julie Chung, issued a similar plea during a news conference in Cucuta, urging the military to stand aside at a time when Venezuelans are "dying of hunger." 'Crumbs' and 'rotten food' Maduro asserts that aid could be used as a way for the United States to invade. He called for reinforced border security and dismissed the arriving "crumbs" as "rotten and contaminated food." On Friday Maduro instructed his army to prepare a "special deployment plan" for the 2,200-kilometer (1,370-mile) border with Colombia. He said he would examine "what new forces" might be needed to keep the frontier "inviolable." Maduro has assailed the US aid as a "show" but Arreaza said he would be willing to meet with "the devil" if it helped ensure Venezuelan sovereignty. About 2.3 million Venezuelans have fled the country since 2015 as the crisis intensified, according to the United Nations. Guaido accuses Maduro of being a "usurper" over his controversial reelection last year in polls widely branded as fraudulent. Maduro, the hand-picked successor to socialist firebrand Hugo Chavez, blames Venezuela's woes on US sanctions, more of which were added on Friday. He said six million families had benefited from subsidized food boxes and he claimed to have bought 933 tons of medicines and medical supplies from China, Cuba and Russia, his main international allies. "We paid for it with our own money because we're beggars to no one," Maduro said.

Thousands of Venezuela volunteers begin preparing US aid entry

President Donald Trump on Tuesday warned Honduras he will cut millions of dollars in US aid if a group of about 2,000 migrants is not prevented from seeking to reach the United States.

The migrants, forming what is known as "a caravan," were hoping to leave the impoverished, violence-plagued country and head north on the long journey through Guatemala and Mexico to the US border.

Trump, who has made <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-to-central-america-will-help-with-your-development-if-you-cut-down-migration-170966">cracking down on illegal immigration a keystone</a> of his presidency, tweeted that US aid to Honduras, which is planned to reach nearly $66 million in 2019, would end.&nbsp;

"The United States has strongly informed the President of Honduras that if the large Caravan of people heading to the U.S. is not stopped and brought back to Honduras, no more money or aid will be given to Honduras, effective immediately!" he said.

Despite the apparent urgency of Trump's message, the Honduran would-be migrants appeared highly unlikely to get anywhere near their goal after Guatemala announced it would stop them first.

"Entry of groups or people" without proper visas "will not be permitted," Guatemala's border authorities said in a statement.

President Donald Trump on Tuesday warned Honduras he will cut millions of dollars in US aid if a group of about 2,000 migrants is not prevented from seeking to reach the United States.

President Donald Trump on Tuesday warned Honduras he will cut millions of dollars in US aid if a group of about 2,000 migrants is not prevented from seeking to reach the United States. The migrants, forming what is known as "a caravan," were hoping to leave the impoverished, violence-plagued country and head north on the long journey through Guatemala and Mexico to the US border. Trump, who has made cracking down on illegal immigration a keystone of his presidency, tweeted that US aid to Honduras, which is planned to reach nearly $66 million in 2019, would end. "The United States has strongly informed the President of Honduras that if the large Caravan of people heading to the U.S. is not stopped and brought back to Honduras, no more money or aid will be given to Honduras, effective immediately!" he said. Despite the apparent urgency of Trump's message, the Honduran would-be migrants appeared highly unlikely to get anywhere near their goal after Guatemala announced it would stop them first. "Entry of groups or people" without proper visas "will not be permitted," Guatemala's border authorities said in a statement.

Trump warns Honduras to halt migrant 'caravan' or lose US aid

Pakistan pledged Wednesday to support negotiations with the Taliban to end Afghanistan's 17-year war as it asked the United States to restore military aid and stop blaming Islamabad for the extremists' strengths.

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi visited Washington to explain the Afghanistan strategy of new Prime Minister Imran Khan, who has long advocated talks over military action with the Taliban and other Islamist insurgents.

A month after Washington cut $300 million in military aid, Qureshi said he found Secretary of State Mike Pompeo "ready to listen" to Pakistan and said he was returning to Islamabad "slightly more hopeful" than before.

Pakistan had been the main supporter of the Taliban regime which imposed an austere brand of Islam on much of Afghanistan until a US military campaign launched after the September 11, 2001 attacks.

