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New Jersey Court Upholds Church Autonomy – OpEd

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A few months ago, the parents of two female students enrolled in St. Theresa’s School in Kenilworth, New Jersey sought to force the school to reinstate their children after they were denied admission to the school this fall. They lost in Superior Court yesterday, as well they should have.

Judge Donald A. Kessler read his decision for three hours from the bench, so chock full of detail was this bizarre lawsuit.

It all began last December when the girls’ father, Scott Phillips, filed a lawsuit to get his daughter, Sydney, on the boys basketball team after the season for the girls was cancelled. He succeeded in arranging for her to play in the last game of the boys team in February.

Two months later, the school said the girls were not welcome to return for the next school year. That’s when Phillips sued the school, and the Archdiocese of Newark, seeking to force the school to reverse its decision.

“The court does not have the authority to meddle in this decision,” said Judge Kessler. The judge was not sparing of the parents, noting how they went public with their complaint, causing undue commotion in the community. To be specific, he cited threatening letters sent by the girls’ mother, Theresa Mullen.

Judge Kessler noted that the parents have a record of lodging complaints whenever they don’t get their way. In 2016, when the older son of the parents was not named the eighth grade valedictorian, both parents sounded off. Scott Phillips was so enraged that he called the female principal a “son of a b****.” The archdiocese intervened to help restore order, but to no avail—the parents remained publicly indignant.

The issue of Church autonomy is fast becoming one of the most contentious matters in the nation. Separation of church and state obviously doesn’t mean much to those who advocate state control of Catholic institutions, but if the Church cannot decide its own internal strictures, it is no longer Catholic. That is exactly what the activists want, which is why they must be fought at every turn.

This also goes to show how vacuous the mantra of diversity is. Those who truly believe in pluralism do not seek to access the heavy hand of the state to force sectarian institutions to march to the beat of its secular drum.


Men In Front And Behind The New Afghanistan – OpEd

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Despite the underlying disturbance caused by the assassination in 1919 of Afghanistan’s Amir Habibullah, his son Amanullah Khan was able to merge his initiative rapidly.

Amanullah, the third son of Amir Habibullah, with the support and guidance of  Mahmud Tarzai, skillfully figured out how to quiet any prompt difficulties to Amanullah’s rule. They used a subtle policy of manipulation through royal pardons and rewards and trade-offs to avoid disturbing further the interests of the power elite of various Afghan rulers.

While designating a few notables to vital court and bureau positions, Amanullah drew principally on two sources, however to fluctuating degrees, to seek his predefined objectives of independence and radical reform.

One was the scholarly, intellectual and inventive strength of Mahmud Tarzai and various other liberal minded young Afghan supporters.

The other was the potential of those who were not necessarily in full concord with the Young Afghans, but had the capacity, through control or influence over the administrative and traditional instrumentalities of power, to help implement his policies. These most noticeably were Musahiban including General Mohammed Nadir Shah and his brothers.

Amanullah Khan was therefore rapidly ready to swing to his long-cherished objectives of national freedom and modernization.

These required quick and unconditional freedom from Britain; and between related auxiliary changes in the political and social-monetary states of Afghan small scale social orders under the specialist of an effective yet famously endorsed government. He seemed to have needed absolutely a progressive procedure of progress.

Amanullah Khan and Mahmud Tarzai had faith in optimism as conceivably constructive methods for empowering the Afghan individuals towards solidarity, independence, structural change and a participatory political and social order. They were persuaded of the commonly strengthening nature of the objectives of freedom and modernization.

The Royal Manifesto published on the day of Amanullah’s coronation (February 28, 1919) is a revealing document in this sense:

O nation, proud through the realization of its dignity! In the minute when my great people has placed this crown on my head, I announce with a loud voice to you that I shall accept the crown and throne only on the condition that you render me support in the realization of my plans and intentions. I have explained my ideas to you already, and I shall reiterate only the most important of them now.

1. Afghanistan must become free and independent, it must enjoy all rights that all other sovereign states possess.

2. You will help me with all your strength to avenge the blood of the martyr-my deceased father.

3. The nation must become free: no man should be an object of oppression and tyranny.

This was the first time ever that an Afghan ruler claimed to seek legitimacy, not so much in tribal politics, but in broad public acceptance. Nationalism, elements of populism, respect for the traditional Pashtun values undoubtedly constituted important parts of the new King’s credo.

In any case, it was independence, and, all the more particularly, freedom interlaced with modernization, that turned into the foundation of his stage. This fundamentally implied Afghanistan couldn’t modernize without above all being freed from English domination and accordingly ‘Great-Game’ obstruction, and it couldn’t safeguard its independence without being modernized. Hence, from the beginning, the Young Afghans’ domestic reforms became inseparably connected to outside strategy and the other way around; and by expansion, failure in one space would have genuine ramifications for the other.

Giving the English stalling over the subject of freedom, Amanullah Khan’s initiative immediately achieved the conclusion that the most ideal approach to secure unconditional independence was through a military confrontation. It was to pressure the British to speed up the ongoing diplomatic negotiations and to agree to Kabul’s demand for full and unconditional independence.

In late April 1919, during a mass meeting in one of Kabul’s main mosques, Masjid-e-Eidgah, Amanullah Khan appealed to the Afghan people’s religious and nationalist sentiment and honor, and declared a Jihad against Britain, launching the Afghan War of Independence or the Third Anglo-Afghan War. The war lasted only three month, from May 3 to June 1919 and an armistice was proclaimed. The treaty of Peace between the Illustrious British Government and the Independent Afghan Government signed at Rawalpindi “a city famous for the destruction of Afghanistan then and even now” on August 8, 1919. The Treaty’s wording was so ambiguous and questionable as to enable the Afghans to peruse in it tje British affirmation of their full independence; and the English to discover grounds despite everything to make ‘effective reach’ claims to the country.

When King Amanullah Khan and Mahmud Tarzai demanded to reestablish transactions to illuminate a portion of the terms of the Treaty, and further settle the issues related with the Durand Line, the British showed great reluctance. They sought not only to sabotage or prolong such negotiations, but also to undermine Amanullah Khan’s rule, engaging in a barrage of anti-Amanullah propaganda and using Mullahs to encourage Durand line tribal uprisings against him to moderate his position on the question of total independence.

Soviet Russia was the first to recognize Afghanistan’s sovereignty, make friendly overtures and establishing diplomatic relations in 1919; Turkey, Iran, France and Germany followed suit. To balance foreign relations and haunted by continued British pressure, and cautioned by historical Russian ambition, Amanullah Khan and Mahmud Tarzai desperately wanted to forge closes ties with the USA, for two important reasons. First, the USA was a physically distant great power, capable of helping a country like Afghanistan without acquiring the geographical leverage that had enabled British India and Tsarist Russain to intimidate it. Second, the USA had a generally unblemished colonial record, which shielded Kabul from criticism for managing a ‘colonial power’. Unfortunately for the USA, it lost its chance to only came back with a thousand times more investment only 50 year later in 1970s with the Cyclone Project.

As mentioned earlier, Amanullah Khand and Tarzai saw independence and modernization as indissolubly linked and mutually reinforcing. As soon as the Treaty of Rawalpindi was signed, they set out on what proved to be a very difficult and complex course of modernization in a traditional, Islamic ethno-tribal society, where in most areas the clergy espoused ideas in line with the ultra-conservative so called Deobandi school of Islam set by British. On the whole the reform program had its origins in the ideological vision that Amanullah Khan and Mahmud Tarzai had come to share by the time they came to power.

Amid the underlying phases of reform, up to 1924, a number of important steps were taken in all areas. In the realm of political reforms, for the first time in the history of Afghanistan a well-structured Cabinet, the Council of Ministers, headed by the King himself, was established. A number or urgent measures were adopted to reform and reorganize the administration in order to make governmental functions more responsible and efficient at central, provincial and local levels. New rules and regulations, defining ministerial administrative structures, duties and responsibilities were enacted.

These reforms were envisaged as laying the bases for developing a modern bureaucratic system along what could be described as Weberian Council (Mahfal-e-Qanun), partly appointed and partly elected, was set up, and steps were taken to establish provincial councils in the same vein. The first Legislative Council was the pressure of a more representative legislative body, called National Council (Shura-e-Melli), which came into existence under the first Afghan Constitution promulgated in 1923 by Amanullah Khan and Mahmd Tarzai.

Although, there were many reformative measures Mahmud Tarzai and King Amanullah Khan had taken,  the very prominent and key reformation was related to women rights and gender equality in a time when today’s USA ‘the most women right’s and gender equality defender’ had no clue of women rights and/or gender equality. With the suggestion or advice of Mahmud Tarzai, King Amanullah Khan banned polygamy in the royal and later in the administrative institutions.

Briefly, Mahmud Tarzai and King Amanullah Khan ‘a student of Tarzai School of Thought’ brought the political and governmental structure into the system that today in 2017 is practiced in developing countries, women rights and gender equality, education for all, reformative laws, government taxes, custom and traditional law into international law and patriotism.

However, Britian at that time did its best to over throw King Amanullah’s throne via the majority and decision making Pashtuns, yet, for many traditional norms the Pashtun with their conscience did not help the British and instead they chose the prominent Tajik,  ‘known as Bacha Saqaow’, Kalakani to collapse the most developed, reformed, political and patriotic government of King Amanullah Khan.

In conclusion, there are uncountable motives to pen on King Amanullah Khan, but this article has been written in order to clarify that yes, King Amanullah Khan is the Hero, but like many other countries’ heroes there are always people behind their success and they do mention and pass them honor, i.e Bacha Khan and Nehru behind Gandhi, Che Guevara behind Fidel Castro and Allama Iqaba behind the so called Jinah. Thus, any  celebrations of Afghanistan Independence Day without a huge tribute to Mahmud Tarzai makes the day colorless. Mahmud Tarzai was the man who along with great King Amanullah Khan put an end to Security Dilemma, Prisoner Dilemma and the Two Level Game in Afghanistan.

*Najibullah Azad is an advocate, consultant, writer, author, poet, researcher, analyst and translator. He can be reached at: nj.aazad@gmail.com and http://www.facebook.com/Nj.Azad/

Safety And Security Of Pakistan’s Nuclear Assets – OpEd

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“Security involves not only the capabilities, desires and fears of individual states, but also the capabilities, desires and fears of other state with which they interact.” — Barry Gordon Buzan

Subsequent to the austere nuclearization of India, Pakistan had no real option except to adjust, as the peace and security in South Asia depends on such. It is likewise an unquestionable certainty that Pakistan’s nuclear faculty, helped by the conventional ability, has been the supporting factor for constraining the crises with India from escalating to undesirable limits.

However the ownership of these nuclear weapons carries with it a paramount national, global and moral responsibility that the nuclear faculty is under strong custodial and operational control with an ultimate motivation intended only to deter. Necessarily, every nuclear state needs to soundly demonstrate and project that it is a ‘responsible nuclear state.’

An important global concern about nuclear weapons and nuclear capabilities in general revolves around the potential threat of nuclear terrorism. The Harvard Kenedy School’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs has highlighted four potential type of nuclear and radiological terrorism: a) Theft of intact nuclear weapons, b) Theft of nuclear material to make an improvised nuclear explosive device or radiological dispersal device (RDD), c) Theft of other radioactive material, and, d) sabotage of a nuclear facility or transport mechanisms. The growing concerns over the nuclear security of Pakistan are based on a number of assumptions and to deal with these assumptions one ought to examine the evolution of the nuclear safety and security system in Pakistan; for it’s really not on a halt.

Nonetheless, concerns over the safety and security of Pakistan’s nuclear assets by the foreign states have always been responded befittingly by official statements, analysts and think tanks based in Pakistan and they have been quite vocal over the differential treatment by some ‘powerful actors’ vis-à-vis India.

There exists an invariable monitoring of the command and control mechanisms. Pakistan has set up a far reaching institutional structure with the National Command authority (NCA) for formulating the policy, employment and development of the key frameworks including the strategic systems; chaired by Prime Minister, whilst having Strategic Plans Division (SPD) as its secretariat.

