New Cold War: Israel Seeks Revenge

By Sajjad Shaukat

There is an interrelationship of the new Cold War, irresponsible statements of the US President-elect Donald Trump, various developments in the world and terrorism-related attacks which are part of the double game and secret strategy of Israel who is in collaboration with American CIA, FBI, and Islamic State group (Also known as Daesh, ISIS, ISIL) to seek revenge.  In this regard, before analyzing the situation, two terror attacks are notable.

The suspected gunman Esteban Santiago-Ruiz, a US citizen and Iraq War combat veteran killed five people and injured 11 individuals after opening fire in the Fort Lauderdale airport, Florida on January 6, 2016. US media revealed that he told the “FBI voices were urging him to fight for ISIS.”

Four Israeli soldiers, three of them cadets, were killed and more than a dozen injured in Jerusalem on January 8, 2016 when a truck ploughed into them deliberately. No one has claimed responsibility for the attack. But, Palestinian media identified the attacker as Fadi al-Qanbar who had reportedly previously served time in an Israeli prison.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, “We in Jerusalem have just experienced a murderous attack that claimed the lives of four young Israelis and wounded others. This is part of the same pattern inspired by Islamic State, by Isis, that we saw first in France, then in Germany and now in Jerusalem.”

It comes at a time of warnings about growing tensions over Donald Trump’s highly controversial plan to move the US embassy to Jerusalem, and calls from some rightwing Israeli ministers to annex parts of the occupied Palestinian territories.

In fact, new Cold War has accelerated between Russia and the US on December 29, 2016 when American President Barack Obama imposed sanctions on two Russian intelligence agencies and expelled 35 diplomats from America over their involvement in hacking political groups in the Nov. 8 US presidential election aimed to help Donald Trump.

US Intelligence agency leaders repeated the allegations on January 4, this year by saying that senior most officials in Russia and Putin could have authorized recent hacks and election interference.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on December 30, last year, that Moscow would not expel 35 American diplomats in response to the US move. Putin repeatedly denied the false allegations and demanded evidence in this respect. Trump also denied the accusations.

Annoyed by the self-fabricated allegations, prepared by the US intelligence agencies, President Putin congratulated the US President-elect Donald Trump, rather than President Barack Obama, in his annual New Year's greetings statement of December 31, 2016.

While, in order to divert the attention towards Moscow, Israeli secret agency Mossad which clandestinely funded the election campaign of Trump was behind election-victory of Trump and was in collaboration with the American intelligence agencies, especially CIA and FBI has been seeking revenge against Russia due to several developments which have given a greater setback to the dream of the greater Israel, while castigating the sinister designs of the Zionist Jews, including double game of President Obama.

Everyone knows that throughout his presidency, by following the anti-Muslim policies of his predecessor, President Obama continued the phony war on terror and further destabilized the Middle East. Obama’s double game franchised both Al-Qaeda and ISIS and left no stone unturned in advancing the agenda of the Zionist Jews, Israeli lobbies and the neoconservatives. Secretly, Obama authorized CIA to create the ISIS. His perennial covert support to the Israeli atrocities on the Palestinians, silence over the supply (Smuggling) of oil by ISIS to some European countries whose governments had also not taken action against those companies which were exporting oil from the ISIS-controlled regions of Iraq, CIA-assisted Al-Qaeda (Al-Nusra Front) and ISIS militants in Syria might be cited as instance. Obama-led Administration went on with various techniques of ruthless terror and extrajudicial killings of the innocent persons through done attacks—assisting undemocratic forces, toppling the elected government in Egypt, and like Iraq, creation of more failed states such as Libya, Syria, Yemen, Somalia etc., promoting sectarian and ethnic divide and violence in the vulnerable Islamic countries on the basis of Shia and Sunni, opening the doors for Al-Qaeda and ISIS militants to establish Israel’s supremacy in the Middle East in particular and the world in general.  

Notably, The Reuters reported on September 15, 2016, “The US will give Israel $38 billion in military assistance over the next decade, the largest such aid package in U.S. history, under a landmark agreement.”

However, Obama’s anti-Muslim policies were clearly exposed. Therefore before the end of his tenure, President Obama wanted to rectify his blunders. In this context, on December 23, 2016, the US abstained and allowed a UN Security Council resolution, condemning Israeli settlement construction in the occupied territories of the Palestinians to be adopted, defying extraordinary pressure from the Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s government which is in alliance with President-elect Donald Trump.

In a statement, Netanyahu’s office accused the Obama administration of “colluding” with the UN and said it looked forward to working with Trump, as well as Israel-friendly members of Congress, “to negate the harmful effects of this absurd resolution.” Netanyahu called the resolution “shameful” and said Israel would not abide by its terms and continue the construction of the settlements.

In this respect, in a series of tweets, posted on December 28, 2016, Donald Trump harshly criticized the Obama’s policies on the settlement issue and reiterated his support for Israel. He questioned the effectiveness of the UNO, saying, “it's just a club for people to have a good time.”

Trump who has vowed to move the US embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, and has nominated an ambassador in David Friedman who is supportive of settlers by pledging that the Palestinians would no longer have a platform at the UN when he becomes president on January 20 this year, said, “We cannot continue to let Israel be treated with such total disdain and disrespect. They used to have a great friend in the U.S…the beginning of the end was the horrible Iran deal, and now this (U.N.)! Stay strong Israel, January 20th is fast approaching!”

On the same day, US Secretary of State John Kerry also disclosed reality and issued a desperate final warning to Tel Aviv by pointing out, “The settlement building policies being carried out by Israel’s government on occupied land and applauded by Donald Trump were destroying hopes for peace between Israelis and Palestinians…is jeopardizing Middle East peace. He explained, “The two-state solution is now in serious jeopardy…if the choice is one state, Israel can either be Jewish or democratic, it cannot be both…the most extreme elements” of Israel’s Right-wing were shaping the country’s future and strangling the prospect of a two-state solution.” 

