SCA MORNING PRESS CLIPS
Prepared for the U.S. Department of State
Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs
TO: | SCA & Staff |
DATE: | Tuesday, October 29, 2024 6:30 AM ET |
Afghanistan
Afghanistan Morality Ministry Spreads ‘Living Things’ Images Ban (Agence France-Presse)
Agence France-Presse [10/28/2024 6:51 AM, Susannah Walden and Aysha Safi, 502K, Neutral]
Afghanistan’s morality ministry is gradually introducing a ban on images of living beings in media, with multiple provinces announcing restrictions and some Taliban officials refusing to be photographed or filmed, journalists across the country told AFP.
Since mid-October the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice (PVPV) has held meetings with journalists in one province after another.
They informed media workers that a ban on taking and publishing images of living things -- namely people and animals -- from a recent "vice and virtue" law would be gradually implemented.
Television was completely banned under the Taliban’s previous stint in power from 1996 to 2001, but a similar edict had not been imposed since they ousted the Western-backed government three years ago.
Enforcement of many articles of the "vice and virtue" law, which codifies the Taliban government’s strict interpretation of Islamic law and includes sweeping codes of behaviour, has been uneven.
But journalists expressed concern over the possibility of a full crackdown, which would make Afghanistan the only Muslim-majority country to impose such bans.
"I have a very bad feeling about it -- taking photos and images is an inseparable part of journalism," a journalist in central Daikundi province told AFP, asking not to be named for fear of repercussions.
He said media in Daikundi had only been allowed to record audio at events following a recent PVPV announcement.
"Besides that, with the full implementation of this rule, many people working in the media will lose their jobs," he added.
A full ban has not been imposed yet, however, and many ministries and government officials in Kabul have continued to post pictures of people.
"It seems the supreme leader (Hibatullah Akhundzada) and his allies in Kandahar want to apply the Taliban policy of the ‘90s, when images of living beings were forbidden," South Asia Desk head for Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Celia Mercier, told AFP.
But "some Taliban officials seem to not necessarily agree with these new restrictions", she said.
"And imposing more restrictions may lead to discontent among the population already affected by the ban on school for young girls, women’s rights and many other measures."
PVPV has been spearheading a campaign to bring the law into force.
On October 14, the ministry’s spokesman Saiful Islam Khyber said the ban on images of living things "applies to all Afghanistan... and it will be implemented gradually".
Since then, multiple events announced by Taliban officials -- primarily from PVPV but also from other ministries and governor offices, as well as some private events -- have explicitly barred photography and filming.
On Wednesday, PVPV officials in the populous eastern province of Nangarhar told journalists that "every article of the law is determined by the light of Islam and all are obliged to implement it".
Journalists in southern Helmand on Friday told AFP they had also been warned against taking photos and videos of living things.
In Kabul, the PVPV ministry invited media to attend a meeting with community leaders -- similar to those held in five other provinces -- where only audio recording was allowed, and journalists were told to put their phones away.
An organiser of a gathering in northern Badakhshan to honour the recently killed Palestinian Hamas chief told AFP the event was cancelled in part because PVPV officials had objected to Yahya Sinwar’s image on a poster.
And in neighbouring Takhar province, at least two provincial TV channels stopped broadcasting living things in mid-October, instead showing logos and landscapes with audio.
The information ministry has not responded to requests for comment.Three years since the Taliban’s takeover, Afghanistan has slipped 56 places to 178th out of 180 countries in RSF’s global ranking for press freedom.
Officials in the Taliban heartland of southern Kandahar had long been barred from taking photos and videos at events.
More recently in August, the Kandahar branch of state-run news programme RTA stopped broadcasting provincial news after the new law was announced, according to an RSF report published Thursday.
Major Afghan broadcaster Tolo News continues to show people and animals, as does the national broadcast of RTA.
While Mercier warned there was "a real fear there will one day be a total ban in the country", she noted that times have changed since the Taliban’s first rule, with smartphones and TVs now ubiquitous.
"What is quite paradoxical is that we see the Taliban leaders using audiovisual media to communicate and promote themselves," she said.
Still some others appear to be adhering -- the spokesman for the higher education ministry has posted only pictures of buildings and landscapes since October 3. Taliban bans women from ‘hearing each other’s voices’ (The Telegraph)
The Telegraph [10/28/2024 8:21 PM, Akhtar Makoii, 31540K, Negative]
The Taliban has banned women from hearing other women’s voices in its latest attempt to impose a hardline version of Islamic law on Afghanistan.In a rambling voice message on Monday, the country’s minister for the promotion of virtue and prevention of vice announced the bizarre new restriction on women’s behaviour.Although precise details of the Taliban’s ruling are unclear, Afghan human rights activists have warned it could mean women are effectively banned from holding conversations with one another.In his message, minister Khalid Hanafi said: “Even when an adult female prays and another female passes by, she must not pray loudly enough for them to hear.”
“How could they be allowed to sing if they aren’t even permitted to hear [each other’s] voices while praying, let alone for anything else.”He said these are “new rules and will be gradually implemented, and God will be helping us in each step we take”.As the Taliban has banned living beings from being shown on television, his message was delivered via voice recording instead of a television broadcast.“How are women who are the sole providers for their families supposed to buy bread, seek medical care or simply exist if even their voices are forbidden?” one activist said in response.“Whatever he says is a form of mental torture for us,” an Afghan woman in Kabul told The Telegraph.“Living in Afghanistan is incredibly painful for us as women. Afghanistan is forgotten, and that’s why they are suppressing us – they are torturing us on a daily basis.”
“They say we cannot hear other women’s voices, and I do not understand where these views come from,” she added.Since taking power in Aug 2021, the Taliban has systematically restricted women’s rights in Afghanistan.Women have already been ordered to cover their faces “to avoid temptation and tempting others” and refrain from speaking in the presence of unfamiliar men who are not husbands or close relatives.“If it is necessary for women to leave their homes, they must cover their faces and voices from men” and be accompanied by a “male guardian”, according to the rules approved by the Taliban’s supreme leader.Afghan women have also been ordered not to speak loudly inside their homes, to prevent their voices from being heard outside.Women who defy the new rules will be arrested and sent to prison, the Taliban said.In July 2024, a UN report said the ministry for promoting virtue and preventing vice was contributing to a climate of fear and intimidation among Afghans through its edicts and the methods used to enforce them.The Taliban’s supreme leader has also vowed to start stoning women to death in public.“They [the Taliban] are waging an all-out war against us, and we have no one in the world to hear our voices,” a former civil servant told The Telegraph from Kabul.“The world has abandoned us,” she added. “They left us to the Taliban, and whatever happens to us now is a result of Western government policies.” ‘Many women are taking their lives’
“I feel depressed. The world is advancing in technology and having fun with their lives, but here we cannot even hear each other’s voices,” she said.
“They want us not to exist at all, and there’s nothing we can do about it,” another woman in western Herat province said.
“They may succeed at some point, as many are taking their lives due to the pressure,” she added
“They think ruling Afghanistan is only about suppressing women – we didn’t commit a crime by being born as women,” she said.
The increased restrictions imposed by the Taliban’s supreme leader have caused discord within the Taliban’s own ranks.
A senior Taliban official told The Telegraph of frustration from moderates with the more hardline elements of the regime.
“Someone should stop the supreme leader. Many within the Taliban are angry and worried that, with everything the leadership is doing, we could lose Afghanistan as quickly as we took it,” he added.
“They are worried that as soon as an alternative to the Taliban appears, the people will revolt, and the West will bomb us again,” the official explained.
This Afghan Family Is Surviving On Leftovers From Neighbors (Radio Free Europe)
Radio Free Europe [10/29/2024 4:45 AM, Staff, 235K, Negative]
Gul Hotak and her family survive on just one meal per day -- often leftovers from neighbors.
Hotak is the sole breadwinner for her family of four. Her husband is sick and cannot work. She cleans people’s houses in exchange for food.
"My neighbors sometimes give us what little food they have cooked," Hotak, who lives in Kabul, told RFE/RL’s Radio Azadi.
"I wash clothes for others, and they give me dry bread or whatever leftovers they have from the night before. That’s how we’re getting by," added Hotak, who has two young daughters.
Hotak and her family are among the millions of people in Afghanistan -- the world’s largest humanitarian crisis -- who are going hungry.
Around 70 percent of Afghanistan’s population of some 40 million people do not have enough to eat, according to the United Nations.
Women and children are bearing the brunt of the hunger crisis in Afghanistan, where poverty and unemployment have soared since the Taliban seized power in 2021.
The militant group has severely curtailed women’s rights, including barring many women from working outside their homes.
Women who are unmarried or do not have a male guardian, or mahram, face even tougher restrictions. Many face obstacles to accessing humanitarian aid.‘I’m Losing My Mind’
Zainab and her five children often do not know where their next meal will come from.The 32-year-old used to work as a cook. But she lost her job after the Taliban takeover. Her husband, an addict, disappeared several years ago, leaving her to fend for their children alone.
"Sometimes we don’t even have dry bread to eat, and my children go to bed hungry," Zainab, who lives in the Afghan capital, told Radio Azadi.
"My kids had only dry bread and tea tonight," she added. "I’m hungry right now. My head hurts a lot. I prayed and cried, asking God to solve our problems. I feel like I’m losing my mind."
Simin is also the sole breadwinner for her family of five.
The 42-year-old said she does not have enough money to buy even the most basic food items.
"I went to my sister’s house because I didn’t have any onions or potatoes," she told Radio Azadi. "She gave me a few onions and some money to buy potatoes from the shop."
Simin has not been able to pay her rent for months, and her landlord has issued her an eviction notice.
"Our landlord has given us 10 days to leave the house," she said. "I’m at a loss as to what to do. I’m so tired of life."‘Staggering’ Malnutrition
Women and children are the most affected by the hunger crisis in Afghanistan.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) said on October 17 that clinics in the country were recording "alarming" cases of acute child malnutrition.
"The scale of malnutrition in our country is staggering," said Mohammad Nabi Burhan, secretary-general of the Afghan Red Crescent Society.
Meanwhile, the World Food Program (WFP) has warned that it is only able to help half of the around 12 million Afghans who need humanitarian assistance.
That is due to the "severe shortage" of international funding, Ziauddin Safi, a WFP spokesman in Afghanistan, told Radio Azadi. "We cannot help more people." Naval officer sentenced in Afghan SIV bribery scheme amid scrutiny of visa program after terror plot exposed (FOX News)
FOX News [10/28/2024 7:36 PM, Louis Casiano, 48844K, Negative]
A U.S. Navy Reserve officer was sentenced to more than two years in prison on Monday for his role in a years-long bribery scheme involving Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) for Afghan citizens.
Cmdr. Jeromy Pittmann, 53, of Pensacola, Florida, accepted bribes from Afghan nationals in exchange for drafting, submitting and verifying fraudulent letters of recommendation for Afghan citizens who applied for SIVs with the State Department.
He received 30 months in prison, the Justice Department said. He originally faced 45 years in prison. Fox News Digital has reached out to the State Department and U.S. Navy Reserve.
Pittmann served as a civil engineer corps officer who deployed to Afghanistan with NATO Special Operations Command.
The State Department offers a limited number of SIVs to enter the United States. Pittman signed more than 20 letters stating he knew and supervised Afghan national applicants while they worked as translators in support of the U.S. military and NATO.
The letters represented that the applicants’ lives were in danger because the Taliban considered them to be traitors and that Pittmann believed they did not pose any threat to the U.S. national security, federal prosecutors said.
"In truth, Pittmann did not know the applicants and had no basis for recommending them for SIVs," the Justice Department said. "In exchange for the fraudulent letters, Pittmann received several thousands of dollars in bribes."
