SCA MORNING PRESS CLIPS
Prepared for the U.S. Department of State
Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs
TO: | SCA & Staff |
DATE: | Wednesday, May 1, 2024 6:30 AM ET |
Afghanistan
The Islamic State group says it was behind a mosque bombing in Afghanistan that killed 6 people (AP)
AP [5/1/2024 2:26 AM, Staff, 456K, Negative]
The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for a deadly shooting this week targeting members of the country’s minority Shiite community inside a mosque in western Afghanistan that killed six people.
The militant group said in a statement posted on its Telegram website late on Tuesday that one of its members attacked a “Shiite temple” in Herat province with machine-gun fire. The attack, which took place on Monday night in the district of Guzara, also left one person wounded.
The attacker fled the scene. The Taliban Interior Ministry has said that an investigation is underway.
Local media reported that the mosque’s imam was among those killed. Afghanistan’s former President Hamid Karzai condemned the attack, saying on the social media platform X that he considers “this terrorist act against all religious and human standards.”
The U.N. mission in Afghanistan also condemned the attack, saying a child was among the victims. It called for urgent accountability for perpetrators and protection measures for Shiite communities.
The IS affiliate in Afghanistan is a major Taliban rival and frequently targets schools, hospitals, mosques and Shiite areas throughout the country.
The Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in August 2021, during the last weeks of the chaotic departure of U.S. and NATO troops from the country after 20 years of war.Despite initial promises of a more moderate stance, the Taliban gradually reimposed a harsh interpretation of Islamic law, or Shariah, as they did during their previous rule of Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001. Gun attack on Shiite mosque in western Afghanistan kills 6 worshippers (VOA)
VOA [4/30/2024 7:22 PM, Ayaz Gul, 761K, Negative]
Taliban authorities in Afghanistan said Tuesday that an overnight attack on a Shiite mosque in a western region bordering Iran had killed at least six people, including a child.An Interior Ministry spokesman reported that an “unknown armed person” stormed the mosque in the Guzara district in Herat province and sprayed worshippers with bullets before fleeing."Six civilians were martyred and one was injured," Abdul Mateen Qani said on social media platform X.Islamic State claimed responsibility for the deadly shooting, Reuters reported Tuesday night, citing the group’s Telegram channel.The extremist Sunni group has taken credit for plotting almost all recent attacks on Shi’ite mosques, hospitals, and public gatherings in the country.Hassan Kazemi Ghomi, the Iranian ambassador in Kabul, condemned Monday’s attack, calling IS-K a “common external threat” to both countries and the region at large."We consider Afghanistan our partner in the fight against terrorism, and cooperation in this area will be a top priority,” Ghomi, also the special presidential envoy for Afghanistan, wrote on X.The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, or UNAMA, denounced the mosque shooting.“Investigations and accountability for perpetrators and protection measures for Afghanistan’s Shi’a communities are urgently needed,” the UNAMA stated on X.IS-K has also routinely plotted deadly bomb attacks against leaders and prominent religious scholars linked to the ruling Taliban.The violence has increased since the then-insurgent Taliban reclaimed power in 2021 when the United States and NATO withdrew their troops from Afghanistan after 20 years of war with the Taliban. Afghanistan: Shooting attack on mosque kills 6 (Deutsche Welle)
Deutsche Welle [4/30/2024 5:35 AM, Staff, 2728K, Negative]
A gunman stormed a mosque in western Afghanistan as worshippers were praying, killing six people and injuring another.The incident took place in the western Herat province’s Guzara district on Monday evening. The mosque was targeted due to serving the minority Shiite community, local residents and media reported.What do we know about the attack?Taliban Interior Ministry spokesman Abdul Mateen Qani said that "an unknown armed person shot at civilian worshippers in a mosque.""Six civilians were martyred and one civilian was injured," he wrote on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, early Tuesday morning.Locals told the French AFP news agency that the shooting was carried out by three gunmen rather than one. Those killed included the imam of the mosque and a three-year-old child, they added."I strongly condemn the attack on the Imam Zaman Mosque," former Afghan President Hamid Karzai said on X. "I consider this terrorist act to be against all religious and human standards."No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. The "Islamic State" group’s regional affiliate is a major Taliban rival and has recently claimed several attacks on schools, hospitals, mosques and Shiite areas throughout the country. The Situation In Afghanistan Under Review By The United Nations (Forbes)
Forbes [4/30/2024 10:59 AM, Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab, 7173K, Negative]
On April 29, 2024, Afghanistan was reviewed by the United Nations Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) working group. The UPR is a unique mechanism of the Human Rights Council that calls for each U.N. Member State to undergo a peer review of its human rights records every 4 to 5 years. The UPR provides each State the opportunity to regularly report on the actions it has taken to improve its human rights situations and receive recommendations.As the UPR was looking into the situation in Afghanistan, atrocity crimes continued. On the same day as the U.N. review, a gunman stormed a mosque in Andisheh town of Guzara district in Herat province, western Afghanistan. Six people were killed in the attack. The mosque is said to have belonged to Afghanistan’s minority Shia community. For now, no group has claimed the attack. However, the Islamic State (also known as ISIL, ISIS) chapter in the region, Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K), is known to frequently target Shia communities. Only a week earlier, a sticky bomb exploded in a mostly Shia neighborhood of Kabul, Kot-e-Sangi, killing one person and wounding three others. Previous months have seen several similar attacks.The Shia communities in Afghanistan, primarily comprising the Hazara, have been facing systematic discrimination, targeted attacks, marginalization, and harassment, under the Taliban’s rule. In 2023, the Taliban reportedly prevented the Shia from celebrating an important religious festival, restricted the teaching of Shia jurisprudence in universities, and banned marriages between Shia and Sunnis in parts of Afghanistan, among others. The Taliban has been failing to protect the Shia community from IS-K attacks and very little is known whether the attacks have been investigated and the perpetrators brought to account.Also, as the UPR was considering the situation in Afghanistan, women and girls have been virtually erased from society. Among others, since taking over Afghanistan, the Taliban banned girls from secondary education under the pretext of safety. Malala Yousafzai, human rights advocate and Nobel Peace Prize laureate commented: “If you are a girl in Afghanistan, the Taliban has decided your future for you. You cannot attend secondary school or university. You cannot find open libraries where you can read. You see your mothers confined, unable to work, go to the park, get a haircut, or even see a doctor.” Subsequent months have seen a litany of restrictions that confined women and girls to their homes. Among others, in November 2022, the authorities banned access of women and girls to parks, gyms and public baths. In December 2022, they announced the immediate suspension of women from universities. Also, in December 2023, women were barred from working for domestic and international NGOs.Because of the ever-present restrictions experienced by women and girls in Afghanistan, Afghan women human rights defenders and international experts have been calling for the recognition of the treatment of women and girls in Afghanistan as gender apartheid. While gender apartheid is not codified as an international crime yet, the topic has been receiving some attention, especially as the oppression of women and girls in Afghanistan is ever-growing and their rights are virtually non-existent.The litany of human rights violations in Afghanistan requires an urgent response. Unfortunately, as the U.N. was reviewing the situation in Afghanistan, the Taliban de facto authorities were nowhere to face the criticism. Despite the Taliban wanting to be recognized as the rightful authorities and take a spot on the international fora, the Taliban have shown zero willingness to engage and ensure that minimum standards on human rights are afforded to everyone in the country. Pakistan
Pakistan appoints Ishaq Dar, close aide of elder Sharif, as deputy PM (Nikkei Asia)
Nikkei Asia [5/1/2024 4:20 AM, Adnan Aamir, 293K, Neutral]
Pakistan has appointed its foreign minister, Ishaq Dar, as its first deputy prime minister in over a decade. The 73-year-old, who has served as finance minister four times, is expected to pay particular attention to the state of the South Asian nation’s economy, experts say.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif appointed Dar on Sunday, according to a government notice, and he will continue as foreign minister alongside his new position.
The country does not usually have a deputy prime minister and analysts say the appointment comes as blocs within the ruling party jockey for influence. The last deputy prime minister, Pervaiz Elahi, held the job from 2012 to 2013.
Dar, a member of the Senate, trained as a chartered accountant and has filled roles including commerce minister and chairman of Pakistan’s Board of Investment. He is seen as being close to Nawaz Sharif, a three-time prime minister of the country and Shehbaz’s older brother.
Dar had typically been the first choice to lead the Finance Ministry in any government led by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), the current ruling party. This time, however, that portfolio went to former Dutch national and banker Muhammad Aurangzeb.Given his background in finance and the economy, Dar "will be meddling in the affairs of finance and other ministries as deputy prime minister," said Shahid Maitla, a political analyst based in Islamabad. "Affairs of all the ministries will be scrutinized by him."
Ikram ul Haq, an economics and taxation expert, also expects Dar’s new position to give him leverage on economic issues. "[Dar] will even [chair] cabinet meetings in the absence of [PM] Shehbaz Sharif," he said.
However, the military establishment is expected to push back and not allow Dar to influence economic affairs.
"[Dar] has made several attempts to interfere in matters of economy and finance and he has not been successful so far," said Asad Toor, an Islamabad-based political analyst. "The military establishment will try to control Dar’s ingress in matters of the economy as deputy prime minister."