In remarks in Hebrew, Netanyahu stated that Kerry’s speech was “a big disappointment,” and “obsessive.”

Meanwhile, on the leftist side of the Jewish community leaders applauded the Kerry’s speech— New Israel Fund echoes fears that Israel will not survive as one state, while right-wing Jewish organizations and leaders condemned the speech and two-state solution of the Israeli-Palestinian dispute.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault hailed the courageous speech by John Kerry on December 29, last year, by remarking that it outlined principles for solving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

France has been emphasizing to re-start peace process between Palestinians and Israelis. On January 15, 2017, representatives from approximately 70 countries will gather in Paris for a conference to throw the international community’s weight behind a two-state solution to the conflict.

Neither Israel nor the Palestinians will be present at the meeting, but Paris intends to invite Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Paris some time afterward to brief them on the outcome of the talks, as the French foreign ministry said. Netanyahu has stated that he would not attend these talks. While, the Palestinians have welcomed the initiative, Israel has remained critical of the plan.

Besides these developments, some previous developments have also frustrated the Israeli and Zionist Jews who have intensified the new Cold War between the US-led Western countries and Russia. Mossad has also arranged various terror attacks in Europe, America and other countries of the world as part of the revenge. All these developments, including other ones need attention which will also prove as to how Israel will seek revenge in future.

In this respect, since September 2015, unexpected developments such as Russian successful airstrikes on the ISIS targets in the northern Syria and Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, its coalition with Iran, Iraq, the Syrian army-the National Defense Forces (NDF) and Lebanon-based Hezbollah in support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, retreat of the CIA-supported rebels and mercenaries after their failure to topple the Assad government, proving links of Al-Qaeda’s Al-Nusra Front and ISIS with America and Israel, Putin’s clear-cut statement, indicating the Zionist regime in the US and  Israel for their “phony war on ISIS” surprised the Israel-led America and some European countries who wanted to oust the Assad regime. Russian-led Syrian forces retook several cities which were in occupation of ISIS militant and rebel groups in Syria and Iraq, who started fleeing.

Taking note of failure in its sinister designs, the agents of Mossad who were in connivance with the CIA sympathizers and ISIL militants arranged terror attacks  in Paris, Brussels, Orlando, San Bernardino, Nice, Munich and latest one in Berlin. These were false flag operations and were part of the secret strategy of America and especially of Israel who are in collaboration with each other in order to obtain the covert aims of their countries against Russia and the Muslims. Mossad might be alone involved in these terror assaults by using the ISIS terrorists who used the home-grown terrorists of these countries.

After the false flag terror assaults and the shooting at San Bernardino, California etc., Israel achieved its aims. Like the drastic aftermath of 9/11 tragedy, rulers and politicians of the US-led western countries, particularly of Europe, including their media have started misguiding their general public by creating chauvinism against the Muslims. They started propagating the so-called threat of Islamophobia. In one way or the other, Muslims are being persecuted in the US and other Western countries, especially in Europe which has been put on high alert, as these subversive acts were being taken as attacks on the whole continent.

President-elect Donald Trump won the presidential race of the Republican Party, as he had started exaggerating the threat of Islamophobia by manipulating various terror attacks in the US and Europe.

Donald Trump used each terror assault in fueling anti-Muslim racialism in America and to get the sympathies of a majority of the ordinary Americans who did not have much time to go into depth-analysis and have been instigated by his emotional speeches, statements and false hopes. The more he exploited the threat of Islamic militants, the more popularity he got among general masses of America, who have been impressed by his stereotypes. After the incident at San Bernardino, which resulted in the deaths of 14 persons by a Muslim couple, Trump had called for a ban on Muslims, entering the United States.

After the shooting at the gay night club in Orlando, he also criticized the US President Barack Obama to resign, slamming him for having “disgracefully refused to even say the words “Radical Islam.” Calling on his opponent-candidate Clinton to get out of the general election race for the same reason, Trump remarked, “Because our leaders are weak, I said this was going to happen…we cannot afford.” Trump again stated that he would decrease immigration from the Middle East because “since 9/11, hundreds of migrants and their children have been implicated in terrorism in the United States.” He, once again, asked for the ban of any Muslims, entering the US. On June 19, 2016, during his interview with the CBC News, he called for racial “profiling of Muslims inside the United States to combat terrorism.”He reiterated his call for more surveillance of mosques and warned that radical Muslims were trying to take over our children.

Trump continued move against Muslims. In this connection, toughening immigration checks for the French and Germans in the US, questioning NATO obligations—stated that under his leadership “America would not necessarily come to the aid of NATO ally under attack, he would first consider how much they have contributed to the alliance,” and hinted at an exit from the World Trade Organization, Donald Trump said on July 24, 2016, “We have problems in Germany and we have problems in France…they have totally been compromised by deadly Islamist attacks in Nice and last year in Paris…you know why? It’s their own fault…because they allowed people to come into their countries.”

Nevertheless, owing to the irresponsible approach of western leaders, far right-wing parties and “Stop Islam” movement in the West, especially in Europe are becoming popular by largely attracting their people. Amid a migrant crisis, sluggish economic growth and growing disillusionment with the European Union, right-wing parties in a growing number of European countries have made electoral gains. The right-wing parties range across a wide policy spectrum, from populist and nationalist to far-right neofascist.