The United States has pressed for years for Pakistan to crack down on militant groups involved in Afghanistan as well as virulently anti-Indian groups that operate virtually openly.

It says the insurgents have safe havens in Pakistan's border areas and links to its shadowy military establishment, accusations which Islamabad has repeatedly denied.

Trump has accused Pakistan, where US commandos killed Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden, of duplicity.

Qureshi said Pakistan would act "in good faith" to jumpstart diplomacy with the Taliban, whose representatives held a breakthrough meeting in July in Qatar with US representatives in a tentative bid to try to end the longest-running US war.

"Pakistan is willing and Pakistan will use all its influence to do that. We feel that Afghanistan's stability and peace are linked to ours," Qureshi said at the US Institute of Peace a day after meeting Pompeo.

But he added: "Contrary to the largely held view here, our influence on the Taliban is diminished."

He said he believed that the Taliban's shift to negotiations, as well as an unprecedented if temporary ceasefire, was based on the militants' own calculations.

"Even the Taliban recognize that things have changed in Afghanistan. They can at best maintain a stalemate but those days are gone when they will just go in and take over Kabul."

Defending Pakistan role

Qureshi said Pakistan "cannot and should not be held responsible for the failures in Afghanistan" as he pointed to disunity in the Kabul government as well as corruption.

"I have seen or read a lot of criticism and think it's unfair not to recognize the contributions Pakistan has made to the successes that you've had in Afghanistan -- and you've had successes despite the challenges," he said.

Calling for renewed cooperation with the United States, Qureshi said: "Cutting off training, not giving precision equipment that could have been used against terrorism -- I don't know to what extent that will help."

'Momentum' for negotiations

Trump had called for years for a withdrawal from Afghanistan, questioning what more can be achieved from a war that has claimed about 2,400 US lives, but the real estate mogul turned politician decided to stay the course after advice from security officials.

Pompeo, who met Khan in Islamabad last month, told Qureshi that Pakistan has an "important role" to play in Afghanistan negotiations, State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said.

Pompeo "agreed that there was momentum to advance the Afghan peace process, and that the Afghan Taliban should seize the opportunity for dialogue," Nauert said.

The State Department notably did not say whether Pompeo addressed Pakistan's position on extremism.

In August, Pompeo congratulated Khan in a telephone call when he took office as prime minister. The State Department said he asked Islamabad to "take decisive action against all terrorists operating in Pakistan."

Pakistan insisted that the issue never came up.

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&nbsp;

Pakistan pledged Wednesday to support negotiations with the Taliban to end Afghanistan's 17-year war as it asked the United States to restore military aid and stop blaming Islamabad for the extremists' strengths.

Pakistan pledged Wednesday to support negotiations with the Taliban to end Afghanistan's 17-year war as it asked the United States to restore military aid and stop blaming Islamabad for the extremists' strengths. Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi visited Washington to explain the Afghanistan strategy of new Prime Minister Imran Khan, who has long advocated talks over military action with the Taliban and other Islamist insurgents. A month after Washington cut $300 million in military aid, Qureshi said he found Secretary of State Mike Pompeo "ready to listen" to Pakistan and said he was returning to Islamabad "slightly more hopeful" than before. Pakistan had been the main supporter of the Taliban regime which imposed an austere brand of Islam on much of Afghanistan until a US military campaign launched after the September 11, 2001 attacks. The United States has pressed for years for Pakistan to crack down on militant groups involved in Afghanistan as well as virulently anti-Indian groups that operate virtually openly. It says the insurgents have safe havens in Pakistan's border areas and links to its shadowy military establishment, accusations which Islamabad has repeatedly denied. Trump has accused Pakistan, where US commandos killed Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden, of duplicity. Qureshi said Pakistan would act "in good faith" to jumpstart diplomacy with the Taliban, whose representatives held a breakthrough meeting in July in Qatar with US representatives in a tentative bid to try to end the longest-running US war. "Pakistan is willing and Pakistan will use all its influence to do that. We feel that Afghanistan's stability and peace are linked to ours," Qureshi said at the US Institute of Peace a day after meeting Pompeo. But he added: "Contrary to the largely held view here, our influence on the Taliban is diminished." He said he believed that the Taliban's shift to negotiations, as well as an unprecedented if temporary ceasefire, was based on the militants' own calculations. "Even the Taliban recognize that things have changed in Afghanistan. They can at best maintain a stalemate but those days are gone when they will just go in and take over Kabul." Defending Pakistan role Qureshi said Pakistan "cannot and should not be held responsible for the failures in Afghanistan" as he pointed to disunity in the Kabul government as well as corruption. "I have seen or read a lot of criticism and think it's unfair not to recognize the contributions Pakistan has made to the successes that you've had in Afghanistan -- and you've had successes despite the challenges," he said. Calling for renewed cooperation with the United States, Qureshi said: "Cutting off training, not giving precision equipment that could have been used against terrorism -- I don't know to what extent that will help." 'Momentum' for negotiations Trump had called for years for a withdrawal from Afghanistan, questioning what more can be achieved from a war that has claimed about 2,400 US lives, but the real estate mogul turned politician decided to stay the course after advice from security officials. Pompeo, who met Khan in Islamabad last month, told Qureshi that Pakistan has an "important role" to play in Afghanistan negotiations, State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said. Pompeo "agreed that there was momentum to advance the Afghan peace process, and that the Afghan Taliban should seize the opportunity for dialogue," Nauert said. The State Department notably did not say whether Pompeo addressed Pakistan's position on extremism. In August, Pompeo congratulated Khan in a telephone call when he took office as prime minister. The State Department said he asked Islamabad to "take decisive action against all terrorists operating in Pakistan." Pakistan insisted that the issue never came up. ×

