ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development & Transparency (PILDAT) in its report titled “State of Civil-Military Relations in Pakistan, June 1, 2015-July 31, 2016” has remarked that civil-military relations in Pakistan as the federal government completes three years in office, it appears as if the military leadership has established itself as the final arbiter on foreign affairs and national security, with the elected government relegated to either an auxiliary role, or a parallel national security…
Posts published in “Day: October 7, 2016”
In the ongoing Brussels Conference on Afghanistan, the International Community has reiterated its support for Afghanistan but it has also mentioned that the country would need to do more as far as efforts on transparency, security and human rights are concerned. The UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in his address that the people of Afghanistan had been able to count on the help of the international community but also emphasized that the country would need…
A major conference on Afghanistan concluded in the Brussels city of Belgium on Wednesday as the international community pledged $15.2 billion to support Afghanistan. Chief Executive Officer Abdullah Abdullah said the financial assistance by the international community will be utilized in coming four years. He thanked the international community for their vote of confidence and support showcased at the conference, calling it a huge success for the country. Federica Mogherini, the high representative of the…
Different sources confirmed yesterday that after a threatening attack by Taliban in northern Kunduz province, Taliban militants entered the capital of the province and they captured the city’s main square, raising their white flags. News reports revealed that one person was killed and 35 people including civilians and security forces were wounded after the insurgents stormed Kunduz city from four directions. The attacking rebels captured several security posts. Some photos on social media also showed…
Reports emerging from Kunduz indicate that not only are residents trying to flee the city but that there has been a sharp increase in the price of food as shops largely remain closed. In addition, residents say the main power station for the city has been torched – leaving Kunduz without electricity. Residents and security force personnel also say the Taliban has control of large parts of the city and only the governor’s compound, the…
PESHAWAR: The lawmakers at the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly on Wednesday suggested tendering en masse resignations if the federal government didn’t honour the commitment about pursuing the western route of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The suggestion was made as the provincial legislature witnessed a heated debate on CPEC for the second consecutive day. Initiating the debate, Zareen Gul of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) said nobody was against the implementation of the project as it was of…
Like many others who sought to run as independents in China’s county and district legislature elections this year, factory worker Liu Mingxue saw his candidacy rejected in the northwestern province of Gansu, even though he followed every procedure required by law. Liu was also taken away by police on June 20 – county election day – for questioning about his assistant, and not released until 12 hours later. Liu, 55, hoped to be elected so…
Hundreds of tourists in northern China have been caught using fake military documents to obtain free tickets to historical sites and museums, mainland media reports. On Saturday and Sunday – the first two days of the National Day holiday – People’s Liberation Army personnel stationed outside the Terracotta Army Museum in Xian, Shaanxi province, confiscated more than 200 counterfeit booklets containing certificates issued for use by soldiers, officers, army cadets as well as handicapped soldiers,…
From a Chinese perspective, the main threat to their country isn’t global economic instability, climate change or the Islamic State terror group. Instead, more people worry about the U.S., according to a survey by the Pew Research Center released Wednesday. Some 45% of Chinese said they see U.S. power and influence as posing a major threat to their country, up from 39% in 2013, according to Pew’s 2016 China survey. That puts the Chinese between…
The writer is an independent political and defence analyst. Indian heavy firing across the Line of Control on September 29, described by India’s civilian and military leadership as a surgical strike, was meant to satisfy India’s political far-right and hardline Hindu groups who were led to believe, by Indian authorities, that India would inflict a war or heavy military punishment on Pakistan for its alleged support to terrorism in Kashmir and India. The danger in…
The writer is a freelance journalist specialising in international law, rural development and public policy, and a director of Centre for Social Justice Over several decades, India and Pakistan have built their politics regarding Kashmir on one or the other legal instrument though none of the countries used those instruments to initiate arbitration. Pakistan emphasised the right to self-determination and called Kashmir its life blood. India decried cross-border terrorism claiming the territory was its integral…