September 2022 - UnewsUK

Blast at education institute in Afghan capital kills 19

KABUL: A suicide attack at an education institute in the Afghan capital of Kabul killed 19 people and wounded dozens, police said on Friday, September 30, but there was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack.

Many of those living in the western area where the blast occurred are Hazara, an ethnic minority targeted in past attacks launched by militant group Daesh, among others.

Kabul police spokesperson Khalid Zadran said that 27 people had also been injured in the attack, revising the number of wounded down slightly from the 29 announced earlier.

He said the attack took place at an education institute where an entrance exam was taking place. Schools are normally closed in Afghanistan on Fridays.

“Attacking civilian targets proves the enemy’s inhuman cruelty and lack of moral standards,” he said, without specifying who they believed was behind the attack.

Since taking over Afghanistan in August 2021, the Taliban have emphasised that they are securing the nation following decades of war, but recent months have seen a series of blasts at mosques and civilian areas.

Teenage students were among the 24 people killed in a 2020 attack claimed by Daesh at an education centre in west Kabul.

PM Shehbaz congratulates Nawaz on acquittal of Maryam, Safdar

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that the acquittal of Maryam Nawaz in the Avenfield reference is a huge snub to the political victimisation that was directed against the Sharif family.

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb on Thursday said that PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz met PM Shehbaz after the Islamabad High Court overturned the convictions in the Avenfield reference.

Taking to Twitter, she said that the PM congratulated Maryam Nawaz on her and Captain Safdar’s acquittal.

“I congratulate my leader, Nawaz Sharif, on the acquittal of Maryam Nawaz,” said PM Shehbaz. “I hope that justice will prevail in the case against Nawaz Sharif following the evidence of judge Arshad Malik.”

PM Shehbaz also expressed gratitude to Allah as the convictions of Maryam Nawaz and her husband, Captain (retd.) Safdar were annulled.

“I thank God that justice was served as justice was served to my daughter Maryam and my son-in-law Safdar. A dark era of political victimization has come to an end and the innocent have come out untarnished and vindicated,” PM Shehbaz noted.

The PM said Maryam Nawaz and Captain Safdar braved the toughest circumstances with steadfastness and bravery. The PM tweeted that the court’s ruling has completely destroyed the facade of lies, smears, and character assassination.

“We bow down to Allah Al-Almighty, who has blessed us with success,” he said.

Maryam Nawaz also tweeted, saying she remembered her mother on this great day.

IHC acquits Maryam, Safdar

On September 29, the IHC exonerated Maryam Nawaz and Captain Safdar in the Avenfield reference, nullifying their convictions in 2018 by an accountability court.

Shortly before, the IHC had reserved its verdict on an appeal filed by Maryam against the sentence awarded to her in the Avenfield reference.

An accountability court, just ahead of the 2018 general elections, slapped Maryam with a fine of £2 million and sentenced her to seven years for being “instrumental in concealment of the properties of her father” and one year for non-cooperation with the bureau — sentences which were due to run concurrently.

PML-N Supremo Nawaz Sharif was sentenced to ten years in jail for possessing assets disproportionate to the known sources of income, while Maryam’s husband captain (retd) Muhammad Safdar was handed down two-year rigorous imprisonment.

Absolutely no truth in ‘unfortunate’ regime change conspiracy: US ambassador

ISLAMABAD: There is no truth in the regime change allegations, United States Ambassador to Pakistan Donald Blome said Thursday, terming PTI’s claims as “unfortunate“.

In an exclusive interview with The News and Jang, the ambassador said that the US enjoyed a long and very important relationship with Pakistan.

“We want to see an independent, prosperous and strong Pakistan. That’s what we believe is in our interest and in the interest of the region. As for the allegations, there is absolutely no truth in that.”

“The United States has spoken to them [Pakistain govt] here and in Washington. I am hopeful that we can get past this and back into the important work that we have to do, to work together on some issues right now facing the world and our two countries.”

Regarding the question on Washington’s oft-discussed demand for air bases in Pakistan, Blome responded: “I can tell you there were no discussions about air bases, one way or another.”

