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Why India and the US Oppose the CPEC… By Sajjad Shaukat

         Why India and the US Oppose the CPEC

By Sajjad Shaukat

 

India was openly opposing the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) which is part of China’s One Belt, One Road (OBOR) or China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the US also joined New Delhi. In this context, on October 3, 2017, the then US Defence Secretary James Mattis told the Lawmakers, “The United States has reiterated its support for India’s opposition to China’s One Belt, One Road initiative…the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) a part of which traverses Pakistan-Kashmir.”

http://cpec.gov.pk/progress-update

 

Pakistan strongly rejected the statement from the American defence chief that the multibillion-dollar road and rail network CPEC will pass through a disputed territory of Kashmir, urging the international community to focus on blatant human rights violations and ‘heinous crimes’ committed by Indian occupation forces in the Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK), and reminded America that Washington had also participated in an OBOR summit.

 

Earlier, a statement from the Chinese foreign ministry also dismissed Mattis’ statement, saying that the OBOR plan was backed by the United Nations and that CPEC was an economic cooperation initiative.

 

In this regard, again, the Indian envoy to China Vikram Mistri told Chinese state media in March, last year that a part of the CPEC shall pass through Pakistani side of Kashmir and the OBOR or BRI does not respect India’s “concerns” of sovereignty and territorial integrity.

 

Addressing Indian concerns, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said on April 15, this year, “As for the Indian comments on not participating in the BRI [Conference] for various reasons, I’d like to say that the BRI is an open and inclusive economic cooperation initiative. It does not involve territorial and maritime disputes…Whether the Indian side will participate in the Belt and Road Forum, I think you need to ask the Indian side for a more specific answer. But here I’d like to re-emphasise that the BRI is proposed by China but it is already an international public good….The belt and road cooperation since it was first proposed…has been an open and inclusive initiative for all countries…interested in this…if the relevant side would like to wait and see, we do not oppose that. And as for more international organisations in the second BRI [Conference] meaning that some countries will lose opportunities, you may need to ask the countries themselves which do not participate in the BRI.”

 

It is notable that India which has consistently kept away from BRI did not participate in its second conference which was held in Beijing from April 25 to 27, 2019 and leaders of countries including heads of state and government from nearly 40 countries attended the meeting.

 

Pakistan’ s Prime Minister Imran Khan, in his speech at the opening ceremony called for greater attention to tackling poverty as Pakistan and China enter the next phase of the CPEC. He appreciated the significance of China’s BRI, elaborating, it “marks a new and distinct phase in the onward march of nations in the world along the path of globalization”.

 

However, India and the US continue opposing the CPEC. In this respect, Indian lobbies which are well-penetrated in the US administration and Europe, research centres, think tanks and so-called human rights groups utilize the media tools in defaming Pakistan internationally. Especially, Indian RAW is availing the opportunity of the US-led organized propaganda campaign against Pakistan. Now, CPEC is a special target of these hostile entities.

 

In this connection, much coverage was given by the external media to a report, released on April 13, 2017, by Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO) which is in partnership with Mahatma Gandhi International AISBL. The subject report portrayed complete Indian negative propaganda themes about Pakistan’s provinces of Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), Balochistan and Sindh. Based on falsehood, the report also said that the CPEC is a breach of international law and is being implemented without consultation or compensation to the people of the area.

 

Undoubtedly, GB is the gateway of CPEC into Pakistan, whereby GB’s strategic and socio-economic importance has increased manifold. Like Balochistan, the region has huge potential in trade with China, tourism, minerals, gems, precious stones, agriculture-farming and hydropower production. Therefore, GB’s people who are strengthening their association with Pakistan, pay no attention to the false propaganda.

 

While, these US-led Western entities, particularly India who also give undue coverage to the meetings and protests against the integrity of Pakistan, are especially exaggerating the statements of those Baloch separatist leaders who have taken shelter in Europe and America, and are fulfilling the agenda of their foreign masters against the CPEC.

 

The reality is that the establishment of CPEC between deep Gwadar seaport of Balochistan and the historic Silk Road city in western regions-Xinjiang of China will connect Gilgit-Baltistan through Khunjerab Pass. Beijing would also build an international airport at Gwadar, while the roads infrastructure in Gwadar would link the communication network of the rest of the country to facilitate the transportation of goods.

 

When Gwadar seaport becomes fully operational, it would connect the landlocked Central Asian states with the rest of the world. Being the commercial hub, the port is likely to increase the volume of trade, bringing multiple economic and financial benefits to Pakistan. It will enable high-volume cargo vessels to move in the major oceans. Gwadar project which is the backbone of the CPEC will uplift the impoverished people of Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan, including developments in other provinces by providing thousands of employment opportunities, particularly to the less developed areas by redressing their grievances. The resulting prosperity in Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan would damp the separatist sentiments of the people, which the hostile elements, supported by the US, India and Israeli do not want. Therefore, these entities and their media describe the CPEC in negative terms.

 

In fact, since the occupation of Afghanistan by the US-led NATO forces, the country has become a centre of American CIA, Indian RAW and Israeli Mossad which are in connivance to obtain the covert designs of their countries and some Western countries against Russia, China, Pakistan and Iran. Under the cover of fighting terrorism, these intelligence agencies which are also in collaboration with the Afghan intelligence agency National Directorate of Security (NDS), support the militants of ISIS and Afghanistan-based Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), including their linked outfits which have been conducting terror-assaults in Afghanistan and Pakistan as part of the secret strategy of the US-led countries. Besides, these terrorist outfits are weakening Tibetan regions of China and Iranian Sistan-Baluchistan through subversive activities.

 

It is mentionable that Pakistan’s Armed Forces have successfully broken the backbone of the foreign-backed terrorists by the military operations Zarb-e-Azb and Radd-ul-Fasaad. Army and top intelligence agency ISI have broken the network of these terrorist groups by capturing several militants while thwarting a number of terror attempts. Peace has been restored in various regions of Pakistan, including Karachi and Balochistan province.