Now, experts say, Nawaz has used his influence to force Shehbaz to appoint Dar as deputy prime minister.
The appointment of a deputy prime minister after 12 years comes amid a rift in the ruling PML-N. Experts believe there are two blocs within the party -- one led by Prime Minister Shehbaz and the other by the party supremo, his brother Nawaz.
Nawaz returned from exile in October to participate in elections, with the goal of becoming prime minister. The results of the Feb. 8 voting, in which Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) took the highest number of seats, eventually led to Shehbaz being elected instead, and his cabinet mainly comprises people from his bloc.
Tahir Naeem Malik, professor of international relations at the National University of Modern Languages (NUML) Islamabad, said the appointment confirms divisions within the PML-N. "[Dar] is the only member of the Nawaz bloc in the cabinet and hence he was elevated as deputy prime minister," he told Nikkei Asia.
Haq, the expert on the economy and taxation, said the appointment of a deputy prime minister is to try to ensure Nawaz Sharif’s control over the affairs of the federal government. "This [appointment] symbolically represents that in PML-N the power rests with the supreme leader [Nawaz] and not with [Prime Minister Shehbaz]," he said.
"Nawaz Sharif wants to keep an eye on the affairs of the federal government, which he does not trust," said political analyst Maitla. "The position of deputy PM will empower Dar to scrutinize every step of Shehbaz Sharif’s government."
Furthermore, the elevation of Dar is also being seen as a message by the elder Sharif to Pakistan’s military establishment, which is viewed by many as calling the shots behind Shehbaz Sharif’s government.
"This [appointment] of Dar -- who the [military] establishment does not like -- is a message that PML-N will not fully surrender [its authority] and will try to reclaim its lost space," Maitla said. Gunmen kill a police officer assigned to protect polio workers in northwest Pakistan (AP)
AP [4/30/2024 7:15 AM, Staff, 22K, Negative]
Gunmen fatally shot a police officer assigned to protect polio workers in Pakistan’s northwest, an official said Tuesday.At least 10 police have died this year while on security duty for vaccination campaigns in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.The gunmen fired at a team working in Bajaur district, killing the officer on the spot, police officer Dilawar Khan said.No one immediately claimed responsibility for the assault.Anti-polio campaigns in Pakistan are regularly marred by violence. Militants target vaccination teams and police assigned to protect them, falsely claiming that the campaigns are a Western conspiracy to sterilize children.A five-day anti-polio campaign started Monday in 13 high-risk districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. More than 21,000 teams are tasked with administering vaccines to 4,423,000 children under age 5. More than 32,000 police are protecting the teams.Pakistan and neighboring Afghanistan are the only countries where the spread of polio has never been stopped.The potentially fatal, paralyzing disease mostly strikes children under age 5 and typically spreads through contaminated water. Balochistan as a Major Departure Point for Human Smuggling (The Diplomat)
The Diplomat [4/30/2024 5:36 AM, Mariyam Suleman Anees, 201K, Negative]
On April 12, nine men were shot and killed after being abducted from a bus heading toward Iran on the Quetta-Taftan Highway in Pakistan’s southwestern province of Balochistan. According to witnesses, the identity cards of all passengers on the bus were checked, and those from Punjab were taken off the bus and shot dead.A separatist group claimed responsibility for the incident. It said that those killed were intelligence operatives. However, Pakistani authorities refuted the allegation and said that “they were laborers heading to Iran.”The incident drew attention once again to the unceasing ethnonationalist conflict between Balochistan province and the state. It also turned the spotlight on another pressing problem in Pakistan — human smuggling via Balochistan.Many believe that those on board the bus that was involved in the April 12 incident were heading to Iran for onward travel to Europe via Türkiye and the Mediterranean Sea, a commonly traversed human smuggling route.It is estimated that between 80,000 and 100,000 Pakistanis cross international borders illegally each year. These migrants include both those smuggled as well as those who are victims of trafficking.Human smuggling typically involves consensual arrangements between migrants and their “agents,” whereas human trafficking involves coercive practices, subjecting those trafficked to bonded labor and sexual exploitation.Human smugglers use land, water, and air routes outward from Pakistan. The land and sea routes primarily run through the sparsely populated and conflict-ridden Balochistan province. There are multiple land routes and they all end up either at the Taftan (Iranian) border in the north of Balochistan province, or run through the southern district of Kech bordering Iran. Migrants from different parts of the country head to Quetta or Karachi before they take the land route abroad.As for the sea route, it begins from the port city of Gwadar or the nearby coastal villages of Surbandan, Pishukan, Jiwani, and Pasni, where migrants travel in boats to Iran through the Arabian Sea entering the Persian Gulf.In June 2023, fishermen on the western coast of Ormara in Gwadar district reported a floating wooden box containing two dead bodies. The word “Help” was written on the box. Unfortunately, the box was not found in time to save the lives of the two people in it. Local police claimed that the bodies were those of illegal migrants.Over the years, there have been several instances of overcrowded and unseaworthy boats either going missing or sinking. In many of these cases, local fishermen found dead bodies washed ashore. Authorities often suspected the bodies to be those of illegal migrants. These migrants had met their end close to home, long before they even set foot on their final destination, Europe.Others have perished far from home in Mediterranean waters. In June 2023, for instance, one of the deadliest shipwrecks in the Mediterranean claimed the lives of over 200 Pakistanis. Most of them had paid hefty amounts to “agents.” They had begun their journey either by sea from Balochistan or via air through Karachi, boarding to Dubai, onward to Libya and then onward to the Greek coast. But just miles away from their final destination, they lost their lives.Although there have been so many horrifying incidents, human smuggling is still thriving in the region.According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Pakistan is one of the world’s largest countries of origin for smuggled migrants, and Balochistan is a major point of departure in South Asia. The land and sea routes of Balochistan are operated by national agents and transnational chains and “brokers” that provide “services” to the victims. Organized networks and subnetworks of smugglers operate in different parts of the country,The vast majority of human smuggling networks operate in Punjab. Most of those who seek to leave Pakistan are from this province. Another large number of networks exist in Balochistan, which is the point of departure for all migrants from Pakistan.Although these networks operate undercover, they are easily contacted – which is why thousands of people fall victim to them. Poverty, unemployment, and insecurity drive people to these smugglers. They are willing to risk their lives in search of a better life.Since 2000, Pakistan has signed several international conventions against human smuggling. Although Pakistan’s National Assembly passed the Prevention of Smuggling of Migrants Act in 2018, the law has hardly made any difference as human smuggling continues to flourish.While the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) is the primary institution responsible for implementing the law, other institutions and agencies like the Frontier Corps and Balochistan Levies as well as coast guards and local police, although not specifically mandated to address migrant smuggling, are also considered important stakeholders for border control and irregular migration.But, despite the presence of a large number of security personnel in Balochistan on account of the armed insurgency there, curbing human smuggling remains a major challenge. This is because of the close links between smugglers and law enforcement agency officials, according to a UNODC study.While the failure of law enforcement at the national level and the lack of protection for migrants at the international level are major reasons for the persisting problem of human smuggling, the problem is not just a matter of law enforcement.The conditions that drive people to make the deadly journey from Balochistan – whether to escape conflict or economic dire straits – need to be addressed as well. India
Indian security forces kill 10 Maoist rebels in gun battle (Reuters)
Reuters [4/30/2024 8:44 AM, Jatindra Dash, 5239K, Negative]
Indian security forces killed at least 10 Maoist rebels in a gun battle in the forests of central India on Tuesday, police said, the second major encounter this month amid national elections.Fighting in the Abujhmad area of the Maoist-riven Bastar region followed an April 16 clash in which 29 rebel fighters were killed in a nearby district.The rebels, who follow a form of communism propagated by late Chinese leader Mao Zedong, have waged a guerrilla-style struggle against the government mainly in central and eastern India for decades, leading to periodic clashes and casualties on both sides.Maoists say they are fighting to give poor Indian farmers and landless labourers more control over their land and a greater claim to minerals that they say are exploited by major mining companies.Police in Chattisgarh state said they had recovered at least 10 bodies and several weapons after the early Tuesday clash.Indian are voting in a seven-phase parliamentary election that began on April 19, with votes due to be counted on June 4. Dozens of schools in India’s capital region evacuated after email bomb threat hoax (Reuters)
Reuters [5/1/2024 3:16 AM, Sakshi Dayal, 5.2M, Neutral]
Dozens of schools in India’s national capital region were evacuated on Wednesday after they received a bomb threat by email, police said, adding that "nothing objectionable" was found during searches of the schools.
More than 50 schools in Delhi and the adjoining suburb of Noida received the threatening email, officials said, triggering panic among parents and prompting schools to send students home.
Television visuals showed parents standing outside the gates of schools across the region waiting to pick up children, as police teams, dog squads, and bomb disposal squads checked the premises.
The hoax affected thousands of school children from grades 1-12.
"Delhi Police has conducted thorough check of all such schools as per protocol...It appears that these calls seem to be hoax," Delhi Police said in a statement. Police did not release any further details about the threat.
