8-14 January 2018 - 16-min

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2 8 - 14 January, 2018 I Editorial www.NewDelhiTimes.com ◆◆ By Tarek Fatah Author & Columnist, Canada @TarekFatah tarek.fatah@gmail.com NEW DELHI TIMES China accords top priority to Sino-Indian ◆◆ By NDT Special Bureau @NewDelhiTimes info@newdelhitimes.com n a news report in Global Times on 21st December, 2017, Liu Xin elaborates the latest trends on Sino-Indian relations on the eve of 20th Special Representatives’ (SR)- level Meeting on the China-India Boundary Questions on December 22 between India and China at the invitation of National Security Adviser Ajit Doval. The seventy-three-day-long military standoff between India and China in Doklam Iran reminds us of the dangers of Islamism n the day after Iran erupted into yet O another revolt against the dictatorship of “Supreme Leader” Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, much of the mainstream media in the West acted as if nothing had happened. As Iranian women tore off their hijabs in protest on Thursday, the Friday edition of one Toronto paper carried a large photograph of two women in hijabs on the cover of its “insight” section, with the title #ACTIVISM. For many Iranians in Canada, it could not have been a worse insult. The first protests in Iran erupted in the country’s second-largest city of Mashhad. They are most certainly of an economic nature. One does not need to be a Marxist to connect the dots between the economic deprivation of a million slum dwellers and their desire for economic change. Keyvan Soltany, a Toronto-based Iranian activist, shared the work of Ali Ranji Poor, a BBC Persian-language journalist, who wrote an eye opening article on Sept. 1, 2016, revealing that one of every three people living in Mashhad resides in slums, in deplorable conditions. border dispute ended amidst bitterness as Chinese officials repeatedly threatened India in pursuance of their psychological warfare. The visiting Chinese team to New Delhi consisted of member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and State Councillor Yang Jiechi. Both parties met at Delhi for a new round of bilateral talks on border issues and other key bilateral topics. Photo Credit : Shutterstock “This is the 20th SR-level meeting. The complicated border issues that emerged out of the Doklam stand-off will top the agenda, particularly as India is trying to pick new disputes related to the Doklam area,” Zhao Gancheng, director of the Center for Asia- Poor predicted these million-strong Iranian paupers were on the verge of a revolt, against what the Iranian regime referred to as “austerity measures”. So when the price of eggs jumped seven times and bread became a luxury because of skyrocketing costs, the slum dwellers of Mashhad came out on the streets to protest. They were soon joined by political activists of every shade, from Maryam Rajavi’s MEK, to women’s groups belonging to the “White Wednesday” anti-Hijab movement, to monarchists, to Marxists. It was a perfect storm. Nobel Laureate Shirin Ebadi, speaking to the Italian newspaper La Repubblica, has now warned: “I think the [current] protests Pacific Studies at the Shanghai Institute for International Studies, told the Global Times. The meeting also discussed the modalities of how to better control border related disputes. Given the complicated nature of the dispute that predates even Chinese war of 1962 both China and India may not find it easy to define and demarcate the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The divergences between the two sides on verifying the LAC are too many to be overcome in a single attempt. However both have been ‘exchanging maps over the past 10 years,’ said Sun Shihai, deputy director of the Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. On June 18, Chinese troops crossed into the territory in Doklam, in violation of the tripartite agreement among China, India and Bhutan-an act firmly opposed by the New Delhi. “Both China and India will strengthen infrastructure construction along the border to make it easier for regular area patrols” and senior officials from the two sides need to better communicate to avoid misunderstandings. China and India will also exchange ideas on other bilateral issues, including future cooperation in an effort to enhance their damaged state of mutual trust, say Chinese experts. They also emphasize that the twosides [in Iran] are not going to end soon. It seems to me that we are witnessing the beginning of a big protest movement that can go well beyond the Green wave of 2009. It would not surprise me if it becomes something bigger.” To get a sense of how Canada’s Iranian-born Liberal MPs felt about the uprising, I reached out to two Toronto-area parliamentarians, including Richmond Hill’s Majid Jowhari. Neither responded to my queries or shared their opinions. Jowhari’s views would have been interesting to know because early last year he was criticized by some Iranian-Canadians for lobbying for friendlier relations with the current Iranian regime. need to enhance mutual trust as well as better control disputes so that Doklam is not repeated again. Chinese experts unnecessarily blame India for pressurizing China by way of border disputes and always projecting China as an imaginary enemy. They suggest that China and India should not demonize each other or make it into a zero-sum game but rather have greater cooperation on matters of new global governance and climate change. They advised further that instead of treating China as an offender in the Indian Ocean, India should take an active part in China’s Belt and Road initiative and make joint efforts with