By Afshain Afzal

November this year, Indian Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat issued a statement, “China has become India's biggest security threat and the tens of thousands of troops and weaponry that New Delhi rushed to secure the de-facto Himalayan border last year will not be able to return to base for a long time”. The 13th round of border talks between Indian and Chinese military commanders ended in a stalemate as both sides couldn't agree on how to pull back from the border. But few day later both India and China agreed to hold the 14th round of Corps Commander level talks in mid December 2021, to achieve the objective of complete disengagement of the remaining friction points along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh. The Inside Story from reliable quarters reveal a breakthrough has been achieved, at least the withdrawal of Chinese and Indian troops from advance positions. Pentagon took it as a serious breach of trust over Indian invitation of Russian President and striking multi million dollar arms deal, purchasing Russian Air Defence System and other equipment.

Against the backdrop of the Southeast Asian states’ growing tensions with China around its claim of the entire South China Sea, the recent maneuvers by US and Russia has made the situation more complex. General Bipin Rawat’s semi-neutral position against American interests, even over the disputes along the South China Sea involving China and countries of Southeast Asia has always remained a matter of criticism at White House and Pentagon. Growing strategic-military partnerships with the littoral states, Indian involvement in achieving long term strategic goals including oil exploitation in these waters and military and diplomatic discussions resulted in passage of disheartening signals at Washington. The escalating Sino - US tug of war with strategic engagement between Russia and India has created bad taste back at Washington. Russian closer ties with China and now Navy Exercise “ARNEX” with the bloc that comprises 10 countries including Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia, Myanmar and Brunei gave a strong negative message to the Western players in so called Indo - Pacific Command.

It is probably a matter of concern that both US and Russia conducted Navy exercises at the same time at Bay of Bengal and Strait of Malacca early this December. The US, during US-Bangladesh Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) series, CARAT Bangladesh 2021, positioned combat ship USS Tulsa (LCS 16) and embarked MH-60S Seahawk helicopter of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron while Bangladesh carried out real time trialed Scorpion II advanced radar electronic countermeasures system. On the other hand Russia positioned anti-submarine ship Admiral Panteleev during Exercise “ARNEX”. A Bangladeshi participant of the exercise on the condition of anonymity claimed that they experienced locking by Indian Air Defence System and other monitoring equipment from the Western side of Bay of Bengal during the exercise.

 It is too early to confirm if General Bipin Rawat helicopter crash was a retaliation or not. US US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said over the crash of Indian top military General, “My deep condolences on the deaths of Indian Chief of Defence Staff General Rawat, his wife and colleagues who perished in today's tragic accident," and "He was a strong friend and partner of the US, overseeing a major expansion of India''s defence cooperation with the US military. His legacy will continue on.” If we carryout analysis of recent Indian helicopter crash, there is no doubt that crashed-helicopter’s voice recorder and a flight data recorder will give some idea but this should be kept in mind that India doesn't have capability to decode flight data recorder “Black Box” and have to rely on Western interpretation. The helicopter in question was Russian-made Mi17 fleet, acquired and inducted between 2008 and 2018.These are considered as highly reliable and well maintained. The ground position is that the helicopter carrying Indian top military leadership took off from Indian Airforce Station, New Delhi at 0847 hours on 8 December 2021 and landed at Indian Airforce Station, Sulur at 1134 hours. It took off from Sulur to Wellington at 1147 hours and was scheduled to land at Wellington but at 1222 hours, Air Traffic Controller (ATC) lost contact with the helicopter and at 1222 hours, 35 minutes after take-off, the helicopter crashed. Eyewitnesses claimed that they saw helicopter on fire and people falling down from the helicopter. Another witness said, the helicopter crashed at Khatri near Coonoor as it hit into a tree and immediately caught fire. But the other witnesses claimed that the helicopter was already on fir when it hit tree or the ground. Airforce authorities said the helicopter crashed less than 20 kilometers from Wellington Defense College.