Security agencies were taking "all necessary steps", the home ministry said on X.
Delhi Education Minister Atishi, who uses only one name, appealed to people not to panic, adding that school authorities would be in touch with parents wherever needed.
Some schools that were not among the recipients of the email also sent messages to parents to reassure them about the safety of their children.
Similar threats have been sent to schools in New Delhi in the past, but turned out to be hoaxes. Forest fires raze parts of India amid heat, dry weather (Reuters)
Reuters [4/30/2024 8:46 AM, Tanvi Mehta, Saurabh Sharma, and Jatindra Dash, 11975K, Negative]
Frequent fires are razing forests in India’s Uttarakhand state in the north and Odisha in the east amid high temperatures and long dry spells, and the blazes have been worsened by people burning the forest to collect a flower used to brew alcohol.Data from the state-run Forest Survey of India shows that as of 2021, 54.4% of forests in India experienced occasional fires, most of them due to man-made factors."Agriculture stubble burning, misconceptions and burning of shrubs to shoo away wildlife are major reasons behind the forest fires," Swapnil Aniruddh, a forest official in Uttarakhand, told Reuters.After a brief respite during the previous season from November to April, forest fires have picked up again this year, with 653 incidents in Uttarakhand alone, government data shows.Odisha’s fires have been exacerbated by people setting parts of the forest ablaze to collect Mahua flowers, which are highly sought after as they are used to brew a popular liquor.During the current season, 10,163 fire points in Uttarakhand have been detected using the government’s imaging radiometer.Overall, loss of significant forest cover is a big worry for India as it tries to dramatically reduce its climate-changing emissions.Among the organizations helping to curb the fires is the Indian Air Force, which has used the aerial firefighting ‘Bambi Bucket’ technique of collecting water from a nearby lake to spray over the region.The situation may get worse, with India’s weather department predicting more heat-wave days than normal between April and June this year, along with a longer dry spell for Uttarakhand. India cenbank asks all regulated entities to enhance operational resilience (Reuters)
Reuters [4/30/2024 9:09 AM, Swati Bhat, 5239K, Neutral]
Indian financial sector’s growing reliance on third-party providers mandates the need for better operational risk management and resilience, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said in a guidance note to all regulated entities (REs) on Tuesday.All REs in India should implement a robust information and communication technology (ICT) risk management programme in alignment with their operational risk management framework, the RBI said.The RBI’s previous guidance note on operational risk management was meant only for commercial banks, but the fresh guidance shall apply to all REs, including non-banks and all-India financial institutions."REs should manage their dependencies on relationships, including those of, but not limited to, third parties (which include intragroup entities), for the delivery of critical operations," the RBI said.All REs must perform a risk assessment and due diligence before entering into any arrangements with third parties or external entities.The RBI’s rules on outsourcing of IT activities to third parties came into effect in October 2023.The rules ensure that outsourcing arrangements do not diminish regulated entities’ ability to fulfil their obligations to customers, while also not impeding effective supervision by the RBI.The REs should also verify whether the third party, including the intragroup entity to these arrangements, has at least an equivalent level of operational resilience to safeguard critical operations under normal circumstances and in the event of a disruption."REs should develop and implement response and recovery plans to manage incidents that could disrupt the delivery of critical operations in line with the RE’s risk appetite and tolerance for disruption," the note added.The RBI also cautioned the regulated entities about further outsourcing of functions managed by third-party service providers and asked that these risks be managed appropriately."REs, in their agreement with the service providers, should include clauses making the service provider contractually liable for the performance and risk management practices of its sub-contractors," it said.The central bank also asked the REs to focus on cyber security-related risks and recommended plans to be in place to maintain the integrity of critical information in the event of such a security breach. India as a Net Security Provider in the Indo-Pacific: Ambitious But Attainable (The Diplomat)
The Diplomat [4/30/2024 10:11 AM, Rahul Mishra, 201K, Positive]
In March 2024, the Indian Navy once again successfully intervened in a piracy incident in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), rescuing the crew of a hijacked fishing vessel. The crew, comprising 23 Pakistani nationals, were safely rescued, which is an interesting development considering the downfall in India-Pakistan ties in recent years.In early January 2024, the Indian Navy, in coordination with Seychelles and Sri Lanka, rescued a hijacked Sri Lankan fishing vessel. Elite commandos also conducted missions freeing the Bulgarian-owned vessel MV Ruen that had been hijacked by Somalian pirates and scaring off the pirates that boarded the Lila Norfolk, a Liberian flagged carrier, in January. In early March, the Indian Navy rescued Filipino seafarers aboard the MV True Confidence and provided them critical care after the merchant ship sustained an attack by a Houthi missile strike while sailing the Gulf of Aden.All told, since December 2023, the Indian Navy has responded to 18 such incidents in the IOR and has played a vital role as the “first responder” and “preferred security partner” in emergency situations in the Indian Ocean. Also since December, New Delhi has committed over 5,000 personnel and over 20 ships to the area, quietly earning the title of the biggest national naval deployment in the region.Looking back, the Indian Navy’s response to the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami marked a significant moment in India’s history. Despite being a victim of the catastrophe, India launched substantial relief efforts toward Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Thailand, Myanmar, and Indonesia, showcasing its capability and readiness in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. These efforts facilitated India’s inclusion in a core relief group alongside the United States, Japan, and Australia.The operations underscored the strategic utility and humanitarian potential of naval assets, which was also evident in subsequent missions, including relief operations during Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar in 2008, the provision of vital water supplies to the Maldives in 2014, and the efforts to locate the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 that mysteriously disappeared in 2014.Such endeavors have not only enhanced India’s diplomatic standing but also demonstrated its commitment and capability as a significant security provider in the region, culminating in leadership roles within international forums like the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS). Projects under the Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) initiative highlight India’s commitment to a cooperative regional approach.India’s Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, while inaugurating a new building at the Naval War College in Goa last month, stated that the Indian Navy is ensuring that no country with overwhelming economic and military power is able to assert dominance over other nations in the IOR or threaten their sovereignty. India is ensuring that all the neighboring countries of the Indian Ocean should be helped in protecting their autonomy and sovereignty, he said. Singh highlighted India’s commitment to supporting neighboring countries, providing full assistance to the littoral countries and preventing any hegemonic dominance in the region.Through these actions, India has affirmed its position as a reliable net security provider in addressing regional crises and promoting cooperation among neighboring countries. This transition aligns with India’s broader strategic objectives, aiming to ensure regional stability, foster economic development, and counterbalance the influence of other regional powers. Considering India’s success in becoming a dominant and reliable security provider in the IOR, could India advance itself to become a net security provider in the wider Indo-Pacific region?India’s strategic position and its emerging status as a significant player in the Indo-Pacific, coupled with its evolving naval policy and maritime strategy, and commitment to ensuring regional stability, fostering economic growth, and promoting navigational freedoms, all work to New Delhi’s favor. The quest may be ambitious but not necessarily unattainable. Achieving this status will necessitate a multifaceted approach that includes military capacity, diplomatic competence, financial power, and technological innovation.India’s key advantage in becoming a net security provider is its military and naval capabilities. The Indian Ocean is the Indian Navy’s backyard, and it plays a crucial role in ensuring the security of sea lines of communication. India can project power and deter potential threats by modernizing its naval forces and acquiring more blue-water assets such as aircraft carriers, nuclear submarines, and advanced surveillance systems. Collaboration with important partners on joint exercises (such as Malabar with the United States, Japan, and Australia), patrols, and information sharing improves collective security capabilities, resulting in a more stable maritime environment in the Indo-Pacific.Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) is crucial for tracking, controlling, and responding to hazards in the broad Indo-Pacific region. To accomplish comprehensive MDA, India needs to invest in both space-based and aerial surveillance technology. This includes launching satellites for real-time monitoring, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for long-term surveillance, and incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) for risk assessment and analyzing trends. Enhanced cooperation with regional partners for the exchange of intel and data in real time may significantly boost the chances of MDA endeavors.Security and economy are intrinsically linked in the Indo-Pacific area. Through efforts such as the Act East Policy, India may strengthen economic ties, invest in key infrastructure projects, and improve regional connectivity. Projects such as the Asia-Africa Growth Corridor (AAGC) – a collaborative vision between India and Japan to promote development, connectivity, and cooperation between Africa and Asia – demonstrate the prospects for coordinated economic development while also serving strategic objectives.India’s role as a net security provider goes beyond the traditional security domains to encompass non-traditional security threats including piracy, terrorism, natural disasters, and climate change. Working with regional partners to strengthen capacity in disaster management, counterterrorism, and marine policing will enable India to strengthen its position as a security provider in the Indo-Pacific region. Initiatives such as the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) facilitate cooperation on several fronts, underscoring the significance of a comprehensive approach to regional security.Moving forward, India must work toward establishing and strengthening partnerships and alliances in the Indian Ocean region as well as in the wider Indo-Pacific. Participating in multilateral forums such as the Quad, ASEAN Regional Forum, ADMM (ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting) Plus, IONS, and the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) allow India to influence the regional security architecture and push for a stronger rules-based maritime order. Strategic partnerships with countries such as the U.S., France, Japan, Australia, and major ASEAN members could provide mutual security benefits, promote technology transfer, and improve interoperability among armed forces. India’s emerging minilateral partnerships with France (India-France-Australia), and Japan (India-Japan-Australia) act as deterrence to common maritime threats while emphasizing India’s role as a regional stabilizer.India’s rise as a global power and successes in the IOR signal India’s readiness to take up greater responsibility as a potential net security provider in the wider Indo-Pacific. However, with the evolving geopolitical landscape, the quest comes with challenges and opportunities. Building stronger naval capabilities for wider operations and creating a long-term coalition of like-minded countries are crucial in that regard.As such, India’s strategy as a net security provider in the wider Indo-Pacific will revolve around its broader foreign policy and security objectives, reflecting its aspiration to play a pivotal role in shaping the regional order and ensuring an inclusive and peaceful Indo-Pacific region. A murder plot that cannot be ignored: India must come clean at last (Washington Post – opinion)