Pakistan urges US to resume military aid

A powerful Congressional committee has placed conditions on the release of $350 million financial aid to Pakistan for counter-terrorism operations to push Islamabad into taking action against the Haqqani network.

The Haqqani network has carried out a number of kidnappings and attacks against US interests in Afghanistan. The group linked to the Taliban is also blamed for several deadly attacks against Indian interests in Afghanistan including the 2008 bombing of the Indian mission in Kabul that killed 58 people.

Releasing the text of its version of the national defence authorisation (NDAA) bill, the House Armed Services Committee on Monday said that $350 million of the $700 million proposed financial assistance to Pakistan may not be released till the defence secretary certifies to Congress that Islamabad has taken actions against the Haqqani network militants.

According to the NDAA text running into more than 700 pages, it authorises $700 million in coalition support funds (CSF) to Pakistan. "Of that amount, not more than $350.0 million may be provided until the Secretary of Defence certified that Pakistan is taking demonstrable steps against the Haqqani network," it said.

The committee also authorised the president's budget request of $900 million for fiscal year 2019 for CSF payments.

In his new South Asia and Afghanistan policy in August, Trump had called for tougher measure against Pakistan if it fails to cooperate with the US in its fight against terrorism.&nbsp

Since January, the Trump administration has suspended its security assistance to Pakistan alleging that Islamabad has not been taking satisfactory actions against terrorist safe havens inside the country.

The aid suspended has not be relocated yet but has been kept aside for Pakistan to be used later if and when it starts taking actions against terrorists.&nbsp

Pakistan has repeatedly denied that there are any terrorist safe havens inside its territory. Both its officials in Islamabad and inside the United Nations in New York assert that there are no terrorist safe havens.

However, the top American leadership insists that there has been no change in Pakistani behaviour on this front that that it is fast running out of patience.

A powerful Congressional committee has placed conditions on the release of $350 million financial aid to Pakistan for counter-terrorism operations to push Islamabad into taking action against the Haqqani network