To avoid detection, Pittmann received the bribe money through an intermediary and created false invoices showing that he was receiving the funds for legitimate work unrelated to his military service, authorities said.
Robert P. Storch, an inspector with the Department of Defense, said Pittmann "compromised the integrity of the Afghan SIV system."
The SIV system has come under scrutiny after an Afghan man living in Oklahoma was charged earlier this month with allegedly plotting a terror attack on Election Day on behalf of the Islamic State terror group.
Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, 27, worked for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) as a security guard in Afghanistan before entering the United States in 2021 on a SIV.
Authorities believe he became radicalized after he arrived in the U.S. Tawhedi and a juvenile co-conspirator have been charged in connection with the plot.
Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Ranking Member Rand Paul, R-Ky., led several other Republicans in demanding answers from the Biden-Harris administration related to the plot and the admission of Afghans into the U.S. Pakistan
Attack on a health center used in an anti-polio campaign in Pakistan kills a police officer (AP)
AP [10/29/2024 4:33 AM, Riaz Khan, 456K, Negative]
Militants attacked a health center used in an ongoing anti-polio campaign in northwestern Pakistan on Tuesday, triggering a shootout that left a police officer dead, local authorities said. Three of the attackers were also killed in the exchange.
No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack in Orakzai, a district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and a former stronghold of the Pakistani Taliban.
Local police officer Adnan Khan said the attack happened in the morning as health workers were gathering ahead of leaving for the door-to-door campaign along with police, who escort polio teams for their safety.
No polio worker was harmed in Tuesday’s attack but another police officer was wounded, Khan added.
Also Tuesday, militants stormed a health center in North Waziristan, another former stronghold of the Pakistani Taliban in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, snatched guns from officers and warned health workers who had gathered there not to take part in the anti-polio campaign, local police officer Shoib Khan said.
The attackers then left with the weapons they seized, he said, without offering more details.
Militants in Pakistan often target police and health workers during campaigns against polio, claiming the vaccination drives are a Western conspiracy to sterilize children.
Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only two countries in the world where the spread of polio has never been stopped.
In severe cases, polio can cause permanent paralysis and death.
Pakistan on Monday launched another nationwide polio drive to vaccinate 45 million children under age 5 after a surge in new cases. The campaign is the third this year.
Pakistan has recorded 41 cases across 71 districts so far this year, mostly in the southwestern Balochistan and southern Sindh provinces, as well as in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and eastern Punjab province.
In Afghanistan, local health authorities said Monday that vaccinations have started in 16 of the country’s 34 provinces. The campaign will last three days and target 6.2 million children under the age of 5, according to spokesperson Sharafat Zaman.
There have been 23 confirmed cases in Afghanistan this year, according to the World Health Organization.
Insurgents and separatists also target security forces and civilians in various parts of the country.
In the latest attack, gunmen on Monday night fatally shot five construction workers assigned to repair a dam in Banjgur, a district in the southwestern Balochistan province, according to a government statement. It provided no further details, and it was not clear who was behind the attack. Policeman killed in attack on polio vaccination teams in Pakistan (Reuters)
Reuters [10/29/2024 3:40 AM, Mushtaq Ali, 5.2M, Negative]
At least one policeman was killed in northwest Pakistan on Tuesday as unidentified gunmen attacked a health office where polio vaccination teams were gathered, an official working at the government body tackling the spread of polio in the province said.
The attack occurred in Upper Orakzai in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where around 13 polio team members were present, Mohammad Zeeshan Khan, deputy coordinator of the government body managing polio campaigns, told Reuters
"We are in touch with local authorities and confirm the polio teams are safe," Khan said, adding two militants were also killed.
"The polio campaign has been suspended in the area," he said.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Islamist militant groups in the region have previously claimed similar attacks on polio teams, falsely portraying the inoculation campaigns as a Western conspiracy to sterilise children.
Although mostly eradicated elsewhere, wiping out polio is still an aim in Pakistan, which has 41 active cases, according to the prime minister’s office. Pakistan and neighbouring Afghanistan are the only two countries in the world still.
The attack comes as Pakistan battles a resurgence of militant attacks in its rugged northwest, as well as a growing ethnic separatist insurgency in the south.
On Monday, Pakistan launched its third nationwide polio campaign this year as the number of cases drastically rose from only six recorded cases in 2023, after 20 in 2022 and just one in 2021.
The week-long campaign aims to administer the anti-polio vaccine drops to more than 45 million children. Pakistani human rights activists condemn arrest of lawyers on charges creating a security risk (AP)
AP [10/28/2024 8:26 AM, Staff, 31638K, Negative]
Pakistan’s police on Monday arrested a Pakistani lawyer and her husband who are known for taking on human rights cases, drawing criticism from rights groups.
Islamabad police announced in an X post that they arrested Amaan Mazari and Abdul Hadi on a charge of interfering in government matters to cause a security risk, after the couple days earlier had forcibly tried to remove a road blockade placed by police in the capital for the security of England’s cricket team.
Mazari before her arrest had said that she tried to remove the barricade as they were late to get to a court in the city.
Pakistan’s independent human rights commission said on X that it condemned the arrest of the couple "on vague charges of ‘creating a security risk.’
"Both are committed, well-respected human rights defenders whose arbitrary arrest is symptomatic of the rapidly shrinking space for activists in Pakistan," it said, calling for the couple’s immediate release and for charges against them to be dropped.
Rights workers in Pakistan have increasingly come under attack from Pakistan’s government, restricting the space for criticism and dissent. Mazari and Hadi often represent journalists, political and human rights activists who are detained by security forces without going through the procedures of notifying families and presenting them before the courts. Russia’s embassy in Pakistan says it is verifying reports that one of its citizens was abducted (AP)
AP [10/29/2024 5:31 AM, Staff, 31638K, Negative]
Russia’s embassy in Pakistan said Tuesday it is attempting to verify reports that one of its citizens was abducted in the South Asian nation’s troubled northwest.The embassy provided no further details in a post on the social media platform X.The announcement by the embassy came days after a small militant group headed by commander Gul Bahadur said it captured a Russian national in Dera Ismail Khan, a district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.The group released a photo showing a man sitting with two bearded men. Local police said they have not been approached by the Russian Embassy about the reported abduction.Insurgents often attack Pakistani security forces and foreigners, especially Chinese working on Chinese-funded projects across the country, but Russians have not previously been targeted.Most Russians who travel to Pakistan are climbers who scale mountains in the scenic north. Can Parliament’s Increased Influence Over Appointment of Judges Lead to Political Stability in Pakistan? (The Diplomat)
The Diplomat [10/28/2024 8:01 AM, Umair Jamal, 1198K, Neutral]
Pakistan’s Parliament recently passed the 26th constitutional amendment, also known as the Constitutional Package. This marks a significant shift in the balance of power between the government and the judiciary.
The amendment aims to enhance parliamentary authority in appointing the chief justice of Pakistan and curtailing some powers traditionally held by the Supreme Court’s top judge.
One of the most notable changes is the removal of the Supreme Court’s suo motu powers, which previously allowed judges to take notice of issues without formal petitions. By limiting these powers, lawmakers hope to prevent judicial overreach in governmental matters and reduce perceptions that political affiliations or biases may have influenced judicial decisions.
Under this new framework, the term for the chief justice has been fixed at three years. The prime minister is now empowered to appoint a new chief justice from among three of the senior-most judges on the Supreme Court’s bench. This change was put into immediate effect, with Justice Yahya Afridi being appointed as Pakistan’s new chief justice - an appointment made possible by his position as third in seniority following former Chief Justice Qazi Faiz Isa’s retirement earlier this month.
While some critics have raised concerns about potential motivations behind this controversial amendment - particularly its timing and implications for judicial independence - the development could provide a semblance of stability in Pakistan’s current political landscape. The legislation appears designed to thwart any expectations from opposition parties that judges sympathetic to their causes would influence legal outcomes favorably.
The urgency behind this amendment can be traced back to concerns regarding Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, who was next in line for promotion as chief justice before these changes were enacted. Shah has been perceived as favoring the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Pakistan’s main opposition party led by former Prime Minister Imran Khan; the justice played a pivotal role in several politically charged cases that have shaped recent electoral disputes. Shah’s previous actions included rulings on cases that favored the PTI without them being petitioners and publicly dissenting against the outgoing judicial leadership - a move seen as undermining Qazi Faiz Isa.
The remarks by Shah ignited significant concern within the Shehbaz Sharif government, which feared that his ascension to the role of chief justice of Pakistan would lead to heightened judicial challenges. Several high-ranking leaders have openly speculated that Shah and his colleagues at the Supreme Court aim to revisit recent rulings that were in favor of the PTI, and which the Election Commission of Pakistan has been refusing to implement, potentially undermining parliamentary authority and, in a worst-case scenario, curtailing the tenure of both the current government and prime minister through judicial intervention.
Historically, this is not an isolated development. Parliament has previously attempted to limit the judiciary’s influence in political affairs. Since the enactment of the 1973 constitution, there have been around 23 successful constitutional amendments, with over half directly or indirectly dealing with the judiciary and its role in political matters.
This ongoing tug-of-war in Pakistan underscores a broader narrative: the judiciary’s independence has often been questioned due to its inconsistent actions and perceived biases.
In addition, previous chief justices have engaged in controversial activities that detracted from their core responsibilities. For instance, dam construction projects by former Chief Justice Saqib Nisar and interventions in disputes surrounding sovereign contracts with foreign entities have raised eyebrows even as over 3 million cases languish unresolved in Pakistani courts.
The latest legislative changes brought about by the 26th amendment signal a potential shift in Pakistan’s political landscape. While parties like the PTI are resistant to these changes - fearing implications for their leadership - the amendments were largely forged through consensus among major political entities. It is noteworthy that Maulana Fazlur Rehman of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) played a crucial role as a mediator between the government and the PTI in helping them bridge gaps in positions over the constitutional amendment issue.A contentious point is the proposal to set up a Federal Constitutional Court as part of the amendment. Instead, the opposition advocated for a constitutional bench within the top court - a demand ultimately incorporated into the act. Moreover, adjustments were made concerning military courts’ jurisdiction over civilians amid fears from the PTI regarding potential trials under military rule for party leader Imran Khan.
Notably, while the PTI expressed "no objections" to the final draft of the amendment, they chose to boycott the voting procedure to please their voter base.
Interestingly, there has been no outright rejection from any opposition party concerning the appointment of Chief Justice Yahya Afridi. His reputation as a balanced judge during his tenure - particularly in handling both government pleas and cases involving the PTI - has garnered some level of acceptance across party lines. This suggests that the PTI may refrain from opposing him, noting his impartiality. However, it is essential to recognize that the PTI may find itself limited in seeking further favors from the Supreme Court.
On another front, the government appears to be reassured that its authority will not face significant challenges or interruptions due to court interventions during this period. While these developments may seem controversial at first glance, they could potentially foster a more stable political environment in Pakistan for now.
