Author: Arif ArifArman

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Pakistan is grappling with a crippling economic crisis, losing a staggering USD 23 billion per year due to the pervasive issues of black marketing and smuggling, according to a recent report by ACE Money Transfer, a UK-based company. These illicit activities encompass a wide range of clandestine operations, including black market currency trading, oil smuggling, gold smuggling, and circumvention of import controls. The impact of these activities is not only causing significant financial losses but also posing a severe threat to Pakistan’s economic stability, government revenue, and overall financial health. The ACE report underscores the profound consequences of…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar has ordered relevant authorities to expedite the implementation of projects undertaken in collaboration with China and to ensure an uninterrupted supply of fertiliser to the farmers during the Rabi season. In his meeting with Planning Minister Sami Saeed on Tuesday, the PM discussed the implementation of projects agreed upon during his recent visit to China, according to APP. During the visit, the two countries signed 20 agreements and MoUs in several sectors, including infrastructure and mining. Separately, while chairing a meeting to review the provision of urea for the Rabi crop, the…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: The Belt Road Initiative has entered a new phase and Pakistan has put a ‘blind trust’ on China over it. During a visit to China’s Belt and Road Forum last week, Pakistan’s caretaker prime minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar agreed on a number of agreements, but experts warned that financial constraints and security threats could still hinder the projects, ANI reported quoting Nikkei Asia. Kakar while meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping called Pakistan’s partnership with the world’s No. 2 economy “made in heaven.” “We will always stand with China and trust you blindly,” Kakar was quoted as saying by…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: As the deportation of Afghan refugees continues to remain a hot topic these days, over 8,000 Afghan migrants have been forcefully deported back from Pakistan and Iran, Khaama Press reported. The number of Afghan people being deported from Pakistan and Iran has been confirmed by the Taliban’s Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation of Afghanistan. The Ministry said in a news release on Thursday that as of 24 October, 5,196 Afghan migrants have been forcibly sent back to Afghanistan through the border crossings at Turghandi and Spin Boldak. Officials from the border administrations in Nangarhar and Kandahar state that…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: The Pakistan caretaker government, on Monday, granted approval for a substantial gas price hike of up to 193 per cent, aimed at recovering an additional Pakistan Rupee (PKR) 350 billion from consumers to bail out struggling gas companies. However, the proposal to completely abolish subsidies for the wealthiest exporters and industrialists was rejected, The Express Tribune reported. For domestic consumers, gas prices are set to surge by up to 172 per cent, with commercial consumers facing a 137 per cent increase, while cement manufacturers will experience a staggering 193 per cent hike starting November 1. The Economic Coordination…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: A Pakistani drone with a suspected contraband item was recovered in a joint operation by the Border Security Force (BSF) and Punjab Police in Punjab’s Tarn Taran district on Tuesday, said officials. The BSF said that on Tuesday around 11:28 am it intercepted the movement of a suspected drone near Village Wan in the district of Tarn Taran. “As per the laid down drill, BSF troops immediately reacted to intercept the drone,” said a statement issued by the BSF. “Further, a joint search operation with Punjab Police was carried out. During the search at about 12:15 pm, a…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: The intelligence leaders of the ‘Five Eyes’ countries have accused China of posing a threat to the world, alleging that the country is stealing intellectual property, trade secrets, and personal data all across the world, as reported by CBS News. These leaders made these claims on the news show ’60 Minutes’ on CBS News. ‘Five Eyes’ is a security alliance formed after World War II, comprising the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. It monitors the global threat landscape, including events such as the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in West Asia, Russia’s military offensive in…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Manila said on Monday (Oct 23) that Chinese vessels “intentionally hit” Philippine boats at the weekend, escalating a diplomatic row over two collisions in the South China Sea. The countries have traded blame over Sunday’s incidents near Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands, with both sides filing diplomatic protests and releasing videos to support their accusations. The two collisions happened during a Philippine resupply mission to troops stationed on a navy vessel that was grounded on the shoal in 1999 to assert Manila’s territorial claims. Philippine officials accused a Chinese coastguard ship and a “militia” vessel