ISLAMABAD, 07 November, 2020, (Media Report): Pakistan may return $2 billion Saudi Arabian loan and is looking for various options to secure more lending aimed at retaining gross official foreign exchange reserves at their current level of over $12 billion, Ministry of Finance sources told The Express Tribune.

The second tranche of $1 billion of Saudi loan is maturing next month and there is likelihood that the government will return the money – two years after the borrowings, the sources added.

“It is a bilateral confidential matter,” said the Ministry of Finance in a terse response on Friday.

But a top government official said on condition of anonymity that there is a possibility that Pakistan will be returning the money next month.

After coming into power, Prime Minister Imran Khan had twice flown to Saudi Arabia to secure the package, which provided space to the first-timer PTI government to negotiate a deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Saudi Arabia had agreed to provide $6.2 billion worth of financial package to Pakistan for three years. This included $3 billion in cash assistance and $3.2 billion worth of annual oil and gas supply on deferred payments.

As per the agreement, the Saudi cash and oil facility was for one year with an option to roll over the amount at the end of the year for a period of three years.

Pakistan was paying 3.2% interest on the $3-billion facility, according to the information that the Ministry of Finance shared with the National Assembly. The Saudi oil facility has already been suspended while Pakistan has also paid back Saudi Arabia $1 billion out of the $3 billion in May this year.

The sources said the government was considering various options to repay the Saudi loan, which is booked on the balance sheet of the State Bank of Pakistan.

WASHINGTON, 07 November, 2020, (TON): With the race to 270 electoral votes still too close to call, Joe Biden pulled ahead in Wisconsin and Michigan while President Donald Trump maintained his leads in North Carolina and Georgia.

Biden held a 253-214 electoral vote advantage over Trump, with final vote counts in the other battleground states to determine the winner.

Biden remains on 253 Electoral College votes in the race to 270. He needs: Pennsylvania (20) or two of Arizona (11), Georgia (16), Nevada (6) and North Carolina (15)

Biden predicts victory as he leads over Trump as the race for the White House is coming down to who wins the few remaining battleground states.

Trump still convinced battle is 'not over' more than 72 hours after Election Day. He is on 214 and needs Pennsylvania and three of Arizona, Georgia, Nevada and North Carolina to win or potentially tie.

Biden's campaign team is said to be feeling "elated" about developments, while Mr Trump's team has made unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud.

ISLAMABAD, 06 November, 2020, (TON): A contingent of special Russian Forces arrived in Pakaistan on Thursday to participate in a joint military exercise –DRUZHBA—the Army said.

ISPR said in a statement that “Russian Federation Special Forces’ contingent arrived in Pakistan for two weeks long joint exercise Druzhba 5. The exercise is aimed at sharing both army’s experiences in counterterrorism domain.”

Meanwhile, Russian defence ministry said the exercise was aimed to strengthen military cooperation among the two countries and it was being held under the framework of international military cooperation.

The two-week-long drills would formally commence on November 8 in Tarbela. Some 70 Russian troops and officers are participating in the exercise that would continue till Nov 21. Almost an equal number of soldiers are participating from Pakistan side.

“During the exercise, the military personnel of the two countries will exchange experience and work out interaction in performing tasks within the framework of training combat operations, in particular, to destroy illegal armed formations,” the Russian defence ministry said.

The Druzhba exercises are held annually since 2016 alternating between Pakistan and Russia. Pakistan is hosting the drills for the third time. The joint drill offers Islamabad and Moscow opportunity to expand military collaboration in security, defense and counter-terrorism operations.

WASHINGTON, 06 November, 2020, (TON): The U.S. State Department has issued a notification to Congress, it plans to sell 18 sophisticated armed MQ-9B aerial drones to the United Arab Emirates in a deal worth as much as $2.9bn. The formal notification gives Congress 30 days to object to any sales.

The move came soon after last week’s notification of a potential sale of F-35 fighter jets to the oil-rich Gulf state and one of Washington’s closest Middle East allies. The sale would mark the first armed drone export since the Trump administration reinterpreted a cold War-era arms agreement among thirty four nations to permit USA defence contractors to sell more drones to allies.

According to a news agency Reuters the UAE has long shown interest in shopping for drones from the USA and would be among the primary customers in line after USA export policy revised this summer.

A $600m deal to sell four unarmed but weapons-ready MQ-9B SeaGuardian drones to Taiwan was the first to be formally announced to Congress on Tuesday.

The US Senate Foreign Relations and House of Representatives Foreign Affairs committee’s members have previously criticised the UAE’s role in civilian deaths in Yemen’s civil war. They can review and block weapons sales under an informal review process before the State Department sends its formal notification to the legislative branch.

The armed MQ-9B drones will also be equipped with maritime radar and may possibly be sent in 2024. The package notified to Congress is for 15 with an option for three additional drones. The UAE is also seeking a package of Boeing Co EA-18G Growlers, an electronic warfare version of the two-seat F/A-18F Super Hornet aircraft that are capable of jamming radar and other advanced capabilities. Growlers are operated by the US and Australia.

The UAE has long expressed interest in acquiring the stealthy F-35 jets and was promised a chance to buy them in a side deal made when they agreed to normalise relations with Israel. The informal notification for 50 Lockheed Martin Co F-35 jets was made on October 29.

Any deal must satisfy decades of agreement with Israel that guarantees US weapons furnished to Israel are "superior in capability" to those sold to its neighbours.

During the Trump administration US weapons sale have amplified conflicts and heightened tensions among many countries. Between 2002 and 2019 American allies purchased $135 billion of weapons and non‐​allies purchased $75 billion of weapons.

NEW DELHI, 6 November, 2020, (TON): On Friday Indian Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat said that situation at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh remains tense and the possibility of war with China cannot be ruled out.

