By Afshain Afzal

7^th of October; on the occasion of the first anniversary to Israeli Shin Bet and Mossad planned terrorist-attacks inside its own mandated territory and own people… the world is criticizing Israeli genocide of orthodox Palestinian Muslims especially in Gaza and other Palestinian territories; medical authorities and media claiming 41,000 killed including women and children. Despite all resolutions in the United Nations assemblies, peace protests around the world and peace discussions, Israel Defence Forces under Israeli Prime Minister and advisors amongst the allies are continuing the genocide and other war crimes. To have a fair idea what happened on 7 October 2023? the United Nations public document dated 12 June 2024, in shape of ‘Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel’ reflect detailed findings on attacks carried out on and after 7 October 2023 in Israel (A/HRC/56/CRP.3). The Commission sent four requests for information to Israel and one request to the State of Palestine. Israel did not respond. The State of Palestine provided the Commission with information. The Commission also submitted six requests for access to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory but did not respond to the Commission’s requests for access to its territory and prevented access to the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

The Commission endorsed its opinion that Israel obstructed its investigations into events on and since 7 October 2023, both in Israel and in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Israel not only publically refused to cooperate with the Commission’s investigation into alleged acts committed by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups against Israelis but also barred medical professionals and others from being in contact with the Commission. The Commission was not able to visit the sites of the violations as the Israeli Government has prevented it accessing Israel. All these are the clear evidence that Israel had nothing to show to the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry that proves Hamas or Palestinian’s involvement in Israeli self-engineered terrorism inside Israel on 7^th October.

A day prior to first anniversary of 7^th October terrorist attacks, Israel’s Defence Forces and allies martyred or injured over 120 Palestinians in Gaza, West Bank, Lebanon, Syria. As per the media reports heavy bombardment in Jabalia refugee camp was reported in which at least 17 Palestinians including nine children were martyred. Israeli forces bombed a mosque Gaza martyring 21 Palestinians and wounding over dozens more. In Lebanon, 8 Palestinians were martyred on the same day. There is no truth of widening conflict drawing in the US, France, UK and Italy in the war, however, these nations are openly providing heavy military weapons and intelligence input to Israel as well as targeting Palestinians from their bases in the Middle East. Iran-allied groups in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen are no threat other than long-distance ineffective strikes on Israel, causing harassment but they are playing a game with the same objective not to let HAMAS and allies form Governments in Palestine or anywhere in the world.    

The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has been able to extend its present mandate until 31 August 2025 to establish a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East but why UNIFIL is silent of the massacre of Palestinians and Syrians inside Lebanon? It is high time that UN must play its due role to stop Israel and her allies from further genocide of Palestinians and pave the way for the recognition of the Palestinian state.

By Afshain Afzal

Special Counsel Mr Jack Smith charged former President Donald Trump in a revised indictment alleging that Trump conspired to overturn the results of the 2020 elections. Mr Smith’s allegations have rightly been rebutted as misleading submissions. It seems that he was briefed to leave the American taxpayers at an abyss to suppose whether former President Donald Trump orchestrated criminal conspiracies or not. The choice of time he was asked to choose was such to divide the long list of new voters who rejected the policies of Democrats in favour of pro-America Donald Trump’s policies.

It is projected that if Mr Smith won’t get a chance to bring the criminal case against Donald Trump to trial before the 2024 election but such is not the case. It is strange that the media is projecting Mr Smith’s case as his best when the allegations presented are weak lacking merit as well as are not constitutionally sustainable. Mr Smith also presented his arguments for why Trump is not immune from the charges, despite the Supreme Court’s ruling over that granted presidents broad immunity for official acts.

One should not deny that Donald Trump wanted to stay in power because he was being removed from power through fraud and coercion. The 6 January 2021 riots were planned by the agencies to divert attention and fail Donald Trump’s and his supporters' democratic norms. Mr Trump saved USA from losing the traditional democratic standards to call a spade a spade. If we recall, Trump supporters were joined by unidentified members of a force, which resorted to attacking the Capitol.

We should not link Mr Trump Twitter campaign to condemn Vice President Mike Pence, saying Pence lacked “courage” because Pence had resisted Trump’s pressure to intervene in the Electoral College certification. Trump’s telling her daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner: “It doesn’t matter if you won or lost the election. You still have to fight like hell” should not be linked by some new addition to the voters’ list who joined to create problem for the Trump as the remarks aimed to carryout a genuine effort for the struggle for upholding the high democratic tradition rather than winning the elections.

Mr Smith, since 2018 served as chief prosecutor in the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands was a war crimes prosecutor and in November 2022 was appointed special counsel in the US Department of Justice (DOJ) as special counsel investigating Donald Trump. The popularity of Donald Trump is gaining strength as every day passes so the only option left was to create a controversy, which in the present case is not going to work. We cannot doubt Mr Smith’s integrity but the Department of Justice violated its own election rules. Nevertheless, let justice take its own course of action as everyone can be wrong, especially in the political environment that is presently prevailing in the US.

By Afshain Afzal

In the latest development, people from Lebanon of Palestinian and Syrian origins are arriving by boat to Cyprus to escape their planned deaths. However, these refugees are not allowed by Lebanon and Cypriot Armed Forces to stay in Cyprus or reach Europe. As part of a policy, Cyprus removes Syrian and Palestinian refugees back to Lebanon, where they are being killed by Israel’s Defence Forces. Lebanese Armed Forces and Cypriot authorities work together to keep refugees from reaching Europe, so they are either deported to Syria or killed. In the recent past, €1 billion package to Lebanon through 2027, including money to the “Lebanese Armed Forces and other security forces with equipment and training. As per the Cyprus Embassy in Beirut, they received hundreds and thousands of applications but those are not processed.

In another development, a meeting with foreign ministers from France, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom took place on 2 October 2024, to coordinate a response to Iran’s attack on Israel and stability in the Middle East through further sanctions on Iran. Israel's right to respond was also discussed. Plans to attack Iran’s nuclear sites were also considered but not approved. There were proposals to target Tehran’s oil and gas refineries and other targets.

Meanwhile, Israel's drones carried out attacks at the Islamic Health Society's center in the Zuqaq al-Blat area of Bachoura in the Lebanese capital Beirut. Media reports claimed nine health workers were martyred and two injured but other reports give high death toll.

On 28 October 2024, six paramedics from the Islamic Health Organization were killed in Beqaa. The Israeli army has issued new evacuation orders to Lebanese residents of the Beqaa, the southern suburbs of Beirut and south Lebanon.

Beqaa is located about 30 km east of Beirut and is considered one of the most sacred for Muslims. Israel’s Defence Forces are destroying the centuries-old ruins and heritage while awarding contracts everywhere to bring deliberate constructional changes including demolishment. Israel and Western allies are also destroying sites of historical importance in Israeli air raids and other attacks. It is high time that UNESCO authorities take action to protect the holy sites in Israel's occupied territories, Palestine, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq and elsewhere. More so UNO must play its role to stop the planned massacre of Syrian, Palestinian and others.

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.