In September 2016, German Chancellor Angela Merkel accepted responsibility for her Christian Democratic party's “bitter defeat” in Berlin state elections, voicing regret over mistakes that contributed to migrant crisis in Germany. More than a million migrants reached Germany. She has been widely criticized in Germany for the policy, which was a humanitarian gesture faced with the desperate plight of migrants, many of them refugees from the war in Syria. The right-wing, anti-migrant party Alternative for Germany (AfD) entered the Berlin state parliament for the first time with 14% of the vote.

With political norms and expectations shattered, attention is turning to the heart of western Europe—to France, Germany and Italy, each of which holds national polls in the coming months.

Recently, France voted to choose the rightwing candidate likely to face the far-right Marine Le Pen, head of the far-right Front National in next spring’s presidential election—just as Donald Trump’s US win has thrown the spotlight on France as the scene of the next possible shakeup of the political system.

What really draws down the darkening for Europe’s leaders, however, is the realization that there are plenty of other European politicians ready to remake their own image in that of Trump.

Besides revival of the fake global war on terror, Israeli-led America also got the support of its western allies (NATO) against Russia in relation to Syrian civil war, and as part of the double game and secret strategy, American jet fighters and those of its western coalition began targeting the ISIS terrorists in Iraq and Syria.

Meanwhile, despite criticism of the Democrats and other circles in wake of widespread protests, with 304 votes, Electoral College seals Donald Trump’s election as president on December 19, 2016.  

It is notable that Russian-led Syrian forces retook the Aleppo on December 13, 2016 by defeating the rebel groups and the ISIS militants. Retaking Aleppo is biggest victory of the Syrian President Assad in the civil war. Aleppo is strategically important and is industrial capital of Syria; therefore, analysts were already opining that the city will decide the Syrian war, being waged between Russian-backed forces and the US-led insurgents. America and Israel had thought that before Syrian forces-backed by Russia occupy more territories and cities; especially Aleppo, rebel groups and the ISIS should be given a free hand to continue fighting and to violate the ceasefire-agreements in relation to Syrian war, particularly Aleppo.

Victory of Aleppo disapponted the Israelis and the Zionist Jews, including failure of the partition of Syria in accordance with the US Plan-B. Hence, so as to seek revenge, Mossad conducted several terrorism-related attacks in Turkey, Iraq, Syria, Egypt and elsewhere in the world through ISIS. In this connection, medical treatment of the ISIS terrorists in Israeli hospital, arrests of Mossad-CIA agents and those of American and NATO military personnel in Syria and Iraq might be cited as example.

However, because of Trump’s other intentions like erection of boundary wall between the US-Mexico border in wake of criticism of the controversial Turkish-EU refugee deal by a number of human rights groups, his appreciation of Britain’s decision to leave the European Union EU, after the referendum (Brexit) on June 24, 2016 in wake of the divide between the elite class which run multinational companies with the direct or indirect control of the Jews—the general masses who are suffering from multiple problems, differences on the refugee crisis, Syrian war, Greece’s weak economy, recent violent protests against the labour laws in France etc.—the chances of European Union’s disintegration which will give a greater blow to the US-Europe alliance against Russia, while, a rift between the NATO countries, as noted in the recent past by the “Stop NATO protests” in Europe are quite opposite to the Israeli and American interests.

During the previous Cold war, alliances and counter alliances were made by the former Soviet Union and America to balance each other in various parts of the world.

As regards the new Cold War, owing to his successful and skilful diplomacy Russian President Putin who has restored balance of power in the uni-polar world, concluded alliances with a number of countries. In this regard, reports suggest that both Russia and China have agreed to have the same stand in relation to Syria’s civil war, and to fight the rebel groups and terrorist outfits like ISIS.

While, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s rebuke of European nations, accusing them of dictatorship and cruelty for keeping their frontiers closed to the refugees, fleeing the Syrian conflict created a rift between the West and Turkey, the close ally of NATO. On February 10, last year, President Erdogan lashed out at the US over its support for Syria’s main Kurdish group, saying, “The failure to recognize the Democratic Union Party (PYD) as a terrorist group is creating a “sea of blood.” He explained, “The PYD, on which the US relies to battle so-called Islamic State in Syria, is an offshoot of the banned Kurdistan Workers’ Party.”

As regards the failed rebellion-attempt of July 15, 2016, Turkey’s president Erdogan and top officials of his government have held the US and CIA for the failed coup to topple his regime by backing and replacing Erdogan with the CIA’s “designated figurehead”, cleric Fethullah Gülen, currently living in Pennsylvania in the US.

By neglecting American pressure, President Erdogan who has taken steps in the end of June, 2016 to improve relations with Russia to strengthen its hand in fighting against militants, stated that the attack at the Istanbul airport should serve as a turning point in the global battle against terrorism. Reports suggest that Ankara is also considering a military agreement with Moscow.

On December 28, last year, Ankara and Moscow have reportedly agreed on a draft nationwide ceasefire in Syria, and unspecified “terrorist organizations” would be excluded from the deal. In past agreements, “terrorist organizations” have included ISIS and the Al-Qaeda-linked Jabhat al-Nusra.

Earlier, Russia, Iran and Turkey met in Moscow on December 21, 2016 to work toward a political accord to end Syria’s nearly six-year war, leaving the United States on the sidelines. Secretary of State John Kerry was not invited. Nor was the United Nations consulted.

The US President Obama’s contradictory approach which has resulted into failure of America’s external policy in the Middle East has been meeting the same fate in South Asia. Like Syria, Pakistan is also main arena of the new Cold War. Particularly, fast growing economic power of China coupled with her rising strategic relationship with Russia, the Third World and especially Pakistan—after signing of agreement, China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has irked the eyes of Americans, Indians and Israelis. Owing to jealousy, America desires to make India a major power to counterbalance China in Asia.