Ultimately, despite this apparent consensus among parties on certain issues, it is likely that political maneuvering will continue as each party seeks to assert its influence within this evolving landscape. India
US Sanctions Make Indian Banks Wary of Russia Trade, Envoy Says (Bloomberg)
Bloomberg [10/28/2024 11:08 AM, Sudhi Ranjan Sen, 27782K, Neutral]
Indian banks are wary of facilitating trade with Russian firms to avoid falling afoul of US sanctions, said Denis Alipov, Moscow’s envoy to New Delhi.Banks with exposure to the US are “concerned about secondary US sanctions,” Alipov told reporters in New Delhi on Monday. “It is necessary for Russia, China, India, South Africa and other BRICS members and vast majority of the world to have an equal say pertaining to global economic issues.”The US and its allies slapped sanctions on Russia after it invaded Ukraine in 2022. India does not follow unilateral measures but individual entities can still be barred from doing business in the US for violating sanctions.Prime Minister Narendra Modi is trying to balance relations between Russia and the US. The South Asian country buys cheap oil from Moscow, while trying to access investment and cutting-edge technology from Washington.Bilateral trade between India and Russia peaked in the financial year ending March 2024, touching $65.70 billion largely because of the former’s purchase of discounted crude. India’s exports stood at $4.26 billion, according to government data. The imbalance has added to the urgency to find ways to increase trade between the two countries.The envoy’s remarks come as senior ministers of the two countries prepare to meet in November to discuss ties and also measures to increase trade. “We are hopeful understanding among Indian banking community will grow,” Alipov said. Sikh separatist claims Indian ‘spy network’ operates in US and Canada (Reuters)
Reuters [10/28/2024 10:03 AM, Christine Kiernan, 37270K, Negative]
Canada and the U.S. must get tougher on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government for trying to silence dissidents on foreign soil, a controversial Sikh separatist who was the target of an alleged India-led murder plot said in an interview.The U.S. Justice Department has unsealed indictments against two Indian nationals in connection with an alleged plot to kill Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a dual U.S.-Canadian citizen, in New York. The two Indian accused included an ex-government official, who the indictment said worked as an intelligence officer at the time and had orchestrated the assassination plan.Pannun told Reuters earlier this month that the Modi government should not be allowed to conduct hostile activity in foreign countries and said India’s consulates in the U.S. and Canada were running a "spy network", although he did not provide any proof.The U.S. and Canada "need to put their foot down that regimes like Modi’s...should not be allowed to come to America or Canada, challenge their sovereignty and get away with it. They need to put their foot down and close (the consulates) permanently," he said.Pannun did not elaborate on the alleged spy network. Similar assertions have been made by Sikh activists in America and Canada.India’s foreign ministry did not respond to detailed questions from Reuters regarding Pannun’s allegations. India, where Pannun was born, has labelled him a terrorist since 2020.Authorities in the U.S. and Canada declined comment on Pannun’s allegations.The U.S. and Canada have alleged Indian agents were involved in assassination plots in their countries last year against campaigners for ‘Khalistan’, a Sikh homeland they want carved out of India’s Punjab state where Sikh militancy in the 1980s and 1990s killed thousands of people.India has denied involvement in any of the plots.The allegations have damaged India’s ties with Canada and tested relations between Washington and New Delhi.Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has accused India’s government of involvement in the 2023 murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, another Sikh separatist leader in Canada. In May, Canadian police arrested and charged four Indian men for the murder. They are yet to be tried.India has said Canada has not provided any evidence to support its allegations and New Delhi and Ottawa expelled six diplomats each earlier this month in a growing diplomatic spat.However, India has said it is investigating the murder plot against Pannun and U.S. officials have said they want a speedy result.Pannun said Vikash Yadav, the former Indian official indicted by the U.S. for the alleged attempt on his life, was just a "middle-tier soldier", assigned the task of organising the assassination by higher-level Indian officials. He did not offer any proof nor say how he had come to the conclusion.New Delhi has said Yadav was no longer a government employee, without saying whether he had been an intelligence officer and not detailing when he left. Yadav’s whereabouts are not known but his family told Reuters earlier this month he had been in contact and denied the allegations in the U.S. indictment.Indian security officials have said they fear that a rise in support for Khalistan overseas may lead to resurgence of militancy that had previously paralysed Punjab state, the birthplace of Sikh nationalism, where the movement for a separate homeland now commands little support.Pannun, who has been holding independent referendums in the U.S., Canada and Europe on creating Khalistan, said in the interview his movement advocates peaceful resolution of the matter, and will continue despite threats to his life. This Is the Notorious Gangster at the Center of the Canada-India Row (Bloomberg)
Bloomberg [10/28/2024 8:40 PM, Sudhi Ranjan Sen and Dan Strumpf, 27782K, Negative]
As diplomatic relations fray between India and Canada over the assassination of a Sikh separatist leader, the spotlight is now turning to one of the South Asian nation’s most notorious gangsters.Canadian police earlier this month accused Lawrence Bishnoi of colluding with Indian government agents to kill and harass members of the Canadian Sikh diaspora. That comes in the wake of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s allegations last year that New Delhi was involved in the killing of a Canadian citizen — claims that India has strongly denied. Trudeau’s government has upped the stakes in recent weeks, expelling India’s top diplomat in Canada after he refused to be questioned about the case.Bishnoi’s alleged involvement highlights what Canada says is the long arm of India’s criminal underworld and its capacity to carry out violence far from home. Bishnoi, in his early 30s, heads “one of the most feared terror syndicates” in South Asia, according to India’s federal anti-terrorism body. His gang, described in Indian court filings, numbers around 700 and includes suspected militants and drug runners in Canada, the US and the United Arab Emirates.Trudeau’s government says Bishnoi coordinated with Indian officials to target dissidents overseas, specifically Sikh activists living in Canada who support the creation of an ethno-religious homeland in India called Khalistan. Canada had been investigating India’s government involvement in the gunning down last year of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian separatist activist who is considered a terrorist by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government. New Delhi has repeatedly dismissed allegations that officials were involved in the attack.In the past, Bishnoi has been linked with Sikh militant groups, an irony considering he’s now accused of targeting Canadians campaigning for Khalistan. He and his gang have had strong connections with Sikh separatist elements, some of who operate from Pakistan, court documents show. India’s federal anti-terror body also alleged that Bishnoi and his associates were involved in the 2016 jailbreak of a suspected Khalistani separatist and that they attacked a police facility in 2022 in the northern Punjab state with sophisticated weapons, including rocket-propelled grenades.Bishnoi has spent about a decade behind bars in India, convicted for several crimes stretching back to as early as 2010, when he was charged for trespassing with the intent of assault with weapons, according to court documents.He’s built a social-media presence by airing grievances with famous Punjabi singers, Bollywood actors and Indian politicians. Over the years, videos of him on YouTube and Instagram made by supporters have garnered hundreds of thousands of likes.Canada AllegationsTerminder Singh, a lawyer who’s represented Bishnoi in Punjab, declined to comment on Canada’s accusations. “There has been no proper investigation into these allegations,” he said. “It’s difficult to explain how a man in prison is organizing hits or extorting money.”Canada hasn’t yet released evidence connecting Indian officials to Bishnoi. Trudeau has said his government only went public with the accusations after a lengthy behind-the-scenes effort to address the matter diplomatically was rejected by Indian officials.In its rebuttals, India has underlined the dearth of information in the public domain. Randhir Jaiswal, a spokesman for the Ministry of External Affairs, said New Delhi also has a track record of distancing itself from Bishnoi, including asking Canada to extradite members of his gang residing in the country.“We informed Canada about them several years ago and recently as well,” Jaiswal told reporters earlier this month. “There has been no response from Canada.”Even though Bishnoi is currently jailed in the state of Gujarat, some Indian officials still believe he’s capable of carrying out criminal activity. India’s federal anti-terror body — the National Investigative Agency — told a trial court last year that Bishnoi is so adroit at operating from inside his cell that he hasn’t felt the need to apply for bail.Criminal SyndicateBorn in Dutranwali — a small town in Punjab near the India-Pakistan border — Bishnoi grew up in a relatively prosperous family, according to Indian police officials, who asked not to be identified because they weren’t authorized to discuss ongoing investigations. Court documents peg Bishnoi’s first brush with the law to his time as a college student, when he shot a political rival.Bishnoi started building his criminal syndicate in 2013, according to Indian court filings. By his early 20s, he was already named in nearly a dozen criminal cases. In 2022, Bishnoi claimed responsibility for the death of famed Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala, a development that catapulted him to the front pages of Indian newspapers. The Bishnoi gang also took credit on social media for the shooting last month of the politician Baba Siddique.One Indian police officer, who asked not to be named to discuss classified information, said Bishnoi loves his carefully cultivated image as a “patriotic gangster” and dark hero who takes to crime to right wrongs. Bishnoi is a gun-for-hire — killing, extorting and threatening for profit, the officer said.Connections between India’s political establishment and local criminal groups — including Bishnoi’s — aren’t unheard of. Last December, the Delhi police arrested a former Indian intelligence agent for allegedly extorting money from a businessman on behalf of Bishnoi. The agent, Vikas Yadav, is also wanted in the US for trying to assassinate an American citizen active in promoting a breakaway state for Sikhs, who mostly populate Punjab in northern India.Yadav’s lawyer, R K Handoo, said the case was “false and charges baseless.”Under previous governments, high-level committees have warned about a nexus between the underworld and politicians, including coordinating attacks in South Asia. What’s new, however, is potentially striking in countries like the US, Canada and Australia — wealthy Western democracies that consider India a strategic partner.As Canada and India continue to trade barbs, Modi has refrained from publicly commenting. But during election rallies, the Indian prime minister has credited his administration with pursuing and eliminating alleged criminals in other countries. It’s a topic former Indian premiers usually avoided addressing.“Under this strong government, our forces have been killing terrorists on their own turf,” Modi said at a recent political rally in the region of Jammu and Kashmir. Zelensky Reveals How Modi Can Stop Putin’s Ukraine Invasion (Newsweek)
Newsweek [10/28/2024 4:38 PM, Hugh Cameron, 49093K, Neutral]
Volodymyr Zelensky has called on India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi to halt his country’s support for Russia, a move he said would hinder Vladimir Putin’s ability to sustain the invasion.
"Modi can influence the end of the Ukraine war," the president said in an interview with the Times of India, published Monday. "This is the huge value of him in any conflict. This is the huge value of India."
His comments come amid a challenging period for Ukraine’s forces and the growing prospect of a less overtly pro-Ukraine administration, headed by Donald Trump and JD Vance, winning the White House in November. The latter would potentially jeopardize the support so far provided to Kyiv by its most important superpower partner.
"Modi is prime minister of a really huge country, from [the] perspective of population, economy, influence and impact. Such a country cannot just say we’re interested in [the] end of war," Zelensky told the Times.
He suggested that Modi’s government should commit to "blocking of [the] Russian economy, blocking of cheap energy resource, blocking of [the] defense-industrial complex of Russia" and said that this would decrease the "capacity of Moscow to wage wars against us."
Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, India has remained a key ally for Moscow, providing it with both political and economic support as it endured mounting sanctions and global isolation.
India remains the top market for Russian coal and crude oil, behind only China, according to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air. This is despite Western embargoes and price caps attempting to minimize Moscow’s fossil fuel exports.
India has abstained several times from United Nations General Assembly resolutions condemning the invasion, which international affairs think tank Chatham House attributed to India’s historical relations with Russia and the mutual benefits India believes come from the pair’s continued comity.
While Zelensky’s requests are, therefore, unlikely to be realized, the Ukrainian president also said that Modi could contribute to resolving the conflict by hosting a second Ukrainian Peace Summit. This would follow the June summit, held in Lucerne, Switzerland, to which Russia was not invited.
"I believe we could hold the second Peace Summit in any respected capital, and India would certainly be a good choice," Zelensky said.
Modi previously expressed his willingness to do so during a visit to Ukraine in August, following which the two heads of state released a statement reiterating "the importance of high-level Indian participation in the next Peace Summit."
Modi made similar comments at the recent BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, where he held bilateral talks with the Russian president.
