SCA MORNING PRESS CLIPS
Prepared for the U.S. Department of State
Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs
TO: | SCA & Staff |
DATE: | Tuesday, July 2, 2024 6:30 AM ET |
Afghanistan
UN-led meeting in Qatar with Afghan Taliban is not a recognition of their government, official says (AP)
AP [7/1/2024 5:56 PM, Rahim Faiez, 31180K, Neutral]
A United Nations-led meeting held in Qatar with the Taliban on increasing engagement with Afghanistan does not translate into a recognition of their government, a U.N. official said Monday.The gathering on Sunday and Monday in Qatar’s capital of Doha with envoys from some two dozen countries was the first time that representatives of the Afghan Taliban administration attended such a U.N.-sponsored meeting.The Taliban were not invited to the first meeting, and U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said they set unacceptable conditions for attending the second one, in February, including demands that Afghan civil society members be excluded from the talks and that the Taliban be treated as the country’s legitimate rulers.Ahead of Doha, representatives of Afghan women were excluded from attending, paving the way for the Taliban to send their envoys — though the organizers insisted that demands for women’s rights would be raised.“I would like to emphasize that this meeting and this process of engagement does not mean normalization or recognition,” Rosemary A. DiCarlo, a U.N. official for political and peacebuilding affairs said Monday.
“My hope is that the constructive exchanges on the various issues over the last two days have moved us a little closer to resolving some of the problems that are having such a devastating impact on the Afghan people,” she added.Zabihullah Mujahid, chief Taliban government spokesman who headed the delegation to Doha, said there was an opportunity for them to meet with representatives of various countries on the sidelines of the gathering.He added that the messages from the Taliban “reached all participating” countries at the meeting. Afghanistan needs cooperation with the private sector and in the fight against drugs, he also said. “Most countries expressed their willingness to cooperate in these areas.”The talks took place behind closed doors with no media access. But that didn’t stop the Taliban delegation from posting videos of the sessions on the social media platform X featuring their officials.Michael Kugelman, director of the Wilson Center’s South Asia Institute, said the Taliban got what they wanted from the Doha gathering because they discussed the issues that mattered to them the most and the meeting excluded those they didn’t want at the table.The talks also shielded the Taliban from much of the vitriol directed at the meeting, given that so much of the anger targeted the U.N. for excluding Afghan women, and not the Taliban for being there, he said.“The Taliban played their cards well. Their conditions were met and they took full advantage with a major PR blitz targeting audiences at home and abroad.”With images and interviews and statements, the Taliban projected the narrative of their officials engaging with the world and conveying the idea that the Taliban are not the pariahs their critics want them to be, he said.Nobody from the Taliban delegation was immediately available for comment about the Doha talks, the most high-profile and high-level international meeting they’ve attended since seizing power in 2021. No country officially recognizes the Taliban and the U.N. has said that recognition remains practically impossible while bans on female education and employment remain in place.However, some participants, including Canada, expressed disappointment over the exclusion of women and civil society representatives.“Canada is extremely disappointed that the U.N. organizers have excluded non-Taliban Afghan participants, including women’s advocates, religious and ethnic minorities, and human rights groups from participating in the meeting’s main sessions,” David Sproule, Canada’s special representative for Afghanistan, said in a statement.DiCarlo, the U.N. official, said that “while women and civil society were not sitting across the table form the de facto (Taliban) authorities in last two days, we made their voices heard ... civil society has a rightful role to play in shaping Afghanistan’s future.” Envoys voice concern over curbs on Afghan women in talks with Taliban (Reuters)
Reuters [7/1/2024 12:23 PM, Staff, 42991K, Neutral]
International envoys raised concerns about restrictions on women and girls in Afghanistan during meetings with the country’s ruling Taliban in Qatar, United Nations’ political affairs chief Rosemary DiCarlo said on Monday.The two-day, U.N.-led meeting was the first of its kind attended by the Taliban which has not been internationally recognised since seizing power in 2021 as U.S.-led forces withdrew after 20 years of war."Running through all the discussions was the deep international concern - from special envoys and from me - about the ongoing and serious restrictions on women and girls," DiCarlo said in a statement."Afghanistan cannot return to the international fold, or fully develop economically and socially, if it is deprived of the contributions and potential of half its population," she added.Since the Taliban’s return to power, most girls have been barred from high school and women from universities.The Taliban have also stopped most Afghan female staff from working at aid agencies, closed beauty salons, barred women from parks and curtailed travel for women in the absence of a male guardian.The Taliban say they respect rights in line with their interpretation of Islamic law.DiCarlo said the engagement on Sunday and Monday with the Taliban authorities did not mean recognition of their government but was a part of the international community’s broader effort to resolve issues facing millions of Afghans.The talks on Monday looked at the private sector and narcotics in particular."There was broad agreement on the need to chart a clear way forward," DiCarlo said.Rights groups criticised the U.N. for not having Afghan women at the table with the Taliban in Doha.DiCarlo said she was aware of the criticism but organisers faced a tough choice because they had to arrange a direct meeting with the "de facto" rulers of Afghanistan and international envoys."Regrettably, the de facto authorities will not sit across the table with Afghan civil society in this format," she said. UN talks in Doha end; recognition remains distant dream for Taliban (VOA)
VOA [7/1/2024 7:02 PM, Sarah Zaman, 4032K, Neutral]
The third round of U.N.-led talks to explore engagement with Afghanistan ended Monday without the Taliban making any reform pledges or winning concessions from the international community.A few international organizations and special envoys for Afghanistan from nearly two dozen countries met with Taliban officials in Doha, Qatar, over two days. Rosemary DiCarlo, U.N. undersecretary-general for political and peacebuilding affairs, who presided over the event, told reporters the talks were "constructive" and "useful.""This is the first time such a broad cross section of the international community and the de facto authorities have had the opportunity to hold such detailed discussions," DiCarlo said at the news conference after the event. "The discussions were frank and, I believe, useful."U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres initiated the "Doha process" a year ago.While participants in the latest round of talks agreed to continue to engage, DiCarlo ruled out recognizing the de facto regime in Kabul unless the Taliban ended curbs on women’s education and participation in public life.Individual decisions"Afghanistan cannot return to the international fold, or fully develop economically and socially, if it is deprived of the contributions and potential of half its population," the U.N. official said, adding that recognizing Taliban rule is also not the mandate of the global body but would be the decision of individual countries.Although nearly 16 countries have embassies in Afghanistan, the global community has held back recognition of the Taliban government mainly because it is not inclusive and restricts the rights of women and girls in the country.Though women’s rights were not part of the official agenda, DiCarlo said participants raised the issue throughout their discussions and highlighted the need for an inclusive government during the two-day talks that focused on developing a private business sector and helping the Taliban sustain anti-narcotics gains."Afghanistan’s messages reached all participant countries," Taliban delegation head Zabihullah Mujahid said in a post on social media platform X after the talks, adding that his country needed international cooperation.Speaking to VOA on background, a Western diplomat said the Afghan delegation members were "very competent" and their technical know-how was "impressive."Earlier, in a post on X, Mujahid, who is also the Taliban’s chief spokesperson, claimed success."It was pledged that restriction on banking and economic avenues should be lifted," the post said.While more than a hundred Taliban members face international sanctions, including financial sanctions, Afghanistan’s banks do not. Experts say the country is disconnected from the global banking system and the dominant SWIFT financial transaction network because Western banks are wary of doing business with Afghan banks and exposing themselves to the reputational and financial risks they pose.No new policy was introduced by any country, the Western diplomat privy to the talks said.Separately, the U.S. froze $9.5 billion in Afghan central bank funds after the Taliban took control of the country in August 2021. In 2022, the Biden administration put $3.5 billion of that money in a Switzerland-based trust account called “Fund for the Afghan People,” which a board oversees. The remaining money remains locked. China, Russia, Pakistan and Iran are among countries that support unfreezing the funds.‘It was about understanding’Speaking to reporters late Monday, Mujahid said the Taliban did not come expecting a breakthrough."It [the gathering] was about understanding each other’s views," Mujahid said in response to a VOA question on the lack of progress on contentious issues between the Taliban and the West. "The achievement is that every country wants to support Afghanistan."The U.N. is under fire from rights activists for its decision to exclude Afghan civil society activists to ensure the Taliban’s participation in the global meeting. DiCarlo told reporters it was "a very tough, maybe impossible choice.""We have a mandate to support this process [of talks]. Our belief was to bring the de facto authorities and special envoys together for direct talks," DiCarlo said. "Regrettably, the de facto authorities will not sit across the table with Afghan civil society in this format."When asked what concessions the global body would be willing to make in the future to bring the Taliban back to the table, DiCarlo said she could not predict what conditions the de facto rulers might place."I could not speculate on that. What I can say is that they did come today. They were very engaged," she said.At least three prominent Afghan women have declined the U.N.’s invitation to meet for talks in Doha on Tuesday."I respect their decision," DiCarlo said. "We’re involved in a process now that is going to be a long-term process. This is not easy going forward. And we will continue to try to do the best we can. We won’t make everybody happy."Asked whether the Taliban would come back for more talks, Mujahid said it would depend on who and what were on the table."We will consider each meeting separately," he said. " We will look at its agenda and targets."No date has been set for the next round of U.N.-led talks on Afghanistan. Taliban Told To ‘Include Women’ In Public Life At UN Talks (Agence Press-Presse)
Agence France-Presse [7/1/2024 3:33 PM, Staff, 400K, Neutral]
Taliban authorities were told women must be included in public life, UN Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo said on Monday as she defended a decision to sideline civil society groups at official talks in Doha. Rights organisations have strongly criticised the controversial UN move to exclude the groups, including women’s rights activists, from the two-day meeting on Afghanistan as the price for the Taliban government’s participation."Authorities will not sit across the table with Afghan civil society in this format, but they have heard very clearly the need to include women and civil society in all aspects of public life", DiCarlo told a Doha news conference.The UN-hosted meeting began on Sunday and is the third such gathering to be held in Qatar in a little over a year, but the first to include the Taliban authorities who seized power in Afghanistan for a second time in 2021.The talks were due to discuss increasing engagement with Afghanistan and a more coordinated response to the country, including economic issues and counter-narcotics efforts.The international community has wrestled with its approach to the Taliban since they returned to power, with no country officially recognising its government.‘Gender apartheid’The group has imposed a strict interpretation of Islam, with women subjected to laws characterised by the UN as "gender apartheid".The Taliban refused an invitation to Doha talks in February, insisting on being the only Afghan representatives, to the exclusion of civil society groups. But their condition was accepted in the build-up to this latest round.The United States said it agreed to participate in Monday’s talks after receiving assurances that the talks would meaningfully discuss human rights.US pointman on Afghanistan Thomas West and Rina Amiri, the US special envoy on the rights of Afghan women and girls, in Doha "made clear that the Afghan economy cannot grow while half the population’s rights are not respected", State Department spokesman Vedant Patel said.DiCarlo, who chaired the UN talks in the Qatari capital, said she "hopes" that "there’ll be new consideration" of Taliban government policy on women in public life including girls’ education.The UN and international delegations will have the chance to meet with civil society representatives, including women’s rights groups, following the close of the main meetings.But Amnesty International chief Agnes Callamard said in a statement ahead of the talks that "caving in to the Taliban’s conditions to secure their participation in the talks would risk legitimising their gender-based institutionalised system of oppression".The Taliban authorities have repeatedly said the rights of all citizens are guaranteed under Islamic law.The head of the Taliban delegation, spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, told the more than 20 assembled special envoys and UN officials at the opening session that diplomats should "find ways of interaction and understanding rather than confrontation", despite "natural" differences in policy. ‘Engaging constructively’
"The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is keen on engaging constructively with Western nations as well," Mujahid said.