Washington Post [4/30/2024 9:59 AM, Editorial Board, 6902K, Negative]
In November, the Justice Department unsealed an indictment containing the shocking charge that an official of India’s government, not identified by name, led a brazen conspiracy to assassinate a dissident Sikh political activist on U.S. soil. Now, that charge has become even more grave with The Post’s revelation that U.S. officials have identified the plotter as Vikram Yadav, an officer in India’s spy agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), and have concluded the operation was approved by the RAW chief at the time, Samant Goel. India should get to the bottom of this appalling murder-for-hire case — and the United States should make clear that it will not tolerate such crimes within its borders.It appears those who hatched the conspiracy were working for the highest levels of the government of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. While the plot was moving ahead last June, Mr. Modi was being feted at the White House for his commitment to democracy. The Post reports that U.S. spy agencies have tentatively assessed that Mr. Modi’s national security adviser, Ajit Doval, was probably aware of RAW’s plans to kill Sikh activists, but officials said no proof has emerged.The target was to be Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a U.S. citizen, general counsel for the New York-based Sikhs for Justice, a group that advocates for some or all of Punjab state in northern India to secede and form an independent Sikh state. According to the indictment, the plotters hired Nikhil Gupta, an associate in India who has been involved in weapons and narcotics trafficking, to “orchestrate the assassination,” including hiring a killer in the United States. At the request of the United States, Mr. Gupta was arrested while traveling to Prague at the end of June and has been charged with murder for hire, which he denies. The killing was not carried out.The plot was unfolding just when another Sikh separatist leader, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, was killed outside a Sikh temple in British Columbia. Nijjar was an associate of Mr. Pannun. According to the indictment, on June 20, two days before Mr. Modi spoke at the White House, the chief plotter, now identified as Mr. Yadav, sent Mr. Gupta a news article about the Canada murder and told him the assassination of Mr. Pannun is a “priority now.” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced in September that Canada had “credible evidence” of India’s involvement in Nijjar’s death.Both cases mark a serious and disturbing escalation in transnational repression — governments brazenly attempting to punish, kidnap or assassinate critics, activists, dissidents and journalists far beyond their own borders, violating the laws and norms of other countries with impunity. The practice has become alarmingly frequent, including in the United States. According to Freedom House, the top 10 perpetrators are: China, Turkey, Tajikistan, Russia, Egypt, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Belarus, Iran and Rwanda.The United States has strategic interests in a solid, long-term relationship with India, which President Biden has correctly pursued in hopes India will prove a bulwark against China’s rising power. But India must live up to Mr. Modi’s claim that democracy “runs in our veins.” This means treating India’s minorities with respect and dignity, a test on which it is clearly failing. It also means demanding accountability for wrongdoing. The assassination plot cries out for a full and honest investigation that has yet to be carried out.The Biden administration is treating the India case with kid gloves. The Post reports that CIA Director William J. Burns and other officials have demanded accountability, but the administration has not imposed expulsions, sanctions or other penalties. The only U.S. charges made public to date are against the alleged middleman, Mr. Gupta, who is in prison, awaiting a Czech court ruling on a U.S. request for his extradition. No prosecution has been attempted of Mr. Yadav, who is identified in the indictment as an unnamed co-conspirator, “CC-1,” and the document made no mention of the Indian spy agency. The Post also reported that India’s government appointed a special panel to investigate the attacks and report its findings to the United States. A U.S. delegation that traveled to New Delhi several weeks ago for an update on the probe, however, returned with little evidence of meaningful progress.The United States needs stronger laws and other measures to fight transnational repression; Congress is considering legislation and should act. How the India case is handled will also send an important signal. If it turns out that India’s security officers plotted to murder on these shores and then escape accountability and punishment for doing so, others will be encouraged to kill with impunity. The United States cannot let this happen. NSB
Islamic charitable giving could fund Bangladesh climate adaptation (Reuters)
Reuters [4/30/2024 11:02 AM, Md. Tahmid Zami, 11975K, Neutral]
Religious scholars in Bangladesh say the country should harness the generosity of Muslims around the world and use their charitable giving to help the country adapt to climate change.They said global faith-based finance could be a crucial way to support poor countries whose needs for funds to adapt to climate change are 10 to 18-times greater than they currently receive."Being good to others as well as the environment is seen as integral to being a good person in Islam," said Md Riaz Uddin, an Islamic scholar and human rights activist from Bangladesh who is the head of Boroikandi Madrasa, a religious seminary.Riaz Uddin said there were different forms of charity that were either obligatory or voluntary for Muslims, but all could be used to support people who were destitute, or were exposed to serious risks due to climate change and natural disasters.Zakat - giving to the poor and needy mandated by Islam - in Bangladesh alone has the potential to raise close to $9.8 billion, according to a study last year.Meanwhile, Bangladesh needs about $9 billion a year for climate adaptation, Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury said last month.Giving zakat is mandatory for all Muslims with wealth above a certain threshold in order to support the poor, the debt-ridden, or people migrating with limited resources.In Bangladesh, people mostly give informally and as they see fit - often handing out clothes to poor relatives, or people in the neighbourhood. Riaz Uddin said that had limited long-term impact on the lives of the beneficiaries.Zakir H Khan, chief executive of the Dhaka-based research organisation, Change Initiative, has studied the potential of Islamic charity for financing climate action. He said that given the amount of money donated every year, better coordination would do more to help the most climate-vulnerable groups."Instead of using the charity money for one-off do-gooding, the money could be pooled together and used in a planned way to transform the lives of climate survivors," Khan said.CLEAN WATERSome organisations are already using zakat to adapt to climate change.Wateraid, an international non-governmental organisation, focused on water, sanitation and hygiene, is using Islamic charitable donations to build water solutions for salinity-affected communities in countries in the global south that have large Muslim populations such as Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Mali."We raise a lot of zakat money from countries like the UK to help communities at the frontline of the climate crisis," said Hasin Jahan, Wateraid’s Bangladesh country director.On the southwest coast of Bangladesh for example, religious schools struggle to provide clean drinking water to students as there is little funding to address issues such as the growing salinity of the water, which is made worse by climate change.Wateraid focuses on girls and young women in these areas whose needs are often neglected."Salt-free drinking water at school is a relief - and on top of that we get free sanitary pads to protect our health," said Suraiya Khatun, a 15-year-old student in the region.Islamic schools teach about 2.8 million children in Bangladesh. They are now seeking international religious donations to tackle growing heat, salinity, and other climate-related hazards that increasingly impact students’ health.RELIGIOUS SCHOLARS AGREE ON CLIMATE CHANGE ACTIONOne country that has made progress in utilising Islamic charity for climate action is Indonesia - a nation that needs $323 billion to meet its climate targets by 2030.Indonesia’s council of religious scholars this year issued rulings on how zakat could be used to build water facilities, or endow trusts with land or money to plant more forests.There have been debates about using Islamic charity for meeting climate needs, but religious scholars and finance experts are converging on the conclusion that it can be used."We hope that people will now have clarity that the religious scholars agree that climate change is real and our scriptures teach us to protect the people’s future," said Hayu Prabowo, chairman of the Environment and Natural Resources Body at the Indonesian Ulema Council, made up of Indonesia’s top Islamic scholars.World Bank estimates show zakat financing could range from 1% to more than 4% of the gross domestic product of Muslim countries such as Bangladesh, Indonesia or Sudan - which could act as a social safety net for the poor and vulnerable.Faith-based climate finance needs to choose the right mix of tools and technology to meet the needs of beneficiaries, said Prabowo who is also a trustee of Faithinvest, a network of impact investors from different religious groups.For example, zakat can only be used to help poor Muslims, but other forms of giving such as sadaqah, which is purely voluntary, can support people of any faith. A third mode of funding called waqf can be provided to institutions for long-term investment.A range of organisations, including Wateraid, are tapping into sadaqah funding, while Indonesia is using ‘green waqf’ endowments to create forests on degraded land.Technology is key at every stage of the faith-based financing process, from raising money to implementing projects and ensuring trust in the process, Prabowo said.Organisations like Wateraid are raising Zakat donations online, while Indonesian scholars are working towards using blockchain technology to allow people to see where their money is spent."Faith-based charity has enormous potential to drive climate action - and with more and more good examples on the ground, I hope faith-based climate finance will gain more momentum," said Prabowo. April Temperatures In Bangladesh Hottest On Record (Agence France-Presse)
Agence France-Presse [5/1/2024 4:14 PM, Staff, 307K, Neutral]
Bangladesh’s weather bureau said Wednesday that last month was the hottest April on record, with the South Asian nation and much of the region still enduring a suffocating heatwave.
