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Posts published in “Day: December 15, 2016

Afghan air force raid kills 16 ‘militants’ in Helmand

KABUL: At least 16 “militants” were killed in an airstrike conducted in southern Helmand province of Afghanistan, the country’s ministry of defence said on Tuesday. The airstrike was carried out in the restive Greshk district of Helmand province, the ministry added as reported by Khaama Press. The anti-government militant groups have not commented regarding the report so far. In a separate development earlier on Tuesday, a commander of the loyalists of ISIL terrorist group was…

Russia, Daesh and Afghanistan: by Imtiaz Gul in The Express Tribune, December 14th, 2016.

The writer heads the independent Centre for Research and Security Studies, Islamabad Statements by the Russian ambassador in Kabul, Alexander Mantytskiy, over the weekend caused quite an uproar in the Afghan capital, first by holding a press conference on Thursday, and then by appearing before the Afghan senate two days later after lawmakers had demanded an explanation on Moscow’s ties to the Taliban. On both occasions, the ambassador strongly defended Russia’s outreach to the Taliban,…

New US curbs may harm Pak defence, commercial concerns By Fasihur Rehman Khan in The News, December 14, 2016

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan government officials are minutely studying implications of likely inclusion of more Pakistan defence and commercial concerns in the United States export control (entity list) that could harm the ongoing anti-terror military and intelligence-based operations across the country as arms and ammunition manufacturing cost could greatly surge. With Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi undertaking a visit to the United States to establish initial contacts with US President-elect Donald J Trump’s…

Trump’s interest in economic ties matches Sharif’s vision: Fatemi By Special Correspondent in The Nation, 14-Dec-2016

WASHINGTON – Pakistan will work closely with the administration of US President-elect Donald Trump, a top Pakistani diplomat said, while asserting that Trump’s “business background and strong interest in economic ties match the vision and policies” of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. In an interview with The Washington Times, a conservative newspaper, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi also said Pakistan plans to step up its economic and military cooperation with…

Our bets on CPEC may not necessarily payoff: by Abdullah Ansari in The Express Tribune blogs, Dec 13, 2016

The author, am electrical engineer, works in the oil and gas industry. In Pakistan, China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has been trending for a few months. Like ‘Brexit’, CPEC is also a big step. Hence, any news related to CPEC spreads like fire. If you are attending an intellectual gathering, be up-to-date with the project. I’ve observed that CPEC is a hot topic at these get-togethers. There’s no doubt that CPEC is important for Pakistan and…

Task force equipped with drones to protect Gwadar

GWADAR: A new task force has been set up to protect the Gwadar deep-sea port. The force is equipped with drones and other latest weaponry. Addressing an international maritime conference on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in Gwadar on Tuesday, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Zakaullah said CPEC will be a game-changer with economic dividends not only for China and Pakistan but also for the entire region and that a strong navy is…

Pakistan Navy assembles special force TF-88 to protect Gwadar port Report in The Nation, December 13, 2016, 3:31 pm

Pakistan Navy has assembled a special task force TF-88 who will be dedicated only to safeguard Gwadar Port, reported by Radio Pakistan here on Tuesday (today). Heads of all three armed forces and Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee are present at the ceremony that is being held in Gwadar in this relation. The special force is set to be on duty after the port has become fully functional. And, the force will protect the…

Iranian suggestion: EDITORIAL in Dawn, December 14th, 2016

OTHER than the concept of the ummah, there is very little that binds the world’s Muslim-majority states together, especially in the realm of geopolitics. This is particularly true in the Middle East, where regional powers Saudi Arabia and Iran have divergent views on nearly all the major questions of the day. Perhaps this lack of unity is best exemplified by the state of the OIC, an organisation that is today known more for its languidness…

Pakistan may purchase power from Iran

KERMANSHAH: Pakistan Embassy’s Adviser for Economic Affairs in Tehran Nazr Mohammed Ranjha has voiced interest in purchasing power from Iran. Talking to IRNA here in the west of the country on Tuesday, he said Pakistan was seeking cooperation from Iran in oil and electricity sectors. He said Pakistan wanted to buy 300 megawatts of energy from Iran. He voiced Islamabad’s readiness to increase trade with Iran and said talks had already been held on the…