WASHINGTON, 15 February 2020, TON: US President Donald Trump tweeted that he has the legal right to intervene in criminal cases after his US Attorney General complained White House tweets were making his job impossible. 

There is a debate whether the US president has the authority to order the Attorney General to open or close a case. The US Department of Justice is autonomous and meant to operate without political interference ever since the Watergate scandal of 1970s.

Mr Trump has in the past had called for investigations into perceived enemies, such as former FBI Director James Comey and former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe.

On Friday, Mr McCabe's lawyers disclosed that Justice Department had closed its criminal inquiry into whether their client had lied to investigators about leaks to the media or not.

PULWAMA, 14 February 2020, TON: One Year Passed to Pulwama Attack, 14 February marks anniversary of terror attack in Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir State. There are many questions which Indian public and the international community is asking from the Indian leadership about the attacks but still unanswered. Here is the fact which was published in Pulse soon after the attack. May be this answers the riddle, which India is hiding. See Inside Story on The Orient News.

One Year Passed to Pulwama Attack, 14 February marks anniversary of terror attack in Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir State. There are many questions which Indian public and the international community is asking from the Indian leadership about the attacks but still unanswered. Here is the fact which was published in Pulse soon after the attack. May be this answers the riddle, which India is hiding.

Top Pakistani-Kashmiri leader Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Muhammad Yasin Mailk and other leaders had given a call for a complete shutdown in Indian occupied Jammu & Kashmir State for 13 and 14 February 2019 against the highhanded attitude of India’s highest court. They threatened to launch a mass agitation if Indian state engineered adverse announcement and ambiguity over the dates of hearing of 35-A and 370 by Supreme Court prevails. It is worth noting that a petition seeking abrogation of constitutional amendment 35-A is being heard at Supreme Court of India. The Article gives power to Jammu and Kashmir Assembly to define the State Citizens or permanent residents of the State and their rights & privileges. It prohibits non-permanent residents from permanent settlement in the state, acquiring immovable property, government jobs, scholarships and aid. In another judgment in October 2002, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court held that women married to non-permanent residents will not lose their rights; however, the children of such women will lose succession rights.

To avoid another Burhan Wani type mass agitation against Indian occupying forces and Intelligence agencies, on 13 February 2019, engineered a blast at Falah-i-Millat school in Narbal village, Kakapora Town of Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district which left at least 23 students seriously injured. Interestingly, all educational institutions are closed in the Kashmir Valley these days due to winter vacations. The incident attracted protests by the Kashmiris on the ground that grenade attack was planted by the Indian security forces. Jammu and Kashmir's Governor Satya Pal Malik reacted swiftly to control the situation by approving Rs 50,000 to each injured student. As the security situation in Kashmir Valley was already tense, the incident naturally resulted in clashes between protester and Indian security forces, which went out of control. Indian security forces requested for additional troops to control the situation. Accordingly, additional Para Military Forces and hardcore military troops were approved and move orders issued for their deployment.

Next day, on 14 February 2019, a very large convey of 2,602 personnel, comprising of some undercover Special Police Officers (SPOs), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel, Indian Army personnel attached with Commando Training Centre at Lethpora and elements from Divisional Headquarters were on their way at Jammu Highway at Latoomode in Awantipora, for deployment on security as well as election duties, when a explosion took place. Resultantly, a bus carrying around 49 personnel of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) exploded, killing all the personnel and scores of others injured. Indian authorities’ version is that the ill-fated bus–HR 49 F 0637 was hit by a private vehicle coming from opposite direction that was loaded with around 100 kilograms of explosives. However, certain CRPF personnel claimed that RDX was planted under the bus and there is no truth about collusion with private car. On ground evidence reflects that the February 14th Pulwama attack was handiwork of Indian Intelligence agencies.

Ironically, immediately after the incident, the Indian authorities announced that Adil Ahmad Dar alias Waqas Commando from Kakapora in Pulwama of Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) accepted the responsibility of 14 February 2019 attack. Media referred a video on YouTube and photos of an armed man who claimed that all the major Mujahideen actions and other terrorist attacks taking place in India including IC 814 aircraft, Indian Parliament attack, Badami Bagh attacks, Thangdar and Nagrotta attacks, Pathankot Air Base, Pulwama Police Lines, BSF Camp near Srinagar Airport, attacks on Caspers were carried out by JeM. In the end of the video the armed man declared that he is scarifying his life and there are thousands other who are prepared for the same. One wonders what can be the authenticity of this video and what are the evidences that that armed man on YouTube was referring to 14th February Pulwama attack.

