BaLoChISTaN vIoLeNCe IS aNTI-NaTIoNaL , agaINST INTeReST of PeoPLe of PaKISTaN: PM
g PM SHEHBAZ SAYS GWADAR AIRPORT WOULD NOT ONLY BENEFIT BALOCHISTAN BUT PAKISTAN ’S OVERALL ECONOMY
ISLAMABAD
S TA F F R E P O R T
PR I M E Minister Shehbaz Sharif has strongly criticised those involved in violence and destruction in Balochistan, labelling such acts as anti-national and against the interests of the people of Pakistan
Speaking at the federal cabinet meeting in Islamabad on Tuesday he reaffirmed the government s commitment to stability and development in the region
The prime minister said the elements involved in killings in Balochistan were not only against Balochistan, but were the “enemies of Pakistan”
“Creating hurdles in completion of Gwadar Port is also animosity with Pakistan ” PM Shehbaz said adding that the enemies of Pakistan do not want the operationalisation of Gwadar Port
The prime minister also paid tributes to the armed forces and people of Pakistan for rendering matchless sacrifices to eliminate Fitna- al-Khwarij from the country” a term that the state uses to refer to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)
Highlighting economic development the Prime Minister commended China for completing the Gwadar International Airport with a $230 million grant
He stated that the new airport would significantly boost the country’s economy and aid in the recovery of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project
The newly inaugurated Gwadar International Airport would not only benefit the economy of Balochistan but Pakistan s overall economy Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Tuesday during a federal cabinet meeting, according to Radio Pakistan Pakistan’s largest Gwadar International Airport became operational on Monday with the landing of the first PIA flight from Karachi carrying 46 passengers
He said the start of flight operations from Gwadar International Airport was welcoming
The premier also talked about other issues, including exports, electronic vehicles, and other economic indicators
He said it was welcoming to witness a record increase of IT exports to the tune of $346m in December last year “We should also focus to push for more IT exports he said
He added the government was also taking a number of steps to promote electric vehicles in Pakistan PM Shehbaz also welcomed the World Bank s pledge of providing $20 billion under the country partnership framework for the next 10 years to support inclusive and sustainable development
Under this country partnership framework investment will be made in different social sectors of the country, he said
The prime minister said all economic indicators
were showing a positive trajectory, which was testament to the government s
in Gaza
The Prime Minister condemned the loss of over 50,000 Palestinian lives due to Israeli aggression
The Federal Cabinet took up a plethora of items on its agenda with particular focus on the prevailing political situation in the country
According to the report, the meeting deliberated upon the economic issues, which is among the 16-point agenda
again, showing no remorse or shame for their actions He highlighted that the nation is well aware of the Sharif family and its party s fraudulent practices including the fake documents presented in the Panama case such as the fake Qatari letter and trust deed with Calibri font, as well as fake medical reports used to escape the country Moreover, PTI CIS stated that the ECP’s conduct in the said case further substantiates PTI’s arguments on consistent bias and prejudice of electoral body against PTI while favoring PML-N for which CEC Sikandar Sultan Raja repeatedly violated the constitution and he must be held accountable for defying his constitutional obligations Waqas emphasised that the SC’s judgment and Justice Ayesha Malik’s additional note not only established the electoral watchdog and corrupt Sharif ’s dynasty’s nexus to manipulate the elections but the decision further testified the PTI s stance of mega polls robbery on February 8 2024 to convert landslide PTI s victory into a defeat resultantly to fraudulently impose the Sharif on the nation Waqas emphasized that the apex court s judgment, along with Justice Ayesha Malik’s additional note, exposed the electoral watchdog’s collusion with the corrupt Sharif dynasty to manipulate elections and further testified that the PTI was robbed of a landslide victory on February 8 2024 and instead imposed the Sharif regime on the nation through fraudulent means
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)
Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan lamented over the delay in issuance of a certificate of intraparty elections by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) despite responding to all constitutional and legal questions
Talking to media outside ECP, he said the PTI held the intra-party elections in accordance with the constitution and law adding that a certificate of the intra-party elections was their constitutional and legal right, expressing hoping that the party would receive it in the next hearing
H
raid on the party office the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA)
documents
Barrister Gohar emphasized that PTI is one of the largest political parties in the world and the largest political party in Pakistan
