Author: Arif ArifArman

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Following the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan, many observers highlighted the potentially explosive nature of the region at a recently held event in London. To consider the extent of this, and to explore the link between religious extremism and radicalisation in Central Asia, The Democracy Forum convened a panel of experts at a recently held virtual seminar titled ‘Extremism and Radicalisation in Central Asia’. The revival of Islam in Central Asia was one of the many unforeseen consequences of the collapse of the USSR in 1991, said TDF President Lord Bruce, adding that the rebirth of Islam in the…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: China has, of course, denied the incident ever occurred, but some 55 Chinese sailors aboard a submarine designated 093-417 are presumed dead after an accident in the Yellow Sea, off of China’s Shandong Province. British intelligence reports the submariners died after a “catastrophic” failure of the vessel’s oxygen systems on August 21, 2023. “Our understanding is death caused by hypoxia due to a system fault on the submarine. The submarine hit a chain and anchor obstacle used by the Chinese PLA Navy to trap US and allied submarines,” the report read. “This resulted in systems failures that took…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Stating that the US is committed to an Indo-Pacific that is free and open, Secretary of Treasury Janet Yellen said that Washington is increasing its trade with countries like India, Vietnam and Mexico reducing its dependence on China. Yellen said that she along with President Biden will head Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Week later this month in California. “Recognizing this big picture, the Biden Administration is pursuing an approach to the Indo-Pacific that furthers our country’s long history of engagement and does justice to the region’s importance for our and the world’s future,” Yellen said in a…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: In order to prevent “foreign interference,” a group of British lawmakers has proposed mandatory security for all members of parliament and parliamentary personnel, Radio Free Asia reported on Wednesday. David Alton, among several British MPs who put forward the training proposal to the Speaker of the House of Lords and the Speaker of the House of Commons, said, “The new geopolitical axis, consisting of Iran, the Kremlin, Pyongyang and Beijing, brings with it many new challenges, including sanctions targeting lawmakers who oppose authoritarian regimes, digital attacks on their online and mobile networks, and malicious intent on social platforms…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Bhutan and India share a remarkable and enduring relationship deeply rooted in history, spirituality, and common values. This multifaceted partnership has evolved over the years and encompasses various crucial areas, from energy security to technology, space exploration, and conservation biology, The Bhutan Live reported. The strong bond between these two nations is evident not only in times of prosperity but also during challenging times, demonstrating the depth of their friendship. The connection between Bhutan and India runs deep, with roots in centuries of shared civilisation. This relationship is further fortified by a profound spiritual kinship, as Bhutan considers…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: China will begin polling 1.4 million people on Wednesday in a survey on population changes, as authorities struggle to incentivise people to have more children amid a declining birth rate and the first population drop in more than six decades. The poll, which was announced on Oct. 10 in an unexpected move, will focus on urban and rural areas throughout the country. The survey will be based on a sample of 500,000 households and last for around two weeks until Nov. 15, China’s National Bureau of Statistics said. It will help provide a basis to monitor China’s population…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: The World Trade Organisation has extended a deadline for China to adopt WTO rules until May 8, 2024 in a case initiated by Japan over anti-dumping measures on stainless steel products, the body said on Wednesday. This follows an agreement between China and Japan on the length of the time period, the WTO said in a statement, citing information communicated by the delegations of those countries.(REUTERS)

