Afshain Afzal

Afshain Afzal

ISLAMABAD, 18 April 2020, TON: The Pakistani Fore­ign Office rejec­ted Indian Army Chief Gen M.M. Naravane’s terror allegation as a “irresponsible, spurious and totally false”.

As per the details, at the weekly media briefing, FO spokesperson Aisha Farooqui said General Nara­vane’s allegations were meant to divert global and domestic attention from “India’s state-terrorism and egregious human rights violations and clamping of fundamental freedoms in Indian held Jammu and Kashmir, particularly post 5 August 2019”.

General Naravane, who was on a two-day visit to India-occupied Kashmir, had  blamed Pakistan for exporting terror at a time when the world in battling the coronavirus crisis. He said, "It is very unfortunate that at a time when the whole world and India is fighting the pandemic, our neighbour continues to foment trouble for us.".

The Foreign Office spokesperson said Indian troops had committed over 765 ceasefire violations, resulting in killing of three civilians as well as serious injuries to 54 innocent civilians, in three-and-a-half months this year. In 2019, India had violated ceasefire 3,351 times.

She said, “Pakistan has no desire to escalate the situation,” she underscored and recalled that the international community had been repeatedly urged to take notice of Indian provocations. “Our armed forces remain ready to defend the motherland against any threat.”

POONCH, 17 April 2020, TON: Indian Army Chief General MM Naravane on Friday, 17 April blamed Pakistan for exporting terror at a time when the world in battling the coronavirus crisis. He said, "It is very unfortunate that at a time when the whole world and India is fighting the pandemic, our neighbour continues to foment trouble for us."

Meanwhile, Indian Defence spokesman, Colonel Devender Anand had said in a statement,India carried out precision targeting of terror launch pads, gun areas and ammunition dumps in Dudhniyal area in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir”. He added, “Pakistan initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation by firing with small arms and mortars along the LoC in Qasba and Kirni sectors of Mendhar area of Poonch. The Indian army is retaliating befittingly."

It is important to mention here that Indian Army and security apparatus are killing Kashmiri youths each day in dozens in the name of COVID-19 positive and burying them at their own. New Delhi blames Pakistan for unprovoked firing, however, on ground reports reflects that firing was carried out by both Pakistan and India and both are to be blamed for losses to each other.

AWANTIPUR, 16 April 2020, TON: Indian Chief of Army Staff General Manoj Mukund Naravane arrived yesterday on a two-day visit to review the security situation in disputed Jammu and Kashmir State, after heavy losses to Indian forces from across the Line of Control (LoC). The Commanders gave briefing to the Indian Army Chief about the ongoing operations by the Indian Forces and heavy resistance by the Muhjahideen as well as firing from across the LoC. Commander 15 and 16 Corps were also present on the occasion. The Indian chief appreciated the operations by Indian troops against the Kashmiris insurgents and indiscriminate firing from Pakistani side.

The Indian Chief speaking on the occasion talked of a surgical strike along the LoC in end April and May to avenge the killings of 13 soldiers this years and numerous injuries. An officer working at staff duties said that Indian Army planning a big and dangerous game. The Chief received complaints on insubordination and revolt like situations from the soldiers deployed on the LoC as all sort of leave was stopped amid COVIS-19 lockdown. It was reported that suicide case have started to increase and morale of an average Indian soldier was quite low.

Top Pakistani-Kashmiri leader Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Muhammad Yasin Mailk and other leaders had given a call for a complete shutdown in Indian occupied Jammu & Kashmir State for 13 and 14 February 2019 against the highhanded attitude of India’s highest court. They threatened to launch a mass agitation if Indian state engineered adverse announcement and ambiguity over the dates of hearing of 35-A and 370 by Supreme Court prevails. It is worth noting that a petition seeking abrogation of constitutional amendment 35-A is being heard at Supreme Court of India. The Article gives power to Jammu and Kashmir Assembly to define the State Citizens or permanent residents of the State and their rights & privileges. It prohibits non-permanent residents from permanent settlement in the state, acquiring immovable property, government jobs, scholarships and aid. In another judgment in October 2002, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court held that women married to non-permanent residents will not lose their rights; however, the children of such women will lose succession rights.

To avoid another Burhan Wani type mass agitation against Indian occupying forces and Intelligence agencies, on 13 February 2019, engineered a blast ...............................