During his first visit to New Delhi, on November 6, 2010, President Obama announced the measures, America would take regarding removal of Indian space and defence companies from a restricted “entities list”, and supported Indian demand for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council including membership of four key global nuclear nonproliferation regimes.

Earlier, on November 2, 2010, the US agreed to sell India the most expensive—the new F-35 fighter jets including US F-16 and F-18 fighters, C-17 and C-130 aircraft, radar systems, Harpoon weapons etc. Besides, New Delhi is also getting arms and weapons from Israel. America also pressurized International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Nuclear Suppliers Group to grant a waiver to New Delhi for obtaining civil nuclear trade on larger scale.

Washington had signed a pact of nuclear civil technology with New Delhi in 2008. During American President Barack Obama’s visit to India, on January 25, 2016, the US and India announced a breakthrough on the pact which would allow American companies to supply New Delhi with civilian nuclear technology.

Beijing is apprehensive about the emerging threat, as during the last visit of Obama to New Delhi, the intent of President Obama and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was quite clear, while mentioning about free sea lanes and air passages in the South China Sea.

Similarly, by pursuing the double standards of America in its worst form, Trump also intends to favour India, while opposing the nuclear weapons of Pakistan. Because, being the only nuclear country in the Islamic World, Pakistan annoys the US, Israel and some Western countries. However, like Obama, Trump has brushed aside the ground realities that Indian Prime Minister Modi led by the ruling fundamentalist party BJP has been implementing anti-Muslim and anti-Pakistan agenda, while encouraging Hindutva (Hindu nationalism)..

As part of the double game, based in Afghanistan, operatives of American CIA, Indian RAW and Israeli Mossad which have well-established their secret network there, and are well-penetrated in the terrorist outfits like ISIS, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and their affiliated Taliban groups are using their terrorists to destabilize Tibetan regions of China, Iranian Sistan-Baluchistan and Pakistan’s Balochistan by arranging the subversive activities. In this context, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is their special target. Recent acts of terrorism in Pakistan’s Balochistan and Afghanistan are part of the same scheme.   

Taking note of the US-India alliance, in the trilateral meeting which held in Moscow on December 27, last year, Russia, China and Pakistan agreed on efforts to remove Afghan individuals from the UN sanctions lists as part of efforts to foster peaceful dialogue between Kabul and the Taliban movement in Afghanistan. The Russian inclusion in the CPEC project was another important agenda of the meeting. Russian close ally, Iran may also join the project.

And in September 2016, a contingent of Russian ground forces arrived in Pakistan and conducted the first ever joint Pak-Russian exercise at a time when tensions between Pakistan and India was running high following an attack on the Uri military camp in Indian-held Kashmir, which was managed by Indian RAW to distort Pakistan’s image and to divert attention from the new Intifada of Kashmiris. Nevertheless, Pak-Russia exercise was being seen as a demonstration of closer defence ties between Islamabad and Moscow after they signed a military cooperation pact in 2014.

It is mentionable that in October, 2016, Dmitry Peskov, a Kremlin spokesman, said that Russia was considering restoring military bases in Vietnam and Cuba—Cold War flashpoints and lasting symbols of the enmity between the US and Soviet Union. He added, “It’s quite natural that all countries assess these changes in line with their national interests and take certain steps in the way they consider appropriate.”

On the other side, on November 28, 2016, Donald Trump threatened to terminate US relationship with Cuba—deal signed by Barack Obama to end a diplomatic standoff with Havana.

Nonetheless, 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. Moscow which also has China’s support is in better position than the US and its western (NATO) allies who are also entangled in a prolonged war in Afghanistan and the Middle East, while America’s endless war against terrorism continues. Besides its western partners, this Cold War will further enhance American expenditures by deepening the US momentary problems, while it is already becoming difficult for Washington to maintain its military bases abroad. According to a recent report, America is near military collapse.

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.”

It displays contradictory approach of 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.

However, coped with multiple internal and external issues and problems, the US has already weakened its position in relation to the new Cold War.

It is noteworthy that 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, the US has been acting upon the similar policies which led to the demise of the Soviet Union. Trump who lacks pragmatism would expedite the disintegration of America and the EU like the former Soviet Union.

As part of the new Cold War, Russia is making alliances, while the President-elect Trump will break America’s alliances. Trump’s only alliance will be with Israel and India who are endangering the peace of the Middle East and South Asia, as they wanted to continue atrocities on the Palestinians and Kashmiris to keep their hold on the occupied territories of Palestine and Kashmir.

Following the conspiracy of Mossad, the rigid and racist policies of Donald Trump are causing more recruitment in the ISIS outfit, inspiring the extremist Muslims for more terrorism attacks. This Mossad-Trump cabal could also result into civil war in the US. Israel, who will never accept the two-state solution of the Israeli-Palestinian issue, will prefer to seek the final revenge by bringing about a major war between the Muslim and the Christian worlds or to cause a major war between Russia and the US, which will convert the entire world into holocaust.

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

Coutesy Veterans Today

India's Agni long-range missiles broke UN limits: Chinese media

By PTI

BEIJING: India has "broken" UN limits on nuclear arms and long-range missiles and Pakistan should also be accorded the same "privilege", state-run Chinese media said today as it criticised New Delhi for carrying out Agni-4 and 5 missile tests whose range covers the Chinese mainland. 

India has broken the UN's limits on its development of nuclear weapons and long-range ballistic missile," the ruling Communist Party-run tabloid Global Times said in its editorial. 

"The US and some Western countries have also bent the rules on its nuclear plans. New Delhi is no longer satisfied with its nuclear capability and is seeking intercontinental ballistic missiles that can target anywhere in the world and then it can land on an equal footing with the UN Security Council's fi .. 

The editorial said that "Chinese don't feel India's development has posed any big threat to it". 