Rawat said "In the overall security calculus: border confrontations, transgressions, unprovoked tactical military actions -- spiralling into a larger conflict therefore cannot be discounted."

His statement came in the middle of an ongoing military talk between India and China at Chushul of Friday.

Commenting on the situation with Pakistan and China General Rawat said, ''Constant friction with two of our nuclear-armed neighbours with whom India has fought wars increasingly acting in collusion, poses an omnipresent danger of regional strategic instability with potential for escalation, threatening our territorial integrity and strategic cohesion.''

Tensions have been high between the two armies since May, when Chinese troops moved to take control of territory in Eastern Ladakh.

Indian Chief claimed that China's People's Liberation Army is facing consequences for its misadventure into Ladakh because of response from Indian forces. Whereas China’s People’s Liberation Army accused the Indian side of committing violations and claimed of giving befitting response to Indian troops.  

India and China have been engaged in a worst seven-month-long border dispute at the LAC. The military level talks are underway and is the eighth round. Attempts at military and diplomatic talks followed, with little success, although authorities on both sides claimed that the two armies were disengaging and deescalating. Despite this, both militaries have made preparations to dig in for the winter if the diplomatic and military talks end up coming to naught or, worse, end up pushing both countries into a war.

SRINAGAR, 6 November, 2020, (TON): In Indian-held Jammu Kashmir, Indian troops, in their unabated acts of state terrorism martyred two more Kashmiris in Puwlama district, today.

The troops killed a youth and injured two other civilians during a violent operation in Pampore area of the district. One of the civilians was critically injured and was moved to SMHS hospital in Srinagar but succumbed to his injuries. The condition of other injured is reported to be stable.

According to the police, encounter started on Thursday night after a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) was launched in Pulwama's Pampore area by Indian security forces.

The troops also continued their cordon and search operations in several other areas of the territory. Meanwhile, internet services has also been snapped in many areas of the district. Killing of Kashmiri youth has become a regular feature of Indian troops. India has been continuously using force in the Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOJK) to crush the Kashmiris’ freedom struggle.

KABUL, 3 November 2020, (TON): After the deadly the Afghan Government announced Tuesday as day of mourning to pay tribute for the victims who lost their lives following a deadly terrorist attack at Kabul University at Kabul. The Afghan national flag was flown at half mask. The terrorist attacks resulted in the killing of at least 22 people and injuries to 22 people.

Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani condemned the attack in its strongest words. Neighbouring Pakistan also condemned the attack and offered assistance to the Afghan government in the investigation of the case. Pakistan strongly condemns the mindless attack at Kabul University, resulting in loss of so many precious lives and injuries to many more.  Pakistan extended our deepest sympathies and heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims  

ISIS (Daesh) in a social media message accepted the responsibility of Monday University attack. However, it was part of the same anti-Taliban groups which intend to fail Taliban – Afghan Government’s peace talks to delay foreign troops withdrawal for at least another one year.  

NEW DELHI, 2 November 2020, (TON): India once again vows to oppose Pakistan in the Presidential Election of the Inter Parliamentary Union. Indian media named this opposing of her state as a diplomatic battle. The Hindustan Times Published the stance of Modi Government that India and Pakistan face a mini diplomatic battle at the meeting of the Governing Council of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the apex body of different parliaments. The only reason to oppose is to make diplomatic relations more tough. India is going to show up her anger again on the occasion of the elections meeting of IPU. She is going to get nothing in response, but to just satisfy her ego. It seems that all the anger and egoistic problem is just after the India’s bad defeat and a huge insult in front of the International community regarding 26^th February 2019 incident. India does not want to be in good relations with Pakistan as she opposes the neighbour on every national and International forum.

For, Pakistan is contesting to become the president of the IPU in the session. It faces contest from three other candidates from Portugal, Canada and Uzbekistan. According to officials, India is set to oppose Pakistan’s candidature and may back Portugal’s Duarte Pacheco or AkmalSaidov from Uzbekistan over Salma Ataullahjan from Canada and Muhammad Sanjrani from Pakistan.

While India has alleged Pakistan for its unbridled support to terror outfits, Pakistan has unsuccessfully tried to raise the Kashmir issue several times. The said scenario and the combine agenda of the Indian media and the Government clearly show that there are no chances of diplomatic stability among both countries.

NEW DELHI, 2 November 2020, (TON): Three more Rafale fighter jets of the Indian Air Force are scheduled to arrive from France on 4 November. With the new addition India Air Force (IAF) would have squadron of eight out of total 36 Rafale jets. IAF official said, “Three Rafale jets will fly directly from Istres in France to Jamnagar, an eight-hour-plus non-stop flight.” In addition, the jets will be accompanied by French Air Force mid-air refuelling aircraft.  

The first batch of five Rafale jets arrived in India in July this year which include; three single seat and two twin-seater trainers.

The Indian Embassy in France had said in a statement that delivery of all 36 aircraft would be completed as per schedule by 2021-end.  India has contracted 36 Rafaleomni-role fighter jets from France in fly-away condition with 13 India Specific Enhancements (ISE) under a €7.87-billion Inter-Governmental Agreement signed in September 2016.

KOLKATA, 31 October 2020, (TON): Indian Border Security Force (BSF) apprehended Bangladeshis and their Indians relatives on the charges of illegally crossing the border. They were going to Bengaluru to work as labourers but charges were leveled that they for illegally crossing the Indo-Bangla border in West Bengal's Nadia district.

The apprehended Bangladeshi nationals complaint that they were severely beaten by BSF personnel deployed at Ramnagar outpost in Nadia district. All the apprehended persons have been handed over to the Hanskhali police station.