WASHINGTON, 11 September 2020, TON: US President Donald Trump has announced in a statement that signing of bilateral agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates will take place at the White House next week.

President Trump said that after the recent peace agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, he had a dialogue with Saudi Arabia regarding the Middle East peace talks. He did not claim any breakthrough, however, said, "I spoke to the king of Saudi Arabia, so we're talking. We just started the dialogue and you'll have them come in…" He further hinted that one other country could be joining the bilateral agreement between Israel and the UAE by the time ceremony takes place at the White House.

WASHINGTON, 11 September 2020, TON: Secretary of State Michael Pompeo left for Doha  to participate in the intra-Afghan peace talks. He landed at Doha airport on Friday. President Donald Trump had already announced that Secretary of State Michael Pompeo will head to Doha to participate in the intra-Afghan peace talks.

President Trump said at a press conference at the White House, "I can announce, with great pride, that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will be departing this evening on a historic trip to Doha, Qatar, for the beginning of intra-Afghan peace negotiations," He also announced reduction of American troops in Afghanistan to 4,000 and in Iraq 2,000 only.

The much awaited intra-Afghan peace talks will be held in two round tomorrow.

BEIJING, 10 September 2020, TON: China has appointed its minister of provincial government Nong Rong as a new ambassador to Pakistan. He will replace the outgoing Chinese ambassador to Pakistan, Yao Jing, who has been transferred two months before the completion of his tenure.  Yao Jing has eleven years experience in Pakistan as he served thrice in various capacities in Pakistan.

Analysts have suggested that the change of diplomat was related to CPEC affair and about Pakistan repayments of loans. And it has nothing to with India-Chinese tension or affairs at Line of Actual Control (LAC).

Ambassador Yao Jing was friend of Pakistan and has contributed a lot for the host country and will always be remembered for his contribution towards peace and development in Pakistan.

NEW DELHI, 10 September 2020, TON: India has signed a mutual logistics support arrangement (MLSA) with Japan to keep an eye on China’s expansionist behavior in the Indo-Pacific and beyond. The defense secretary of India Ajay Kumar and Japanese ambassador Suzuki Satoshi signed the agreement. 

The officials said, “This agreement will provide the closer framework of interoperability, cooperation, and use of each other’s military force through the armed forces of both the countries.”

Moreover, the defense ministry spokesperson said “The agreement established the enabling framework for closer cooperation between the armed forces of India and Japan in the reciprocal provision of supplies and services while engaged in bilateral training activities.

Before the agreement with Japan, India has signed similar agreements with various countries that include France, the US, Singapore, Australia, and South Korea. 

In 2018, India has signed an agreement with France that allows the Indian Navy’s reach in south-western IOR due to the French bases in the Reunion Island near Djibouti and Madagascar on the horn of Africa.

India signed the agreement with the US back in 2016; it was an agreement of the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA). This agreement allows India to refuel and access American bases in Guam, Diego Garcia, Djibouti, and Subic Bay.

The agreement with Australia allows India to reach the warships in southern IOP as well as the Western Pacific region. Similarly, India has signed agreements with other countries to get access to various bases in time of need.

On the other hand, it is claimed that China has an access to Pakistani port of Gwadar to harbor its warships and submarines. Moreover, China has also military access to strategic port of Hambantota as well as other bases in various other countries.

OTTOWA, 10 September 2020, TON, Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau announced the first Black- Entrepreneurship Program of Canada on 10th September. The contribution of Black business owners and entrepreneurs are recognized respectively in the Canadian economy through the new program. The Canadian PM announced, “The pandemic has shone a light on the inequalities that disproportionately hurt Black Canadians, and has underscored the need to restart our economy in a way that allows all Canadians an equal chance to succeed. That is why today – thanks in part to the leadership, advocacy, and expertise of Black business owners and Black-led organizations – we are announcing Canada’s first-ever Black Entrepreneurship Program.”

 And this is an extended part of the ahead launched Canada's Anti-Racism Strategy in 2019.

