SIKKIM, 10 May 2020, TON: Indian Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane on Sunday used Zoom technology to hold conference with the Corps Commands of Northern and Eastern Commands to make real assessment of preparedness against any odd eventualities. As per the sources at Guwahati, additional troops have been instructed to move at three locations in Arunachal Pradesh. The Army Chief stressed on guarding both Line of Actual Control (LAC) and Line of Control (LoC) to block unrest in Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram. Reportedly, since last week unrest in Indian disputed Easter territories have erupted that made the security forces to renew strategy.  

Meanwhile, tension accelerated in the Nathu La sector of North Sikkim. Both sides suffered injuries as result engagement of Chinese and Indian troops. Five Indian troops were taken to the Base Hospital. Both sides have increased their deployments. Aggressive behavior & minor injuries have been reported on both sides. However, the matter was temporarily resolved after meeting company commander’s level dialogue. Border dispute over claim of territory exists and recently New Delhi has occupied some abandoned BoPs in the area. India is leveling allegations that the recent unrest in tree provinces at Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram is due to cross border movements, which Peking has denies. 

World is watching COVID-19 pandemic’s events with concern, precautions and apprehensions. Media is performing a major role in transforming apprehensions about COVID-19 pandemic into fear by displaying gloomy pictures without any hope and redress. It is compounded by statements of world leaders of unconfirmed and un-established mass deaths due to Coronavirus. In a nutshell, media has spread Coronavirus with much faster pace in hours than COVID-19 could have actually spread in decades

. Currently, the world has been divided into two groups; believers of divine faiths like Muslims, Christians and Jews and non-believers including non-practicing and enlightened moderates. Mosques, Churches, Synagogue and other places of worship have been banned and Armed Forces deputed to enforce restrictions on faithful from performing prayers.  In almost every country Security forces have deputed to disrupt and prevent normal day to day affairs while special apparatus has been established for monitoring of mosques and maintaining social distancing.

In the past decades, countries professing ideology of “Free World” remained unsuccessful implementing the concept of and “Global Village” amongst the world-nations. Despite cooperation and alliances of over fifty countries in real time operations and wars, there was limited or no success everywhere in the world including Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia, Sudan, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Turkey etc. Mosques, Churches, Synagogue, Seminaries, Madrassas and similar institution were seen as breeding grounds to challenge “Free World”. The Western war against Islam after dubbing its followers as “Fundamentalists” and “Terrorists”, could not bring desired results, resulting in recession in world economies. When wars failed, hybrid war or 5^th Generation warfare was adopted on asymmetric models but that too could not bring desired results due to limited access to modern technology and digital bottlenecks.

Today, there is no house in the world where Corona or COVID-19 is not being discussed. What is COVID-19 is quite simple that is self explanatory. COVID has been derived from two English words, coined together meaning receiving and sending video images to general masses. In English language; “Co” is used to form a verbs or nouns that refer to people sharing things or doing things together while “Vid” means relating to or employed in the transmission or reception of a televised image or operating of video frequencies. There are two other explanations that seem necessary to be mentioned here about suffixing of “19” with “COVID” and about video frequency. In COVID-19, “19” refers to last year (2019) when the drama in real life was launched while video frequency is future digital communication that would be based on a flexible Radio Access Network (RAN) and 5^th Generation (5G network), which are the cornerstone of next-generation network infrastructure. We will not get into the technical details and focus on certain very important revelations. In a nutshell it starts with digitalization and ends at enforcement of digitalization.

The story of COVID-19 starts from April 2003, when Jack Ma faced a difficult situation during 93rd Canton Fair but Guangzhou was classified as a SARS epidemic zone, the disease spread due to disease pig population in China. Despite assurances from Guangzhou government that everything was fine, most exhibitors were reluctant to take the risk by participating in the Fair. In 2002, the 92nd Canton Fair witnessed 135,000 exhibitors trading $19.7 billion in goods. But in 2003, it dropped to 22,000 exhibitors and only $3.8 billion in goods was traded. The economic giants like Jack Ma and Bill Gates have worked out new strategies to achieve objective through digital remote operations as e-education, e-trade and commerce, e-health and other Es. Massive alarms of “COVID-19” was publicized through media to ensure everyone adopt online digital practices.

Thus, the dream of “Global Village” gave birth to the concept of digital community, minimizing distancing due to geographical boundaries, ethno-religious or racial isolation and barriers due to varied educational systems. Thus in the decades to come digital transformation is to lead future. It is being worked out that just like social media platforms, mainly Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube etc. changed the way we socialize, interact, shop and perceive things, the new Digitalization would change the world. This will also bring new channels to digital marketing through digital technology and its applications. Social media is the term we use to describe platforms that bring people together for the exchange of information rather than physical interactions. Before 2019, the world could only reach social media for promoting both online or offline products and services but now it is claimed to be the whole world would operate on digital techniques.