 

But, in the recent past, blasts in Balochistan and other regions of the country showed that the US-led India, Afghanistan and Israel have again started acts of sabotage especially to weaken Pakistan and to damage the Pak-China project of CPEC. Foiled terror attack on the Chinese consulate in Karachi on November 23, 2018, was part of the same scheme. Nevertheless, CIA, RAW and Mossad are assisting the separatist elements of the Balochistan to thwart the CPEC project.

 

It is of particular attention that during P.M. Imran Khan’s second trip to China, on April 28, this year, Islamabad and Beijing embarked on the new phase of the CPEC by signing a memorandum of understanding-agreements on the first Special Economic Zone (SEZ) and socio-economic development and a new agreement on free trade. The new phase of the CPEC would be characterised by industrialization—20 factories is being set up in Rashakai, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province.  In view of trade is an important element of the CPEC, the two sides concluded the second stage of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) aimed at strengthening trade ties between the two countries. Under the new FTA, China would open up 90 per cent of its market for Pakistani goods whereas Pakistan would share 65pc of its market with Chinese exports. This would also help in redressing, to a certain extent, the yawning trade imbalance between the two countries, which stood at $9.7 billion last year.

 

The two sides also signed an agreement on a technical package for upgradation of Pakistan’s main railway line-Mail Line-One (ML-1) under which a double track from Peshawar to Karachi will be built with China’s help. China who will spend $1bn on 27 projects, help Pakistan Railways in improving its capacity.

 

Nonetheless, China has clarified Indian concerns on the CPEC or OBOR. But, apart from the US, India is particularly opposing the CPEC as part of the anti-Pakistan and anti-China approach.  

 

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

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

Email: [email protected]

 

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Pak China Relations: Academic & Socio-Cultural Perspective

Pak China Relations: Academic & Socio-Cultural Perspective

 

 

Round Table Discussion

Pak China Relations:
Academic & Socio-Cultural Perspective

Organised By

MUSLIM Institute

     
MUSLIM Institute in collaboration with China Pakistan Educational and Cultural Institute organized a Round Table Discussion titled “Pak China Relations: Academic & Socio-Cultural Perspective” on December 8, 2017, at Islamabad. Air Vice Marshal (R) Faaiz Amir (Vice Chancellor, Air University, Islamabad) chaired the session. Mr Tahir Mehmood (Public Relations Coordinator, MUSLIM Institute) delivered the opening remarks and moderated the proceedings. Other speakers include Mr. Zafar Bakhtawari (Former President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry), Prof. Le Wei (Dean, School of International Education, Yunnan University, China), Dr. Zhang Daojian (Director, Confucius Institute, NUML Islamabad), Mr. Tanvir Jafri (Incharge, China Study Centre, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Islamabad) and Mr. Me Heju (CEO, China Pakistan Educational & Cultural Institute). Mr Asif Tanveer Awan Advocate (Research Associate MUSLIM Institute) presented the vote of thanks.

Brief Summary of the remarks shared by the speakers is as follows:


Row 01 (From Left): Air Vice Marshal (R) Faaiz Amir, Prof. Le Wei, Mr. Zafar Bakhtawari
Row 02 (From Left): Dr. Zhang Daojian, Mr. Tanvir Jafri, Mr. Me Heju
Pak-China diplomatic relations were established in 1951. Pakistan is among those countries which recognized the People’s Republic of China soon after its revolution. The Islamic Republic of Pakistan is also the first Muslim state to establish relations with China. An unshakeable mutual trust between both the states was seeded soon after the Bandung Conference in 1955 under the efforts of the Premier Zhou Enlai. Pak-China friendship, described by the political leadership of both the states is as higher as mountains, as deeper as oceans and as sweeter as honey is a unique and exceptional case in the international system. 

Pakistan is home to the vital link between China and the Muslim World. Both states have been rendering remarkable services for the sake of their mutual development in their transitional period of almost seven decades. For example, more than twenty-two major projects have been initiated by China in Pakistan which includes heavy mechanical complex, heavy electrical complex, tank rebuilding factory, aircraft rebuilding factory, Gwadar port, Karakoram Highway, Nuclear power plants etc.


Hall view of roundtable discussion.
China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is going to be a reality and both countries have decided to establish an international economic hub. CPEC is a game changer because the fate of Pakistan, as well as the region of South Asia and even the world at large, is going to be changed. The current Chinese president, Mr Xi Jinping wants to make China an economic superpower and in the pursuance of these initiatives, One Belt One Road (OBOR) project is in the process of completion. This initiative will connect 65 countries of the whole world. An interesting fact regarding this initiative is that out of a total 65 countries, 55 are Muslim countries. It looks that the world order is going to be reconstructed. The centre of power is likely to be shifted from the West to the East. Pakistan is on the front line with China and CPEC will benefit both Pakistan and China economically. The One Belt One Road initiative would bring competition as well as stability between both the nations. It will not only improve infrastructure but also total export at large. The major task is based on five points. 1st is the policy communication, 2nd is the facility of connectivity, 3rd is regarding unlimited trade, 4th deals with mutual financing and the 5th considers strong people to people contact. If the two countries are devoid of indigenous connectivity, we will not be benefitting ourselves with the maximum potential enshrined in CPEC. They need to understand each other. They need to know their similarities as well as the differences so that they form the habit of respecting each other. In this respect, they will be able to explore their challenges mutually while influencing factors regarding their relationship in a positive manner. Most of the issues can be solved easily through academic, social and cultural exchanges and with also people to people contact between the two countries not only at the state level but also at an individual. The world is changing its dynamics and the China and Pakistan have a specific and unique role in the world generally and in the region at large. Both the countries enjoy the peculiarity of their own cultural values and abilities to face the change, in this regard, a famous Chinese scholar says “Everyone respect one’s own culture and values. If we respect others’ culture and values, the world will be full of hope”. 