He also used the term “no discussions, at all, about the bases” since he assumed charge of the office in Pakistan.

“I am here for the last four months and this has not been an issue on my agenda. Our agenda here is pretty clear,” the ambassador said.

“It has to do with building and broadening economic, trade and investment relationships and working on climate change, which has obviously become a pressing issue right now besides working on energy transformation which is important for Pakistan and also for the planet.”

“In terms of security, both the countries have a strong relationship.”

On former premier Imran Khan’s demand to hold an inquiry into the cypher issue, Blome said: “So, it is not my position really to talk about whether the inquiry should be made or not.”

“I can’t speak on his statement. I don’t have too much to add. We don’t read out the routine diplomatic meetings. What I can say is certainly it’s the norm of diplomatic business of any ambassador, meeting here or in Washington”.

“To have these kinds of discussions about issues, whether we agree or not, it is a standard business of diplomacy. I think again it is really important for us to pass this right now”.

Answering a question about whether he has ever met the former premier, the ambassador told these scribes that he had not met Imran so far.

However, the ambassador also noted that the US would “absolutely” work together with any government that the Pakistani people choose — even if it is Imran comes into power again.

US concerns on Pakistan’s nuclear programme

To a question regarding concerns about Pakistan’s nuclear programme, the US ambassador replied: “Regional security is such an important issue right now for Pakistan, for its neighbours and the world.”

The US ambassador said the Joe Biden administration was committed to working with Pakistan, in any way, to reduce tensions and look for ways to resolve regional disputes peacefully.

“I think it is really important to look for ways to build confidence between the states and the neighbours. That certainly means to find ways to discuss the issues and try to find ways to resolve the incredibly pressing challenges.”

Blome said that the US has broad concerns about proliferation and it is working very hard and is committed to the non-proliferation principles to finding ways to reduce the threats of nuclear weapons around the world.

“It continues to be high on the agenda of the US administration. We had a good and open discussion with Pakistani authorities on a range of security issues, including those issues.”

Blome said the United States worked with Pakistan on nuclear issues in a variety of international fora.

“We worked with Pakistan directly in the IAEA. We participate together in global initiatives to combat nuclear terrorism. We worked together on UN efforts to prevent WMD proliferation. We just have to build strong blocks on those issues.”

Debt repayments

For assisting Pakistan after the cataclysmic floods, the ambassador said that the United States has given about $56.5 million in an initial UN appeal.

Blome said apart from that, recently, Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced an additional $10 million — particularly focused on food security that would go to seeds and fertilisers for farmers and repair of flood-damaged irrigation infrastructure.

The money that the United States has already disbursed, has been done through the UN agencies like UNDP, UNICEF and WFP, he said, adding that the US was working with several international NGOs as well.

On a question about a moratorium on debt repayments, the ambassador said: “We are certainly sympathetic to the need for Pakistan to find ways to deal with its deferred debts.”

“Pakistan doesn’t have an enormous amount of debt with the United States in particular. So, the Paris Club debt is a relatively small amount. It is how the US would be working with Pakistan to defer payments.”

“Our portion of the debt is small. Certainly, we want to help Pakistan to navigate this very difficult period”.

US doesn’t ask countries to ‘choose single economic partner’

The ambassador said it’s important to clarify that the US, in no way, asks Pakistan or any other country to “choose a single economic partner, bloc or anything else like that”.

“Now the important thing here is that we stress that international trade and investment should be based on international standards of transparency.”

“Frankly, the US and China have very complex economic relationships for many, many years but we want to ensure that our relationship with China is based on those principles of transparency and fairness and equal treatment.”

“I think that’s a question for Pakistan and it is not necessarily our issue but problems we have seen that have arisen in the region and the world where sustainability and debts have become an issue for many countries.”

“Again depending on that quality of investment and transparency, that’s I think, is a broad concern that we have in many places, not just here. The issue really is what kind of investment is being made in Pakistan.”

“Is it being made on a fair and equal basis? I think all investments being made here should be subjected to same scrutiny, whether it is American, Chinese or any other investment in Pakistan”.