However, the aforementioned structure makes it clear that the final authority to use nuclear weapons rests with the civilian chief executive, hence making the command highly centralized subsequently requiring the peripheral commanders to report and request authorization for use. Likewise, the security division of SPD is maintaining a strong watch on all the aspects of the nuclear program, with operational control vested to NCA. Moreover, there exists an academy for imparting dedicated training and skills.

As far as the legislative framework is concerned Pakistan now has replaced NCA ordinance with the NCA act. However the sole purpose of this legislation is to give cover to the NCA for exercising complete command and control over research, development, production and use of nuclear technology. Moreover, Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority (PNRA) , regulates and supervises all matters related to the safety and radiation protection measures.

Pakistan likewise approved the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Materials (CPPNM) in October 2000 and all transportation of its sensitive nuclear materials goes under the rules of this convention. Much the same as USA, Pakistan takes after Personnel Reliability Program (PRP). This program manages faculty screening and leeway, who works in nuclear facilities, strategic organizations and other related establishments.

To the extent physical security of Pakistan’s nuclear assets is concerned, the nuclear establishments are distributed geographically protected by a multilayered system of security. In addition to this the nuclear warheads owned by Pakistan are kept separate from their delivery system which again is the reflection of centralized command authority that favous the never launching aspect of ‘always/never dilemma’ proposed by Peter d. Feaver in 1992. Similarly the Permissive Action links (PALs) ensure that a nuclear weapon can’t be launched unless the necessary codes are provided by state’s central authority. As confirmed publicly by General Khalid Kidwai Pakistan’s nuclear warheads are equipped now with PALs.

However, there still prevails another assumption that any terrorist group/organization may assault to get hold of Pakistan’s nuclear arsenals but the verifiable appraisal uncovers unmistakably that not a solitary militant assault or other related episode has been recorded till date. The initiatives taken by Pakistan to demonstrate its atomic security foolproof demonstrates its solid responsibility, ability and capability. Nobody ought to stay under the fantasy that the terrorists could assault Pakistan’s atomic establishments. To assault the GHQ and the Mehran Naval Base situated in congested urban areas like Rawalpindi and Karachi is unique in relation to assaulting Pakistan’s nukes that are dispersed and under multi layered command and control framework.

To conclude, Pakistan nuclear regime is secured by a multi-layered security system to counter any nuclear security threat both from within and outside. The country also has now strong credentials on nuclear security, safety and non-proliferation because of which it qualifies for full integration in the multilateral export regime.

*Ubaid Ahmed currently working as a research affiliate in SVI

Kashmir For Kashmiris – OpEd

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India for Indians, Pakistan for Pakistanis and, obviously, Kashmir for Kashmiris — and there cannot be two opinions. Pakistan had been a part of India, but no more. But India cannot take Kashmir in the place of Pakistan, which is now an independent nation. And hence the annexation and brutal occupation of Jammu Kashmir is illegal. Kashmir cannot be for Indians and Pakistanis.

We Indians cannot say India for Pakistanis or Kashmiris and similarly, Kashmir is for Kashmiris. Many foreign nations nvaded Kashmir before India and its half-brother Pakistan did it in 1947 and all of them had to leave Kashmir before it was too late. Similarly, Kashmiris know, Indians also would have to quit Kashmir for which a strong popular movement has begun in Kashmir. A restless India is trying all tricks of the trade to quell the freedom movement and silence the Kashmiris, but Kashmiri youth are firmly bold and highly resurgent and reasonably resolved to retake their nation.

India went on killing Kashmiris during the last several decades of its illegal occupation has slaughtered thousands to silence them from their demand for sovereignty from the Indian yoke. India has ruled out a referendum, thereby giving a slap to the UN.

India and Pakistan invaded Jammu Kashmir a sovereign nation sandwiched between them, divided it and shared between them according to their military prowess. Britain while quitting New Delhi had left behind its large terror goods with India, the successor state of imperial India. Indian military prowess continues to exercise its might over the region.

India has been quite tactfully avoiding a UN sponsored referendum to determine the future of Jammu Kashmir as it is damn scared of losing Kashmir forever. A referendum would end the nuclearized South Asian tensions forever and allow peace and prosperity of Jammu Kashmir as a soverign nation. New Delhi under all political outfits, both national and regional, plays dirty but criminal tricks with unfortunate Kashmiris, silencing them, and terrorizing the youth.

India and Pakistan amassed nukes thanks to their joint occupation of Jammu Kashmir obviously on a secret understanding. Britain helped both India and Pakistan to invade and occupy that nation according their individual military might. In fact, had British government resented invasion of Jammu Kashmir by Indo-Pakistan – the newly freed South Asian colonies – the Indo-Pak would have immediately stopped its occupational strategies. As a colonialist power UK only promoted invasions.

This explains as to why both UK and USA refuse to sincerely mediate between India and Pakistan and free Jammu Kashmir. These western powers are indeed the rogue states with democratic façade in front. UK and USA are responsible for the creation of a Zionist criminal state in Mideast to control Arab nations.

Struggle for sovereignty

The turmoil in Kashmir, which got intensified after the fake encounter of Burhan Wani (July 2016), does not seem to abet. It has been worsening as reflected in the ongoing violence leading to low turnout of voters in the by poll (April 2017). Shockingly there was a turn out only of 7.14 percent of voters. The by-polls were also marred by violence in which, many a civilians and security force person also died and lately one witnessed with great horror a Kashmir youth being tied to the military truck to prevent stone pelters from throwing stones on the vehicle. Those pelting stones don’t seem to be stopping despite the lapse of period of time. These young men are being looked at in various ways.
Farookh Abdullah had stated on the eve of elections that those young men throwing stones are doing so for their nation. This statement of his came under scathing criticism from various quarters and section of media and was dismissed by many as a pre-election statement.

Who are these boys who pelt stones? Are these merely Pakistan inspired and funded youth? In the aftermath of state crackdown; hundreds have died, thousands have been wounded and many more have lost eyesight! A section of TV and other media is going hammer and tongs about the role of Pakistan and the funding they receive. The question which needs to be introspected is that will young people risk their life, loss of eyesight or other harm to body just for someone’s bidding or some money? Many of them are teenagers, tech savvy and they are so much full of deep hatred that they are willing to risk their lives, not caring about their future. The degree of frustration among them must we horrific.

India media have a duty to shield the military crimes as their own. Only a small section of media has gone deeper into the real issue and have interviewed some of them. The stories of their experiences and feelings shatter one’s perceptions about law and order in Kashmir. Many belong to families which have given up hope of any type. Most of these young boys have experienced torture, beating, harassment of sorts and often humiliation For many of them stone throwing comes as sort of catharsis, a feeling of having taken revenge of what has happened to them. It is the only strong way of protest they must be feeling is left for them. Many of them are Pro Pakistan for sure but the basic point remains political alienation which is seeping in deepening. This in turn is due to the suffering and pain to which Kashmir has been subjected due to the prolonged military presence in the area.

Post-Burhan Wani murder, the Kashmir based PDP, or even national Conference has been able to see the intensity of the situation. Mahbooba Mufti, the Chief Minister of the ruling coalition, wanted to go for a dialogue with the dissenters, but coalition partner and the party leading at center BJP shot down the idea. Mahbooba Mufti felt that dialogue is the only way out but BJP feels that dialogue is a way to befool the people. It seems the ruling BJP wants to take a hard line to deal with dissidence, regards that dissidence is there only due to Pakistan or ISIS and so repression should be intensified.
RSS has a tendency to give birth to more and more offshoots of Hindutva mode to threaten Muslims. BJP and RSS and other Hindutva elements have gathered Hindutva extremists, calling themselves Jana Sena (people’s military), to fight the Kashmiri Muslims youth that uses stone as their weapon to fight the powerful guns of India.

Claiming to be the wholesale patriotic guys of Indian secular nation, the rich core media lords of Indian English/Hindi TV channels put themselves in the mode of ultra patriotic elements to retain Jammu Kashmir even by forcing the military forces to perform a complete holocaust of Kashmiri race. They advise the government and leaders of national political outfits not to let Jammu Kashmir go away from Indian military control saying that once free Kashmiris would support Pakistan and become another enemy of an “innocent” looking India which has killed over 1000,000 Kashmiri Muslims and yet it is not ready to end crimes in Kashmir.

BJP, RSS and Congress feel badly suffocated by the latest developments in occupied Kashmir as Kashmiris just ignore the military prowess and challenge their domination by stone pelting. That is unbearable for them because military should have upper hand to decide the fate of Kashmiris. They are indeed sacred that they would lose Jammu Kashmir sooner than alter But they want to frighten them by using Jana Sena to counter stone pelting in Kashmir by using the military guns and stones alternatively. That would, if implemented, obviously lead to a situation when India would be forced to give away Jammu Kashmir.

The BJP government on the one hand and the RSS-Congress duo on the other keep scheming against Muslims in general and Kashmir in particular while the Hindu media lords, especially those that run TV channels in English on behalf political and intelligence wings consider it their duty to challenge the Kashmiri youth that has resorted to stone pelting against the terror attacks of India’s powerful military forces occupying their lands, killing them in a sustained manner, terrorizing everyone in Jammu Kashmir so that Kashmiris salute military forces and let them do whatever they want to project Indian military prowess the supreme.

On domestic and foreign fronts, BJP has been pursing all Congress policies including on Kashmir issue. Hatred for Islam and Muslims are pushed on heavily by the Hindutva leaders. Targeting the Kashmiris in Kashmir and killing them in a sustained manner by is a part of that anti-Muslim effort. Core Indian media and intelligence wings tell the people that Kashmiris are as much enemies as Pakistanis and Bangladeshis are and they should be made to beg New Delhi for money as Sri Lank and Bhutan have been doing.

It has been a routine scene in many places in Kashmir where women and men, old and young, children inclusive, gather in front of the houses where people mourn the death of their beloved, near and dear ones, and Kashmiri young men.

Freedom struggle in Kashmir grew thanks to involvement many of the youth. Many believe that today youth are being targeted in Kashmir, which is probably why people are feeling alienated from India.
The fallout of the security forces’ hardening attitude towards the locals has led to the spike in local militancy. As per media reports, since last year’s unrest, 88 local youth have joined the militant ranks. Many attribute this to the growing anger among the youth as “India is not ready to listen to them (Kashmiris).”

Repeated Indian attacks on Kashmiri Muslims leads to counter attacks. With two back to back attacks on security forces, Kashmir’s security situation is spiraling into a new cycle of violence. Even as the news of Kulgam ambush came to light (1 May) in which four policemen and two bank employees were killed by militants in Pumbai village, reports began to pour in of the dastardly attack by the Pakistani special forces and militants on an Indian Army post on the LoC in Krishna Ghati sector of Poonch district in Jammu, which resulted in killing and mutilation of two Indian soldiers. The attacks in Kulgam and Krishna Ghati represent the two major incidents since last year’s attack on the Indian Army brigade headquarters in Uri in north Kashmir.

Naturally, these attacks have shaken Kashmir’s political and security establishment and threaten to push Kashmir on the edge of another spell of unrest and major violence as the summer approaches. The locals that this reporter talked to had very little to say about the attack in Poonch, but offered different viewpoints on the situation in Kashmir. This is in stark contrast to last year, when post-Uri attack and India’s surgical strike, there were widespread fears of an India-Pakistan war.

Many believe that the recent attacks are a result of the excessive force being used by the security forces against the locals. The anger is directed especially towards the use of pellet guns which have destroyed the lives of many civilians.

The recent attack in Kulgam and similar attacks is mostly due to Indian oppression. If we look at the 2008 and 2010 unrest, the violence had not been this intense. People thought that India is not agreeing to anything which has caused resurgence of militancy. It is unfortunate that innocent people are getting killed, but if we look at the history, violence has always been countered by violence only.

There is anger among youth, they have been killed, they have been arrested and even tortured and even when minor things happen, they get angry. Same thing happened when forces entered the college in Pulwama.”