In reaction of the attack, the Indian Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi, in a statement said, "I want to tell the terrorist groups and their masters that they have committed a big mistake. They have to pay a heavy price”. He added, “Security forces have been given a free hand to deal with terrorists." Indian Foreign Ministry has claimed that US National Security Adviser John Bolton has spoken to Ajit Doval and ensured Indian authorities Washington’s support to bring those responsible for a deadly car bombing in disputed Kashmir to justice. To pressurize neighbouring Pakistan, Indian Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) has decided in principle to withdrawn Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status accorded to Pakistan and launch a state sponsored extensive campaign to malign Pakistan in order internationally isolate her.

India has also directed its High Commissioner to Pakistan, Ajay Bisaria to report back at New Delhi while Pakistan High Commissioner Sohail Mahmood was summoned at Foreign Office to lodge protest over the Pulwama attack. Interesting, Indian agencies claim that they have already handed over the list of individuals and groups working against India and those operations are being planned against them in Pakistan. No doubt, Jammu & Kashmir is a disputed State which requires an immediate solution. The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolutions for a plebiscite in Jammu & Kashmir to allow Kashmiris their right of self-determination serves as a yardstick for the resolution of Kashmir issue. This is high time that UNO, European Union, Amnesty International and other human right organizations decide once for all to declare year 2019 as year to resolve Kashmir issue so that India, Pakistan and the Kashmiris could live peacefully in the years to come.

WASHINGTON, 14 February 2020, TON: The US Senate has passed a non-binding resolution previously passed by the House seeking to limit US President Donald Trump’s ability to unilaterally make war against Iran via the 1973 War Powers Act.

The resolution has bipartisan support, winning the votes of all 47 Democrats 9 votes of Republicans. The Resolution provided that Trump should have sought the approval of federal lawmakers before ordering the 3 January airstrike that killed Iranian Major General Qasem Soleimani in Baghdad.

This is the second attempt on which the two legislative houses have expressed consensus to try to saddle Trump’s war announcing power; the first was attempt to bar US support for the Saudi-led coalition’s war in Yemen in 2019, which Trump vetoed.

ISLAMABAD, 14 February 2020, TON: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is Pakistan on two-day official visit. He arrived Thursday at Nur Khan airbase, Chaklala. A smartly turned-out contingent of the Pakistani Armed Forces presented guard of honour to honourable guest. At the occasion national anthems of the two countries were also played. Later, Prime Minister Imran Khan and President Recep Rayyip discussed isssues of mutual interests including issues of strategic contemporary international politics. 

Besides, holding a separate meeting with President Dr. Arif Alvi, President Erdogan will also address a Joint Session of the Parliament today. He will hold consultations with all the parliamentary leaders of all the political parties on this matter.

The commitment of the Turkish President include co-chair the 6th Session of the Pakistan-Turkey High Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC) at Islamabad. A number of important agreements / MoUs (Memorandums of Understanding) have been on the table and a Joint Declaration will also be signed.

President Erdogan, who is visiting Pakistan on the invitation of Prime Minister Imran Khan, was accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising cabinet members and senior government officials, as well as heads and CEOs (Chief Executive Officers) of leading Turkish corporations. 

Together with Prime Minister Imran Khan, President Erdogan will address the Pakistan-Turkey Business and Investment Forum, which brings together leading investors and business-people from both sides. 

An official statement issued by Islamabad said, the visit of President Erdogan will serve to underscore the traditional solidarity and affinity between the two countries, and prove to be another significant milestone in the further deepening and broadening of the flourishing Pakistan-Turkey strategic partnership.

NEW DELHI, 13 February 2020, TON: The Indian Supreme Court this week framed seven questions pertaining to the scope of religious freedom permitted in different religions, arguments on which will begin from 17 February 2020, before a nine-Judge Constitution Bench.