Biden’s F-16 announcement

Regarding President Biden’s announcement that the US would supply F-16 parts to Pakistan, the US envoy said that the US-Pak relationship and engagement were very strong in terms of defence.

“We increased the pace of bilateral exercises. We did the Falcon Talon Exercise in March. We did the Inspired Union naval exercises in April.”

“We had eight naval ships visit last year to Pakistan. These are all signs of continued, strong relationships and cooperation with Pakistan.”

“Our training programmes remained very vigorous and strong for decades. The combined, joint maritime forces in the Arabian Sea patrolled together at the international waters to protect against pirates and terrorism.”

“Actually, Pakistan has commanded joint maritime forces 20 times more than any other country. Security partnership has broadly remained very strong in terms of defence transfers and security assistance that are continued on a case by case basis.”

“Where we are determined to serve the interests of both parties and we make an announcement regarding the F-16s. The F-16 programme is a long-term commitment, a long-term partnership. We want to help Pakistan to maintain and that’s what is represented in that (Biden’s) announcement.”

Blome praises Shehbaz govt

Moving on, Blome credited the government for securing the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) deal and termed it a “significant accomplishment”.

The ambassador said now that Pakistan has secured the bailout package, it was important for the nation of 220 million to start its way towards self-sustainability.

“Having stable finances is a foundation for it but it is not sufficient. I think it is going to be important for Pakistan to find new ways to attract international investment here.”

“I think Pakistan should be in a conversation about shifting pattern of international trade right now.”

Australia has said it will end mandatory Covid isolation requirements from next month.

Currently anyone who tests positive to the virus must isolate for five days, but that will end from 14 October.

At times nicknamed “Fortress Australia”, the country has had some of the strictest restrictions in the world since the pandemic began.

Australia’s chief medical officer, Paul Kelly, said the “emergency phase” of its response was probably over.

But Prof Kelly said the decision “does not in any way suggest that the pandemic is finished”.

Mandatory isolation had been one of the few restrictions remaining.

Australia continues to record about 5,500 virus cases each day, official figures show. It is one of the world’s most vaccinated countries.

Prof Kelly said the country would see “future peaks” of the virus, but it currently had “very low” numbers of hospital admissions and aged-care outbreaks.

The Australian Medical Association opposes the change, saying those who pushed for it are not “scientifically literate” and are putting lives at risk.

About 15,000 people have died with the virus in Australia – fewer than many nations. The vast majority have happened this year after the country opened up.

Australia had closed international borders for around two years and imposed strict limits on movement around the country.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said most existing governments payments for people who have to miss work because of Covid would also be scrapped.

“It was always envisaged that these measures were emergency measures,” he said.

Casual workers and those in high-risk areas like aged care or health will still be able to get financial support.

A huge search and rescue effort is continuing in Florida in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, which cut a swathe of destruction across the US state.

At least 10 people have died in the state but officials fear the confirmed toll could rise considerably.

Joe Biden has warned the category one storm could be the deadliest hurricane in Florida’s history, with a “substantial loss of life”.

Ian is now moving inland and heading towards North and South Carolina.

A blackout is still affecting some 2.2 million Florida homes and businesses.

The flood waters have been so severe they have trapped some people in their homes, officials said, with the National Guard going door to door in the city of Orlando to rescue those stranded.

The 10 deaths that have have been confirmed were all in the south-west Charlotte County, which saw intense winds.

Joseph Tiseo, a local commissioner, told the BBC the area had a “tremendous wind event that lasted for 12 hours straight… it was brutal”.

He said said it was not yet clear how many of the deaths were a direct result of the hurricane.

A little further south, Lee County took the brunt of the storm surge.

The state’s Governor Ron DeSantis told a news conference on Thursday evening that the damage in Fort Myers, a harbourside city there, was “almost indescribable”.

“To see a house just sitting in the middle of Estero Bay, literally must have gotten picked up, flown because of the massive wind speed and the storm surge and deposited in a body of water,” he said.

“I would say the most significant damage that I saw was on Ford Myers Beach, some of the homes were wiped out, some of its was just concrete slabs”

One woman who lost her home said the experience is “numbing” and has her feeling “overwhelmed”.