Clarity and perspective are early casualties during turmoil. Yet now more than ever before we are in need of clarity and perspective to deal with the mess in Kashmir. Instead of being swayed by the noise, blood and emotion, decision-makers must be guided by calm, rational judgment. Kashmir is not lost. Nor will it ever be. However, there is no space for complacency and denial. The Valley is suffering from one of the worst periods of crisis in its history and we must acknowledge it, prepare and implement a plan of action.

It is a problem with multifarious dimensions. However, trying to solve everything at the same time is a sure recipe for failure. Therefore, the Indian state must narrow down its focus.
Therefore, the first and foremost responsibility of government stakeholders (and that includes the Centre, state and the entire security establishment) is to restore the writ of the Indian state in Kashmir. Unless there is fear of authority, rule of law and a semblance of order, any hopes of “normalcy” returning to Valley is a pipe dream.

And unless there is even a semblance of normalcy, there can be no hope for “peace” with a final settlement of surrendering sovereignty to Kashmiris once for all.

This opium-fuelled dream of “peace in Valley” cannot become a reality amid flash mobs resisting counter-insurgency operations, solders attacking the youth, raising cries of secession, pelting stones, terrorists spraying Kalashnikov bullets and strewing bodies of jawans and Kashmiris alike.

Some students expressed skepticism about the current situation. The student protests make the situation further precarious while the Mehbooba Mufti-led PDP-BJP coalition government is trying to pacify the students and locals. But if the voter turnout in the Srinagar Lok Sabha by-polls and the violence on 9 April is any indication, it is clear that her administration is simply unable to cope with the situation.

The painful truth

Conducting polls regularly tin Jammu Kashmir under Indian occupation o gain legitimacy for its illegal occupation and genocides has not solved the Indian case. Killing Muslims in Kashmir has not silenced the Kashmiris youth, either.

For all our blaming of Pakistan, the Indian state cannot shirk its role. If Pakistan is guilty of fuelling insurgency and using Hurriyat groups to keep Kashmir on the boil, the BJP-PDP coalition and the Narendra Modi government have been guilty of incompetence. The insurgency movement has gained in strength because it has failed to read the writing on the walls.

Indian state terror strategists say that since the neutralization of Hizbul Mujaheedin commander Burhan Wani, a series of tactical and policy errors have been committed. The government has appeared all too eager to cede control and have appeared more interested in short-term placatory gestures rather than displaying an iron will in arresting the deterioration of law and order. They argue that every Kashmiri should be murdered with Israeli terror goods and end the crisis once for all. USA and Russia are now allies of India and they don’t mind the terror operations in Kashmir.

Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has appealed to the youth to help restore normalcy in the Valley so that peace returns.

If we add the recent cancellation of Anantnag bypoll to this mix, the depth of the problem seems clear. It is not one of lack of will and the administration, but the reality of situation in Kashmir.

Indian state terror forces have gone for a comprehensive military action to flush out the Kashmiris, ”terrorists”, catch and neutralise some of the top commanders to render the outfit headless. The ‘cordon and combing’ operation in south Kashmir launched jointly by the Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police is considered to be a ‘good first step’. It is telling, however, that the “biggest operation in 15 years” have so far failed to nab a single “terrorist”. Restore the authority of Army and the writ of Indian state. The next steps shall follow. Kashmir isn’t going anywhere.

The pressure of military action — initially by eliminating hardcore leaders and subsequently, as a “threat-in-being” — is the catalyst that forces Kashmiri freedom fighters to talk with the government. Once you dilute the fear of authority of the uniformed forces, there is bound to be resistance to dialogue.”

Disappointment

Kashmiris have been looking forward to hearing form Indian PM or President about surrendering of sovereignty to people of Kashmir for remaking their nation. However, all these years Indian government and rulers have steadily refused to mention about that either in the parliament or in cabinet meetings or in the media briefing or in any special statement. It is like claiming a wicket by the bowlers, even though they know they are wrong in their claim just as a drama, with overt firmness so that the drama umpires declare OUT after wasting time in reviewing the scene. Pure dramas. On the contrary Indian rulers said Jammu Kashmir is now a part of India. In fact, Pakistan wants Kashmir to be handed over to it because most of Kashmiris prefer Pakistan to India. Referendum is a mischief by Indo-Pakistan to deny sovereignty back to Kashmiris.

Neither India nor Pakistan is keen to return sovereignty to Kashmiris with or without due apologies.

Indian PM Narendra Modi has said that “bullets and abuses” cannot bring peace in Kashmir, as the country celebrates 70 years since independence. In a speech in Delhi, Modi accused Kashmiri separatists of “scheming”. Muslim-majority Kashmir under Indian occupation is at the centre of a decades-old territorial dispute between India and Pakistan. Modi said only “hugs” could solve the problems of the territory, which often sees clashes between protesters and Indian security forces. India is celebrating its 70th Independence Day a day after its neighbour Pakistan.

Modi also criticised people for using religion to incite violence. Vigilantes who portray themselves as protectors of cows have been frequently attacking people mostly Muslims suspected of smuggling the animal since Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party came to power in 2014. The slaughter of cows is banned in several Indian states being ruled by BJP. Nearly a dozen people have been killed in the past two years in the name of the cow. Targets are often picked based on unsubstantiated rumours and Muslims have been attacked and killed for even transporting cows for milk.

Indian government knows Jammu Kashmir does not belong to India and it invaded it soon after its own freedom from Great Britain in 1947 and maybe on its advice. But it never admits and t bluffs that it is a part of India while Indian media lords, who do not want JK to cede form India, creating a vacuum in Indian map, say Kashmir has been a part of India for centuries.

Bluff cannot become truth just because it is forcefully and repeatedly articulated by powerful sources.
Indian forces kill Kashmiri Muslims mercilessly. Targeting the Kashmiri Muslim youth ahs backed fired recently as the people of Kashmir have begun a firm struggle for sovereignty.

As the freedom struggle of Kashmiris gets intensified to regain sovereignty from occupation forces from New Delhi, Indian regime gets panicky and wants to end the new phase of struggle that is forcing India to cede neighboring Jammu Kashmir that its forces occupy since 1947 to Kashmiris themselves.

Like Israel, India also does not like, rather oppose, any third nation to intervene to end Indo-Pak conflict and get justice for Kashmiris. India has also managed to silence even the USA and other veto powers to postpone the referendum almost permanently, and, cruelly enough, the UN is also silent about its resolution for referendum for Kashmir. UN is even otherwise is a dead rubber being misused by big powers. Obviously, India bribes them with money and other “facilities” to get on board.
Of course, now Indian regime is fully aware of the hard truth that Kashmiris are determined to take back their lost sovereignty from India. Nothing less than that!

Kashmiris firmly seek sovereignty!

As Indian media continue to say Kashmir is marked in Indian constitution and as such it is an integral part of now the Hindutva set up, Kashmiris do not fight not for bread, nor for more jobs or extra money but they have sacrificed their valuable lives for freedom and sovereignty from brutal Indian military yoke.

Freedom and sovereignty are their birth right as they all want to live as free humans with dignity.
India has murdered over 100000 Kashmiri Muslims, beside Indian Muslims. Indian claim of ownership of Muslims inside India is one thing but extending the same logic and argument to neighboring Kashmir is nonsensical, ridiculous.

Kashmiris have nothing common with Indians except that all are humans and blood runs through their veins. However, Indian forces, like the Zionist counterparts do, have no right to drink the blood of Kashmiris.

Kashmiri Muslims are treated like slaves and underdogs by New Delhi. Indian military guys kill Kashmiris as if they are playing a favorite and fixed cricket game.

Clearly, Kashmiris are on war path to attain independence while India and its media lords remain in a perpetually denial mode while Indian “patriotic” solders continue to kill , and consume Muslims in Kashmir their birth right because Indian parliament ahs allowed them to kill anybody at will.

Observation

Both India and Israel, the new strategic leveling partners, want to occupy the “colonies” they have, namely Kashmir and Palestine respectively, and keep murdering Muslims as freely as wild beast do in thick jungles.

Indo-Pakistani conflict and genocides of Kashmiris are old issue but unresolved by the UN and UNSC.
It is high time International community steps in to resolve the South Asia’s deadliest conflict and settle the dangerous Kashmir cum nukes’ issue once for all before it s to late for that.

The situation in Kashmir is critical, and worsening by the day due to the high handed dealings from the center. Even the former Chief Minister of Kashmir and the people like Sheikh Abdulla was ignored by India, leading to a serious conflict. World needs peace and we want peace in the green valley known as paradise on earth; peace is crucial. The deeper peace can only be won through winning the hearts and minds of the people of Kashmir, pseudo patriotic and ultranationalist formulations don’t work in the long run.

It is a fact, military personnel are paid for their “services” both in India and Pakistan and they target innocent Kashmiris.

In view of the unrelenting unrest in Kashmir valley there is urgency for holding a genuine referendum in Kashmir to determine fate of Kashmiris and end the blood bath in Kashmir valley.

Today there can be two approaches one is to recall the treaty of accession and gravitate towards that and take the recommendations of Interlocutors seriously. Nearly seven decades after the accession of Kashmir to India, there is a need to recall that forcible merger; repression of dissent was never the idea of founders of Indian nation. Let’s see what Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel had to say on the matter way back, Deputy Prime Minister Vallabhbhai Patel said at a public meeting in Bombay on October 30, 1948: “Some people consider that a Muslim majority area must necessarily belong to Pakistan. But (India is stronger than Pakistan) and should have Kashmir. They wonder why we are in Kashmir. The answer is plain and simple. We are in Kashmir because the people of Kashmir want us to be there. The moment we realize that the people of Kashmir do not want us to be there, we shall not be there even for a minute… We shall not let the Kashmir down” (Hindustan Times, October 1948)

Now the continued struggle for freedom clearly shows that they want freedom and sovereignty and India must vacate Jammu Kashmir in favor pace in the region.

Time over ripe for Indian military forces to quit Kashmir after or before the referendum. Better India leaves Kashmir without going through an insulting referendum that would surely ask India to behave.
India and its intelligence have complete details of how many paid Hindus have died in the war against Kashmir but they have no such details about genocides of innocent real Kashmir Muslims by paid Indian soldiers. New Delhi should make such vital details available to the public.

Military personnel receive salary, many semi-freebies, pension etc, but the freedom fighters get nothing but Indian bullets. Let the UN or Pakistan pay pension to the family of those get killed by paid Indian soldiers until Kashmir gains sovereignty.

Political Balancing Act Of Baku – OpEd

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There is an opinion that the world community is not really interested in the situation in the South Caucasus, as well as in Azerbaijan. However, not only Azerbaijani, but also foreign political experts claim that the Azerbaijani role is increasing on the global stage. Currently, Azerbaijan is one of the main political centers.

Many experts agree that there is also a confrontation of interests between several major powers such as the US, Turkey, Russia and Iran. It’s estimated that China can join this quartet soon.

Many powers don’t conceal that they are interested in the withdrawal of Azerbaijan from the Non-Aligned Movement, as well as in its deprivation of neutrality and non-bloc status.

Now Baku is balancing and conducting such domestic and foreign policy that is hard to be influenced. Azerbaijan chooses independently its partner countries and the scale of cooperation.

The White House and the European Parliament are frankly not happy with this approach. They are trying to strengthen their impact on the South Caucasus and the Middle East.

Some institutions consider the change of Azerbaijani government to be one of the way to reach their goals.  The fact is they are highly interested in changing Azerbaijan’s domestic and foreign policy and it is generally known that they are ready for anything to achieve their goals and they won’t spare any money to support the opposition.

Published by partisan media the information related to the persecution of journalists and prosecuting authorities, plays directly into the hands of the opposition and indirectly of the West.

So the opposition has an opportunity to use methods applied in Georgia and Ukraine, e.g. appeals to the international community and the power of youth protests. The Youth is inspired by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) financed by the West. Some examples are the Integration of Azerbaijan Youth to Europe (AGAT), NATO International School of Azerbaijan (NISA), the US-Educated Azerbaijani Alumni Association, etc.