It should not surprise anyone that despite claimed estimates by European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control that there 3623803 COVID-19 positives cases and 256880 deaths as on 6 May 2020, military operation are continuing everywhere in the world and are likely to gain momentum. Reportedly, despite the whole world has been apparently shaken by claimed spread of Coronavirus, NATO and other military organizations have diverted all attentions and energies from pandemic disease to military operations, especially in Africa and Middle East. Although, Jens Stoltenberg, NATO’s Secretary-General has dubbed these allegations about NATO’s organization’s role in Coronavirus pandemic as disinformation but it is being projected that some ground realities cannot be denied and ignored that NATO allies were absent in providing airlifts, medical support, and transportation to the patients.

We cannot ignore to investigate that there is also a general perception that Coronavirus is a biological weapon created to achieve some objectives. Although real, the Coronavirus has been exaggerated manifolds and its spread is intentional against the human rights and other international laws to implement the new strategies of the bankers and businessmen. The package for world governments to introduce smart and strategic technologies based applications and national plans to build future of education, health, economy, services etc. on digital lines, using Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Robotics solutions with focus on operating from home. In the first step old systems, applications, softwares as well as hardwares will be no more compactable and new versions of 5G would be prerequisite to enter into the future. This is aimed to achieve objectives ranging from new businesses to control over the day to day affairs of the whole world (To be continued).

NEW DELHI, 4 May 2020, TON: The officials at Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) made a telephone call on Monday, followed by a protest via e-mail to Pakistan’s High Commission at New Delhi, over Supreme Court of Pakistan judgment on general elections in Gilgit Baltistan, Indian media said. The Indian media also telecast that India asks Pakistan to Vacate all Areas in Gilgit Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

In Gilgit Baltistan previous elections were held under Gilgit-Baltistan Empowerment and Self-Governance Order, 2009 and the five-year term of the incumbent Gilgit Baltistan government would expire in June 2020, but the new order passed in 2018 was silent on the caretaker set-up.

The Government of Pakistan prayed through a civil miscellaneous application on 26 April for permission to carry out necessary amendments in the government of Gilgit-Baltistan Order 2018 for the caretaker government and conduct of elections for Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly, inter alia to adopt the Election Act 2017, the rules and regulations made thereunder.

The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Thursday 29 April 2020, ruled that the federal government could amend the Gilgit-Baltistan Order, 2018 for establishing a caretaker set-up in the region to hold fresh elections.

TEHRAN, 4 May 2020, TON: A Spokesman of Iran's Foreign Ministry said on Monday, “Iran is still prepared for prisoner exchange with the United States and European countries”.  Seyed Abbas Mousavi Spokesman of Iran's Foreign Ministry said, "We had announced our readiness both officially and through messages and even proposed to exchange certain prisoners some of which took place."

Abbas Mousavi added that nearly 20 Iranians are in detention in the United States "on false charges of trying to circumvent sanctions" and said Iran is prepared to work for resolving the situation.

In October 2019 Foreign Minister Mohammad-Javad Zarif said Iran had made an offer of prisoner exchange with the United States through the Swiss Embassy in Tehran and submitted a list of Iranian prisoners in the United States for the exchange. However, there was no breakthrough in the talks.

In another development, confirming of some kind of deal with the US, Abbas Mousavi  said, “ Dr. Sirous Asgari, an Iranian scientist is in prison in the United States on the charges of stealing trade secrets,  has contracted the Coronavirus in prison.He will be tested again and  if his test is negative he will come back to Iran".

GENEVA, 2 May 2020, TON:   World Health Organization (WHO) top emergencies expert Dr. Mike Ryan  said,  countries must lift lockdowns gradually, while still being “on the look-out” for COVID-19 and ready to restore restrictions if the virus jumps back. He said, vulnerable people in institutions, including those in long-term care facilities, prisons and migrant dormitories, must be protected and even if the virus is coming under control, communities must know to still follow physical distancing and hygiene measures, and testing of suspect cases must continue.

The virus has spread in facilities for the elderly in Europe and North America, while in Singapore it has infected migrant workers in dormitories, he said, adding: “Because a spark in a situation like that turns into a fire very very quickly.”

Ryan acknowledged the difficulty for governments to maintain lockdowns during the pandemic, “for social, psychological and economic reasons” and apologized for severe measures, “So we are very anxious that we can move to a situation where the disease can kept under control with less severe measures.”

He claimed that there are worrying trends of spread in countries from Haiti to Somalia and Yemen, Ryan said. He also cited Sudan, South Sudan, Syria, Yemen, Afghanistan, Sierre Leone, Central African Republic, and a “serious cluster” in Kano, northern Nigeria. He clarified, regarding the new coronavirus that first emerged late last year in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, he reiterated that scientists examining its genetic sequences have assured the WHO that “this virus is natural in origin”.

