6 November - 12 November 2017 - 16-min

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2 6 - 12 November, 2017 Editorial Haley’s remarks on Iran escalates NEW DELHI TIMES T ◆◆By NDT Iran Bureau @NewDelhiTimes info@newdelhitimes.com he US ambassador to UN Nikki Haley demanded in United Nations Security Council to punish the Iranian government for its ‘outlaw behavior’ across the Middle East. American ambassador’s comment has further escalated the confrontation with Iran. ‘The United States will not turn a blind eye to these violations,’ UN ambassador Haley told a Security Council meeting deliberating the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Her strident denunciation of Iran was a response to international criticism of Trump’s hostility to Iran nuclear deal and came within a week of Trump’ noncertification of the deal. Trump’s decision has deeply angered Iran and raised alarms among American allies namely, Britain, France and Germany who were also parties to the agreement. European allies have exhorted Congress to preserve the deal as it has successfully thwarted Iran’s ability to attain a nuclear weapon. Any dithering, they warn, will risk Photo Credit : Shutterstock Washington’s isolation, loss of credibility and increased global insecurity. Haley feels that the nuclear agreement was an insufficient instrument to measure Iran’s relations with the world. She accused Iran of having violated at least four Security Council resolutions with impunity adding that ‘nearly every threat to peace and security in the Middle East is connected to confrontation Iran’s outlaw behaviour.’ “Iran hides behind its assertion of technical compliance with the nuclear deal while it brazenly violates the other limits on its behaviour, and we have allowed them to get away with it. This must stop” Haley said. She demanded the Council action on Iran’s ‘most threatening act’ i.e. ballistic missile launchings. The Security Council resolution that put the nuclear agreement into effect merely asks Iran to refrain from ballistic missile tests but does not prohibit them. Iran views its missiles as defence to deter hostile neighbours, notably Israel and Saudi Arabia. Washington lacks support as veto-wielding China and Russia, are strong supporters of the deal they are part of and oppose the Trump administration’s efforts to ostracize Teheran. European leaders, disarmament advocates and diplomats including the European Union’s top foreign policy official, Federica Mogherini who helped negotiate the nuclear agreement have publicly defended the agreement, urging American lawmakers to preserve it. Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, denounced Trump’s remarks, calling it ‘a waste of time to respond to such blathering and nonsensical remarks by the foul-mouthed U.S. president.’ Iran would not renounce the nuclear agreement as long as the United States does not. ‘But if it does, we will shred it to bits,’ he said. Khamenei’s remarks suggested that Iran would interpret the re-imposition of sanctions as an American withdrawal from the accord. Iran insists that no country has done more than it in fighting Middle East terrorism, most notably the Islamic State. If it had hegemonic ambitions, the nuclear deal would never have been reached. It deplored that Trump’s approach ‘toward the deal and Iran run counter to all of these efforts and intend to add another crisis to the regional issues.’ Around 25 former foreign ministers and dignitaries from Europe and elsewhere have written to congressional leaders stating that a unilateral withdrawal from the agreement would have far-reaching adverse consequences for the security, the credibility and standing of the United States in the world. The United States must live up to its commitments as losing credibility could have disastrous consequences for Washington and its allies. They appreciated Haley’s concerns about Iran’s ‘counterproductive and dangerous’ activities but regarded deal as a good example of multilateral cooperation. Haley’s remark sums it up all: “Everything would be more serious if they had a nuclear weapon. You’re safer if they don’t have one.” D U.S. Muslim leader warns Canadian MPs not to use the term ‘Islamophobia’ www.NewDelhiTimes.com ◆◆ By Tarek Fatah Author & Columnist, Canada @TarekFatah tarek.fatah@gmail.com r. Zuhdi Jasser is a former U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr., and since 9/11, one of the few obstacles in the path of the international Islamism in North America that is led by admirers of the radical Muslim Brotherhood of the Arab World and the Jamaat-e-Islami in the Indian subcontinent. On Monday, Dr. Jasser, who heads the American Islamic Forum for Democracy (AIFD), appeared before the Heritage Committee of the House of Commons to share his views on the supposed anti- Islamophobia Motion 103 tabled by Liberal MP Iqra Khalid. Jasser told the Canadian MPs, “I am here to tell you that by simply even using that term and referring to it as ‘Islamophobia’ and getting the government into the business of monitoring any form of speech will end up paradoxically heightening societal divisions. “Trying to suppress what can be painful speech about Islam at society’s fringes will actually paradoxically feed an unintended consequence of fomenting non-Muslim fears of Islam,” he added. He warned that non-Muslim Canadians and Americans “who cannot have their real fears heard and their speech exercised will be stifled from the public sector and push resentment underground where it will only foment.” Jasser requested Canadian politicians and opinion leaders “stop engaging [with] Muslim Brotherhood legacy groups in government and media and recognize their misogynist, anti-Semitic, homophobic, and anti-American ideological underpinnings.” The AIFD chair pressed on Canadian MPs to make sure they understood that the advice they received “from ideological Islamists is compromised by their fealty to [Islamic] clerics, and the tribal construct of Islamic states from Muslim majority nations.” He