The daily known for its sabre-rattling rhetoric said "India wouldn't be considered as China's main rival in the long run" due to vast disparity of in power between the two countries. 

But at the same time it suggested that the "best choice for Beijing and New Delhi is to build rapport". 

However, while accusing India of violating limits imposed by UN on nuclear and long range missile development, "if the Western countries accept India as a nuclear country and are indifferent to the nuclear race between India and Pakistan, China will not stand out and stick rigidly to those nuclear rules as necessary", it said. 

"At this time, Pakistan should have those privileges in nuclear development that India has," it said, indicating that China which shared an all-weather ties with Islamabad will back it if it develops long-range missiles. 

"In general, it is not difficult for India to produce intercontinental ballistic missiles which can cover the whole world. If the UN Security Council has no objection over this, let it be. The range of Pakistan's nuclear missiles will also see an increase. If the world can adapt to these, China should too," it said. 

The references to violation of UN rules by the daily were significant as the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying while reacting to India's Agni-5 missile test said on December 27 that "on whether India can develop this ballistic missile that can carry nuclear weapons, I think relevant resolutions of the UNSC have clear rules". 

Hua, however, did not elaborate. The editorial in Global Times also did not elaborate or point out details of the UN violations allegedly made by India. 

"We have always believed that safeguarding strategic balance and stability in South Asia is conducive for the peace and prosperity of countries in the region," she said and took exception that the Agni-5 which has a range of 5000 was meant to target China. 

However, Hua appreciated Ministry of External Affairs spokesman Vikas Swarup's statement on December 28 stating that "India's strategic capabilities are not targeted against any particular country. India abides by all the applicable international obligations and hopes that all other do the same". 

"We have taken note of and express appreciation for the statement made by Indian Foreign Ministry's spokesperson that India's strategic capabilities are not targeted against any particular country," she said. 

"China believes that preserving the strategic balance and stability in South Asia is beneficial to peace and prosperity of countries within the region. We hope to work alongside regional countries including India, to take concrete actions for enduring peace, prosperity and stability of the region," she said. 

Asked for his reaction to Agni-5 test, Hu Shisheng, Director of the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations told PTI that the test is part of the progress of India's military modernisation. 

"Being a major power, this is the necessary (for India). However, there is no need to each time while testing this kind of nonconventional weapons to mention whether it has the capacity to hit China or not," he said. 

"That really makes the news release very negative," he said as it made it appear that India's military modernisation is for targeting China. 

"Any country has its own logic to develop advanced weapons, but better not mentions any other country (by name)," he said. 

In its editorial, the Global Times said "China's strategic nuclear missiles have long ago realised global coverage, and China's overall military industrial capacity is much better than that of India". 

For India, China is something to inspire ambition and invoke patriotism. However, India should realise that owning several missiles does not mean it is a nuclear power. Even though India does become a nuclear power, it will be a long time before it can show off its strength to the world," it said. 

Illegal Detention of Pakistani Prisoners in Indian Jails

By Sajjad Shaukat

Recently, Indian Supreme Court has taken notice on the writ petition, filed by Prof. Bhim Singh, senior Advocate against the illegal, improper and unconstitutional detention of nearly 254 Pakistani prisoners and those of Azad Jammu and Kashmir languishing in Indian jails for over a decade.

Despite the anti-Pakistan pressure of the extremist outfit BJP and other Hindu fundamentalist groups led by the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the dilemma of Pakistani prisoners has attracted the attention of the Indian Supreme Court which has taken notice of this atrocious conduct of New Delhi. 

Indian Supreme Court has asked the central government to provide detailed information about 254 Pakistani prisoners imprisoned in Indian jails either as under-trial prisoners or as convicts. 

The apex court has also asked the details of Pakistani prisoners who illegally crossed the border, the crime record of the prisoners, information about actual number of prisoners under trial, total number of prisoners who are not under judicial custody and about the number of Pakistani prisoners who have already completed their punishment. The court has also raised questions about the identification process of prisoners as well as the management process pertaining to these prisoners’ repatriation to Pakistan. 

Notably, over 50 Pakistani prisoners have completed their sentence in Indian jails and are still struck up in India, as in the pretext of confirmation their nationality status, Indian authorities did not release them.

It is mentionable that in 2008, Pakistan and India had signed an agreement to grant consular access to prisoners in each other’s jails in order to reduce the anguish of the prisoners.

India has arrested hundreds of Pakistan’s nationals, often accusing them of being spies after they have strayed across the land or maritime border due to unconscious mistake and staying with an expired passport. It also includes some tourists who went to India. Quite contrary to the well-treatment of Indian spies in Pakistani jails, Indian secret agency RAW and other security agencies employ various techniques of torture on the so-called Pakistan’s suspected persons. Some Pakistani citizens and prisoners have also been killed in Indian jails, while a majority of them has been killed by Indian security agencies in fake encounters, particularly those persons, arrested in the Indian Occupied Kashmir.

It is notable that government of Pakistan released Indian spy, Surjeet Singh who was handed over to the Indian authorities at the Wagah border crossing. He was given death sentence in 1991.

The then Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari commuted death sentence of another Indian spy of RAW, Sarabjit Singh into life imprisonment on June 26, 2012, who was set free from Jail in July, 2012 and was handed over to the Indian authorities at the Wagah border crossing.

Surjeet Singh openly admitted that he was in Pakistan to spy when he was arrested in 1982. In this respect, Surjeet Singh said, “I was a RAW (Research and Analysis Wing) agent. No one bothered about me after I got arrested.” Surjeet told reporters soon after stepping on Indian soil.

While, about Indian prisoner Sarabjit Singh, Surjeet Singh revealed, “Sarabjit Singh is a terrorist and terrorists are neither released.”

