Author: Arif ArifArman

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Pakistan’s move to deport illegal migrants has put its relationship with Afghanistan at stake as the Taliban government is not happy with Islamabad and a number of their leaders, including interim prime minister, defence and interior ministers have publicly criticised Pakistan for evicting thousands of Afghans. Though Pakistan has repeatedly stated that its decision was only meant to send back those having no legal documents, the Afghan Taliban government continues to accuse Islamabad of harassing the refugees. Kabul has indicated that Islamabad’s decision may be a pressure tactic on the issue of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Afghan…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Iran’s IRNA news agency has reported that the Ministry of Intelligence of the country, in collaboration with the Taliban administration, has apprehended three Israeli intelligence operatives (Mossad) who were planning to launch suicide drones towards Iran at the Afghanistan-Iran border. This Iranian media outlet reported the detention of these three individuals on Sunday and added that the detained individuals have been transferred to Iran. According to the report, these three individuals have been detained in cooperation with the intelligence forces of the Taliban administration. It is said that the detained individuals hold Iranian nationality. This marks the first…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: A group of clerics in Pakistan’s Kohistan on Saturday announced that women working with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) would not be allowed to mingle with “na mahram” men in public and that doing so would require them to follow specific directives, depending upon their marital status, Dawn reported. In Islam “na mahram” stands for the women/men that you are allowed to marry. It includes all women/men other than mahram( including cousins). The clerics, a group of 12, said that if a married woman was found accompanying a na mahram man, she would be expelled from the area. If a…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Gallup, the polling and consulting group, is pulling out of China, making it the latest foreign company to retrench from the country amid rising scrutiny of western consultancies and whipsawing geopolitical tensions. The Washington-based advisory group, which first came to China in 1993, employed dozens of staff at its offices in Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen, according to public payroll records, many of whom work as consultants helping Chinese companies re-engineer their organisations or optimise their marketing. Gallup also has an educational and training arm in China, but it has long faced difficulties conducting the public polling it is…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Three U.N. agencies on Friday called for the protection of children and families as Pakistan has started a campaign to deport foreigners residing illegally in Pakistan, as reported by Dawn on Saturday. The U.N. agencies say children face serious protection risks while on the move in Pakistan, in detention centres, crossing borders and upon return to Afghanistan. UNHCR – the U.N. refugee agency, IOM – the U.N. migration agency, and Unicef – the U.N. children’s fund, continue to appeal to the international community to increase support for hosting vulnerable children and families and refugees in Pakistan, said a…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Saturday his country, the Philippines and the United States were cooperating to protect the freedom of the South China Sea as he committed to help enhance Manila’s security capabilities. “In the South China Sea, trilateral cooperation to protect the freedom of the sea is under way,” Kishida, on an official visit, said in an address before the Philippine congress in the capital Manila. Kishida and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr agreed on Friday to start negotiations on a reciprocal troop access deal to strengthen military cooperation as China becomes increasingly assertive in…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: In the complex world of international relations, the interplay between domestic politics and global dynamics can have far-reaching consequences. Often, neighboring countries find themselves secretly delighting in each other’s troubles. The ongoing dispute between India, Canada, and their Western allies has added fuel to the simmering Khalistan movement. While some in Pakistan may be tempted to view India’s predicament with satisfaction, it is crucial to recognize the potential dangers that this movement poses not only to India but also to Pakistan and regional stability, as highlighted in a report by the Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI). The Khalistan…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: Saudi Arabia has expressed interest in buying a multibillion-dollar stake in the Indian Premier League (IPL), the world’s richest cricket league, Bloomberg News reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter. Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s advisers have spoken to Indian government officials about moving the IPL into a holding company valued at as much as $30 billion, the report said. The talks were held when the crown prince visited India in September, the report said, adding that the kingdom proposed investing as much as $5 billion into the league and help lead an expansion…

INTERNATIONAL DESK: In a significant development with geopolitical implications, the full termination of major infrastructure projects under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has been announced by the Philippine Department of Transportation in favour of competitors from the West and Japan, as reported by Asia Times on Thursday. As per the Philippine Senate, doubt now shrouds nearly all of China’s crucial investment initiatives in the Philippines, owing to economic and political factors. This has led to a new low point in Philippine-China relations, marking a drastic reversal from the six years of warm engagement during the pro-Beijing Rodrigo Duterte presidency.…

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…