No Exceptions for a Nuclear India

By Editorial Board

America’s relationship with India has blossomed under President Obama, who will meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi this week. Ideally, Mr. Obama could take advantage of the ties he has built and press for India to adhere to the standards on nuclear proliferation to which other nuclear weapons states adhere.

The problem, however, is that the relationship with India rests on a dangerous bargain. For years, the United States has sought to bend the rules for India’s nuclear program to maintain India’s cooperation on trade and to counter China’s growing influence. In 2008, President George W. Bush signed a civilian nuclear deal with India that allowed it to trade in nuclear materials. This has encouraged Pakistan to keep expanding a nuclear weapons program that is already the fastest growing in the world.

Now, India has Mr. Obama’s strong support in its bid to join the Nuclear Suppliers Group, a 48-nation body that governs trade in nuclear-related exports and aims to ensure that civilian trade in nuclear materials is not diverted for military uses. Membership would enhance India’s standing as a nuclear weapons state, but it is not merited until the country meets the group’s standards.

All group members have signed the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, either as nuclear weapons states (the United States, Britain, France, Russia, China) or as non-nuclear weapons states (everybody else). India has refused, which means it has not accepted legally binding commitments to pursue disarmament negotiations, halt the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons and not test nuclear weapons.

President Bush squandered an opportunity to demand more of India when he signed the 2008 deal, which opened the door to American trade in nuclear technology for civilian energy, something India had insisted was a prerequisite to more cooperation and lucrative business deals.

As part of the 2008 deal, the Indians promised they would be “ready to assume the same responsibilities and practices” as other nations with advanced nuclear technology. But they have fallen far short by continuing to produce fissile material and to expand their nuclear arsenal.

The Nuclear Suppliers Group is to discuss India’s application later this month. Mr. Obama is lobbying for India to win membership through a special exception. If he succeeds, India would be in a position to keep Pakistan, which has also applied for membership, from gaining membership because group decisions must be unanimous. That could give Pakistan, which at one time provided nuclear technology to North Korea and Iran, new incentives to misbehave.

Opposition from China, which is close to Pakistan and views India as a rival, could doom India’s bid for now. But the issue will not go away. India is growing in importance and seeking greater integration into organizations that govern international affairs. If it wants recognition as a nuclear weapons state, it should be required to meet the nuclear group’s standards, including opening negotiations with Pakistan and China on curbing nuclear weapons and halting the production of nuclear fuel for bombs.

Pakistan Is About To Collapse

By M. Ali Khan

When i left Pakistan in my teenage years, Zia-Ul-Haq was in power and i remember some elders discussing amongst themselves that Pakistan is about to collapse. Then i moved to America and while in my university at Rutgers, I became President of The Pakistani Association in my junior year for one term, and so many Pakistani-American students would talk about how Pakistan has no future and i am wasting my time promoting Pakistan. Then came Wall Street and on Wall Street, many confused Pakistan with Palestine when i told them where i was from and the few who knew about Pakistan, gave me 1 billion 699 million reasons based on their Sovereign debt calculations, economic forecasts, currency fluctuations, political instability and many other reasons telling me that Pakistan will collapse. Then when my children were born in America, i wanted them to be proud of their heritage and when i went to put them in school, their teacher told me that how her husband dealt with Pakistani diplomats through state department and how state department predicts that Pakistan will not be there in a few decades. Then when i came to serve my country in 1999 as an Advisor, then it was everywhere in the news around the world that since there is a Marshall Law Governing the country, and since without Democracy, Pakistan will be rejected by IMF, by United States, by Europe, and by all lending agencies and we would DEFINITELY collapse this time.....

Well, since i was in my early teenage years till now, three decades later. Let me tell you who has collapsed. The second biggest power in the world, Soviet Union collapsed. Argentinian economy collapsed. Greece collapsed. Portugal collapsed. EU is at the brink of a collapse. America with a $19 trillion dollar debt is worse than collapsed. Iraq with billions of oil revenues collapsed. Libya with trillions in oil reserves collapsed. Venezuelan government toppled and the old system collapsed. Syria collapsed. The currency Euro is about to collapse. The most loved commodity, Oil, since 1986 collapsed 3 times. Zimbabwe collapsed economically. Congo collapsed even with its diamond reserves. Liberia collapsed because of its leaders. Yemen collapsed of its internal rift. Israel, the favourite of America has fallen off its favourite list, indicating an imminent collapse....

So all the idiots who are waiting for Pakistan to collapse since the past 30 years, wait till the doomsday. We are not going to collapse. We had economic hardships, terrorism, external intervention, enemy neighbours, and international opposition..yet we have grown. We beat terrorism, we are growing economically, Our GDP has grown in the past 30 years, our per capita income has grown, our standard of living compared to the past 30 years has grown, we are a nuclear state, we now have CPEC, we have talent and we have resilience and we have tenacity. And most of all, we have Allah on our side.