"Like any sovereign state, we uphold certain religious and cultural values and public aspirations that must be acknowledged," he added.
Mujahid also pressed to end sanctions, saying Afghans are "being ganged up on".
The Taliban government spokesman questioned whether ongoing sanctions were "fair practice" after "wars and insecurity for almost half a century as a result of foreign invasions and interference".
Russia, which has maintained an embassy in Kabul, hinted it could drop its own sanctions, saying the group were the de facto authorities.
"We’ve been saying consistently that you have to recognise this fact and deal with them as such because, whether you like it or not, this movement is running the country now. You cannot simply ignore that," said Russia’s envoy to the UN, Vasily Nebenzya.
DiCarlo said the issue of sanctions was "raised" but not discussed in depth.
"It’s a member-state issue whether they’re going to continue certain sanctions or not. The sanctions are on people, not on the country at large," she said.
Russian Envoy To UN Hints Moscow Could Drop Sanctions On Taliban (Agence France-Presse)
Agence France-Presse [7/1/2024 1:42 PM, Staff, 85570K, Negative]
Russian envoy to the UN Vasily Nebenzya suggested Monday that Moscow was considering dropping sanctions against the Taliban as the Afghan authorities met with representatives of the international community in Doha.International envoys to Afghanistan, including Russia’s, were gathered for a two-day summit on the country’s future in Qatar at which the Taliban have pressed for sanctions to be dropped."(The Taliban) are the de facto authorities. (They) are not going to stop, and we’ve been saying consistently that you have to recognize this fact and deal with them as such because, whether you like it or not, this movement is running the country now. You cannot simply ignore that," he said."On how far we are from removing them from the sanctions list on which they are now with Russia, I cannot tell you the definite answer, but I heard some talks about it," Nebenzya said without giving further details.The Taliban government in Kabul has not been officially recognized by any other government since it took power in 2021.Russia like many countries, including the United States as well as the European Union, maintains sanctions on the Taliban, designating it a terrorist group.Russia has not recognized the Taliban as the legal government of Afghanistan, but it kept open its embassy in Kabul throughout the group’s takeover up to the present day.The group has imposed a strict interpretation of Islam, with women subjected to laws characterized by the UN as "gender apartheid".The Doha talks are the third such summit to be held in Qatar in a little over a year, but the first to include the Taliban authorities who seized power in Afghanistan in 2021."Afghans are asking why they are being ganged up on, on the basis of unilateral and multilateral sanctions," head of the Taliban delegation, spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said.He questioned whether ongoing sanctions were "fair practice" after "wars and insecurity for almost half a century as a result of foreign invasions and interference."Nebenzya was speaking Monday as Russia takes the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council for the month of July, unveiling an agenda for the body that omitted Ukraine.The Security Council is badly divided with Russia at loggerheads with Washington and its allies Britain and France over the war in Ukraine as well as the Gaza conflict. Taliban defy West at U.N. talks while China, Russia eye closer ties (Nikkei Asia)
Nikkei Asia [7/1/2024 1:39 PM, Satoshi Iwaki, 2042K, Negative]
As the Taliban continue to bump heads with the West over the treatment of women and girls in Afghanistan, China and Russia are softening their stance against the regime.For the first time, a Taliban delegation attended a United Nations-sponsored gathering on the Afghan crisis. Others at the two-day meeting held through Monday in Doha, Qatar, included Rosemary DiCarlo, the U.N. undersecretary-general for political affairs, as well as envoys from the U.S., Europe and Japan.Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid at the meeting reportedly urged the international community to lift sanctions, including those cutting Afghan banks off from the international finance system, and to unfreeze Afghan assets overseas.The Taliban took control of Afghanistan after U.S. troops withdrew from the country in August 2021, through no nation has recognized the group as Afghanistan’s official government so far. The U.S. has frozen $7 billion of Afghan central bank assets.Taliban restrictions on women and girls are a key flash point. The regime has barred girls from secondary education and heavily limits women’s ability to work. All women’s beauty salons in Afghanistan have been shut down.The international community is urging the Taliban to address concerns over women’s rights, but they have repeatedly countered that women’s status as "free and dignified human beings" has been restored under the Taliban’s interpretation of Islamic law. The rift has hampered humanitarian efforts against mass hunger in Afghanistan.Mujahid at the latest meeting dismissed Western concerns over women’s rights, calling the Taliban’s restrictions an "internal matter."Many farmers in Afghanistan also cultivate poppy, which is turned into opium and funds the Taliban’s activities. Future meetings are expected to explore alternative crops.Meanwhile, recent moves by China and Russia indicate that they may be open to officially recognizing the Taliban. China in December accepted the Taliban regime’s ambassador to Beijing, becoming the first country to do so.Afghanistan is believed to sit on $1 trillion of mineral reserves, including gold and industrially important metals like copper and lithium, both used in electric vehicles. China is likely seeking an advantage in resource development in Afghanistan and to incorporate the country into the Belt and Road infrastructure-building initiative.Russia is exploring greater cooperation with the Taliban to fight the growing threat posed by the Islamic State militant group at home. Russian President Vladimir Putin has signaled an openness to recognizing the Taliban, and some see him potentially providing the regime with funds and weapons.Such developments have alarmed India, which had close ties with the Afghan government before the Taliban’s return to power, and is anxious about the security environment in Southwest Asia."The Taliban is in place to benefit from the big power competition struggle between the U.S. and the West with China and Russia," said Kabir Taneja, fellow with the strategic studies program at Indian think tank Observer Research Foundation."Ironically, it is perhaps more up to the Taliban’s diplomacy acumen on how it manages this rather than how external powers view the Taliban and its interim political system," he said. "This is seen, for example, by the issue of girls’ education in Afghanistan being completely side-tracked now as realpolitik interests take center stage." Pakistan
Pakistan will continue attacks on Afghanistan – minister (BBC)
BBC [7/2/2024 5:33 AM, Farhat Javed, 31180K, Negative]
Pakistan will continue to launch attacks against Afghanistan as part of a new military operation aimed at countering terrorism, the country’s defence minister has told the BBC.Khawaja Asif said the aerial strikes were targeting groups which Pakistan accuses to targeting security forces and civilians.Previously, senior officials in Pakistan had only admitted to one such strike on the neighbouring country, in March of this year.The Taliban government in Afghanistan describes the strikes as violations of its sovereignty.“It’s correct that we have been carrying out operations in Afghanistan, and we will continue to do so. We won’t serve them with cake and pastries. If attacked, we’ll attack back,” Mr Asif told BBC Urdu.He also dismissed fears over the legality of the strikes, saying Pakistan does not inform the Taliban of impending attacks.He said: "This would eliminate the element of surprise. Why should we tell them, ‘get ready, we are coming’?”The Taliban said the statement was "irresponsible", warning Pakistan that cross-border attacks would have "consequences".Tensions have been rising between Pakistan and Afghanistan since the Taliban took control of the country in 2021. Pakistan alleges that a faction of the Taliban, the Pakistani Taliban or TTP, has sanctuaries in Afghanistan.“Afghanistan has been reluctant to take action against the TTP, despite our requests to let them not use Afghan soil to attack Pakistan,” Mr Asif said.Pakistan has recently announced a renewed military operation, Resolve for Stability" in English, aimed at curbing escalating violence and terrorist attacks. It will mainly focus on groups acting within Pakistan.Critics, and even some sources within the government, have suggested the new operation was launched following pressure from Beijing, concerned about the safety of its 29,000 citizens in Pakistan, 2,500 of whom are working on China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects, part of Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative.Five Chinese engineers were killed when a suicide bomber rammed a vehicle into a convoy of Chinese engineers working on a hydropower project in northwest Pakistan in March 2024.Pakistan’s military previously alleged the attack was planned in neighbouring Afghanistan, and that the bomber was also an Afghan national.Mr Asif denied that the most recent military operations had been due to pressure from China. But he said the operations would address security threats to Chinese projects and nationals in Pakistan. UN group demands release of ex-Pakistan PM Imran Khan; says his detention violates international law (AP)
AP [7/1/2024 5:25 PM, Munir Ahmed, 31180K, Negative]
A United Nations human rights working group on Monday called for the immediate release of Pakistan’s imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan, saying he had been detained “arbitrarily in violation of international laws.”The Geneva-based United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention made this demand after examining Khan’s case in which he was sentenced last year on charges of corruption.Khan has been facing multiple prison sentences since 2022 when he was ousted through a vote of no-confidence in the parliament. There was no immediate comment from the government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who replaced Khan after his ouster.Khan has been held in prison since August 2023 when a court awarded him a three-year prison sentence after finding him guilty of hiding assets after selling state gifts. It led to a ban on Khan from taking part in politics and contesting the Feb. 8 elections, which his party says were rigged.The Election Commission of Pakistan, which oversaw the vote, has denied the vote-rigging allegations.Despite his conviction in multiple cases, Khan remains the leading opposition figure.Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, or PTI, which has a strong presence in the parliament, hailed the demand of the U.N. group, which said Khan’s detention in the graft case “had no legal basis and appears to have been intended to disqualify him from running for office. It said “Khan was detained for exercising his right to freedom of expression or opinion” and that he was also denied a “fair trial and due process rights.”The U.N. working group demanded Khan’s immediate release, saying it was an “appropriate remedy.”The group further said Khan’s conviction in the graft case was “part of a much larger campaign of repression targeting the PTI generally and Khan specifically”.It said, “In the lead up to Pakistan’s February 2024 general elections, PTI candidates were arrested, tortured, and intimidated into leaving the party; PTI rallies were disrupted and blocked; and the party was deprived of its iconic cricket bat symbol, forcing its candidates to run as independents.”The U.N. group also said Khan himself was facing over 150 politically motivated criminal cases, and just days before the election, he was convicted in three more cases and sentenced to an additional 10 years, 14 years, and seven years in prison, respectively.“For Khan, who is 71 years old, the combined prison term of 34 years amounts to a life sentence,” the group said. Khan’s spokesman Zulfi Bukhari, welcomed the group’s findings and demands for Khan’s release.Khan’s party won the most seats in the Feb.8 vote but fell short of a majority to form a government. Detention of Imran Khan violates international law, UN working group says (Reuters)
Reuters [7/1/2024 1:44 PM, Kanishka Singh and Jonathan Landay, 85570K, Negative]
Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan’s detention is arbitrary and in violation of international law, a U.N. human rights working group said in an opinion issued on Monday, adding the jailed politician should be released immediately.The Geneva-based U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention said that the "appropriate remedy would be to release Mr. Khan immediately and accord him an enforceable right to compensation and other reparations, in accordance with international law."The U.N. working group said Khan’s legal woes were part of a "much larger campaign of repression" against him and his Pakistan Tehree-e-Insaf (PTI) party. It said that in the lead up to the 2024 elections, members of Khan’s party were arrested and tortured and their rallies were disrupted. It also alleged "widespread fraud on election day, stealing dozens of parliamentary seats."The Pakistani embassy in Washington had no immediate comment. Pakistan’s election commission denies that the elections were rigged.Khan has been in jail since last August and was convicted in some cases ahead of a national election in February. He is also fighting dozens of other cases which are continuing. Khan and his party say the charges were politically motivated to thwart his return to power.In recent months, Pakistani courts have suspended Khan’s jail sentences in two cases about the illegal acquisition and sale of state gifts, and also overturned his conviction on charges of leaking state secrets.However, he has remained in prison due to a conviction in another case in which a trial court ruled that his 2018 marriage was unlawful. Khan also faces a trial under anti-terrorism charges in connection with violence in May last year.Khan came to power in 2018 and was ousted in 2022 after falling out with Pakistan’s powerful military. He alleged the U.S. and Pakistani military played a role in his ousting through a parliamentary no-confidence vote. Both deny the accusations.Multiple legal cases were brought against Khan after he was ousted which disqualified him as a candidate in February’s election.Despite not running himself, candidates backed by Khan secured the highest number of seats, but the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) formed a coalition government.The U.S., Britain and the European Union expressed concern about reported irregularities in the elections and urged a probe while United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed concern about violence and the suspension of mobile communications services during the elections. IMF Mission May Visit Pakistan Again for Loan Deal Talks (Bloomberg)
Bloomberg [7/1/2024 3:06 AM, Kamran Haider, 27296K, Positive]
An International Monetary Fund mission may visit Pakistan again in July to work out the proposed new loan program as the nation looks to conclude talks by the end of the month, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said.Aurangzeb signaled that the visit was not compulsory for the staff-level agreement given that talks were ongoing. The IMF officials made a 10-day visit to Pakistan in May when the basic framework was hammered out, including targets, he added.“Pakistan won’t quit stabilizing its economy process halfway,” he told reporters on Sunday.The South Asian country is seeking an IMF loan program that will last at least three years to fix flaws in its economy and help it meet its debt payments. Pakistan narrowly escaped a default last summer after a loan program stalled. Securing the loan package from the multilateral lender is crucial to ensure investments from abroad, Aurangzeb said.Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is looking for investment from Gulf states including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. He is also pushing to launch the second phase of China’s multibillion economic corridor in Pakistan.The Parliament last week approved a new budget that aims to boost its taxes by a record to meet the IMF conditions for a new program. Pakistan’s debt and defense consume most of its annual earnings. 3 civilians killed in a bomb explosion in Pakistan and 2 security personnel die in a rocket attack (AP)
AP [7/1/2024 11:18 AM, Staff, 31180K, Negative]
A roadside bomb exploded in Pakistan’s volatile Baluchistan province on Monday, killing a woman and two children, officials said.Four people were walking through an area in Baluchistan’s Turbat district when the bomb planted by “terrorists” went off, said local police chief Dad Bakhsh said.No one claimed responsibility but Baluch separatists often target security forces in the southwestern province, which has been the scene of a low-level insurgency by groups demanding independence from the central government in Islamabad.Although the government says it has quelled the insurgency, violence in the province has persisted.Meanwhile, two security personnel were killed in an overnight rocket attack on their post in Jamrud, a district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan, police officer Salim Khan said.No one claimed responsibility but such previous attacks have been blamed on the Pakistani Taliban, who are a separate group but allied with the Afghan Taliban, who seized power in Afghanistan in August 2021. Pakistani court sentences Christian man to death for posting hateful content against Muslims (AP)
AP [7/2/2024 12:08 AM, Asim Tanveer, 31180K, Negative]
A court in Pakistan sentenced a Christian man to death for sharing what it said was hateful content against Muslims on social media after one of the worst mob attacks on Christians in the eastern Punjab province last year, his lawyer said Monday, adding he will appeal the verdict.In August 2023, groups of Muslim men burned dozens of homes and churches in the city of Jaranwala after some residents claimed they saw two Christian men tearing out pages from Islam’s holy book, the Quran, throwing them on the ground and writing insulting remarks on other pages, authorities said. The two men were later arrested.No casualties were reported at the time as terrified Christians fled their homes to safer areas. Though the police arrested more than 100 suspects following the attacks, it remained unclear if any were convicted.Ehsan Shan, though not party to the desecration, was accused of reposting the defaced pages of the Quran on his TikTok account, his lawyer Khurram Shahzad told The Associated Press on Monday. He also said he would appeal against the death sentence issued Saturday by a court in the city of Sahiwal in Punjab province.Amir Farooq, a police officer who arrested Shan, said the man shared “the hateful content at a sensitive time when authorities were already struggling to contain the violence.”Naveed Kashif, a local priest at a church in Sahiwal, said while he didn’t excuse what Shan posted, he wondered “why the court ordered such an extreme verdict when those linked to the attacks are yet to be punished.”Blasphemy accusations are common in Pakistan. Under the country’s blasphemy laws, anyone found guilty of insulting Islam or Islamic religious figures can be sentenced to death. While authorities have yet to carry out a death sentence for blasphemy, often just the accusation can cause riots and incite mobs to violence, lynching and killings.On June 3, 72-year-old Nazir Masih died after he was attacked by an angry mob in May following accusations of blasphemy. Will Pakistan ever be able to eradicate polio? (Al Jazeera)
Al Jazeera [7/1/2024 4:14 PM, Faras Ghani, 20.9M, Neutral]
Health workers have begun a campaign to vaccinate 9.5 million children against polio in 41 districts in Pakistan this week. This latest round of a national vaccination drive will include Islamabad and focus particularly on areas where polio-positive sewage samples have been found.The anti-polio drive will be launched in 16 districts of Balochistan, 11 districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, eight districts of Sindh, and five districts of Punjab, according to local media.
Despite major efforts to eradicate the disease in Pakistan, six cases of the highly infectious virus have already been reported this year. Further hampering the drive, vaccination teams and medical professionals have faced harassment and even physical attacks in some parts of Pakistan.
Pakistan’s PM Shehbaz Sharif, however, said the government “remains steadfast” in its aim to eradicate polio after a meeting with American billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates in Islamabad last week.
How serious a problem is polio in Pakistan?
Pakistan is one of only two countries in the world where polio is still endemic, the other being neighbouring Afghanistan, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
The highly contagious viral disease largely affects children under the age of five. Children infected by poliovirus can suffer paralysis and in some cases death.
The South Asian nation launched a vaccination programme as part of its Polio Eradication Programme in 1994. Officials say the country used to report more than 20,000 cases annually.
Despite administering more than 300 million doses of the oral vaccine annually and spending billions of dollars, the disease is still rife across Pakistan.
This year, four vaccination campaigns targeting more than 43 million children have already been undertaken as authorities claim they are in the “last mile” of their fight against polio in the country of 235 million people.
How many cases have been reported in Pakistan?
Since 2015, Pakistan has reported 357 polio cases, including six this year. One of the victims, a two-year-old boy, died in May.
Officials said all of this year’s cases belong to the YB3A cluster, which they said originated in Afghanistan, where four cases have been reported this year.
In addition to human cases, wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) has frequently been detected in environmental samples taken across the country. This year, WPV1 has been found in 45 of Pakistan’s 166 districts.
How does Pakistan run its polio immunisation campaigns?
Nationwide immunisation campaigns involving more than 350,000 health workers are run in phases with vaccine desks set up at health centres and health workers going door to door. The campaigns are organised by the government-run National Emergencies Operation Center (NEOC), which has been tasked with running Pakistan’s Polio Eradication Programme.
Field workers go door to door over the course of a specified number of days, vaccinating children under the age of five.
Vaccines are also administered at land and air borders, including to adults, and on motorways connecting major cities across the country.
What are the issues facing the polio campaign?
Resistance to the polio immunisation drive grew in Pakistan after the CIA, a United States spy agency, organised a fake hepatitis vaccination drive to track al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, who was killed in 2011 in Pakistan by US special forces.
Misinformation linked to religious beliefs has also been spread, claiming that the vaccine contains traces of pork and alcohol, which are forbidden in Islam.
Disinformation, agenda-driven campaigns, myths, community boycotts and mistrust in the government have also been factors behind refusals. But officials said government campaigns are helping change bad perceptions.
Health authorities in Pakistan have listed seven districts where polio is “endemic”. All seven are in the northwest, in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province. Officials said the security situation has been the biggest obstacle in reaching the target population in the province bordering Afghanistan.
In addition to the security situation, health officials say a target population that moves from one place to another, which may be carrying the YB3A variant, has proven to be a challenge.
Why have health workers and security officials been targeted?
Health workers and security officials accompanying them have been harassed, ridiculed, taunted, threatened and even targeted physically.
At least 102 polio field workers, officials and security personnel have been killed, including at least six in campaigns carried out this year.
In recent years, the Pakistan Taliban has killed dozens of health workers and members of the security forces involved in polio campaigns. But officials believe the reason for the violence is not the polio programme alone.“Over the last few years, it is not the polio programme that is targeted, but unfortunately, the targets are the security personnel guarding the teams because, given the security situation in some parts of the country, they become soft targets when they are in the community,” Dr Hamid Jafari, the WHO’s director of polio eradication, told Al Jazeera.
What other issues affect the health workers?
Low pay, salary delays, lack of assistance and compassion, and tough working conditions are some of the other issues facing the field workers.
