By Afshain Afzal

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a statement, “The attack on Israel was a decisive response to Israel's aggressions while Washington had threatened Tehran immediately before the attack, "A direct military attack from Iran against Israel will carry severe consequences for Iran". We all are quite clear, without any doubt that neither Iran nor Hezbollah would attack Israel and the US, nor these countries will attack Iran or Lebanon. Should we consider the 1^st October sprinkling of several missiles by Iran with no casualty on Israel's side as an attack on Israel, or it is a collective self-defence in response of Israel's armed attack? It is strange that American intelligence, a day before Iranian missile attack on Israel, shared with the media, “indications that Iran is preparing to imminently launch a ballistic missile attack against Israel that could be at least as large as a strike that Tehran staged earlier this year”, then why a counter-attack was not carried during or immediately after the Iranian missile attack?

We cannot ignore the legal standing as Article 2 (4) of UNO Charter provides, “All Members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations” and Article 51 provides “Nothing in the present Charter shall impair the inherent right of individual or collective self-defence if an armed attack occurs against a Member of the United Nations, until the Security Council has taken measures necessary to maintain international peace and security. Measures taken by Members in the exercise of this right of self-defence shall be immediately reported to the Security Council and shall not in any way affect the authority and responsibility of the Security Council under the present Charter to take at any time such action as it deems necessary in order to maintain or restore international peace and security.” In the present case, these countries have not violated territorial integrity or political independence of any state.

Soon after the missiles against, Israel the Iran's foreign ministry called on the United Nations Security Council to take meaningful action to prevent threats against regional peace and security. We have also the today’s remarks of UN Secretary-General to the Security Council, “Yesterday, Iran launched approximately 200 ballistic missiles towards Israel. It stated it was in response to the killings of Hassan Nasrallah and the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corp commander Abbas Nilforoushan last week as well as that of the Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh... It is high time to stop the sickening cycle of escalation after escalation that is leading the people of the Middle East straight over the cliff. Each escalation has served as a pretext for the next. We must never lose sight of the tremendous toll that this growing conflict is taking on civilians.” The UNO and all peace loving people of the world must realize that a review and amendments in the UNO Charter is the only path to permanent peace in this world.

By Afshain Afzal

In the latest development, Tel Aviv has given assurance to New Delhi that India’s United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon contingent and other troops totaling around 1,000 troops and French 700 troops deployed along the 120 kilometers Blue Line and inside Lebanon will not be endangered in case of ground Israel’s incursion. Israel’s military has warned Lebanese border communities to evacuate, hours after launching patrols inside Lebanon. However, the Indian Embassy in Beirut has advised Indian nationals to avoid traveling to Lebanon and for those already there to leave the country. There are nearly 9000 Indian nationals in Lebanon, with a majority of them employed as workers in small companies, laborers and supervisors construction sector, agricultural farms and digital enterprises. There are reports that many have joined the forces but further details about pro-Hezbollah groups could not be confirmed. As per the agreement between Lebanon, India, France and Israel Lebanese, Indians, French and Israel, the target would be hostile elements and the Palestinians. There is no doubt that neither Iran or Hezbollah would attack Israel and the US nor these countries will be attacked by them. 

We should have the background in mind that post-First World War, France was handed over Lebanon and Syria as mandate-territory, purposely designed to divide the Muslim world, especially with objectives that the Palestine state could not be able to rise again. The French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, who is on visit of Lebanon since 30 September 2024, and held meetings with Lebanese, Hezbollah and Indian officials unofficially confirmed the deployment of the French Navy and other foreign deployments at close vicinity of Lebanon but the same could not be confirmed. American Navy is already deployed there. There are plans to create strings of unrest from Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Egypt to the shores of the Arabian Gulf and to Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Israel’s Defence Forces are preparing to move a large deployment inside Lebanon, where France has already deployed its troops so is the case with India. One wonders can France sustain pressure not to allow Tel Aviv and USA to snatch away French political position in Lebanon and Syria when the new French Prime Minister Michel Barnier is too careful to understand the dynamics and had told the parliament today about belt-tightening and more taxes to reverse the colossal and spiraling debts which sre the true sword of Damocles. The stage is all set for the heavy airlift and export of weapons in the Middle East, Sahara and MENA countries. There is no way out of disaster and chaos unless these countries come out of the regional disputes and stand united not to let the geo-political situation change. Empowerment of the United Nations Organization through review and amendments in the Charter can bring back peace and harmony in this world.

