BEIRUT, 27 December 2022, (TON): rebel forces and a war monitor said “six Syrian fighters from a pro-Turkish group died in clashes with regime troops that still raged in northwest Syria.”

A pro-Turkiye rebel statement said the six were killed and three more wounded in the offensive launched by government forces backed by Kurdish forces from Sunday night in the Afrin region near the Turkish border.

The dead were fighters from Faylaq Al-Sham, an alliance of rebel groups considered close to the Syrian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood, said a source from the group.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which has a wide network of sources on the ground, said the regime troops and Kurdish forces took control of two Faylaq Al-Sham positions in intense fighting involving heavy weapons.

By Nasria Naffin

The Pakistan Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement (PSFTA) was officially implemented on June 12th, 2005. Since the Agreement went into effect, there has been a discernible increase in the amount of trade that has taken place. In March 2009, Pakistan fulfilled its final commitment to phase out tariffs, and as a result, Sri Lanka now has access to duty-free markets for more than 4,500 different products. In November of 2010, Sri Lanka also finished fulfilling all her commitments related to the phasing out process.

During the same time period in 2010, Sri Lanka's exports to Pakistan totaled US$ 26 million. However, during the same time period in 2011, those exports increased to US$ 34 million, representing a growth of 30.8%. This rise was primarily the result of a significant increase in exports during the same time period in both 2011 and 2010, including natural rubber, vegetable products, desiccated coconut, new pneumatic tires, MDF boards, dried leguminous vegetables, copra, natural graphite, woven fabric, and many others.

However, the exports of certain products, such as oil cake and other solid residues, sewing thread of man-made staple fibers, tea, nutmeg, pepper, rubber strips, coconut oil and its fractions, and so on, have recorded decreases during the period of January to May in 2011 in comparison to the same time period in 2010. After the PSFTA was implemented, a wide variety of recently developed goods began to make their way into the Pakistani market. Compared to the number of Certificates of Origin issued under the PSFTA during the same period in 2010, a total of 2,352 Certificates of Origin were issued under the PSFTA during the months of January through May of 2011.

After two rounds of negotiations, in January 2008 in Colombo and in May 2008 in Islamabad, the proposed comprehensive economic cooperation arrangement with Pakistan is currently at a standstill. However, at the Pre-JEC meeting in March 2011, the Sri Lankan and Pakistani sides concurred that the 10th Session of the JEC should also be used to discuss the future course of action that should be taken with regard to the proposed CEPA.

Sri Lanka and Pakistan have strong, long-standing trade and economic ties. In the SAARC region, Pakistan ranks as Sri Lanka's second-largest trading partner. Sri Lanka was the first nation to sign a free trade agreement with Pakistan. Bilateral trade has significantly increased, especially since the Pakistan-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement came into effect.

in 2005 (PSFTA). The total value of trade between the two nations increased from US$158,000,000 in 2005 to US$508,000,000 in 2018. The trade gap has grown significantly over time, and the balance of trade (BOT) has always favored Pakistan.

Desiccated coconut, MDF boards, betel leaves, bulk tea, textile items, industrial and surgical gloves, crepe and sheet rubber, cartons, boxes, and bags, copra, coconut oil, ekels, woven fabrics, animal feed, etc. are some of the main exports from Sri Lanka to Pakistan.

Portland cement, medications, potatoes, woven fabrics, pipes and tubes, bedside tables, kitchenware, toiletries, rice, denim fabric, fish, and other goods are among the main imports from Pakistan to Sri Lanka.

This significant increase in bilateral trade, which has been observed particularly since the FTA's implementation, reflects the potential for both countries to increase the two-way trade further already taking place.

The level of bilateral investment between the two nations is very low. There are currently a few projects being carried out in Sri Lanka by Pakistani investors in sectors such as chemicals, rubber, plastic, apparel manufacturing, leather products, food, beverages, etc. The business community in Pakistan and Sri Lanka is becoming more interested in taking advantage of opportunities that are opening up in a variety of sectors, but closer collaboration is now required if they are to be taken advantage of.

