By Usman                                                                                                                                         

Two-days 'Central-South Asia conference ‘was held at Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan on July 15^th and 16^th, 2021. Around 250 participants and 40 delegates from different countries have taken part in the conference titled as "The International Conference on Central and South Asia Regional Connectivity, Challenges and Opportunities". During the conference the accusations of Afghan president on Pakistan were highly disappointing. He said “the influx of ten thousands jihads fighters plunged into Afghanistan” have come to Afghanistan in the past month. Afghan government, instead of admitting their failures on the Afghan home-front and correcting their policy loop holes, Afghan government is busy in blaming Pakistan from the last decade. The Afghan president adopted an old rhetoric to put the responsibility of its blunders on the shoulders of Pakistan which is not more than disgusting.

Despite the fact, it is Pakistan which, hosted millions of Afghans on its land from more than two decades and seriously concerned at the deteriorating political situation in the war-torn country, where the Taliban are taking sweeping advances. Those participated sought a common pathway toward finishing the country’s escalating violence. The Chinese and Russian envoys criticized America’s hasty retreat and withdrawal of the US and NATO contingents from Afghanistan that has left power vacuum and destabilized the region, all this tilted in favor of Taliban practically. Taliban forces have captured dozens of districts and key border regions from the irresolute Afghan security forces and military as the US and NATO completing their withdrawal. The conference had originally been intended to deliberate on making better transportation relations across Central and South Asia, but that agenda was outplayed by the Taliban advances.

All the participants’ countries including the Pakistan, US, Russia, China and Afghanistan’s neighbors want to solve the Afghan conflict but it is difficult for them to find common solution to how salvage a peaceful settlement. The crisis in Afghanistan has led to complete chaos, civil war and the problem of illegal drug trafficking has reached an unprecedented scale and the real risks of instability spilling into neighboring countries also. During the conference the Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman ridiculed and wrote on her channel on a messaging app a call by EU foreign policy Chief for collective efforts to help a peaceful settlement in Afghanistan. The Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman truly said that “First, they create a problem and then search for those responsible and call for collective efforts.”

In recent weeks, the Taliban have captured dozens of strategic places and now hold key border crossings with Iran, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Pakistan. Speaking to the conference, Pakistani Prime Minister said his country wants a peace settlement. He pointed out the Pakistan already hosts more than 2 million refugees from decades of war in Afghanistan and cannot handle a new flow that is likely if violence escalates.

“We will always be against a military solution to the conflict in Afghanistan.” He also rejected allegations of Pakistan’s support for the Taliban as “extremely unfair,” said “Pakistan has done more than any other country to help put the Taliban at the negotiations table.” The relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan are inundated by deep, long-time misgivings. Kabul continually accused Islamabad of providing safe havens for the Taliban. It is also irony of the fact, that why the peace deal was not brokered and happened by Us-led American forces and Afghan warring groups  with Taliban at that time when the American forces were fully operational during the last decades. Now when the Taliban has an edge over all his opponents, it looks ridicules that they are talking about peace at the time.

Pakistan PM expressed concern over the worsening situation in Afghanistan and its negative impact on the security situation of Pakistan. Pakistan has also blamed Afghanistan of harboring the Pakistani Taliban, known as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), who has attacked in Pakistan, killing several army personnel. The Central Asian states, Russia and the US all have expressed a hope for a peaceful Afghanistan that included working with the Taliban. The Governments of C5 (five Central Asian countries) the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Republic of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and the Republic of Uzbekistan have reiterated their stance for a durable peace in Afghanistan and also want to cooperate on regional security.

However, at the moment, the urgency of substantive negotiations on a political settlement to Create stable and prosperous conditions favorable to the Afghan peace process and formation of the next mutual government is foremost important thing. That should be acceptable to all Afghan groups, which is the only way out path to a lasting peace through a negotiated political settlement that would results in an inclusive political system and fundamental rights of all Afghans and to address challenges and threats to security, prosperity, and stability of not only Afghanistan but other regional countries as well.