China on protecting sea routes. There seems to be some predominant voices in India who feel strongly feel that the country should cooperate more with the US, Japan and Australia to contain China. These overwhelming consensus not withstanding China hopes India will think twice before inciting a direct confrontation with China. For China, addressing border disputes with India now constitutes top of the agenda. Beijing is aware that unless India joins OBOR, its success could be doubtful; hence it is too keen that India should join to ensure success. The representatives have already stated after initial round of talks that both countries need to maintain peace and tranquillity across the border to resolve the dispute peacefully. In a letter sent to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, several Richmond Hill residents said they did not want to be represented by someone who is “working in the interest of a foreign country”. (Jowhari told yorkregion.com news at the time that a petition he sponsored to push for reopening the Iranian embassy, and his meetings with Iranian parliamentarians, were simply intended to encourage dialogue between Canada and Iran.) On New Year’s eve, I chatted with two Muslim residents of Richmond Hill, Aftab Chowdhury and Intizar Zaidi, who voiced similar concerns, saying some MPs of Iranian origin appear to be more interested in representing Iran in Canada, than in representing their constituents to the federal government. They also criticized Liberal MPs who support the federal government’s so-called “anti-Islamophobia” motion, M103, while not speaking out in favour of the ongoing protests in Iran. In any event, the Middle East is undergoing a historical change with Iran and Saudi Arabia on different tracks, but both moving away from rule by clergy. That bodes well, except for Pakistan, which is inheriting the runoff from both countries.
8 - 14 January, 2018 3 Editorial NEW DELHI TIMES Pakistan’s Political Turmoil ahead of 2018 Elections T ◆◆ By Dr. Ankit Srivastava Editor - in - Chief @AnkitNDT ankits@newdelhitimes.com he feud in Pakistan between the Punjabi Pakistani Army and the disqualified corrupt Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif continues. The investigations in the Panama Papers case led to the resignation of Nawaz Sharif from his office making him the 18th Prime Minister not to complete his full term. A court appointed Joint Investigation Team found Sharif to be dishonest in failing to disclose his employment in UAE based company. Investigations still continue against the Sharif family and in October 2017, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) indicted Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz, son-in-law Muhammad Safdar Awan on corruption charged for owning a flat in London. But the allegations have not led Nawaz Sharif stepping down from the leadership and key decision making from his political party Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), which is still the country’s ruling party. Major key decision-making positions are still held by the immediate family members and close circle of political allies, who all occupy senior and key positions in the cabinet. Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, who is known to be the interim Prime Minister of Pakistan, is one of the closest allies of Nawaz Sharif who shall continue to serve till the elections in 2018. Nawaz Sharif;s civilian government has in the past opposes T ◆◆By NDT US Bureau @NewDelhiTimes info@newdelhitimes.com the Pakistani Army and the well-known Pakistan’s Intelligence agency ISI (Inter Service Intelligence). Nawaz Sharif is the only civilian Prime Minister who pursued treason charges against the military coup mastermind of 1999 and then Chief of Army Staff Pervez Musharraf. Nawaz Sharif denies all corruption allegations against him and blames “INVISIBLE POWERS” to be behind his removal. Political instability in Pakistan will always continue as civilian government and military have never had working relations since the country came into existence. For the upcoming elections, all political parties will look for military support to win the elections, be it PML-N or PTI. But since Nawaz Sharif seems to have burnt his bridges with the current military rulers, the front runner seems to be Imran Khan of PTI; the main battle ground will be the province of Punjab. The military rulers have agreed to provide support to Imran Khan for 3 provinces - Sindh, Azad Kashmir, & Gilgit Baltistan, while they are still debating for providing support for the remaining 3 provinces. Some of the scenarios for Pakistan’s Upcoming 2018 elections are as follows: 1. High Political Risk The Nawaz Sharif government promoted the country’s improvements in the economy, business confidence and infrastructure development. With its majority in the parliament, PML-N has passed legislations which are pro-business and anti-terrorism. On the other hand, Imran Khan’s PTI has always opposed the PML-N and accused it of election rigging and corruption which has always led to political instability and violent unrest. Instability in Pakistan since 2013 has led to major policy struggle between Nawaz Sharif and the military rulers. One of the key policy struggle between the two always have been India. Whereas the civilian government always wants to improve relations with India, the military has always opposed the idea for a peaceful resolution with India and Pakistan. Photo Credit : Shutterstock The second policy struggle was of Nawaz Sharif negotiating with Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and trying to avoid military operations against the militant group’s stronghold in North Waziristan. The military on the other hand opposed the idea and encouraged PTI with Anti Government Protests. NDT Bureau’s Investigative journalist supports the idea that PTI’s anti government protest in Islamabad in 2014 was fully financed by the ISI for an amount of 10 crores Pakistani Rupees. 