Extensive scientific research has found climate change is causing heatwaves to become longer, more frequent and more intense.
Punishing heat last month prompted Bangladesh’s government to close schools across the country, keeping an estimated 32 million students at home.
"This year the heatwave covered around 80 percent of the country. We’ve not seen such unbroken and expansive heatwaves before," Bangladesh Meteorological Department senior forecaster Muhammad Abul Kalam Mallik told AFP.
He said last month was the hottest April in Bangladesh since records began in 1948 "in terms of hot days and area coverage in the country".
Weather stations around Bangladesh had recorded temperatures between two and eight degrees higher than the 33.2 degrees Celsius (91.8 degrees Fahrenheit) average daily temperature for April between 1981 and 2010, he added.
Health department spokesman Selim Raihan told AFP the government had confirmed at least 11 heat stroke-related deaths in the past 10 days.
Rains are expected to bring some relief to Bangladesh from Thursday after a week of sweltering temperatures, with the capital Dhaka recording several days over 40C (104F).
Mallik said the severity of the heat had been worsened by the absence of the usual pre-monsoon April thunderstorms which normally cool the South Asian nation ahead of summer.
"Bangladesh gets an average of 130.2 millimetres of rain in April. But this April we got an average of one millimetre of rain," he said.
Mallik said the bureau was checking data to confirm whether this year marked record low rainfalls for April.
Schools in Bangladesh will remain closed until Sunday.The government ordered classrooms reopened last weekend, but a top Bangladeshi court directed them to be shut them again on Monday after taking into consideration reports that several teachers had died in the heatwave.
Thousands gathered at mosques and in open fields around the Muslim-majority nation last week to pray for rain.
"Life has become unbearable due to lack of rains," Muhammad Abu Yusuf, an Islamic cleric who led one such service, told AFP last week.
"Poor people are suffering immensely."
Large swaths of South and Southeast Asia are sweltering through a heatwave that has topped temperature records from Myanmar to the Philippines, with the El Nino phenomenon also driving this year’s exceptionally warm weather.
Weather bureaus in Cambodia, Myanmar, Vietnam and India have also all forecast temperatures above 40C (104F).
The months preceding the region’s monsoon, or rainy season, are usually hot but temperatures this year are well above average in many countries.
Asia is also warming faster than the global average, according to the World Meteorological Organization, a UN agency. Sri Lanka April Inflation Accelerates First Time in 3 Months (Bloomberg)
Bloomberg [4/30/2024 7:57 AM, Anusha Ondaatjie, 11975K, Neutral]
Sri Lanka’s inflation accelerated for the first time in three months in April largely due to base effect and a likely pick up in demand.The consumer price index in Colombo rose 1.5% from a year ago, the Statistics Department said on Tuesday. That compares with a 2.5% increase seen in a Bloomberg survey, and a 0.9% reading in March.The Central Bank of Sri Lanka, which unexpectedly lowered the benchmark lending rate by 50 basis points in March, has said it doesn’t expect a threat to its 5% inflation targetdespite an uptick in prices. The monetary authority will hold its next policy review on May 28.“Inflation adjustment has happened broadly because of base effect,” said Sanjeewa Fernando, senior vice president of research at Asia Securities Pvt Ltd in Colombo. “Activity is also said to be broadly picking up, with demand likely slightly higher in April amid local festivals.”Sri Lanka’s annual growth is expected to turn positive this year and Central Bank Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe has said the monetary policy stance will remain accommodative for the economy to reach its full potential. The South Asian island’s economy expanded for a second straight quarter in the three months to December, as industrial activity picked up pace, buoyed by an International Monetary Fund bailout and lower interest rates.Sri Lanka is trying to reach an agreement with investors to restructure its defaulted global bonds to ensure financing from the nation’s $3 billion IMF loan program keeps flowing. The government has already struck deals with official creditors, including China, India and the Paris Club as well as with holders of its local debt. Central Asia
Claims that the US bought 81 Soviet-era combat aircraft from a close Russian ally are likely false, experts say (Business Insider)
Business Insider [4/30/2024 10:23 AM, Thibault Spirlet and Rebecca Rommen, 5652K, Negative]
Reports that the US acquired 81 obsolete Soviet-era combat aircraft from Kazakhstan are likely false, according to military analysts.On Sunday, the Kyiv Post reported that Kazakhstan had auctioned off 117 Soviet-era fighter and bomber aircraft for a reported fee of one billion tenge, or $2.26 million, of which 81 were purchased by the US.The outlet cited reports from the Ukrainian Telegram channel Insider UA and the Russian news site Reporter.The Kyiv Post said the reason for the US purchase was not made public but that the aircraft would "likely" be transferred to Ukraine, which is fighting back against Russia’s full-scale invasion.But Kazspetsexport, Kazakhstan’s state-owned weapons importer and exporter, denied selling military airplanes to Ukraine in a later statement, saying that foreign companies were not allowed to bid.According to Francisco Olmos, a research fellow at The Foreign Policy Center specializing in Central Asian Affairs, it’s "very" hard to establish whether the sale actually happened.But he said that Kazspetsexport’s denial "lends weight to the fact that such a purchase by the US did not take place."He also said he doesn’t see why Kazakhstan would indirectly provide spare parts for Ukrainian jets.Given Ukraine’s reliance on Soviet-era weapons, the Kyiv Post had suggested that the aircraft could either serve as a source of spare parts or be strategically deployed as decoys at airfields."Astana has kept a balanced stance during the conflict, and this would significantly change that," Olmos said. "Let’s not forget Russia and Kazakhstan continue to have close ties, politically and economically."Alexander Libman, a professor of Russian and East European Politics at the Free University of Berlin, said he would "seriously" doubt that such a deal could take place."Kazakhstan was extremely cautious about not creating tensions with both Russia and the Western countries, and supplying weapons to Ukraine would be a clear violation of this strategy," he told BI.The Pentagon declined to comment.Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, its neighbors, including Kazakhstan, have trod a fine line, trying to keep an officially neutral position while, in some cases, strengthening their ties with the West.Some Central Asian countries, like Kazakhstan, have even offered humanitarian aid to Ukraine.However, out of fear of a backlash from Russia, they have declined to provide military equipment, Mark Temnycky, a nonresident fellow with the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center, told BI.He said these countries saw Russia’s invasions of Georgia in 2008 and Ukraine in 2014 and 2022, and with large ethnic Russian and Russian-speaking populations of their own, fear they could be next.Russia has also deepened economic ties with the countries, especially Kazakhstan, with Russia-Kazakhstan trade valued at $26 billion and $27 billion in 2022 and 2023, record numbers.Balancing economic ties with Russia and closer relations with the West puts Kazakhstan on an "increasingly difficult tightrope," Kate Mallinson, an associate fellow of Chatham House’s Russia and Eurasia Programme, told BI.She also suggested that reports of a US-Kazakhstan deal are likely part of a disinformation campaign from Russia aimed at "driving a wedge" between Kazakhstan and its neighbors, and putting more pressure on the country to toe the line. Kazakhstan arrests a former interior minister over crackdown on unrest that left 238 dead (AP)
AP [4/30/2024 1:56 PM, Staff, 8967K, Negative]
Authorities in Kazakhstan have arrested a former interior minister in connection with a deadly police crackdown on unrest that gripped the country in 2022, local media reported Tuesday.The prosecutor general’s office announced on Monday that Erlan Turgumbayev was detained on charges of “abuse of power and official authority resulting in grave consequences” in the crackdown. The Ministry of Internal Affairs is in charge of the police force. Turgumbayev was relieved of duty a month after the unrest.In Almaty, the country’s largest city, protests turned violent and President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev issued shoot-to-kill orders as demonstrators stormed government buildings. Officials said 238 people were killed.The unrest started in the city of Zhanaozen on Jan. 2, 2022, when residents protested a sharp increase in the cost of liquefied petroleum gas, commonly used as fuel for vehicles in Kazakhstan.The protests evolved into criticism of corruption and economic inequality under former leader Nursultan Nazarbayev, whose critics accuse him of profiting off the country’s vast energy wealth after taking office in 1991.Nazarbayev resigned from the presidency in 2019 but still held substantial power at the time of the protests as head of Kazakhstan’s security council.Tokayev has pushed an array of reforms, including limiting the presidency to a single seven-year term. He removed Nazarbayev as head of the security council, and the capital city, which had been named Nur-Sultan in Nazarbayev’s honor, reverted to its former name of Astana. Former Kazakh Interior Minister Detained Over Deadly 2022 Unrest (Radio Free Europe)
Radio Free Europe [4/30/2024 5:53 AM, Staff, 223K, Negative]
The Kazakh Prosecutor-General’s Office said investigators have detained former Interior Minister Erlan Turghymbaev on a charge of abuse of office and power.In a statement on April 30, the office said Turghymbaev’s detention was linked to "ongoing investigations into the events that took place in January 2022," a reference to nationwide demonstrations that were sparked by protests against an abrupt fuel price hike in the Central Asian nation’s southwestern town of Zhanaozen.The unrest that quickly spread across the country turned into unprecedented anti-government protests that saw more than 200 people killed.Much of the protesters’ anger was directed at former President Nursultan Nazarbaev, who ruled Kazakhstan from 1989 until March 2019, when he handed over power to his then-ally Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev. Despite moving into the background, Nazarbaev was widely believed to have remained in control.The protests were violently dispersed by police and military personnel, including troops from the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) that Toqaev invited into the country, claiming that "20,000 extremists who were trained in terrorist camps abroad" had attacked Almaty, the country’s largest city.The authorities have provided no evidence proving Toqaev’s claim about foreign terrorists.Following the unrest which claimed at least 238 lives, including 19 police officers, the chief of the Committee for National Security (KNB) and one of Nazarbaev’s closest allies, Karim Masimov, and three of his deputies were arrested.Masimov was later sentenced to 18 years in prison, while his deputies, Anuar Sadyqulov and Daulet Erghozhin, were sentenced to 16 years and 15 years, respectively. A court in Astana found all three men guilty of high treason, attempting to seize power by force, and abuse of office and power.Another former deputy of Masimov, Marat Osipov, was sentenced to three years in prison on a charge of abuse of office.In February of this year, another former deputy and a nephew of Nazarbaev, Samat Abish, was convicted on a charge of abuse of power and handed a suspended sentence of eight years.Abish’s older brother, Qairat Satybaldy, was arrested in March 2022 and later sentenced to six years in prison on corruption charges. Kazakhstan: Government grappling with how to regulate social media (EurasiaNet)
EurasiaNet [4/30/2024 4:14 PM, Almaz Kumenov, 57.6K, Neutral]
Social media can prove somewhat of a minefield these days for content creators in Kazakhstan. Authorities in the Central Asian nation can be comparatively tolerant of the free-wheeling discourse on social media … that is, until one treads on a sensitive topic. The challenge for bloggers is that the sensitive subjects are not always clearly marked.