Besides, Indian spy Surjeet also pointed out, “All Indian prisoners are treated well in Pakistani jails. Sarabjit Singh is also doing well there…I was treated well by prison officials and I am thankful to them.”

However, both Surjeet Singh and Sarabjit Singh were responsible for the string of blasts in Faisalabad, Lahore, and Multan in 1990 in which several innocent people were killed. They were also behind other terror-activities in Pakistan.

On June 28, 2012, BBC reported, in recent years, “several Indians returning from Pakistani jails have admitted to spying for Indian intelligence agency RAW” and some have criticised India’s government for abandoning them.”

It is mentionable that in April 2011, Gopal Das, one of Pakistan’s longest-serving Indian prisoners, was released after Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari intervened in his case.

Upon his release, Das admitted he was an Indian spy. Similarly, Kashmir Singh, sentenced to death in Pakistan in 1973 for spying, was released in March 2008. Afterwards, he also admitted that he was spying for RAW.

It is noteworthy that that confession of the crime by the Indian released prisoners showed Indian government’s involvement in terrorist acts which occurred in Pakistan from time to time.

It notable that litigation over the fate of 189 Pakistani prisoners reportedly languishing in Indian penitentiaries took a new turn on April 5, 2016 when a human rights activist filed a constitutional petition in the Sindh High Court about a list of 17 prisoners waiting for their repatriation, some of them well over 10 years.

And during the previous hearing, the chairman of Ansar Barney Trust International indicated that 189 Pakistani prisoners having gone missing from Indian jails and he was shocked to see the Pakistan government and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s silence regarding them.

Nevertheless, as part of good gesture and to stabilize the Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) with New Delhi, Islamabad set free several Indian prisoners who had completed their sentences. Pakistan had announced that it would release more that 100 Indian prisoners. In this context, Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokesman stated, “since 2003, Pakistan released 2,657 Indian prisoners, while India has freed 827 Pakistani prisoners.”

But, instead of reciprocating the good gesture of Pakistan, India had sent the dead bodies of two Pakistani prisoners in 2008, while, two Pakistani prisoners had died in Indian custody in the same year, including one Pakistani citizen Mehmoud Khalid who had gone to India in 2005 to watch a cricket test match where he lost his passport. He was subjected to sever torture, resulting in his death. Another Pakistani prisoner Akram who crossed the border in the Kasur area by mistake on February 8, 2008, was arrested by the Indian authorities. He was a patient of schizophrenia. Akram’s brother, Aslam claimed that his brother was tortured to death by the Indian authorities.

Taliban leaders Moved to Afghanistan from Pakistan

By Sajjad Shaukat

The armed forces of Pakistan have broken the backbone of the Taliban and other militant outfits by the successful military operation Zarb-e-Azb, which has also been extended to other parts of the country, including Balochistan. And Pakistan’s intelligence agency, ISI has broken the network of these terrorist groups by capturing several militants, while thwarting a number of terror attempts.

Since the government of the Balochistan province announced general pardon and protection to the Baloch militants as part of reconciliation process, many insurgents and their leaders have surrendered their arms and decided to work for the development of Pakistan and the province, peace has been restored in Balochistan. In these circumstances, Taliban leaders have moved to Afghanistan from Pakistan.

This fact has also been verified by a feature story of the Associated Press (AP), under the caption, “Leaders of the Taliban may have moved to Afghanistan from Pakistan,” Published on November 26, 2016.

The AP wrote, “After operating out of Pakistan for more than a decade, the leaders of Afghanistan’s Taliban movement may have moved back to their homeland to try to build on this year’s gains in the war and to establish a permanent presence…if confirmed, the move would be a sign of the Taliban’s confidence in their fight against the US-backed government in Kabul. It could also be an attempt by the militants to distance themselves from Pakistan.”

The AP reported, “The Taliban’s leaders have been based in Pakistani cities, including Quetta, Karachi and Peshawar, since their rule in Afghanistan was overthrown in the 2001 US invasion after the 9/11 attacks.”

According to this news agency, “Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid who said that the leadership shura, or council, relocated to Afghanistan “some months ago,” although he would not say to where…one Taliban official said that the shura had moved to southern Helmand province, which the insurgents consider to be part of their heartland and where most of the opium that funds their operations is produced. The official refused to be identified because of security reasons…other Taliban sources said the justice, recruitment and religious councils had also moved to southern Afghanistan. The statements could not be independently confirmed…Mujahid, however, said Kabul officials were aware of the moves, prompted by battlefield gains that the insurgents believed would put them in a strong position once talks with the Afghan government aimed at ending the war were restarted. Dialogue broke down earlier this year.”

The AP wrote, “The insurgents have spread their footprint across Afghanistan since international combat troops scaled down in 2014. They have maintained multiple offensives and threatened at least three provincial capitals in recent months: Kunduz, in northern Kunduz province; Lashkah Gar, in Helmand in the south; and Tirin Kot in Uruzgan…the US military has conceded the insurgents have gained ground, although definitive breakdowns are difficult to verify. This year, Afghan security forces are believed to have suffered their worst losses since 2001, with the military estimating 2016 fatalities at more than 5,000 so far.”

It added, “A permanent Taliban presence in Afghanistan would send a message to followers and fighters that the insurgents now control so much territory that they can no longer be dislodged by government security forces, said Franz-Michael Mellbin, the European Union’s ambassador in Kabul…but such a move could also be part of the Taliban’s attempt to try to create a more independent position, as parts of the Taliban would like to be under less direct pressure from Pakistan.”

The AP reported, “Ghani has failed to bring them into a dialogue aimed at peace. After a year-long diplomatic offensive, Ghani in late 2015 cut ties with Islamabad and has since openly accused Pakistan of waging war on Afghanistan, using the Taliban as its proxy. Pakistani authorities deny accusations that their powerful ISI intelligence agency supports the insurgents…with the major councils based in Afghanistan.”