So to all those who have tirelessly waited for 30 some odd years, let me give you a piece of advice, may you be within or outside Pakistan, you will come, you will go, your children and grandchildren will come and they will go... but Pakistan is here to stay. Pakistan is here to grow. Pakistan is here to become better. Pakistan is here because US PAKISTANIS DO NOT GIVE UP... We are inherently The POSITIVE PAKISTANIS... You believe in your POWER and WE Believe In The Power Of Allah. PERIOD.

Trump Follows William II and Hitler in the Modern Era

By Sajjad Shaukat

By following the policies of Germany’s earlier rulers William II (Kaiser) and Adolf Hitler in the modern era, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald J. Trump will cause destruction in the entire world, if he becomes the president of the United States.  

Robert G. L. Waite in his books “Kaiser and Fuhrer: A Comparative Study of Personality and Politics”, and “The Psychopathic God: Adolph Hitler”finds outstanding similarities between William II and Hitler. According to him, “Though Hitler rose to power at the head of a mass movement and the Kaiser inherited his throne, the two men were alike in their pathological egotism and belief that Germany existed for their own aggrandizement. Both men considered themselves incapable of change. Both were fierce racists and anti-Semites. They enjoyed humiliating others. Both dragged Germany into destructive World Wars for which they were quick to blame others.”

Renowned historians opine that William II and Adolf Hitler were impulsive rulers, guided by ungoverned temper—they were the most ambitious readers who wanted to make Germany the greatest power. They believed in the principle of “world power or downfall.” They had a firm faith in the superiority of German race. The two leaders believed that the path to German greatness was through aggressive military actions. They started a programme of enormous armament by developing German military on modern lines. William II and Hitler became powerful rulers and acted upon an aggressive foreign policy to subjugate other nations. It was due to their unskilled diplomacy that militarization of Germany alarmed France, England and Russia. Thus, they humiliated the Germans, as their country was defeated in the World War I World War II.

Particularly, Hitler’s character and adverse circumstances in Germany helped him to come to power. The Germans were badly humiliated by the Treaty of Versailles (Peace Settlement 1919) which resulted into multiple crises, especially unemployment in Germany. Hitler was a great orator and his techniques of propaganda helped him to influence millions of people. The Germans felt that Hitler could not only resolve their problems, but could also restore the glory of Germany in the eyes of the world. The more Hitler manipulated the injustices of the Treaty of Versailles, the more he became popular with the public.

After coming to power, Adolf Hitler’s internal policies were authoritarian and totalitarian. Liberty disappeared completely. The secret police-Gestapo was formed to deal with the slightest indication of opposition. He mixed politics with religious fervor and massacred several Jews in the concentration camps. Hitler and his Nazi party had planned to conquer colonies for the German people in the East and South of Europe. They must have a living space-Lebensraum, as Nazis called it.

Following William II and Hitler in the modern era, Donald Trump promised to restore American prestige and to make America great again. Like Hitler, Trump succeeded in mobilizing the electorate of the Republican Party with promises to restore jobs and to resolve the internal problems of the US. During his emotional speeches, Trump’s body language and way of speaking were not less than those of Hitler, and he managed to consolidate popular support among Republican voters, despite the resistance from his own party. He won over his fellow candidates in the nomination race.

As regards the propaganda techniques, one can easily witness resemblance between Trump and Hitler. In this context, on May 31, 2016, nearly 400 pages of a US court documents disclosed, “Trump University instructed employees on how to play on peoples’ emotions to get them to buy more expensive seminars for succeeding in real estate…it is our job to rekindle peoples’ motivation...to make them once again see the potential of achieving their dream…the documents unsealed in San Diego were part of a lawsuit by customers who say they were defrauded…a judge who has earned Trump’s scorn agreed with attorneys that the public had a right to know what was previously confidential.”  

It is notable that as part of the anti-Muslim approach, and with the support of its Western allies, American President George W. Bush and President Barack Obama deliberately created chaos in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Egypt and Syria including other Islamic countries such as Somalia, Yemen etc. where Washington was indirectly involved. If Hitler had erected concentration camps for Jews, Bush and Obama also converted these countries into concentration camps for the Muslims to obtain the illegitimate political and economic interests of the Zionist Jews and Israel. During the phony global war on terror US-led Western forces killed millions of innocent persons in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Egypt and Syria. In connivance with the Israeli Mossad, American CIA utilized a global network of secret prisons, foreign intelligence agents and torture centers in various Muslim countries including Belgium, Bagram (Afghanistan), Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo and ships where torture was conducted directly by the CIA and FBI operatives. Besides encouragement to the Israeli brutal tactics on the Palestinians, CIA conducted Shia-Sunni violence in Iraq and Pakistan. In case of Iraq, the US unleashed a deadly sectarian militia which terrorized the Sunni community and germinated a civil war, and claimed tens of thousands of lives. Now, terror-attacks on sectarian lines could also be noted in Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Syria, while, CIA which created Al-Qaeda, also formed the Islamic State group (Also known ISIS or ISIL or Daesh) and Al-Qaeda’s Al-Nusra Front in accordance with the double game of America.