The PM Trudeau announced nearly up to $95 million to launch the Black- Entrepreneurship Program. The Black  Entrepreneurship Loan Fund will be accessible via the Black-led business organizations funded through the National Ecosystem Fund. Canada's Regional Development Agencies will provide the National Ecosystem Fund.

This is a crisis mitigating strategy for the Black-led Canadian organizations, which facilitates $33.3 million for the Black Entrepreneurship Fund and $6.5 million for the Black Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub with many other strategies. The program aims to highlight the importance of Black Lives around the world.

KABUL, 10 September 2020, TON: A road side mine exploded in the Afghan capital city of Kabul on Wednesday, injuring Afghanistan's First Vice President Amrullah Saleh. Witnesses claimed that it was an apparent assassination attempt which targeted convey of Amrullah Saleh, who suffered minor injuries while at least 10 people killed.

Afghan authorities said, Vice President Amrullah Saleh survived the attack but  dozens of civilian casualties, mostly bystanders, were reported  injured or have been killed in the blast.

Pakistan has strongly condemned the attack and expressed sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims. In a statement by his spokesperson, Secretary General Antonio Guterres expressed his deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims and wished a speedy recovery to those injured.

A Taliban spokesman, Zabiullah Mujahid, in a message to media denied the its involvement in the attack on Saleh's convoy. The latest attack comes as Afghanistan is all prepared for direct peace negotiations with Taliban.

KABUL, 9 September 2020, TON: For the first time in two decades since foreign invasion in Afghanistan, Panjshir province which was secured by the foreign troops has come under attack. Local witnesses of the area claims that unidentified miscreants group also kidnapped some locals on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, residents of Panjshir claim that the unnamed authorities directed to take up arms to resist such attack in the future. Although media quoting Afghan authorities says that the attack might be carried out by the Taliban but accent of the attackers described by the locals suggests they were Persian speaking or Hazara or Tajik ethnic groups.  

Provincial officials were quoted by Afghan media that the militants took over several Afghan security force outposts in the Afshar district. VOA reported that District official Mohammad Sohrab saying that about 60 militants came from Nuristan province and took number of villagers hostage. Taliban residing in neighbouring Nuristan, Baghlan, Badakhshan, and Kapisa provinces ruled out any maneuver or attacks by the Taliban.

A local, who identified himself to Mohammad Daud said attack came at a time when 19th anniversary of Ahmed Shah Masood's death was being observed. He pointed out that Ahmed Shah Masood  and Gulbadin Hikmatyar were the main commanders who expelled foreign forces from Afghanistan and  freed Afghanistan. However, as a foreign conspiracy he was killed in 2001. He claimed that it was also an attempt to divide Afghan people into Taliban and non-Taliban.

Meanwhile Mohammad Naim, the Taliban spokesman, said the process of releasing Taliban prisoners is in progress and once the prisoner released    negotiation will be started.

PANGONG TSO, 8 September 2020, TON: As engagement at military, diplomatic and political levels is in progress well and all roads to peace are being explored, the Indian military authorities have accordingly rejected Chinese claim that they resorted to any aggressive means including firing warning shots. Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) on Monday night alleged that Indian troops “outrageously fired” warning shots near the Pangong TSO lake in eastern Ladakh and immediately returned back their guns to actual positions. Tension escalated after conflicting reports that the soldiers of the two nations exchanged fire on the south bank of Pangong Tso (lake) on Monday night. However, Indian military leadership said that India is committed to disengagement & de-escalating situation on the LAC.

Meanwhile, a spokesman of China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) was quoted to have claimed that its soldiers had been forced to by Indian side to take countermeasures in response to the “warning shots” fired by the Indian Army personnel at them on the south bank of the Pangong Tso. There were no causalities on either Indian Army or the Chinese PLA side.