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/hidden-facts-behind-february-14th-terrorist-attack-afshain-afzal/ 

WASHINGTON, 14 February 2020: The Congress has been communicated by President Trump’s administration of its determination to sell Harpoon Block II surface to air launched missiles and torpedoes worth $155 million to India.

As per the details the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in two separate notifications to the Congress that the sale of 10 AGM-84L Harpoon Block II air launched missiles is estimated to cost $ 92 million, while 16 MK 54 All Up Round Lightweight Torpedoes and three MK 54 Exercise Torpedoes are estimated to cost $ 63 million.

According to the Pentagon, these missile systems will were vital for balance of power and defence of sea lanes by United States and other allied forces in the Indian ocean and pacific.

According to the Pentagon, this proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to strengthen the US-Indian strategic relationship and to improve the security of a major defensive partner, which continues to be an important force for political stability, peace, and economic progress in the Indo-Pacific and South Asia region.

Spokesperson of Indian Navy confirming the deal disclosed that these missiles will be absorbed into Indian armed forces and collectively used by US and allies Navies during security operations to protect trade and passages on high seas.

 

JAMMU, 13 April 2020, TON: A Special Police Officer (SPO), who was working as an agent to move across Line of Control (LoC) to carryout terrorism on the both sides, was killed and his accomplice injured on Monday in an attack in Kishtwar district of Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir, an Inspector at Jammu police station said.

The unnamed Inspector of Jammu police said that a combined party of security personnel along with two SPOs, who had been working for Indian agencies and one UGW deputed to identify suspected Kashmiri protesters who pelted stone on Indian Army personnel were attacked in Tandar village of Dachan post. In the cross firing an SPO was killed and an OGW was critically injured.

The security personnel including Indian Army personnel later claimed that Kashmiris fled the scene taking along two service rifles of the Army soldiers. The area has been cordoned with additional reinforcements. An Army source reveled that on night 13/ 14 April an intense operation in the village has been planned. Further details were not immediately known.  

 

NEW YORK, 11 April 2020, TON: Secretary-General António Guterres said in a special message to religious leaders, “Today, I want to make a special appeal to religious leaders of all faiths to join forces to work for peace around the world and focus on our common battle to defeat COVID19. I do so at a special time on the spiritual calendar. For Christians, it is the celebration of Easter. Jews are marking Passover. And soon, Muslims will begin the holy month of Ramadan. I extend my warmest wishes to all those observing these important MOMENTS. We have always known these occasions to be moments of community. Of families coming together. Of hugs and handshakes and the gathering of humanity. But this is a time like no other. We are all seeking to navigate a strange, surreal world. A world of silent streets. Shuttered storefronts. Empty places of worship. And a world of worry. We are worried about our loved ones who are equally worried about us. How do we celebrate at a time like this? Let us all take inspiration from the essence of these holy occasions as moments for reflection, remembrance and renewal. As we reflect, let us spare a special thought for heroic health workers on the frontlines battling this awful virus – and for all those working to keep our cities and towns going. Let us remember the most vulnerable of the vulnerable around the world. Those in war zones and refugee camps and slums and all those places least equipped to fight the virus. And let us renew our faith in one another and draw strength from the good that is gathering in troubled times as communities of diverse faiths and ethical traditions unite to care for one another. Together, we can and will defeat this virus – with cooperation, solidarity, and faith in our common humanity.”

It is important to mention here that this month the holy month of Ramadam is commencing. The Muslims have been ordered to offer prayers in the Mosques, especially the 'Tarawi' are offered during Isha Prayers in which all the the whole Holy Quran is recited in the presence of the Muslims attending the prayers within the month time. The is followed by the Eid celebrations.

 

SANA, 9 April 2020, TON: The Saudi-led coalition, in an announcement on Wednesday declared a “ceasefire” with Yemen. Riyadh announcement came in support of UN efforts to end its five-year conflict, which has killed hundreds. Saudi authorities in  statement on Thursday said that Saudi Arabia is still holding ceasefire in effort to help Yemen in difficult situation. 

Coalition spokesman Colonel Turki al-Malki explaining the ceasefire said, the decision has been taken to avoid a potential outbreak of the new coronavirus in Yemen.