could have added that leaders of some Islamic sects, who live outside Canada, yet determine what their followers do or say, even in legislatures. Most presenters at the hearings get a chance to answer questions from MPs on both sides of the house. But as I experienced myself, along with other Muslim opponents of M103, such as columnist Farzana Hassan and activist Raheel Raza, the Liberals and the NDP use this time to attack us or simply refuse to engage with us. Jasser’s presentation was no exception. Despite taking time out of his schedule and speaking from Phoenix, Arizona, he ended up being scolded and mocked by Liberal MP Arif Virani who used his designated seven minutes berating the American guest and running out the clock, leaving little time for Jasser to respond. Committee chair Hedy Fry and Liberal MP Arif Virani seem to have a well-coordinated plan on how to humiliate Muslims who do not fit their stereotype of who we are. What happened when I testified was Fry allowed Virani to stage an attack on me right at the end and then when it came time for me to respond, Fry said, “Sorry, time is up.” This time David Anderson, a Conservative MP from from Saskatchewan, would not have it any more. He approached Fry: “I am bit concerned and I don’t know if Mr Virani is deliberately doing this, but it amounts to bullying witnesses by using his time to lecture them when they have come here at their time and effort.” Fry relented and gave Jasser one minute to respond, before cutting him off midsentence. Monday also saw Balpreet Singh, representative of the World Sikh Organisation (WSO) claim that “opposition Photo Credit : Shutterstock to M103 was based on anti-Muslim animus, not on logical and principled position” Thank you, Mr. Singh, for basically assisting in the dirty work of Mullahs who have already designated Farzana Hassan, Ensaf Haider, Raif Badawi, Raheel Raza and, of course, Dr. Zuhdi Jasser and myself as apostates to Islam deserving of death.
6 - 12 November, 2017 3 Editorial NEW DELHI TIMES No CPEC access through Afghanistan unless Pakistan provides Afghanistan-India connect A ◆◆ By Dr. Ankit Srivastava Editor - in - Chief @AnkitNDT ankits@newdelhitimes.com fghan President Ashraf Ghani, while addressing the Vivekananda International Foundation in New Delhi during his October visit to India said that Kabul will not be a part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) unless it is given access to Pakistan’s Wagah and Attari border. This implies that Afghanistan will restrict Pakistan’s access to Central Asia if Pakistan refuses Afghan access to India through the CPEC project. Ghani’s reaction has come a week after the quadrilateral meeting on Afghanistan in Oman between the representatives of United States, Afghanistan, China, and Pakistan that discussed the revival of peace talks with the Taliban. “Sanctuaries are provided, logistics are provided, training is provided, ideological base is provided [...] Pakistan has come to a juncture and it needs to make a choice. Our reaction will be determined by its [Pakistan’s] choices,” Ghani said of Pak complicity. The Afghan president also welcomed India’s new role in Afghanistan enumerated in the new US policy for the region. Ghani hailed the Trump administration’s South Asia strategy a ‘game-changer’ that ‘recommends multi-dimensional condition-based approach I for the region.’ Ghani visited India just a day after US Secretary of State Tillerson’s surprise visit to Afghanistan. Unfortunately, South Asia trade has long been held hostage to hatred, jealousy, and revenge making it the least integrated region in the world. Half of Europe’s trade is within Europe and half of ASEAN’s (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) trade is within ASEAN whereas in case of South Asia, trade within the region is abysmally low at only 5% of the total trade. Pakistan refuses to realise that regional trade could fetch benefit to all - be it India, Pakistan or Afghanistan. All that it needs is just to take action against terrorists of all hues. Afghanistan has access to India, but India does not have access to Afghanistan. Normally Afghan trucks are allowed to bring goods to Indian border and have to return back empty. High value trade is conducted by air only. From October India has started sending wheat to Afghanistan via Chabahar port of Iran. If Afghanistan blocks CPEC route to central Asia, Pakistan has to access CAR states only through the alternative route Kashgar that will be longer, circuitous and mountainous. Good intentions have emboldened the leader of war torn Afghanistan to take a bold decision as compared to terror state Pakistan. Kabul’s unequivocal stand undermines both China and Pakistan. Islamabad can take punitive action in retaliation to adversely impact Indo-Afghan trade running into USD 220 million but Kabul could redirect all trade via Chabahar. Basically a connectivity project to and from China, CPEC will be starved if connectivity is cut-off between South and Central Asia. Afghan President Ghani has taken a good decision to protect Afghan trade interests and his is a very fair request. Pakistan has literally thrown Kabul into a ditch that India is helping to get out of. Pakistan needs to take a step back and rethink everything. Its exports to Afghanistan have already plummeted. Having troubled relations with all neighbours including India could be costly in the long run. Islamabad can’t be solely dependent upon China for trade and needs more partners. Pakistan must allow both India and Afghanistan to use CPEC to earn huge toll fee. It must also open the doors of minds before opening the borders for trade. Leaders of India-Afghanistan-Pakistan region need to overcome their animosity and get on with trade. Harping on CPEC and Chabahar alone may not suffice to meet the multifarious interests of countries of the region. India’s Cochin shipyard wins order for eight Anti - Submarine Ships ◆◆ By NDT Special Bureau @NewDelhiTimes info@newdelhitimes.com ndia is emerging as a