"We believe that the problems should be resolved in a peaceful manner," Modi told Putin. "We reiterate our call for ceasefire. We are ready to offer all our help for the peaceful resolution." Modi Unveils India’s First Private Military Aircraft Facility (Newsweek)
Newsweek [10/28/2024 7:43 AM, Michael D. Carroll, 49093K, Positive]
Delhi’s ambitions of nurturing its defense and aerospace industries were given a significant boost on Monday by the launch of India’s first private military aircraft plant.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed Spain’s leader Petro Sanchez at a road show in Gujarat state’s Vadodara city, where hundreds of people cheered and waved banners.
C-295 Transport Aircraft
The two leaders inaugurated the Tata Aircraft Complex, a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility set to produce the Airbus C-295 transport aircraft. Developed in partnership with Airbus Spain, this facility will supply the Indian Air Force with advanced military transport capabilities.
Sanchez said the project was a triumph of Modi’s vision "to turn India into an industrial powerhouse and a magnet for investment and business-to-business collaboration."
"This partnership between Airbus and Tata will contribute to the progress of the Indian aerospace industry and will open new doors for the arrival of other European companies," he added.
Modi said "This new aircraft factory will boost new skills and new industries in India," adding that thanks to the new plant, India was now supplying parts to many of the globe’s leading aircraft companies.
Ratan Tata’s Vision
Natarajan Chandrasekaran, chair of the Tata conglomerate, celebrated the occasion as a "historic day" for India’s defense sector, attributing the vision for this milestone to the late Ratan Tata, the esteemed industrialist and former Tata chair who passed away earlier this month. Ratan Tata first conceived of the project over a decade ago.
Since assuming office in 2014, Prime Minister Modi has pledged to transform India into a global manufacturing powerhouse, targeting sectors including infrastructure, pharmaceuticals, and defense.
To modernize and upgrade military equipment, the Indian government has actively promoted the expansion of the private defense manufacturing sector, previously dominated by state-run enterprises. By easing foreign direct investment regulations, the administration aims to attract international companies to establish operations within India.
How Many Aircraft Will India Produce?
Under a $2.5 billion agreement finalized in 2021, Airbus committed to supplying the first 16 C-295 aircraft from its Seville, Spain, assembly line-six of which have already been delivered to the Indian Air Force.
Tata Advanced Systems Ltd will manufacture an additional 40 aircraft at its Vadodara facility, with the first Indian-made C-295 expected to be ready in 2026. This aircraft can transport up to 71 troops or 50 paratroopers, access remote areas, and support medical evacuations, disaster response, and maritime patrol missions.
How Close Are India and Spain?
This visit marks the first by a Spanish leader to India in 18 years. Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Sanchez have previously connected at global summits in 2018 and 2021. During his two-day stay, Sanchez will engage in talks with Modi to assess the bilateral relationship and will also meet with Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.
Bilateral trade between India and Spain reached nearly $10 billion in 2023. The Indian Foreign Ministry reports that over 200 Spanish companies are currently active in India, while around 80 Indian firms operate in Spain.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Sanchez will head to Mumbai, India’s financial capital and the heart of Bollywood, where he is scheduled to engage with leaders from trade and industry sectors. India grows defense industry with first private military aircraft factory (Nikkei Asia)
Nikkei Asia [10/28/2024 1:41 PM, Satoshi Iwaki, 2376K, Neutral]
India has inaugurated its first military aircraft factory run by a private-sector company, seeking to produce more defense equipment at home and reduce its reliance on imports from Russia.Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Spanish counterpart Pedro Sanchez attended a ceremony Monday for the plant in the state of Gujarat. Run by Tata group company Tata Advanced Systems Ltd. (TASL), the facility will build Airbus C295 transport planes.India signed a deal in 2021 with Airbus Defence and Space for 56 of the aircraft. A total of 16 will come from an Airbus plant in Spain, with the other 40 to be manufactured and assembled by TASL in India.The first fully Indian-built C295 is slated for completion by 2026. TASL will handle maintenance for all 56 planes.India has been moving to strengthen its aerospace industry in conjunction with Modi’s Make in India manufacturing initiative.The shift comes as the Indian military’s top supplier, Russia, increasingly prioritizes its own forces’ needs as the war in Ukraine drags on.In addition to ramping up domestic production, India looks to diversify foreign procurement channels.Monday’s summit between Modi and Sanchez came days after German Chancellor Olaf Scholz met with the Indian leader in New Delhi. Spain and Germany are competing for an Indian Navy contract for six submarines with air-independent propulsion for extended operation without resurfacing.Japan, which has been working to expand its defense exports, also seeks opportunities to sell to India.Based on what happened with TASL, India is likely to push the Japanese side more strongly for domestic production and technology transfer as contract conditions in the future, a diplomatic source here said. Spanish PM in India seeking to bolster trade ties (Agence France-Presse)
Agence France-Presse [10/28/2024 6:47 AM, Staff, 88008K, Positive]
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez was welcomed to India Monday with a flower-filled open-top parade alongside counterpart Narendra Modi, as Madrid seeks to boost investment in the world’s fifth-largest economy.
The duo waved to crowds in a vehicle smothered in orange marigold garlands on their way to inaugurate a military aircraft factory, a collaboration between Tata Advanced Systems and Airbus, in Vadodara in Gujarat state.
It is the first visit by a Spanish premier to India for 18 years, with cooperation agreements signed including on infrastructure, railways and renewable energy projects.
India’s defence ministry agreed to a $2.5 billion deal for 56 cargo and troop-carrying C295 aircraft from Airbus Defence and Space in 2021.
While 16 will be assembled in Seville in Spain -- with the first deliveries made last year -- the 40 remaining will be built in India.
The Indian plant in Vadodara will complete the first "Made in India" C295 aircraft in 2026.
"This factory will not only strengthen India-Spain relations, but also the ‘Make in India and Made for the World’ mission," Modi said at the inauguration.
"It also reinforces India’s position as a trusted partner in global aerospace manufacturing."
Sanchez said Airbus had opened a new chapter in India’s defence and space industry.
"This project strengthens our industrial ties while underlying our country’s deep commitment as a reliable and strategic partner," he said, speaking in English.
"It shows, as well, the capabilities of the Spanish defence industry."
Modi, in a statement after "productive discussions" with Sanchez, said he wanted to push links with Madrid.
"We wish to add even more momentum in our bilateral ties, especially in trade, commerce, culture, innovation, technology and more", Modi said.
India says trade between the nations is "robust and growing", totalling $9.9 billion in 2023, with India exporting $7.17 billion and importing $2.74 billion.
Spain, the 16th-biggest foreign investor in India with more than 280 Spanish companies in the country, sees opportunities including in construction, pharmacy, energy and railways.
Leaders of Navantia, Spain’s state shipbuilding company, are part of the visit, seeking potential contracts, including for submarines.
Modi visited Spain in 2017, and held talks with Sanchez at the G20 summits in 2018 and 2021, but it is the first visit by a Spanish premier to India in nearly two decades.
Sanchez, who visited China last month, is looking to consolidate relations in Asia and with both Beijing and New Delhi.
The Spanish leader is slated to visit India’s financial capital Mumbai on Tuesday, where he will hold talks with business chiefs, as well as a visit to a Bollywood film studio in a bid to seek tie-ups with Spanish firms. An explosion of fireworks injures more than 150 people at a temple in India (AP)
AP [10/28/2024 10:36 PM, Staff, 31638K, Negative]
A huge explosion of fireworks injured more than 150 people at a religious festival in a temple in southern India, a report said Tuesday.
The explosion occurred Monday night when a fireworks storage facility near Veerarkavu temple caught fire, the Press Trust of India reported, citing the police. It happened in Kasargod, which is nearly 580 kilometers (360 miles) northwest of Thiruvananthapuram, the Kerala state capital,
The injured were treated at various hospitals in Kasargod, Kannur, and Mangaluru districts. Eight of them had serious injuries.
There is a huge demand in India for firecrackers, which are used in religious festivals and weddings. Fatal accidents occur nearly every year as people work in makeshift factories without proper safety measures.
An explosion at a fireworks factory in southern India July last year killed eight people. In 2018, a massive fire at a firecracker factory in New Delhi killed 17 workers. A year earlier, a blast killed 23 people while they were making firecrackers in a village in Madhya Pradesh state in central India. NSB
Bangladesh targets ex-PM Hasina’s Awami League ahead of polls (Nikkei Asia)
Nikkei Asia [10/29/2024 12:49 AM, Faisal Mahmud, 2.4M, Neutral]
Bangladesh’s caretaker government is moving to block deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League from elections eyed for next year, in its boldest move yet to scrap remnants of her iron-fisted regime.
The unprecedented plan comes as a political vacuum gives sidelined Islamist parties a new lease on life, raising eyebrows in the U.S. and India, where Hasina took refuge after a violent uprising ended her 15-year rule in August.
Last week, the interim government led by Nobel laureate and microcredit pioneer Muhammad Yunus banned the student wing of Hasina’s party, the Bangladesh Chhatra League. It described the influential group as a "terrorist organization" whose members took part in attacking and killing anti-government protesters during this summer’s clashes, which saw more than 700 killed and many more injured.
Days earlier, Yunus’s right-hand man Mahfuj Alam vowed that the government would block the Awami League and its allies from contesting polls tentatively set for the end of 2025."Those who participated in the last three elections and entered parliament through deception have misled the public, and the interim government will certainly hinder their political involvement," Alam told reporters, in an apparent reference to voting fraud that hung over Hasina’s successive victories.
He gave few details, saying only that the measures "will have both legal and administrative dimensions, and this will become clearer as the election process begins."
Post-Hasina Bangladesh has seen the interim government launch a major reform drive and recall diplomats appointed by the old government. Hasina is being tried in absentia for crimes against humanity, killings and enforced disappearances. Scores of her former ministers and close aides have fled or are being tried on similar charges.
A top Awami League leader, now in hiding, slammed plans to sideline a party that long dominated Bangladeshi politics as "not only undemocratic but also a crime."
"There is no such thing as the last word in politics," the former minister told Nikkei Asia. "The situation might change in a short time and those who are in power now might face the music as well."
Meanwhile, the country’s biggest Islamist party, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, which was banned by the Hasina government just days before its fall, has seen a surge in activity.
Its leader Shafiqur Rahman has made numerous public speeches and called for the safeguarding of religious minorities, including Hindus who were attacked during the unrest in the Muslim-majority nation of 171 million. He also helped distribute aid after devastating floods struck in recent months.
"If that [political activity] leads to increased popularity for us, then it indicates we’re doing something right, doesn’t it?" said Rezaul Karim, a member of Jamaat’s central working committee.
The party is in talks to establish a broader Islamist coalition ahead of next year’s elections. But its rising prominence has set off alarm bells in Washington and New Delhi over fears about destabilizing regional security in Bangladesh, sandwiched between India and civil-war wracked Myanmar.
Two senior government officials told Nikkei that U.S. officials privately expressed concerns about Islamist parties’ increasing popularity.
Media in Hindu-majority India have also expressed alarm over this resurgence, which comes as Jashimuddin Rahmani, a radical cleric and leader of the banned Islamist group Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT), was released from prison after serving time for murder. Rahmani’s militant group had previously been accused of plotting terror attacks against India.
Also stirring concerns, a small group of university students marched through Dhaka this month waving a large black flag similar to that of the Islamic State as they called for a strict society based on religious law.
Bangladesh has been roiled by coups and political violence over the decades, with instances of Muslim extremism including a spate of grisly murders of atheist writers and other non-Muslims a decade ago.
Jamaat itself has long been under suspicion in some quarters over claims it took part in mass killings during a 1971 war of independence that saw Bangladesh break away from Pakistan.
But Islamist parties have never fared better than low double digits at the polls in Bangladesh, and Jamaat has publicly shown little interest in establishing a hardline religious state similar to the Taliban in Afghanistan, observers said.