The PTI chairman added that the procedure outlined in the constitution will be followed for appointment of chief election commissioner, adding that it will be completed once a parliamentary committee is formed
He stated that everyone stood with PTI founder Imran Khan who is the symbol of the party Earlier, the ECP conducted a hearing on the intra-party elections of the PTI
The hearing chaired by the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja was attended by PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar The CEC informed the court that the case was pending since April 30 2024 and PTI had not yet filed a written reply
To this, Barrister Gohar said that PTI had replied to the notice and would present the response to the petitions on the next hearing
The ECP adjourned the hearing until February 11 while ordering PTI to file the reply by then
During ECP hearing Barrister Gohar declared that PTI is the only party that conducted intraparty election, claiming the party to be the sixth biggest political party of the world
The PTI chief informed the court that out of the total five petitioners against PTI intra-party
elections the petitions were not contested and they would reply at the next hearing to the ECP
He said the PTI’s symbol is Imran Khan, who has written a letter to the Speaker of the National Assembly for the appointment of the new Chief Election Commissioner Meanwhile, Akbar S Babar, a founding member of PTI, also addressed a press conference, saying that PTI accounts should be frozen till the decision of the case He said that PTI s organizational setup has no legal status and currently it is ruled by the infiltrators who have no link with it Akbar S Babar further alleged that a coterie of vested interests has captured the PTI and the judgment in the £190 million foreign funding case has brought many people into the limelight
TEXTILE EXPORTS RISE
The government has decided to privatise three power distribution companies (DISCOs) Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO), Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (FESCO), and Gujranwala Electric Power Company Limited (GEPCO) in the first phase Secretary of the Power Division Dr Fakhre Alam informed the Senate Standing Committee on Power
The Senate Standing Committee on Power, chaired by Senator Mohsin Aziz, was briefed on the ongoing preparations for the privatization of power distribution companies (DISCOs) The Secretary Power Division apprised the committee that steps are underway to clear the balance sheets of DISCOs, transfer their properties to their names, and shift their shares from WAPDA to the government
“In the first phase the privatisation of IESCO FESCO and GEPCO will be undertaken he said Dr Alam stated I have written letters to the provincial chief secretaries offering them the option to purchase DISCOs in their respective provinces, but I have not received any response, which indicates they are not interested in purchasing them ” He revealed that starting this year the private sector will be allowed to participate in the electricity trading system Private entities will have the option to purchase more than one megawatt of electricity from sources of their choice
The Privatization Commission will ap-
point financial advisors for DISCOs within this month These advisors will evaluate the companies worth within 45 days
The secretary highlighted that DISCOs currently have 185,000 sanctioned positions, of which 85,000 are vacant, suggesting the existing staff is likely to be retained post-privatization
Secretary Alam also noted that the performance of DISCOs has improved with the appointment of new boards Bill recovery rates have reached 95%
However, Senator Aslam Abro questioned why new boards have not been constituted for HESCO and SEPCO accusing the current boards of attempting to appoint their preferred candidates as CEOs The committee directed the Power Division to appoint new boards for these companies within a month and halted the implementation of decisions made by the existing boards
Dr Alam announced plans to reduce electricity tariffs by Rs 10–12 per unit by June next year To date, the industrial tariff has already been reduced by Rs 11 per unit and domestic tariffs by Rs 5 per unit Five IPPs have been shut down, and tariff incentives for eight bagasse-based plants have been eliminated replacing them with
N i to r i N g D e s k The Appellate Tribunal Inland Revenue (ATIR) has directed Fauji Fertilizer Company Limited to deposit Rs18 89 billion collected under the Gas Infrastructure Development Cess (GIDC) into the government treasury along with the applicable default surcharge According to a news report, the judgment, issued by ATIR Islamabad, focused on the interpretation of Section 5 of the GIDC Act 2015 and Section 34 of the Income Tax Ordinance 2001 The case stemmed from an appeal filed by Fauji Fertilizer challenging an earlier decision by the Commissioner of Inland Revenue (Appeals-I), Large Taxpayers Office Islamabad regarding the tax year 2018 The tribunal highlighted the fiduci-