INTERNATIONAL DESK: In the ongoing investigation into gold smuggling by the Nepal Police, concerns have arisen regarding the ease with which many Chinese individuals have acquired Nepali citizenship and passports. Following this revelation, Indian security agencies have expressed suspicion that these Chinese nationals may be engaging in espionage and other unlawful activities, leveraging their Nepalese identity cards within significant Indian cities. Consequently, directives have been issued to closely monitor these suspicious individuals. India’s external intelligence agency, the Research & Analysis Wing (R&AW), also known as the Special Bureau, has recently raised concerns by sharing critical intelligence regarding Chinese covert operations…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: More than a year has passed since devastating floods created mayhem in the illegally occupied territory of Gilgit Baltistan. Bridges collapsed, farmlands were ravaged, the households were inundated but the proxy administration of Pakistan did nothing to save and salvage the victims from nature’s fury. Although the waters receded, leaving debris of disaster- the residents were still hopeful of starting a new life with the assistance of local administration. But to their dismay, more than a year has passed, and the survivors are still rummaging for hope and little compensation from the apathetic government. Iqbal Hussain, a local…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: The Petroleum Division confirmed the alteration via an official notification, stating the new gas prices would be applicable from November 1st. The document outlined a peculiar exemption: protected consumers using 25 to 90 cubic meters of gas per month would be spared from the price hike. However, they too have not been left unscathed, as their fixed charges have skyrocketed from a meager Rs. 10 to a staggering Rs. 400. For non-protected consumers, the escalation is nothing short of a nightmare. They face a gas price spike of over 172%. This translates to prices inflating from Rs. 200…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Following Pakistan’s decision to expel nearly 1.7 million foreign nationals, primarily Afghans, schools teaching Afghan children in Pakistan have started closing their doors for them, reported Khaama Press. The closure of schools is primarily affecting Afghan girls in Pakistan as it may mark the end of their education for the foreseeable future. Leading to this, many of these Afghan women are forced to return to Afghanistan, where the Taliban government has already prohibited them from accessing secondary education. The Pakistani government initiated an extensive crackdown on the estimated 1.7 million Afghans residing in the country without legal status,…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: The caretaker cabinet on Monday approved a whopping increase of up to 3,900 per cent in the fixed monthly charges, and 194 per cent in the consumer rates for natural gas, which will open floodgates to a fresh bout of inflation. In effect, the average gas cost for protected consumer slabs (0.25hm3 to 0.9hm3) would jump by up to 300pc, in view of the cumulative impact of higher fixed charges, while their annual bill is estimated to rise by up to 150 per cent. “The federal government… approved increase in the price of natural gas for different categories…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Australian authorities have levied charges against seven individuals for their alleged involvement in a Chinese money laundering syndicate operating within Australia, which is suspected of laundering over US$140 million, as announced by the Australian Federal Police on Thursday. These charges follow a 14-month-long investigation conducted by several law enforcement agencies, which the police labeled the most intricate money laundering investigation in the nation’s history. The investigation primarily focused on a group operating the Changjiang Currency Exchange, a foreign exchange company with 12 branches across the country. Changjiang Currency Exchange has facilitated transactions exceeding $6 billion in the past…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: China’s imports of tin concentrates collapsed in September, reflecting the suspension of mining activity in the semi-autonomous Wa state in neighbouring Myanmar. The United Wa State Army (UWSA), the largest of Myanmar’s ethnic groups, ordered a halt to all mining and processing activity at the start of August for a wide-ranging audit of the tin sector. The Wa mines account for more than 70% of production in Myanmar, which is the world’s third largest tin producer and the dominant supplier to China’s smelters. The ban remains in force and is now starting to constrain the flow of concentrates…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: On Monday, shopkeepers along Multan Road closed their shops and demanded completion of the project. The protesters stood amidst sewage water that had overflowed due to the municipal committee’s negligence. They raised slogans against the caretaker chief minister and the district administration for failing to address the sewage issue, which had caused a great deal of inconvenience for them. Local leader Sheikh Amir Saleem said the incomplete road and sewage problem had severely impacted their businesses. Despite assurances from the chief officer of the Municipal Committee, the traders refused to end the protest, completely obstructing traffic on Multan…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: The United States has started bulk buying Japanese seafood to supply its military there in response to China’s ban on such products imposed after Tokyo released treated water from its crippled Fukushima nuclear plant into the sea. Unveiling the initiative in a Reuters interview on Monday, U.S. ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel said Washington should also look more broadly into how it could help offset China’s ban that he said was part of its “economic wars”. China, which had been the biggest buyer of Japanese seafood, says its ban is due to food safety fears. The U.N.’s nuclear…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: With the Air Force having already operationalised three of its S-400 air defence missile squadrons along borders with China and Pakistan, Indian and Russian officials are set to meet soon to discuss the final delivery schedule for the remaining two squadrons. India had signed an over Rs 35,000 crore contract with the Russian side in 2018-19 for five squadrons of the S-400 missiles of which three have already arrived in the country but delivery of the remaining two was hindered due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. “The three squadrons have already been operationalised in important sectors. While one unit…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: The Beijing Xiangshan Forum, China’s prominent annual display of military diplomacy, commenced on Sunday, despite the absence of a defense minister who traditionally hosts this event. China is utilizing the forum to advance President Xi Jinping’s vision for a safer world and to foster closer ties with developing nations, especially in light of heightened coordination between the United States and its allies aimed at constraining China’s military ambitions. A notable focus at this year’s forum is Russia, which initiated a conflict in Ukraine in 2022. Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu is prominently featured on the forum’s agenda as…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: The recent collision between a Chinese coast guard vessel and a Philippine resupply boat near the Second Thomas Shoal on October 22 is just the latest in a series of incidents in the South China Sea. Can these types of incidents trigger a confrontation between China and the United States. While the risk of a deliberate war appears low, the possibility of accidental conflict should not be underestimated, Channel News Asia article reported. The South China Sea is a volatile region. A misjudgment or miscalculation on the ground could lead to an uncontrollable situation, given the proximity of…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: China’s biggest annual show of military diplomacy, Beijing Xiangshan Forum, started on Sunday although the Asian power is still missing a defence minister, who typically hosts this event. China hopes to use the forum to promote President Xi Jinping’s vision for a safer world and draw developing countries closer, as it faces increased coordination between the United States and its allies to curtail its military ambitions. Russia, which started a war in Ukraine in 2022, is being given centre stage at the forum. Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu is listed in the forum’s agenda as the first guest…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: A Baloch student of the Punjab University (PU) was arrested by police and plainclothesmen from the gate of the New Campus on Friday, triggering protests and condemnation from human rights activists, students, and Baloch nationalists. According to CCTV footage circulating on social media, Fareed Husain Baloch, a BS Education 8th semester student and a member of the Baloch Council of PU, was leaving the campus from the main gate when he was intercepted by two policemen and two others in civvies. The footage showed that the student resisted the arrest and tried to run away, but the policemen…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Moscow has expressed disappointment as Pakistan keeps on changing the structure of the Pakistan Stream Gas Pipeline project and is not making any progress on the commercial deal amid US sanctions on Russian entities, reported The Express Tribune. The Pakistan Stream Gas Pipeline project was launched to build a Liquified Natural Gas (LPG) pipeline from Karachi to Lahore, and aimed to overcome the gas shortage in the Punjab province. The Pakistofficials went to Russia on October 10 to discuss the long-term oil deal and the gas pipeline project was also on the agenda. However, according to The Express…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: UK Conservative MP Theresa Anne Villiers met members of the Jammu and Kashmir diaspora in the British House of Commons to mark the anniversary of Jammu and Kashmir’s accession to India. Villiers said she raised concerns, this week, regarding human rights abuses committed against Hindus and other minority communities in Pakistan. The members of the Jammu and Kashmir diaspora, who participated in the meeting with Theresa Anne Villiers, included Ajatshatru Singh, Ritu Singh and Sushil Pandit. Villiers noted that it has been 76 years since the accession of Jammu and Kashmir to India. In a post on Facebook,…

INTERNATIONAL DESK:The House of Commons (UK Parliament) celebrated Jammu and Kashmir Day on the eve of the 76th anniversary of the Accession of the then princely state to India on October 26, 1947. The program was organised by the Jammu Kashmir diaspora based in the UK and hosted by Rt Hon Bob Blackman, MP Harrow East. Other parliamentarians attending the event included Rt Hon Jonathan Lord, MP Woking, Rt Hon Theresa Villiers, and MP Chipping Barnet. The special guests for the evening included Ajatshatru Singh and Ritu Singh from the erstwhile royal family of Jammu & Kashmir. Other keynote speakers…