“It’s not my first hurricane but it’s my first total loss,” Karen, who lives on San Carlos Island in Fort Myers told Reuters.

Some residents had to swim out of their homes.

“You have to either swim or drown,” an Orlando woman told CBS News, the BBC’s partner in the US.

A woman in Fort Myers, who swam to safety when her ground floor apartment began to flood, said when she returned home she “had to wait about five minutes for all the floodwaters to come out”.

And at the Sun Seekers mobile home park in North Fort Myers, residents recounted their terror as they tried to protect themselves with blankets.

“It was terrifying, because you’re helpless”, one of the residents, Kim said. “We had no [phone] service to call anyone, but no one would have come anyway.”

Hurricane Ian shattered Lee County in Florida, with homes on Fort Myers Beach left wrecked after the storm passed

At the governor’s briefing, Kevin Guthrie, director at the Florida Division of Emergency Management warned about “indirect deaths” – the fatalities that can happen after a storm system has passed.

He warned homeowners to watch out for power lines mixed in trees and said no one should be tinkering with generator sand chainsaws, or climbing ladders without proper training.

“People need to be extremely careful,” Mr Guthrie said.

“If you do not know how to use a chainsaw. If you do not know how to climb a ladder. If you do not know the difference between a cable line and a power line, you should not be doing that.”

Some parts of Naples, a seaside city south of Fort Myers, have been rendered a dark and deserted ghost town, and the city’s iconic pier has been smashed in half.

The BBC’s Bernd Debusmann, who is reporting from Naples, says a concession stand – which just days ago marked the halfway point on the pier – now stands precariously over the water, with splintered pieces of wood hanging off.

About a block from the beachfront, some roads remain impassable and underwater, while others have been left covered in mud as the slowly water recedes.

Hurricane Ian hit Cuba first, causing a total blackout in the country on Tuesday.

Meanwhile in Puerto Rico, the massive clean-up effort continues, after the hurricane hit the Caribbean island last week.

There was also a power blackout there, and ten days on, more than 269,000 households are still without electricity, according to poweroutage.us.

Puerto Rico was already reeling from Hurricane Fiona, a category one storm that hit just days earlier, on September 18.

As Hurricane Ian rolls on and attention moves to Florida, many on the island are worried about being forgotten.

“To the people of Puerto Rico, we have not gone away,” President Biden said on Thursday, speaking at the headquarters of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) in Washington DC.

“I am committed to you and the recovery of the island, we will stand by you no matter how long it takes to get it done.”

Energy prices will rise for millions of households on Saturday, but the increase has been cushioned by a government cap on the cost per unit.

It stepped in after an 80% increase in domestic gas and electricity bills was earmarked for the first half of winter.

A typical annual bill will go up from £1,971 to £2,500 but will be further mitigated by cost-of-living payments.

But prices will still be twice as high as last winter, and charities say that will leave many struggling.

The squeeze will be particularly acute for those on prepayment meters, who pay for energy as they use it, and so have largely been unable to smooth out increased bills over the year.

“The most vulnerable, including children, will be cold and hungry as energy prices spiral, despite government support,” said Adam Scorer, from charity National Energy Action.

People paying by direct debit tend to build up credit during the warmer, lighter summer months which then funds some of their extra use during the winter.

‘We are trying our best’

Jaqueline Jones in Urmston in Manchester says she and her husband Joe are already taking steps to cut down on their energy bills.

“We’re only filling the kettle to the amount we need, watching how often we put the washing machine on – little things like that,” she said.

They are also hanging washing indoors and finishing it off for 10 minutes in the dryer, as opposed to using the dryer more often.

They are on a standard variable tariff for their electricity and energy bills, but haven’t received an updated bill recently to know whether the measures are making a big difference as of yet.

“Hopefully when the actual bill does come in it won’t be too much,” Jacqueline says, adding that she is now watching their smart metre every time they make a cup of tea.

“I watch the numbers every time I put the kettle on – oh my goodness how it whizzes around!”

But she says the situation overall is frightening for the couple who are retired and rent a Victorian property.