Their activity is closely coordinated with American and European non-governmental organizations, and also with the US embassy in Baku. These organizations serve the interests of the Euroatlantic institutions rather than the Azerbaijani people.

It can be noted that on June 29 the Open Government Partnership (OGP) in Washington refused to change the Azerbaijani status from “non-active member” to full participant. According to OGP there are still many complications for the proper work of non-governmental organizations. Top government representatives continue accusing local NGOs, western donors and the social media of radicalizing youth. They obviously realize what are the consequences of the policy of all-permissiveness.

India’s Naval Development: Implications For Region – OpEd

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India is extensively modernizing its navy. Admiral Suresh Mehta the then-Chief of Indian Navy in 2008 stated that till 2022 India planned to have 160 ships, which included three aircraft carriers, 60 combatants that includes submarines and approximately 400 aircraft of different types.

This modernization is not only quantitative, but also qualitative by replacing its older vessels with modern vessels. Regarding quantity there is an increase in the Navy’s tonnage. In 1991 it was 167,697 tons whereas in 2011 it was 217,426 tons. The missile cells on Indian Navy ships increased. As in 1991 there were 21 cells while in 2011 there were 402 missile cells on Indian Navy ships. India acquired the INS (Indian Nuclear Submarine) from Russia and commissioned in India in 2014. This is the most important modern vessel.

There are other two carriers that are indigenously produced and expected to be commissioned by 2015 and 2018. India’s first nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine is the INS Arihant. India obtained six stealth frigates from Russia. It is intended to develop three more frigates indigenously. It commissioned Kolkata destroyer by 2014. India’s conflict for beefing up its armed forces started after China-India border conflict in 1962. Its initial preference was to modernize its army and air force. Its naval expansion was delayed due to the lack of funds and lack of naval vessels. Indian naval expansion was started with the Soviets’ supply of naval equipment.

India’s quest for great power status has motivated India to develop and modernize its blue water navy. To get this objective India not only desires the dominant position in the strategic environment of South Asia but also it desires for the ability to be the policeman of this region to play a greater role in the Indian Ocean. For this India started to strengthen its armed forces during 1960s. After the 1971 war India was intended to launch a fast military build-up that would eventually lead its place in the major powers.

In past four decades India not only made economic and military growth, but also it demonstrated its capability for the intervention in the regional crises. But the process of military build- up was slow in early 1990s because of the lack of funds. Its navy was certainly expanded during 1980s. Indian military planners were well known of the essential pillars of the navy such as ships, submarines, arsenals, bases and manpower. They ensured to keep the balance among three areas. India established trilateral command in the significant Indian Ocean Islands namely Andaman and Nicobar which are near to mouth of Malacca Straits.

It has modernized its submarine fleet with the assistance of France. Indian economic growth rate became sufficient and adequate to spend enough funds for the induction of modern ships, submarines, naval aircrafts, helicopters and equipment related to surveillance. India has acquired cruise missiles and submarine based missiles. Currently India’s Navy has 70,000 men, 130 ships, 200 aircraft with aircraft carrier. The Indian officials are suggesting to double the size of India’s Navy and to triple the size of coast guards. It is intended to have 32 more new ships and six more submarines along the Russian aircraft carrier named INS Vikramaditya. One source told that India has rapidly increased its navy and have joined the list of those countries which have large navies.

India was expecting to acquire three more submarines which would be nuclear power capable and three aircraft carriers to its stock by 2015. India’s Navy signed bilateral agreements with the Indonesian Navy and Navy of Thailand for the coordinated sea patrols every six months. Till now India projected the appearance of a blue water navy acquiring sufficient strength and capability. India’s defense cooperation with U.S. and Israel is providing India advanced or modern weapons.

One aircraft carrier is already operational and the other is under the process of refurbishment. India is intended to get three aircraft carriers; the third one is under refurbishment by the Russians. India revised its naval doctrine after the Mumbai incident which focused to counter maritime terrorism, piracy and to increase coastal security. India’s primary objective of the “Look East” policy of 1990s was to create strategic relations with the Association of South East Asian Nations to make place for itself in the Asia-Pacific to demonstrate its potential for investment.

India’s strategic thinking perceives a strong link with maritime ambitions and its future destiny therefore it perceives Indian Ocean as India’s Ocean. The former Indian External Minister Pranab Mukherjee stated,

“India is once again focusing seaward which is natural direction of view for a nation seeking to reestablish itself not as a continental power but also as a maritime power as this is of significance on world stage”.

The India’s quest to operate deeply into Indian Ocean compels it to expand its military and naval capabilities. India is capable to have six submarines which were developed under license with French technology and is following the order of six more submarines. There are six improved Project 17A frigates and a nuclear capable missile submarine. India has also obtained Russian MIG-29K jet fighter for its aircraft fleet. In the last three decades India worked on the Advanced Technology Vessel Program.

On July 26, 2009 the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh launched India’s 6000 ton nuclear powered submarine INS Arihant which has 85-megawatt nuclear reactor. This was the remarkable day in Indian maritime history. On this occasion he said, “Today we join a selected group of five nations who possess the capability to build a nuclear-powered submarine; i.e. the five Permanent Members of the UNSC — the US, Russia, UK, France and China. India’s 95 percent foreign trade passes via the sea”.

India is moving towards its air force base’s expansion in the Andaman and Nicobar. It intends to station Su-30MKI fighters, mid- air refueling tankers and unmanned aerial vehicles which would be short and mid ranged. It enhanced its cooperation with Indian Ocean Regions playing its role in the secession of Bangladesh, operation in Sri Lanka and the suppression of the coup in the Maldives.

Some observers describes that India perceives Indian Ocean as its backyard. It’s natural and desirable for India to be dominant in this region. This is the world’s only region in which the ocean is after the single state’s name.

India’s naval capability is playing a vital role in its aspirations to be a maritime power. During cold war the ability of India constrained its maritime ambitions. Since its independence, Indian Navy was referred as Cinderella of the Armed Forces of India. It was the 1990s when India was intended to develop its blue water navy which involved the substantial increment in naval expenditures. Indian budget for armed forces has been increasing. It was at annual rate of 5 percent from 2001 to 2005.It was at 10 percent annually from 2005 to 2008.

These increments have encouraged making changes in the force structure of India’s Navy. India emphasizes on the sea control capabilities. In 2008 it was announced that Indian Navy intended to get ships more than 160 by 2022. The Indian cost guards may play a complimentary role in the navy. Since the last decade through the expansion in its naval capabilities India has been putting more influence in the Indian Ocean. It is playing an active role in developing the security relations restricting China in building security relations with the Indian Ocean Littoral States.

According to India’s Maritime Strategy which is a 147 pages document is looking forward from 2007 to 2022. This indicates India’s current naval strategy described by its authors as a rationale for the resurgence of India’s maritime military power. India is an emerging power in 21st century growing both military and economically. India’s economic growth is strengthening its military power. Its military is growing in its all three branches army, air force and navy. India’s growing economic power and military power are contributing factors to achieve its ambitions to be regional hegemonic power in the South Asian region. Its military build-up and military modernization both conventional and non-conventional is creating asymmetry with its neighboring nuclear state Pakistan in South Asia. It is ambitiously moving to play hegemonic role in this region.

*Asia Maqsood is research associate at Strategic Vision Institute Islamabad

Is Rouhani’s ‘Barjam’ Failing? – OpEd

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July 2017 witnessed the intensified extension of US sanctions on Iran. Many debates in the US have been around the subject of security summarized in the Middle East, to which Russia and North Korea have also been added. However, the kingbolt of the US’ Middle East discussions has been Iran and organizations against or adherent with Iran. The discussions feed mainly on Iran’s support of terrorism, human rights situation, missile activities, American prisoners, etc. Therefore, Iran has been on top of the list for Donald Trump’s government.

Following Donald Trump’s Travel Ban, untitled threats and statements on regime change before Iran’s 40th anniversary, sanctions against Iran intensified and extended in the aftermath of Rouhani’s Barjam (Iran Nuclear Deal).

In these proceedings there seem to be some unusual points. First, why was North Korea added to the sanctions bill? Second, the number of Democrats and Republicans was 419 to 3 and even in the Senate, it was 98 to 2 in favor of passing the sanctions bill, which is very similar to ideological states’ governments. Third, the issue of Russian sanctions required some kind of supervision, as interests of European states in economic relationship with Russia were not taken into consideration. In other words, the sanctions against Russia was so significant that it required supervision because it is going to affect US allies in Europe directly.

Two aspects can be noticed in this case. First is the economic aspect: using the Gulf states, especially Saudi Arabia as a “cash cow” on one side and efforts over pleasing Israel on the other side can explain Donald Trump’s recent statements on Iran. However, regime change at this specific time considering the 38-year old history of Iran and US relations is rather unacceptable. Bearing in mind the political structure and tradition in the US the ratio of votes in the Senate and the House of Representatives demonstrates an actual vote of “no”. In this concern, by reminding Macfarlane case and claims of Russian interference in US elections in favor of Donald Trump, it is very probable that behind the scenes Republicans and Democrats aim at putting an observatory effect on Trump’s decisions and have used the votes on Iran case for this purpose.

With these developments, Iran’s biggest foreign gas contract with French TOTAL has been realized, despite the fact that the late sanctions were expected to hit European countries. In addition, after Trump signed the sanctions bill, Iran and Russia are preparing to sign billion-dollar contracts, which are going to be the biggest contracts between the two countries in the last decade.

As the US Senate and House of Representatives and the Iranian Sepah have used the sanctions bill to impose more control over their domestic issues, the consequences of these endeavors in both countries’ foreign policy is going to be claims of Barjam’s failure, therefore weakening and making vulnerable  reformists such as Rouhani in Iran and the economic-political seclusion for the US. For these developments, Russia seems to owe special thanks to the efforts of the Trump administration and the Iranian Sepah. Therefore, it is predicted that recent developments are somehow leading to an era of isolation of American Foreign Policy and economic-political crisis for Iran. In addition, an oil transportation crisis is very probable in the Gulf region, even if it is a theater again for domestic purposes in both states.

In sum, the natural outcome of the recent US bill against Iran and Russia is that Russian oil exports to Europe are going to be significantly difficult and with the most trivial security issue in the Persian Gulf, Gulf oil exports will also decrease considerably. As a result, the states affected by this bill both as a buyer and as a seller will most probably gather around Russia, which in turn will drive US foreign policy to a period of insularity.

*Sahar Nejati Karimabad, PhD candidate in Area Studies at Middle East Technical University

Militants Denounce, But Patriots Worship Freedom In India – OpEd

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As usual, various separatist militant groups of northeast India have called for boycotting the forthcoming 71st Independence Day celebrations, but at the same time a forum of patriotic people in Assam has urged the residents of the alienated region to pay respect to the martyrs by saluting the national flag on 15 August.

The armed outfits, in separate statements to the media outlets, asked the people of the region, bordering Nepal, Bhutan, Tibet (now under occupation of China), Myanmar and Bangladesh, not to join in the I-Day programs as it was nothing but the celebration of India’s ‘illegal colonization’ over the western part of South East Asia (WESEA).

“To resist Indian occupation and hegemony, almost all communities of this WESEA region have risen in arms and armed struggle is still going on. As a part of this continuing resistance struggle, we declare to ban India’s I-Day celebrations in our WESEA region,” said a joint statement issued by a group of armed outfits.

Endorsed by Hynniutrep National Liberation Council (HNLC), Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP), Kamatapur Liberation Organisation (KLO), Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL), National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB), National Liberation Front Twipra (NLFT) and People’s Democratic Council of Karbilongri (PDCK), the statement also declared about ‘a total shut down in the region from 6 am to 6 pm of August 2015’.

Earlier National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang) imposed diktats over the I-Day celebrations in all Naga inhibited localities. Every Naga citizen must rise to the occasion, confront the illegal colonization, reassert our birthright, uphold the legacy passed onto us by our pioneers and commit oneself to liberate our nation, said the outfit.