In these terms, covertly, Donald Trump seems determined to continue the anti-Muslim policies of the Bush and Obama, and could establish more concentration camps to complete the unfinished agenda of the Zionist-lobbies and Israel, in case, he becomes American president. He will not bother for dangerous implications of the US flawed strategy.

Anti-Muslim rhetoric of Trump could be judged from his own statements. While addressing a rally, Trump had called for a ban on Muslims, entering the United States. Trump’s opposition to Muslim refugees, especially from Syria is very well known. During his appearance with the National Border Patrol Council’s Green Line radio show on May 15, 2016, Trump has predicted that refugees with ISIS-funded cell phones will conduct another 9/11-like terrorist attack in the US. During a GOP debate in December, 2016, he had already expressed similar thoughts by giving “Americans wakeup call about border security and to take it seriously,” elaborating that he had “no doubt, the attackers were already entering the country.”

It is mentionable that after the terror attacks in Paris and Brussels, European politicians, particularly far right-wing leaders and their media are misguiding the general public against the Muslim World by exaggerating the so-called threat of Islamophobia. Besides, Muslims in the continent are facing severe backlash in form of attacks on them and threats (In some countries) in wake of anti-Muslim protests. Without caring for human rights, several Muslim refugees have been expelled from various European countries. European and American intelligence officials and counterterrorism experts and analysts have been predicting prospective terror attacks in Europe and the US, which would be conducted by the ISIS. Experience of the recent acts of terrorism show that general masses start pointing fingers at the ISIS, without going into depth to know as to who (Entity) is behind this outfit, as to what the aims that entity wants to achieve, and what is the secret game in this respect.

Therefore, in pursuance of Hitler who held the Jews responsible for the defeat of Germany in the World War I, Donald Trump wants to keep the so-called threat of Islamophobia and that of Syrian refugees alive to create sense of fear among the Americans to win the presidential elections. Thus, he also intends to strengthen the alliance between the US and the West, especially Europe. In this connection, Trump who lacks farsightedness has totally ignored American’s home-grown terrorists which are proving more dangerous than those of the ISIS. Besides, if elected American president, Trump promised to stop immigrants from Mexico, while calling the Mexican immigrants “criminals” and “rapists”.

As regards Iraq and the Syrian war, since September 30, 2015, the Russian-led coalition of Iran, Iraq, the Syrian army-the National Defense Forces (NDF) and Lebanon-based Hezbollah have broken the backbone of the US-CIA-assisted ISIS terrorists, Al-Qaeda’s Al-Nusra Front and the rebels who have been fighting to oust the Syrian President Assad’s government and against the current Iraqi regime as part of America’s dual strategy. These demoralized militants have fled most of the areas in Syria and Iraq, which have been recaptured by the NDF and Iraqi military. Therefore, if elected, being the US president, Trump will give a setback to the Geneva-based peace process of Syria, as he is likely to try to implement the CIA-prepared Plan B to divide Syria in order to obtain the American-Israeli secret aims, while providing Mossad equal chance to use the ISIS militants to conduct terror attacks in the US and Europe also to divert the attention of Americans and European peoples from internal problems which are owing to the prolonged war on terror in Afghanistan and other countries in wake of rift between the EU states on the question of refugees and so on.

It is noteworthy that there is a co-relationship of the US internal and external policies. But, like William II and Hitler, Trump is uncompromising. True to his rigid approach, he has set aside the facts that one of the major causes of the disintegration of the former Russian Empire was that its greater defence expenditures exceeded to the maximum, resulting in economic crises inside the country. In this context, about a protracted war in Afghanistan, the former Russian President Gorbachev had declared it as the “bleeding wound.” While learning no lesson, in one way or the other, the US has been acting upon the similar policies which led to the demise of the Soviet Union.

Famous thinker of international relations, Hans Morgenthau points out that external policy of a country should be moulded in accordance “with the exigencies and circumstances of time and place” otherwise, there will be “failure of the foreign policy.” It is quite true in case of Trump who will further thwart the American foreign policy goals, because, he does not have political wisdom.