A tri-service inquiry has been ordered by the IAF and it will be headed by Air Marshal Manvendra Singh, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Training Command. In a statement Air Marshal Manvendra Singh said, "uninformed speculation should be avoided as facts will be made public soon". There are allegations that Russian and Indian were monitoring US-Bangladesh exercise through testing and locking equipment from Indian land, sea and space. However, these allegations, apparently, are unfounded as so far other then communication intercepts there are no ground evidences. There are strong leads of sabotage as some witnesses claimed that they saw people strated falling from the helicopter. There are reports that an Israeli Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) that jammed the controls of the helicopter and caused component failures including failure or loss of navigation system, that bars recognition of turbulence and other bad weather conditions, such as fog, dust, debris and other hazards. Meanwhile, the Airforce authorities tweeted, “IAF has constituted a tri-service Court of Inquiry to investigate the cause of the tragic helicopter accident on 08 Dec 21. The inquiry would be completed expeditiously & facts brought out. Till then, to respect the dignity of the deceased, uninformed speculation may be avoided”. It is too early to pronounce anything with confidence but some serious matter is pending that was shared by Israelis with Indian Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane during his November 2021 visit to Tel Aviv. One wonders it is time to realize that we have to work for peace in Indian Ocean Region and world at large rather than converting battleground for world powers.

Unholy Indian Army Chief Visit to Israel - Disappointments but a test for Indo Israeli Relations
By Afshain Afzal
High level delegation led by Indian Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane's November 2021-visit to Israel proved to be a bad show but with many hopes, although tied with ifs and buts. The Indian military leadership was really disappointed and had to return with a fatigue and disappointed face to report at New Delhi. Indian Army Chief visit to Israel also saw many surprises. Despite a number of military agreements and Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) as well as joint stance of counterterrorism, New Delhi is being asked very difficult questions that New Delhi may be hesitant to act upon. India basic purpose of visit to Tel Aviv was defence acquisition, support in surgical attacks on Pakistan through Israeli drones, recognition of Jammu and Kashmir as part pf India, help India in acquiring belt in Gilgit Baltistan to get connected with Afghanistan, funding and supplies against anti-Taliban groups in Afghanistan and Hindu Temple "Mandir" in Haifa, Israel.
As a follow up of November 2021, Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar visit to Israel, Indian Army Chief visit held immense importance as this time secret agreement were ready to be signed and schedule to be chalked out to move farwad. If we recall, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Israel in July 2017 that mad the decades old secret relations between Israel and India public. Earlier India bluffed and projected herself as champion of Palestinian cause and leadership at New Delhi is even today anti-Israel being pagans. Earlier in August 2021, Indian Indian Air Force Chief R K S Bhadauria visited Tel Aviv while Indian Navy chief Sunil Lanba to visit Israel in February 2021.
There were apprehensions that some thing serious was cooking regarding the militarization of Indian Ocean but Indian for the first time realized that it is a trap around India's own neck. What Israel has asked New Delhi included:-
a. Recognition of State of Israel with capital at Jerusalem.
b. Freedom of transit and settlement from and to India and Israel for thousands of Indian nationals settled in Israel since long. Arrangement of more Indian "lost Jew tribes" to be immigrated.
c. Parting relationship with Iranian religious regime and help Israel to aid revolt in Tehran.
d. Seize Iranian settlement and movements in the Ladakh, especially Kargil.
e. Action against the military fundamentalist in India including Indian Muhjahideen (IM) and Lashkar-e-Tayyiaba.
f. Mend fences with Pakistan as start peace talks.
g. Allow Israel to station its personnel at ports at Gujarat and Goa as well as establish listening posts in selected area.
h. Continue media campaign against Saudi Royal familiy and leadership in Saudi Arabia to bring democratic rev0lution there.