However, there are cultural differences between the two nations and an acute sense of understanding regarding those cultural differences is very important. Pakistan is home to 200 million people contrary to 1.35 billion that of China. For cultural interaction and cultural affinity, the civilization of China has to be more sensitive towards the cultural adequacies of Islamic civilization. The significance of the promotion of China-Pakistan socio-cultural exchanges and people to people contact has increased.


Hall view of roundtable discussion.
It will be better to enhance educational exchanges first which is the basic level. This level will disseminate a greater sense of opportunities regarding mutual understanding. Propagation of cultural affinity at student level deserves pivotal importance. In this respect, a high level of mutual confidence is required. It is really a good omen that Chinese students used to study in various universities of Pakistan. Both the governments are advised to invest heavily in the field of education while establishing world-class educational institutions under mutual operational capacity. It will help a great deal in achieving mutual recognition regarding educational qualification between both the nations. Moreover, collaboration in significant areas like that of language and culture is of pivotal importance. Another significant area is the establishment of vocational education institutes across Pakistan in the wake of world’s largest credible project CPEC. Because a large number of skilled workers will be needed soon to drive the project up to its maximum potential.

The academic contribution is considered as an ignored area with respect to other developmental areas. Humans are more important than projects. Up to May, 2017, Chinese institutions which officially set up Pakistan Research Centre include only seven special research institutions: Tsinghua University Pakistan Cultural Transmission Research Centre, Peking University Pakistan Research Centre, Sichuan University Pakistan Research Centre, Fudan University Pakistan Research Centre, Jiangsu Normal University Pakistan Research Centre, China West Normal University Pakistan Research Centre, Yunnan Nationalities University Pakistan Research Centre. In addition to above seven special research institutions, comparatively minimal number of scholars in other universities and scientific research institutions pay attention to jointly composed China’s Pakistan research team. Similarly, in Pakistan, a recent increase in academic and cultural studies was witnessed but still, it needs to be strengthened. Therefore, there is a dire need to establish and improve existing volume of Pakistan-China academic cooperation. It will help a great deal in further strengthening the already an unshakable relationship. In Pakistan, China Study Centre aims to promote cooperation in the field of science and technology. Various projects have been visualized by joint coordination with Chinese universities. A team of seven artists was warmly welcomed in Chinese universities. Another effort by the centre is the introduction of the Chinese way of flying a kite which is less dangerous as compared to the Pakistani way. Hundreds of kites were imported from China in order to celebrate Pak-China kite festival at China Study Centre. In addition, mass singing of Chinese anthem at China Study Centre is another feather in the centre’s cap. This singing has the privilege of first such kind in the history of Pakistan.


Hall view of roundtable discussion.
A large number of Buddhist antiques and sculptures are present in different museums of Pakistan including Taxila Museum, Lahore Museum, Peshawar Museum, Dir Museum and Karachi Museum which is a treasure encompassing wonders not only for the Chinese tourists but for the researchers belonging to the field of archaeology. These assets are not only promoting tourism in Pakistan but also providing a chance of interaction between the two peoples.

Being the fourth pillar, Media play a very significant role in the development and prosperity of a nation. Chinese are advised to develop their own news agencies along with independent TV networks operating multilingual news along with encompassing a global reach. It will help a great deal in dealing with prevailing propagandas geo-politically against this historic friendship.

Although there exists healthy exchange of academicians, scholars, analysts, as well as researchers yet the up gradation of future prospects of socio-cultural and academic cooperation, is the need of the hour in concordance with the changing geopolitical scenario.

Interactive Session:Pak China Relations: Academic & Socio-Cultural Perspective


Participants asking questions in interactive session
A fruitful discussion took place in interactive session it is summarized as follows:

People of China consider the folks of Pakistan their best friends. CPEC is a game changer which will benefit both countries of China and Pakistan. Pakistani students are under education in various departments of Chinese universities and their numbers have increased substantially after CPEC. They are being provided full time scholarships and other educational facilities. Although different academic scholars, analysts and students visit both sides thus enhancing future prospects of socio-cultural and academic relationship, but considering the capacity on both sides, a lot of work need to be done.

 

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Case of Kulbushan Yadav in court of ICJ by Brig(Retd). Asif Haroon

Case of Kulbushan Yadav in court of ICJ

by

Brig(Retd) Asif Haroon

Pakistan is on the hit list of India, Afghanistan and USA supported by NATO and Israel since 2002. The enemies of Pakistan have been using Afghanistan as a major base of operation for their covert operations. RAW had established its forward network in the northwestern Pakistan with the help of its proxy TTP and its affiliates, which destabilized FATA and parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa including the capital city of Peshawar. Pakistan security forces fought the paid proxies in South and North Waziristan and other tribal agencies of FATA as well as Swat from 2003 till 2008.

Pakistan had to again launch major operations in Buner, Dir, Swat, Shangla, Malakand, Bajaur, and South Waziristan in 2009, and later in Khyber Agency, Kurram Agency, Orakzai Agency and Mohmand Agency in 2010/11. Later on, a big operation was launched in North Waziristan in June 2014 to recapture the last stronghold of TTP under Hakimullah Mehsud and flush out over 60 terrorist groups including foreign groups.

By mid-2015, the entire northwestern belt was cleared of the foreign aided proxies and they had to take shelter in Kunar, Nuristan and Nangarhar in Afghanistan. The runaway militants of TTP, Jamaat-e-Ahrar and Lashkar-e-Islam are still carrying out terror attacks inside Pakistan duly abetted, equipped, funded and guided by RAW and NDS and backed by CIA.   