By Afshain Afzal

From the podium of the United Nations General Assembly on 28 September 2024 and earlier statements of 27 September, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatened Lebanon, “Israel must also defeat Hezbollah in Lebanon. Hezbollah is the quintessential terror organization in the world today.” He added, “We’re building a partnership for peace with our Arab neighbors while fighting the forces of terror that threaten that peace...” Tel Aviv has, in other words, announced her intrusion to invade Lebanon and others through military intervention. We witnessed Prime Minister Netanyahu and the allies making a declaration of war on other nations, which would not only cause a threat to peace in the Middle East but other parts of the world.

With the assassination of Deputy Commander of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) General Abbas Nilforooshan and Hassan Nasrallah, top Hezbollah leader in Beirut on 25 September 2024, Tehran has calmed down her tone. Precise airstrikes on the Lebanese capital Beirut, a combination of human intelligence and state-of-art guided drone technology. The Iranian-origin Lebanese played their game and now the top agenda is to install a Christian government in Beirut with 3/4^th majority. Israel’s Defence Forces official in Tel Aviv said, on the condition of anonymity that Hezbollah and allies assisted us in targeting Hamas leadership in Lebanon and now it was their turn. He revealed their forces are ordered to intrude into Lebanon. He added that in a couple of days, we would be deployed and establish our bases there.

In the past, in separate incidents, Americans targeted Iranian Brigadier General Qassem Soleimani in a drone strike near Baghdad International Airport, Iraq, Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Zahedi at the Iranian Embassy in Damascus, Syria and others. The dead bodies of both the military senior officers could not be identified from independent sources. The underground assistance by both the countries to Western allies was on assurance of elimination of orthodox Arab Muslim rivals and handing over of Al Quds Sharif as during the First World War victories. We witnessed that during the latest elections-2022 Hezbollah and Muslim allies lost majority when Christian parties won half of the total 128 seats. There are close-door plans to bring constitutional reforms to move to a more secular and pro-Christian democratic arrangement to defeat old arrangements guaranteed in the Constitution.

It is time high time to stop these evil moves and support the marginalized through the United Nations Organization to ensure the arrest of war criminals declared by the International Court of Justice including Prime Minister Netanyahu so that the threat to the world's peace is neutralized. The UN Secretary General, the Human Rights organizations and world leaders must prevent Israel and its allies from taking the peace of the world towards destruction and chaos.

By Afshain Afzal

As already been clearly explained in the articles in ‘The Orient News’ titled ‘Are Pakistan’s Strategic Assets at Stake?’ dated 21 May 2024 and ‘Privatization of PIA not in the national interest’ dated 24 and 25 September 2024, the privatization of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has not yet been put to an end by the Privatization Commission of Pakistan.

In the latest development, the Privatization Commission of Pakistan has delayed the bidding date for the privatization of PIA to 31 October 2024, with the draft agreement signing on 25 October, while submitting advance money on 28 October 2024. Privatization Commission has declined to provide any reasonable explanation for the abrupt delay. However, the fact cannot be denied that the credentials and original assets of the consortium of six private companies as potential buyers including Blue World City, Air Blue, Arif Habib, Fly Jinnah, Pak Ethanol, and YB Holdings have not yet been made public, which may be a serious dent to transparency and accountability.

On the first hand, the privatization of PIA as the nation’s strategic asset cannot be privatized but in case investors are invited from the private sector to contribute to the restructuring and investment under guarantees, as also recommended by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), there should be complete transparency, monitoring, and accountability. Transparency and accountability are the prime yardsticks to measure the impact of policy formulation on investment and disinvestment.

With the regard to privatization of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), an absence of transparency and failure to make international bidders' assets and capacities public, or in other words lack of Right to Information has placed the Pakistani nation and potential investors in complete darkness. We cannot say with confidence that underhand deals have not been made in the privatization procedures of PIA. The Privatization Commission of Pakistan is bound to make all the assets and liabilities of bidders public, after due verifications by the state authorities. To a common Pakistani most of the bidders do not fulfill the criteria to smoothly run PIA to be able to ensure long-term sources of taxation.

By Afshain Afzal

The contemporary geo-strategic environment and threats of leakage of strategic data and air violations demand Pakistan’s control over her space. The security calculus demands Pakistan's government monopoly and control over the aviation industry. The recent statement of Chairman Privatization Commission Mr. Abdul Aleem Khan that he would allow divestment of 51% to 100% shares of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and amendment in Request for Statement of Qualification (RSOQ) has exposed the dirty game being played with regard the Pakistan’s flag bearer airliner in the same manner Privatization Commission did with the selling of state-owned Habib Bank Limited.