The Indian delegation visited that Israel Defence Forces (IDF) Headquarters and met IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Aviv Kochavi and Major General Tamir Yadai, Israeli Army’s Chief of the Ground Forces and exchanged views on various defense-related issues. The Indian side also visited Special Operations Unit of the IDF where briefing was given on various aspects of counter-terrorism operations. The Israeli senior military and civilian leadership as well as Intelligence personnel at Tel Aviv discussed joint strategy. India-Israel joint working group on defence cooperation also decided to set up a task force.
It was shocking for General Naravane when Tel Aviv agreed in principle to sell India additional Heron drones but set condition that these would only be deployed at Line of Actual Control (LAC) bordering China and not other Indian borders. Another shock was experienced when General Naravane visited the Indian cemetery at Hafia to paid tribute to the Indian army personnel who lost lives during World War l. It was revealed that when Hindu India was voicing against Israel and Western allies Muslims including those living in present day Pakistan sacrificed their lives for the defence and their graves stand as witness even today. It was a surprise for Israel when Indian Army Chief claimed that Hamas is assisting Taliban of Afghanistan in taking over the control of Afghanistan.
India offered its services to Israel and discussed “Hamas-led Change and Reform” after the general elections for Palestinian Legislative Council in Palestinian-controlled territories amid the fears that across the West Bank and Gaza today, Hamas would again garner the most votes. India is planning to bring a political gains in favour of Hamas as otherwise they are likely to win. It has been decided to offer Hamas to renounce violence and recognize Israel to win its support. However, same could not be confirmed from headquarters of the Palestinian Central Elections Commission (CEC) in Ramallah. The issue of Pakistani Assistant Zulfi Bukhari visit to Tel Aviv in November 2020 to pass on messages from Pakistani Prime Minister and Pakistani Army Chief to Mossad head Yossi Cohen was also discussed in detail.
Not all is open about visit but whatever has come to light is dangerous. No doubt, Israel is India’s largest arms supplier, accounting for more than 42% of the total amount expanded on defence procurement and present agreement and MoUs is worth more than a billion dollar. One wonders why New Delhi fails to comprehend that the far-flung military alliances is against the sovereignty and national integrity. It is equally strange that India is playing bluff game with many nations. The game it is playing with Iran and at the same time is realizing the US and Israel as their most trusted ally. It is high time that India must give up dangerous plans to weaponize Indian Ocean and struggle for peace in the whole region. No doubt, peace and development can bring peace and prosperity in the region.