A powerful Congressional committee has placed conditions on the release of $350 million financial aid to Pakistan for counter-terrorism operations to push Islamabad into taking action against the Haqqani network. The Haqqani network has carried out a number of kidnappings and attacks against US interests in Afghanistan. The group linked to the Taliban is also blamed for several deadly attacks against Indian interests in Afghanistan including the 2008 bombing of the Indian mission in Kabul that killed 58 people. Releasing the text of its version of the national defence authorisation (NDAA) bill, the House Armed Services Committee on Monday said that $350 million of the $700 million proposed financial assistance to Pakistan may not be released till the defence secretary certifies to Congress that Islamabad has taken actions against the Haqqani network militants. According to the NDAA text running into more than 700 pages, it authorises $700 million in coalition support funds (CSF) to Pakistan. "Of that amount, not more than $350.0 million may be provided until the Secretary of Defence certified that Pakistan is taking demonstrable steps against the Haqqani network," it said. The committee also authorised the president's budget request of $900 million for fiscal year 2019 for CSF payments. In his new South Asia and Afghanistan policy in August, Trump had called for tougher measure against Pakistan if it fails to cooperate with the US in its fight against terrorism. Since January, the Trump administration has suspended its security assistance to Pakistan alleging that Islamabad has not been taking satisfactory actions against terrorist safe havens inside the country. The aid suspended has not be relocated yet but has been kept aside for Pakistan to be used later if and when it starts taking actions against terrorists. Pakistan has repeatedly denied that there are any terrorist safe havens inside its territory. Both its officials in Islamabad and inside the United Nations in New York assert that there are no terrorist safe havens. However, the top American leadership insists that there has been no change in Pakistani behaviour on this front that that it is fast running out of patience.

US Congressional committee seeks conditions on $350 million aid to Pakistan

By Siddhant Sibbal

Pakistan's ruling PML(N) has presented its last budget with CPEC, terror and Afghanistan making their way into the papers. But where Pakistan is involved, so is geopolitics. &nbsp;

As always, Pakistan increased its defence budget. The Pakistani defence budget has been proposed at Pakistani Rs 1,100 billion for FY 2018-2019 as against the revised budget of Rs 999 billion for 2017-18.&nbsp;

And its no longer 3 A’s — Allah, America and the Army — but ACC — Allah, China and CPEC.

 
China-Pakistan Economic Corridor 
CPEC found mention seven times in Pakistan Finance Minister Miftah Ismail's speech.&nbsp;

Lauding CPEC, Ismail said, “Vision of Mian Nawaz Sharif, CPEC initiative has become a global brand of Pakistan. &nbsp;As part of CPEC, our government initiated road projects that would link north of Pakistan with Gwadar. Trans-Pakistan corridor of motorways and special economic zones are designed to provide jobs, enhance manufacturing base, and increase prosperity and growth.”&nbsp;

He said that as part of CPEC, the Pakistani government has also finalised its plan to increase by three times the speed of trains on Main Line-I from Peshawar to Karachi.

 
Chinese loans replace US aid 
China has already overtaken, by millions of Pakistani rupees, the US when it comes to loans granted to Pakistan, and this year it will grant even more. In FY 2018-2019, China will be giving loans and grants to Pakistan amounting to Pakistani Rs 98,395.783 million.&nbsp;

Of this, Rs 96,895.738 million will be in the form of loans while Rs 1,500 million will be in the form of grants. The US will be providing just Rs 13,523 million but all of it will be a grant. Clearly. most of the Chinese money being pumped into Pakistan is in the form of loans, the rates of interest on which are not known and nor are the tenures.&nbsp;

China however is well known for its loans ensnaring countries in debt traps.&nbsp;

South Asia has a lot of examples. The most famous one being Sri Lanka's Hambantota port of which China has been granted a 99-year lease.

China’s foreign investment has been called predatory and many in Pakistan itself believe that CPEC could turn Pakistan into a Chinese colony.

<img alt="23.JPG" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" height="685" src="http://images.wionews.com/iniline-images/23.JPG" width="610" />

(The loans and grants provided to Pakistan.)

&nbsp;

The AIIB link 
Interestingly, the China-led AIIB (Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank) is also giving loans to Islamabad.&nbsp;

India, with a 7.6% share, is the second largest shareholder in the bank.&nbsp;

AIIB will be giving Pakistan loans totalling up to Rs 13,189 million. It’s a substantial increase from the Rs 5,289.609 given in FY 2017-2018. The new AIIB loan will be given for rehabilitation of the existing carriageway between the DI Khan-Saraigumble section, the Rajanpur-DG. Khan section, and Sehan-Ratodero.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Gwadar: China’s helping hand to the port 
China and Pakistan's love child remains Gwadar.&nbsp;

Pakistan has been granted a Rs 200 million loan for fresh water supply and distribution at Gwadar, and a Rs 100 million loan for the upgradation of an existing 50-bed hospital to 300 beds at the port.&nbsp;

China has also made a Rs 1,000 million grant for the construction of the new Gwadar international airport.