These questions pertain to a clash of faith and fundamental rights vis-a-vis entry of women of all ages into Mosques and Dargahs, female genital mutilation practised among the Dawoodi Bohra community, entry of women married to non-Parsis into the fire temple and entry of women in the Sabarimala temple.

The bench is headed by the Chief Justice S.A. Bobde and to be heard by the nine-judge bench that also comprises Justices R. Banumathi, Ashok Bhushan, L. Nageswara Rao, M.M. Shantanagoudar, S.A. Nazeer, R. Subhash Reddy, B.R. Gavai and Surya Kant. The nine-judge bench will hear the issues referred by a five-judge Constitution bench headed by then Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi (since retired) on 14 November 2019.

The questions include: What is the scope and ambit of the right to freedom of religion under Article 25 of the Constitution? What is the interplay between the rights of persons under Article 25 of the Constitution of India and rights of religious denominations under Article 26 of the Constitution?

The bench will also examine the scope and extent of judicial review with regard to a religious practice, as referred to in Article 25, and the meaning of the expression "Sections of Hindus" in Article 25 (2) (b) of India's Constitution.

The bench will also deal with whether a person not belonging to a religious denomination or group can question a practice of that group by filing a public interest litigation (PIL).

GUWAHATI, 13 February 2020, TON: State Education Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma disclosed before the media his government’s intention to close hundreds of Madrassas (Madaris) in the State as teaching of religious scriptures is harming the State exchequer.

Making this disclosure before the media here on 12 February 2020, the State Education Minister said, “We feel it is not just to teach religious scriptures with government funds. If we are to continue with such teachings, we will have to teach the scriptures of other religions as well. Hence, the State government has decided to close such religion-based educational institutions and upgrade them as general high schools.”

The Minister, however, clarified that the State government will interfere if such religion-based institutes are run with private funding.  The State has 640 government-funded Madrassas in Assam. Meanwhile the Muslims have decided to lodge official protest to compel the State government to take back its decision.

JAMMU, 13 February 2020, TON: A group of foreign national including some envoys visited Jammu on 12 - 13 February 2020. Corps Commander 15 Corps Lieutenant General KJS Dhillon briefied the delegation regarding the security situation in occupied Jammu and Kashmir. General KJS Dhillon blamed Pakistan for the terrorist activities across the Line of Control and supported his claim from statistics. He allowed the foreign delegation to interact with the local population in Jammu including the Sikhs and Hindu Pandits. Selected politician also attended the briefing.  

Earlier, they interacted with selected Kashmiri politicians. The group comprises of representatives from Afghanistan, Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, the European Union, France, Germany, Republic of Guinea, Hungary, Italy, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Mexico, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Rwanda, Slovakia, Tajikistan, Uganda and Uzbekistan.

If we recall, last month, delegation from 15 countries including US Ambassador to India Kenneth Juster and diplomats from Vietnam, South Korea, Brazil, Niger, Nigeria, Morocco, Guyana, Argentina, Philippines, Norway, Maldives, Fiji, Togo, Bangladesh, and Peru visited Jammu and Kashmir on 9 – 10 January 2020.

WASHINGTON, 11 February 2020, TON: US President Donald Trump along with first lady Melania are scheduled to pay a state visit to India on 24 – 25 February 2020. White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham said in a statement that the decision to visit came after Trump and Modi had a telephonic talk over the weekend over tense situation arising after Iranian purist to its ballistic missile programme.

US State Department said it has approved the sale of an Integrated Air Defence Weapons System to India (IADWS) for an estimated cost of USD 1.9 billion. The approval comes after Trump Administration notified to the US Congress its determination to sell to India the IADWS. The IADWS will modernize Indian armed forces and the system could also be deployed against American adversaries in the Indian Ocean and South China Sea.  

KOLKATA, 11 February 2020, TON: Indian West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the central government to shun politics of vendetta” and work with the 0pposition parties to revive the economy.

Banerjee saidm “The Prime Minister should take everybody into confidence and if necessary hold meetings with opposition parties to find out ways to revive the economy. The Centre should focus more on the economy and stop resorting to vendetta politics.” She appealed to Modi to take the recent comments by the RBI about the state of the Indian economy “seriously”.