 

  

India has also been making use of Iranian soil for undertaking sabotage and subversion in Baluchistan and Karachi and for that purpose RAW had stationed a serving Navy officer of the rank of Commander, Kulbushan Sudhir Yadav at Chahbahar as a businessman under a fake name of Mubarak Hussain Patel in 2003. He had been given Indian and Pakistani passports. He had lived in Karachi for some time in 2004 and had made trips into Baluchistan several times to provide funds and assign tasks to the terrorists. Sea routes were used to supply arms and explosives.

He had succeeded in establishing RAW network in the two regions with the help of Baloch rebellious groups namely BLA, BRA, BLF in Baluchistan and MQM, Lyari gang and fishermen in Karachi. From 2013 onwards, he was made the overall in-charge of carrying out subversive war in Pakistan and mandated to accelerate separatist movement in Baluchistan, make Karachi lawless, torpedo Gwadar seaport and scuttle CPEC.  Kulbushan was a state actor deputed by the Indian State to wage war against Pakistan and for this purpose he was given $400 million.

Reportedly, he was linked with Iranian military intelligence. It otherwise doesn’t stand to reason that he hoodwinked the state machinery of Iran since 2003 by pretending to be a businessman and making frequent trips to Pakistan and kept his activities hidden. Indo-Afghan-Iran strategic economic partnership signed in Chahbahar in 2016, India’s financial support to build Chabahar seaport and connect it by road and rail with Afghanistan, and Iran’s serious reservations over Gwadar seaport are strong indicators that Iran could have closed its eyes to the subversive war launched by RAW from its soil to emasculate Gwadar by bleeding Baluchistan and Karachi.

Indo-US-Afghanistan nexus supported by others have been constantly building a narrative against Pakistan to project it as a double dealer and involved in abetting terrorism in Afghanistan, Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK) and India. The trio has been projecting Pakistan responsible for their failings in Afghanistan and portraying itself as victims of terrorism. Taking advantage of the diplomatic clout and military and economic power, they have been able to sell their stories to the world community and hide their collective crimes against Pakistan and Indian crimes in IOK.

One reason that they succeeded in building perceptions and portraying Pakistan in poor light was Pakistan’s utter failure to build a counter narrative to convey its side of the story and highlight aggressiveness and terrorism of enemies in disguise of friends. India besides lumping all terror attacks in India from 2001 to 2008 in the basket of Pakistan, it carried out false flag operations in December 2001, November 2008, Gurdaspur, Udhamphur in 2015, and Pathankot, Uri in 2016, in its bid to depict Pakistan as a terror abetting state.

Pakistan on the political and diplomatic fronts remained passive, defensive and apologetic thereby giving a distinct edge to India. Instead of building a counter narrative it preferred to do American bidding and kept doing more and more hoping that its obedience would please Washington. Similar approach was adopted towards India as well as Afghanistan to keep the two appeased.

Pakistan’s Foreign Office and Embassies couldn’t achieve much in exposing India’s real face after it started to break all records of human rights violations and atrocities against hapless Kashmiris. The 22-member team sent by Pakistan to western capitals in September 2016 failed to convince anyone that India is the villain of peace in the region and no peace is possible unless the 70-year old dispute of Kashmir is resolved amicably as per UN resolutions.

Kulbushan in Pakistan’s hands exposes the smokescreen of deceit, lies and deception of India and lays bare its ugly face for the first time, but for unknown reasons, our policy makers failed to capitalize on the biggest prize the Army had bagged in Baluchistan on March 3, 2016.

Although his twice video recorded detailed confessions, and statements made by over 200 of his connections in Baluchistan and Karachi who had been arrested were handed over to the US and the UN, but unlike India which makes hue and cry and sours its lungs to prove its fake stories as true, Pakistan didn’t make any worthwhile noise to drumbeat this huge catch in the world.

However, Pakistan achieved commendable results on the military and intelligence planes and thwarted dangerous designs of enemies of Pakistan. Intelligence based targeted Rangers Operation backed by Army launched in Karachi in September 2013 smothered the militancy and fascism espoused by MQM under Altaf Hussain. MQM stands split into four factions and Altaf completely isolated. Semblance of order has been restored in Karachi.

Likewise, a similar operation by Frontier Corps backed by Army in Baluchistan broke the back of the separatist movement supported by foreign powers and Baloch rebels are returning home in droves while Baluchistan is being developed at a fast pace to remove its socio-economic grievances.

These achievements made by Pakistan when seen in the backdrop of worsening security situation in Afghanistan and not so happy internal situation of India, and with Kulbushan as well as spokesman of TTP Ehsanullah Ehsan in Pakistan’s hand, it has made things extremely dismal for India.

Kulbushan being a naval serving officer was tried in FGCM by the Army and on April 10, 2017 he was awarded death sentence. Although his trial was kept secret, the accused was given facility of defence counsel and all norms of justice were fully met.

Within 40 days of the date of verdict (20 May 2017), convicted Kulbushan can appeal to the High Court, but he has not made any appeal. Option of Supreme Court is also open to him. He can also seek mercy petition from the President to convert his sentence to life sentence.

India kept trying to gain consular access to Kulbushan by quoting 2008 Indo-Pak consular access agreement, but never owed up that he was working for RAW against Pakistan. India couldn’t explain why he was issued a Pakistani passport and why he was operating under a cover name of Mubarak Hussain. India didn’t agree that he was arrested in Baluchistan and maintains that he was abducted from Iran. India denies Kulbushan is a RAW agent and a serving officer, but at a belated stage admitted that he is a retired naval officer.

While Pakistan has been giving consular access to India for Indian spies in its custody, India never reciprocated. Since he was a spy, he was fomenting terrorism and working on an agenda to detach Baluchistan from the body of Pakistan, hence consular access was not granted to India, particularly because of extremely hostile posture of India and Kulbushan not requesting for consular access.  