ary obligation of the company stating that once the cess was collected from customers on behalf of the government it must be promptly deposited in the federal treasury The company is not entitled to withhold the payment or use it for its own purposes,” the tribunal emphasized The tribunal also clarified that while the revenue department had incorrectly disallowed the expense under Section 5 of the GIDC Act, the company similarly misinterpreted the provision to justify its claim However, the tribunal acknowledged the company’s right to claim the expense under Section 20 of the Income Tax Ordinance as it was incurred exclusively for business purposes The judgment further noted that the company’s accounting practices aligned with International Accounting
Standards (IAS 37) as it had appropriately recorded the liability for GIDC upon billing and with reasonable accuracy The tribunal observed that the cess, having been passed onto customers, constituted a liability that must be remitted to the government For other additions confirmed or remanded by the Commissioner of Inland Revenue (Appeals) the tribunal ordered that these matters be referred back to the assessing officer for reconsideration It directed the officer to issue a final decision within two months ensuring due process by providing an opportunity for the appellant to present its case
The ATIR s ruling underscores the legal and ethical obligations of companies handling public funds and calls for adherence to established financial and tax regulations Tribunal direc ts Fauji Fer tilizer to deposit Rs18.89bn GIDC arrears with default
COMMENT
Trump’s back
DO N A L D J Trump’s return to the Presidency had to be held inside the Capitol, rather than in the open outside, because of the prediction of bad weather Though it did not snow it was cold and windy Mr Trump made an inaugural address which promised to overcome what he called the betrayals of the past True to his promise, he then issued a flurry of executive orders leaving the World Health Organization and the Paris Climate Accord as well as pardoning 1600 2021 Capitol rioters, who had tried to prevent Joe Biden being formally elected as President Is his second term going to be an improvement on his first or a replay? He certainly had his opponents scared Outgoing President Joe Biden issued pre-emptive pardons virtually wholesale to family members as well as serving or retired officials who coils conceivable be prosecuted if Mr Trump was to carry out his campaign threat of seeking revenge against those who had angered him or criticized him
Mr Trump’s return to office had been preceded by his successor, now his predecessor, having shown he was probably unfit for the office, and being replaced by VicePresident Kamala Harris The election had also yielded him a Republican majority in both Houses of Congress Though he likes to portray himself as an outsider, he has unrivalled control over his party That men s he should be able to push through his legislative agenda Though he was careful not to mention building a wall with Mexico he declared an emergency on the southern border He may legislate to prevent citizenship as a birthright, as part of his effort to stem immigration Immigration by Hispanics or Asians is something his supporters want to control, leading to charges of racism against him
That racism is not the only problem Pakistan has with him There is also his prejudice against Muslims, as well as his arrant pro-Israel sentiments Most problematic of all is his tilt towards India, and his warm relationship with Indian PM Narendra Modi His friendship with PTI chief Imran Khan will not help the country till Mr Khan is back in office
Editor
An Arab-American assessment of Biden’s failures
As Joseph Biden s presidency comes to an end his National security Advisor secretary of state and now Biden himself have been making an effort to put a pretty face on their disastrous performance in the Middle East While his aides have taken to blaming others for failures in a vain effort to absolve themselves the President true to form attempted to paint a portrait of successes It was in a word exaggerated some might even say delusional My focus here will be narrower I will assess the Biden administration s performance through the lens of commitments they made to Arab Americans in 2020 In the lead-up to the November 2020 election, the Biden campaign issued a document “Joe Biden and the Arab American Community: A Plan for Partnership It demonstrated important outreach to an oftenoverlooked constituency There were many promises made in its three pages, only a smattering of which were implemented For example, the Biden administration signed the “Khalid Jabara and Heather Heyer NO HATE Act” which improves hate crime reporting They improved race and ethnicity data collection including a new category that will enable a more accurate count of persons of Arab descent And they ended the Muslim ban and extended Temporary Protected status to various countries in the Arab world, allowing people to remain in the UsA during the conflicts raging in their home countries But aside from these few accomplishments the story to be told is what the Biden Administration did not do What follows are a list of its failures: n They promised a partnership with Arab Americans, but nothing of the sort occurred During the entire four years of his term in office neither the President nor his Vice President (or National security Advisor) met with Arab American community leaders There were meetings which we fought for and won with the secretary of state
Is US taxpayer money funding terrorism?