KABUL, 30 April 2020, TON: Fighters from across the borders assembled in Afghanistan to launch major operation. Many among them claims to be associated with Taliban but Taliban have totally denied any links with these people. The Afghan officials also confirmed on Wednesday that hundreds of foreign combatants are fighting alongside Taliban militants in a strategic northern province, a move that if proven true would violate the terms of the US-Taliban peace agreement.

Zakaria Sawda, the governor of the northeastern province of Badakhshan, said around 400 foreign militants, mostly from neighboring Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, had joined the Taliban and were fighting Afghan security forces in the province. However, Taliban have denied any links with these Hazara, Tajiks and Uzbeks in Badakhshan province.

BERLIN, 30 April 2020, TON: Germany has banned Hezbollah activity on its soil and designated it a terrorist organization, the Interior Ministry said on Thursday.

Police also conducted early morning raids in four cities across Germany. Security officials believe up to 1,050 people in Germany are part of Hezbollah’s extremist wing.

Israel and the United States had been pushing Germany to ban the organization. Germany had previously distinguished between Hezbollah’s political arm and its military units, which have fought alongside President Bashar Assad’s army in Syria.

A spokesman said Interior Minister Horst Seehofer had banned the activities of Hezbollah. United States has already designated Hezbollah as a terrorist organization.

The European Union classifies Hezbollah’s military wing as a terrorist group, but not its political wing. American Jewish Committee head David Harris said in a statement, “We now hope other European nations will take a close look at Germany’s decision and reach the same conclusion about the true nature of Hezbollah,” said Harris.

Britain introduced legislation in February 2019 that classified Hezbollah as a terrorist organization Last year, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement that he hoped Germany would follow Britain in banning Hezbollah.

MUZAFFARABAD, 30 April 2020, TON, Indian artillery guns continued firing of positions across the Line of Control (LoC) in disputed Jammu and Kashmir State martyring a woman and a young girl while injuring two persons including a young boy.  Pakistani military and government sources on Thursday confirmed firing by both the India and Pakistani Armies on each other positions. In a statement, Sardar Masood Khan, President of disputed Azad Jammu and Kashmir said was the latest cease-fire violation by India is aimed to target civilians to demoralize the Kashmiris.

In a statement, the military blamed Indian troops for initiating an “unprovoked cease-fire violation” in the villages of Kailer and Rakhchikri along the LoC on Wednesday night.

Both the Armies blamed each other and claimed heavy losses to each others’ troops. The acts of both India and Pakistan are in violation of 2003 cease-fire accord between the two countries.

Indian military spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Devender Anand said in a statement that Pakistani troops carried out unprovoked firing on Indian positions with small arms and mortar shells in at least four places on Wednesday evening.   He said, "Pakistan violated  cease fire in Shahpur and Kirni sectors of Poonch around 5.15 p.m on Wednesday and later they resorted to mortar shelling in Mankote and Mendhar sectors of Poonch. 

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry on Thursday summoned an Indian diplomat in Islamabad in protest and conveyed to New Delhi that such cease-fire violations were posing a threat to regional peace and security.

Meanwhile, Indian Army and security forces carried out search and elimination operations in mostly seven selected villages from which youth carried out protests post 5 August Indian occupation of Jammu and Kashmir State. Reportedly, since 15 February as many as 32 youth are missing who have been either killed or in Indian military detention centers.

WASHINGTON, 29 April 2020, TON: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has granted further relief and extension on a waiver to let Iraq import electricity from Iran.  US has confirmed the deal but Iranian side showed disinterest in State Department waiver.

 The secretary Pompeo was quoted to have said that US granted waiver to Iran up to 26 May 2020, to allow time for the formation of a credible government in Iraq.  However, the conditions for wavier was not immediately known.
Washington has been prodding Iraq, which is OPEC's second-biggest oil producer, toward self-sufficiency in the energy sector as it has allowed the import of energy from longtime U.S. foe Iran.
 Iraqi President Barham Salih recently allowed Intelligence chief Mustafa al-Kadhimi, to lead a government amid anti-government protests last year. Once that government took the seat, Washington is likely to extend the wavier.

KABUL, 29 April 2020, As pressure is mounting on President Ashraf Ghani to include Abdullah Abdullah in his Government, suicide attacks have taken frequency to attract attention of international community.  On 29 April, a suicide bombing close to Afghan capital Kabul killed three people and wounded 14 others.

In a statement the Interior Ministry said, "A suicide bomber detonated his explosives among civilians in the Reshkhor area of Char Asiab district of Kabul on Wednesday morning."  

The attack was close to Afghan security forces’ special operations facility, 11 kilometers from Kabul.

It was not immediately known who was responsible for the blast, as reportedly Taliban neither target civilians nor carryout proactive attacks during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. Taliban spokesman has denied that its fighters were behind the bombing. It is in the interest of Taliban that cease-fire and reduction in violence should continue as agreed upon.