To maximize pressure on Pakistan and force it give consular access to Kulbushan, RAW master minded the kidnapping of a Pakistani retired Army officer Lt Col Habib in April 2017. He was kidnapped from Nepal and taken to India after luring him by offering a lucrative job in Nepal. A fake employment company posing to be based in London performed the gory act. This act was undertaken to project him as an ISI spy operating against India from Nepal and then using him as a bargaining chip to release Kulbushan.

Additionally, besides keeping the LoC and working boundary in Kashmir sector turbulent through constant ceasefire violations, India provoked Kabul to create a situation at Chaman crossing point by firing at the census team and disrupting the census process.

Already irked by border management process and return of Afghan refugees and staggered by Taliban offensive, Afghan border force fired indiscriminately on May 5, 2017 from the two border villages and caused civilian casualties. Besides the forceful military response action by Pakistan military, the two border crossing points at Chaman and Torkham were closed, and are still closed.

As if this provocative act was not enough, Iran was elbowed to warn Pakistan in reaction to a border incident on April 27. Iranian Army Commander’s stern warning on May 8 was so timed that it gave an impression as if Pakistan was now faced with three dimensional threat and that except for China all its neighbors accused Pakistan of terrorism and were hostile toward it.

Internally, other than the Panama leaks case, Dawn leaks case was played up by opposition parties and paid media to create rift between the army and the govt.  Issuance of a tweet by DG ISPR in response to a notification issued by the PM House, saying that, “the notification is incomplete and not in line with the recommendations of the investigating team and hence is rejected”, sent the opponents of Nawaz Sharif (NS) into raptures. They wishfully thought that finally the two titans have locked their horns and downfall of NS was within grasping reach.

Media created a hype and it put the PM in an awkward position. Once the notification was duly corrected to the entire satisfaction of the GHQ, the latter fittingly withdrew the tweet and the tense matter was amicably resolved. However, sudden diffusion of Dawn leaks case came as a bolt from the blue for the opponents of NS and the media, and their guns started to target the Army Chief and senior leadership of Army, saying that it was an abject surrender and a compromise on national security. Social media, particularly retired army officers played an anomalous role. They went two steps ahead of the anti-Army brigade in besmirching the image of Army Chief. None was interested in national security; their target was NS.

It was under such murky internal political conditions and blame game that India suddenly decided to approach the International Court of Justice (ICJ). For India, Kulbushan has suddenly become enormously important since his execution will put a confirmatory stamp on Pakistan’s stance that India has been fomenting terrorism in Pakistan. Except for Yadav’s immediate family, none in India has any love lost for Kulbushan. They are cursing him for putting India in a very embarrassing situation.

In reality, India wants to save its face and image and not Kulbushan. After a lapse of one year, there was a sudden upsurge of love for him and Sushma Swaraj declared him the son of Mahabharat and warned that India will go to any extent to get him released. Probably Iran has been taken in the loop and it is demanding consular access for Kulbushan on the plea that he had planned to target Pak Embassy in Tehran.

India filed a case in ICJ on May 10, 2017. It accused Pakistan of violating the Vienna Convention by failing to provide Kulbushan consular access, as well as breaking international human rights law. New Delhi also appealed to the ICJ to impose emergency measures to suspend Kulbushan execution until the legal battle in ICJ has concluded and urged The Hague Court to use its jurisdiction and authority to get Kulbushan released.

ICJ promptly accepted the case on the same date, and in great haste affixed the date of hearing on May 15. Pakistan decided to contest the case in ICJ although many advised that Pakistan was not legally bound to do so in the light of Indo-Pak consular bilateral agreement in 2008, which overrode obligations under Vienna Convention.

More so, ICJ has a poor history of dispensing justice or exercising its authority effectively. In 1999, when it approached ICJ regarding the downing of Navy’s Atlantic Reconnaissance aircraft inside Pak territory, India refused to accept its jurisdiction and the ICJ could do nothing. USA thrice rejected decisions of the ICJ when Paraguay, Germany and Mexico had approached the court to stay the death sentences awarded by the US Courts and to provide consular access to the accused. So was the case with China when it refused to honor the verdict of ICJ in favor of Philippines on its navigational rights in South China Sea.

Pakistan maintained that the ICJ need not intervene as it had adhered to a 2008 bilateral treaty with India that supersedes the Vienna Pact by stating that the right to consular access can be waived where ‘national security’ is at risk. Islamabad also noted that Kulbushan sentence remains subject to appeal to higher courts in Pakistan (40 days from the date of award of death sentence, ie, 20 May 2017), and he is in no immediate danger of execution. It described India’s decision to take its case to the UN court as ‘political theatre’.

The panel of judges headed by Justice Ronny Abraham heard the arguments of both sides on May 15 and reserved its judgement till next hearing. On May 17, at 3 pm Pakistan time, Judge Ronny said, “The mere fact that Mr. Kulbushan Yadav is under a death sentence and might therefore be executed is sufficient to demonstrate the existence of a risk of irreparable prejudice to the rights claimed by India. Therefore the court was ‘satisfied’ of the ‘urgency’ of the case”. He granted stay on verdict of death sentence till finalization of the case and final verdict. The ICJ ruling did not favor the arguments of either side but was meant to prevent Pakistan from taking any irrevocable steps before the court can decide whether it has jurisdiction in the case and, later, which side is right or wrong. 

Since the announcement of provisional order, Indian leaders and Indian media are blowing trumpets of victory and are terming it as India’s biggest diplomatic triumph. Taking advantage of the misgivings aired by politicians, pseudo intellectuals, legal fraternity, former judges and TV anchors in Pakistan, India is conveying to the world that Pakistan has been soundly beaten and that the right of hanging Kulbushan has been snatched away from its hands.

Barrister Khawar Qureshi who represented Pakistan at ICJ, has been maliciously targeted by Indian media and unfortunately Pak media has joined the chorus to demean him.