Notably, a new cold war has already started between the US-led Europe and Russia. After taking cognizance of the grievances of the international community, Russian President Vladimir Putin is rapidly restoring the balance of power in the world. In this respect, Masco which also has China’s support, though Beijing does not, openly, show, is in better position than the US and its western (NATO) allies who are also entangled in Afghanistan and the Middle East. This cold war will enhance American expenditures by deepening the US momentary problems, while it is already been becoming difficult for Washington to maintain its military bases abroad. According to a recent report, America is near military collapse. However, Trump who lacks pragmatism would expedite the disintegration of America and the EU like the Soviet Union.  

It is worth-mentioning that when President Obama hosted the fourth Nuclear Security Summit in Washington on March 31, 2016 to check the spread of nuclear weapons, showing concerns about the ambitions of terrorist groups such as the ISIS in acquiring a nuclear weapon or radioactive material, Donald Trump had taken a different stand in his interview with the CNN by stating, “More nuclear weapons could make the world safer…US can no longer afford to bankroll the defense of its allies in Europe, Asia and the Middle East…Japan, South Korea and Saudi Arabia may need arsenals to confront threats in their region on their own.”

Nevertheless, besides encouragement of nuclear arms race, it displays contradictory approach of the Republican candidate Donald Trump, as on the one side, he says that US can no longer afford to bankroll the defense of its allies in Europe, Asia and the Middle East, while on the other; he wants to make America supreme power of the world.

Similarly, by pursuing the double standards of the US in its worst form, Trump also intends to favour India, while opposing the nuclear weapons of Pakistan. In this regard, he has brushed aside the ground realities that Indian Prime Minister Narindra Modi led by the ruling fundamentalist party BJP has been implementing anti-Muslim and anti-Pakistan agenda, while encouraging Hindutva (Hindu nationalism). Besides Muslims, BJP and other extremist outfits have also been targeting the Christians and their places of worship. Notably, BJP leader Dr. Subramaniam Swamy said on July 12, 2014 that India needed only two years to defeat Pakistan militarily, and the only solution of Kashmir was war, as “there is no peaceful solution.” Hence, if elected, as American president, Trump’s flawed strategy will result into atomic war between India and Pakistan in wake of the unresolved issue of Kashmir.

Once, the power-theorist, Henry Kissinger had stated that true diplomacy runs in the barrel of gun. This is what Trump is determined to follow by neglecting the modern international trends such as renunciation of war, disarmament, peaceful settlement of dispute and economic development.

Overestimation of one’s own power and underestimation of his adversary lead to war. William II and Hitler overestimated the power of Germany and underestimated that of their rival countries. This baseless idealistic policy culminated into destructive World Wars. In case, Donald Trump becomes American president, he will also overestimate the power of the US and underestimate that of Russia. But in the modern era, his inflexible strategy could result into nuclear war between the US and Russia which would envelope the whole world. If elected, as the US president, Donald Trump is likely to accelerate the division of the world on religious lines, which could end in the ‘clash of civilizations” in the sense of Huntington, and thus, he would be responsible to originate a civil war on global level, particularly in wake of unresolved issue of Syria, as he is follower of William II and Hitler in the modern era.    

Sajjad Shaukat writes on international affairs and is author of the book: US vs Islamic Militants, Invisible Balance of Power: Dangerous Shift in International Relations

Email: sajjad_logic_pak@hotmail.com

Courtesy Veterans Today

RSF Report Construes India as the deadliest Country for Journalists in Asia

Ishaal Zehra

The recent annual report of Reporters Without Borders says that India is the 3rd most dangerous nation for journalists… after Iraq and Syria. India is concluded to be the most dangerous Asian country for journalists in the year 2015, with nine reporters losing their lives during the last year only. The media watchdog commented that these deaths confirmed “India’s position as Asia’s deadliest country for media personnel, ahead of both Pakistan and Afghanistan”.

Only war-torn Iraq and Syria recorded the deaths of more journalists than India. Four of the nine Indian journalists murdered in the past year were killed “for still undetermined reasons”, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said.

A total of 110 journalists were killed in connection with their work or for unclear reasons in 2015, and at least 67 were killed while reporting or because of their work, the report mentions. Indian journalists “daring to cover organized crime and its links with politicians have been exposed to a surge in violence, especially violence of criminal origin, since the start of 2015”, the report further say.

Besides India, the eight other countries where the most journalists were killed are Iraq (11), Syria (10), France (eight), Yemen (eight), Mexico (eight), South Sudan (seven), the Philippines (seven) and Honduras (seven).

Soon after the release of this report by Reporters Without Borders, the murders of journalists Rajdeo Ranjan in Bihar and Akhilesh Pratap Singh in Jharkhand within 24 hours of each other on 15 May 2016 substantiated the international report that named India as the deadliest nation for reporters and media personnel in Asia.

Since 1992, 64 journalists have been killed in India with reporters exposing corruption (includes both moral and financial), says a compilation by the Committee to Protect Journalists.