and the Attorney General but none with the sen-
ior leadership in the White House This was primarily because for the first three years the White House subsumed Arab Americans under the Muslim rubric, literally erasing Arab Americans as an ethnic community When the White House first announced its “strategy to Combat Islamophobia ” it spoke of concern with bigotry discrimination and hate crimes that negatively impacted Muslims and those perceived to be Muslim citing Arabs and sikhs as examples This exclusion had an impact across the government Arab Americans, who for 40 years had to fight for recognition and inclusion, were forced to begin the fight anew just to be included in meetings and have their concerns heard so while the Biden campaign document opened saying Anti-Arab bigotry has been used in attempts to exclude silence and marginalize an entire community Biden embraces the partnership of Arab Americans , in reality, the White House found a new way to exclude, silence, and marginalize us
n The administration rushed through Israel’s admission into the Us Visa Waiver Program despite documented evidence that Israel had not fulfilled a basic requirement of the programme that is, to guarantee reciprocity to Arab Americans seeking entry to and exit from Israel Past administrations, Republicans and Democrats, had rejected Israel’s entry into the VWP given welldocumented evidence of harassment discrimination and denial of entry to Us citizens of Arab descent The Biden Administration knew these practices continued and yet they trampled on the rights of their own citizens and the statutory requirements of
at least $10 9 million and were pressured to divert resources to Afghan banks
These payments further legitimize the Taliban’s control and siphon money away from humanitarian purposes Us Republican Representative Tim Burchett of Tennessee has been one of the most vocal critics of this financial arrangement Responding to Elon Musk s query about whether U s taxpayer dollars were reaching the Taliban, Burchett issued a chilling warning: The next terrorist attack will be 100 percent fully funded by the American taxpayer ” In a letter to President-elect Donald Trump Burchett outlined the ways Us foreign aid under the Biden Administration has allegedly benefited the Taliban
Marketing gone wrong
that 9 out of 10 Afghans were living in poverty Furthermore, Afghanistan has a global terrorism index (GTI) rating of 7 825 which is still very high and its sheltering of leaders of terrorist organizations like the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is causing major terrorism concerns for its neighbour Pakistan The question arises that if these released funds are being provided to Afghanistan, why is the situation not improving at all rather than being worsened in economic security and humanitarian domains? There is mounting concern that the funds are being diverted to systems controlled by the Taliban due to their absolute control over Afghanistan This lack of oversight and accountability has raised alarms about the potential misuse of Us taxpayer dollars and the possibility that these funds are indirectly strengthening the Taliban s grip on power rather than benefiting the Afghan people as intended Many NGOs operating in Afghanistan have no choice but to pay taxes and fees directly to the Taliban to maintain operations in which implementing NGOs paid
The Us government maintains that this money is for humanitarian purposes, such as food, healthcare, and education for Afghan civilians but the reality speaks otherwise Once the funds reach the Taliban-controlled central bank the UsA has no practical means to monitor how they are used This lack of oversight has created a black hole for billions of taxpayer dollars to a faction known for violating human rights
The flow of Us taxpayer money into Taliban-controlled systems highlights a broader dilemma The revelation that Us taxpayer money is flowing into Taliban-controlled systems is not just a financial scandal it is a national security threat for the UsA Americans deserve to know how their hard-earned money is being used, especially when it risks funding terrorism As the debate continues, the Us government must prioritize transparency, accountability and national security With $40-80 million leaving Us coffers every week the stakes are too high to ignore The writer can be reached on sarazulfi02@gmail com
A plan without wings
WH I L E missing persons are often linked to regions experiencing conflict, political instability, or economic hardship, this issue is not confined to those areas it also affects developed countries
In developed nations missing persons cases can involve a broad spectrum of individuals: children elderly people with senile dementia, those fleeing domestic abuse, and adults who choose to disappear for personal reasons Over 600,000 people go missing in the USA annually with countries like the UK Canada and Australia also reporting thousands Although most of these cases are resolved quickly with many individuals found within days or weeks, many disappearances remain unsolved These disappearances are varied, shaped by a mix of social, psychological, and criminal factors The situation in Pakistan is quite different Here many missing persons are believed to be taken by intelligence agencies The country has been severely affected by terrorism particularly since the War on Terror Pakistani Army soldiers and officers are direct targets of terrorist groups such as BLA or TTP When the government and law enforcement agencies take decisive actions against these terrorist factions human rights advocates often intervene swiftly However they tend to remain silent when other countries take even stricter measures against similar threats
Our judicial system is widely recognized for its inefficiencies This can lead to the wrongful conviction of innocents while the true culprits often evade justice In this context whenever our agencies detain someone for investigation or evidence gathering accusations of coercive and unlawful arrests are often made However, I firmly believe our agencies do not apprehend innocent people without cause and there is always a legitimate reason behind these arrests Every missing person has a story and our religion teaches us to love and serve our country