It must be known that all international institutions are funded and controlled by USA and are under the influence of Israel as well. ICJ falls in this category. Since India is strategic partner of USA and Israel, therefore it will be logical to assume that the case of India will be dealt by ICJ in accordance with wishes of India and not otherwise. This has already become obvious after seeing the speed with which the case of India was accepted by ICJ and provisional relief given to India in one hearing. The judges rejected the plea of Pakistan saying it had prima facie jurisdiction under Article 1 of Optional Protocol to Vienna Convention to hear the case.     

Irrespective of the limitations of ICJ, so far the case is open and no one has won or lost the case. Like the Panama case, which was not a legal but purely a political case in which political vendetta was glaringly visible, ICJ case concerning Kulbushan is also political in nature. It is more inclined toward political point scoring and has little element of law. Barrister Khawar has rightly stated that India is chanting hollow slogans on its imaginary victory at Hague and befooling its people.

Opponents of NS helped by media are spinning stories that ground is being smoothened to release Kulbushan and quote NS-Sajjan Jindal secret meeting in Murree. NS is being dubbed as a security risk on account of his soft approach towards India because of his business interests. They are lambasting him for not mentioning the name of Kulbushan for once and not giving a befitting reply to bellicose statements made by Modi and other Indian leaders against Pakistan. They say that the govt made little efforts to expose the ugly face of India after the arrest of Kulbushan and that Pakistan should not have gone to the ICJ since ICJ jurisdiction hinges on mutual consent of both parties.

Denial of consular access to India for Kulbushan is seen as a mistake. Some went to the extent of saying that NS passed on letter signed by Kulbushan to Jindal asking Indian govt to take up his case in ICJ. 

Swayed by Indian propaganda, they say Barrister Khawar was weak and didn’t fight the case properly.

TV anchors and so-called analysts have been painting disconsolate scenario as if everything has been lost because of poor handling of the case. They misled and stimulated the sentiments of the public rather than carrying out objective and dispassionate assessment of law.       

It must not been forgotten that all stories pasted on social media are manufactured in Pune city in India. These conspiracies theories and cooked up news are further spiced by their spooks in Pakistan and elsewhere. Juicy stories are easy to sell. Fun starved public already immersed in socio-economic problems eagerly buy the scandalous stories since they have no stamina to listen to factual stories devoid of juice. Pak social and electronic media toe the line of Indo-US-Western media and go a mile ahead in further scandalizing the invented stories to tarnish the image of the govt and premier institutions. This practice has been going on since the expansion and liberalization of electronic media in Pakistan in 2002/03. News on social media are mostly fabricated or mixed with half-truths.  

My Detached Views

We tend to forget that Kulbushan was tried in FGCM and given death sentence after his confessional statements of his direct involvement in spying and terrorism in Pakistan on two occasions, and that so far Pakistan has not relented and has borne the pressure of India to give consular access.

To meet the norms of justice, the convict has the right to appeal in apex courts and then to the President of Pakistan. This process has yet not been completed which takes 150 days as per Army Act. As such, if ICJ has asked Pakistan to delay his hanging till completion of full hearing, nothing unusual has happened.

ICJ didn’t rule that Kulbushan must not be hanged. It only desired deferment. India sought his release, but it failed. India is trying to hide its embarrassment behind media war as it had done in Kargil conflict.

The main case is yet to start and Pakistan has a very strong case while India is on a very weak wicket since it is defending terrorism.

India will have to prove that Kulbushan was not a serving officer, and not involved in spying and terrorism, and why was he given two names and a fake identity. It cannot prove any.

Once the case opens up for full hearing, it will for the first time unravel all the misdoings of India starting from 1970.

The ICJ cannot terminate the death sentence of Kulbushan. The ICJ can at best rule against death sentence and may convert it into life sentence, but cannot pronounce him not guilty and release him.

Pakistan is not honor bound to obey ICJ ruling and will go by the ruling of FGCM and Supreme Court.

Pakistan has not violated Vienna Convention in denying consular access because this is an exceptional case involving integrity and national security of Pakistan.

Besides the two confessional statements of Kulbushan, Pakistan has ample  documentary and video evidences. So why so much of victory celebrations in India and why the pall of gloom and hue and cry in Pakistan when the court battle has yet not started??

In my view India has been trapped and Pakistan has a great opportunity after the temporary setback in the ICJ.

India has itself terminated the bilateral policy which it has been using since 1972 to thwart resolution of Kashmir dispute and opened up multilateral approach for Pakistan.

India has internationalized the Kulbushan case (a bilateral dispute) by taking it to the ICJ. They have done it, what we couldn’t do. “Lo Aap Apne Daam main Sayyad Aa Gaya” (The hunter has fallen into his own trap).

Pakistan must now capitalize on this opportunity and drag India in the ICJ and other international forums, and prove to the World that India is involved in the state sponsored terrorism in Pakistan.

Based on the precedence and moral authority of the Kulbushan case, Pakistan should take one by one, many of the human rights violations in Kashmir to the ICJ, and expose Indian atrocities.

Pakistan must expose to the World that India is the originator of cross border terrorism and sponsorship of terrorism is the “State Policy” of India.

Pakistan has a strong case, we have an opportunity, and we must exploit it. We have the capability, diplomatic skills and the expertise to make up for the opportunities we lost in the past because of our policy of appeasement and apologetic stance.

After all, haven’t our diplomats successfully blocked Security Council seat to India despite support of world powers to India? Haven’t we become a nuclear power despite all the odds and have protected it and further strengthened it? Pakistan has won 26 elections out of 28 at international forums in the last few years in spite of outright hostility of India and USA? Haven’t our security forces and intelligence agencies reversed the dangerous tide of terrorism that had engulfed Pakistan and had nearly sunk it? It was a near impossible feat which no other country including USA has achieved.