Most of them died in smaller towns where graft is rampant and exposing it means earning the wrath of powerful politicians and industrialists. Last year, for example, freelance journalist Jagendra Singh was allegedly burnt alive by police and goons reportedly sent by Uttar Pradesh minister Ram Murti Verma in Shahjahanpur. The reason: Singh’s prominent coverage to the alleged rape of an anganwadi worker by Verma. Earlier this year, again, a group backed by the Chhattisgarh government forced journalists Malini Subramaniam and some lawyers out of the Maoist-affected Bastar region. Activists also said the state administration was muzzling free speech after three journalists were arrested on allegedly flimsy charges.

The poor record is primarily because of an absence of any mechanism to protect journalists. The Press Council of India (PCI) is virtually toothless with its recommendations not binding on any authority. “It’s a matter of grave concern that three journalists were killed in India in the last four months and another died in a tragic accident while on the line of duty,” said PCI chief justice (retd) Chandramouli Kumar Prasad.

A PCI report shows 96 % cases of journalists killing reported in the last two decades have not reached their logical conclusion. The cases have either dragged on in the courts or the investigation has hit a dead end. The PCI chief, in a statement, urged the government of India to enact a special law for protection of journalists and speedy trial of cases of attacks and assaults.

Anthony Bellanger, the General Secretary of IFJ also advocated the view saying, “Everyone who comes into contact with journalists need to respect their independence. It requires governments to comply with their international obligations by investigating journalists’ killings and bringing those responsible to justice”.

According to a press report only 14 percent of journalists live in countries with free press; the rest cannot freely report on political beat without government intrusion. The World Press faces a freedom crisis; in 2014 the Global Press Freedom was at its lowest. With growing political and terrorist threats a journalist is going through humanitarian crisis.

Last year 134 journalists were killed, with India on number four on the list of countries with maximum number of journalists dying of unnatural causes. 13 journalists were killed in India last year; most of them were shot dead. And this year nine Indian reporters were among 110 journalists killed around the world.

In its annual roundup, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said those nine journalists who had been murdered in India in 2015 were reporting on organized crime and its links with politicians and others for covering illegal mining. “Journalists were killed in the course of their work and their deaths confirm India's position as Asia's deadliest country for media personnel, ahead of both Pakistan and Afghanistan".

"The inadequacy of the Indian authorities' response is reinforcing the climate of impunity for violence against journalists," the report said. "The 110 journalists killed this year need a response that matches the emergency. A special representative of the United Nations secretary-general for the safety of journalists must be appointed without delay," it added.

Noting that it had urged the Indian government to establish "a national plan for protecting journalists", the watchdog said, "a response that matches the scale of the threats to journalists is now essential."

The RSF finally concludes by criticizing the Indian government for its indifference attitude towards the threats against journalists. It concludes saying; Journalists and bloggers are attacked and anathematized by various religious groups that are quick to take offence. At the same time, it is hard for journalists to cover regions such as Kashmir that are regarded as sensitive by the government. Prime Minister Narendra Modi seems indifferent to these threats and problems, and there is no mechanism for protecting journalists. Instead, in a desire to increase control of media coverage, Modi envisages opening a journalism university run by former propaganda ministry officials.

Maintaining the report by RSF, The Hoot.org has also compiled a list to highlight the vulnerability of working journalists in India, particularly those who work at the district level. Journalists in the country have faced 10 defamation cases, 26 attacks and six death threats since January 2016, says their report.

Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu - the three states have been particularly stated as worst for press freedom. "The greater vulnerability is for journalists in districts and small towns. One reason for this is that many of them are investigating local scams and they pose a threat to the powerful in government and in politics... There is no pressure group at the national level which maintains pressure on the central and state governments in cases regarding journalists. The Editors Guild and other bodies are not really proactive in this regard. The Press Council publishes reports, but unfortunately they have no impact," says editor, The Hoot, Sevanti Ninan.

India Tightens Visa Rules for Afghans

By Sajjad Shaukat

                                                

India which has invested billions of dollars in Afghanistan, signed a wide-ranging strategic agreement with that country on October 5, 2011 also includes to help train Afghan security forces, while assisting Kabul in diversified projects has been playing double game with the war-torn country.  Overtly, New Delhi has been claiming friendship with Afghanistan, covertly,  it is  strengthening Indian grip by creating unending lawlessness in that country which has become a most suitable place for Indian secret agency RAW to implement a conspiracy to fulfill its country’s strategic designs against Iran, China and particularly Pakistan. As part of India’s dual strategy, RAW has well-established its network in Afghanistan and is in connivance with the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Daesh and is using the militants of these terrorist outfits to destabilize Tibetan regions of China, Iranian Sistan-Baluchistan and especially Pakistan’s province of Balochistan by arranging the subversive activities, promoting acrimonious sense of dissent, political volatility, sectarian violence and arousing sentiments of separatism. In this context, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is their special target.