While blaming the agencies for allegedly capturing innocents, it is important to remember that many such arrests have led to the identification of terrorists anti-state elements and foreign agents Terrorists rarely admit to their crimes voluntarily and thorough investigations are essential to extract information National security is a top priority, and no nation compromises on this matter
Many columnists and journalists who frequently criticize agencies often focusing on only one aspect In offering a comprehensive and honest view I do not claim all missing persons are guilty, as it is not my place, nor that of journalists, to make such determinations Only a proper investigation can do so As in developed countries, several factors contribute to the phenomenon here Not all individuals who go missing fall under the jurisdiction of law enforcement agencies; some are linked to terrorist organizations and engage in activities against the state Individuals connected to terrorism may go into hiding to avoid capture Additionally, some disappear due to personal conflicts seeking refuge in remote areas to escape potential retaliation from enemies Some may be involved in smuggling or other criminal activities, and go into hiding to avoid detection The classification of these individuals as missing persons can be either intentional or unintentional, shaped by deliberate actions or a lack of understanding Pakistan’s law enforcement agencies have consistently worked to protect fundamental rights In doing so Pakistan s security forces have made numerous sacrifices to ensure the safety and well-being of both individuals and society Despite their steadfast commitment, however these agencies are often unfairly accused in connection with missing persons with such claims lacking solid evidence Moreover a targeted social media campaign has fuelled the spread of misinformation While human rights organizations often scrutinize the actions of security forces, they frequently overlook the underlying causes or the realities on the ground Voluntary disappearances sometimes mistaken for enforced disappearances are common with individuals choosing to vanish without informing their families Investigations have also uncovered instances where individuals deliberately disappear to avoid arrest by law enforcement agencies Furthermore identifying abandoned deceased individuals presents a significant challenge According to detailed statistics from Edhi and Chippa over 35 000 abandoned bodies have been buried in the country by these two NGOs alone since 2005
It is essential to distinguish between missing persons and enforced disappearances, as many missing individuals are later found to have been casualties of security forces during counterterrorism operations For example in a past case terrorist Karim Jan listed as missing, was killed during an attack on the Gwadar Port Authority complex, and his sister later requested his body Similarly, the sister of terrorist Abdul Wadud Satakzai had been searching for him since 12 August 2021 only to discover his death in the Mach attack A comparative analysis of missing person reports highlights the seriousness of this issue In the USA, the National Crime Information Center recorded 521,705 cases in its 2021 report The UK’s Missing Persons Unit documented 241 064 cases for 2020-2021 A 2018 news report from Germany cited 11 000 missing person cases In India missing person cases reached 347 524 in 2018 According to the Asian Federation against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD), Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir saw 8,000 cases between 1989 and 2012 Nepal reported 10 418 cases in 2020-2021 This clearly illustrates the widespread nature of missing person cases The government is actively involved in efforts to locate missing persons The Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances, which succeeded the Commission on Missing Persons formed in 2011 under the Interior Ministry is diligently working on tackling this Since 2010 the CoIoED has received 10 405 cases resolving 8 144 (78 percent) with 2 261 still under investigation Of these, 1,183 cases were thoroughly examined, leading to the identification of 467 entries in official records, such as updates to family trees SIM card issuances travel histories and vaccine registrations Among these entries 369 individuals were identified with 38 having multiple entries This included 35 matches in surveillance systems, 17 confirmed deaths, 11 individuals with passports or weapon licences, 3 with international travel histories, 113 with updated or mismatched family trees 158 with vaccine updates and 130 who were issued new SIMs Security forces have confirmed the custody of 1 292 individuals arrested on charges related to terrorism, espionage, or criminal activities Of these, 925 are being held in internment centres, while 367 are undergoing rehabilitation in de-radicalization programmes All these actions have been carried out transparently and in accordance with the law disproving the claim that law enforcement agencies abduct individuals without declaring custody Detainees in internment
and rehabilitation centres are afforded full legal rights including family visits and access to legal representation Punishments are meted out through the judicial process countering the myth that individuals in custody are denied basic rights
The claim that thousands are missing in Balochistan is also misleading Official records show 2 911 missing person cases with 2 459 (84 percent) resolved and 452 still under investigation Analysis of resolved cases reveals that 2,049 individuals have returned home, 2 are declared interned, 26 were found in jails, 47 were confirmed deceased, 277 cases were not categorized as enforced disappearances and 58 petitions were dismissed
The narrative of a Baloch genocide is also based on fabricated claims Dr Mahrang Baloch acknowledged that families of individuals killed in anti-terrorism operations in Iran were included in “missing persons” protests