Haven’t we upturned the sunk economy and overcome energy crisis to a great extent when it seemed impossible in 2013? CPEC has been made operational since last October. This year industrial zones will be built in each province and 10,000 MW additional electricity will be added in the national grid by end 2017 to overcome energy crisis.

While Pakistan military is giving a robust response to India’s aggression along the LoC in Kashmir, and has achieved spectacular results against foreign sponsored terrorists, Pakistan has improved its macroeconomic indicators and GDP has reached 5.30 %. It has improved its image and has successfully freed itself from the strategic encirclement and web of isolation weaved by India and its strategic partners.

CPEC is the mainstay of China’s One-Belt-One-Road (OBOR) concept which is based on 6 economic corridors and Pakistan is the hub of CPEC. The success of OBOR in general and CPEC in particular was visibly seen in the recently concluded summit in Beijing which was attended by representatives from over 150 countries.

Installation of former army chief Gen Raheel Sharif as head of 41 Muslim States Alliance and the summit in Riyadh, attended by Donald Trump are reasons for Pakistan to feel good and proud that its importance cannot be overlooked. All these developments are much to the chagrin of India.

With all these spectacular achievements under our belt, there is simply no reason for us to feel upset and gloomy. Let’s push them, we can do it.

Harmony between civil and military relations from June 2013 onward was one reason for achieving tangible results. All state institutions, legal fraternity, judges, civil society, political and religious parties and Ulema will all have to stay together and put up a united front to beat India.

Electronic and social media and doomsayers will have to change their stance from negativity to positivity or else be disciplined.

The writer is retired Brig, war veteran, defence analyst, columnist, author of five books, Vice Chairman Thinkers Forum Pakistan, Director Measac Research Centre. Takes part in TV talk shows, attends seminars and delivers talks. [email protected]

 

 

 

 

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Indian RAW agent Kulbushan Jadhav sentenced to death

Indian RAW agent Kulbushan Jadhav sentenced to death

 

 

RAWALPINDI: Indian RAW Agent Kulbushan Jadhav who was arrested from Balochistan on espionage charges, has been sentenced to death through a Field General Court Martial, the ISPR said Monday.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa has confirmed death sentence awarded by the FGCM under the Pakistan Army Act (PAA).

According to an ISPR press release, Kulbushan Sundir Jadhav alias Hussein Mubarak Patel was arrested on March 3, 2016, through a Counter-Intelligence Operation from Mashkel area of Balochistan for his involvement in espionage and sabotage actives in Pakistan.

Jadhav was believed to be an on-duty officer for the Indian Navy.

“The spy has been tried through Field General Court-martial (FGCM) under Pakistan Army Act (PAA) and awarded death sentence. Today, COAS General Qamar Javed Bajwa has confirmed death sentence awarded by FGCM.

“RAW agent Commander Kulbushan Jadhav was tired under GGCM under section 59 of Pakistan Army Act (PAA) 1952 and Section 3 of official Secret Act of 1923.”

“The FGCM found Jadhav guilty of all charges. He confessed before a Magistrate and the Court that he was tasked by RAQ to plan, coordinate and organize espionage/sabotage activities aiming to destabilize and wage war against Pakistan by impeding the efforts of Law Enforcement Agencies for restoring peace in Balochistan and Karachi,” said the press release.

 

Pakistan sentences Indian spy Kulbushan Yadav to death

Reference:By News Desk
Published: April 10, 2017

Pakistan on Monday sentenced Indian spy Kalbushan Yadav to death.

“Indian RAW Agent / Naval officer 41558Z Commander Kulbushan Sudhir Jadhav alias Hussein Mubarak Patel was arrested on March 3, 2016 through a Counter Intelligence Operation from Mashkel, Balochistan, for his involvement in espionage and sabotage activities against Pakistan,” Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement.

“The spy has been tried through Field General Court Martial (FGCM) under Pakistan Army Act (PAA) and awarded death sentence. Today COAS, Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa has confirmed his death sentence awarded by FGCM.

Analysis: Kulbhushan Yadav’s RAW move

Yadav was tried by FGCM under section 59 of PAA 1952 and Section 3 of official Secret Act of 1923. FGCM found Yadhav guilty of all the charges, the statement added.

Further, Yadav confessed before a magistrate and the court that he was tasked by Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) to plan, coordinate and organise espionage/ sabotage activities aiming to destabilise and wage war against Pakistan by impeding the efforts of Law Enforcement Agencies for restoring peace in Balochistan and Karachi.
The accused was provided with defending officer as per legal provisions.

Army chief vows to pursue Kulbhushancase to finish

Yadav, an Indian Navy commander, and agent of the RAW, was arrested in a raid near the Pak-Afghan border town of Chaman in March last year. He was earlier posted at Chabahar port in southeastern Iran where he lived with his wife and two children and possessed a genuine Indian passport but with a fake name, Hussein Mubarak Patel.

The bilateral dialogue process between Islamabad and New Delhi was suspended after Yadav’s arrest.  Yadav, in a video confession circulated shortly after his arrest, admitted to carrying out subversive activities inside Pakistan for India’s premier intelligence agency.

Peace process with India seemingly suspended after Yadav’s arrest

India had sought consular access to Yadav, however, Pakistan refused its request.

Pakistan believes that India is using covert means to foment violence in the country with an aim to undermine the multi billion dollar ‘one belt, one road’ initiative of China. The recent surge in terrorist attacks in the country has once again brought the India intelligence agencies’ role in backing the terrorism in Pakistan to the spotlight.

Security officials claim that RAW was using certain militant outfits operating out of Afghanistan to carry out terrorist attacks in the country. The current Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval is considered to be the architect of this policy called ‘offensive-defensive’ that advocates a policy of supporting proxies to create trouble inside Pakistan.