“India had never been a country or a Nation until 1947, when the British colonialists left this part of the world. During the two centuries before 1947, many regional nationalisms in different parts of this south Asian sub-continent rose in response to the expanding British colonization,” added the NSCN (K).

In a separate joint statement, the coordination committee of four Manipur based insurgent outfits namely UNLF, RPF/PLA, PREPAK and PREPAK (Progressive), Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA), United People’s Liberation Army (UPLA), United Liberation Front of Assam-Independent (ULFA-I) called for total shutdown in the WESEA region (read northeast India) on 15 August.

Appealing to the people of the region to boycott and prevent celebration of the I-Day as a strong voice of resistance against Indian occupation, the outfits also pronounced a general strike throughout the region on Tuesday from 1 am to 6.30 pm, during which total shutdown of educational institutions, shops, business establishments, factories and all forms of transport was expected.

However, defying all these logics, the Patriotic People’s Front Assam (PPFA) appealed to citizens of the region irrespective of their caste, creed, and religious backgrounds to hoist the national flag on I-Day and pay respect to the martyrs, who sacrificed their lives to make India a sovereign nation.

“Irrespective of who we are, how we come to become part of the Indian Union, it is our bounden duty to pay respect to them who laid down their lives to free us all from the clutches of British colonial forces,” said a statement issued by the PPFA to media outlets.

The forum argued that if we, who are composed of millions of individuals and organizations, keep on demanding various rights including the reservation quota, grants, special area development funds along with other forms of socio-political & economic advantages from the Union government in New Delhi, it would be our moral responsibility to pay homage to the martyrs of freedom movement.

Great souls like Moje Riba, Matmur Jamoh, Kushal Konwar, Tilak Deka, Bhogeswari Phukanani, Kanaklata Barua, Mukunda Kakati, Nidhanu Rajbangshi, Kamala Miri, Lerela Boro, Madan Rauta, Hemoram Patar, Gunabhi Bordoloi, Sambhudan Phonglo, Beer Tikendrajit Singh, Paona Brajabashi, Tirot Singh, Shoorvir Pasaltha Khuangchera, Rani Gaidinliu, Jitendra Chandra Paul, and many more of the region fought selflessly against the British colonial forces and they must not be forgotten.

“Their sacrifices will keep reminding us that while we all have our own identities and fight our own struggles with the establishment that governs, we must stand together to thwart all imperialist designs, which would only divide us and lead us all towards destruction. Our social-ethnic fabric is rich with history and stories of bravery, which have all played a significant part in shaping our present,” asserted the statement.

Therefore, without any contraction we must exercise our rational thinking first and pay our respects to the freedom fighters by saluting the tri-colour, opined the PPFA adding that if they could fight the freedom battle under the flag, there is no reason why we, who have been repeatedly demanding our rights from the governments, should not do the same.


Syam Resfiadi: A Man With A Million Wishes – OpEd

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What is interesting about Syam Resfiadi? I should explain this particular reason to further understand this middle-aged man. No one has written about the personal life of this man who is fond of basketball, and it was not easy to get genuine information — even though he is the man behind a successful travel agency.

After much work, I was able to retrieve what is unknown about this lowpprofile man. Syam likes rendang, a stewed beef cooked with special ingredients originally from West Sumatra; it is also the world’s favorite food according to Yahoo’s check list. He is the father of five children and the husband of Lies Purnamawati (53), and he comes from Betawi or is native from Jakarta, although his name is commonly linked to West Sumatra, as initially I was misled.

At the age of 12 years old, Syam Resfiadi was taken to Mecca by his father, Amirsyah. His first spiritual journey did not make young Syam to feel comfortable and blessed like other people who travel in these religious sites. These unexpected experiences that his Pilgrimage group had gone through during the visit impacted him greatly. Syam was critical due to the lack of sanitation service, ablution and other facilities that should be available to travel agents.

Our friend promised not to return to the Holy Mecca until he could provide his pilgrimage group very good services at the destination site. Who would have thought, that young Syam would be the President and Director of Umrah and the Haj Travel Company called Patuna, and that it would became the forerunner travel agency of hajj and umrah in Indonesia.

It was in 1975 when the late Amirsyah Thabrani and his friend established Pan Travel. At that time there was no Haj Plus service and Amirsyah had decided to expand his travel business by providing services to regular pilgrims who wanted to return to the country more frequently. It was a joint work with the government of Indonesia.

Three trips were formed during 1976-1977 named Pan Travel, Tunas Indonesia Travel, and Natrabu Travel under the consortium of PT Patuna Graha. It was said, at that time Patuna became a pioneering agency of private haj organizing, outside the government.

In 1984, the government through the Ministry of Religious Affairs had to make a new policy, namely the provision of special services (Haj Plus) to those who wanted to perform the pilgrimage to Mecca managed by a private company. Patuna was eventually dissolved, and the other two companies continue to be operational.

By the suggestion of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, the name of Patuna can still be used due to its popularity among many Indonesian travelers. Patuna Mekar Jaya a new Haj and Umrah travel company has been established and owned by the family of Amirsyah.

Meanwhile, young Syam joined his family business from 1988 to 2004, then he decided to have other business experience outside his company. In 2011, Syam decided to re-join his family’s business and that made his father feel proud knowing that Syam could lead the family business into further growth and future aspirations.

Like many other successful people, Syam had a hard time growing his Haj and Umrah travel company. The worshipers going to Mecca only could trust the service provided by the government. It was not easy to introduce his new products, especially to a non-quota Haj and Umrah travel, and even his company was known as “Haji Sandal” due to the flip-flop sandals used by the worshipers, not a good image indeed, but Syam had to accept it as a challenge to get more clients with better services year by year.

He has been trying to always give the best services to his clients, and by using an online network that connects his 53 branches offices in other provinces, therefore, his work become more effective and efficient. While conducting Haj and Umrah, workshops or seminars is one of the best ways to introduce his product to prospective clients. The results of his initiatives were amazing and unpredictable. At the end, his Umrah package was selling like fast food.

After his return to his family business, the number of pilgrims has increased. His travel offices dispatched as much as 1,500 pilgrims from 2009 to 2011, then 1,750 pilgrims in 2012. In fact, they did not have a variety of providers at that time. They used only one hotel, one airline that was not enough to serve all the worshipers, but Syam has been always persistent in running his business. Then after a while, hotels and airlines invited him to cooperate. The number of pilgrims has increased significantly in 2012-2013 where he served 4,200 congregations to Mecca and incredibly increased up to 6,000 pilgrims in 2014, despite being recognized as having not reached the expected target, but that could be regarded as a blessing from the Almighty.

Syam always wants to be one step ahead of his competitors. He makes very good leaflets on Haj and Umrah packages and has established alliances with travel agents in other Islamic countries, such as Morocco, Egypt and United Arab Emirates.

He follows the needs of the market with innovation, accompanies his travel missions as to ensure customer satisfaction. Syam hopes his company shall be the best and biggest Haj and Umrah travel agency in Indonesia.

According to this man, Islam which came from the Arabian Peninsula and finally came to Indonesia generates the connection with many Islamic countries of the world, especially merchants from India, Central Asia, and the Middle East by bringing the Islamic propagation to Indonesia.

Going back to the Islamic history of Indonesia, and especially the relations between Uzbekistan and Indonesia, we may turn to the time when some clerics had taken the adventure of Islamic learning in Java and one of them was Maulana Malik Ibrahim who was from Samarkand. He was the founding father of the first Wali Songo or the Ninth Saint in Islamic history in Java.

The evidence can be found by several written sources on Wali Songo, among others by Ranggawarsita in the 19th century and from the writings of former Mufti Johor who died in 1962. As people may know, Java Island played a big historic role in the spread of Islam in Indonesia.

Maulana Malik Ibrahim had arrived in Java at circa 1392 CE, disseminated Islam in the region that is well-known as Sunan Gresik. This great cleric died in 1419.

As the chairman of Indonesian Haj and Umrah Association Organizer or Asphurindo, his association’s members trust him to develop the association in a more dynamic and progressive style while facing the current challenges that are becoming more complex.

Asphurindo is the umbrella of 130 Haj and Umrah travel companies all over Indonesia. Together with members of Asphurindo, Syam will make the first Islamic trip to the Holy Sites of Uzbekistan followed by the visit of Uzbek Tourism Minister, H.E. Anvar Sharapov in early May 2017 and the visit of some Uzbek travel companies and Uzbek Airways management to Jakarta during this year. His name, Syam means ‘all good’ in Arabic. He hopes that his Haj and Umrah travel company shall bring all the good benefits for his nation and country. He has a good vision of Indonesia, that one day will become the greatest country in the world and become the center of Islamic study in 2040 (praise the Lord).

*Nia S. Amira is an Indonesian author, journalist and linguist. She writes on culture, international affairs, multiculturalism and religious studies. Her articles have appeared in over thirty newspapers that are published in Europe, Asia, and United States.

India Celebrates 71st Independence Day With Faith And Expectations – OpEd

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In the last three years after Mr. Narendra Modi took charge as India’s Prime Minister, the mood and confidence level in India has certainly undergone sea change for the better. The discerning observers feel that he has brought vibrancy in governance to an extent that has not been seen in the recent past.

The essential theme of Mr. Modi’s governance is to constantly and continuously focus on economic and industrial development, stressing the fact that without sustained economic growth the multiple problems faced by India cannot be solved.

Mr. Modi fought the last election giving promise and hope to the people that he would wipe out corruption in governance in the country. Though there is considerable transparency in the administration in the government of India which is directly under Mr. Modi. the same thing cannot be said about the state governments, which are under the control of different political parties. While there have been no corruption chargers against Mr. Modi or his ministers, high level of corruption continue to prevail in the governance of the states.

However, people continue to look upon Mr. Modi to wipe out corruption everywhere in the country whether it is central government or state government. People’s expectations from Mr. Modi are so high that even when corruption is seen in local administration or private hospitals and educational institutions,Mr. Modi is blamed for this. Realizing that corruption cannot be rooted out in India without significant reform initiatives, Mr. Modi implemented far reaching measures such as demonetization of high value currency, GST to streamline the taxation etc.. While common man suffered due to demonitisation initially and price rise has been seen after introduction of GST due to some unscrupulous traders who have hiked the prices deceiving the innocent buyers that it was due to GST, common man still have reposed high faith on Mr. Modi’s commitment to the cause and are extending support to him.

A number of schemes have been introduced to benefit the people belonging to lower income group and the full impact of which is yet to be seen by the common man.

As Mr. Modi’s governance is moving on fast pace, there are some elements in his own party and supporting groups who indulge in obnoxious acts under one pretext or the other like cow vigilante which are disapproved by Mr. Modi. However, Mr. Modi’s critics are highlighting such negative elements to tarnish his image . There are also some so called intelligentia who say that there has been an element of intolerance in Mr. Modi’s administration though such allegations have not been taken seriously by the people.

The tough stand taken by Mr. Modi against China’s threats of war has certainly received widespread support in the country and the people are happy that country has a Prime Minister who has the confidence to take on China and call it’s bluff.

All said and done, one cannot under estimate the complexity of multiple problems faced by India ,as at least 20% of the national population remain below poverty line., unemployment and joblessness among the youth remains high and the fear of law is yet to be injected amongst the corrupt and dishonest elements who are there not only in government departments but also in business houses, educational institutions, hospitals etc.

Certainly, Mr. Modi does not have magic wand to solve all these problems in one stroke.

Every reform measure initiated with national cause in view is bound to affect one section or the other to some extent and such sections also need to be pacified. There are religious and caste based issues which are often blown out of proportion and the government has to be conscious about these issues while introducing progressive measures for better governance.

What is important to note is that Mr. Modi gives great hope to the people that he would be able solve many of the issues or at least pave way for solving the issues.

Cross section of country men believe that Mr.Modi is a strong leader with great sense of character and commitment to national cause and this faith provide strength for India as well as for Mr. Modi.