Steal, pharmaceutical, plastic, sugar, poultry, and other industries in Pakistan have a competitive edge over those in Sri Lanka in these same industries. Whereas Pakistan could not, Sri Lankan industries can cooperate with these industry sectors and increase their exports to other regions by taking advantage of their preferential market access, particularly thanks to all the free trade agreements Sri Lanka has signed.

Business people and industrialists from Sri Lanka should research these sectors and any potential advantages in market access, and they should work with Pakistani sectors to grow their companies.

MOSCOW, 26 December 2022, (TON): Russian news agencies said “Russian air defense troops downed a Ukrainian drone as it approached an air base in southern Russia and three people died after being struck by debris.”

It was the second attack on the Engels base this month. Engels, in the southern Saratov region, lies more than 600 kilometers from Ukraine.

On December 26, at around 01:35 Moscow time (2235 GMT), a Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicle was shot down at low altitude while approaching the Engels military airfield in the Saratov region.

“As a result of the fall of the wreckage of the drone, three Russian technical servicemen who were at the airfield were fatally injured.”

ANKARA, 26 December 2022, (TON): A planned Turkish cross-border offensive into northern Syria is pushing Ankara into talks with Moscow over the use of airspace in the disputed area.

Experts say Turkiye is likely seeking Russian permission to conduct the operation and avoid damaging bilateral ties that have long been hostage to regional crises.

Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar announced on Saturday that the long-speculated air and ground operation will target the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia, and that Ankara held talks with Moscow about the details of the operation, including the opening of airspace.

KYIV, 26 December 2022, (TON): Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said “Ukraine is planning to call for Russia to be removed as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.”

He said “tomorrow we will officially express our position. We have a very simple question: Does Russia have the right to remain a permanent member of the UN Security Council and to be in the United Nations at all?” “We have a convincing and reasoned answer no, it does not.”

Kuleba said “the question of Russia’s veto-wielding permanent seat in the UN Security Council also held by the United States, Britain, France and China was already being discussed around diplomacy circles.”

BEIJING, 26 December 2022, (TON): Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi defended his country’s position on the war in Ukraine and signaled that China would deepen ties with Russia in the coming year.

Wang, speaking by video to a conference in the Chinese capital, also blamed America for the deterioration in relations between the world’s two largest economies, saying that China has “firmly rejected the United States’ erroneous China policy.”

China has pushed back against Western pressure on trade, technology, human rights and its claims to a broad swath of the western Pacific, accusing the US of bullying. Its refusal to condemn the invasion of Ukraine and join others in imposing sanctions on Russia has further frayed ties and fueled an emerging divide with much of Europe.

Wang said “China would deepen strategic mutual trust and mutually beneficial cooperation with Russia.”

KUWAIT, 26 December 2022, (TON): Kuwait News Agency reported “Foreign Minister Sheikh Salem Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah met on Sunday US representatives from the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and House Homeland Security Committee.”

During their official visit to Kuwait, the US delegation was led by Congressman David N. Cicilline, chair of the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East, North Africa, and Global Counterterrorism.

The meeting reviewed the two countries’ bilateral relations and cooperation, which have grown stronger over the past six decades.

ISTANBUL, 26 December 2022, (TON): A top aide to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan blamed street unrest that gripped Paris following the killing of three Kurds on outlawed PKK militants.

“This is PKK in France,” Erdogan’s foreign policy adviser Ibrahim Kalin tweeted, posting images of overturned and burning cars in Paris.

“The same terrorist organisation you support in Syria,” he wrote in apparent reference to the YPG.

The Kurdistan Workers’ Party is designated as a terrorist organisation by Turkey and its Western allies.