Now, as part of Indian double game, in the early May, this year, India has tightens visa rules for the Afghan nationals. Regarding India’s imposition of new visa restrictions on Afghan citizens, India media reported, “Visa applicants are now required to submit their personal bank account statements demonstrating financial ability to pay all costs of the trip. Minor applicants (aged 15 or below) and dependents who do not have individual bank accounts can submit bank statements of their parents/spouse/children. For those who travel to India for medical reasons, it is now mandatory to get a letter from a local Afghan doctor clearly stating that treatment for the particular illness or disease is not available in Afghanistan.”

The media elaborated, “Such restrictions are seen as more of a hurdle for people whose country is at war with Taliban and where local people face daily threat to survival. Unlike India, large parts of Afghanistan have little or no rule of government and more often than not, local people have to run away from their homes to protect themselves from Taliban.”

It further said, “Given the grim ground reality, Afghans look to India for medical treatment or to pursue university education. Hundreds of them travel to hospitals in Delhi and surrounding areas for treatment with little or no medical intervention back home.”

While quoting the statement of Afghan Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani, Indian media pointed out,   “India has tightened visa controls for Afghan nationals because of concerns over Afghan passports being found in the possession of citizens of countries neighbouring Afghanistan…he made the remarks after the Meshrano Jirga, or upper house of parliament, summoned to explain visa restrictions imposed by India for Afghan nationals…Rabbani did not name the countries whose citizens had obtained Afghan passports. However, Afghan media reports quoted senators as saying that the move was linked to Indian concerns about Pakistan…the minister of foreign affairs was directly hinting at Pakistan…Asef Sediqi, a senator, was quoted as saying by Tolo News…the senators said they believed India had taken the step to prevent the entry of militants…regional countries are concerned that suspected militants of Daesh, Taliban and other terrorist groups might enter into their countries from Afghanistan…Rabbani said India is concerned over the easy access to Afghan passports by nationals of neighbouring countries and has urged (the Afghan) government to resolve the issue”.

Nevertheless, Indian double game with Afghanistan has also been exposed by the Indian media which also said, “On 4 June, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to Afghanistan’s Herat province to dedicate the India-built Salma Dam to water-starved and electricity-deprived people of the region. This trip will come days after Modi signed the agreement in Tehran that commits India to develop the Chabahar port, a project that is viewed by the people of Afghanistan as one that will help reduce their dependence on Pakistan…the enormous goodwill for India among the people of Afghanistan, however, is threatened by bureaucratic hurdles created in the recent weeks with new visa restrictions imposed by New Delhi.”

It is notable that on June 30, 2014, India had announced liberal visa policy for Afghan nationals—exemption of senior Afghan citizens and children from police reporting, allowing the Afghan nationals to stay in India on stay visa/resident permit up to two years at a time, and upgradation of the amenities at the Foreigner Regional Registration Office (FRRO) for the Afghan nationals. While doubting the integrity of the Afghan citizens, a system of biometric enrolment and photography was introduced to ensure that such facilities were not misused by unscrupulous elements, as stated by the home ministry of India. But these facilities have been taken back from the Afghan citizens in the new visa policy which has imposed restrictions.

It is mentionable that unlike India, Pakistan has provided the Afghans with several visa facilities, as per Pakistan policy, no Afghan citizen is denied visa and the same are served to them within 24-48 hours. Visa application fees are waived for all Afghani Nationals upon submission of their Afghani Passport. In case, anyone is not able to provide Afghani passport, invitation letter on the letter head from the sponsor organization, stating details of purpose, duration and cities of visit is enough for obtaining visa. Family visa is issued to Afghan nationals having family relations in Pakistan. Adult (18 years and above) Afghan national can apply for family visa if his/her spouse has Pakistan nationality. Under 18 years old Afghan national can apply for family visa, if either of their parents have Pakistan nationality.

Undoubtedly, Indian new visa policy shows Indian maltreatment vis-à-vis Pakistan’s good behaviour with Afghanistan and Afghanistan’s friendly gestures with India vis-à-vis undue animosity with Pakistan.

Reports of Afghan media suggest that the issue of Indian new visa rules for the Afghan citizens has been has been raised in Afghanistan’s Wolesi Jirga (House of People).

Nonetheless, India has tightens visa rules for the Afghans as part of double game with Afghanistan.

Email: sajjad_logic@yahoo.com

How to Deal With India’s Water Terrorism?

By Sajjad Shaukat

Since the 9/11 tragedy, international community has been taking war against terrorism seriously, while there are also other forms of bloodless wars, being waged in the world and the same are like terrorism. Political experts opine that modern terrorism has many meanings like violent acts, economic terrorism etc., but its main aim is to achieve political, economic and social ends. Judging in these terms, India water terrorism against Pakistan continues unabated.