The question arises did the International Monetary Fund (IMF) ever recommend the sale or privatization of PIA, Steel Mill or other State Owned Enterprises (SOEs)? No IMF or World Bank never put such demand as a condition for the grant of loan but instead recommended serious restructuring and investment. The name of IMF is being linked with the sale of 31 State Owned Enterprises. The board of directors of PIA has already approved the government's plan to privatize the national flag carrier ahead of the country securing a new loan programme but still Pakistan's strategic asset can be saved from going into the hands of inexperienced, financially weak and ineligible due to failing to meet the conditions announced earlier by Privatization Commission.

Pakistan has allowed all national and foreign airlines to operate from all international airports of Pakistan, which is also the main cause of losses. Hence all International Flight Operations to and from most International Airports of Pakistan are permissible. It's rare for any country to grant these rights. This is good for competition but dangerous for national security. Let us have a look what the other developed nations do with their aviation industries. In the US the federal government prohibits foreign airlines from operating flights between American cities. Under US law, foreign-owned or operated airlines are not allowed to fly routes within the United States. Air Cabotage laws ban foreign airlines from operating routes between US airports. With regard to commercial flights, the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority do not accept foreign or European Union Aviation Safety Agency. Therefore, the operator would have to limit to one stop in the UK or include a tech stop outside the UK. Similarly, in Germany air carriers based outside the European Economic Area are not allowed to operate flights within the community, however, member states are entitled to operate flights within the community but still a special application or notification is not required.

If we critically examine why PIA failed to perform as a profitable enterprise we can enumerate some of the main reasons. These include inexperienced and inefficient leadership from other departments or unfit blue-eyed persons, employment of employees by politicians and Grade-22 officials without considering merit or recruitment rules, corruption and kickbacks in purchases including acquisition of aircraft and equipment, personal interests in agreements with stakeholders, third parties including award of contracts and making fake entries or certifications regarding maintenance on international standards of emission etc and where Pakistan all foreign airlines to operate in all the international airports but PIA is restricted to one stop only. It is high time to give up the idea of selling PIA and Islamabad must follow the IMF recommendations including restructuring and investment by engaging the private sector, of course under certain guarantees.

NEW DELHI, 24 September 2024, (TON):- In a move to promote the global technology initiative, the United States has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Indian government to invest in expanding India's semiconductor industry.    

The chip plant will focus on meeting the requirement of three essential pillars for modern warfare – advanced sensing, advanced communications, and high-voltage power electronics.

Direct negotiations between the United States Space Force and Indian firms Bharat Semi and 3rdiTech for a strategic technology partnership to set up a semiconductor fabrication plant in India concluded. In this regard, besides a list of classified components, the new semiconductor fabrication plant would manufacture infrared, gallium nitride, and silicon carbide chips.

The long-term objective of setting up the industry in India is to have a monopoly over global supply chains in semiconductors. India and Taiwan are already working on joint production while US Space Force is in India since 2019. Now India is trying to persuade Taiwanese companies to invest in India to neutralize Chinese influence on semiconductor industry. It would ultimately end in neutralizing Taiwanese-lead in semiconductors technology, especially Artificial Intelligence.

By Afshain Afzal

On 20th September 2024, the first phase of Lok Sabha engineered elections 2024 was held in seven districts of Indian-held Jammu and Kashmir including Anantnag, Doda, Kishtwar, Kulgam, Pulwama, Ramban, and Shopian. The Kashmiris made complaints that the Indian Army had made clear announcements that those who would not cast their votes will be expelled from their jobs, their children dropped from schools and will be charged with treason. They made announcements that Indian authorities have installed surveillance cameras along all the routes and webcasting in all the polling stations to identify all Kashmiris who are loyal to India and who are the enemies. Witnesses including Nazir Bhat and Mohammad Irshad said that the Indian security forces threatened them to misbehave with their women and other members of their families if they do not cooperate.

Polling for 24 seats of the 90-member Indian-held Jammu and Kashmir Assembly was held, with clear orders to the security forces to shoot at sight. Chief Electoral Officer Pandurang K. Pole said in a statement that Indian security forces provided tight security and last two weeks, 23 Kashmiris were killed and 13 injured to create deterrence. Election Commission of India had set up 3,276 polling stations with webcasting to ensure a fair and transparent voting process. Over 23.27 lakh voters were entitled to cast ballots to determine the fate of 219 candidates. The second phase of the elections is scheduled to be held on 25 September and the third and final on 1 October, whereas the counting of votes will take place on 8 October 2024.