"A more likely outcome is the emergence of a government led by ruling parties that are not Islamist, but that includes Islamist actors in a coalition, or a government that depends on religious actors for other political reasons," said Michael Kugelman, director of the South Asia Institute at the U.S-based Wilson Center.
Some voters see supporting Islamist parties as a way to turn the page on decades of autocratic and corrupt politics, with billions of dollars alleged to have been funneled out of the country during Hasina’s tenure.
"We’ve seen the governance of the Awami League and the [opposition] Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Now, I’m willing to give Jamaat a chance, as I believe they would be significantly less corrupt if they were in power," said Hasan Habib, a Dhaka-based real estate businessman.
Growing support for Islamist parties has little to do with a conservative religious shift over the past decade, said Abdullah Al Mamun, a freelance IT professional.
"It’s not about making Bangladesh an Islamist state; I don’t think Jamaat will pursue that," he told Nikkei. "It’s about empowering those who are less likely to engage in corruption."
Others are looking to students who led the uprising against Hasina -- which had initially started as a protest against public-sector job quotas that favored the Awami League -- to fill the political void.
"I will definitely vote for a new party created by the students who led the revolution," said Dhaka-based doctor Sazzad Hossain. "They will help us build a new Bangladesh." Bangladesh ex-PM palace to become revolution museum (Agence France-Presse)
Agence France-Presse [10/28/2024 8:32 AM, Staff, 88008K, Negative]
The once luxurious palace of Bangladesh’s autocratic ex-leader Sheikh Hasina will become a museum to honour the revolution that ousted her, the leader of the caretaker government said Monday.
"The museum should preserve memories of her misrule and the people’s anger when they removed her from power," Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus said as he toured the battered Ganabhaban palace, the former official residence of the prime minister.The 84-year-old microfinance pioneer was appointed the country’s "chief advisor" after the student-led uprising that forced Hasina to flee by helicopter to India on August 5.
Hasina’s 15-year rule saw widespread human rights abuses, including the mass detention and extrajudicial killings of her political opponents, and a Bangladeshi court this month issued an arrest warrant for her arrest.
More than 700 people were killed, many in a brutal police crackdown, before Hasina’s fall.
As she fled, thousands stormed her former residence, which the government said was a "symbol of repression".
The walls of the palace, looted and damaged in the chaos after Hasina escaped, are daubed with graffiti condemning her fallen regime.
The museum will include a replica of the notorious "House of Mirrors" Aynaghar detention centre operated by Hasina’s regime -- given its name because its detainees were never supposed to see any other person besides themselves.
"The Aynaghar should remind visitors of the torture endured by secret prisoners," Yunus said.
Hasina’s overthrow resulted in at least two days of chaos, which included the looting of a museum at the home of her father, Bangladesh’s first president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Apurba Jahangir, a press official in the office of Yunus, said construction would start by December.
"The museum construction hasn\u00b4t begun yet, but it will start soon," Apurba told AFP.
Hasina has not been seen in public since fleeing Bangladesh.
The 77-year-old’s last official whereabouts was a military airbase near India’s capital New Delhi. This Stanford professor went to Bhutan to learn about happiness. Here’s his No.1 takeaway (CNBC)
CNBC [10/28/2024 7:05 PM, Ernestine Siu, 48828K, Positive]
What is the key to human happiness? That’s one of life’s biggest questions and Ron Gutman has dedicated a big part of his career to learning more about the topic.Gutman is a Stanford adjunct professor, serial entrepreneur, author, speaker and an award-winning inventor. He is known for his 2011 TED Talk “The hidden power of smiling,” which has been watched more than 6.5 million times.In his quest to learn more about human happiness, he decided to conduct some real-world research.In October 2024, Gutman went on a three-week journey through the South Asian country of Bhutan, officially known as the Kingdom of Bhutan, located on the eastern ridges of the Himalayas. Gutman trekked through the mountains alongside academics, clergy and locals.Journeying through BhutanThe Kingdom of Bhutan, sandwiched between two of the world’s most populous countries, India and China, is known for its governing principle of prioritizing human happiness and well-being over economic development.The idea of “Gross National Happiness” was coined in the 1970s by Bhutan’s fourth king, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, who said that “Gross National Happiness is more important than Gross Domestic Product,” according to a 2024 publication by the OECD.“Going deep into understanding happiness led me to researching Bhutan, because they put an emphasis on this,” Gutman told CNBC Make It.“It made me want to understand it from their vantage point, right? So, [I wanted] to go and listen to them, to the people that have been getting this knowledge, from generation to generation for many [years],” he said.Because Bhutan is located in the Himalayas, most of the trip was spent climbing. Gutman traveled primarily by foot or by local transportation from about 1,000 feet in elevation to almost 14,000 feet, he said. Throughout the journey, he was immersed in the country’s famously breathtaking landscape.Bhutan places a big emphasis on environmental sustainability and conservation. It is the first “carbon-negative” country in the world, largely helped by its vast forests covering over 70% of its land, according to a 2023 report.The country is in “a bubble of tradition,” he said. “They’re very mindful of nature, very protective of nature... It’s sacred for them. You can’t cut a tree without getting a very special permit.”Many local Bhutanese people view their lives as not just being connected to nature, but being from nature itself, said Gutman.The key to happiness: simplicitySo, what is the key to human happiness? Gutman would say that the answer is simple — it is to simplify.“The more I progress in the research of happiness, the more I personally understand it better, the more I connect it to mindfulness,” Gutman said.He discovered during his trip, by observing the local people and through his conversations with the local clergy, that happiness is connected to mindfulness, which can be found in nature.“In modern culture, we’re very concentrated on what’s happening outside. There’s a lot of stimulus that is coming at us ... at some point, we become almost prisoners of that,” said Gutman. “Nature creates the exact opposite ... nature is just there, it just happens.”
“When nature is just happening, you have an opportunity to understand that your consciousness is just happening as a result of that. Basically, consciousness — and this is a big ‘aha moment’ that I had — is empty too,” he said.Gutman calls it the “empty self.” He learned that just as nature is calm, human consciousness is calm. Whether you are laying in the grass by a remote lake, or running between meetings in a big city, who you are, and what your consciousness is, doesn’t change.“We basically choose to get stressed by all these sensory emotions... [because] actually, the inside of us is calm and empty, right? Nature helps see that and understand that,” he said.Bhutan’s challengesBut not everything is rosy — Bhutan has its fair share of challenges.The country left the United Nations’ Least Developed Countries category just last December. Its gross domestic product per capita per year was about $3,700 as of 2022, according to World Bank data.“We look at it as maybe poverty — low GDP,” Gutman said. “It’s not an easy life because these are not wealthy people, but they’re happy.”The Bhutanese government is working to strengthen the economy while continuing to balance the country’s guiding principles of environmental sustainability — through measures such as a daily tourism fee — and “Gross National Happiness.” Gutman looks at the country as an example of how to develop without losing “ancient wisdom” built over many years.In many Western and developed countries, people are often in a rush — not just in everyday life, but also in the way they innovate and develop economically.“When we rush towards the innovation, the new thing, doing things faster, better, easier, cheaper ... The thing is, we forget to take with us this very solid foundation that keeps the core very strong. So we’re building a little bit on water,” he said.“And I think what Bhutanese are doing really well ... is keeping that strong core of beliefs, of morals, of ethics, of mindfulness as the foundation of how they make progress,” he said. “So progress is, sure, slower, but more solid, right? And, I think that’s something to learn from them.” What Does a Woman’s Appointment as Prime Minister in Sri Lanka Teach the World About Gender Equality? (The Diplomat)
The Diplomat [10/28/2024 12:07 PM, Devana Senanayake, 1198K, Neutral]
While the United States aches for a woman to be head of state, Sri Lanka had the world’s first female prime minister, Sirimavo Bandaranaike, back in 1960. Women in the country, nevertheless, derived no benefit from this appointment. Despite their position as the numerical majority, representing 52 percent of the population, they face abject material conditions and a culture of deep-rooted misogyny.
Violence, as a start, is omnipresent in their lives. Violence in trains, buses, and on roads. Violence in places of fun and recreation. Violence in places of employment. Violence in schools and universities. Violence inside homes. Violence, it is a fact, is a certainty. Women have limited recourse, resources and social support, and have to continue on, close-lipped and burdened by their trauma. Many times, their female friends and family members, the "footsoldiers of patriarchy," continue to oppress them further. Violence not only impacts feminine and feminized bodies, but also those that do not fit into the traditional and normative confines of masculinity.
Women have solid health and education outcomes in Sri Lanka as a result of universal healthcare and free education, but these are not set in stone. When the economic crisis hit the country in 2022, these outcomes declined particularly in the Northern, Eastern, and Central provinces occupied by minorities (i.e. Tamil, Hillcountry Tamil, and Muslim people).
The Gender Inequality Index 2019 ranked Sri Lanka 71st out of 189 countries. The Global Gender Gap report2020 ranked Sri Lanka 102nd out of 153.
Women’s Labor Force Participation
In Sri Lanka, women dominate feminized industries such as health, education, and care. They also dominate the three most important forex providers in the country: tea, apparel, and the export of domestic labor into the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Women are present in the informal sector, particularly in the agriculture, forestry and the fisheries industries. They also dominate invisible industries like the sex trade. There are only estimates about their participation in the industry but the numbers are likely to be more than reported because of the economic crisis.
Women only occupy 32.1 percent of the formal labor force. A report in 2016 identified the obstacles on the demand side: occupational segregation, income inequality, discrimination, variability in the quality of employment, and limited entrepreneurship. A report in 2013 listed reasons such as time (i.e. care burdens and household chores), limited skills, and a lack of access to opportunities on the supply side. Women’s participation in the labor force, based on research from 2016, could be facilitated if they could access remote or part-time options, jobs located close to home, safe transport, supportive partners, reliable childcare, and better pay.
The same research made an important observation by identifying the importance and prioritization of motherhood in Sri Lankan society. Women’s contribution to the household, as a result, be it in the act of reproduction, care for children and elderly parents, and the chores they do should also be valued. A time-use survey in 2017 revealed that women spent 38.4 percent of their total time on the care of their household and family members. In an invisible dimension, they undertake multiple forms of labor: care labor, sexual labor, emotional labor, mental labor and hermeneutical labor. They also make inputs into their family business, their spouse’s job, and/or their children’s education.
Research confirms that women’s unpaid labor contributes 8.6-30 percent of Sri Lanka’s GDP.Researchers and policymakers in the country routinely call for increased labor force participation, but rarely call for the formalization of motherhood as labor. Take the "Wages for Housework" campaign started by Marxist Feminists in the 1970s as an example. Why is there such a demand for women’s participation in market labor, but a crude dismissal of their continued contribution to the GDP?
Women’s labor force participation and union membership are also linked. While there is a lot of research on limited labor force participation, there is limited research about union membership. With the support of unions women can advocate collectively for pay, hours, retirement benefits, and occupational health and safety. Women union leaders are usually sidelined and excluded from public consultations about labor reform. Why are they denied the autonomy to mold the labor force into a more desirable space? This is particularly important as feminized labor such as care labor cannot be performed by A.I. like other more "productive" jobs in market labor, so is likely to be more in demand in the local and transnational labor markets.
Women’s Political Participation
The claim that there is limited political participation for women in Sri Lanka is an oversimplification. Women are not present in the formal political arena (they have only 13 out of a Parliament of 225 seats), but they dominate social movements and collectives.