Some health workers told Al Jazeera they get paid as little as 1,360 rupees per day (about $5) for at least eight hours of work. Catch-up days when they go out in the field after the end of the campaign to vaccinate children who were missed are not paid, they said.
In addition, some polio survivors now working on the campaign do not receive help with transport or health benefits despite their conditions, leaving them to walk in poor weather and tough terrain to carry out their work.
Some staff lamented the lack of pay parity, saying people working with international organisations involved in the campaign are paid much more.
What is the outlook for the polio eradication campaign?
Dr Shahzad Baig, who was the NEOC chief until May, told Al Jazeera that the aim was to make Pakistan polio-free by 2026.“That is our target at the moment,” he said before he was replaced.
However, after a Technical Advisory Group meeting organised by the WHO that took place in Qatar in May, there are increasing concerns over the “deteriorating situation of the disease” in the country, according to a report by Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper.
A Pakistani official quoted in the report said that at the meeting, “We faced an embarrassing situation as all the gains made by Pakistan in 2021 have been lost and the virus has re-emerged in three blocks.”
Health officials, however, remain hopeful, given that the number of positive cases has decreased significantly over the past five years – from 147 in 2019 to six so far this year.“The programmes in Pakistan and Afghanistan are very mature and have learned a lot,” Jafari said.“Despite changes in government and security situations, these programmes have evolved, adapted and adjusted. And that’s why they have a level of population immunity that you’re not seeing outbreaks of paralytic polio cases.“It’s not a widespread problem across Pakistan. It’s not even a widespread geographic problem. It is now a matter of getting to these final, hard-to-reach populations. When you start reaching these populations, progress happens very fast.” India
Modi, Gandhi Face Off in India Parliament Over Religious Tension (Bloomberg)
Bloomberg [7/1/2024 7:41 AM, Swati Gupta, 27296K, Negative]
India’s main opposition leader Rahul Gandhi accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his party of spreading violence and hate in a fiery standoff between the two rivals in the parliament Monday.Gandhi, who became the parliament’s first leader of the opposition in a decade after his party almost doubled its number of seats in the lower house, criticized Modi for espousing religious ideals, yet being divisive.Gesturing to the benches where members of Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party were seated, Gandhi said “they call themselves Hindu but for 24 hours a day, they talk of violence and hatred.” As BJP leaders began protesting loudly against the remarks, Gandhi told them “You are not Hindu.” Modi responded directly to Gandhi’s comments, standing up and telling lawmakers “it is an issue of concern that the entire Hindu community has been called violent.”Gandhi’s speech, which was a formal response to the president’s address to the parliament last week, shows the opposition is flexing its muscle in a parliament that’s been dominated by the BJP in the past decade, with bills often passed without much debate. The opposition alliance, led by Gandhi’s Indian National Congress, won about 230 of the 543 seats in the lower house of parliament, with the Congress party gaining 99 seats on its own.Modi’s BJP lost its majority in the parliament, winning 240 seats. The party was forced to stitch together a coalition government with allies to stake claim to the government. The opposition alliance’s election campaign was focused on job creation, especially for young people, and improving the lives and welfare of poor, lower-caste Indians. Gandhi, 54, doubled down on those themes again in his speech Monday.“The government can do whatever it wants but the youth of this country cannot get jobs,” he said. “The backbone to job creation is broken, finished and over.” Gandhi blamed the government’s poor policy decisions and their enforcement as the reason behind job losses in the country.The opposition leader also criticized Modi for indulging in crony capitalism and favoring billionaires like Gautam Adani and Mukesh Ambani over the rest of the citizens. He also took the government to task for refusing to discuss in the parliament the controversy over alleged corruption and leaking of medical examination papers.“What the government has come to represent today is untruth, a complete lack of courage and violence,” Gandhi said. India replaces colonial-era criminal laws to provide ‘justice’ (Reuters)
Reuters [7/1/2024 7:56 AM, Shivam Patel, 42991K, Negative]
India replaced colonial-era criminal laws with new legislation on Monday, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government said would make the country more just, but the opposition said risked throwing the criminal justice system into disarray.The new laws were approved by parliament in December in Modi’s previous term with the government saying they aim to "give justice, not punishment". It says they were needed as colonial laws had been at the core of the criminal justice system for more than a century.Among the key changes is replacement of the sedition law frequently used as a tool of suppression, after its enactment under British colonial rule to jail Indian freedom fighters.Under the new laws - which replace the Indian Penal Code, the Indian Evidence Act, and Code of Criminal Procedure - sedition is replaced with a section on acts seen as "endangering the sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India"."About 77 years after independence, our criminal justice system is becoming completely indigenous and will run on Indian ethos," India’s Home (interior) Minister Amit Shah told reporters. "Instead of punishment, there will now be justice."Criminal cases registered under the repealed laws before Monday will continue to follow them, Shah said, adding that the first case logged under the new law was that of a motorcycle theft in the central city of Gwalior, registered 10 minutes after midnight."The laws were debated for three months ... It is not fair to give political colour to this big improvement happening after centuries. I ask the opposition parties to support this legislation," Shah said.Opposition Congress party lawmaker P. Chidambaram said the previous parliament session did not hold any "worthwhile debate" before passing the laws.He said that there was only marginal improvement in the new laws, which could have been introduced as amendments to existing laws."The initial impact will be to throw the administration of criminal justice into disarray," he posted on X.The Indian Express newspaper said in an editorial that criminal justice reform should not be "a one-time solution or one that just takes place in the books", and called for police reform and addressing gaps in judicial infrastructure. Modi’s Russia Visit Dents West’s Efforts to Cast Putin as Pariah (Bloomberg)
Bloomberg [7/2/2024 2:36 AM, Henry Meyer and Sudhi Ranjan Sen, 5.5M, Neutral]
Worried by deepening China-Russia relations, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is heading to Moscow next week for talks with President Vladimir Putin, his first visit to the country since the Kremlin’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
The meeting, which will help Putin to counter Western efforts to cast him as a pariah, comes two months after Putin went to China for the first foreign visit of his new term. That trip underlined Moscow’s increasing dependence on Beijing, which India has eyed warily.“The deepening of the strategic alignment between Russia and China is uncomfortable for New Delhi because it’s like your best friend sleeping with the enemy,” said Swasti Rao, an associate fellow at Manohar Parrikar Institute For Defence Studies and Analyses, a Defense Ministry-backed research group in New Delhi. “Given that we have these concerns it makes sense for the prime minister to go there and talk to Putin at the highest level.”
It will be Modi’s first bilateral visit since he won a third term in office, with the prime minister breaking convention by visiting Russia instead of neighboring countries like Bhutan, Maldives and Sri Lanka, where he chose to go after previous election wins.
That underlines the importance New Delhi places on its ties with Moscow, people familiar with the matter said. India, the world’s third-largest crude consumer, has become a major buyer of Russian oil, and is reliant on its military hardware supplies. At the same, relations between China and India have been at a low point since land-border clashes in 2020.
The two leaders are expected to discuss a range of issues although no breakthrough agreements are likely, according to Indian officials familiar with the matter, who asked not to be identified as the discussions are private. The agenda includes a logistics supply agreement to bolster cooperation between the two militaries, restarting discussions on the joint development of a fifth generation fighter aircraft, and collaboration on nuclear power, the people said.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs wasn’t immediately available to comment when contacted for further information.
The visit to Moscow, which is expected to take place on July 8-9, partly coincides with a separate summit in Washington of members of the North American Treaty Organization. Modi’s Russia trip was long overdue and the timing had no connection with the alliance’s meeting, people familiar with the matter said. Modi is expected to visit Vienna on a two-day trip after Moscow.
The US has sought to strengthen ties with India to counter China’s dominance in Asia and has been tolerant of New Delhi’s relations with Russia. Asked about those relations, Kurt Campbell, the US deputy secretary of state, said last week Washington has raised concerns about India-Russia ties with New Delhi, but that it had confidence in India and wants to expand relations with the South Asian country.
Modi has skipped annual in-person summits with Putin for the past two years amid discomfort in New Delhi over the worst fighting in Europe since World War II. Even so, India has avoided censuring Russia for invading neighboring Ukraine, abstaining at United Nations votes on the issue, and has advocated diplomacy to resolve the conflict.
Cheap Oil
Oil sales by Russia to India are helping to maintain ties, even if they aren’t as close as during the Soviet era. As Russia offers deeper discounts on its oil amid Western energy restrictions, India has increased its purchases of Russian crude more than 20 times compared to 2021, exceeding 2 million barrels a day.
India saved $13 billion by importing cheaper crude oil from Russia over the previous 23 months, according to a study by ICRA, the rating agency, published in April.
A Moscow meeting with the Indian prime minister is a diplomatic win for Putin, whose country’s been hit with unprecedented sanctions over its attack on Ukraine. He’s also wanted for war crimes by the International Criminal Court, which has restricted his travel abroad.
In June, Putin on a rare foreign tour visited North Korea, where he signed a military defense pact with Kim Jong Un that alarmed the US and its allies. Last year, he didn’t attend the Group of 20 leaders’ meeting hosted by India or the BRICS emerging economies’ summit held in South Africa.
A former Indian envoy to Russia, who asked not to be identified, said New Delhi’s ties with Moscow are stable and strong, although economic and defense interactions have slowed recently. The relationship has always been driven from the top, and summits between the leadership have their own importance, the person said.“The visit of a leader of a state such as India demonstrates that Russia isn’t facing international isolation, and for the Kremlin this is very important,” said Aleksei Zakharov, an expert on India based in Moscow.
India, which has refused to join punitive measures against Russia, has worked to resolve problems affecting trade caused by Moscow’s need to reduce its use of the US dollar.
India now pays largely in UAE dirham for Russian oil, and the two countries have found a solution to a deadlocked payment system for weapons and other goods. That had led to Russian companies amassing as much as $8 billion worth of rupees in accounts in India which they couldn’t spend, according to senior officials who didn’t want to be named because of the sensitivity of the issue.
Under the agreement, Russia has used the funds to invest in Indian enterprises and buy more electronic goods, pharmaceuticals, agricultural tools and textiles, said officials directly aware of the details.
Arms Deals
From New Delhi’s perspective, the commercial relationship remains unbalanced, however, with India importing about $60 billion a year and Russia buying less than $5 billion from India.
Russia, meanwhile, is seeing its once-dominant position in India’s arms market weaken as New Delhi looks to Western suppliers led by France and the US, as well as to its own defense industry. There have been no new major arms deals with Russia for the last three years, and India’s push to diversify looks set to continue after delays in the delivery of Russian S-400 air defense systems.
Russia for now remains India’s main supplier, accounting for 36% of arms imports, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. But that’s down more than half from a decade ago.