By Afshain Afzal
Let us carryout an accountability of pledges and donations through official announcements by various countries. In majority of the cases, it is not the sweet will of these countries but the United Nations mechanism that compel them to extend humanitarian aid. However, as a thumb rule, all the world powers have denied extending any aid and relief to Taliban who are ruling Afghanistan. It is important to note that world nations have been unfair in helping Afghanistan during humanitarian crisis, rather they failed to even fulfill their previous pledges. Not sufficient to address a fraction of needy Afghan, but Turkey dispatched series of convoy, carrying tons of food supply through Pakistan and other means. There are many other countries which did the same but will this mere aid accounting only several hundred tonnes would be suffice for the people of Afghanistan. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan rightly and boldly pronounced, “The people of Afghanistan have been left alone; they were abandoned with the consequences of instability, and the conflicts that have lasted for more than four decades,” He said, “regardless of whether the West likes the Taliban or not, whether they can find some middle ground, or not, Afghanistan needs to be extended humanitarian and financial help”. Pakistan pledged over US $28m in immediate humanitarian aid to Afghanistan. Islamabad dispatched over 1,000 tonnes of humanitarian aid on 58 trucks to Afghanistan.
China announced 200 million RMB Yuan worth of emergency humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan. The United States has prioritized support for Afghan refugees, refugee returnees, and other displaced persons for years. In mid September 2021, US announced that it will be providing nearly $64 million in new humanitarian assistance to the people affected by the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, however, in revised US Department of State statements it announced additional nearly $144 million in humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan and for Afghan refugees in the region to make nearly $474 million in 2021. The statement said that the aid will go directly to independent humanitarian organizations, including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), International Organization for Migration (IOM), the World Health Organization (WHO), and other short-listed international and non-governmental organizations to support all Afghan persons in vulnerable situations, including women, children, journalists, human rights defenders, persons with disabilities, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex (LGBTQI) and individuals, and members of minority groups.
The 27 member states European Union has announced a revamped humanitarian aid package worth €1 billion to deal with the aftermath of the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. The new package include pledges which had been already agreed to support the country's civilian population, protect human rights and advance the coronavirus vaccination campaign. The aid will be channeled through international organizations working inside Afghanistan. As a blackmailing tactics €450 million have not yet been earmarked and linked by a criteria that involve respect for the rule of law and human rights, including women's rights, and assurances that humanitarian aid operations are able to continue to Western favourites include ethnic minorities and LGBTQI. Likewise Canada has announced allocation of $50 million from Canadian international assistance resources but has set same conditions.
Humanitarian organizations, including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the World Health Organization (WHO) claim to have chalked out plan to provide support directly to the more than 18.4 million vulnerable Afghans in the region including Afghan refugees. This funding will allow designated organizations to provide lifesaving protection, shelter, livelihoods support, essential health care, emergency food aid, water, sanitation, and hygiene services to respond to the needs generated by recent conflict and compounded by the severe drought and other natural disasters, and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
In the recent development world governments including US, Britain, Canada, France and Germany announced aid for Pakistan and Iran to keep Taliban unstable and unrecognized. Major chuck of additional $144 million announced by the US in humanitarian assistance will be expanded under the same head. Germany has said it is ready to mobilize cash for neighbouring countries, like Iran and Pakistan, to help them host displaced Afghans and counter a new rise in terrorist activity and organized crime in the region. It is generally an official stance that humanitarian should go to 3.5 million displaced Afghans, including over 500,000 displaced this year alone. It was all planned to evict Afghan from Afghanistan and settle them elsewhere. In fact, evacuation was preplanned step to develop a centrifugal force abroad. Some evacuees claim facing a year of waiting in temporary locations in order to get resettled in their new home countries to begin in the new countries. One wonders which law allows a foreign occupying nations to evacuate nationals of the country under occupation; preventing them from their possessions, jobs, friends, family members, and culture and tradition. Many nations are behind this new trend of chose and pick slavery.
This time a new strategy has been more overtly adopted to exclude and settle aggrieved individuals and groups from target countries and vigorously support all persons in vulnerable situations. These include people including women, children, journalists, human rights defenders, persons with disabilities, LGBTQI and individuals, and members of minority groups to create pressure groups and act as instrument of instability and chaos. This would bring a constant instability and pressurize governments of those countries to bend knees in accepting dictates from developed of world to end sovereign self governments and create conducive environment that fulfil interests of powerful nations. One wonders the United Nations Organizations has become indirectly party to it and there are likely changes that it would become another League of Nations for which the founder of Pakistan, Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the Quaid-e-Azam said in connection with its role in creation of State of Israel over Palestinian land, "Coffin thieves designated to distribute graves". It is time to think what we are doing to the needy people of Afghanistan? Are we not allowing to die in harsh winters of Afghanistan only because we donot like Taliban as ruling Afghanistan.

By Afshain Afzal

The Western cum Iranian backed groups including National Resistance Front of Afghanistan (NRF) are again on the stage. There are also other including Indo-US funded Islamic State’s terrorists (ISIS aka ISK) who pretend to be linked with Islam but in fact, are carrying out spree of terrorism and target killing of orthodox Muslims. No doubt, all individuals and groups have every right to raise their voices as they are all Afghans despite the fact that many amongst them were anti-Afghan and acted as pawn in the hands of foreign occupational forces during two decades of holocaust. They need to be pardoned but their loyalty must be tested to allow them to join mainstream politics. Today Iran is holding peace talks on Afghanistan and It seems that very soon Tehran would emerge as the Iran of World War-I. There are plans to establish “Free Zones” in at least four areas of Afghanistan under the United Nations framework, it is almost the same programme France and Britain presented for the creation of a “safe zone” in Kabul to protect humanitarian operations after US withdrawal as well as to maintain pressure on the Taliban. Taliban as well as splinter group sharing power in Afghanistan, however, rejected all such plans, injurious to Afghan sovereignty and national integrity.