DR CONGO, 26 December 2022, (TON): DR Congo’s army called an M23 rebel withdrawal from a strategic town near the eastern city of Goma a sham, saying the militia is reinforcing its positions elsewhere.

The M23 group has conquered swaths of territory in North Kivu province in recent months and advanced to within a few dozen kilometres of Goma.

Under heavy international pressure to lay down arms, the Tutsi-led rebels took part in a ceremony Friday to deliver the town of Kibumba to an East African military force recently deployed in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

All are ready to celebrate the 146th birthday of the founder of Pakistan, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah a charismatic leader on December 25 (Sunday) across the country with pledges to uphold his guiding principles of unity, faith, and discipline. The whole nation is busy in the arrangements to celebrate the birth anniversary of the father of the nation with traditional enthusiasm and passion by paying rich tributes to him for his persistent struggle, sagacity and leadership that led to the creation of a separate homeland for the Muslims of sub-continent.

The national flag will be hoisted on major government buildings throughout the country on the birth anniversary of the founder of Pakistan. The day will dawn with special prayers for the security, progress and affluence of the country. Public and private departments will hold a variety of events including seminars, conferences, competitions and discussion programs to highlight the messages and dream of Quaid-e-Azam. Special events will be arranged on the day to highlight and encourage the ideals and visions of the father of the nation, particularly with regard to rule of law, the supremacy of the constitution, and the upholding of democracy

Jinnah was a charismatic leader of the Muslims in the crisis-ridden decade of 1937-47, as India advanced towards freedom and independence. The Muslims were confronted with an increasingly difficult and distressful situation. To begin with, there was the old, perennial Hindu-Muslim problem. Jinnah came to know through his vision that the best way to protect the rights of Indian Muslims was the partition of sub-continent. In 1940, he first suggested the idea of the partition of India to create Pakistan and led negotiations with the British government. This resulted in the partition of India and the creation of the state of Pakistan on August 14th 1947.

Jinnah was a political giant of the sub-continent. Jinnah’s fascination with the world of politics started from his early days in London. Upon returning to India, Jinnah entered the world of politics as a Liberal nationalist and joined the Congress despite his father’s fury at his abandoning the family business. The 20th annual session of the Congress in December 1904, was the first attended by Jinnah in Bombay.

Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah was a true and upright leader whose devotion and committed efforts resulted in the creation of a separate homeland for the Muslims of the Sub-continent. He with his leadership qualities and his vision changed the shape of the world. The new generation should make Quaid-e-Azam their role model and follow his principles. Muhammad Ali Jinnah was a lawyer and politician and served as leader of the All-India Muslim League from 1913 until Pakistan’s independence on 14 August 1947, and then as Pakistan’s first Governor-General until his death on September 11, 1948.

Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah not only won a separate homeland for Muslims living in the Subcontinent but also identified the core issues that confronted the new state and needed to be addressed on a priority basis. He remained focused on identifying how Pakistan could be made happier and more prosperous. In his address to the Constituent Assembly on August 11, 1947, he said that the first duty of the state was to uphold law and order so that the life, property and religious beliefs of its citizens were completely protected. He observed that bribery and corruption were poison and should be put down with a firm hand. He also identified black-marketing, nepotism and jobbery as the other ills afflicting society, which had to be eliminated.

Unlucky that even after more than seven decades of independence, we as a nation have failed the national vision of the founder of Pakistan and to implement the priorities drawn by him. All the ills identified by him have made profound inroads into our national life and it is time to put Pakistan on the road to prosperity. Our past civilian and military rulers have largely worked to perpetuate the ancient colonial system of governance with inbuilt avenues of corruption and entitlement which has the national fabric of Pakistan.

As a respectable and sovereign nation we should correct our fault lines on a priority basis, which could be done by rediscovering our national philosophy and the way we were supposed to follow in regard to the consolidation of gains of independence and economic prosperity with the commandants of Allah Almighty highlighted in the holy Quran and Sunnah.