Women in recent years have continued to protest for a number of demands, despite the risk it poses to their bodies, livelihoods, and families. Women protested for the increase in pay in the tea plantations. Women in the North have continued to protest the enforced disappearance of family members in the Mothers of the Disappeared. Women in the North-East protested predatory micro-finance schemes and unjust debt in 2021. Women protested in the Batticaloa Justice Walk. Women from the Muslim community have protested the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act (MMDA). Women in the Free Trade Zones have continued to mobilize for better pay and improved conditions. Women in the LGBTQ+ movement have pushed for decriminalization of Section 365 and 365 A and exposed the intensity of police brutality.
Nevertheless, historically their resistance in the country is either sidestepped or brutally crushed. Premavathi Manamperi, accused of being a Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) sympathizer, was arrested, tortured and buried alive in 1971. Similarly, former TV broadcaster and journalist Isaipriya (Shobana Dharmaraja) was assaulted, tortured, and murdered by the armed forces in 2009. A similar fate befell a number of female LTTE cadres who stood up for their self-determination and the collective liberation of the Tamil people in the North-East.
Women in Colombo’s "Gota Go Gama" protest village in 2022 experienced violence on May 9, July 9, and August 12 (the final day of the movement). Many have been haunted by intimidation, harassment, and arrests since then. The presence of repressive bills such as the Anti-Terrorism Act and Online Safety Bill in 2023 have tried to limit their dissent further.
These actions of state-sponsored violence are mimicked by individuals in reality and on social media. Recently, a reputed male scholar leveled sexist criticisms about a member of the PWC, questioning her educational qualifications and her doctoral specialization in Gender Studies, in order to humiliate and demean her. Women are politically active, but the state and the political elite have crushed their resistance and their entrance into the parliamentary arena. This, rather than their numerical participation in Parliament, is the problem.
Amarasuriya: A New Type of Woman Prime Minister
Sri Lanka’s first woman prime minister, Sirimavo Bandaranaike, never had to rely on, rally, or appease others like her. Cushioned by her caste and class status, she only had to act as a stand-in for her dead husband - a role her daughter, Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga (CBK), technically inherited and never democratized to others.
It is in this context that the appointment of Dr Harini Amarasuriya as the prime minister of Sri Lanka is important. Unlike Sirimavo Bandaranaike and Chandrika Bandaranaike-Kumaratunga before her, Amarasuirya is neither the widow of a famed politician nor was she born into a political dynasty.
Amarasuriya, born in Galle, studied at Bishops College in Colombo. As a result of the JVP insurrection in the South and the Civil War in the North, she relocated from the University of Kelaniya to the University of Delhi for her undergraduate studies. She then spent a number of years in non-government organizations and civil society organizations in Colombo (such as NEST), before receiving her masters from the University of Macquarie and a Ph.D. from the University of Edinburgh, entering academia in 2011. As a lecturer at the Open University of Sri Lanka, Amarasuriya joined the Federation of Teachers Union (FUTA) and spoke about the patriarchal tendencies of union members.
In the midst of the Rajapaksa-era terror in 2011-2012, she joined a three-month strike led by the Free Trade Zone (FTZ) unions to protest the attack on retirement funds. Here, she met members of the JVP, sympathetic to causes she championed. After the disappointment of the yahapalanaya (Good Governance Government) in 2015, Amarasuriya’s involvement in the JVP deepened.
In 2019, the JVP and other political parties reformed under the coalition National People’s Power (NPP). The Progressive Women’s Collective (PWC) was co-founded by Amarasuriya in 2019. She entered the parliament in 2020 from the National List and acted as a critical voice to the deeply unpopular President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his successor, Ranil Wickremesinghe.
While she is upper middle class, Amarasuriya’s meteoric political rise is linked to her participation in trade union action and political movements. Her political journey, a near impossibility in a mock-democracy like Sri Lanka, is the result of collective mobilization rather than individual privilege or individual achievement. She spoke about unpaid care labor in her maiden speech in Parliament and has routinely advocated for the participants and recipients of the care industry.
Sri Lanka’s previous women leaders failed to move the needle much on gender issues for the masses. But women’s equality can be set into motion if revolutionary forces are left to flourish. It is only then that the structural and institutional barriers that prevent their self-actualization and collective-emancipation can be realized. Central Asia
30 Year Sentence for Group 24 Leader in Tajikistan After Forced Disappearance (The Diplomat)
The Diplomat [10/28/2024 12:53 PM, Catherine Putz, 1198K, Negative]
Nine months after they disappeared from Turkiye, in mid-October Group 24 leader Sohrab Zafar and member Nasimjon Sharifov were sentenced to 30 and 20 years in prison, respectively, by a court in Dushanbe.
Their trial was held in secret, starting in September, and the specific charges are unknown. In fact, Tajik officials have said very little about the case, and nothing about how the two men ended up back in Tajikistan.
Group 24 was founded in 2012 by businessman and politician Umarali Kuvvatov. Kuvvatov fled Tajikistan the same year, with the movement very much nascent. In 2014, after Kuvvatov called for protests against long-time Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, the group was banned, declared "extremist" by Dushanbe.
Kuvvatov was assassinated in Istanbul in early March 2015. Just ahead of his murder, Kuvvatov had been detained by Turkish authorities, ostensibly at the request of Tajikistan.
Zafar had lived in Turkiye since October 2014. He had been detained by Turkish authorities several times over the years but always released. When he went missing in early March 2024, he was the second Group 24 member to vanish in less than a month. On February 25, Zafar had told RFE/RL’s Tajik Service, Radio Ozodi, that Sharifov had left his home on February 23 and had not been heard from since. Sharifov had lived in Turkiye since 2015 and, like Zafar, had also been detained several times and released by Turkish authorities.
Speaking to Radio Ozodi in late February before he, too, disappeared, Zafar said that Group 24 had "bitter experience" with what happens when a person is kidnapped. He also said that members regularly receive threatening messages, ranging from death threats to threats of kidnapping, which they believe come from the Tajik security services.
Tajikistan punches well above its weight when it comes to transnational repression.
Freedom House compiled a database of 854 recorded direct, physical incidents of transnational repression committed by 38 governments in 91 countries between 2014 and 2022. Just 10 countries were found to be responsible for 80 percent of the recorded incidents. China represented 30 percent with 253 cases, followed by Turkiye with 132 and Tajikistan with 64. Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan (36 cases each) were also among the top 10.
Months after Zafar and Sharifov disappeared from Turkiye, Tajikistan’s Prosecutor General Yusuf Rahmon said at an August press conference that the investigation regarding the two men would be completed soon and be sent to court. He said nothing about how the two men ended up in Tajikistan.
Mohammad Sabir Abdukahhor, an activist with Group 24, told Radio Ozodi, that the case against the two men related to a charge of "calling to forcefully change the constitutional structure using the internet." Other sources, and the context of the case, suggest that additional charges likely have included extremism and cooperating with banned organizations.
An unnamed source cited by Radio Ozodi said that both men, in their final statements in court, said they did not regret the path they chose. "Sohrab Zafar said that he did not take a bribe from anyone, did not steal anyone’s rights, did not kill anyone, and did not do anything against human law that he regrets. He said that I did not betray my people and our organization is not terrorist or extremist."
The judge reportedly asked if the men knew what they had done was a crime and that they’d one day answer to the law for it. Zafar, according to the Radio Ozodi source, replied that he expected not only to be arrested and imprisoned, but to be killed.
Zafar’s mother spoke to Radio Ozodi after seeing her son, following the sentence. She said that her son "looked calm, was not depressed and did not repent."
Group 24, in a statement on October 19, condemned the sentences as "unjust."
"This sentence, which was made under conditions of pressure and disregard for human rights and full of slander, is another clear example of suppression of political freedoms and legal rights of people in the country." Parties loyal to Uzbekistan’s president win parliament seats in election devoid of real opposition (AP)
AP [10/28/2024 9:05 AM, Staff, 31638K, Negative]
Parties loyal to Uzbekistan’s president swept parliament seats, according to official results released on Monday, in an election devoid of any real opposition in the tightly controlled Central Asian country
There are five registered parties in the country and they nominated all candidates who ran in Sunday’s vote. While the parties may focus on different issues, some stress business climate or environmental protection, they all support President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
No genuine opposition parties are allowed in Uzbekistan.
Nearly 75% of voters had cast their ballots in Sunday’s vote, well above the 33% needed for the vote to be valid, according to election officials.
Under legislative changes introduced last year, Uzbekistan switched to a mixed election system, with half of its 150 lawmakers elected from party lists and the other half elected individually. The new rules also stipulate that 40% of those running for parliament must be women
Observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe said the election took place amid ongoing reforms, but "the political environment remained constrained, not providing voters with a genuine choice." They noted that "fundamental freedoms of association, peaceful assembly and expression remain disproportionately limited both by legislation and in practice.".
Since taking office in 2016, Mirziyoyev has conducted a series of political and economic reforms that have eased some of the harsh policies of his predecessor, dictatorial leader Islam Karimov. Under Karimov’s rule, Uzbekistan was one of the region’s most repressive countries.
Mirziyoyev has also released some political prisoners, loosened restrictions for media and bloggers, and eased the tight controls on Islam that Karimov imposed to counter dissident views.
Mirziyoyev’s government in 2022 claimed to have eliminated what rights groups said had amounted to systemic forced labor, but some concerns have remained and rights activists say that thousands of people in Uzbekistan remain imprisoned on false charges.
In April 2023, Mirziyoyev initiated a constitutional referendum that reset presidential term limits and would allow him to stay in office until 2040. Uzbek Ruling Party Cruises To Parliamentary Victory With No Opposition (Radio Free Europe)
Radio Free Europe [10/28/2024 7:39 AM, Staff, 1251K, Positive]
Uzbekistan’s ruling party loyal to President Shavkat Mirziyoev was headed to an easy victory in the country’s parliamentary elections, according to preliminary results released by electoral authorities on October 27.The Central Election Commission said that Mirziyoev’s Liberal Democratic Party was positioned to take 64 of the 150 seats in the lower house of parliament, despite recent reforms and predictions by the president that the election would be marked by “strong competition.”However, the election was run with no opposition parties registered. The only competition the ruling party faced was from four "pocket" parties close to the president, according to experts.All five parties that participated passed the voting threshold needed for parliamentary representation.The Central Election Commission said that voter turnout was nearly 75 percent, more than enough for the authorities to consider the election a success.Election monitors, rights groups, and average citizens were less convinced.A monitoring team from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), in its initial assessment on October 28, said that “given the problems that our observers identified in yesterday’s voting, counting, and tabulation, much more must be done to enhance transparency and confidence in the officially announced turnout and results.”The vote was a trial run for a new mixed electoral system, the result of revisions to Uzbekistan’s constitution and electoral code. Under the changes, only half of the 150 parliament deputies are elected by voting for political parties. The other 75 candidates are elected individually.Azay Guliev, special coordinator and leader of the OSCE short-term observers team, said that while the reforms represented progress, “significant challenges remain in the realization of fundamental freedoms, particularly the rights to association, peaceful assembly, and freedom of expression.”The OSCE also said the five parties’ campaigns were essentially “devoid of real challenges to the policies of the ruling party or to each other,” while media coverage was “limited by restrictions on free expression.”