 
China to help in Pakistan's space projects 
Beijing will also be helping Pakistan in its space projects.&nbsp;

According to the Estimates of Foreign Assistance 2018-19, China will help Pakistan build a remote sensing satellite by giving it a loan of Rs 1,116 million space centres in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi with a Rs 700 million loan and a multi-mission satellite (PAK SAT MM1) with a loan of Rs 850 million.&nbsp;

India had approached Pakistan to be a part of the South Asian satellite project, which Islamabad declined. All the other South Asian countries are part of the New Delhi-led project.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

$126.79 billion: Cost of terror since 2001 
The Pakistani economic survey has a special header “Annex-IV: Impact of War in Afghanistan and Ensuing Terrorism on Pakistan's Economy”.&nbsp;

The two pages talk of what Pakistan has been cribbing about for the last 20 years. That they are victims of terror, but without mentioning how they have provided safe haven to terrorists. According to the Economic Survey of Pakistan, in the last 17 years, the direct and indirect cost incurred by Pakistan due to incidents of terrorism totalled up to US$ 126.79 billion 10,762.64 billion in Pakistani rupees.

<img alt="1.JPG" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" height="480" src="http://images.wionews.com/iniline-images/1.JPG" width="806" />

(The cost of terror paid by Pakistan.)&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Afghan refugees are a burden: Economic Survey of Pakistan 
The Pakistani economic survey says the country “continues to be a target of terrorism, including state-sponsored terrorism from its immediate neighbours”. It goes on to say Afghan refugees are a burden on the Pakistani economy. The survey said: “Hosting of millions of Afghan refugees not only burdened Pakistan’s economy but also put additional stress on its internal security situation. Pakistan continued to face terrorist attacks from terrorist hide-outs in Afghanistan.”

&nbsp;

Footnote 
Nothing of course can happen without a bit of drama in Pakistan.&nbsp;

The Pakistani Finance minister Miftah Ismail was sworn in just a few hours ahead of the budget. A miffed opposition walked out. It may be recalled that Ishaq Dar was the Finance Minister until he voluntarily stepped down after a corruption case against him.

China has already overtaken, by millions of Pakistani rupees, the US when it comes to loans granted to Pakistan, and this year it will grant even more