 

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CPEC controversy…army’s failure By Ayaz Amir

 

 

 

 

 

 

China-Pakistan-Economic-Corridor-CPEC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CPEC controversy…army’s failure

By 

Ayaz Amir

January 12, 2016

 

 
 

Islamabad diary

It was a ‘game-changer’, we all gushed, destined to change the face of Pakistan. No one could mention the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor without breaking into superlatives. Actual details were hard to come by but the rhetoric was intoxicating.

This was before our genius for statesmanship kicked in. When it did we are finding out that instead of reaching for the stars we are managing to dig ourselves into another hole. The controversy over the CPEC is spiralling in such a manner that the Chinese embassy has taken the unprecedented step of issuing a statement urging all parties to “strengthen communication…and resolve differences properly.”

Our Chinese friends can be forgiven for feeling miffed. Here they are holding out the prospect of all these roads, highways and power projects and we are speaking in different tongues. Seeing our performance they are likely to dwell in their minds on the merits of a one-party state.

The main charge against the Sharifs is that they have hidden everything behind a veil of secrecy and are not being open about maps and finances. Every now and then the Punjab chief minister makes another thunderous announcement about game-changing. Press him for details or ask him to show the actual maps and the highway/motorway alignments and the industrial zones and beyond his wagging finger, and eyes aflame with passion, there is little to see.

I can bet that if parliamentarians and corps commanders are subjected to a test about what the CPEC is about nine out of ten will flunk it. When the State Bank governor confesses to not knowing anything about the money and the loans, terms and conditions and repayment schedules, we get an idea of the mess the federal government has managed to create around this issue…which is supposed to alter the alignment of the stars in our favour.

But we should be honest with ourselves. Was any of this unexpected? Was anyone really expecting that the Sharifs, the two of them who are running the civilian half of this country, would transcend their limitations and turn overnight into a Bismarck couple on the CPEC?

Here were elected leaders who couldn’t get the threat of terrorism right. They had not the heart to take on the Pakistani Taliban. They could take no decision on Karachi. It was the army which knocked sense into them and the army, on its own, which declared war on terrorism – both of the religious variety as in Fata, and the ‘secular’ variety as in Karachi. When the army had taken the decision, the civilians hurriedly clambered aboard the terrorism bandwagon. It is another matter that they now give the impression that the resolve all along was theirs.

Given this record on what grounds was anyone expecting that coming to the ‘game-changer’ the same civilians, the same leadership class would become statesmen: bring all the provinces together and get everyone to sing from the same score?

The army is managing the internal security front and overseeing foreign policy. Visiting foreign high-ups invariably call on the army chief because everyone understands where the locus of real power rests. The army is providing security for the CPEC and raising an entire division headed by a two-star general (from our own resources) for this purpose. Without this guarantee there would be no corridor and no Chinese money coming in.

So how come, when the army has its finger in every pie, when it is spread all over, when it is handling all key issues, when it came to this supreme ‘game-changer’, this khan of khans, this king of kings, it left everything to the higher wisdom and statesmanship of the Sharifs? It doesn’t add up, doesn’t make sense.

Let us not be hard on Heavy-mandate PM and whiz-kid Punjab CM. They are doing nothing unusual. This is how they have been conducting business and politics – it being hard to make out where the one ends and the other begins – for the last 30 years. When they look at the map of Pakistan they see Punjab. When they look at Punjab they see Lahore. When they see Lahore what rivets their attention the most are the roads leading to Raiwind.

Being industrialists and businessmen, that too on an industrial scale, when they conduct state business with other countries it is but natural, given their background, that one eye is fastened on their own interests. With both the PPP leadership and the PML-N leadership the lines between public and private interest are blurred. It was not always like this. Once upon a time politics and commerce used to run on separate lines. Alas, not any more. Perhaps as a country we are atoning for sins unexplained.

I am not making any of this up. All reasonably well-informed Pakistanis know all this. But to return to the mother of all questions: how come in our holy of holies, the Vatican we call the General Headquarters, was the CPEC, this supposed definer of our future, left to the tender mercies of the Sharifs?

Give the Sharifs credit at least for being consistent. They are treating the CPEC as if it was one of their sugar mills, a karkhana of the Ittefaq Group. Again they are hardly to blame. They are just being true to form. Only in this case the army decided not to exercise the system of ‘checks-and-balances’ it not only exercises in other fields but thinks it its birthright to do so. Why?

Why intrusive interference in every other corner, every other aspect of national life? Why benign neglect and masterly inactivity, leaving the present leadership to its devices, regarding the ‘game-changer’? Or are we to think the unthinkable, what should hardly be put into words, that the Punjab-centrism of the Sharif approach strikes a chord with the larger Punjabi-ism of what euphemistically, when we want to take cover, we refer to as the ‘establishment’?

The CPEC was supposed to bring Pakistan together…tie up its constituent units, the four provinces and Gilgit-Baltistan, in a tighter framework of communication and economic integration. The Raiwind approach to the CPEC is fanning the flames of inter-provincial discord. The Chinese are not at fault. They know their history of the Long March and the subtleties of Mao Zedong Thought. In what institute of Marxism-Leninism could they have learned the subtleties of Raiwind thought?

The politicians can’t clear up this mess. They could forge no consensus on terrorism. The army did it for them. The Sharifs are in the driving seat…they cannot resolve the growing controversy regarding the CPEC. The differences are too wide, the suspicions too deep, civilian incapacity too glaring. It is a particular gift of PML-N ministers that whenever any of them speaks on this issue he manages to fan the flames of suspicion higher.

It’s the army which has to take the lead, behind the scenes, discreetly…but firmly, knocking sense into the political leadership, the way it did over terrorism.

Let us host Saudi princes and read out soothing words to them. But let us understand that the CPEC controversy is more important for us than the row between Iran and Saudi Arabia.

Email: [email protected]

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