In March, 2011, speaking in diplomatic language, Indus Water Commissioner of India G. Ranganathan denied that India’s decision to build dams on rivers led to water shortage in Pakistan. He also rejected Islamabad’s concerns at water theft by New Delhi or violation of the Indus Water Treaty of 1960, assuring his counterpart, Syed Jamaat Ali Shah that all issues relating to water would be resolved through dialogue. However, ground realties are quite different from what Ranganathan maintained.

Besides other permanent issues and, especially the dispute of Kashmir which has always been used by India to malign and pressurize Pakistan, water of rivers has become a matter of life and death for every Pakistani, as New Delhi has been employing it as a tool of terrorism to blackmail Pakistan.

Pakistan is a grave victim of water scarcity, because of being on lower riparian in relation to the rivers emanating from the Indian-Held Kashmir (IHK). India has never missed an opportunity to harm Pakistan since its inception; it is creating deliberate water shortages for Pakistan with the aim to impair Pakistan agriculturally. Historically, India has been trying to establish her hegemony in the region by controlling water sources and damaging agricultural economies of her neighbouring states. India has water disputes with Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh. Off late, radical Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi has ordered diverting water of Chenab River to Beas, which is a serious violation of Indus Water Treaty and international laws. The recent move coupled with already launched water offensive by India would convert Pakistan into a desert akin to Somalia and Ethiopia, the two drought ridden countries of Africa. By establishing numerous dams on the rivers, flowing from IHK, India has not only deprived Pakistan of its due right rather it can regulate the flow of rivers at her will and can sink Pakistan within 48 hours, if it so decides by opening the gates of these dams.

It is notable that climate change is affecting the whole world and water sources are rapidly becoming a rare commodity. It is often quoted that the future wars would be fought on water. Pakistan’s per capita water availability is reduced to an estimated 950 cubic meters as compared to 5,500 cubic meters in 1951. Ironically, despite having acute water shortage Pakistan faces floods almost every year which cause losses in term of lives, property, displacement and suffering for the people from KPK province, down to that of Sindh and Balochistan. These floods result into a lot of water resource wastage, as we do not have facilities to store the flood water. Almost 22 million acre feet (MAF) of fresh water go to the sea unutilized which can be saved through construction of water reservoirs. The existing live storage capacity in Pakistan is only 14.10 MAF or only 9.7 percent as against the world average of 40 percent. The engineered sensitivity and resultant controversy over a dam issue has damaged the national point of view. With only two existing major reservoirs in the Indus basin, Mangla and Tarbela dams, the storage capacity of Pakistan is only about 30 days, while most of the developed countries have 1-2 years water storage capability. Unfortunately we are not only suffering from the water shortage/water terrorism from India, but have also failed in water storage and management as well.

Quaid-e-Azam declared Kashmir as jugular vein for Pakistan and that is proving true today. Nation needs to stand united against Indian water terrorism. Pakistan must explore all political and diplomatic means to ensure water security. At the same time, the Kashmir issue needs to be taken up with fresh vigor in the light of Quaid’s vision.

Dams provide valuable water storage for agriculture and electricity production. We need to raise our capacity by investing in big dams to overcome perpetual electric crisis and improve our agriculture. In Indus basin alone huge and fertile irrigable areas are available but due to the water shortage, but, they remain deserted. Pakistan is fast becoming a water scarce country. More than 30 million acre feet (MAF) of water is wasted, going down into the sea, as against 8-10 MAF required downstream Kotri for environmental reasons. The increased storage capacity from building new reservoirs could store floodwater for productive use and lessen flood peaks downstream.

New Delhi is also constructing a large dam in Kargil on River Indus which will block 45% flow of water to Pakistan. It is said to be the world’s 3rd largest dam. India has also finalized plans to build a dam on River Kabul and set up Kama Hydroelectric Project using 0.5MAF of Pakistan water with the approval of ex-president Hamid Karzai.

Recently, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah has stated that 2.2 million acres of land in Thatta has been encroached by the sea due to non-implementation of the 1991 Water Accord which calls for release of minimum required 10 MAF water downstream Kotri to help stop the increasing intrusion. The less than required down flow of water beyond Kotri Barrage not only results in turning huge stretches of land in Sindh into barren land, rather it has the potential of creating inter provincial misunderstanding as well. The establishment of dams can ensure regular required down flow of water round the year.

To recapitulate, Para 6 of the Water Apportionment Accord 1991 signed by the provinces on March 16, and later ratified by the Council of Common Interests (CCI) on March 21 1991, clearly recognizes the need of new water storages for future agricultural development as out of 14 Paras of the accord—six were about development and opening of a new era of expansion of water resources.