The Kashmiris around the world and the people of Pakistan have rejected the illegitimate Lok Sabha elections in the disputed state of Jammu and Kashmir and have called upon the international community to hold Prime Minister Narendra Modi government accountable for ongoing human rights violations and war crimes by Indian security forces against Kashmiris. The extent of violation of human rights can be judged from the fact that each year thousands of Kashmiris are killed by the Indian Army and Para Military forces and many are kidnapped with no traces at all. When complaints are lodged against the Indian Army or Para Military Forces in Jammu & Kashmir, these are dismissed as “false and baseless” or “with other ulterior motives of maligning the image of Armed Forces.” If a complaint is lodged against Indian Army it is dismissed under Rule 24 of the Army Rules, 1954 after a pre-trial procedure called the summary of evidence and there is no possibility for the victims’ families to appeal or review the decision reached through the Indian military justice system.

It is disappointing that Pakistan and the US are trusted allies and thousands of Pakistanis sacrificed their lives in joint and separate operations but Washington is backing New Delhi by violating the right of self-determination of the Kashmiris of Jammu and Kashmir, which is still on the agenda and pending issues of United Nations Security Council. It is generally believed that Washington prevented Islamabad from challenging the Lok Sabha elections in Jammu and Kashmir. There is a strong need engage the United Nations Organization and International Human Rights organizations to take concrete steps toward conducting a plebiscite in line with United Nations Security Council Resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir state and take notice of human rights violations against Kashmiris.

By Afshain Afzal

The 18^th of September 2024, passed as a normal busy day in Pakistan despite the fact the first phase of Lok Sabha elections was held in Jammu and Kashmir which authenticated that Jammu and Kashmir is no more part of Pakistan and dispute between India and Pakistan is no more a pending issue. To a sheer disappointment, Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs neither challenged nor condemned New Delhi’s evil attempt of legalizing Indian occupation by holding Lok Sabha election in Jammu and Kashmir. Earlier, to much disappointment Pakistan’s foreign office spokesperson issued a weak statement during a press briefing on 12 September 2024, in which Islamabad condemned the decision by the Indian Court upholding several political parties. In other words, Islamabad encouraged Lok Sabha elections in Indian-held Jammu and Kashmir and desired that all Kashmiri political parties should be allowed to participate. 

On the day of Lok Sabha elections, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Munir Akram instead of highlighting Indian terrorism in Pakistan, Indian held Jammu and Kashmir or Afghanistan and illegitimate elections, introduced a new terminology of “Fitna al-Khawarij” (the murderers of 4^th Caliph Ali bin Abu Talib) at the forum of UNSC before 34th report of the UN monitoring team at Qatar and raised alarms bells against Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) backed by ruling Government of Taliban in Afghanistan and their growing alliance with Al-Qaeda that could soon elevate it to a central role in regional and global terrorist activities. One wonders are we not inviting foreign forces to be deployed in Afghanistan and part of Pakistan where such elements are claimed to be hiding? 

One wonders why Pakistan mostly feels shy in naming India for terrorist activities inside Pakistan and elsewhere. On the Lok Sabha elections in held Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan Ambassador said, “TTP, known as Fitna Al Khawarij in Pakistan, as the largest terrorist organization in Afghanistan that is conducting almost daily terrorist attacks against Pakistan with full support and protection of the Afghan Interim Government (AIG) and sponsorship of Pakistan’s major adversary”. It is shocking that Ambassador did not name India and instead used a phrase “Pakistan’s major adversary”? Instead of lobbying for the recognition of Afghanistan, Pakistan's Foreign Office summoned the Afghan Chargé d’Affaires and lodged a strong protest over the Peshawar Acting Consul General’s breach of diplomatic etiquette on the day the UNSC gathered to initiate a report on Afghanistan.

It is strange that despite incriminating evidence of Indian involvement in almost all the terrorist attacks in Pakistan, especially in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan fails to name India or its nationals who operate under the cover of TTP or Afghans. To quote an example on 10 May 2011, French agencies provided incriminating evidence that Indian national Mohammad Niaz Abdur Rasheed resident of Madurai, India along with his members adopted the cover of Al Qaeda and engaged in terrorism in Pakistan, Afghanistan against Europeans and Americans. Can India deny Mohammad Niaz's Indian nationality or his involvement in terrorism? We cannot deny that in Pakistan Indian agents are systematically inducted in Pakistani departments and they do not let the truth come out.