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Posts published in “Day: March 29, 2016

Armed nation: edit in The News,March 29, 2016

When we lament the growing rate of crime, militancy and other kinds of violence in the country, we do not always link this back to the large number of firearms that circulate through society. Around 11 out of every 100 people are in possession of a gun of one kind or the other, whether acquired legally or illegally. Out of these 20 million or so arms held by the Pakistani public, only seven million are…

Tracing the footprints of terrorists in Punjab province since 9/11 By Sabir Shah in The News, March 29, 2016

LAHORE: Although the over-worked Pakistani Army has already initiated a targeted operation primarily against the supporters and abettors of terror outfits in Southern Punjab or the Saraiki dialect belt of the province by launching raids in Muzaffargarh, Bahawalpur, Layya, Bhakkar, Rahim Yar Khan and Faisalabad etc, it would not be easy to break the militant support network or pierce through the strongholds of groups and individuals backing several militant outfits here in these extremely backward…

All Fourth Schedule suspects to be arrested: by AMJAD MAHMOOD in Dawn, March 29th, 2016

LAHORE: In the wake of the Gulshan-i-Iqbal Park suicide attack, the government has decided to arrest all individuals included in the Fourth Schedule of the Anti-Terrorism Act. The decision was taken at a meeting on law and order presided over by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif here on Monday. The prime minister expressed anger at Punjab’s security officials for ignoring an alert issued by an intelligence agency about presence in the province of four to five…

Taliban talks: by MOEED YUSUF in Dawn, March 29th, 2016

The writer is a foreign policy expert based in Washington, DC. THERE has been no fresh movement on the reconciliation process in Afghanistan. This should worry the Pakistani establishment. For once, Pakistan stuck its neck out by acknowledging the Afghan Taliban presence on its territory and promised to pressure them to come to the negotiating table. While Pakistan has reiterated that it doesn’t control the Taliban, the spiel has always acknowledged that even if we…

Govt To Consult Pakistan’s Key Allies Amid Talks Deadlock by Abdul Wali Arian in Tolo News, March 28,2016

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) announced Monday that government is thinking about consulting the U.S and China on the peace process after Islamabad failed to deliver on its promises to bring the Taliban to the peace talks tables. The much-awaited process hit a deadlock this past month after the Taliban leadership refused to attend the negotiating tables unless certain preconditions were met by the Afghan government. The U.S and China, as Pakistan’s strategic allies,…

Pak-Afghan border closed for over an hour after exchange of harsh words IBRAHIM SHINWARI in Dawn, March 29th, 2016

LANDI KOTAL: The border crossing at Torkham was closed for some time on Monday after an exchange of harsh words between border guards of Afghanistan and Pakistan. Sources said the Afghan guards had expressed displeasure over what they alleged maltreatment of Afghan nationals going to Pakistan by Frontier Corps and Khasadar personnel. They registered a verbal complaint with their Pakistani counterparts over the matter. The situation turned ugly when at one point during the verbal…

Future of China’s Wujie Media in Doubt After Letter Calling on Xi to Quit by Chun Han Wong in The Wall St Journal, Mar 29, 2016

After China unveiled grand plans for laying a modern-day Silk Road two and half years ago, domestic news outlets leaped on the bandwagon to cheer President Xi Jinping’s signature platform for economic diplomacy. Among them is Wujie Media, touted by its government backers as an authoritative platform for promoting the “Belt and Road” initiative—a plan for developing infrastructure networks to better connect China’s economy with the rest of Asia and Africa, the Middle East and…

Iranian President’s visit to Pakistan: by Javid Husain in The Nation, March 29, 2016

The writer is a retired ambassador and the president of the Lahore Council for World Affairs. Iranian President, Dr. Hassan Rouhani’s visit to Pakistan from 25-26 March is a welcome sign that the leaders of the two countries are determined to provide a boost to Pakistan-Iran cooperation in political, economic, commercial and cultural fields, improve border security, join hands in overcoming extremism and terrorism, make an effort to coordinate their Afghanistan policies, and generally strengthen…

The Iranian connection : Editorial in The Express Tribune, March 28th, 2016

President Hassan Rowhani of Iran and his delegation have returned home, and both sides will consider the last two days work as time well spent. Iran is fast emerging as an important trading partner and energy supplier. Work on the much-delayed gas pipeline is far advanced on the Iranian side and needs to be put on fast-forward in Pakistan. Iran is said to be able to provide gas for Pakistan “within a few months” –…

ISI Continues To Support Taliban: NDS Chief by Mir Abed Joenda in Tolo News, March 29,2016

The acting head of the National Directorate of Security, Massoud Andarabi, on Monday said that Taliban and other insurgent groups have not achieved their goals, despite the support of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency. “ISI widely continues its support for Taliban and will continue supporting them with attacks this summer and spring in Afghanistan,” Andarabi said. “Some other regional groups are colluding with Taliban and are trying to continue their attacks in Afghanistan,” Andarabi added.…