Local and international water experts, including those from the World Bank and Earth Policy Institute have also been warning Islamabad about a major water crisis in the next 10-40 years owing to unusually fast depletion of the Himalayan glaciers, low storage capacity and other related uncertainties. Some of the experts have even pointed out that Himalayan glaciers, contributing over 80 percent water to the Indus river that feeds more than 65 percent of the country’s agriculture, are receding at a rate of 30-50 meters per annum.

An International Panel of Experts (IPOE) was appointed by the federal government on demand of the Sindh government and in consultation with the World Bank to have an independent external review of the three studies conducted by different top ranking consulting firms. The IPOE has recommended that an escapade at Kotri Barrage of 3.6 MAF per year @ 5,000 cfs is considered necessary to check seawater intrusion, accommodate the needs of fisheries and environmental sustainability and to maintain the river channels.

Alongside building dams, Islamabad also needs to put its irrigation system in order. We waste nearly 60% of water in distribution due to unpaved canals, distributaries and irrigation channels. There is a need to improve all these on modern lines to ensure that whatever water we have is not wasted and optimally utilized.

Genuine concerns of the provinces over new water reservoirs have to be understood and addressed. However, most of the concerns are shaped by wrong perceptions and can be better managed through an improved information and communication campaign.

Sajjad Shaukat writes on international affairs and is author of the book: US vs Islamic Militants, Invisible Balance of Power: Dangerous Shift in International Relations

Email: sajjad_logic@yahoo.com

A Government without a Chief Executive!

By:       Aasef Chauhdry
There is a great chaos and confusion prevailing in the country right now. The country was not over with the espionage threat that was timely trapped, followed by Panama Papers leak that suddenly the prime minister’s sudden heart problem was on the table. As a matter it should have not been a problem or a matter of concern but keeping it secret initially and suddenly disclosing it like a bomb shell made it quite suspicious and it encouraged the gossip, especially when the PM has not nominated any caretaker to run the business affairs in his absence.
On one hand the absence of an acting PM in the office is portraying the situation more like a dictatorial scenario than a democratic affair while on the other hand the prime minister’s illness has stirred up a constitutional debate on who will run the government’s affairs in the absence of Nawaz Sharif who has undergone an open heart surgery a day back and likely to recuperate in a London hospital for at least two weeks. Aware of the brewing debate, the prime minister’s office quickly issued a statement on weekend to preclude rumour mongering and said that Nawaz Sharif has been overseeing the government’s affairs with the assistance of his principal secretary, military secretary and other staff members. In London, he is being kept abreast of the routine matters of the country and his directions are accordingly conveyed to the concerned quarters.
According to the reports till the time he entered the operation theater for an open heart surgery, the prime minister was in constant contact with the federal ministers, cabinet members and other concerned. It was stressed upon through the official press handout that there were no postponements or delays in the matters pertaining to the routine functioning of the state.
On the other hand the issue ignited a debate where law experts are expressing wandering views on the absence of the PM and the vacuum existing due to it. A former chief justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry minced no words in calling for the installation of an interim prime minister until Nawaz Sharif recovers and resumes the office. He bluntly feared that, “What will you do if the prime minister is ill and given anesthesia? Obviously, you need another prime minister. The Constitution doesn’t allow a senior minister to take charge of prime ministerial affairs because this provision unfortunately has been removed in the 8th amendment.”
Contrary to that, a noted lawyer and constitutional expert SM Zafar argued otherwise. He is of the view that there is no provision of bringing in a new prime minister during the absence of the incumbent and to support his point he mentioned Article 90(2) of the Constitution which reads: “In the performance of his functions under the Constitution, the prime minister may act either directly or through the federal ministers.” According to Zafar, Article 90(2) is clear enough to dismiss the demand for a new prime minister.
SM Zafar said that if the prime minister has delegated his authority to Finance Minister Ishaq Dar then there is nothing illegal in it, however, Justice (retd) Chaudhry said that there is nothing personal against Dar, rather it is all about national interest. Dar is a senator and the premier has to be from the National Assembly.
This precarious situation has spelled two drawbacks; one that the government is without a prime minster at the moment and secondly that this constitutional confusion is making fun of Pakistan. The prime minster, before going for the surgery, presided two meetings through Skype; first was the national economic council’s session which was immediately followed by cabinet’s budget meeting. The discussing of most confidential and secret matters like budget recommendations was widely criticised by all walks of life.
Everyone prays for the quick recovery of Nawaz Sharif and sincerely hope his early return to the office, although with current health state he may not be able to work that tirelessly as he has been doing in the past, nevertheless, the country and the government direly need a PM in the chair to directly look after the affairs and not a PM seven seas across, on the bed.