“In a landscape where the five registered parties share a common support for government policies, voters were not presented with genuine alternatives,” said Sargis Khandanyan, head of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly delegation.RFE/RL’s Uzbek Service cited Uzbek citizens as expressing concerns about low voter turnout, despite the claims by officials.One social media user was quoted as saying that the “American presidential election is more important to us than our own.”The London-based director of the Central Asia Due Diligence group, Alisher Ilkhamov, meanwhile, was quoted by AFP as saying that the elections were just a "routine procedure" that allow "no place for institutional opposition and a real divide of power." After UNGA: How Did Central Asia Address (or Not) the Russia-Ukraine Conflict? (The Diplomat)
The Diplomat [10/28/2024 9:09 AM, Bimal Adhikari and Alida Begezhanova, 1198K, Neutral]
Since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, all five Central Asian governments have been closely watched and courted by competing global powers. Russia understands that the global rebuke of its war efforts and unprecedented sanctions have made it a pariah state, and because of these reasons, it risks losing its close allies such as the Central Asian countries. This is especially true given that the Western bloc, led by the United States, has constantly pressured Central Asian nations to distance themselves from Russia. In addition, China, a rising global power, is ready to step in and increase its presence in the region to fill the potential political, economic and security vacuum.
In light of these events, the speeches delivered by the five Central Asian nations in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) providerich information about their foreign policy stances.
This is the third year that the UNGA, held each September, has convened since the start of the conflict. As such, it is timely to analyze how, if at all, the speeches of the Central Asian countries have evolved over time. The conflict seems to have reached a stalemate - and Central Asian countries may have to decide whether it would benefit them to distance themselves from Russia or whether it would hurt them, seeing that no clear winner has emerged. Moreover, Russia seems to be doing fine economically despite the unprecedented sanctions. In short, are Central Asian governments continuing their multi-vector foreign policies and maintaining cordial relationships with all major global powers or are they increasingly distancing themselves from Putin’s Russia?
The recent speeches by Central Asian leaders and top officials suggest that they may have gotten wary of the stalemate and chosen to stay neutral as evidenced by the fact that they are less willing to even discuss the Russia-Ukraine conflict in the same direct manner they did last year. Despite not challenging Russia in their speeches, some Central Asian countries have been quietlyresisting Russian influence, and seeking partners elsewhere. Turkiye seems to be one of such newly rediscovered partners.
79th UNGA Session
The General Debate of the United Nations General Assembly gives nations an avenue to express what they deem to be important through their speeches, which reverberate through both domestic and external audiences. The UNGA is particularly important for smaller states, which do not wield as much influence within the global arena. For them, it is an opportunity to clearly state their stances on relevant issues, advocate on problems within the domestic domain, and be heard by powerful states -the wide coverage of the event in the popular press ensures it.
Central Asian countries’ speeches at the UNGA have historically been quite neutral, rarely voicing support or disapproval toward one side of any given conflict. When it came to the various Russia-related conflicts of the past few decades - be it the annexation of Crimea in 2014 or the Russo-Georgian War in 2008 - Central Asian nations have typically been careful even with the invocation of sovereignty-related concepts in their speeches. Too many mentions of the concept of sovereignty within Central Asian countries’ speeches during these conflicts could have been construed as an indirect opposition to Russia’s actions.
However, with the unprecedented attack on Ukraine by Russian forces in 2022, Central Asian nations somewhat ended their covert support - or, at the very least, a lack of overt opposition - toward Russia. For instance, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan were a lot moredirect with their mentions of the war in Ukraine in their UNGA speeches last year.
This year, Central Asian leaders’ speeches, however, marked yet another change. Most of the speeches this year from the Central Asian states ignored Russia and anything related to it, instead focusing on other issues.
Kazakhstan’s speech, for instance, did not address Ukraine by name, instead it chose to mention several different conflicts in a collective manner. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Murat Nurtleu, who delivered Kazakhstan’s remarks,said that "[t]he plight of millions of conflict victims worldwide, across the Middle East, Eastern Europe and parts of Africa, deserve immediate, decisive and collective action." Despite it still being clear which conflict "Eastern Europe" refers to, this year’s speech was not as overt and direct at calling out Russia as it was last year. This links back to the country’s multi-vector foreign policy, first introduced by former President Nursultan Nazarbayev, by which Kazakhstan actively attempts to distance itself from the conventional "side-picking" approach, instead maintaining friendly and fruitful relations with all of the key global blocs (namely, the West, China, and Russia).
This year’s regression in overtness highlights Kazakhstan’s struggle to distance itself from its northern neighbor. Kazakhstan is undeniably and, possibly, irrevocably linked with and dependent on Russia - especially on the economic front. A mere 2 percent of Kazakhstan’s oil is exported throughroutes that do not include Russia. Such a level of economic integration and dependence ties the hands of the nation and leaves it no choice but to be careful in distancing itself from Russia. This year’s speech reflects this struggle and balance between satisfying the likes of the West by mentioning the conflict and not angering Russia by not calling anyone out by name. Kyrgyzstan went further, witha significant portion of its speech being a rumination on military spending and armed conflicts. However, it is unclear whether this was based on the war in Ukraine or on a different conflict, because there was no direct mention of any one specific conflict. In Kyrgyzstan’s speech, President Sadyr Japarovsaid: "We must ensure that the money that allocates to wars, destruction, death, could go to creation or to solving global challenges for all of humanity." Most likely, this detailed discussion on war is targeted at the Israel-Hamas war; however, no clear conclusions can be drawn due to the ambiguous nature of the speech.
Tajikistan’s speech, which was delivered by the President Emomali Rahmon, reflected a similar stance, refusing to mention Russia by name. Instead, Rahmon alluded to the war in Ukraine with such phrases as "controversial geopolitical processes," "armed conflicts," and "global jeopardies and threats." Despite this ambiguity, he did state that "Tajikistan always advocates the solution of all conflicts only through political and diplomatic aims," making clear Tajikistan’s desire to see an end to conflicts around the world without delving into specifics and name-calling.
Other nations in the region - Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan - did not go beyond mentioning conflict or war just once in their speeches, thereby taking a more passive stance on the war in Ukraine.
All of this suggests that Central Asian nations have slowed their movement away from Russia, demonstrated by a switch to a more neutral tone in their UNGA speeches. However, it would be wrong to interpret the region’s slowing-down as a retrograde movement back toward Russia. Most recently Uzbekistan and Kazakhstanrejected invitations to join Russia-dominated international organizations, choosing instead to take on an observing role for the time being. Kazakhstan clearly stated its refusal to join BRICS, and Uzbekistan did the same with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). For the former, Russia responded almost immediately -restricting agricultural imports from Kazakhstan shortly after the announcement.
With such instantaneous punishments from its northern neighbor, it is not surprising that the region was more careful with its mention of Russia and Ukraine in this year’s UNGA speeches. However, Kazakhstan, along with some other Central Asian nations, still stand firm in their backing away from Russia. The BRICS comments, for example, came after UNGA had concluded. Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan have been much more direct with their non-participant observer status within Russia-related and -led organizations.
Looking Onward
Starting last year, the nations of Central Asia began distancing themselves from Russia or, at the very least, establishing stronger ties to other global blocs. Some were more active in this shift of affairs, with Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan interacting the most with Russia’s adversary - theUnited States - and also withChina. Turkmenistan overtook Russia in revenue fromgas exports to China in the first quarter of this year, generating 20 percent more income than Russia.
Turkiye is one of the region’s more recent partners, actively trying to replace Russia where it can. In light of the region’s desire todepend less on its northern neighbor, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan bought Turkish drones, and Kazakhstan signed a deal to produce Turkiye’s drones for them. Slowly, the center of influence is shifting south, moving closer to Turkey and its Middle Corridor - a Caspian Sea-centered trade route - via which trade sawan eightfold increase in the past few years, as mentioned by Kazakhstan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Roman Vassilenko.
Establishing stronger economic relations with Turkiye is not a bad option for Central Asia, given Ankara’s role in the war in Ukraine. Turkiye hasmade it clear that it supports Ukraine’s right to defend itself and has large stakes in maintaining peace within the Black Sea region. Given Turkiye’s involvement, Russia is not likely to outright pressure Central Asia to back away from trade partnerships with Ankara.
The Central Asian region, however, is not only interested in fortifying its relations with powers like Turkiye, the United States, and China, but also plans to further strengthen ties within the region itself. Most recently, Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayevshared his vision of a united Central Asian bloc, in which he believes his neighboring states should currently focus on regional defense cooperation efforts. The title of the article - "Renaissance of Central Asia" - speaks for itself. Central Asia is planning on putting itself on the map as a powerful region that is highly cooperative as a single unit.
Of course, the implementation of such a dream will not come without its bumps in the road, given the deeply rooted ties the whole region has with Russia; however, the efforts that are being observed currently seem to move the region closer to its goal. Just last month,the fifth World Nomad Games were hosted in Astana, in which the spirit of the nomadic nations reverberated and could have been felt throughout the region.
Central Asia is slowly freeing itself of the shackles of its northern neighbor, but the economic dependence of the region on Russia is significantly slowing the process, which is only exacerbated by the sporadicthreats and "warnings" Central Asian states receive from the aggressor. And this is especially true as Western sanctionshave not worked as planned to cripple Russia’s economy, and given that emerging world powers haverefused to condemn its full-scale invasion, which has only emboldened Moscow.
A cornered and defiant Russia is stillrattling nerves in the Central Asian region. How Central Asian countries will handle a belligerent yet powerful regional neighbor into the future is yet to be seen. Indo-Pacific
Pakistan, Afghanistan launch polio vaccination drives as cases resurge (VOA)
VOA [10/28/2024 2:23 PM, Ayaz Gul, 4566K, Negative]
Pakistan and neighboring Afghanistan simultaneously launched fresh vaccination campaigns against polio Monday amid a resurgence in cases in the only two countries globally where the virus continues to be endemic and paralyze children.
The World Health Organization reported 64 polio infections this year: 41 from Pakistan and 23 from Afghanistan, up from six each in both countries in 2023.
Pakistani officials said the weeklong house-to-house nationwide campaign that was rolled out Monday enlists 400,000 polio workers, who aim to vaccinate over 45 million children under five against the paralytic disease.
"This is Pakistan’s third nationwide campaign this year, launched in response to the alarming increase in polio cases across 71 districts," said Ayesha Raza Farooq, the prime minister’s point-person for polio eradication.
More than half the infections in 2024 are located in southwestern Balochistan province, which sits on the Afghan border and is "facing an intense transmission" of the poliovirus. The southern province of Sindh has recorded 12 cases this year, while other regions in Pakistan, a country of more than 240 million, have reported the remaining cases, according to Pakistan’s polio eradication program.
Anwarul Haq, the coordinator of the National Emergency Operations Center for Polio Eradication, urged parents to cooperate with health teams in protecting their children against the crippling disease, stressing that there is no cure for polio. "With the threat at an all-time high, we must act as one nation to keep our children safe through vaccination," he stated.
Local and WHO officials attribute the resurgence of poliovirus in Pakistan to vaccine boycotts in rural areas stemming from the false propaganda that these initiatives are a Western plot to sterilize Muslim children.
Additionally, anti-state militants in violence-hit districts bordering Afghanistan occasionally attack vaccinators and their police escorts, suspecting them of spying for the government. The violence has resulted in the deaths of dozens of polio workers and police personnel, including at least two vaccinators and seven police members killed this year.
Afghanistan
Meanwhile, health officials in Taliban-led Afghanistan announced Monday the opening of a three-day polio-vaccination campaign, saying it aims to reach 6.2 million children under five in 16 of the country’s 34 provinces. The target areas are primarily located close to the border with Pakistan.
The latest round of this year’s anti-polio campaign in Afghanistan began after nearly a two-month delay because Taliban authorities abruptly halted house-to-house vaccine deliveries in the southern province of Kandahar without publicly stating any reason. Instead, de facto Afghan authorities stressed the need to conduct vaccinations for children from site to site and mosque to mosque.
In a report released last month, an independent monitoring board of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative believed that the Taliban’s action had stemmed from their "administration’s concerns about covert surveillance activities." The report quoted Taliban officials as explaining that their leadership is living in Kandahar and has concerns about their security.