The myth that “people highlighting missing persons’ cases are targeted” is false Activists such as Mama Qadeer Nasrullah Baloch Amina Masood Janjua Manzoor Pashteen Imaan Mazari and Mohsin Dawar continue to voice their concerns without facing intimidation They have had meetings with senior officials, including the Prime Minister and cabinet ministers demonstrating the government’s commitment to addressing their legitimate concerns Pakistan has been overly lenient with anti-state elements, resulting in these groups openly using social media to spread false propaganda against the state Even in the USA, law enforcement agencies swiftly apprehend those spreading hate and fake news
Another misconception is that the Missing Persons Commission is ineffective and used to cover up state policies on enforced disappearances The CoIoED plays a crucial role in coordinating with law enforcement and intelligence agencies, addressing family
concerns and collaborating with international organizations to ensure compliance with human rights standards Among the 5 006 cases submitted by Akhtar Mengal to the Balochistan government, 1,208 were verified, and 1,153 were located Of these, 1,038 individuals returned home, while 3 798 cases remained unverified The claim that a Truth and Reconciliation Commission is the sole solution disregards the considerable progress made by the CoIoED While the reported number of missing persons cases in Pakistan is relatively low, both domestic and international actors have made concerted efforts to portray Pakistan as a country with a large number There is undeniable evidence that banned
Donald Trump’s second term will hasten American decline
s a n d r u n t h e A m e r i c a n e m p i re
I n 1 9 4 5 t h e U S a c c o u n t e d f o r h a l f o f a l l g l o b a l m a n u f a c t u r i n g, i t n o w a c c o u n t s f o r ro u g h l y 1 6 p e r c e n t
TUnited States whose economic wherewithal rescued Western civilisation in the Second World War and the Cold War But whereas in 1945 the US accounted for half of all global manufacturing it now accounts for roughly 16 per cent America’s gross national debt stands at $36trn and that debt is growing by $1trn annually Neither Democrats nor Republicans seem to have even a modicum of the selfdiscipline required to arrest those movements It is such financial burdens and complexities that have been a factor in how great powers and empires have declined in the past: witness Rome, early-modern Spain, Habsburg Austria and Britain This all matters greatly since throughout history it has been the great powers – like them or not –that have maintained a semblance of world order And as they weaken anarchy inevitably creeps in Such are the broad outlines against which the recent American election is merely one episode That election was perhaps the most contentious presidential election in America’s history revealing a country fatally split along ideological class and cultural lines: lines ultimately created by globalisation which has drawn half of America into its cosmopolitan orbit while leaving the other half high and dry The globalised half consists of a liberal, stylish, whiskey-sipping, Europeanvacation-oriented upper-middle class which would not be caught dead in the flyover states of the Trumpian continental interior Then there is the other half that for various reasons personal and cultural cannot compete on the global stage and is stuck in place in the old nation state Of course I am describing not only America but a host of Western countries disunited by globalisation –just as the developing world is divided from the West, and just as the great powers are divided from each other America is key though: it has occupied such a big space in the global order for close to a century that we almost take it for granted In the print-and-typewriter age mass democracy produced American dynamism: moderation and the political centre held the balance of power in a communications setting of comparatively lengthy, reasoned argument By contrast, the digital video era, by rewarding short
C h i n a’s e c o n o m i c c i rc u m s t a n c e s a re d i re . Te n s o f m i l l i o n s o f n e w l y b u i l t h o u s i n g u n i t s a re e m p t y… . Lo c a l g o ve r n m e n t s a re d ro w n i n g i n d e b t Fo re i g n a n d C h i n e s e m o n e y i s re g u l a r l y f l e e i n g t h e c o u n t r y i n t h e t e n s o f b i l l i o n s o f d o l l a r s Yo u t h u n e m p l o y m e n t i s r i s i n g A m e r i c a i s f a r b e t t e r o f f u n d e r Tr u m p t h a n C h i n a i s u n d e r X i
stresses they put whole peoples and civilisations under In the fullness of time, with its gargantuan network of interstate highways, America might be consigned to being a great empire of the oil-and-gas, print-and-typewriter age
This might immediately become apparent in the second Trump administration which may be more radical than his first term when as an unknown quantity he had attracted quite a few sensible and conventional Republicans and Republican-types to work for him in key positions In the foreign policy sphere that experiment continues but some of the evidence is troubling Witness Tulsi Gabbard, who isn’t remotely qualified, as his director of national intelligence
Trump seems not to evolve in office He is relentlessly impulsive and can be self-destructive as his lifelong legal troubles attest Keep in mind that American foreign policy is a product of both presidential instinct and bureaucratic finesse The president makes gut calls on major issues of war and peace that the bureaucracy cannot decide on its own Otherwise the army of secretaries deputy secretaries undersecretaries and so on in the state and defence departments make the calls and run the American empire
Those bureaucrats in both Democratic and conventional Republican administrations, though abused as members of the so-called deep state, are actually – I know many of them – the most prudent, qualified, and emotionally balanced group one could hope for And the second Trump administration won’t have enough of them Because of Trump s reputational toxicity among the elite his administration will be staffed by mediocrities and occasional incompetents Many posts in the foreign policy realm might not be filled at all, as he intends to gut much of the federal workforce This is the silent mechanism by which American power will decline