Wary of sanctions risks and payments difficulties, Indian businesses also are cautious about operating in Russia, and top Indian officials and executives have been reluctant to attend major economic gatherings in the country.
Modi’s last trip to Russia was in 2019, when he attended a far eastern economic forum in Vladivostok.“This is about maintaining the status quo,” said Zakharov, the Moscow-based India specialist. “Ties are not deteriorating but there’s no particular drive to improve relations either.” Modi’s Crackdown on Foreign Journalists Is a Problem for the West (The Diplomat)
The Diplomat [7/1/2024 1:00 AM, Mohamed Zeeshan, 1156K, Negative]
In June, India expelled a New Delhi-based French reporter, Sébastien Farcis, after refusing to renew his work permit. Farcis had been based in India since 2011, holding permanent resident status — also called the Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card — in the country. But he was given no explanation by Indian authorities for their decision not to renew his work permit as a journalist.Farcis is only the latest in a flurry of cases this year involving the abrupt expulsion of foreign journalists based in India. In February, another French reporter with OCI status, Vanessa Dougnac, also lost her work permit. Dougnac had been based in India for over two decades with her family. In April, an Australian reporter, Avani Dias, left in similarly chaotic circumstances after being refused an extension of her work permit. Dias was given a temporary visa extension at the last minute following lobbying by the Australian government but decided to fly out anyway.For the most part, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s silent crackdown on foreign journalists has gone unnoticed. Yet it has significant implications for India and the world.India had long been unusually welcoming to foreign journalists, giving them access even to sensitive regions such as Kashmir. But under Modi, the battle lines have expanded significantly and are often unclear.In some cases, the message comes loud and clear. In the run-up to her departure, for instance, the Australian reporter Dias said that Indian authorities had complained about her coverage of Canada’s accusations that India was responsible for the killing of a Sikh separatist in that country. But most foreign journalists are given no clear explanation of their “crimes,” and the costs are steep: upending their lives, livelihoods, and families in India. Farcis, for instance, had lived in India for years and married an Indian wife.The implications of these developments go beyond the personal and professional lives of the journalists themselves. For decades, even as India’s relations with the West waxed and waned, foreign reporters often played the role of demystifying India for the West — helping build goodwill for India’s democracy, culture, and people even as China and Russia remained opaque black boxes. That role didn’t just make India more relatable and palatable to the West, it also kept the West informed about India and its worldview even as ties between India and the West atrophied.The links created by a vigorous foreign media presence in India also prevented the two sides from succumbing to unrealistic expectations in the relationship and encouraged the West to accommodate and welcome India’s rise. In India, the West saw an environment of debate, dissension, and discourse that it could relate to and embrace, because its own journalists were allowed to report freely and critically in the country. That was the opposite of what happened in China and Russia; foreign journalists in those two countries frequently faced threats and their troubles were often reported back to audiences in the West, provoking backlash.The advent of Modi and Hindu nationalism has tested India’s congenial compact with the foreign press. Modi and his party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), have long believed that Western journalists are unsympathetic to their brand of religious nationalism and their attitude toward minority rights. To address that complaint, Modi has overseen a flurry of restrictions and intimidatory tactics against foreign journalists.But these restrictions will also mean that an important channel of dialogue and exchange between India and the West is closing rapidly. It will also mean that the West has fewer reliable means through which to understand ground realities in India — making ties with India liable to the same miscalculations that have plagued dealings with China and Russia over the years.Tensions over Sikh separatism or the presence of Indian dissidents in the West will also increasingly put foreign journalists at risk. The case of Dias is particularly instructive in that context: Dias claims that her visa problems began because of a documentary on Sikh separatism and Hardeep Singh Nijjar — the separatist leader in whose murder Canada has implicated the Indian government. Foreign journalists are unlikely to avoid these stories, given their direct relevance to audiences in the West. And if New Delhi sees foreign reporters as agents of the West for their reporting on the topic, it might target them far more aggressively.So far, both Indian and Western policymakers have ignored the side-effects of New Delhi’s ongoing war with the foreign press. But these developments have the potential to cause problems for the relationship. What Modi 3.0 Can Expect from Maldives (The Diplomat)
The Diplomat [7/1/2024 10:51 AM, Athaulla A Rasheed, 1156K, Positive]
The scene at Narendra Modi’s inauguration dinner hosted by India’s President Droupadi Murmu was one of triumph and relief for the re-elected Indian prime minister.Following the fraught 2024 election, Modi was able to form government for a third consecutive term. Only this time, he would require a coalition between his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and parties of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) – as opposed to the previous majority government. It meant that there were lots of people for Modi to thank.However, flanking him during the presidential banquet were not his new coalition partners but Maldives’ President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu.Seen as being in the midst of a diplomatic row, relations between India and Maldives soured somewhat over the expulsion of Indian troops stationed at the idyllic Indian Ocean archipelago last year. Muizzu’s presence at the inauguration dinner demonstrates a renewed trend of engagement between the two new governments.A re-elected Modi government is likely to see Maldives reassured of India’s neighborhood policy and commitment as a regional net security provider. Internationally, Modi’s return can show stability and confidence in India’s government and foreign policy.This time around, unlike the previous BJP-focused approach, the coalition government could bring more balance to engagement and dialogue between domestic politics and foreign policy in India. For Maldives, a coalition government could also mean an opportunity for a broadened engagement with India.Muizzu took office in November 2023 and implemented policy tools to prevent Maldives from being jostled in the ongoing great power competition, seen in the growing rivalry between India and China. Muizzu’s administration attempted to initiate a balanced approach to foreign affairs to avoid biased political alignments with any single foreign government. His initial policies toward India, including the immediate withdrawal of Indian military troops based in Maldives, were seen as a countermeasure to India’s alleged influence. This was an opening setback for India-Maldives cooperation.However, India-Maldives relations have been grounded on strong historical and political bonds between the two. This has supported ongoing dialogue in multiple areas of cooperation, including Maldives’ heavy reliance on India’s aid and interpersonal relations. The initial tension between the countries began to diminish once Muizzu won a supermajority in a parliamentary vote, which gave him the mandate and the support toto shape his India-focused foreign policy.In May 2024, Maldives Foreign Affairs Minister Moosa Zameer and Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar agreed to enhance bilateral talks and engagements. India has been concerned about the potential security implications of growing China-Maldives engagement. However, the shift in Maldives’ focus on China between different administrations has not radically changed the country’s reliance on India’s leadership in regional security matters. Rather, stronger cooperation has continued on security matters.India’s regional leadership has reinforced engagement of the Indian Ocean small states. Maldives has been a benefactor of this. Initiatives such as the SAGAR doctrine — Security and Growth for All in the Region — have brought small states into its strategic mapping of regional security architecture. Invitations to the June 2024 inauguration speak to “India’s strategic pragmatism” and SAGAR doctrine to expand its strategic cooperation beyond South Asia. Being part of India’s strategic affairs is important for Maldives. Historically it has been a maritime strategic location for this strategic pragmatism.Muizzu’s initial meeting with Modi at the sideline of the 2023 COP28 climate meeting in UAE can be called a strategic move and a building block for a more harmonious approach to strengthen cooperation with Modi’s government. Muizzu sought further reassurance by accepting the invitation to attend the inauguration in New Delhi.The continuity of Modi’s government can serve as a validation of the existing agreements between the two nations — India’s major development and infrastructure projects in Maldives have increased, while Maldives has heavily relied on connections, socioeconomic and financial support from India. These need to be further strengthened by basic areas of cooperation, including food security, trade, tourism and development cooperation.In the coming years Maldives would potentially strengthen aid partnerships with new extraregional actors, including expanding investment and development partnerships with China, serving the country’s national development interest.Regional security is a key area for Maldives to prioritize in its partnership with India. Maldives has been an active partner in regional security through Dosti, the trilateral maritime exercise between Maldives, India, and Sri Lanka. This continues to serve as a regional mechanism to enhance security and defense cooperation.The Maldives anticipate further involvement in regional initiatives with India, including re-engaging dialogue with the Colombo Security Conclave and Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA). Working with India and its like-minded partners, like Australia, can help the Maldives achieve some level of small-state leadership in regional security. NSB
Nepalese spiritual leader ‘Buddha Boy’ sentenced to 10 years in prison for sexual assault on minor (AP)
AP [7/1/2024 10:17 AM, Binaj Gurubacharya, 31180K, Negative]
A controversial spiritual leader in Nepal known as “Buddha Boy” has been sentenced to a 10-year prison term Monday for sexually assaulting a minor, court officials said.Ram Bahadur Bamjan — believed by some to be the reincarnation of the founder of Buddhism — was also ordered to pay $3,700 in compensation to the victim by a judge at the Sarlahi District Court in southern Nepal.The man will have 70 days to appeal against the court order, court official Sadan Adhikari said.Police arrested Bomjan from a suburb in Nepal’s capital Kathmandu in January on charges of sexual assault and suspicion of involvement in the disappearance of at least four of his followers.Nepalese banknotes worth $227,000 and other foreign currencies amounting to $23,000 were seized from him at the time of the arrest, police said.Last week the court found him guilty of sexually assaulting an underage girl.The charges related to the disappearances of his followers are still pending trial.Bamjan is believed by many Nepalese to be the reincarnation of Siddhartha Gautama, who was born in southwestern Nepal some 2,600 years ago and became revered as the Buddha. Buddhist scholars have been skeptical of Bamjan’s claims.Bamjan became famous in southern Nepal in 2005.His popularity has declined amid accusations of sexual and physical assaults on his followers, but he still maintains camps in southern Nepal where thousands come to worship or live. Nepal court sentences ‘Buddha Boy’ to 10 years in jail for sexual abuse (Reuters)
Reuters [7/1/2024 8:27 AM, Gopal Sharma, 42991K, Negative]
A Nepali court sentenced a man who thousands believed was a reincarnation of the Buddha to 10 years in jail on Monday for child sexual abuse, a court official said.As a teenager, Ram Bahadur Bamjon had drawn international attention when in 2005 tens of thousands of people turned up to see the "Buddha Boy" sitting cross-legged under a tree in a dense forest in southeastern Nepal for nearly 10 months.Court official Sikinder Kaapar of the Sarlahi district court in southern Nepal said a judge had also ordered Bamjon, 33, to pay $3,750 in compensation to the victim.Bamjon could not be reached for comment, but his lawyer, Dilip Kumar Jha, said he would appeal in a higher court.Bamjon was arrested at a house on the outskirts of Kathmandu in January. Sri Lanka to save $5 billion after bilateral debt rework, president says (Reuters)
Reuters [7/2/2024 2:22 AM, Uditha Jayasinghe, 5.2M, Neutral]
Sri Lanka will save $5 billion in interest owed to bilateral creditors as part of its debt restructuring process, President Ranil Wickremesinghe said on Tuesday, adding that the funds will be used to boost dollar reserves and restore growth.