of…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Manila summoned Beijing’s ambassador on Monday over two collisions between Philippine and Chinese vessels in the disputed South China Sea, amid accusations the vessels were “intentionally hit”. The Philippines and China have traded blame over Sunday’s incidents near Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands, with both sides filing diplomatic protests and releasing videos to support their accusations. The two collisions on Sunday happened during a Philippine resupply mission to troops stationed on a crumbling naval vessel grounded on the shoal in 1999 to assert Manila’s territorial claims. The Philippine foreign ministry summoned China’s ambassador to Manila, Huang…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: An intervetion in the stock market. Liquidity injections by the central bank. More curbs on short selling. And yet, Chinese stocks cannot escape the real estate sector’s spiral of gloom. Data this week showed that property investment – a key driver of China’s economic activity – continued to slump, while home prices fell at the fastest pace in almost a year in September. That negated investor optimism over data showing a pickup in third-quarter economic growth. The main CSI 300 Index slid more than 4 per cent to cap its worst week in a year on Friday (Oct…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: The Republic of China (Taiwan) is already an independent nation, and as such has no need to declare independence, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said in a press release Saturday, after an EU official stated Friday that Taiwan should not make any unilateral declaration of independence. According to the statement, the ministry noticed High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell published a piece on the European External Action Service (EEAS) website Friday, stating that the European Union’s (EU) One China Policy remains unchanged and that “Taiwan should not embark on…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: China and the Philippines traded accusations over a collision in disputed waters of the South China Sea as Chinese vessels blocked a Philippine boat supplying forces there Sunday, the latest in a series of maritime confrontations. The two countries have had numerous run-ins in areas of the South China Sea in recent months, especially the disputed Second Thomas Shoal, part of the Spratly Islands. The Philippines has been sending supplies to troops stationed on a rusted World War Two-era transport ship used as an outpost on the shoal, prompting China’s coast guard to repeatedly deploy vessels to block…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Russia President Vladimir Putin received a red-carpet treatment in Beijing this week at China’s 3rd Belt and Road Forum. The event marked the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative – an ambitious undertaking to boost connectivity and trade across the world via Chinese infrastructure projects. At the forum, Chinese President Xi Jinping called Putin “a dear friend.” On the sidelines, the two leaders held a three-hour discussion over the Sino-Russian partnership. China’s Foreign Ministry summarized what Putin said about China’s Belt and Road Initiative this way: “…the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: The United States has appealed to Pakistan to permit Afghans seeking refuge to enter the country, Daily Times reported on Saturday. A spokesperson from the US State Department emphasised the need for Afghanistan’s neighbouring countries, including Pakistan, to facilitate the entry of Afghans seeking international protection and to collaborate with international humanitarian organisations to provide essential assistance. Pakistan has returned 3,248 Afghan refugees to Afghanistan in a single day as part of its efforts to combat illegal immigration. The deadline for the expulsion of undocumented migrants has led to over 51,000 Afghans being deported since it was announced.…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: The World Bank has reported an increase in poverty in Pakistan during the previous fiscal year due to soaring food and energy prices, labour market challenges, and flood-related damages, Dawn reported. According to the Macro Poverty Outlook, which was prepared for the recent annual meetings of the World Bank and IMF in Marrakesh, Morocco, prolonged and high inflation in food and energy prices, combined with a lack of substantial economic growth, could lead to social upheaval and negatively impact the well-being of disadvantaged households that have already seen their savings dwindle and incomes decline. The report indicates that…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: The state-run radio of Pakistan reported that 3,248 Afghan refugees have been returned to Afghanistan from this country. According to Pakistani authorities, since the deadline for the expulsion of undocumented migrants was set, more than 51,000 Afghans have been deported. Jan Achakzai, Balochistan Province’s Minister of Information, highlighted Pakistan’s intensified efforts to combat illegal immigration. He emphasized that these actions go beyond Afghan refugees, with measures like the November 1st expulsion deadline applying to all undocumented immigrants in the province, showcasing the government’s dedication to upholding order and security. Additionally, as reported by the Express Tribune, a specialised…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: The elusive “freedom” and “economic prosperity” of Azad Kashmir seems to have started evaporating into thin air as a powerful rights-movement has surfaced in a land which has remained mostly under the direct rule of Pakistani state ever since 1947. The scenes of shutter down strikes across major cities of Azad Kashmir point towards the grim situation in the region. Kashmir interestingly holds a key position in the entire narrative of Pakistani establishment when it comes to defending the utilization of 60% of the Pakistan’s national budget (direct and indirect combined) for sustaining a security state. There have…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: The United States is imposing sanctions on three China-based companies that it said on Friday have worked to supply missile‐applicable items to Pakistan’s ballistic missile program. A U.S. State Department statement identified the firms as General Technology Limited, Beijing Luo Luo Technology Development Co Ltd, and Changzhou Utek Composite Company Ltd. It said General Technology had worked to supply brazing materials used to join components in ballistic missile rocket engines and in the production of combustion chambers; Beijing Luo Luo had worked to supply mandrels and other machinery, which can be used in the production of solid-propellant rocket…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Pakistan, the biggest and brazen exporter of terrorism in the world, is marching, tweeting, and using every opportunity to condemn Israel’s attack on the Islamic terrorist organization, Hamas, calling it a genocide and the end of humanity. The act has exposed its double standards. Pakistan has forgotten its treacherous invasion and genocide of innocent Kashmiri Hindus and Christians in the October of 1947. Begging and crying for more than 75 years got them international sympathy. But in the 21st century, it is not hard to identify these Islamic hardliners that displayed their jihadi mindset, just two months into…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: The International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) will celebrate International Abhidhamma Divas on the auspicious occasion of Sharada Purnima, the full moon day, on October 28, 2023, a press release said. This day commemorates the descent of Lord Buddha from the celestial realm of the 33 divine beings (Tavatimsa-devaloka) to Sankassiya, known today as Sankisa Basantapur in the Farrukhabad district of Uttar Pradesh, India. The significance of this location is underscored by the presence of the Asokan Elephant Pillar, an enduring marker of this historic event. According to Buddhist texts, after imparting the teachings of Abhidhamma to the Devas with…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: As tensions continue to escalate in the Taiwan Strait, the international community has been engaged in extensive discussions and analysis regarding the potential for an imminent military assault on Taiwan by the Chinese communist regime. This evolving situation has raised concerns and prompted experts and policymakers to closely examine the dynamics at play in the region. Observers and analysts who are closely monitoring these developments believe that while the possibility of an immediate military attack on Taiwan cannot be ruled out entirely, it is unlikely that Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader Xi Jinping would opt for such a…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: A Norwegian Navy ship shadowed a Chinese container ship investigated over damage to a gas pipeline in the Gulf of Finland for about 15 hours as it sailed along the western coast of Norway on Monday, vessel tracking data showed. Finnish investigators on Tuesday said they were looking into the Chinese vessel, the NewNew Polar Bear, and a Russian-flagged ship, the Sevmorput, as well as other vessels, present in the area when a Baltic Sea pipeline was damaged on Oct. 8. They said the incident was due to “outside activity” and could have been deliberate. The NewNew Polar…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: China’s new home prices fell for the third straight month in September, official data showed on Thursday, dashing hopes of a turnaround in demand during a traditionally peak home buying period despite efforts to revive the crisis-hit property sector. New home prices fell 0.2% month-on-month but narrowed from a 0.3% drop in August, according to Reuters calculations based on National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) data. Prices were down 0.1% from a year earlier, matching August’s decline. China’s property sector, once a key engine of economic growth, has been squeezed by a regulatory crackdown since 2020 as authorities curbed…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Around 1200 Indian nationals including 18 Nepali nationals have been brought back from Israel under ‘Operation Ajay’ and more flights will be planned as per the requirements, the Ministry of External Affairs informed on Thursday. MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi also said that the government is assessing the situation in Israel amid the ongoing war with Hamas. Addressing a press briefing, Bagchi said, “1200 Indians have come back in five flights under operation Ajay, including 18 Nepali nationals…We are assessing the situation and as per the requirements we will plan further flights”. He refuted any reports of Indian casualty…