But even if all that is true decline can be exceedingly gradual and relative to that of competing powers which may also be in decline for other reasons The Habsburg and Ottoman empires were in decline during much of the 19th century, but only succumbed to extinction because they were on the losing side in the First World War Decline by itself is not enough to kill a great power Sometimes it takes a war or other kind of sudden cataclysm And empires after declining for decades can revive It is rarely a neat fall Both Russian and Chinese history are replete with weakening dynasties that are replaced by new ones only to spur national revival In this way their civilisations can seem eternal Something analogous could also happen to the US – and Trump, ironically, might be a catalyst of that, by cleaning out a bureaucracy with the help of Elon Musk in order to create eventually a leaner and meaner institutional system Indeed decline can be overrated British power has historically been tied to the strength of the Royal Navy which actually plateaued in
Canadian civilisation to its north; so that only the southern border with Mexico is problem-
atic That southern border may obsess Americans but it is a minor concern compared with the historic border problems of Russia and China, the other great powers The US is also blessed with hydrocarbons and other natural resources in addition to a navigable internal river system larger than that of most of the rest of the world combined The temperate zone of North America is the largest most secure and most powerful of the island satellites surrounding Eurasia, whose wars and other problems the United States is still substantially protected from As I have argued, decline can not only be gradual but relative, too Because the United States is a democracy its problems are out in the open In an authoritarian state such as China the problems may be worse but are obscured China s economic circumstances are dire Tens of millions of newly built housing units are empty in a country whose population is falling, reports the Wall Street Journal Chinese households are heavily invested in this declining real estate Foreclosures are exploding in number Local governments are drowning in debt Foreign and Chinese money is regularly fleeing the country in the tens of billions of dollars Youth unemployment is rising Xi
Jinping s Leninist rule has put the power of complex financial decision-making into the hands of ideologues, rather than into the hands of experts This is all a recipe for epic social unrest down the road America is far better off under Trump than China is under Xi
Then there is Russia Every month that the war in Ukraine continues Russia s ability to influence and control the Caucasus former Soviet Central Asia Siberia and the Russian far east is weakened Russia has always been a weakly institutionalised state compared to China, and as Russian power declines across 11 time zones, Russia may yet become a low-calorie version of the former Yugoslavia
Of course Moscow can seek to influence elections across eastern Europe and the Caucasus: relatively lowcost intelligence operations But the Kremlin lacked the ability to protect the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh Russia s historic allies, from ethnic cleansing at the hands of the Azerbaijanis in 2023
The debilitating war in Ukraine, where Russia momentarily has the upper hand, is the surface evidence of a Russian state in deep crisis Significant elements of the Russian elite have been alienated by Vladimir Putin s invasion of Ukraine but they are much more terrified of Putin himself losing power as he may be the only thing holding the state together There is no politburo or other bureaucratic system behind Putin to the degree that there was supporting the Soviet leaders Even in its present circumstances the US is stronger institutionally and economically than the two other great powers Russia and China And because of its boisterous albeit flawed democracy America is continually capable
abDul basit alvi
During Tuesday’s talks with Putin, Xi noted the two leaders held three meetings and reached many important agreements throughout 2024 Noting that the two countries celebrated the 75th anniversary of the estab-
lishment of diplomatic relations in 2024 Xi lauded the growing vitality in ChinaRussia ties, featuring lasting good-neighborliness, comprehensive strategic coordination and mutually beneficial cooperation The China-Russia Year of Culture was full of splendid events practical cooperation progressed steadily and bilateral trade continued its growth momentum, he said Both countries closely cooperated on multilateral platforms such as the United Nations (UN) the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and BRICS providing positive energy for the reform and development of the global governance system, said Xi Xi noted that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victories of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression the Soviet Union’s Great Patriotic War and the World Anti-Fascist War as well as the 80th anniversary of the founding of the UN China and Russia should take this as an opportunity to jointly defend the UNcentered international system and the victory of World War II promote all countries adherence to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter uphold the
universally recognized basic norms governing international relations and practice true multilateralism, he said As the rotating chair of the SCO, China is willing to work with Russia and other member states to usher in a new phase of the SCO featuring higher-quality development and greater responsibility said Xi He also called on the two countries to jointly advance greater BRICS cooperation and write a new chapter of unity and self-improvement for the Global South Putin said he was pleased to see the positive momentum in bilateral trade and energy cooperation the increasing number of tourists visiting each other and the close communication
Taliban govt announces prisoner swap with US
KABUL
The Taliban government said on Tuesday it had released two American citizens from prison in return for an Afghan fighter held in the United States in a deal brokered by Qatar
Discussions about the prisoner exchange were confirmed last year but the swap was announced after outgoing US president Joe Biden handed over to Donald Trump, who was inaugurated on Monday