Media reports quoting Colonel Zhang Suili, a spokesperson of the said, “Indian Army had “again illegally crossed the Line of Actual Control on the south bank of Pangong TSO on Monday and had outrageously fired warning shots  on the PLA border patrol position”. However, New Delhi denies the same and claims that India and China are on road towards peace. 

It we recall, on June 15, as many as 20 Indian soldiers were killed in a violent clash in the Galwan Valley. Ever since, due to political statements there is environment of suspicions between the two neighbouring nations.

BANDIPORA, 8 September 2020, TON: Jammu and Kashmir Police claimed today that on the tip of Indian Military Intelligence (MI) on Monday, they arrested three Kashmiri hardcore militants on 8 September, belonging to outlawed Lashkar-e-Tayyiaba (LeT). Police claims, “They hoised Pakistani flags at Bazar Hajin in Bandipura”.

An FIR vide no 35/2020 has been filed in Police Station Hajin against, Mujeeb Shamas, Tanveer Ahmad Mir and Imtiyaz Ahmad Sheikh all residents of Mir Mohalla Hajin in which their arrests have been shown and FIA read, “On 06/09/2020 police station Hajin recieved information from reliable sources that some miscreants at the behest of local active militants of LeT has hoisted Pakistani flags at main Bazar Hajin with a view to create fear pyschosis and  incite anti-national feelings among the common people of Hajin town.” Police also claimed that a hand grenade, cloth, sewing machine and other incriminating material used in preparing flags was also recovered from them.

A local eye witness at main Bazar Hajin said on the condition of anonymity, “I swear by Allah that Indian Military Intelligence and other Intelligence setups of security forces are, in fact, involved in the crime but they always blame the local Kashmiris”. He pointed out that the six side star in the flag is symbol of Jews and why a Kashmiri will stitch such flags or hoist in the Bazar. TON representation at Srinagar also confirmed the claim of eyewitness at main Bazar Hajin through sources.

It has become a matter of routine that Indian authorities create self engineered cases of involvement of Kashmiri Muslims in various crimes and terrorism related cases and try to establish their link with Pakistan to malign the neighbouring country. How long Kashmiris would suffer.

UDHAMPUR, 7 September 2020, TON: Indian Security Forces have abandoned its third cordon-and-search-operation in a row since 6 September 2020, when the case of extra judicial fake encounter was surfaced before the international media. One such operation was suspended in Kawoosa area of district Budgam while the other was at Pulwama. TON on 6 September, also reported the story titled, “Dead Bodies of Two Kashmiri Youth found in Neelum River – Army claims they were drowned” that highlighted Indian Army and security forces fake operations against Kashmiris. It was reported that the Northern Command, Udhampur, on Monday, has issued orders to it’s under command Crops Headquarters to carryout investigations in their Area of responsibilities (AOR).

 On 5 September 2020, Indian Army unit deployed at Gurez valley sector claimed to have fished out dead bodies of two Kashmiri youth fished out from Neelam River (Kishanganga) in Bandipora district. Army authorities handed over the bodies to Police claiming that they finished out Malangam village. However, the locals claimed that Indian Army was seen in the area at dawn on 5 September 2020 but locals were not allowed around the operation area and Indian Army personnel made fake recoveries of huge quantity of arms and ammunition from the drowned dead bodies.  The dead bodies were identified as Nisar Ahmad Rathore son of Abdul Aziz Rathore, resident of Dadsara, Tral  and Sameer Ahmad Dar son of Mohammad Yousuf Dar, resident of Dogripora Pulwama. Family of the one of the deceased claimed, “My son was a driver and we approached Police in April 2018 that Sameer is missing but they could not be traced him and now Indian Army has killed him while Police claims that he was drowned in the river and was a militant”. 

There is no doubt that it has become a routine that Indian Army and security forces kill Kashmiri youth in illegal confinement and extra judicial killings. Hundreds of Kashmir youth have been killed by the Indian occupying forces in disputed Jammu and Kashmir State by declaring them to be infected with COVID or their dead bodies are found in the forests. This time they Kashmiri youth were killed in extra judicial custody and thrown into the river.