The cash-strapped South Asian country inked deals with China and other creditor nations to restructure about $10 billion in bilateral debt last week following 15 months of negotiations, Wickremesinghe told parliament.
The agreements brought Sri Lanka closer to the end of a debt restructuring process that began in September 2022 after its foreign exchange reserves hit their lowest levels and forced the island nation to default on its foreign debt for the first time.
"Sri Lanka gains multiple benefits from this agreement. The repayment period has been extended by eight years to 2043 and interest rates have been adjusted to 2.1% or less," Wickremesinghe said.
"The country stands among middle-income nations that have successfully navigated the debt restructuring process in such a brief time-frame."
Talks with bondholders to restructure $12.5 billion worth of debt is progressing well and a conclusion is expected soon, Wickremesinghe said, kicking-off a two-day debate on the restructuring process in parliament.
Sri Lanka, whose total external debt is $37 billion, also has to finalise arrangements with China Development Bank to restructure debt of $2.2 billion, according to latest finance ministry data.
The debt rework, which is underpinned by a $2.9 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme, gives Sri Lanka a chance to restore its debt sustainability and use saved funds to improve public services, increase reserves, and reduce domestic interest rates, he added.
Once the entire debt restructuring process is completed Sri Lanka hopes its debt burden will be reduced by $16.9 billion.
The central bank estimates Sri Lanka’s economy will expand 3% in 2024 after contracting 2.3% last year. R. Sampanthan, face of the Tamil minority’s campaign for autonomy after Sri Lanka’s civil war, dies (AP)
AP [7/1/2024 5:22 AM, Krishan Francis, 456K, Negative]
Rajavarothiyam Sampanthan, an ethnic Tamil leader and lawmaker who became the face of the minority group’s campaign for autonomy in Sri Lanka after the end of a brutal quarter-century civil war, has died. He was 91.
A lawyer by profession, Sampanthan entered Parliament for the first time in 1977 as part of a coalition that won election after campaigning on a pledge to seek an independent state for Tamils, alleging continued marginalization by successive governments controlled by ethnic majority Sinhalese.
But in 1983 the government outlawed advocacy of separatism and mandated that all lawmakers take oaths promising to preserve the unity of the country and not promote a separate state. Lawmakers in Sampanthan’s party refused to take the oath and boycotted Parliament, losing their seats because of their absence.
The loss of representation in Parliament strengthened Tamil radicals and a civil war broke out between separatists and the government.
Sampanthan grew in prominence after 2001, when he was elected to Parliament under the Tamil National Alliance brought together by the Tamil Tiger rebel group to be their democratic voice after agreeing to a Norway-brokered peace process.
But peace talks broke down and the rebels were crushed by government forces in 2009. Sampanthan became a leader in the Tamil community and was at the forefront in demanding justice for alleged government war crimes and increased autonomy and recognition for the Tamil-majority north and east, while also reaching out to the Sinhalese community.
In 2015 he became only the second ethnic Tamil to be appointed opposition leader in Parliament and held that position until 2018.
Though his goal of autonomy remains unfulfilled at his death, Sampanthan played a key role in raising international awareness of the plight of the Tamil community after the war and the need for a just resolution of the long conflict.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences over Sampanthan’s death.“Will always cherish fond memories of meetings with him. He relentlessly pursued a life of peace, security, equality, justice and dignity for the Tamil nationals of Sri Lanka,” Modi said on the social media platform X.
U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung said Sampanthan’s advocacy for equal rights for minorities helped advance broader human rights for all Sri Lankans and encouraged unity.
His death was announced by the Tamil National Alliance on X. It did not give the cause of death and said funeral arrangements were being made.
Sampanthan is survived by his wife and three children. Sri Lanka’s Defense Cooperation with India: Strengthening Ties or Strategic Dependence? (The Diplomat)
The Diplomat [7/1/2024 6:51 AM, Rathindra Kuruwita, 1156K, Neutral]
Defense cooperation between Sri Lanka and India is growing. This is significant as India’s defense engagements with other countries in the region, such as the Maldives, for example, are reducing.This is a strategic move on India’s part to strengthen its influence in the Indian Ocean island at a time when the Chinese presence in the region has grown manifold.By providing specialized training and military aid, India aims to foster a closer relationship with Sri Lanka, akin to the historical precedent set by the United States through its military aid programs with developing countries since 1880.In the last few weeks, at the request of Sri Lanka, India has announced specialized capacity-building training courses for Sri Lankan officers at premier defense institutions across India. These include the Central Detective Training Institutes and the National Security Guard.India is funding these programs, making them free for the Sri Lankan Police. The training covers a wide range of topics such as crime scene investigation, utilizing artificial intelligence to combat cybercrime, and VIP security.In 2024 alone, over 130 Sri Lankan police officers — from junior to senior ranks — will benefit from this training. A group of 23 senior officers has just arrived in New Delhi for a two-week program focusing on counter-terrorism techniques, internal security threats, and religious extremism.The Indian government offers these courses under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) and the “Aid to Sri Lanka” program.Additionally, the Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) Sachet arrived in Colombo to deliver spare parts for the Sri Lanka Coast Guard ship Suraksha. The Indian government provided these spare parts, valued at $1.2 million, as a grant. A formal handover ceremony attended by the High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka Santosh Jha, Sri Lanka’s Defense Secretary Kamal Gunaratne, the Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera and senior officers from both countries, was held to mark the occasion.This follows a 2023 Indian assurance to Sri Lanka that it will allocate additional military funding.One of the main reasons for the strengthening India-Sri Lanka relationship is the ascension of Ranil Wickremesinghe as the president of Sri Lanka in 2022. Wickremesinghe is said to be pro-India and far more so than his Sri Lankan contemporaries. Indian presence in Sri Lanka has seen a dramatic increase whenever Wickremesinghe holds the reins of power in the South Asian nation.Under President Wickremesinghe’s leadership, Sri Lanka has significantly strengthened its economic and political ties with India. India’s Adani Group has been granted a monopoly on large-scale renewable energy projects in Sri Lanka. Additionally, there are plans to hand over the management of Sri Lankan airports to Indian companies and to establish a land bridge and grid connectivity between the two nations. Despite some setbacks with certain projects, these bilateral ties are expected to grow if Wickremesinghe, who became president in 2022 with the support of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), the political party of the Rajapaksa family, wins the highly anticipated presidential election in October 2024.Training and equipping an armed force by a foreign country is nothing new. It has been a foreign policy tool of many countries that aspire to be regional hegemons, who attempt to increase their influence on their neighbors by making them dependent on their assistance. This is also a way to minimize other foreign powers’ influence on small countries.For example, the United States has been providing military aid to its allies since 1880, when Congress authorized United States Army Lieutenant Henry Lemly to serve as an engineering professor at the new military academy in Bogota, Colombia. This action was a manifestation of the Monroe Doctrine, which promised to protect the Western Hemisphere from European interference. Since then, military aid has become a crucial element in U.S. strategy to resist the expansion of potential challengers and to increase its influence over partner nations.India’s aims are similar to the United States. As the largest country in South Asia, it wants to dominate its smaller neighbors. It is naïve to believe that India would behave differently from the U.S. or any other major power, which has explicitly linked military aid or arms transfers to a quid-pro-quo expectation of compliance from a government.This growing dependency on Indian military support carries potential risks. It may lead to significant shifts in Sri Lanka’s internal dynamics and foreign policy orientations. Increasing dependence on one type of weapon system as well as exposing a large segment of your military officers to the thinking and training of a foreign power, especially one so near, can have significant consequences.In the past year, Maldives stopped all exchange programs with India and asked Indian military personnel to leave the country as they feared these developments had reached a critical stage that could have an impact on the internal workings of the country. Given that the Modi government is likely to assert its dominance on its periphery as it faces reduced popularity at home, Sri Lanka needs to carefully evaluate its available options and develop a transparent policy regarding its defense cooperation with foreign nations. Central Asia
China’s Xi Arrives In Kazakhstan For State Visit, Summit (Agence France-Presse)
Agence France-Presse [7/1/2024 4:14 PM, James Edgar, 345K, Neutral]
Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Kazakhstan on Tuesday for a state visit, during which he will attend a meeting of Shanghai alliance nations in the Kazakh capital Astana.
The nine-member Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), which encompasses a vast stretch of the globe from Moscow to Beijing, includes around half the world’s population.
Its permanent members are this year’s host Kazakhstan, India, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and, as of last year, Iran.
This year, Belarus is expected to join after being told at 2023’s SCO summit, hosted virtually by India, that it would become a member.
"Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived here Tuesday for the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and a state visit to Kazakhstan," state news agency Xinhua reported from Astana.
China’s state broadcaster CCTV said Xi’s plane was escorted by two Kazakh fighter jets when it entered the country’s airspace.
Xinhua reported that Xi’s entourage included Cai Qi, a top-ranking member of the Chinese Communist Party, and Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
Foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning on Monday said Beijing believed the SCO summit would "help build more consensus among all parties and make contributions to promoting security, stability and development of member countries", and advance "lasting peace and common prosperity in the world".
During Xi’s trip to Kazakhstan -- his fifth -- he will attend various state events, including a welcoming ceremony, signing ceremony and a banquet.
He will hold "in depth" talks with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev "on bilateral relations, cooperation in key areas, and the regional and international landscape", Mao said.
Xi will then head to Tajikistan for his second state visit to China’s western neighbour, where he will "make new plans for the growth of China-Tajikistan relations" with President Emomali Rahmon, according to the spokeswoman.
Beijing has ramped up diplomatic efforts in Central Asia, with Xi calling for a deepening of economic ties during a summit China hosted last May that was attended by leaders of several countries in the region.
Central Asia is a vital link in China’s flagship Belt and Road international infrastructure development project.Beijing has sought to fill a void in the region created by Moscow’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, as former Soviet states worry about an increasingly bellicose Russia.
The Central Asia summit last May saw China pledge to expand transport links with the region and forge ahead with a Central Asia-China gas pipeline.
After the Astana meeting, China will assume the SCO’s rotating presidency for the 2024-2025 period. Kazakh Activist Sadyqov Dies 2 Weeks After Being Shot In Kyiv (Radio Free Europe)
Radio Free Europe [7/2/2024 4:14 PM, Staff, 235K, Negative]
A Kazakh political activist who was shot last month outside his home in Kyiv has died, his wife said.
Aidos Sadyqov, who had been hospitalized in intensive care since shooting two weeks ago, succumbed to complications, Natalia Sadyqova said in a post on Facebook.