One such sensitive topic, it seems, is the accreditation of foreign journalists. After Kazakhstan’s Foreign Ministry assumed authority for accrediting foreign journalists, a controversy brewed in January when officials held up 36 accreditation requests involving personnel working at Radio Azattyq, the Kazakh-language service of RFE/RL. Azattyq is known for its hard-hitting investigative reporting, exposing misconduct at high levels of government and business.
Two Kazakh social media content creators with large followings apparently triggered authorities by expressing support for Azattyq amid the accreditation standoff, and for criticizing pending amendments to the country’s law governing mass media. As a result, they found themselves entangled in the justice system.
Kazakhstan’s senate is currently considering the Media Law amendments after they won approval in mid-April from the lower house of parliament, the Mazhilis. Many of the changes, such as a requirement to increase the percentage of Kazakh language content by 2027, aren’t controversial. Press freedom activists also praise a provision that would establish a statute of limitations for the filing of defamation suits. But a few amendments, especially provisions that expand the government’s licensing and oversight powers, have drawn criticism from observers, who contend the proposed rules can be manipulated to silence dissenting voices and muzzle watchdogs.“The bill introduces more tools to control the activities of the media,” Diana Okremova, head of the Astana-based human rights NGO Legal Media Center, told Eurasianet. “They include rules about what information can and cannot be published, expanded grounds for refusing accreditation to foreign media, and other prohibitions.”
Compared to many of its Central Asian neighbors, Kazakhstan is permissive of free speech on social media. Freedom House’s most recent Freedom of the Net report, for instance, showed that while Kazakh authorities sometimes restricted access to the Internet in general, they tended not to block social media channels. But official tolerance for social media chatter clearly has limits.
There are a couple of strange aspects to the cases against the two bloggers, Jamilya Maricheva and Askhat Niyazov. One is the time lag between the alleged violations and authorities’ moves to prosecute them.
Their ordeal began on January 10. That’s when Maricheva posted a supportive message concerning Azzatyq’s work on her own Telegram channel, “ProTenge.” “We express our support to our colleagues from Azattyq who are doing very important work for our country,” she wrote.
Three months passed before the authorities took action. Ironically, it was Niyazov, who had reposted Maricheva’s comments, who felt the first administrative blow. The operator of a Telegram channel called “I adore,” Niyazov announced April 10 that law enforcement authorities had opened a case against him for reposting Maricheva’s message of support for Azattyq.“At first they wanted to open a criminal case, they didn’t succeed, and so they are opening an administrative case,” Niyazov said in a video message.
This unexpected twist for him was followed by an abrupt turn: on April 29, an Almaty judge dismissed the case against him, citing a lack of evidence.
Maricheva, meanwhile, was on the run when authorities caught up to her on April 24. But she wasn’t attempting to flee punishment. She was out jogging in Almaty when authorities stopped her, escorted her into a car and whisked her to a police station for questioning about her online writings.“In 20 years of work in journalism, I have not seen such resources used for the sake of ONE administrative protocol,” Maricheva wrote in a Facebook post the day after the incident.
Minister of Culture and Information Aida Balaeva, in her own Facebook post, has defended the process, saying her agency had a responsibility to monitor the Internet and refer instances concerning the circulation of “unreliable” information to law enforcement agencies for further investigation.“I urge mass media and citizens not to spread unreliable and unverified information,” Belaeva’s message concludes.
Perhaps the biggest head-scratcher surrounding the case against Maricheva is that she was detained and questioned a day after RFERL’s announcement on April 23 that it had reached an agreement with the Kazakh Foreign Ministry on the 36 accreditation renewals. The dichotomy in developments suggests that not all Kazakh government agencies are using the same map when it comes to demarcating press-freedom boundaries.
The Maricheva and Niyazov cases may be indicative of the intragovernmental struggles to keep pace with the rapid changes in cyberspace. Yevgeniy Zhovtis, the director of the Kazakhstan International Bureau for Human Rights and Rule of Law, said the Kazakh government’s top priority at present is the preservation of societal stability. Within this context, many officials view social media as a source of disruption.“The new mass media [amendments] represents an effort to adapt to changing realities,” Zhovtis said. “Historically, media outlets operated with filters, and editors adhered to journalistic standards by focusing on facts over opinions and verifying information. However, the Internet has upended these principles.”“Officials often opt to tighten controls and impose bans, while equipping law enforcement agencies with the necessary tools to combat the uncontrolled flow of information,” he added. “These trends are not exclusive to authoritarian regimes, like that in Kazakhstan; they also manifest in free societies. A recent example is Georgia, where conflicts have arisen over the foreign agents law.”