Tripet Garielle Travels From England To Dubai To Fulfill Her Bollywood Dreams

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Brit-Asian singer Tripet Garielle together with Dubai-based composer and producer Atif Ali has released new romantic Bollywood-style track ‘Kamli’. With six singles and four music videos to her credit, including the upbeat ‘Aa Vee Jaa’, ‘Wo Pal’ and ‘Saathiya’ which was fully shot in one of the world’s most luxurious cities – Dubai, Tripet is all set to her release her Debut album by end of 2017.

Here she talks about her experience of regularly traveling to Dubai for work from her home in England, fulfilling her Bollywood dreams and why she prefers to record all her songs only in Dubai.

1. What drew your interest towards music? Is this something that you always wanted to do?

I grew up listening to Bollywood music from a young age of 11 and I was always attracted to the melodies but not much to the lyrics though. I really didn’t plan a career in music initially but then my love-affair with Bollywood music took over. So it’s my love for the melodies and later the lyrics and language made me follow the line of Bollywood. I have spent quite some time learning Hindi and if I am able to sing today it’s all because of my dedication and love for the language.

2. You’ve been working with Dubai-based producer Atif Ali, who is also associated with some of the best in the Bollywood music industry. How did the association happen?

Atif Ali is undoubtedly the man behind my voice. A mutual friend introduced us and I presented him with my own composition. Atif spun around my melody into his own and politely suggested that he would compose and write his own lyrics to which I agreed. To be honest, I connected with Atif Ali within the first 50 seconds of our first conversation where he proposed a melody for me which I couldn’t get out of my head for days thereafter. But he laid down his conditions and one of which were that I can only record with him in his studio in Dubai. I agreed to this. We worked over Skype for eight months on the album and then I flew to Dubai to record with him several times for the completion of the album. And rest as they say is history.

3. There are great recording studios all across the world, but you choose to record in Dubai. You even have a music video fully shot in Dubai, tell us all about your experience of recording and shooting music videos in Dubai.

I have a very personal connection with Dubai. Having visited the country every year for the last 8 years, the magical aura of the Emirates really has been embedded deep inside of each song on my album. Every time I land in Dubai, I feel a sense of something magical is about to happen. The aura of the beautiful city and the country has really shaped my album. With all my songs being so love infused, I fall in love before I even hit the recording studio. I can only imagine it’s got something to do with the magic in the air – The air of Arabic warmth allows me to openly receive love in my heart. Every time I land, I feel my heart preparing to be filled with love unconditionally.

I don’t know if it’s the people of the country, the places, the landmarks or just the country itself – but this is exactly the inspiration I need to be able to sing an album with 14 songs all about true love. I remember recording my first song in the studio in JLT (Dubai) – I felt butterflies in my stomach. It might all be momentary but the inspiration needs to come from somewhere. I am really fortunate that my music producer Atif Ali is based in Dubai with his studio in JLT. His compositions and music really is a fusion of Arabic with Bollywood inspired sounds and that’s evident in the music. Asides from the Album which is due to be released sometime this year and is also being recorded in Dubai, my last two music videos, ‘Saathiya’ and ‘Kamli’ were shot in Dubai. Saathiya was really fun shooting on a yacht and ‘Kamli’ I felt the same magic when I was there recording the song a year ago. It’s nice to go back to the same country where the songs are recorded because the real feelings are in that country and that’s Dubai for me. And I like to relive my feelings by visiting Dubai. So I most definitely see myself making more videos in Dubai – my vision is to do something a little epic maybe showing the country itself in the next one.

4. Your work takes you from London to Dubai to Mumbai, what are the highlights and low-lights of working like this?

I love connecting with different people from different walks of life. The beauty about working with different nationalities is the ability to share cultural experiences and cross barriers and when this is applied to music, that’s where the magic happens. When I hear a fusion of Bollywood with Arabic and western style music, I feel proud of my team who have all collaborated to each give a piece of their homeland in my music. If I can bring people together with my music then my job is done. And music is just that – a universal language understood by all hearts. The lowlights are having tow work virtually most times. It’s not always possible to fly over so often, so a lot of the time telephonic communications and video conferences become important but then the ideas get diluted and creativity is affected.

5. Having worked in different countries, do you feel working in Dubai is different from the rest of the countries you have worked with? And how?

Dubai has a much more universal population than London – I think Dubai has definitely overtaken London in terms of its diversity of cultures and this is what makes it different to any other country in the world. I can work in Dubai and still feel like I am in Britain or work in Dubai and feel like I am in Delhi. I don’t think any other country offers this absolute diversity. The people that I meet in Dubai all spark up feelings inside me which actually helps me act out my songs when I am recording in the studio. Dubai for me really is a world within a world. The artistic flair that comes out of when I am there is something only the universe knows how or why. Working in Dubai really gives me a unique perspective.

6. Who has been your source of inspiration, so far?

My western musical inspirations are Alicia Keys and Mariah Carey but when it comes to Bollywood, I revere Lata Mangeshkar and Shreya Ghoshal. By listening to the songs of Lata Mangeshkar I have learnt the art of Hindi accent precision while the art of singing with style is something that I marvel about Shreya Ghoshal.

7. What is your practice routine like?

I practice for around 3-4 hours five days out of seven. One hour is taken just in Indian accent and pronunciation. I have three daily must sing songs: ‘Yeh Zindagi Usi Ki Hai’ (Lata Mangeshkar), ‘Kehna Hi Kya’ (Chitra) and ‘Khayalon Mein Bhi’ (Shreya Ghoshal). I fit my practice between working on Skype with my Dubai-based producer and around planning and executing my music videos. Practice is always high up on my agenda as a singer I believe it’s not negotiable.

8. What all your fans can expect from you in 2017?

Having released six singles and four music videos till date, I am now working on the release of my First Debut Album. So in 2017 I look forward to releasing my First Debut Album. I am also working to introduce my own cosmetics line which will be launched under my own brand name worldwide. So this is a very special year to see multiple launches.

Gilgit-Baltistan And The CPEC – OpEd

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While CPEC is the flagship project of China’s BRI initiative, Gilgit-Baltistan takes up the most significant place within CPEC.

The crucial link Khunjrab Pass between China and Pakistan wouldn’t be possible if the area of Gilgit-Baltistan is taken away from the picture. It would literally render the whole project null. It makes the element of “connection” between China and Pakistan, a reality. Not only that but it also provides the economic, cultural and historical linkages between two neighbors. Hence the CPEC will not only be beneficial for the four provinces of Pakistan, but will be able to bring in prosperity and further economic benefits to the Gilgit-Baltistan region too.

Infrastructural and other projects will draw in more visitors and ultimately has the potential to increase the prospects of trade and tourism. Along with providing connectivity, it reduces distance by offering the shortest possible route up till Gwadar, cutting it down to only 5,000 km from 16,000 km. These factors collectively make Gilgit-Baltistan an important part of CPEC for both China and Pakistan.

However, there are certain hiccups which need to be addressed to make Gilgit-Baltistan most cost-effective. First and foremost, India wrongly yet stubbornly claims its territorial rights over Gilgit-Baltistan region, which as per their version was never part of Pakistan. At the same the local population of Gilgit-Baltistan, even though is looking forward to all the advancement and infrastructural development promised by the CPEC, they are equally worried about the compensation for their displacement. Simultaneously the provincial rights for Gilgit-Baltistan is also an on-going debate.

The positive aspect is that the locals of the area are indeed in high spirits and are welcoming towards the promised development by the CPEC. The federal government has already provided Rs. 45 billion under Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) for the construction of Express Way and to construct link roads between Gilgit and Baltistan region. The work is expected to be completed in three years. At the same time, another road project of 400 km will be constructed from Gilgit to Ghizer, Shandoor, Chitral, Dir and Peshawar. It is believed that the road structure will not only facilitate the proximity but will make it possible and a lot more convenient to deliver the local goods into the Chinese markets. The roads will also help promote tourism industry. The 73,000 sq km region is touted as the paradise for mountaineers and is home to five of the eight peaks that are above 8,000 meters and more than 50 mountains over 7,000 meters. It also has the world’s second highest peak L-2 and the Nanga Parbat. The Pak-Army troops are planned to be deployed to make the area and Karakoram Highway safe for the visitors.

Telecommunication is another area where the attention is being focused into. The otherwise ill performing internet and telecommunication infrastructure is being replaced by the most advanced one. Only recently, PM Nawaz Shairf visited the area and laid down the foundation stone of a fibre optic project under CPEC. Laying down of fibre optic line is already underway, that would cover 820 km distance and run between Khujerab to Rawalpindi. This project is expected to be completed in two years at the cost of Rs. 4.4 billion. This virtual connection between the significant nodes of the country makes it a groundbreaking initiative. Giglit-Baltistan will surely emerge as a center for high speed internet hub of Pakistan. Its people will be the core beneficiary and will receive the 3G and 4G and other modern telecommunication facilities.

As per the reports, two hydropower projects are exclusively dedicated for this region. A 100 megawatt hydropower project in Gilgit and another 80 megawatt project in Fundar valley and in Ghizer district. The estimated cost of these projects is said to be aprrox. Rs. 50 billion each. Along with that, there is a plan to establish a regional grid too. This will pool in much needed energy resources for Gilgit. The financial resources, that almost cost up to Rs. 25 billion for this grid will be provided by the federal government.

The Diamer Bhasha dam has also been included in CPEC. Since the people are facing shortage of electricity, the Diamer Bhasha dam will help in generating 4500 MW of electricity once completed.
The region is also set to get an economic zone. This will indeed boost trade and commerce. The economic zone will be spread over the area of 250 acres and will have designated industries for agriculture, livestock, minerals and handicrafts. This will generate extensive opportunities for vibrant economic activates.

Hence Gilgit-Baltistan is indeed going to draw maximum benefit from the multibillion dollar CPEC project. There will be immense upgradation in the living standards of the people. The strategic significance of the region has also been increased because of its pivotal position. However, the irritants should also be addressed in parallel to the developmental initiatives in the region. The issue of Kashmir looms large between Pakistan and India and hence increases the vulnerability of the region. Other concerns for the acquisition of community land and the constitutional right should also be given due consideration.

*The author, Sadia Kazmi is a Senior Research Associate at the Strategic Vision Institute, Islamabad. She is pursuing a PhD in the Department of Strategic Studies at the National Defence University, Islamabad. She can be reached at sadia.kazmi.svi@gmail.com

Afghanistan’s Political Climate: Insecurity And Fragmentation – OpEd

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Since 1979 Afghanistan has been victim to foreign intervention, regional meddling, and internal contention over power and resources. These different factors are all interplaying within the fabric of local and ethnic cleavages that are used by non-state actors for their own personal interests. To counter these challenges and build long-term stability, the role of a strong and unified Afghan Government is everso important- an element that is absent in the current National Unity Government led by President Ashraf Ghani and CEO Dr. Abdullah.

The NUG has made some strides in its efforts to provide stability and reduce the threat of insurgent activities on the civilian population. The launch of the Independent Anti-Corruption Monitoring and Evaluation Committee was a sign of progress in the NUGs battle against the rampant corruption the state faces. Furthermore, with the help of foreign aid and international support, the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) have been successful in not letting any densely populated city fall to the Taliban. However, the U.S. Inspector General for Afghan Reconstruction (SIGAR) records that only 57.2% of 375 districts were under Afghan government control or influence on February 1 2017, a 15% decrease since the end of 2015.

In the First Quarter of the 2017 Civilian Casualty Data, UNAMA reports that the number of internally displaced people in Afghanistan was at a staggering 1.4 million, double the number in 2014. Many of these individuals are fleeing their homes due to being severely impacted by the conflict, thus seeking safer areas where they can relocate. Till date, there has been no reliable agreement on the peace process between the NUG and the Taliban. This has resulted in increasing insurgent-related attacks in densely populated areas. UNAMA records that approximately 60% of civilian casualties in 2016 were caused by Taliban and other armed insurgency groups. Moreover, the indiscriminate violent nature of the attacks by the insurgency groups through their increased usage of IEDs have posed substantial risk to civilians. The June Security Council Report on Afghanistan in 2017 indicated a total of 2181 civilian casualties, of which 715 were fatal. Civilian casualties in recent years are reported at unprecedented levels since the international intervention began in Afghanistan in 2001.