Kandahar, regarded as the unofficial capital of Afghanistan under Taliban rule, is where the militant group’s reclusive supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, resides and governs the country through his decrees based on his strict interpretation of Islam.The Taliban chief has banned most Afghan women from public and private sector workplaces and barred girls from receiving an education beyond the sixth grade.
WHO officials say eradicating polio in Afghanistan requires comprehensive integration of large migrant populations into the vaccination program. They say it is also crucial to reach out to groups that refuse vaccination and establish a female public health workforce dedicated to the polio initiative to tackle multiple challenges facing polio-eradication efforts in the impoverished country. Twitter
Afghanistan
Habib Khan@HabibKhanT
[10/28/2024 11:18 PM, 239.1K followers, 26 retweets, 60 likes]
Most Afghans do not support the Taliban, whose backing originates from their birthplace in Greater Kandahar. This region, closely linked to the narco trade, supplies majority of the Taliban’s leaders & fighters, hijacking a nation of 40 million & marginalizing other provinces.
Habib Khan@HabibKhanT
[10/28/2024 4:18 PM, 239.1K followers, 113 retweets, 318 likes]
It’s been 1,138 days since the Taliban made it illegal for teenage Afghan girls to receive an education. Taliban’s Afghanistan remains the only country where women are banned from attending schools by the regime. #LetHerLearn
Habib Khan@HabibKhanT
[10/28/2024 2:12 PM, 239.1K followers, 168 retweets, 372 likes]
More insane rules for women are on the way. The great ghost of Kandahar has replaced Khalid Hanafi—the guy who banned women from speaking—with his loyalist, Mullah Nadim, an even crazier extremist who’s banned girls from studying as the new minister of virtue.
Sara Wahedi@SaraWahedi
[10/28/2024 7:56 AM, 98.3K followers, 1K retweets, 3.5K likes]
Latest decree from the Taliban bans women from praying out loud, with the Minister for Vice and Virtue suggesting it goes further. "If women can’t pray out loud, why should they sing, laugh, or speak when unnecessary?"— a disturbing fixation on erasing women’s voices entirely. Pakistan
Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan@ForeignOfficePk
[10/28/2024 10:46 AM, 479.9K followers, 8 retweets, 24 likes]
The envoys of Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Kyrgyz Republic, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Türkiye, Republic of Uzbekistan and the State of Palestine presented their diplomatic credentials to President Asif Ali Zardari during a ceremony at Aiwan-e-Sadr.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan@ForeignOfficePk
[10/28/2024 10:47 AM, 479.9K followers, 5 retweets, 8 likes]
President Asif Ali Zardari received credentials from Mr. Choe Chang Man (DPR Korea) Mr. Avazbek Atakhanov (Kyrgyz Republic), Peter Nijru Mbogo (Kenya), Dr. Irfan Neziroglu (Türkiye), Mr. Alisher Tukhtaev (Uzbekistan) and Mr. Zuhair M. H. Darzaid (State of Palestine).
Anas Mallick@AnasMallick
[10/28/2024 8:41 AM, 74K followers, 1 retweet, 9 likes]
Envoys of 6 counties including Ambassador Designate of Palestine, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Turkiyei to Pakistan, Present their Ambassadorial credentials to @AAliZardari @PresOfPakistan during a credential ceremony, held at Aiwan-e-Sadr, today. #Pakistan
Madiha Afzal@MadihaAfzal
[10/28/2024 2:44 PM, 42.9K followers, 4 retweets, 12 likes]
This is an emergency. https://www.geo.tv/latest/571095-lahore-leads-as-worlds-most-polluted-city-after-air-quality-index-drops-to-700 India
Narendra Modi@narendramodi
[10/28/2024 11:48 AM, 103.2M followers, 3.4K retweets, 16K likes]
Tomorrow, on Ayurveda Day at around 12:30 PM, important schemes relating to the healthcare sector would either be launched or their foundation stones will be laid. In a historic moment, Ayushman Bharat will be expanded by launching the scheme to provide healthcare to all those above the age of 70. I call upon all those passionate about health, fitness and wellness to join tomorrow’s programme. https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=2068804®=3&lang=1
Narendra Modi@narendramodi
[10/28/2024 6:42 AM, 103.2M followers, 2.8K retweets, 10K likes]
Speaking at the launch of development works in Amreli. These projects will significantly improve the ease of living for the people and accelerate the region’s growth. https://x.com/i/broadcasts/1OyKAZBvZegGb Narendra Modi@narendramodi
[10/28/2024 3:48 AM, 103.2M followers, 2.9K retweets, 10K likes]
The aircraft complex in Vadodara will ensure job opportunities for several of India’s talented youth. #C295MadeInIndia
President of India@rashtrapatibhvn
[10/28/2024 7:52 AM, 26M followers, 267 retweets, 2K likes]Chief Minister of Haryana Shri Nayab Singh Saini called on President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan. NSB
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bangladesh@BDMOFA
[10/28/2024 4:38 PM, 54.7K followers, 1 retweet, 50 likes]
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Mr. Volker Turk arrived in Dhaka for a 2-day visit. Mr. Toufique Hasan, DG(UN) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs received him at the airport.
Tshering Tobgay@tsheringtobgay
[10/28/2024 7:36 AM, 100K followers, 1 retweet, 9 likes]
I attended the closing of the 2nd edition of the @snowmanrace today - a remarkable event bringing together extraordinary runners from Bhutan and around the world in a shared commitment to combat climate change.
Tshering Tobgay@tsheringtobgay
[10/28/2024 7:36 AM, 100K followers, 2 likes]
Celebrating the resilience of our people and the beauty of our land, this 5-day ultramarathon through our sacred mountains highlights Bhutan’s dedication to environmental conservation and serves as a call for global action.
Tshering Tobgay@tsheringtobgay
[10/28/2024 7:36 AM, 100K followers, 2 likes]
I congratulate the organizers and participants for making this year’s edition a success, and I eagerly look forward to many more.
Tshering Tobgay@tsheringtobgay
[10/28/2024 7:08 AM, 100K followers, 6 retweets, 44 likes]
Today @Drukair spread its wings further with its first flight to #Dubai; this promises to promote tourism and strengthen people-to-people bonds beyond borders; I look forward to welcoming more friends from around the world to experience the beauty and tranquillity of Bhutan.
The President’s Office, Maldives@presidencymv
[10/28/2024 2:13 PM, 110.6K followers, 145 retweets, 142 likes]
CEO of @MerckFoundation, Senator Dr Rasha Kelej pays a courtesy call on First Lady Madam Sajidha Mohamed.
Anura Kumara Dissanayake@anuradisanayake
[10/28/2024 7:51 AM, 133.6K followers, 26 retweets, 250 likes]
This morning (28), I met with the National Procurement Commission (NPC) to discuss urgent reforms to our procurement processes. Strengthening the NPC is key to curbing fraud and corruption, and I stressed the need for a robust procurement plan to prevent irregular practices and protect public resources.
M U M Ali Sabry@alisabrypc
[10/28/2024 9:31 AM, 7.5K followers, 12 retweets, 70 likes]
Former Secretary to the Ministry Justice commenting on my role as the Minister of Justice! https://x.com/i/status/1850893125885005828 Central Asia
Yerzhan Ashikbayev@KZAmbUS
[10/28/2024 10:55 PM, 2.8K followers, 7 likes]
Wrapped up Kazakhstan Finance Day - an inspiring forum that’s truly put KZ on the radar! Global financial leaders explored Kazakhstan’s exciting investment potential, highlighting vast opportunities for growth in a dynamic market. #KazakhstanFinanceDay
Yerzhan Ashikbayev@KZAmbUS
[10/28/2024 10:55 PM, 2.8K followers, 3 likes]
KFD painted a compelling picture of KZ, spotlighting financial trends and digital achievements that are turning heads worldwide. With sessions on direct & portfolio investments, it’s clear Kazakhstan is making bold moves to elevate tech and security across its financial landscape
Yerzhan Ashikbayev@KZAmbUS
[10/28/2024 10:55 AM, 2.8K followers, 1 retweet, 9 likes]
Thrilled to kick off Kazakhstan Finance Day in the heart of New York. Top minds from government, banking, and business are coming together to unlock new finance and investment opportunities in KZ. Big thanks to @Citi for hosting, and to @Visa, @Mastercard & @USChamber for support
Yerzhan Ashikbayev@KZAmbUS
[10/28/2024 10:18 PM, 2.8K followers, 1 like]
Another event unfolded in San Francisco, hosted by the Silk Road Innovation Hub with the support of the 🇰🇿 Consulate General. The “Central Eurasia@Silicon Valley” tech conference convened industry leaders, investors, & innovators fostering dialogue across the regions.
Yerzhan Ashikbayev@KZAmbUS
[10/28/2024 10:18 PM, 2.8K followers, 1 like]
Emphasizing Kazakhstan’s pioneering role in gov and fintech, speakers highlighted KZ stable political environment and the vital contributions of women in IT as key factors in driving innovations.
Bakhtiyor Saidov@FM_Saidov
[10/28/2024 6:18 AM, 15.1K followers, 4 retweets, 16 likes]
Met with Secretary General of the Commonwealth of Independent States H.E. Sergey Lebedev who is leading the #CIS mission of observers at the Parliamentary Elections taking place in #Uzbekistan. We discussed the implementation of the recent CIS Summit outcomes, enhancing our cooperation and the schedule of upcoming events.
Saida Mirziyoyeva@SMirziyoyeva
[10/28/2024 11:09 AM, 20.3K followers, 5 retweets, 87 likes]
Today, we had a productive meeting with @un_uzbekistan Resident Coordinator Sabina Makhl. We discussed ways to strengthen cooperation between Uzbekistan and the @UN, with a special focus on the sustainable development of the #AralRegion
Leila Nazgul Seiitbek@l_seiitbek
[10/28/2024 6:09 PM, 4K followers, 4 retweets, 5 likes]
Elections in Uzbekistan again left Karakalpaks out. They have no representation in UZ parliament, a party that could represent their interests at the national level. As usual, pro-gov parties, whose participation was envisaged in advance by Mirziyoyev admin, took part in elections and won. Registration of Karakalpak party is impossible, any talk about civil/pol rights provokes harsh reaction+repressions from UZ authorities https://freedomforeurasia.org/election-results-in-uzbekistan-no-karakalpak-party-emerges/
Leila Nazgul Seiitbek@l_seiitbek
[10/28/2024 2:27 PM, 4K followers, 4 retweets, 18 likes]
A letter from prison from Karakalpak political priosner @muratbaiman that came in late, because Akylbek was locked down in SHIZO - a penal cell. He was transferred to a penal cell so that he could not pass this letter through his lawyer or relatives and so that we could not read it at the @osce_odihr conference in Warsaw. https://freedomforeurasia.org/letter-of-appeal-by-karakalpak-political-prisoner-akylbek-muratbai-muratov/
Joanna Lillis@joannalillis
[10/29/2024 12:48 AM, 29.2K followers, 1 retweet, 1 like]
Three more arrested over shooting at car of Komil Allamjonov, high-profile figure close to president’s daughter Saida Mirziyoyeva - statement doesn’t name him as victim in case investigated as attempted murder. Details remain scant #Uzbekistan https://t.me/uzbprokuratura/50711 Details
Joanna Lillis@joannalillis
[10/28/2024 6:07 AM, 29.2K followers, 5 retweets, 15 likes]
Ruling party wins majority in parliamentary election featuring no opposition and no new parties that underscores lack of political reform in #Uzbekistan, after eight years of rule by Mirziyoyev, who has extended his terms and can rule until 2037{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.