“An Afghan fighter Khan Mohammed imprisoned in America has been released in exchange for American citizens and returned to the country ” the Afghan foreign ministry said in a statement
The ministry said Mohammed had been serving a life sentence in California after being arrested almost two decades ago in the eastern Afghan province of Nangarhar
Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told AFP two US nationals had been released declining to provide any further details on the exchange he family of US citizen Ryan Corbett who was detained by the Taliban in 2022 confirmed he was released and expressed overwhelming gratitude that he was coming home
“Today, our hearts are filled with overwhelming gratitude and praise to God for sustaining Ryan’s life and bringing him back home after what has been the most challenging and uncertain 894 days of our lives the family said on their website
They thanked both the Biden and Trump administrations, as well as Qatar, for Corbett s freedom, and called for two other Americans still held in Afghanistan to be released US media named William McKenty as the second released American detainee noting little was known about what he was doing in Afghanistan and that his family had asked the US government for privacy in his case
The New York Times said two other Americans remain in detention in Afghanistan, former airline mechanic George Glezmann and naturalised American Mahmood Habibi In August 2024 the US Federal Bureau of Investigation said it was seeking information about the disappearance of Afghan-American business-
man Habibi two years previously Biden came under heavy criticism for the chaotic withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan in 2021 more than a year
Taliban authorities have repeatedly said they want positive relations with every country
back to power in 2021 No state has officially recognised their government with restrictions on women
rights a key sticking point for many countries, including the United
The Taliban government
Tuesday called the exchange “a good example of resolving issues through dialogue, expressing special
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Key law yers excluded from Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi’s revamped legal team
A new legal team has been assembled to represent former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi in the Toshakhana case signaling a shift in legal strategy Interestingly, the revamped team excludes several prominent lawyers traditionally associated with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) raising eyebrows within political and legal circles
The newly constituted team features notable legal experts including Barrister Salman Akram Raja, Barrister Salman Safdar, and Usman Riaz Gul Other members include Chaudhry Zaheer Abbas, Arshad Tabrez Qausain Faisal Mufti Khalid Mehmood Yousaf Chaudhry Ishtiaq Abu Zar Niazi Rai Salman Amjad Shoaib Shaheen, Sardar Qadeer, Ali Ijaz Butter, and Mishal Yousafzai
However, the absence of key PTI-linked legal figures such as Faisal Chaudhry Barrister Gohar and Sher Afzal Marwat has raised questions about the rationale behind the restructuring These lawyers have been instrumental in representing the party in high-profile cases, and their exclusion has
led to speculation about a possible shift in approach as the Toshakhana proceedings unfold
The case revolves around allegations concerning gifts received during Imran Khan s tenure as Prime Minister making it a critical legal challenge for the former premier and his wife Analysts suggest that the composition of the new team reflects an effort to introduce fresh perspectives as the case progresses In a parallel development Imran Khan has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the government to establish a judicial commission, according to a statement from Barrister Gohar outside Adiala Jail The commission, which Khan deems essential for fair
and transparent proceedings, is seen as a cornerstone for meaningful political dialogue Khan has instructed his party’s negotiation team to cease discussions with the government if no progress is made within the stipulated timeframe If the government does not act on the formation of the judicial commission, there is no justification for continuing talks ” Gohar emphasized
The developments highlight a period of strategic recalibration for the PTI with both its legal and political approaches under scrutiny The Toshakhana case and the call for judicial reforms remain central to the party’s ongoing challenges
7,208 Pakistani prisoners freed from S audi jails between 2019 and 2024: FO
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (FO) has confirmed the release of 7 208 Pakistani prisoners from Saudi Arabian jails between 2019 and 2024 This figure follows an announcement made during Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s historic visit to Pakistan in February 2019 where the release of over 2 100 Pakistani nationals was agreed upon In a written response to the Senate Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar provided a detailed breakdown of the release figures He stated that in 2019 545 prisoners were freed, followed by 892 in 2020, 916 in 2021, 1,331 in 2022, 1,394 in 2023, and 2,130 in 2024 The minister further noted that due to ongoing deportations and arrivals it remains challenging to accurately quantify the total
number of individuals who benefited from the amnesty Among the released prisoners, 4 301 were under the consular jurisdiction of the Pakistani Consulate General in Jeddah while 2 907 fell under the jurisdiction of the Pakistan Embassy in Riyadh
The Foreign Minister also addressed the broader issue of Pakistani nationals incarcerated abroad revealing that approximately 23 456 Pakistanis are currently imprisoned in various foreign countries The highest number of detainees is in Saudi Arabia (12,156), followed by the UAE (5,292), Greece (811), and Qatar (338) Dar highlighted that the Foreign Ministry is in the process of compiling 10 years worth of data on imprisoned Pakistanis for a more comprehensive review
The release of prisoners is seen as part of ongoing diplomatic efforts to improve consular services and the welfare of Pakistani citizens abroad particularly in the Middle East