Sadyqov, who has gained a wide following on social media among disaffected Kazakhs, moved to Kyiv in 2014 along with his family after Kazakh authorities launched a slander investigation into Natalia Sadyqova, a journalist for the independent Respublika newspaper.
He was shot on June 18 as he sat in his car, outside his apartment building. Natalya, who was in the car at the time, was unharmed.“For 13 days Aidos fought for his life in the intensive care unit, but a miracle did not happen,” she wrote.“His death is on the conscience of Toqaev,” she said, referring to the current Kazakh president, Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev.
A day after the shooting, Ukrainian police identified two Kazakh men as the attackers, and said they had fled to Moldova.
A week later, Ukrainian prosecutors said they were seeking the extradition of the two men from Kazakhstan, and had filed a warrant with the international police agency, Interpol.
Kazakh authorities had no immediate comment on the news of Sadyqov’s death.
Earlier, a Toqaev spokesman had said that Kazakhstan was cooperating with Ukrainian authorities. And Kazakh prosecutors said one of the two wanted men had turned himself in to Kazakh police.
Before moving to Ukraine, Sadyqov led a branch of an opposition political party in his native Aqtobe region in Kazakhstan’s northwest.
He later instrumental in the effort to set up a labor union for workers at Aktobemunaygaz, an oil company owned by the Chinese-state company CNPC. Kyrgyz Government Critic Jailed For 3 Years On Insurrection Charge (Radio Free Europe)
Radio Free Europe [7/1/2024 4:14 PM, Staff, 235K, Negative]
A district court in Bishkek on July 1 sentenced Kyrgyz poet, composer, and political activist Askat Jetigen to three years in prison on a charge of calling for a seizure of power in a widely followed case rejected by Jetigen and rights observers.
Jetigen was acquitted on a charge of calling for mass unrest.
Prosecutors had sought a combined eight-year prison sentence for Jetigen, who began speaking out on social media in 2021 on cultural topics and political issues ranging from casino initiatives to a change of the national flag and the jailing of government critics.
Jetigen’s lawyer, Samat Matsakov, alleged procedural violations and vowed to challenge the sentence.
The charges were brought after a video was posted in March in which Jetigen criticized President Sadyr Japarov’s government and reforms enacted by the Culture Ministry, as well as journalist and activist arrests in the post-Soviet Central Asian republic.
Last week in court, Jetigen apologized over his use of profanity, saying it came during a "fit of rage."
But he insisted the accusations that he promoted insurrection and unrest were baseless.
Jetigen has alleged he was beaten and given electric shocks by investigators after his second detention in March.
Jetigen’s relatives had expressed hope to an RFE/RL correspondent attending the trial that Jetigen would be acquitted or get off lightly with a fine, since, in the words of his aunt Boldu Toygonbaeva, "this was not a serious crime."
"We will continue to fight," Toygonbaeva said. "We think the truth will somehow win out."
The New York-based Human Rights Foundation has called the charges "trumped-up" and demanded Jetign’s immediate and unconditional release, as well as an independent investigation into his torture allegations.
Jetigen gained popularity as a musician in his late teens before leading a traditional Kyrgyz folk ensemble called Ordo Sahna, and studied under some of the country’s most influential folk artists. 5 Tajik Men Deported From Russia Appear In Pretrial Detention In Tajikistan (Radio Free Europe)
Radio Free Europe [7/2/2024 4:14 PM, Staff, 235K, Negative]
The parents of five young Tajik men from the volatile Gorno-Badakhshan region (GBAO) told RFE/RL on July 1 that the sons had been arrested and are being held in a pretrial detention in GBAO’s capital, Khorugh, on unspecified charges.The men have been held incommunicado since Russian authorities detained them and deported them to the Central Asian nation last month.The relatives said then that the Tajik men, who are from the Yazgulom community, did not arrive at the airport in the southern city of Kulob, where they were expected to be taken from Moscow on June 20.It remains unclear if the men were deported for violating Russia’s migration regulations, or at the request of the Tajik authorities.Sources close to Tajik law enforcement have told RFE/RL that, since May, at least 15 residents of Yazgulom had been extradited from Russia to Tajikistan, where they have been charged with "membership in an extremist organization" or "having links with members of an extremist organization."There has been no official statement on the men’s situation.On May 16, Tajik security forces arrested more than 30 residents of Yazgulom, accusing them of plotting unspecified acts of sabotage.Sources told RFE/RL at the time that those arrested were suspected of having links with the banned Ansarullah Islamic group.Residents of GBAO have been under pressure for years. A crackdown on the restive Tajik region intensified in 2022 after mass protests in May that year were violently dispersed by security forces.Tajik authorities said at the time that 10 people were killed and 27 injured during the clashes between protesters and police.Residents of the remote region’s Rushon district have told RFE/RL that 21 bodies were found at the sites of the clashes.Dozens of the region’s residents have been jailed for lengthy terms on terrorism and extremism charges since then.Deep tensions between the government and residents of the volatile region have simmered ever since a five-year civil war broke out shortly after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.Still, protests are rare in the tightly controlled state of 9.5 million where President Emomali Rahmon has ruled with an iron fist for nearly three decades. Twitter
Afghanistan
Suhail Shaheen@suhailshaheen1
[7/1/2024 6:48 PM, 732.2K followers, 11 retweets, 95 likes]
On the sidelines of Doha-3 Meeting 2nd day, the IEA’s delegation met with delegations of: Turkmenistan, Swiss, US, Japan, Germany, Iran including quadlateral meeting of Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Qatar and Pakistan on trans-Afghan Railway and discussed various relevant issues.
Asif Durrani@AsifDurrani20
[7/1/2024 5:23 PM, 9.1K followers, 16 retweets, 40 likes]
On the sidelines of Doha-III, a quadrilateral meeting between Pakistan, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, and Qatar reviewed the Trans-Afghan Railway project to connect Uzbekistan and Pakistan via Afghanistan. The project will effectively connect South & Central Asia.
Navbahor Imamova@Navbahor
[7/1/2024 10:17 PM, 23.5K followers, 1 retweet, 2 likes]
The third round of U.N.-led talks to explore engagement with Afghanistan ended Monday without the Taliban making any reform pledges or winning concessions from the international community.
Pashtana Zalmai Khan Durrani@BarakPashtana
[7/1/2024 10:03 AM, 39.7K followers, 46 retweets, 134 likes]
Since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan, the overall wellbeing of girls in the country has faced a dire crisis. Not only has girls’ access to education been severely restricted, but the healthcare system and economy have also fallen into a state of paralysis. Pakistan
Government of Pakistan@GovtofPakistan
[7/2/2024 1:12 AM, 3.1M followers, 4 retweets, 10 likes]
At the invitation of President of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif is undertaking an official visit to Dushanbe, Tajikistan from 2-3 July 2024. The visit is a part of regular high-level exchanges between Pakistan and Tajikistan. The two sides will engage in wide-ranging discussions on areas of mutual interest to further deepen bilateral cooperation especially in the areas of regional connectivity, trade, people-to-people contacts and energy as well as cooperation on multilateral issues. The two sides will also sign agreements and MoUs in diverse areas of cooperation.
Imran Khan@ImranKhanPTI
[7/1/2024 1:00 PM, 20.7M followers, 13K retweets, 22K likes]
The UN Human Rights Council’s Working Group on Arbitrary Detention calls for the immediate release of Imran Khan, payment of reparations to him, and urges the government to take measures against those responsible for depriving him of his rights. Link: https://ohchr.org/sites/default/files/documents/issues/detention-wg/opinions/session99/a-hrc-wgad-2024-22-pakistan-aev.pdf
Madiha Afzal@MadihaAfzal
[7/1/2024 1:55 PM, 42.8K followers, 6 retweets, 25 likes]
My thoughts on Pakistan’s Azm-e-Istehkam operation: "The timing of this new counterterror operation reflects a few factors: Pakistan having reached the end of its options when it comes to talks w/ the TTP & asking the Afghan Taliban to pressure the TTP..." https://www.dw.com/en/can-pakistans-new-military-campaign-end-militancy/a-69531397
Madiha Afzal@MadihaAfzal
[7/1/2024 1:57 PM, 42.8K followers, 6 likes]
China is also a factor: "There is pressure from China to ‘fix’ Pakistan’s security situation, which is impeding progress on CPEC. The joint Pakistan-China readout following the Pakistani leadership’s recent visit to China emphasized the security dimension."
Anas Mallick@AnasMallick
[7/1/2024 7:45 AM, 73.6K followers, 6 retweets, 32 likes]
#Pakistan and #India exchange list of prisoners in each others jails -- Pakistan hands over list of 254 Indian or believed-to-be-Indian civilian prisoners and fishermen in Pakistani jails, India shared a list of 452 Pakistani or believed-to-be-Pakistani civilian prisoners and fishermen in Indian jails -- Pakistan has also shared a list of 38 missing Pakistani defence personnel, believed to be in India’s custody since the wars of 1965 and 1971, reads @ForeignOfficePk statement.
Anas Mallick@AnasMallick
[7/1/2024 7:33 AM, 73.6K followers, 16 retweets, 41 likes]
In a notification dated 27th June, Govt of Pakistan headed by PMLN and PM Shehbaz Sharif has appointed a total of FORTY SIX(46) Ambassadors at Large, worldwide, on honorary(without pay) basis on retrospective basis with date of appointment notified as 13thJune’24. #Pakistan
Anas Mallick@AnasMallick
[7/1/2024 6:41 AM, 73.6K followers, 5 retweets, 27 likes]
Pakistan’s Prime Minister @CMShehbaz is all set to begin his 3 day Central Asia outreach visit starting tomorrow, the 2nd of July -- In the first leg, PM Shehbaz will visit Tajikistan on a bilateral visit after which he will head to Kazakhstan to attend the SCO Summit. India
Narendra Modi@narendramodi
[7/1/2024 1:08 PM, 99.5M followers, 4.1K retweets, 40K likes]
Had a great meeting with Shiv Sena MPs. Ours is not a political alliance- it is a time-tested friendship, bound together by common ideals and a shared vision for India’s development. It is commendable how Shri @mieknathshinde Ji is working tirelessly for Maharashtra’s progress and to fulfil the great Balasaheb Thackeray Ji’s ideals.Narendra Modi@narendramodi
[7/1/2024 1:08 PM, 99.5M followers, 9.7K retweets, 61K likes]
Met MPs from @JanaSenaParty. I have been working with Shri @PawanKalyan Garu for many years now and I am amazed by his tenacity and passion for public service. I am sure JSP will always be at the forefront of serving society and contributing to India’s progress.