Many blame internal fractionalization in the government and their inability to reach a compromising unified front as reasons for the state’s failure to provide security. The US Senate Armed Service committee, John Campbell who was then resolute support mission and US Forces Afghanistan (USFOR-A) reported 70% of problems faced by ANSF were the result of poor leadership. SIGAR outlined the two leading factors to the insecurity was internal contention in the NUG and weak ANSF leadership. The government’s inability to behave as a unified entity to address the concerns of the state is a result of the ambiguous power-sharing document that was brokered by the United States in 2014. The document outlines that all areas of contention were to be cleared by democratically elected district council members and Wolsei Jirga members that will comprise the Loya Jirga, the grand assembly. However, since the 2014 elections, the government has failed to hold district council and parliamentary elections on time, further delaying the deadline for creating the Loya Jirga. Thus, leaving the future of Afghan democracy at a state of uncertainty.

The deeper entrenching issue primarily lays within the distinct visions that are held by both President Ghani and CEO Dr. Abdullah in regards to security. The President has been actively advocating the importance of peace talks with the Taliban, whereas Dr. Abdullah has shared his disproving sentiment towards such measures. Furthermore, the process of selecting ministerial positions is split between the camps and both sides have been accused of ethnic favoritism. This coupled with the lack of consensus between the leaders causes confusion for the operational units in the different factions of ANSF. The lack of clear command from the leaders results in a reactionary approach rather than strategic planning to prevent future attacks. The trickling effect of the NUG’s incompetency becomes a heavy price for civilians and security personnel, due to the approach they are forced to take. Thereby, resulting in inefficiency which cannot be countered by pouring more foreign aid on the problem or risks having the aid further perpetuate insurgency activities.

The growing insecurity, instability, and lack of a strong government has left a vacuum that is being filled by self-interested actors who despite being on government payroll have created a front to counter the NUG. Three Afghan political parties Jamiat-E-Islami, Hiz-e-wahdat-e Islami, and Junibish-e-mili have all agreed to establish the coalition Rescue For Afghanistan. Jamiat-e Islami’s leader Ata Mohammad Noor is the current governor of Balkh and has recently withdrawn his support from CEO Abdullah. The leader of Wahdat Mohammad Mohaqqiq is the second deputy for Chief Executive Abdullah, and leader of Junbish is Abdul Rashid Dostum, the first Vice President to President Ashraf Ghani. Tension between Mr. Dostum and the President heightened when the President requested an investigation be conducted on the claims made by Ahmad Eshchi. Despite these groups announcing their alliance, there has been little evidence to show that they have been working collectively to take any political action in the short-term. However, with the situation worsening in Afghanistan, time will give them greater opportunities to further enhance their power base and increase their leverage when making political demands in the future.

The government needs to reassure its people that security and stability is its main priority, and to do so they will need to solve all internal contention in order to have any hope of countering external factors. The establishment of a Loya Jirga is vital to ensure the long-term stability of democracy in the state, otherwise, other political actors stand to benefit from this period of uncertainty. Insurgency groups, non-state, and state actors are all taking advantage of the NUG’s fractionalization and filling the vacuum to consolidate their own power. These conditions are leaving the people of Afghanistan vulnerable and forcing them to unalign themselves from macro-level objectives and support the faction that provides them the most security locally.

International Jesuit Group Learns About Indonesian Islam

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Twelve Jesuit priests from various countries recently gathered for a study program to learn more about Islam, diversity and interreligious tolerance in Indonesia.

The priests from Germany, France, Nigeria, Turkey, India, Spain, Italy and Indonesia held a series of meetings on Aug. 10 at Tebuireng Islamic Boarding School in Jombang, East Java.

“The gathering is part of regular meetings among priest who join the Jesuits Among Muslims (JAM) program and this year Indonesia is the host,” Jesuit Father Franz Magnis Suseno, who led the group said.

Abdul Ghofar, the boarding school secretary said the Jesuits talked with students at the school to learn more about their life experiences and what their faith means to them.

Jesuit Father Ignatius Ismartono, one of the group members, said that through this encounter, participants also learned about Nahdlatul Ulema, Indonesia’s largest moderate Islamic organization.

“We study about how Nahdlatul Ulema goes about living in harmony with others who are non-believers,” he told ucanews.com.

The Tebuireng Islamic School was founded in 1899 by Hasyim Asya’ri, a moderate Muslim leader belonging to the Nahdlatul Ulema.

The school has more than 7,000 students.

After the visit, the priests visited the grave of Abdurrahman Wahid or Gus Dur, Indonesia’s fourth president, and a former NU leader.

Top 10 Misconceptions About Charlottesville – OpEd

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1. Let’s start with the obvious. Charlottesville, Virginia, and Charlotte, North Carolina, are actually two completely different places in the world. The flood of concern and good wishes for those of us here in Charlottesville is wonderful and much appreciated. That people can watch TV news about Charlottesville, remember that I live in Charlottesville, and send me their kind greetings addressed to the people of Charlotte is an indication of how common the confusion is. It’s not badly taken; I have nothing against Charlotte. It’s just a different place, seventeen times the size. Charlottesville is a small town with the University of Virginia, a pedestrian downtown street, and very few monuments. The three located right downtown are for Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson, and the Confederacy. Neither Lee nor Jackson had anything to do with Charlottesville, and their statues were put up in whites-only parks in the 1920s.

2. The racists who have begun coming to Charlottesville to campaign for governor, garner attention, threaten violence, engage in violence, and commit murder are almost all from outside Charlottesville, and extremely unwelcome here. Charlottesville is a slightly left-of-center, Democratic Party area. Most people don’t rally for good causes or against bad ones. Most people don’t want the Lee statue taken down. (Or at least they didn’t until it became a gathering point for neo-Confederates.) Most people want other memorials added to public space to diversify. And most people don’t want white supremacists coming to town with their hatred and their violence.

3. Armed attacks are not covered by the First Amendment. I can and have argued at length for the strategic — never mind legal — need to respect odious free speech, and — more importantly — to respect and build bridges of understanding to the troubled people preaching hatred. But the human right to free speech is not found in a gun or a torch or a can of pepper spray any more than in corporate advertising. When we hold peace rallies in U.S. cities we are sometimes forbidden to bring posters on wooden poles. We have to use hollow cardboard tubes to hold up our signs, because — you know — advocates of nonviolence can be so violent. Yet racist, nationalist, white supremacist agitators are allowed to bring an arsenal with which to attack the general public and counter-demonstrators! Whatever that is, it is not free speech. I’d be willing to say it’s closer to enabling terrorism. All media habits of “balance” and “even handedness” become lies when respect for rights, and blame for deaths and injuries, are based on the notion that premeditated violence and threats of violence and the carrying of weapons are not worth noticing.

4. Charlottesville’s mayor voted against taking down the Lee statue, even if he now sounds on NBC News as if it had been his idea. Seen from a certain angle, that’s progress. I want people to get on board with the idea of taking down all racist monuments and all war monuments, and this one is both. But it is a misconception to imagine that the decision to take down General Lee came from the top or that it came without extensive public input. It’s true that City Council member Kristin Szakos publicly proposed the dominance of our public space by Confederate statues as a problem, and that City Council member Wes Bellamy pushed for that. But it was the national movement of Black Lives Matter, and local activism, that created the demand in the first place, as well as making Bellamy a member of City Council. The City held very lengthy and public and extensive hearings and gathering of facts and views. A Blue Ribbon Commission produced a report. And when the City Council voted to take down Lee (but leave up Jackson) it did so because City Council Member Bob Fenwick joined Szakos and Bellamy in a 3-2 vote, in which Mayor Mike Signer was on the losing and cowardly side. Because that is typical of him, we should be wary of fale perceptions of him as a leader, until he really becomes one. It’s possible that had he shown the leadership of the Mayor of New Orleans in taking down statues and explaining why, we wouldn’t be in this mess.

5. The military and militarized police are not here to protect you. An armed force on the streets and in the air of Charlottesville crashed a helicopter, tragically killing two people. But what else did it accomplish? It heightened tensions. It reduced turnout by those opposed to violence and racism. Its aggression toward anti-racists following the KKK rally in July contributed to fears of what it would do this time. The Charlottesville police do not need the mine-resistant vehicle they keep in their garage, because we do not have land mines. We do not need our skies filled — including on the Friday before the rally — with military helicopters. We do not need tanks on our streets for godsake. We need to disarm those seeking to exercise their First Amendment Rights, not arm someone else. The helicopter never should have crashed because it never should have flown. And every individual who assaulted and threatened people with pepper spray, torches, sticks, fists, or an automobile, should have been welcomed to nonviolently, without guns or other weaponry, speak their mind — and to meet and converse with those opposing their views.

6. The events in Charlottesville, like foreign and domestic emoluments, additional forms of financial corruption, Muslim bans, illegal wars, threats to North Korea, voter intimidation, environmental destruction, and sexual assault, make up yet another article of impeachment for Donald Trump awaiting only the awakening of a House of Representatives. Incitement of acts of violence is a crime, and it is certainly a high-crime-and-misdemeanor, the Constitutional phrase refering to an abuse of power that may or may not be criminal. Donald Trump went out of his way to persuade racists that they were free to engage in their racism openly. Numerous racists, including some of those who have been active in Charlottesville, have openly communicated their understanding of that presidential permission. Those sitting silently by in this moment are condoning racism. So are those not advocating for impeachment and removal. Yes I am aware of the general horror of Mike Pence, but a country that impeached and removed presidents would be a very different country in which the next president would have to behave or face impeachment in turn. Fear of the next person will look ever weaker as grounds for allowing the current person to destroy things as he proceeds with his destruction. I’m further aware that the D.C. Democratic leadership makes Mayor Signer’s cynicism look like child’s play, and that Nancy Pelosi wants Trump around more than the Republicans do, so that the Democrats can “oppose” him. But I’m not asking you to believe he’s going to be impeached without your doing anything. I’m asking you to compel his impeachment.

7. The answer to racist violence is not anti-racist violence or passivism, and the idea that those are the only two choices is ridiculous. Charlottesville’s and the United States’ resistance to racism would be far stronger with disciplined nonviolence. The behavior of a few anti-racists in July allowed the corporate media to depict the KKK as victims. There is nothing the alt-right crowd longs for more in this moment than some act of violence against them that would permit pundits to start trumpeting the need for liberals to be more tolerant of racists, and to proclaim that the real problem is those reckless radicals who want to tear down statues. We need nonviolent activism, and we need a thousand times more of it. We need to initiate the next rally in Charlottesville ourselves.

8. Tearing down statues is not opposing history. Charlottesville has three Confederate war statues, two (pro) genocide of the Native Americans statues, one World War I statue, one Vietnam War memorial, one statue of Thomas Jefferson (whose words and deeds, I’m sorry to say, agreed almost entirely with the latest racists), and one statue of Homer (poet of war). And that’s it. We have no memorials, whether monumental statuary or otherwise, to a single educator, artist, musician, athlete, author, or activst, nothing for Native American history, slavery, civil rights, women’s rights, or ANYTHING ELSE. Almost all of our history is missing. Putting up a giant statue for racism and war is not a step for history. Taking it down is not a blow to history. It could be a step forward, in fact. Even the renaming of Lee Park as Emancipation Park is educational. Creating a memorial to emancipation, and one to civil rights, and one to school integration, and one to peace would be more so.