“We’re both pensioners and we don’t have a great pension other than the government one, so we have to make sure it’s going to last out, along with the bit of savings we do have.

“We’ll just have to see and play it by ear… but we are trying our best.”

New price cap

Every household pays for the energy it uses. There is no absolute cap on the total cost.

Under the government’s two-year price guarantee, the average unit price for dual fuel customers paying by direct debit on variable deals will be limited to 34p per kilowatt hour (kWh) for electricity and 10.3p per kWh for gas.

With standing charges added, it means a typical household – one that uses 12,000 kWh (kilowatt hours) of gas a year, and 2,900 kWh of electricity a year – will not pay more than £2,500 a year for energy from Saturday.

Without this intervention, that annual bill would have been £3,549 a year, rising from the current and soon-to-expire level of £1,971 a year. Those on prepayment meters pay slightly more.

The chancellor, Kwasi Kwarteng said that the government’s “energy intervention” meant that people across the country were protected.

However, last winter, the price cap – governed by the energy regulator Ofgem – meant the same typical household paid £1,277 a year.

That doubling of a typical energy bill is why millions of households have cut back on their energy use, according to a survey by the consumer group Which?.

Its findings, which it shared with BBC News, suggested that 58% of those asked reported reducing their usage of lights and appliances around the home. More than four in 10 said they had reduced hot water consumption, including taking fewer and shorter showers.

Given the wider context of rising prices, the consumer group also said that 60% of those surveyed had bought cheaper food products than usual and 36% had planned meals more, for example by batch cooking.

Which? has launched a campaign calling on supermarkets, telecoms and energy businesses to offer more support to customers facing financial difficulty, such as ensuring cheaper social broadband tariffs and value-range food is equally accessible to shoppers across the country.

“While government intervention is necessary, we also believe businesses across essential services can and should do more to help,” said Rocio Concha, its director of policy and advocacy.

Cost-of-living payments

The government’s earlier package of cost-of-living payments is continuing.

The next stage begins from Saturday when everyone’s energy bill will eventually be cut by £400. The discount will be applied over six months, with a reduction of £66 in October and November, and £67 every month between December and March 2023.

The discount will be made automatically by energy suppliers in England, Scotland and Wales, with plans for the equivalent to be paid in Northern Ireland.

There will be further payments later in the winter for people who receive benefits and are on low incomes, and pensioners.

The energy plans were in place ahead of last Friday’s tax-cutting mini-budget which has been followed by days of turmoil on the markets.

The government has said its energy guarantee would cost £60bn for the first six months.

However, industry analysis suggests the total bill could be between £130bn and £150bn.

The cost will be met by an increase in government borrowing, but the likely cost of this has soared after financial markets reacted badly to the chancellor’s plans to introduce tax cuts worth £45bn.

There are also fears that the upheaval might affect the housing market.

Hundreds of mortgage products have been pulled since Friday, and are likely to return at higher costs, amid fears the Bank of England will have to raise interest rates much more sharply than previously expected.

Prime Minister Liz Truss has agreed to meet other European leaders at a new political “club of nations” next week.

The inaugural summit of the European Political Community (EPC), proposed by French president Emmanuel Macron, will meet in Prague next Thursday.

Although the UK voted in 2016 to leave the EU, it is among more than a dozen non-EU nations invited to join EU members to discuss security and energy.

Ms Truss has only just indicated she could attend the first meeting.

She is said to want the group to focus on “delivery” rather than becoming a “talking shop”.

Mr Macron proposed the EPC in May, as a “new space” for co-operation.

The broad intention is to establish a forum that goes beyond the immediate EU member states.

All 27 members of the EU are invited as well as the UK, Ukraine, Norway, Switzerland and Turkey.

Western Balkans nations are also invited, along with Iceland, Liechtenstein, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan.

EU leaders have insisted the community would not “replace” its enlargement policy of bringing new members into the EU fold.

Ever since Liz Truss became prime minister, influential figures around her have been careful not to rule out her attendance.

But they have been pretty sniffy about the likelihood of it happening.

One suggested just a week ago they’d have to be certain it was a good use of a day of her time.