2. Outside Pakistan Risk factors Since Nawaz Sharif has been removed from office, Pakistan-India relations have deteriorated. All negotiations including Kashmir, cross-border militancy and trade that were initiated by the PML-N government have been put on a backburner by Military’s order. Military’s fear has been reinforced by growing co-operation between US, India and Afghanistan and Trump’s Afghanistan policy, which seeks greater involvement of India in Afghanistan’s security and development. Military ruler’s apprehension on this India- US- Afghanistan Troika has further solidified the partnership between China and Pakistan and has also made the military top brass find ways of developing new ties with Russia as a military supplier and leaving North Korean technology to go waste. If Nawaz Sharif is able to form the new government in 2018 without the support of the Military, the new government will try and foster broken ties with India and try to bring peace and stability in Pakistan. Nawaz Sharif is also aiming at cutting down the military interference in the functioning of the civilian government. However, the military’s control of foreign policy means that the outcome of the 2018 election is unlikely to fundamentally alter Pakistan’s regional outlook. For Full Article : http://www. newdelhitimes.com/pakistans-politicalturmoil-ahead-of-2018-elections The US deems India a leading Global Power he newly unveiled National Security Strategy (NSS) of US regards India as a leading global power. Trump administration expressed openly its resolve to deepen US strategic partnership and support its leadership role in the region and beyond in maintaining security in the Indo-Pacific region. The detailed NSS report running to 68 pages makes the US intent clear that it seeks to increase quadrilateral cooperation with regional powers like Japan India and Australia. ‘We welcome India’s emergence as a leading global power and a stronger strategic and defence partner’ said the report presented on December 18. Stressing that American vision for Indo- Pacific region excludes no nation the report indicated that America will extend its defence and security cooperation with India - a Major Defence Partner of the United States - and support India’s growing relationships throughout the region. The NSS report spoke highly of US-India defence relationships in the context of Indo- Pacific region. It also accorded a prominent role to India in South and Central Asia. Of late India has been expanding its relations with South east asia, so its expressed intent to expand footprint through ‘Act East’ policy is widely known but American insistence on India developing relations in Central Asia is a fresh encouraging approach, hence welcome. Mention of India’s leadership role in ‘Indian ocean security and broader region’ definitely imparts a positive strategic direction to India’s policy. China’s initiatives in South Asia like One Belt and One Road (OBOR) and China- Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has disproportionately increased Chinese influence in the region. The US intends to ‘help South Asian countries ‘maintain their sovereignty’ in the teeth of Chinese opposition to Washington’s involvement in the region. “We will help South Asian nations maintain their sovereignty as China extends its influence in the region,” it said. The US has taken note of recent Chinese advances in Sri Lanka and Maldives - the moves seen basically as designs to encroach on their sovereignty. Even the China Pakistan Economic corridor built as part of One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative that connects China’s Xinxiang province with port city of Gwadar has raised similar fears in Pakistan. India opposes CPEC as it passes through area which belongs to India but currently under Pakistani occupation. So here also remains the issue of sovereignty. There are also other angles to US cosying up to New Delhi. Pakistan has been habitual tormentor of its neighbours like Afghanistan and India. Now Washington is feeling the heat of Pak sponsored terror in Afghanistan hence sympathising with New Delhi. It continues to face threats from transnational terrorists and militants operating from within Pakistan. That explains why this time around Washington is too specific and particular about stopping Pakistan support to terrorists operating in Afghanistan much against the interests of Washington and Kabul. The US is now extremely focused on its interests in South Asian region, thanks to the Afghan muddle. It is wary of terror threat that impacts the security of the US home land and its allies. It wants to prevent cross border terrorism that could snowball into horrifying prospects of military and nuclear tensions, as well as nuclear weapons, technology and materials falling into the hands of terrorists. It is in this framework that US wants India to step up as a leading global power. That solves basically two purposes. First of all it could blunt, to some extent, Pakistan’s freehand in promoting terror in Afghanistan that gets US stuck there. Secondly, it wants to check Chinese prominence in the region by raising the status of India as a global power as a counterbalancing measure. www.NewDelhiTimes.com
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8-14 January 2018 - 16-min

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