It said, “If the move is confirmed, it could also indicate a unity among leaders, who have recently been portrayed by some observers, including the US military, as suffering widening divisions and struggling for cash—even though the opium production under their control has an annual export value of $4 billion, according to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime.”

The news agency mentioned, “The Taliban’s leadership shura consists of 16 elected officials who oversee activity across Afghanistan, give permission for any changes in planning and strategy, and mediate disputes among military commanders…the military commanders include Mullah Yaqoub, the son of the movement's founder, Mullah Mohammad Omar—who was declared dead last year—and Sirajuddin Haqqani, leader of the brutal Haqqani network and a co-deputy leader with Yaqoub…the Afghan Taliban are led by Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada, who took over after the death of Mullah Omar’s successor, Akhtar Mansoor, in a US drone strike this year. High-ranking Taliban officials say Haibatullah is not engaged in day-to-day decision-making. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to talk to reporters.”

The AP disclosed, “A senior Taliban commander, Asad Afghan, told The Associated Press the move would consolidate the insurgents’ military gains and help lay the ground for a dominant position if and when peace talks resume…we are in the last stages of war and are moving forward, said Afghan, who is closely involved in formulating the insurgents' war strategy..we are the real government in Afghanistan, he said. The move across the border would give the movement more focus at a time it needs to be quick, clear and more secure about our decisions.”

However, almost all the terrorists or terrorist groups and insurgency in Pakistan, especially Balochistan have their connections in Afghanistan. The porous border between Pakistan and Afghanistan is frequently used by human and drug traffickers, criminals and terrorists. Their easy access through unguarded porous border provides opportunity to miscreants to cause havoc inside Pakistan and Afghanistan. For effective counter terrorism measures, strong border-control management is vital at Pak-Afghan border. But, Afghan rulers are using delaying tactics in this respect by rejecting Islamabad’s positive proposals.

Notably, as part of the dual strategy, based in Afghanistan, American CIA, Indian RAW and Israeli Mossad are in connivance with the Afghan intelligence agency, National Directorate of Security (NDS) and other terrorist groups. Based in Afghanistan, operatives of these foreign agencies who are well-penetrated in the terrorist outfits like Islamic State group (Also known as Daesh, ISIS, ISIL), Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and their affiliated Taliban groups are using their militants to destabilize Tibetan regions of China, Iranian Sistan-Baluchistan and Pakistan’s Balochistan by arranging the subversive activities. In this connection, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is their special target. The militant groups have conducted several terror attacks in various regions of Pakistan, especially the recent ones in Balochistan province which has become center of the Great Game owing to the ideal location of Balochistan.

There is no doubt that as part of the double game of their countries, escalation of tension at Pak-Afghan border is deliberately engineered by the elements such as CIA, RAW and Mossad which are opposed to peace talks and improvement of bilateral relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Hence, their countries always shift the blame game to Pakistan.  

Undoubtedly, Afghan peace and reconciliation process is a reality, despite of its slow pace and continual interruptions. The positive trajectory of constructive relations between Islamabad and Kabul raised alarm-bells amongst the US-led adversaries who are attempting to affect the progressive Pak-Afghan relations through smear and sinister scheming.

Although Taliban leaders have moved to Afghanistan from Pakistan, yet especially America, India and puppet rulers of Afghanistan will continue blame game against Islamabad, because, despite the prolonged war of more than 15 years, the US-led entities or NATO have failed in coping with the resistance of those Taliban who are fighting for the liberation of their country.  America, India, Israel and some Western countries are also against Pakistan, as the latter is the only nuclear country in the Islamic World.

Author Confirms American Designs to Counterbalance China

By Sajjad Shaukat

During the last two decades, political analysts have been opining that the US which is acting upon a secret strategy, wants to make India the superpower of Asia in order to counterbalance China, while this game was, openly, disclosed by the then US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton who was on three-day trip to India in 2011.

In this respect, on July 20, 2011, the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged India to be more assertive in Asia, saying that the country should play more of a leadership role. She explained, “India has the potential to positively shape the future of the Asia-Pacific.” Clinton further stated, “India should play a role as a US ally in regional forums such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).” On the other hand, while concealing American double game, She remarked, “New Delhi could also help promote trade links in violence-wracked South Asia, which would bring prosperity and peace to India, Pakistan and Afghanistan…Pakistan must do more to tackle terror groups operating from its territory being used for attacks that destabilize Afghanistan or India.”

During his trip to Australia, on November 17, 2011, President Barrack Obama, while sending an unmistakable message to Beijing said, “The United States is a Pacific power, and we are here to stay.” The then US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta also made statements in this connection during his Asia visit. He revealed during his visit to Singapore that the US will shift a majority of its warships to the Asia-Pacific region by 2020 as part of a new US military strategy in Asia. Panetta’s Asia visit came at a time of renewed tension between China and Philippines, the latter being a major US ally.

With regards to strengthening its position in the Pacific, America has also cultivated security relations with New Zealand. It is also working with several Gulf countries to solidify its entrenchment in the region. American strategic thinkers take China’s military modernization as a great threat to its military bases in the continent.

During American President Barack Obama’s visit to India, on January 25, 2010, the US and India announced a breakthrough on a pact which would allow American companies to supply New Delhi with civilian nuclear technology. On November 2, 2010, US agreed to sell India the most expensive—the new F-35 fighter jets including US F-16 and F-18 fighters, C-17 and C-130 aircraft, radar systems, Harpoon weapons etc. Besides acquisition of arms and weapons from other western countries—especially Israel, America is a potential military supplier to India.