business market for the futuristic companies to invest and gain out of the potential of the domestic Indian market. The plan in regard to the country’s growth is based on providing not only foreign investment but also the domestic, private and public companies to gain out of the new policies in regard to business standards. This feature has been made possible with the advent of introducing new reforms for the investors like FDI etc. By providing suitable environment and utilization of the resource-rich lands of the country both domestic and foreign investors are keen on providing their investments in the country. This has helped in raising the economic standards of the nation, employment opportunities, living standards of people and per capita income have increased. India is attracting not only foreign companies but also the domestic multinationals are now keen in investing with India on large scale. In regard with domestic companies like Cochin Shipyard, Larsen and Toubro, Reliance Industries etc. are also gaining momentum in investments. Out of many sectors for investments, most of it is seen within the defence sector. India’s defence sector is regarded as the most beneficial and growing industry within India. With the second largest standing army in the world, India’s defence is the biggest venture for investment. On similar stands, defence has been expanding at a global rate. It is envisioned that it will be soon to be leading purchaser of arms and even the strategic market for investment. All three tiers of defence air, land and water are emerging in a blooming way. The domestic multi-nationals are keen to invest in the defence sector. With the Indian Navy expanding and trying its level best to emerge on the top of the world, it has issued its demand for multiple antisubmarine ships. It had asked for tenders from various investors to propose their deals to the Indian Navy. Amongst the top bidders include, “Larsen and Toubro Ltd, Reliance Naval and Engineering Ltd, Garden Reach Shipbuilder and Engineering Ltd, Goa Shipyard, Hindustan Shipyard and Cochin Shipyard Ltd”. The lowest bidder was supposed to get the deal of providing 8 anti-submarine ships to the Indian Navy. The project was estimated to be around 5,400 crores. The Cochin Shipyard being the lowest bidder has gained this tender and is now in a process to build 8 anti-submarine ships. This project will be held in close cooperation with the Ministry of Defence of India. It is country’s long-standing ASW shallow-water craft project. There was participation from both public and private sector multinationals in the bidding process. But the Cochin Shipyard being the best out of the deal bagged the contract. This contract will provide a great boost to the defence and even to the Cochin Shipyard. The Navy’s project will enhance the submarine capacity of the country and will make advancements in the core capabilities. There has been in the news that Indian defence ministry’s Defence Acquisition Council approved a tender for nearly 16 ASW shallow-water ships in December 2013. The report stated that, the platform which would be built will host to a 700-ton displacement and a range of 200 n miles. Also, the maximum speed which would be attained would feature around 25 kt and an endurance of 1,800 n miles at 14 kt. This calls for a check of the latest developments of Navy which are featured in these ships. This is a large and multilevel featured progress of the Indian Navy. The first vessel from the side of Cochin Shipyard is deemed to be delivered in next 42 months. This will be a continuing process and after that, the state-owned shipbuilder will deliver two vessels every year. The shipyard’s order was for INR 3,500 crore but before it won the order. The company is indulged in building vessels for the Indian Navy in the past too. It is building an aircraft carrier which is an advanced vessel to carry fighter aircraft in the future. There has been a great developmental increase in the company’s share in the BSE and NSE. It has raised INR 1,468 crore after listing on stock exchanges of 76.2 times the number of shares on offer. It is mentioned by top officials of the company that this increase would be used for building and setting up a new manufacturing unit. This offer for the company to build eight vessels for the Indian Navy is the first big tender in concern with the company getting initial public offering in August. The ship which would be built by the CSL will feature ASW sensors and equipment, including hull-mounted sonar, variable-depth sonar, and torpedo tubes. This highly modernized feature of advance engineering is a great deal for the CSL to achieve and Indian Navy to utilize it in future missions. The Indian Navy had planned for the 212- ship fleet as featured in the service’s 15 year Maritime Capability Perspective Plan for the 2012-27. The new eight ASW will be an added feature to this plan of the defence ministry in boosting the strength of Indian Navy. Under country’s Next Generation Corvette programme is assumed to acquire seven to ten ships more. This will add to the basic demand featured by Navy for carrying out the operations in the future. This 120 m platform will feature ASW capabilities as it is for the multipurpose target achievement. The CSL and Indian Navy working in cooperation with each other will lead to dynamic growth in the defence sector of the country. The nation’s long-standing attribute of being the best will be achieved by this contract. It will not only provide with latest and advanced ships but will be a productive asset as being the public sector company, which would grow eventually by the mean of this contract. The contract of providing eight ASW will lead to developing Indian Navy’s capabilities in global waters. This will create a progressive path for both the CSL and Indian Navy as both will be www.NewDelhiTimes.com
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6 November - 12 November 2017 - 16-min

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