They are also very nervous about any suggestions it is a back door way of cosying up to European countries in any kind of institutional arrangement, given the Brexit vote.

On the agenda at next week’s meeting are energy and migration. Both are issues the prime minister wants to focus on.

Another appeal of the gathering is it involves other non EU members such as Ukraine.

Officials – including from the UK – attended a preparatory meeting in Brussels on Thursday.

One diplomat told the BBC that Britain had suggested a name change – to the European Political Forum. It is thought this change is so the project does not sound too much like the European Community, an earlier name of the EU.

UK officials are said to be seeking assurances that the meeting will not be too dominated by EU countries or institutions.

Similar ideas have been floated for decades but this is the first big push for such a forum since Brexit.

The Czech Republic currently holds the rotating European Council presidency, so offered to host the first meeting of the EPC.

It is not certain exactly what format future meetings would take or how often they would be held, or where.

However EU officials have suggested there could be around two a year.

Ms Truss previously rejected the idea of British participation.

As foreign secretary, she said that Nato and the G7 were the UK’s “key” military and economic alliances.

But EU sources have said the UK has indicated it may be willing to host the next EPC summit.

Iran hits ‘dissident’ Iraq sites; nine killed

The strikes were reported after Iranian authorities accused armed Iranian Kurdish dissidents of attacking and infiltrating Iran from the northwest of the country to sow insecurity and riots and spread unrest, especially in the northwest where most of the country’s population of over 10 million Kurds live.

Nine people were killed and 32 wounded in the attacks near Erbil and Sulaimaniya in Iraqi Kurdistan, its health minister, Saman Barazanchi, said in a statement.

“Some of the wounded are in critical condition and death toll could rise,” Barazanchi said in a statement.

Iraqi Kurdish sources said drone strikes targeted at least 10 bases of Iranian Kurds near Sulaimaniya in Iraqi Kurdistan on Wednesday morning.

A senior member of Komala, an exiled Iranian Kurdish opposition party, said that several of their offices were struck as well.

Tariq Haidari, mayor of the Iraqi Kurdish city of Koye, said that two people including a pregnant woman were killed and 12 wounded. Some of the wounded were rushed in critical condition to hospital in Erbil, he said.

The Revolutionary Guards said after the attacks that they would continue targeting “terrorists” in the region.

In Baghdad, Iraq’s federal government called in the Iranian ambassador to protest the deadly strikes, while the UN mission in Iraq deplored the attack, saying “rocket diplomacy is a reckless act with devastating consequences”.

“These attacks need to cease immediately,” the UN mission tweeted.

Three rockets were also fired at Baghdad’s Green Zone on Wednesday, wounding four security force personnel as parliament was in session, a statement by security forces said.

“One rocket fell in front of the Iraqi parliament,” the statement said.

The US, the UK and Germany condemned the strikes.

Bilawal wants Taliban rulers to use their influence on TTP for peace

Speaking at the US Institute of Peace in Washington, the foreign minister also urged the United States to take lead in dealing with the devastating effects of the changing climate, which he called a ‘man-made disaster’.

“Following the fall of Kabul, [it] won’t be wrong to say that the TTP has found a sanctuary in Afghanistan. We have had a ceasefire which was good. Hopefully, Afghan Taliban will use their influence on TTP so that the group accepts the Constitution of Pakistan and disarm.”

The foreign minister, in interviews to various US and international media networks, also urged the United States to deal with Afghanistan’s current Taliban regime, even if it required Washington to “hold its nose” while doing so, warning that isolating the Taliban could have dangerous consequences for all.

Asked by AP’s interviewers if he meant the US needed to hold its nose and deal with Afghanistan’s ruling power, Mr Bhutto-Zardari said, “Pretty much.”

In an interview with AFP, he said the international community had already seen how “washing hands of Afghanistan” created unintended problems.

Afghanistan also figured prominently in the foreign minister’s interactions on Capitol Hill on Wednesday as one of his hosts, Jeanne Shaheen wrote after the meeting that the discussions focused on “continued support for our Afghan allies, women and girls’ empowerment and counterterrorism efforts.”