During President Obama’s second visit to India, the US ensured India to permit American companies to supply India with civilian nuclear technology, as agreed upon in 2008.  US President Obama also announced $4 billion of new initiatives aimed at boosting trade and investment ties as well as jobs in India.

However, setting aside the Indian irresponsible record of non-proliferation, and safety of nuclear arms, Washington also pressurized the International Atomic Agency (IAEA) to sign an accord of specific safeguards with India. America had already contacted the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) to grant a waiver to India for starting civil nuclear trade on larger scale.

As part of the double game, based in Afghanistan, operatives of American CIA, India RAW and Israeli Mossad which have well-established their secret network in Afghanistan, and are well-penetrated in the terrorist outfits like ISIS, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and their affiliated Taliban groups are using their terrorists to destabilize Tibetan regions of China, Iranian Sistan-Baluchistan and Pakistan’s Balochistan by arranging the subversive activities. In this context, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is their special target. Recent acts of terrorism in Pakistan’s Balochistan are part of the same scheme.   

Undoubtedly, in case of Balochistan, these militant outfits and separatist groups like the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and their affiliated groups, including Jundollah (God’s soldiers) and Lashkar-i-Janghvi which have been creating unrest in the Balochistan get logistic support from RAW and Mossad with the tactical assistance of America. In the recent years, these terrorist outfits massacred many persons through suicide attacks, bomb blasts, targeted killings and sectarian violence. These externally-supported insurgent groups had kidnapped and killed many Chinese and Iranian nationals in Pakistan, including Iranian diplomats. They have claimed responsibility for a number of terror assaults, including those on Shias in Balochsitan and Iranian Sistan-Baluchistan.

Notably, located on the southwestern coast of Pakistan, Balochistan’s Gwadar deep seaport which is the main part of the CPEC is close to the Strait of Hormuz from where more than 17 million barrels of oil passes every day. Its location among South Asia, the oil-rich Middle East, and oil and gas-resourced Central Asia has further increased its strategic significance. Besides, Balochistan’s abundant mineral resources irritate the eyes of the US, India and Israel which intend to weaken Pakistan for their collective aims.

In this context, in his book, titled “The Pivot: Future of American Statecraft in Asia,” published in June 7, 2016, America’s former assistant secretary of state Kurt M. Campbell has confirmed a new major shift in American foreign policy and its interests in Asia, while the US-led entities have already been playing out American foreign policy drama far from the upheaval in the Middle East and South Asia and the hovering drone attacks under the cover of the so-called the war on terror.

After destabilizing the region of the Middle East, the US is making giant strides in Asia Pacific in term of political, economic and military engagement. The main aim of Pivot to Asia Pacific is to counter a rising China, as the Campbell has analyzed.

The main irritant to US/India is “Pak-China Partnership”, particularly the CPEC project. Surprisingly, the book has not given importance to the said project, but it needs no justification that it is the only irritant for US and its lynchpin in Pacific, India to gain larger role in Asia.

The book holds significance for Pakistan, because it is, in fact, premised on the idea to contain Chinese hegemony in the region. The book offers a deep insight into US Asia Pivot policy.

But, by closely analyzing the US policy, there is a need to develop a counter strategy seeking guidance from ten point strategy which the author has recommended for America to implement Asia Pivot in the Pacific region.

Plan for the Pivot is composed of ten core elements including: clarifying the Pivot and mobilizing the public by Presidential speeches and statements as well as an annual strategy documents, articulating a whole-of-government approach to Asia.

While, bolstering and integrating alliances to the American Asia allies, including Japan, South Korea, Australia, the Philipines, Thailand, and Singapore (a quasi ally)—setting the contours of China’s rise by embedding China policy fully within a larger Asia policy framework, building partnership with Taiwan and New Zealand as well as new partners including India, Vietnam, Indonesia—Malaysia and the Pacific island states, embracing economic statecraft through the expansion of free trade agreements and economic interaction, including through the passage of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), engaging regional institutions, diversifying military forces, promoting democratic values, strengthening people to people ties involving European partners, the heart of author’s argument is a 10-point American strategy for Asia, in which he sets out in considerable details—his recommendations for intensified political, economic and military engagement with the various nations of the continent. But, he ignored the fact that the real game changer in the region will be CPEC which will result in dependence of the US and its allies on Pak-China Gwadar port for sea routes to Asia Pacific.

Given his diplomatic experience, the author is well-informed and deeply thoughtful. He is considered as pioneer of “Asia Pivot Policy”. Campbell’s main emphasis has been on greater boots and greater engagement in the Asia Pacific region without realizing the US role in Middle East and Afghanistan. While, without a stable Middle East, US would not be able to implement the economic aspects of the Pivot, as narrated by Campbell, because the two regions are separated apart by huge distances. A tumultuous and neglected Middle East will not augment well for Asian Century.

While reading Preface and Acknowledgement of the book, it appeared that Indian lobbyists and analysts were quite active in formulation of the Pivot strategy. The author was also assisted by a number of Indians for completion of this book. Campbell—assisted by Indians has suggested to Washington engagement with a number of states which also includes Mongolia and Burma, but there is no mention of Pakistan, which depicts strong Indian influence over the said strategy formulation. Few policymakers in US have termed India as lynchpin of US policies in the Pacific region.

China-Pak project-CPEC is facing challenges, as it is being developed in least stable province of Pakistan. Foregoing in view, the ten-point strategy, crafted in the book may also be relevant to China-Pak for enhancing relevance in the Pacific region, while, Pakistan is likely to counter Asia pivot policy in Asia Pacific.

Although in the book, author has also given some positive suggestions to the US, yet in other words, he has confirmed American designs to counterbalance China in Asia.

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