The spokesman for Yemeni Armed Forces has categorically dismissed a claim by Saudi-led military coalition that it was observing a two-week ceasefire and suspension of hostilities in its devastating war against Yemen. In a Twitter post on Thursday, Brigadier General Yahya Saree, spokesman for Yemeni Armed Forces said that the Saudi-led forces had stepped up their offensives and attacks across various parts of the country over the past few hours. The Tweet said, “Saudi and Emirati forces have carried out at least five large-scale airstrikes on Yemeni areas near the kingdom's southwestern border region of Najran since the early hours of this morning.” 

A Saudi Arabian officer disclosed that they have not attacked Yemen since the announcement of ceasefire and this has been done by some other country intentionally so that peace should not be restored. Media reports claimed that coalition’s warplanes struck positions at several Yemeni regions, including Al-Bayda and Sa’ada, Amran. Other media reports said, Yemeni army forces and their allies fired US ballistic missiles at their camp in the southern Yemeni provinces of Abyan.

The UN says over 24 million Yemenis are in dire need of humanitarian aid, including 10 million suffering from extreme levels of hunger.

 

SRINAGAR, 8 April 2020, TON: More than 2568 Kashmiri Muslim political and civil rights inmates including 18 Kashmiris imprisoned on the charges of carrying out terrorism against Indian Army deployed in Jammu and Kashmir were shifted to unidentified locations on Tuesday, 7 April 2020. The decision to transfer the prisoners was taken after the inmates held a protest due to lack of health facilities and the possibility of the novel Coronavirus outbreak.Indian Inspector of prisons revealed that they have strict orders not to release any Kashmiri.  

Jammu and Kashmir Prison Department official disclosed that last month too on 31 March some 1240 Kashmiris prisoners, especially the young, who could turn to more violent in the wake of international pressure to free prisoners amidst spread of Coronavirus have been moved to three detention centers in neighbouring Punjab province including Lucknow.  Most of them were pro-freedom Kashmiri, who were alleged to have links with Pakistan.

If we recall, there was tremendous pressure from Organization of Islamic Conference to free all political pressure and quite recently, international human rights organizations in a joint statement urged Government of India to release all unjustly detained prisoners in the disputed state of Jammu and Kashmir in an effort to contain the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. The statement was issued by Amnesty International India, CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation, International Commissions of Jurists (ICJ), Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA),  World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) and International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH).

QUETTA, 7 March 2020, TON: Provincial Police resort to baton charge to disperse the protesters in provincial capital Quetta on Monday. The protest was launched by Pakistani doctors and medical staff against a lack of protective gears to guard against Coronavirus. The Government of Balochistan had given an undertaking of to provide masks and gloves but so far nothing has been supplied at the hospitals.Despite efforts, TON could not approach representatives of National Disaster Management Authority for their comments. 

On Tuesday, doctors across the province went on strike in non-critical care wards to protest against the Monday arrests and lack of equipment. However, those on emergency and Corona wards did not participate in the protest. Spokesman of Young Doctors Association (YDA) confirmed that over 50 doctors were arrested on Monday, 6 April 2020. They highlighted that so far, at least 18 doctors have been infected with the Coronavirus in Balochistan due to lack of provision of safety gears. They demanded that military doctors and paramedics must also join them in fight against Coronavirus.

Doctor  Nasir, one of the protester  disclosed that the incident  took place due to non provision of  safety gear by the Government, putting lives of doctors and paramedics at risk. He said that a number of doctors and paramedics had been injured in the baton charge by Police.

A statement issued by Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Tuesday said, “Emergency supplies of medical equipment including PPEs being dispatched to Quetta on orders of COAS to help medical staff fight Covid-19 effectively in Balochistan.

As per the details after government failed to deliver the promised supplies, hundreds of doctors and paramedics chanted slogans demanding safeguards items. Polices used force to disperse the protesters in which some of the doctors and paramedic staff were dragged off by the police equipped with rifles and batons.

Police authorities said, they arrested 30 protesters who were defying a ban on public gatherings imposed during a lockdown in connection with efforts to check spread of Coronavirus.  Doctors threatened to stop working unless the detained protesters were released.

Meanwhile, hundreds of Zaireen who visited Iran from Pakistan or were residing there from some years were expelled by the Iranian Government and forced to crossover to Pakistan through FIA Gate Taftan, Mand and Rabat area. Pakistan has reported a total of 3,352 cases of the Coronavirus and majority of the cases as well as initial spread was from the Iranian border.

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