Dr. S. Jaishankar@DrSJaishankar
[7/1/2024 9:11 AM, 3.2M followers, 13K retweets, 48K likes]
This is now the Leader of Opposition.
Who attacks Hindus while professing brotherhood to all. Who disparages the Indian Army’s bravery, while expressing concern for their welfare.
Who tears up Cabinet decisions, while preaching respect for Constitution.
Welcome to the politics of the Congress Party.
Randhir Jaiswal@MEAIndia
[7/1/2024 3:39 AM, 2.3M followers, 178 retweets, 579 likes]
Today, Rajya Sabha (Upper House) of Parliament observed moment of silence in memory of the victims of AI 182 ‘Kanishka’. This horrific terrorist attack, that took place on June 23, 1985, had claimed 329 lives. Justice was never fully served to the victims and their families. Let’s vow zero tolerance towards terrorism and violent extremism. NSB
Awami League@albd1971
[7/1/2024 11:19 AM, 639K followers, 22 retweets, 48 likes]
#Bangladesh received $23.92 billion in inward #remittances in the recently concluded fiscal year 2023-24 (FY24), with $2.542 billion coming in June, according to central bank data released today (1 July). The remittance inflow in June is the highest in 47 months. Besides, the country witnessed the highest remittance inflow in FY24 in the last three years. https://link.albd.org/nnfu0
Awami League@albd1971
[7/1/2024 7:24 AM, 639K followers, 25 retweets, 67 likes]
Overcoming several uncertainties since 2007, the Padma Multipurpose Bridge Project came to an end on June 30, giving great relief to tens of thousands of users daily. Although the main bridge was inaugurated in 2022, some works including river training, remained incomplete then. PM #SheikhHasina will formally conclude the project on July 5. #PadmaBridge #Bangladesh #AwamiLeague https://link.albd.org/9nw0k
Awami League@albd1971
[7/1/2024 6:40 AM, 639K followers, 25 retweets, 52 likes]
The Jatiya Sangsad (JS) have passed the Taka 7,97,000 crore national budget for FY25 with a prime focus on maintaining economic stability and augmenting steps to materialise the government’s "#SmartBangladesh" vision. https://bssnews.net/news-flash/197601 #Bangladesh #AwamiLeague #SheikhHasina
Moosa Zameer@MoosaZameer
[7/1/2024 9:24 AM, 13.5K followers, 23 retweets, 43 likes]
Congratulations to new High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to Maldives Pelpolage Ranga Sujeewa Goonawardena @rangasujeewa, following his Presentation of Credentials to President Dr @MMuizzu today. I am confident that the close relations between Maldives and Sri Lanka will continue to flourish during your tenure. @SLinMaldives @MFA_SriLanka
Moosa Zameer@MoosaZameer
[7/1/2024 8:05 AM, 13.5K followers, 31 retweets, 43 likes]
Warm congratulations to newly appointed Ambassador of Nepal Bashu Dev Mishra, on Presenting Credentials to President Dr @MMuizzu today. Confident that Maldives-Nepal relations will continue to strengthen during your tenure. @MofaNepal
Mohamed Nasheed@MohamedNasheed
[7/1/2024 3:20 PM, 272.2K followers, 27 retweets, 73 likes]
The new Sri Lankan HC to Maldives, today presented his credentials to the President. The SL people are our cousins in ethnicity, a country that we have a shared history with and our long standing development partner. I wish all the best to the new HC. @rangasujeewa @MFA_SriLanka
Harsha de Silva@HarshadeSilvaMP
[7/1/2024 10:30 PM, 356.6K followers, 19 retweets, 46 likes] Fact v fiction: I refused to call COPF as requested by Pres @RW_UNP to approve #SriLanka bilateral debt deal so it can be debated and voted in @ParliamentLK. Reason is Fin Minstry refused to release agreement. Can’t approve unknown! Thus no debate no vote. All else fiction. Central Asia
António Guterres@antonioguterres
[7/1/2024 6:48 PM, 2.3M followers, 61 retweets, 215 likes]
In Tashkent today, I visited this impressive photovoltaic plant. The harnessing of solar power on such a scale demonstrates Uzbekistan’s commitment to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels and embrace renewable energy sources.
António Guterres@antonioguterres
[7/1/2024 3:45 PM, 2.3M followers, 83 retweets, 305 likes]
Today I visited a mahalla - a traditional community-based neighbourhood organization, and an integral part of Uzbekistan’s social structure. It is inspiring to see how mahallas are leading the way in sustainable development by empowering residents & fostering social cohesion.António Guterres@antonioguterres
[7/1/2024 1:46 PM, 2.3M followers, 90 retweets, 313 likes]
Today I met with Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, in Tashkent. We discussed his bold program of reforms and cooperation between the @UN and Uzbekistan, and issues related to regional stability and cooperation in Central Asia.
Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s Press-service@president_uz
[7/1/2024 1:10 PM, 194.9K followers, 2 retweets, 9 likes]
President Shavkat #Mirziyoyev reviewed measures to enhance energy efficiency, focusing on alternative energy sources and rational energy use. Efforts include transitioning to energy-saving technologies, integrating "green" energy, and using solar panels. Goals for saving electricity and gas involve efficient consumption management and combatting theft. The President emphasized the need for quality implementation of investment projects to ensure uninterrupted energy supply.
Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s Press-service@president_uz
[7/1/2024 10:07 AM, 194.9K followers, 7 retweets, 23 likes]
At the end of the high-level talks at the #Kuksaroy residence, President of #Uzbekistan, Shavkat #Mirziyoyev and the @UN Secretary-General, @antonioguterres planted a tree in the Alley of Honorary Guests. This symbolic act represents their commitment to strengthening cooperation and working together to achieve sustainable development in Uzbekistan.
Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s Press-service@president_uz
[7/1/2024 9:17 AM, 194.9K followers, 11 retweets, 37 likes]
At a solemn ceremony at the #Kuksaroy residence, President of #Uzbekistan🇺🇿 Shavkat #Mirziyoyev awarded the Order of "Oliy Darajali Do’stlik" to @UN Secretary-General @antonioguterres for his efforts in promoting global solidarity and cooperation with Uzbekistan. The event underscored the significant role of United Nations Secretary-General in fostering unprecedentedly high-level relations between Uzbekistan and the UN. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev expressed his gratitude for Mr. Guterres’s support of Uzbekistan’s extensive reforms and efforts to promote sustainable development both globally and regionally.
Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s Press-service@president_uz
[7/1/2024 7:39 AM, 194.9K followers, 8 retweets, 29 likes]
At the #Kuksaroy residence, the President of the Republic of #Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, met with @antonioguterres, Secretary-General of the @UN, who is on an official visit to the country. Mr. Guterres acknowledged the support provided for reforms under Uzbekistan’s #2030Strategy. During the discussions, they addressed issues related to global peace, stability, and sustainable development. They also agreed to develop a Framework Program for Cooperation with the United Nations from 2026 to 2030.
Hugh Williamson@HughAWilliamson[7/1/2024 12:29 PM, 10.4K followers, 20 retweets, 30 likes]
Uzbekistan: Two years ago at least 21 people died in street clashes in Karakalpakstan region of Uzbekistan. Since then, rather than bringing accountability & justice, authorities have targeted the peaceful protesters. New findings from @HRW https://www.hrw.org/news/2024/07/01/uzbekistan-2-years-no-justice-autonomous-republic
Leila Nazgul Seiitbek@l_seiitbek
[7/1/2024 1:59 PM, 3.6K followers, 4 retweets, 14 likes]
Two years ago, peaceful protests erupted in Karakalpakstan, an autonomous republic within Uzbekistan, after the government proposed controversial constitutional amendments that threatened the region’s autonomy. These amendments aimed to remove Karakalpakstan’s right to secede from Uzbekistan, sparking fear and anger among the Karakalpak people who felt their cultural identity and regional autonomy were under attack.
The Uzbek government responded with force, with reports of excessive violence against protesters, including the use of tear gas, grenades, and rubber bullets. The true number of casualties remains a point of contention, with official reports contradicting eyewitness accounts and allegations of a cover-up. The independent commission headed by the Ombudswoman Feruza Eshmatova was charged with carrying out an independent investigation. The findings of this commission are still not disclosed by the authorities. Dauletmurat Tajimuratov, a prominent Karakalpak lawyer and human rights defender who emerged as a leading voice during the protests, was arrested and later sentenced to 16 years in prison on charges widely considered politically motivated.
Despite President Mirziyoyev’s eventual withdrawal of the proposed amendments, the crackdown on dissent continues. Numerous activists face persecution, with some forced into exile, while others remain imprisoned under dubious charges. Freedom for Eurasia has documented human rights violations, including torture, arbitrary arrests, the suppression of the Karakalpak language, limits on freedom of expression, and the denial of fair trial rights.
The need for transparency, justice, and accountability remains paramount two years after the protests in Karakalpakstan. The international community must demand a thorough and impartial investigation into the events of July 1-2, 2022, and hold those responsible for human rights abuses accountable. The voices of the Karakalpak people must be heard, and their right to self-determination, peaceful assembly and freedom of expression must be respected. https://freedomforeurasia.org/report/karakalpakstans-somber-2-year-anniversary-uzbekistans-crackdown-on-karakalpakstan-continues/
Leila Nazgul Seiitbek@l_seiitbek
[7/1/2024 1:58 PM, 3.6K followers, 1 retweet, 5 likes]
Karakalpak human rights defender Dauletmurat Tajimuratov continues to be tortured and threatened in an Uzbekistan prison after his arrest for his role in peaceful protests in Karakalpakstan. On June 27, 2024 Tajimuratov was severely beaten by five prison guards. The head of the prison threatened Tajimuratov that he would be sent back to the maximum security prison within a month, despite his upcoming transfer to a colony with less strict rules and more opportunities for family visits. Tajimuratov was sentenced to 16 years in prison and has been enduring inhumane treatment and torture, including threats and obstacles in receiving food packages from his family. We demand Tajimuratov’s release and for Uzbekistan’s accountability for human rights abuses. https://freedomforeurasia.org/dauletmurat-tajimuratov-continues-to-suffer-torture-and-threats-in-prison/
Leila Nazgul Seiitbek@l_seiitbek
[7/1/2024 2:58 AM, 3.6K followers, 6 retweets, 19 likes]
Kyrgyzstan: Akyn Askat Zhetigen was sentenced to three years in prison for “calls for violent seizure of power” for his criticism of the authorities. The decision was made by the Sverdlovskii District Court of Bishkek. He will serve his sentence in a general regime colony. Video: April https://x.com/i/status/1807670205251739798 {End of Report} To subscribe to the SCA Morning Press Clips, please email SCA-PressOfficers@state.gov. Please do not reply directly to this email.