ISLAMABAD, 18 July 2021, (TON): The Chinese firm, working on the Dasu hydropower project, would continue carrying out work on the project, the company announced, as a visiting Chinese investigation team inspected the site where nine Chinese workers died in a bus tragedy in Upper Kohistan district earlier this week.

The China Gezhouba Group Corporation (CGGC), which had announced to discontinue work on the project and ended the employment contract with the Pakistani staffers, said that the higher authorities had rejected its decision.

Nine Chinese nationals and four Pakistani citizens were killed and more than two-dozen others sustained injuries morning, when a shuttle bus, they were travelling in, plunged into a deep ravine after an explosion on board.

The bus was ferrying the Chinese and Pakistani workers to an under-construction tunnel site of the Dasu hydropower project in the remote Upper Kohistan district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, when it hit the tragedy.

Initially, the Foreign Office had said the incident was an accident, but the government later said that traces of explosives had been found at the site of the incident. Information and Broadcasting Minister Fawad Chaudhry said on Thursday that “terrorism could not be ruled out”.

NEW DELHI, 18 July 2021, (TON): Defence ministry said “the Indian Navy has received the first two of its 24 multi-role helicopters from the US Navy.”

A statement issued by the ministry said that the navy received MH-60R helicopters in a ceremony held at the US Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego.

The statement said "MH-60R helicopters manufactured by Lockheed Martin Corporation, USA is an all-weather helicopter designed to support multiple missions with state of the art avionics/sensors."

It said “the Indian Navy is buying 24 of these helicopters from the US government through foreign military sales. The helicopters would also be modified with several India Unique Equipment and weapons."

The first batch of Indian personnel is currently receiving training in the US to exploit these potent helicopters.

These helicopters are a replacement for the Sea King 42/ 42A helicopters, which were decommissioned in the 1990s, and are "envisioned to operate from frontline ships and aircraft carriers, providing them the critical attributes of the flexibility of operation, enhanced surveillance, and attacking capability.

The navy said "the delivery of the helicopters comes at a time when the Indian Ocean Region is witnessing increasing security threats due to the proliferation of submarines."

BEIRUT, 17 July 2021, (TON): Riots left more than two dozen people injured in Tripoli, including 10 soldiers, as tensions continued to rise in Lebanon.

Lebanese Armed Forces Commander Gen. Joseph Aoun said “the situation seems to be getting worse, and things are about to escalate because we are facing a difficult political and social fate.”

Meanwhile the international community continued to call for progress in the country’s stalled political process. France, the EU and the US have urged Lebanese politicians to form a new government as a matter of urgency, and an international conference is being planned to support the efforts.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said “all concerned parties need to work with urgency to put in place a government that’s able to implement reforms immediately.”

The Arab League said its secretary-general, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, and his UN counterpart, Antonio Guterres, had agreed during a meeting in New York that the situation in Lebanon is going from “bad to worse.”

COLOMBO, 17 July 2021, (TON): Minister of Public Security Sarath Weerasekera said said that the discipline in the country has deteriorated lately and that in order to create a disciplined society, people over the age of 18 should be given a training in military camps.

He made these remarks while attending an event to declare open the Panadura Alubomulla and Hirana Police Stations.

He said that discipline in our country is becoming worse and there can be no extortionists, rapists, underworld and child extortionists in such a society to live without fear and suspicion.

He added "when I said in Parliament that those above 18 years of age should be given military training," I was insulted. Some criticized that military training as of becoming a militant.”

Minister Weerasekera said “if they could give any training to the youth above 18 years of age, the best place to give that training is the army camp, because it has discipline and facilities.”

KHARTOUM, 17 July 2021, (TON): Creditor countries have agreed to cancel $14.1bn of Sudan’s international debts, praising its economic reforms and efforts to fight poverty.

In a statement, the Paris Club of creditor nations also announced that it rescheduled Sudan’s remaining $9.4bn in debt to the group, and held out the possibility of more debt relief in the future.