The supreme leader of Taliban Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob had been looking after the affairs of Afghanistan and is dealing with future defence strategy. At a right time a right decision was made for a public appearance on media, appealing to Afghan local businessmen to invest in hospitals and clinics. He asked Afghan businessmen to invest in hospitals and clinics as other civic facilities to overcome worst catastrophe created be stoppage of all humanitarian aid and financial support including Afghan own finical resources in foreign banks. As per the United Nations mechanism, the economically strong countries, especially the ones who claim to have leadership role as "VETO" countries have to perform their primary responsibility helping Afghanistan to emerge from catastrophic hardships to vitality. However, these countries have become the reason of further hardships as they imposed unilateral sanctions on Afghanistan including seizure of its state assets to be used to meet people's urgent needs such as healthcare and food. Ironically, every country admits that Afghanistan is passing through worst state of human suffering due to American senseless two decades criminal war, which is still continuing but still united to further bleed Afghanistan. The war crimes and grave human rights violations which resulted in killing of over 1.6 million unarmed innocent Afghan women, children and men remain unaccounted and still the International Court of Justice (ICJ) or International Criminal Court (ICC) or even United Nations Security Council (UNSC) failed to investigate or pass a single resolution against tyrant and aggressors.

It is so disgusting that penniless Afghanistan which is facing worst hunger, famine like situation and disease are not helped by either the world organizations or the so called civilized nations of the world. Rather, they are trying to sell their experimental vaccines for COVID-19 pandemic to Afghanistan masses. The selfish world governments are dictating their conditions one by one in lieu of releasing Afghan assets in foreign banks. One feel to laugh that two of the conditions are pressurizing Taliban to allow International Non Government Organizations (INGOs) to run Polio and COVID – 19 vaccination campaign in Afghanistan.  Other conditions include forcing Taliban to agree on broad-based government and inclusive political stance, adoption of moderate and prudent domestic and foreign policies, and protect the basic rights and interests of ethnic minorities, women and children including and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex (LGBTQI).

The United States, in fact, is pressurizing the members’ countries of United Nations through carrot and stick strategy not to let Taliban to come to power in Afghanistan and press them to adopt moderate, prudent and enlightened domestic and foreign policies to fulfill international agendas. At the same time not only Taliban leaders are targeted through foreign-funded terrorist attacks but they are also labeled for the crimes which they never committed, rather, they themselves remained victims of such attacks. Interestingly, the Western, Russian, Iranian, Indian, to some extent Chinese blocks and Pakistani individuals have created an alliance against Taliban in the name of fighting terrorism and  good-neighborly, friendly and cooperation. 

In the recent development, the Foreign Ministers of the world’s like-minded nations established communication with Tehran to form a new alliance. Official statements like, “Terrorist organizations operating inside Afghanistan pose a threat to international peace and stability. It is important that we remain vigilant of terrorist entities working against return of peace to Afghanistan,” he said, adding that the Afghan interim government must ensure that there is no safe haven for such elements and that Afghan territory is not used to harm any country” are counterproductive and are only aimed to divert attention of the world and the United Nations from disaster Afghan nation is undergoing due to famine like situation, disease and seizure of funds belonging to Afghanistan by international players.

It is important to note that the aid and financial pledges are meant to provide support directly to 18.4 million vulnerable Afghans in the region, mainly Afghan refugees those who helped occupying forces including ethnic minorities and over 500,000 displaced people who have been added to the list this year alone. The ruling Afghans including some of the Afghan leaders have been banned to handle aid while selected organizations are to provide lifesaving security to vulnerable people, shelter, livelihoods support, essential health care, emergency food aid, water, sanitation, and hygiene services to respond to natural disasters, and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and Polio campaigns. In fact, these Western countries including the European Union intend to support Afghan refugees, refugee returnees, and other displaced persons for years to come, till Taliban and such orthodox Muslims are completely eliminated from Afghanistan rather face of the earth.