By Siddhant Sibbal Pakistan's ruling PML(N) has presented its last budget with CPEC, terror and Afghanistan making their way into the papers. But where Pakistan is involved, so is geopolitics. As always, Pakistan increased its defence budget. The Pakistani defence budget has been proposed at Pakistani Rs 1,100 billion for FY 2018-2019 as against the revised budget of Rs 999 billion for 2017-18. And its no longer 3 A’s — Allah, America and the Army — but ACC — Allah, China and CPEC. China-Pakistan Economic Corridor CPEC found mention seven times in Pakistan Finance Minister Miftah Ismail's speech. Lauding CPEC, Ismail said, “Vision of Mian Nawaz Sharif, CPEC initiative has become a global brand of Pakistan. As part of CPEC, our government initiated road projects that would link north of Pakistan with Gwadar. Trans-Pakistan corridor of motorways and special economic zones are designed to provide jobs, enhance manufacturing base, and increase prosperity and growth.” He said that as part of CPEC, the Pakistani government has also finalised its plan to increase by three times the speed of trains on Main Line-I from Peshawar to Karachi. Chinese loans replace US aid China has already overtaken, by millions of Pakistani rupees, the US when it comes to loans granted to Pakistan, and this year it will grant even more. In FY 2018-2019, China will be giving loans and grants to Pakistan amounting to Pakistani Rs 98,395.783 million. Of this, Rs 96,895.738 million will be in the form of loans while Rs 1,500 million will be in the form of grants. The US will be providing just Rs 13,523 million but all of it will be a grant. Clearly. most of the Chinese money being pumped into Pakistan is in the form of loans, the rates of interest on which are not known and nor are the tenures. China however is well known for its loans ensnaring countries in debt traps. South Asia has a lot of examples. The most famous one being Sri Lanka's Hambantota port of which China has been granted a 99-year lease. China’s foreign investment has been called predatory and many in Pakistan itself believe that CPEC could turn Pakistan into a Chinese colony. (The loans and grants provided to Pakistan.) The AIIB link Interestingly, the China-led AIIB (Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank) is also giving loans to Islamabad. India, with a 7.6% share, is the second largest shareholder in the bank. AIIB will be giving Pakistan loans totalling up to Rs 13,189 million. It’s a substantial increase from the Rs 5,289.609 given in FY 2017-2018. The new AIIB loan will be given for rehabilitation of the existing carriageway between the DI Khan-Saraigumble section, the Rajanpur-DG. Khan section, and Sehan-Ratodero. Gwadar: China’s helping hand to the port China and Pakistan's love child remains Gwadar. Pakistan has been granted a Rs 200 million loan for fresh water supply and distribution at Gwadar, and a Rs 100 million loan for the upgradation of an existing 50-bed hospital to 300 beds at the port. China has also made a Rs 1,000 million grant for the construction of the new Gwadar international airport. China to help in Pakistan's space projects Beijing will also be helping Pakistan in its space projects. According to the Estimates of Foreign Assistance 2018-19, China will help Pakistan build a remote sensing satellite by giving it a loan of Rs 1,116 million space centres in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi with a Rs 700 million loan and a multi-mission satellite (PAK SAT MM1) with a loan of Rs 850 million. India had approached Pakistan to be a part of the South Asian satellite project, which Islamabad declined. All the other South Asian countries are part of the New Delhi-led project. $126.79 billion: Cost of terror since 2001 The Pakistani economic survey has a special header “Annex-IV: Impact of War in Afghanistan and Ensuing Terrorism on Pakistan's Economy”. The two pages talk of what Pakistan has been cribbing about for the last 20 years. That they are victims of terror, but without mentioning how they have provided safe haven to terrorists. According to the Economic Survey of Pakistan, in the last 17 years, the direct and indirect cost incurred by Pakistan due to incidents of terrorism totalled up to US$ 126.79 billion 10,762.64 billion in Pakistani rupees. (The cost of terror paid by Pakistan.) Afghan refugees are a burden: Economic Survey of Pakistan The Pakistani economic survey says the country “continues to be a target of terrorism, including state-sponsored terrorism from its immediate neighbours”. It goes on to say Afghan refugees are a burden on the Pakistani economy. The survey said: “Hosting of millions of Afghan refugees not only burdened Pakistan’s economy but also put additional stress on its internal security situation. Pakistan continued to face terrorist attacks from terrorist hide-outs in Afghanistan.” Footnote Nothing of course can happen without a bit of drama in Pakistan. The Pakistani Finance minister Miftah Ismail was sworn in just a few hours ahead of the budget. A miffed opposition walked out. It may be recalled that Ishaq Dar was the Finance Minister until he voluntarily stepped down after a corruption case against him.

China is Pakistan's new paymaster: A closer look at the Pakistani budget

Pakistan&#39;s Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif addressed the Senate Standing Committee on Finance earlier today.

Asif alluded to Pakistan-US ties and noted that the Islamabad government has been trying to balance its relationship with the Trump administration.&nbsp;

He also noted that balancing ties with America would not mean compromising on Pakistan&#39;s integrity.

Pakistan is better off without the US aid, he further added.&nbsp;

The foreign minister also noted the relationship between the two countries were normal before US President Donald Trump&#39;s repeated scathing remarks on Pakistan.&nbsp;

Asif also clarified that Pakistan cannot keep hosting Afghanistan refugees.&nbsp;

US President Donald Trump recently announced a cut in aid to Pakistan. The aid estimated around $ 2billion.

The move came in US&#39; bid to force Pakistan to sever support for terror groups.&nbsp;

Asif also clarified that Pakistan cannot keep hosting Afghanistan refugees

Pakistan's Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif addressed the Senate Standing Committee on Finance earlier today. Asif alluded to Pakistan-US ties and noted that the Islamabad government has been trying to balance its relationship with the Trump administration. He also noted that balancing ties with America would not mean compromising on Pakistan's integrity. Pakistan is better off without the US aid, he further added. The foreign minister also noted the relationship between the two countries were normal before US President Donald Trump's repeated scathing remarks on Pakistan. Asif also clarified that Pakistan cannot keep hosting Afghanistan refugees. US President Donald Trump recently announced a cut in aid to Pakistan. The aid estimated around $ 2billion. The move came in US' bid to force Pakistan to sever support for terror groups.