Sudan’s overall foreign debt is estimated at $70bn. The Paris Club, a group of 22 nations that lend to governments in need, urged other lenders to provide similar debt forgiveness.

On his Facebook page, Sudan’s Finance Minister Gebriel Ibrahim congratulated the Sudanese people on this development, vowing to work on reaching similar or even better agreements with other creditors from outside the Paris Club.

Friday’s announcement came after the International Monetary Fund announced a $1.4bn debt relief package for Sudan last month, and France cancelled Sudan’s $5bn debt in an effort to support the country’s transitional leadership and help its crippled economy.

Sudan’s joint military-civilian government, which has ruled the African country since a popular uprising, has taken a series of bold steps to try to revive a battered and distorted economy where smuggling is rife. That’s included floating its currency, starting to address heavy government subsidies, particularly on fuel, and seeking investment from international donors.

But some measures also threaten to further impoverish some of the country’s poorest, and have faced opposition from pro-democracy activists who led the popular uprising against autocratic President Omar al-Bashir, who ruled the country for nearly 30 years.

DHAKA, 17 July 2021, (TON): Dr Shamsul Alam, a member of Planning Commission's General Economy Division and a senior secretary in the government, is scheduled will take oath as the state minister for planning.

When contacted, Dr Alam told UNB that he had been asked to be present at Bangabhaban, the president’s official residence, at 7:30pm on Sunday.

He said “asked whether he was going to take oath as a state minister, a  summary in this regard was sent to the prime minister from the Cabinet Division yesterday, and she signed it. That’s what I know so far."

Sources at the Cabinet Division said he is likely to be the state minister for planning under technocrat quota.

COLOMBO, 17 July 2021, (TON): Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila said that Sri Lanka has identified oil and gas deposits currently valued US 240 billion.

The Minister told media that Sri Lanka could well tide over the issue related to its foreign debt sustainability if it harnessed the full potential of these offshore oil and gas resources.

He said “our foreign debt amount is around US $ 45 billion. But, we have oil and gas deposits valued US$ 240 billion.”

He also said the new piece of legislation which, if enacted by Parliament, would provide for the upstream of oil and gas industry, would be presented to the Cabinet next Monday for approval.

GENEVA, 17 July 2021, (TON): The UN human rights experts called on India to halt mass evictions that threaten to leave 100,000 people homeless in the northern state of Haryana.

Special rapporteurs of the UN Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner said in a statement “we appeal to the Indian government to respect its own laws and its own goal of eliminating homelessness by 2022 and to spare homes of 100,000 people who mostly come from minority and marginalized communities.”

They added “it is particularly important that residents be kept safe during the pandemic.”

The statement said demolition of homes began last Wednesday in a village in Haryana state built on protected forest land, even though the forest was actually destroyed decades ago by heavy mining.

A move like this would put 100,000 people, including 20,000 children, at risk of becoming homeless.

Residents have already been hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the eviction order would put them at greater risk and bring even more hardship to some 20,000 children – many of whom may remain out of school – and 5,000 pregnant or breastfeeding women.

The statement said the villagers live in Khori Gaon (village) in Faridabad on land that was designated as a protected forest in 1992, “despite there being no forests on it.”

DHAKA, 17 July 2021, (TON): Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen laid emphasis on establishing ‘good connectivity’ between Central and South Asian nations through road and air connections with trade facilitation for betterment of both the regions. 

He said “trade facilitation, avoidance of double taxation, visa support and other trade favorable measures would be the ground to ease and expedite the cooperation among our countries.”

Momen made the remarks while delivering his speech at the plenary session of the ongoing international conference on ‘Central and South Asia, Regional connectivity, Challenges and Opportunities’ at Congress Hall in Tashkent in Uzbekistan, a foreign ministry’s press release said here.

The Bangladesh foreign minister said that long-standing common cultural and civil bonds of the Central and South Asian regions serve as the foundation for people-to-people relations through education, tourism and cultural exchange and it can be established both by road and air.

Momen said “through combined efforts, all states will be able to establish a good connectivity between two regions opening new avenues of cooperation for the benefits.