The senator also assured the foreign minister that “as Pakistan recovers from devastating floods, the Senate is committed to provide humanitarian support.”

Mr Bhutto-Zardari, who apparently extended his four-day stay in Washington for a day, urged American lawmakers to play their role in tackling climate catastrophes.

“Discussed the need for leveraging our strong parliamentary ties to tackle climate catastrophes like Pakistan Floods and plans on how we will build back better,” he said in a tweet released after a meeting with Senator Chris Van Hollen and Representatives Maxine Waters, Ilhan Omar, and Henry Cuellar in Washington.

Pakistan’s top diplomat, who began his interaction with US lawmakers on Tuesday evening, has a simple message for them: play your role in ensuring that countries like Pakistan do get ‘climate justice.’

“And justice would be that we work together globally, that we’re not left alone, to deal with the consequences of this tragedy,” he said in one of his interviews to the American media.

In his discussions on Afghanistan, Mr. Bhutto-Zardari said the Taliban had yet to have the time and ability to grapple with extremist groups as a government should. “For them to demonstrate their will to take on terrorist organizations, we need to help them build their capacity to also do so” before judging them, he told AP.

The foreign minister also emphasised the need to release Afghanistan’s funds held by America.

“I believe that our concerns of an economic collapse, of an exodus of refugees, of a threat of new recruits for (armed) organisations … outweigh concerns that there may be about their financial institutions,” he said.

India, Canada spar over Khalistan Referendum through travel, safety advisories

LONDON: After over 110,000 Sikhs came out to vote for the Khalistan Referendum in the Canadian city of Brampton, a public diplomatic row has erupted between Canada and India.

The tensions flared up after the Trudeau government issued a chilling travel advisory to its citizens warning them about potential security threats in case of travel to several states of India particularly Punjab, the proposed Sikh homeland Khalistan.

This development came exactly four days after India issued an aggressive advisory on September 23 for Indian nationals and students living in or planning to travel to Canada to remain vigilant, amidst increasing incidents of crimes and anti-India activities in the country.

The Indian external ministry’s advisory also said Canada had become a hotbed of pro-Khalistan and anti-India activities. At the same time, India’s Foreign Office also openly attacked the Canadian govt for shielding the Canadian Sikhs’ rights to freedom of expression.

In an unprecedented tit-for-fat move, Canada also advised its citizens to avoid all travel to areas in states of Gujarat, Punjab, and Rajasthan, which share borders with Pakistan due to the “presence of landmines” and “unpredictable security situation” on the Indian side of the border.

Conspicuously, while listing the threats on the Indian side of the border, Canada specifically did not include Wagah Border, which falls in Punjab and is heavily frequented by Sikh pilgrims to visit Gurdwaras in Pakistan, in the list of ‘unsafe territories’ and declared it safe. The Canadian Advisory clearly states: “This advisory excludes the Wagah Border crossing.”

Seemingly, what lies at the bottom of the ongoing trade of travel advisories between the two countries is the dissenting views of India and Canada on the issue of Khalistan Referendum.

While India, after domestically declaring the advocacy, campaign, and voting in Khalistan Referendum as a “crime” and “terrorism” and prosecuting the campaigners in Indian Punjab, is now insisting that Canada must also officially ban Khalistan Referendum activities on Canadian soil, whereas Canada has taken a firm stand that peaceful and non-violent secessionist advocacy on its soil such as Khalistan Referendum voting, is a protected exercise of freedom of speech by the Sikh Canadians.

Clearly pointing to India’s perverse use of landmines along the border areas, which could harm and kill Indian citizens and other innocuous tourists before harming any purported enemy, the Canadian advisory states: “Avoid all travel to areas within 10 kilometres of the border with Pakistan in the following states due to the unpredictable security situation and presence of landmines and unexploded ordnance: Gujarat, Punjab Rajasthan.”

Earlier, India’s external affairs ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said India had raised with Canada serious concerns on the Khalistan Referendum voting.

“The matter has been taken up with the Canadian authorities through diplomatic channels. The government of Canada has reiterated that they respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India and they will not recognise the so-called referendum which is taking place in Canada,” the spokesperson said.

Month: September 2022