The end result of proceedings against Maricheva is likely to be the opposite of what officials hoped for. Prior to this incident, she said she was contemplating shutting down her Telegram channel, ProTenge. Now, she is determined to press on.“After four years of work, and more than 3,000 publications, I needed to slow down the pace of work in order to exhale. Our readers probably noticed this,” she wrote in a Facebook post. “So thank you to the Ministry of Information for the motivation to continue ProTenge.” Kazakh Journalist Charged With Hooliganism Over Floods-Related Video (Radio Free Europe)
Radio Free Europe [4/30/2024 8:25 AM, Staff, 223K, Negative]
The West Kazakhstan region’s police department told RFE/RL on April 30 that journalist Raul Uporov, who extensively covered ongoing unprecedented floods in the city of Oral, had been charged with hooliganism.A day earlier, Uporov said on Facebook that police were forcibly taking him to a police station to officially charge him in an administrative case.He later said that the case against him was launched over his online video about a move by the local Emergencies Department to ban journalists from visiting areas affected by the floods and filing reports from such places.The department explained the move by citing "safety precautions," while Uporov harshly criticized the move in a video he made about the floods, which was posted on Instagram. Police said they considered some of the words used by Uporov in the video "vulgar" and filed a hooliganism charge against the reporter.Meanwhile, the situation around floods caused by abrupt warm weather that led to massive snowmelt in late March remains complicated in the western Atyrau region.The Kazakh Emergencies Ministry said on April 30 that rescue teams from 10 regions and military personnel remain in the Atyrau region to monitor the water level in the Zhaiyq River every hour.The ministry said a day earlier that, among those who were forced to flee the flooding, 38,521 people had returned home, adding that some of the rescue teams and military personnel deployed to help flood-affected regions had started leaving as water levels begin to recede.In all, about 120,000 people, including 44,000 children, had been evacuated from areas affected by the floods.According to the ministry, 17,000 of its rescue experts and military personnel, as well almost 2,000 equipped vehicles, have been involved in the rescue efforts in the flood-affected regions of the Central Asian nation’s northern regions.At least five people died in Kazakhstan during the floods, while at least four have been missing since early April. Kazakh Activists Under Pressure Before Announced Rallies (Radio Free Europe)
Radio Free Europe [4/30/2024 6:58 AM, Staff, 223K, Negative]
Kazakh authorities have jailed several opposition activists on the eve of rallies planned across the country on May 1. A court in Astana on April 29 sentenced opposition activists Amangeldi Zhakhin and Marat Musabaev to 15 days in jail each on a charge of disobeying police orders. The same day, a court in the northern Pavlodar Province sentenced activist Embergen Qurmanov to 17 days in jail after convicting him of making online calls for an "illegal" rally. Three days earlier, a court in the East Kazakhstan Province sentenced Ruslan Nurkhanov to 15 days in jail on the same charge. Fines for Critics in the Aftermath of Kazakhstan’s Terrible Spring Floods (The Diplomat)
The Diplomat [4/30/2024 12:01 PM, Catherine Putz, 201K, Negative]
For weeks, much of northern Kazakhstan has struggled in the face of devastating spring floods caused by heavy snow in the Ural mountains followed by a rapid rise in temperatures along the Russian-Kazakh border. On April 6, a dam in the Russian city of Orsk failed; on April 21 the Ural River broke its banks.As of April 23, an estimated 120,000 people had been displaced by the various bouts of flooding that began in late March. To begin to understand the scale of the flooding, Bellingcat compiled a series of comparisons of satellite images of Kazakh towns, from Oral (Uralsk in Russian), the capital of the West Kazakhstan Region, to Petropavl, 776 miles west of Oral, to Atbasar, a town in Akmola Province that is 236 miles south of Petropavl and only 163 miles from Astana. The images show rivers sloshing far beyond their banks, the surrounding farm and pasture land inundated. When Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev visited Petropavl on April 16, he characterized the floods as “a disaster of a national scale.” He promised residents that “we are already taking measures to rebuild the country and deal with the aftermath of this disaster.”And authorities across the affected regions don’t want to hear anything to the contrary.On April 30, Kazakh journalist Raul Uporov was fined 73,840 tenge (just over $160) for “petty hooliganism” by an administrative court in Oral. Uporov told RFE/RL that he had been fined for using “obscene language addressed to the Emergency Situations Department of the West Kazakhstan Region.”Uporov has been covering the flooding and the aftermath and in a recent Instagram stories video complained about the authorities barring journalists from accessing flood zones. On April 30, the regional emergency department announced a ban on media accessing the flooded areas “out of concern for the lives and health of journalists.”In a comment to RFE/RL, Uporov said, “The authorities need obedient journalists who can be controlled. Journalists are no longer allowed to be present in the flood zone, and they cannot fly a drone. You can receive information only from one source — the press service of the Emergency Situations Department of the West Kazakhstan region.”Meanwhile, almost a thousand miles away to the southwest in Kyzylorda police reportedly paid a visit to activist Gulnaz Serikbaeva to charge her with spreading false information via Facebook. The offending post, which Serikbaeva said was based on TV and media reports, stated that in order to receive compensation for livestock lost in the floods, owners will need to produce the carcass of the animal. In a satirical nod to another piece of current news, Serikbaeva added, “If you cannot find the body, contact Bishimbayev’s fortune teller, 100% guarantee will help.” In an April 19 report, RFE/RL’s Kazakh Service noted that “[t]here are special commissions in each region, but residents today doubt that compensation will be commensurate with the damage.” In that report, a resident of Kostanay region who said he lost hundreds of heads of livestock in the floods explained that the regional commission had told him they would only pay for those animals whose corpses could be located. “Three herds of horses, about 100 sheep, and 600 cows sailed away,” he said. “We find animal corpses and show them. Now only 50–60 percent of the corpses have been found. Half is missing. We searched for six days by boat and horseback… I don’t know where the water went between Amangeldy and Torgai, maybe it went towards Aktobe.”The Ministry of Internal Affairs has reportedly filed 13 administrative cases and two criminal cases for dissemination of false information since the flood emergency was declared.As the long recovery begins in the wake of receding water, Kazakh authorities are demonstrating again their deep discomfort with criticism and desire to control information. In preventing journalists from accessing flood zones, they’re denying those journalists the opportunity to illustrate what the government is actually doing to aid those affected — and, when necessary, expose failures to deliver on stated promises. The state desires to be the only source of information, which would be less of a problem if the state didn’t have a motive to gild the lily.With stability a primary concern, and continued denial of access to opposition groups seeking to take part in the political arena, Astana has little patience for nay-sayers at every level. Tajikistan secures $550 mln funding for Rogun megaproject (Reuters)
Reuters [4/30/2024 10:04 AM, Nazarali Pirnazarov, 5239K, Neutral]
Tajikistan has secured $550 million in financing from the Islamic Development Bank and institutions in several Arab countries for its Rogun hydroelectric power plant megaproject, the Dushanbe government said on Tuesday.The Central Asian nation’s economic development and trade ministry said minister Zavki Zavkizoda met Islamic Development Bank President Muhammed Al-Jasser in Riyadh on Tuesday.Tajikistan’s government said this year it needed $6.2 billion to complete Rogun, which will feature the world’s tallest dam and ensure the country’s energy security.Two of the plant’s six turbines have been built and are producing electric power, but Tajikistan still faces seasonal power shortages which force it to ration supplies. Russia doesn’t like taking a back seat to China in Central Asia trade (EurasiaNet)
EurasiaNet [4/30/2024 4:14 PM, Staff, 57.6K, Neutral]
It seems that the Kremlin is having a hard time accepting that Russia is playing second fiddle to China when it comes to trade in Central Asia.
The reluctance of Russian officials to acknowledge trade reality was on display at a late April trade fair, held in the Uzbek capital Tashkent. In a speech at the exhibition, Igor Kamynin, Russia’s deputy trade representative, claimed, at least in the case of Uzbekistan, that Russia and China were "equal partners with an equal share in trade turnover" in the eyes of Uzbek leaders, according to a TASS news agency report.
Kamynin’s reasoning literally rests on wishful thinking. To put Russia and China on the same trade level, he cited aspirational trade targets for 2030, in which Uzbekistan hopes to increase annual trade turnover with both Moscow and Beijing to $20 billion each.
Official Uzbek trade figures for 2023 take a pin to Kamynin’s bubble world, showing a wide trade-turnover gap between Russia and China at present. Uzbek-Russian trade turnover last year amounted to $9.8 billion, almost 30 percent lower than the Uzbek-Chinese total of $13.7 billion.
China is holding its lead so far this year, according to Uzbek official sources. Bilateral trade turnover with China during the first quarter of 2024 amounted to $3.01 billion, while Russia trailed at $2.5 billion. If the existing pattern holds for the rest of the year, the value of Uzbek bilateral trade with Russia will remain flat while China’s total will experience a decline.
Uzbekistan is not an anomaly in the Russian-Chinese regional trade rivalry. Official statistics for 2023 show China surpassed Russia in trade turnover with all five regional Asian states. Twitter
Afghanistan
Zhao Xing@ChinaEmbKabul
[4/30/2024 10:12 AM, 28.2K followers, 9 retweets, 72 likes]
Glad to know the first batch of 100 million RMB emergency humanitarian aid materials by Chinese government to Afghanistan, has departed today from Horgos Port of Xinjiang, China, and will reach Kabul very soon. China stands with Afghanistan in addressing humanitarian challenges. Pakistan
Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan@ForeignOfficePk
[4/30/2024 11:26 AM, 476.6K followers, 22 retweets, 67 likes]
A US State Department delegation led by Acting Under Secretary for Political Affairs John Bass, today met with Acting Foreign Secretary Ambassador Rahim Hayat Qureshi at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The US delegation included Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Elizabeth Horst and US ambassador to Pakistan Donald Blome. A productive discussion on all aspects of bilateral relations was held. The two sides reaffirmed the commitment to enhance cooperation in the areas of trade, investment and regional security.
Anas Mallick@AnasMallick
[4/30/2024 4:11 PM, 73.2K followers, 9 retweets, 37 likes]
Pak Deputy PM & Foreign Minister @MIshaqDar50 to Now lead Pakistan’s delegation at OIC Summit in Gambia instead of PM Shehbaz Sharif on 4th and 5th of May -- PM Shehbaz will stay back in country instead of traveling as he is likely to receive a high level delegation during the same dates, sources confirm.
Anas Mallick@AnasMallick
[4/30/2024 11:35 AM, 73.2K followers, 1 retweet, 13 likes]
Visiting US Under Sect for Political Affairs John Bass meets with Acting Pak Foreign Sect @rahimhayat at @ForeignOfficePk, along with his delegation the US side discusses bilateral relations, trade, investment and regional security during the meeting.
