Taliban smuggling weapons to Pak for skirmishes along India border: Report

 Pakistan shares 2400 kilometres of border with Afghanistan, which is largely porous

Contrary to its claim that the Taliban will not allow Afghanistan or the weapons to be used for terrorism, the group has been reportedly accused of smuggling weapons to Pakistan, which eventually may be used in cross-border skirmishes against India.

“Taliban has been insisting that there are proper security checks to prevent any weapons smuggling because they are an improved Taliban. But the weapons market is thriving and the weapons that are being smuggled into Pakistan will eventually be used in cross-border skirmishes against India and make their way into India,” according to a Canada-based think tank, International Forum for Rights and Security (IFFRAS) said.

But before that Pakistan will have to pay a huge price if it does not control illicit arms trafficking. Ultimately it is going to suffer first when the separatist and terrorist organisations operating from its land get a hand on these weapons on a large scale, it warned. In August 2021, the US left much of the military equipment and weapons at the disposal of the Afghan forces which eventually fell into the hands of the Taliban….

Imran Khan loses majority as MQM strikes deal with opposition

 The PTI government lost the majority in the lower house of the parliament following the late-night development ahead of the no-confidence motion against Imran Khan on March 31.

Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government received a major blow by the key ally and the main coalition partner Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM) after it struck a deal with the opposition Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). “The united opposition and MQM have reached an agreement. Rabta committee MQM and PPP CEC will ratify the said agreement. We will then share details with the media in a press conference tomorrow IA. Congratulations Pakistan,” tweeted PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.

The PTI government lost the majority in the lower house of the parliament following the late-night development ahead of the no-confidence motion against Imran Khan on March 31. The joint opposition has 177 members of the national assembly after the ruling coalition partner MQM-P decided to part ways with the Imran Khan-led government that has left with 164 MNAs. Notably, in order to make the no-confidence motion against the prime minister successful, the joint opposition requires the support of 172 MNAs.

Pak has taken initial steps on anti-India groups: US Defence Secy nominee

Mark Esper said he would advocate for the Department of Defense to maintain the right set of tools and authorities to maintain decision space and flexibility in America’s policy approach

U S Defence Secretary nominee Mark Esper has said Pakistan had taken initial and promising steps against anti-Indian groups, adding that he would use all possible tools to promote a change in Islamabad’s strategic approach to the region.

Esper said the president’s South Asia Strategy recognises Pakistan as a key partner in advancing US interests in the region, including developing a political settlement in Afghanistan, defeating the Al-Qaeda and the ISIS-K, providing logistical access and enhancing regional stability.

“We have seen Pakistan take some constructive steps on Afghan reconciliation. Pakistan has also taken initial, promising steps against anti-Indian groups, such as Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, which threaten regional stability,” Esper told members of the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday.

“It is difficult to assess whether the security assistance suspension itself has driven these constructive actions, or whether progress on Afghan reconciliation and the escalation following the Pulwama terrorist attack have also influenced Pakistan’s calculations,” Esper noted in a written response to questions submitted ahead of his confirmation hearing.

Esper said he would advocate for the Department of Defense to maintain the right set of tools and authorities to maintain decision space and flexibility in America’s policy approach, in order to maintain a “bridge back” for Pakistan. “If confirmed, I would aim to make use of all of the tools at our disposal to promote a change in Pakistan’s strategic approach to the region,” he said…

Pak arrests 34 Indian fishermen days after releasing 55 as goodwill gesture

On April 29, Pakistan released 55 Indian fishermen and five civilians as a ‘goodwill gesture’ amidst tension between the two countries after the Pulwama terror attack

Pakistan has captured 34 Indian anglers for supposedly damaging the nation’s regional waters, almost 10 days subsequent to discharging 60 detainees from India as an altruism signal, authorities said Wednesday.

The anglers, captured on Tuesday, have been given over to the police, a Pakistan Maritime Security Agency representative said. “They will show up before a legal officer who will settle on their legal remand,” he said. This is the first run through since January that the oceanic security organization has captured Indian anglers. In January, five Gujarati boatsmen were captured and imprisoned.

On April 29, Pakistan discharged 55 Indian anglers and five regular citizens as a “generosity signal” in the midst of strain between the two nations after the Pulwama fear assault. A month ago, the Pakistani government discharged in excess of 250 Indian anglers from the Landhi and Malir imprisons in Karachi. The anglers were discharged in three stages. The Pakistan Foreign Ministry had before declared to discharge 360 Indian anglers in four separate bunches in April as an altruism signal.

Pakistan and India every now and again capture anglers as there is no reasonable boundary of the sea fringe in the Arabian Sea and these anglers don’t have pontoons outfitted with the innovation to know their exact area. Attributable to the extensive and moderate bureaucratic and lawful strategies, the anglers for the most part stay in prison for a while and now and then years. As indicated by the rundown of detainees traded by India and Pakistan in January, there are 347 Pakistani detainees in Indian prisons, 249 of whom are portrayed as regular folks and 98 anglers, the report said.

Pak to file 2nd counter-memorial on Kulbhushan Jadhav case in ICJ on Jul 17

India has accused Pakistan of violating the Vienna Convention by not giving consular access to Jadhav

 

Pakistan will file its second counter-memorial on July 17 in the ICJ on the conviction of Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav who was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court in April last year on charges of espionage and terrorism, a media report said on Thursday.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) on January 23 gave a timeline to both Pakistan and India for filing another round of memorials in the case.

Pakistan’s memorial will be in response to pleadings filed by India in the Hague-based ICJ on April 17.

Top attorney Khawar Qureshi, who pleaded Pakistan’s case at the initial stage, briefed Prime Minister Nasirul Mulk regarding the case last week, the Express Tribune reported.

Attorney General for Pakistan Khalid Javed Khan and other senior officials also attended the meeting.

According to the daily, the counter-memorial has been drafted by Qureshi.

After the submission of the second counter-memorial, the ICJ will fix the matter for hearing, which is likely to take place next year.(CLICK HERE : BS)

A senior lawyer, who has expertise in international litigations, told the Pakistani daily that there is no chance of hearing the case this year.

Even the hearing of other matters has already been fixed until March/April next year, therefore, Jadhav case will be listed in summer next year, he added.

India had moved the ICJ in May last year after Jadhav, 48, was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on charges of espionage and terrorism.

A 10-member Bench of the ICJ on May 18 had restrained Pakistan from executing Jadhav until adjudication of the case.

In its written pleadings, India had accused Pakistan of violating the Vienna Convention by not giving consular access to Jadhav arguing that the convention did not say that such access would not be available to an individual arrested on espionage charges.

In response, Pakistan through its counter-memorial on December 13 told the ICJ that the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations 1963 applied only to legitimate visitors and did not cover clandestine operations.

Pakistan had said that “since India did not deny that Jadhav was travelling on a passport with an assumed Muslim name, they have no case to plead.”

Pakistan said that India did not explain how “a serving naval commander” was travelling under an assumed name.