9. The Lee statue is still there, not because racists rally around it, but because legislators glorify war. While neither side has any interest in opposing or even particularly in promoting war, and while the national and local media have gone through endless contortions to avoid mentioning it, the court case holding up the removal of Robert E. Lee and the horse he never rode in on is about war glorification. A state law that may or may not apply to this statue forbids taking down war memorials in Virginia. For fair and balanced free-speech advocates I should note that no similar law forbids taking down peace monuments. Also there really aren’t any to take down if you wanted to. This is a symptom of a culture that has come to accept endless war and the militarization of local police, and to report on rallies of “white nationalists” without ever considering that there may be a problem with both of those words.

10. As I’ve written in recent months, many sympathizers with the racist cause are understandable. This is a quite different thing from being acceptable or praise worthy. To say that someone is understandable is to say that you can understand them. They’re not monsters acting on inexplicable subhuman impulses any more than do the people they hate or the people against whom the United States wages wars typically behave that way. These racists live in one of the most unequal societies ever known, and they don’t live at the top of it. They hear about endless efforts to alleviate injustice toward all sorts of wronged groups that don’t include them. They notice the cultural acceptability in comedy shows and elsewhere of mocking white people. They seek a group identity. They seek others to blame. They seek others to place beneath themselves. And they hear hardly a peep out of Washington D.C. about creating universal rights and supports for everyone, as in Scandinavia. Instead they hear that hatred and violence and racism come with the Presidential seal of approval.


A New Method For 3-D Printing Of Living Tissues

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Scientists at the University of Oxford have developed a new method to 3D-print laboratory- grown cells to form living structures.

The approach could revolutionise regenerative medicine, enabling the production of complex tissues and cartilage that would potentially support, repair or augment diseased and damaged areas of the body.

In research published in the journal Scientific Reports, an interdisciplinary team from the Department of Chemistry and the Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics at Oxford and the Centre for Molecular Medicine at Bristol, demonstrated how a range of human and animal cells can be printed into high-resolution tissue constructs.

Interest in 3D printing living tissues has grown in recent years, but, developing an effective way to use the technology has been difficult, particularly since accurately controlling the position of cells in 3D is hard to do. They often move within printed structures and the soft scaffolding printed to support the cells can collapse on itself. As a result, it remains a challenge to print high-resolution living tissues.

But, led by Professor Hagan Bayley, Professor of Chemical Biology in Oxford’s Department of Chemistry, the team devised a way to produce tissues in self-contained cells that support the structures to keep their shape.

The cells were contained within protective nanolitre droplets wrapped in a lipid coating that could be assembled, layer-by-layer, into living structures. Producing printed tissues in this way improves the survival rate of the individual cells, and allowed the team to improve on current techniques by building each tissue one drop at a time to a more favourable resolution.

To be useful, artificial tissues need to be able to mimic the behaviours and functions of the human body. The method enables the fabrication of patterned cellular constructs, which, once fully grown, mimic or potentially enhance natural tissues.

Dr Alexander Graham, lead author and 3D Bioprinting Scientist at OxSyBio (Oxford Synthetic Biology), said: ‘We were aiming to fabricate three-dimensional living tissues that could display the basic behaviours and physiology found in natural organisms. To date, there are limited examples of printed tissues, which have the complex cellular architecture of native tissues. Hence, we focused on designing a high-resolution cell printing platform, from relatively inexpensive components, that could be used to reproducibly produce artificial tissues with appropriate complexity from a range of cells including stem cells’.

The researchers hope that, with further development, the materials could have a wide impact on healthcare worldwide. Potential applications include shaping reproducible human tissue models that could take away the need for clinical animal testing.

The team completed their research last year, and have since taken steps towards commercialising the technique and making it more widely available. In January 2016, OxSyBio officially spun-out from the Bayley Lab. The company aims to commercialise the technique for industrial and biomedical purposes.

Over the coming months they will work to develop new complementary printing techniques, that allow the use of a wider range of living and hybrid materials, to produce tissues at industrial scale.

Dr Sam Olof, Chief Technology Officer at OxSyBio, said: ‘There are many potential applications for bioprinting and we believe it will be possible to create personalised treatments by using cells sourced from patients to mimic or enhance natural tissue function. In the future, 3D bio-printed tissues maybe also be used for diagnostic applications – for example, for drug or toxin screening.

‘We are excited to have a continuing relationship with Oxford University and the Bayley Group, both in the form of licencing this novel technology and continuing to sponsor primary research in this area.’

Dr Adam Perriman from the University of Bristol’s School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, added: ‘The bioprinting approach developed with Oxford University is very exciting, as the cellular constructs can be printed efficiently at extremely high resolution with very little waste. The ability to 3D print with adult stem cells and still have them differentiate was remarkable, and really shows the potential of this new methodology to impact regenerative medicine globally.’

Archeologists Uncover New Economic History Of Ancient Rome

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Some of the mystery behind one of Sicily’s largest ancient Roman villas is now solved thanks to a team of archeologists from the University of South Florida in Tampa, Fla. They’re the first to successfully excavate the 5,000 square meter Roman villa of Durreueli at Realmonte, located off the southern coast of Sicily.

Project director Dr. Davide Tanasi, assistant professor in the USF Department of History, and his students worked alongside USF’s Center for Virtualization and Applied Spatial Technologies (CVAST). Together they created terrestrial and aerial 3D scanning of the entire villa, an invaluable tool in guiding the excavation and interpreting the villa’s architectural phases.

Through a month of excavations, they determined the villa was consistently occupied between the 2nd and 7th century CE and reconfigured to settlement in the 5th century Common Era (CE). That conclusion comes following the discovery of new walls, floor levels, staircase and water channel.

The team found cookware and lamps along with a large quantity of African Late Roman pottery and related materials such as kiln spacers. This leads researchers to believe an important function of the village was to produce pottery, bricks and tiles in industrial scale, helping explain the economic history of Late Antique Sicily.

Parts of the Roman villa of Durreuli at Realmonte were uncovered during a Japanese-led excavation effort in 1979-1985, but the team did not discover such an extensive part of Roman history.

USF worked in conjunction with the Superintendence for Cultural Heritage of Agrigento and plans to continue its research next summer. Such an effort is important to USF and Tampa, as it is a sister city with Agrigento, the provincial capital in which Realmonte is located.

EU Calls For ‘Peaceful, Not Military’ Solution To Korea Crisis

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(EurActiv) — The European Union’s foreign policy chief on Monday (14 August) called for “peaceful, not military” means to resolve the Korean peninsula crisis, urging Pyongyang to avoid any “further provocative action” that could stoke tensions.

“At such a critical juncture, the European Union supports diplomatic work with our partners aimed at the de-escalation of the situation and achieving the complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula through peaceful, not military, means,” Federica Mogherini said in a statement.

The statement was issued after a meeting of a key EU panel which agreed the bloc would reach out to North and South Korea, the United States, China, Russia and Japan.

The 28-nation EU has steadily increased asset freezes and travel bans on North Korea over its repeated violation of UN resolutions on its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.

“There is an urgent need for a de-escalation of tensions on the situation on the Korean Peninsula,” Mogherini said.

“(…) We therefore call on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) to refrain from any further provocative action that can only increase regional and global tensions.”

North Korea’s “continued acceleration” of its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes “constitutes serious and worrying violations” of its international obligations, Mogherini warned.

Tensions have been mounting since the North’s two intercontinental ballistic missile tests last month, which appeared to bring much of the US within range.

Its military said last week that it would finalise by mid-August its detailed plan to test-fire four intermediate-range ballistic missiles in an “enveloping fire” around the US Pacific island of Guam.

On Tuesday, Pyongyang’s state media said North Korean leader Kim Jong-un “examined the plan for a long time” and “discussed it” with commanding officers.

Pakistan: Ex-PM Sharif Turns To Court To Challenge Removal From Office

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(RFE/RL) — Former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has filed petitions with the country’s Supreme Court challenging his disqualification from office over undeclared assets.

Environment Minister Mushahidullah Khan, who is also a member of Sharif’s party, said on August 15 that three petitions have been filed with the court by the former premier’s lawyers.

“It is our right to seek a review,” the Reuters news agency quoted Jan Achakzai, an official at the ruling PML-N party, as saying. “People of Pakistan haven’t accepted the decision.”

Sharif, 67, resigned during his third term as prime minister shortly after the same court ruled on July 28 that he should be disqualified and ordered a criminal probe into his family’s wealth.

The investigation stemmed from the so-called Panama Papers leaks in April 2016, when documents from a Panama-based law firm revealed that three of Sharif’s four children owned offshore companies and used them to buy properties in London.

According to Achakzai, the appeals seek a review of the disqualification on the fact that two of the five Supreme Court judges, who had already given a dissenting note in an April verdict ruling, were not supposed to sit on the panel that gave the final ruling in July.

Within days of the court decision, Sharif moved quickly to have the PML-N’s strong majority in parliament approve Shahid Khaqan Abbasi as his replacement.

Sharif held a series of rallies across the country last week, criticizing the court ruling and seeking to whip up popular support.

Qatar’s Foreign Minister’s Envoy Says ‘Siege’ Has Failed

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Qatar’s Foreign Minister’s Special Envoy on Counterterrorism and Mediation for Settling Conflicts  Ambassador Mutlaq Al Qahtani said Sunday that “the siege enforced” on the State of Qatar has not succeed, as the Gulf crisis enters its third month. He added that now was the time to resolve the dispute, which was driven by Saudi and Emirati hypocrisy.

Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates have imposed sanctions on Qatar for sponsoring terrorism and being friendly with the Muslim Brotherhood, claims that Qatar has denied.

In an opinion piece for the Wall Street Journal entitled Qatar Will Not Be Intimidated, Al Qahtani said that “If Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates the countries driving the confrontation, despite the appearance of a unified bloc hoped to bring Qatar to its knees, they have failed. If they hoped to damage Qatars reputation and improve their own, they have failed. If they hoped to enhance their relationship with the U.S. at Qatars expense, again, they have failed.”

“Instead, the anti-Qatar smear campaign has put a spotlight on the shameful history and unsavory practices of the Saudis and Emiratis themselves. Saudi Arabia justifies the blockade by alleging that Qatari authorities support extremists and terrorist organizations. But the accusation only reminds observers that the Saudis have consistently failed to prevent the radicalization of their citizens,” His Excellency added.

Al Qahtani pointed out that fifteen of the 19 hijackers in the 9/11 attacks were Saudis and thousands of Saudi citizens have taken up arms to join Islamic State and other radical groups. In addition to the fact that Saudi textbooks are used in ISIS schools. Saudi citizens also finance a large number of the 50 groups designated by the U.S. Department of State as terrorist organizations.

His Excellency then discussed the UAE and said that it have taken a similarly hypocritical stance.

“While the U.A.E. falsely portrays itself as Americas best ally in the region, its track record is no better than Saudi Arabias. Two Emiratis participated in the Sept. 11 hijackings, and the staff report to the 9/11 Commission revealed that much of the funding for the attacks flowed through the U.A.E., which was a world hub for money laundering,” His Excellency said.

Al Qahtani also said in the opinion piece that “the U.A.E. has fared no better with regard to freedom of speech and press. In 2014 authorities arrested a man for plotting a terrorist attack on a Formula One racetrack in Abu Dhabi. But the Emirates prohibited international media outlets from reporting on the trial. The U.A.E.s recent clampdown on free speech has been widely condemned, especially after the countrys Justice Ministry said in June that supporting Qatar on social media could be punishable by fines and even prison time.”

Al Qahtani then referred to leaked emails which show that Emirati officials were conspiring with a variety of interest groups and lobbyists on a campaign to slander Qatar long before the blockade was imposed. Now intelligence experts and Qatars cybersecurity services have identified the U.A.E. as the perpetrator of the hacking of Qatar News Agency, which set the entire Gulf crisis in motion.

“Surely this kind of publicity cant be what the Saudis and Emiratis hoped for when they instigated this crisis. Yet the longer the blockade goes on, the more damaging information the world will learn about them and the more difficult it will be to resolve their differences with Qatar.

Its time to abandon the public-relations campaigns, the blockade, the ultimatums and the pressure tactics and meet at the negotiating table, so we can broker a fair and just resolution to the Gulf crisis,” Al Qahtani said.

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