Pakistan can do without US aid: Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif

The US blocked USD 300 million military aid to&nbsp;Islamabad as it failed to get a Congressional certification for&nbsp;&quot;satisfactory&quot; action against the dreaded Haqqani network, the Pentagon has&nbsp;said as it warned that it was in Pakistan&#39;s interest to take action against&nbsp;terrorists. 
 
The Haqqani Network has carried out a number of kidnappings and attacks&nbsp;against US interests in Afghanistan, the Afghan government and other civilian&nbsp;targets. 
 
The group is also blamed for several deadly attacks against Indian interests&nbsp;in Afghanistan including the 2008 bombing of the Indian mission in Kabul that&nbsp;killed 58 people. 
 
The Pentagon said it was in Pakistan&#39;s interest to take action against&nbsp;terrorists in &quot;as many ways as possible&quot;. 
 
&quot;We continue to have a close relationship with Pakistan with regard to&nbsp;terrorism and fighting terrorism. (But) It&#39;s obviously in Pakistan&#39;s own&nbsp;interest and the United States interest to combat terrorism in as many ways&nbsp;as possible,&quot; Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook told reporters yesterday. 
 
US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter did not give Congressional certification&nbsp;to Pakistan for satisfactory action against the Haqqani network this year,&nbsp;Cook said. 
 
In the absence of the certification, the Pentagon blocked disbursement of USD&nbsp;300 million to Pakistan under Coalition Support Fund, which is essentially&nbsp;reimbursement money for the expenses made by Pakistan Army in support of US&nbsp;operations in Afghanistan. 
 
&quot;With regard to that USD 300 million, there was a (June 30) deadline in terms&nbsp;of whether or not to transfer that money or to use that money in other ways,&nbsp;and it was determined that at this moment in time, it was best to reprogramme&nbsp;that money in other directions,&quot; Cook said. 
 
The Washington Post, which first reported about it, has described the&nbsp;withholding of the US military assistance to Pakistan as a &quot;potential blow&quot;&nbsp;to US-Pak ties. 
 
The Pentagon press secretary, however, said the US will continue to work&nbsp;&quot;closely with Pakistan and we&#39;ve seen significant efforts on the part of the&nbsp;Pakistanis.&quot; 
 
(PTI)

The group has carried out a number of attacks?against US and Indian interests in Afghanistan

The US blocked USD 300 million military aid to Islamabad as it failed to get a Congressional certification for "satisfactory" action against the dreaded Haqqani network, the Pentagon has said as it warned that it was in Pakistan's interest to take action against terrorists. The Haqqani Network has carried out a number of kidnappings and attacks against US interests in Afghanistan, the Afghan government and other civilian targets. The group is also blamed for several deadly attacks against Indian interests in Afghanistan including the 2008 bombing of the Indian mission in Kabul that killed 58 people. The Pentagon said it was in Pakistan's interest to take action against terrorists in "as many ways as possible". "We continue to have a close relationship with Pakistan with regard to terrorism and fighting terrorism. (But) It's obviously in Pakistan's own interest and the United States interest to combat terrorism in as many ways as possible," Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook told reporters yesterday. US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter did not give Congressional certification to Pakistan for satisfactory action against the Haqqani network this year, Cook said. In the absence of the certification, the Pentagon blocked disbursement of USD 300 million to Pakistan under Coalition Support Fund, which is essentially reimbursement money for the expenses made by Pakistan Army in support of US operations in Afghanistan. "With regard to that USD 300 million, there was a (June 30) deadline in terms of whether or not to transfer that money or to use that money in other ways, and it was determined that at this moment in time, it was best to reprogramme that money in other directions," Cook said. The Washington Post, which first reported about it, has described the withholding of the US military assistance to Pakistan as a "potential blow" to US-Pak ties. The Pentagon press secretary, however, said the US will continue to work "closely with Pakistan and we've seen significant efforts on the part of the Pakistanis." (PTI)

In Pak's interest to take action against Haqqani network: Pentagon

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