Madiha Afzal@MadihaAfzal
[4/30/2024 7:44 AM, 42.6K followers, 10 retweets, 82 likes]
With the appointment of Ishaq Dar as deputy PM, PML-N leans in further (if it was possible) to its dynastic party status. You have to be a Sharif or an in-law to a Sharif to be given leadership status. Little wonder the seasoned non-Sharifs in the party are leaving. India
Narendra Modi@narendramodi
[4/30/2024 11:27 PM, 97.5M followers, 2.8K retweets, 12K likes]
Sharing my interview with @SakalMediaNews in which I speak about our development track record and aspects relating to our vision for Maharashtra in the third term. https://esakal.com/desh/prime-minister-narendra-modi-meets-abhijit-pawar-apglobale-chairman-loksabha-election-bjp-shivsena-congress-ncp-rjs00
Narendra Modi@narendramodi
[4/30/2024 11:15 PM, 97.5M followers, 1.7K retweets, 9.5K likes]
On this auspicious occasion of Gujarat’s Statehood Day, we remember the rich cultural heritage, remarkable achievements and vibrant spirit of the people of Gujarat. May the state continue to flourish, prosper, and inspire generations with its ethos of entrepreneurship, resilience and inclusive development. My best wishes to the people of Gujarat.
Narendra Modi@narendramodi
[4/30/2024 11:13 PM, 97.5M followers, 2.3K retweets, 14K likes]
Maharashtra Statehood Day is about celebrating the glorious legacy and indomitable spirit of this land which has produced great visionaries and is associated with cultural richness. Maharashtra stands tall as a beacon of tradition, progress and unity. We also reaffirm our commitment to keep working for Maharashtra’s progress. My greetings to the people of Maharashtra.
Narendra Modi@narendramodi
[4/30/2024 12:09 PM, 97.5M followers, 4.8K retweets, 27K likes]
The BJP wave in Telangana has to be seen to be believed! In every part of the state there is a groundswell of support for our Party. Here are pictures from Zaheerabad…
Narendra Modi@narendramodi
[4/30/2024 7:13 AM, 97.5M followers, 3.6K retweets, 13K likes]
Addressing a rally in Zaheerabad. BJP is committed to serving Telangana whereas Congress and BRS are synonymous with corruption, lies and deceit.
Dr. S. Jaishankar@DrSJaishankar
[4/30/2024 11:24 PM, 3.1M followers, 356 retweets, 1.4K likes]
In today’s turbulent world, consequences of covid, conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia and renewed piracy in Gulf of Aden have made it more unpredictable. For India, the larger uncertainties are compounded by pressure on the LAC with China, threat of cross-border terrorism and instability on its Myanmar border. Each one has been met with an appropriate response. This overall scenario only highlights the need for a strong, clear-headed and capable leadership in the days ahead.
While the global security and economic outlook may look daunting today, it holds particular possibilities for India. Underpinning these is our political stability and policy predictability that comes from strong, clear-headed and capable leadership. There is naturally, an interest in our elections around the world. But, it is important that the line between interest and interference is clearly understood and respected. The last decade has provided a foundation for us to aspire seriously for Viksit Bharat. And the youth must recognize the significance of the first general election of the Amrit Kaal.
As India moves towards making decisions about its future, both near and long-term, it is essential that we all fully appreciate what is at stake. The world is waiting and watching, expecting that the verdict would be one made clearly and decisively. The world offers both challenges and opportunities and it takes a firm, confident and experienced leadership of Prime Minister @narendramodi to comprehensively address them NSB
Awami League@albd1971[4/30/2024 9:28 AM, 637.2K followers, 35 retweets, 99 likes]
To realize the vision of building a #SmartBangladesh by 2041 and an upper middle-income country by 2031, the #AwamiLeague goverment plans to substantially increase investments in transport and communications sectors. Expansion of #Metrorail, wider #rail and #roads network the keys to the plan. https://tbsnews.net/bangladesh/govt-plans-tk2000-billion-investment-transport-and-communication-next-two-fiscals-839076
Ibrahim Mohamed Solih@ibusolih[5/1/2024 12:01 AM, 147.5K followers, 63 retweets, 104 likes]
#MayDay2024 wishes and greetings to workers across Maldives. @MDPSecretariat is proud to have led the nationwide fight to secure workers rights in the Maldives having passed, amongst other protections, legislation to ensure a minimum wage for all. This May Day, I give my assurance that we will stay the course and do all that is necessary to ensure that our workforce enjoy the full protection of their rights.
Mohamed Nasheed@MohamedNasheed[5/1/2024 2:50 AM, 271.4K followers, 16 retweets, 33 likes]
Stunning scenery as we approach Nuwara Eliya with Sri Lanka President Ranil @RW_UNP, for a Workers’ Congress May Day rally. Tea plantation workers came to the Hill Country over 200 years ago. Labour rights are important everywhere; & especially so here.
MOFA of Nepal@MofaNepal
[4/30/2024 8:49 AM, 257.3K followers, 5 retweets, 24 likes]
Hon DPMFM @nksthaprakash delivered concluding address at the Closing Session of 3rd Nepal Investment Summit 2024 on 29 April 2024. He summed up the highlights of the two day event and reiterated the Government’s commitment to facilitate all potential investment proposals.
MOFA of Nepal@MofaNepal
[4/30/2024 8:19 AM, 257.3K followers, 4 retweets, 23 likes]
Ms. Kanni Wignaraja, UN Assistant Secretary-General & UNDP Director for Asia and the Pacific paid a courtesy call on FS Ms. Sewa Lamsal. Various matters of Nepal-UNDP cooperation and collaboration were discussed during the meeting. @sewa_lamsal
MOFA of Nepal@MofaNepal
[4/30/2024 8:13 AM, 257.3K followers, 5 retweets, 25 likes]
Ms. Kanni Wignaraja, UN Assistant Secretary-General and UNDP Director, Regional Bureau for Asia & the Pacific paid a courtesy call on Hon DPM & FM Mr. Narayan Kaji Shrestha. Various matters of Nepal-UNDP cooperation and collaboration were discussed during the meeting.
M U M Ali Sabry@alisabrypc
[4/30/2024 11:05 PM, 5.3K followers, 2 likes]
This #MayDay, let’s pay tribute to the tireless workers who drive our nation’s growth. To our domestic and migrant workers, especially the remarkable women in garment, tea, and various sectors - your dedication shapes our economy and our future. Together, let’s stand in solidarity for a brighter, more prosperous Sri Lanka. #Solidarity #Hope #Prosperity #SriLanka
M U M Ali Sabry@alisabrypc
[4/30/2024 10:22 PM, 5.3K followers, 4 likes]
During my address to the Sri Lanka International School Riyadh (SLISR), I reflected on how despite the Sri Lankan story being a sad one two years ago, today it’s one of resilience. This would not have been possible without the support of our migrant population. Sri Lanka is at the cross road of achieving something truly remarkable, and we must seize the opportunity to achieve the true potential of our beloved motherland @SLinRiyadh @MFA_SriLanka
Harsha de Silva@HarshadeSilvaMP
[5/1/2024 1:03 AM, 356.8K followers, 2 retweets, 22 likes]
1/ We will start from where late President #Premadasa (along w current President) left off integrating #SriLanka w the world. Todays manufacturing model has changed since; from ‘made in one country’ to ‘made in many countries’; thus our objective to join #GlobalProductionNetworks
Harsha de Silva@HarshadeSilvaMP
[5/1/2024 1:07 AM, 356.8K followers, 1 retweet, 7 likes]
After laughing at him සුද්දියොන්ට ජංගි මහනවා (better light a lamp for apparel exporters who keep #SriLanka afloat) those who came after did nothing for export growth. (1995 LK, VN exported USD 3.5b; 2023 LK 12b, VN 360b). @sjbsrilanka aim export led 10% GDP growth next 10 years. Central Asia
Peter Leonard@Peter__Leonard
[4/30/2024 11:35 AM, 22.6K followers, 5 retweets, 36 likes]
Kazakhstan’s state railway company says there are plans to create a passenger route from the Chinese city of Xi’an to Almaty
Peter Leonard@Peter__Leonard
[4/30/2024 10:13 AM, 22.6K followers, 2 retweets, 3 likes]
New Uzbekistan: A 27-year-old man in Uzbekistan has been sentenced to five years in prison on de facto lèse-majesté grounds after being found guilty of making insulting remarks about the president online
Asel Doolotkeldieva@ADoolotkeldieva
[4/30/2024 11:03 PM, 14K followers, 1 retweet, 6 likes]
While Kyrgyzstan authorities just terminated the mandate of the strongest opposition in the parliament, Adahan Madumarov. In Kazakhstan, Alga opposition activists try to register their party for the 24th consecutive attempt!
MFA Tajikistan@MOFA_Tajikistan
[4/30/2024 10:52 AM, 4.7K followers, 4 retweets, 12 likes]
The list of countries eligible for the unilateral visa-free entry system has been expanded, and the visa application process for citizens of certain countries to the Republic of Tajikistan has been simplified https://mfa.tj/en/main/view/14951/the-list-of-countries-eligible-for-the-unilateral-visa-free-entry-system-has-been-expanded-and-the-visa-application-process-for-citizens-of-certain-countries-to-the-republic-of-tajikistan-has
Joanna Lillis@joannalillis
[4/30/2024 11:07 PM, 28.9K followers, 4 retweets, 8 likes]
After the government moved to protect Soviet-era mosaics in Tashkent from destruction, a nice website detailing them has been created, including locations so people can go and find them #Uzbekistan https://mosaic.tashkent.uz/en{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.