SOURCE: Ausaf, Ummat, Daily Pak, Nawa-i-Waqt, Urdu Point, Daily Jinnah, Awami Awaz, Daily Dharti, Jasarat, Kawish, Daily Intekhab, Daily Times, Jang, Ibrat, Khabrain, Roznama Dunya, Hizb Media, Al Qalam Weekly, Baad-e-Shimal, Bang-e-Sahar.

UNITED STATES
1. Following indications from the Haqqani Network Chief Sirajuddin Haqqani that they will talk peace with the US, a high level US delegation is expected in Pakistan. Taliban has formed a four member team for the negotiations. Two of the members are from the Qatar office, Khalil Haqqani will participate from the Haqqani Group and one member will represent the Afghan Taliban Chief Haibatullah. (Ummat)
2. According to US State Department spokesperson, the US will not act as a mediator in the Pakistan-Afghan dispute. The two countries should settle issues between themselves. (Roznama Dunya)
3. The US Congress has rejected a bill that accepted India as a US defence partner. The Indian community should understand that the PM Modi has forgotten the Gandhian and the Nehruvian philosophy and has put India on the verge of destruction. Modi is a threat to the Indian existence and its neighbouring countries as well. (Ausaf Edit)
AFGHANISTAN
1. The Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has stated that they don’t want war but were ready to defend their country. The statement is issued by spokesperson of President Syed Zafar Hashmi. (Ummat)
2. The Afghan firing at the Torkham border is an act of sabotaging the effective border management. The entire world community believes the South Asian market’s potential. But due to the geostrategic importance of this region different powers want to keep the market under their control and want to allow a major trade war. Due to the CPEC many powerful countries will lose their control Hence such countries believe India is a better bet. This has prompted the recent Afghan attacks. Afghan community should foil this international conspiracy and whenever an Indian oriented government is formed in Afghanistan it has separated the people of Pakistan and Afghanistan. Indian consulates in Afghanistan are giving Afghan youths training to become terrorists and suicide attackers. (Ausaf Edit)
3. The NATO is planning to keep a large forces in Afghanistan. Now the US will ask India to support its cause in Afghanistan as Pakistan will not extend any support. Pakistan should take a strong stand on this issue and the US will be forced to bow down before Pakistan for help. (Nawa-i-Waqt Edit)
4. Some powers, especially India, are not happy with the civil and military leaderships’ decision to construct Torkham gate to block terrorists and smugglers free passage’; they are also unhappy with the success of Op Zarb e Azb. The latest Torkham incident is a joint conspiracy of India, the US and Afghanistan to halt Pakistan’s success. Pakistan has always supported Afghanistan and its refugees and in return Afghanistan is supporting the Indian agenda. As per the hatched conspiracy Pakistan is getting involved in a conflict with Afghanistan; hence Pakistan should handle this issue very carefully. (Roznama Dunya-Edit)
5. Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary, General Liaqat Baloch has reiterated that the Afghan President is not the only one behind the skirmishes at the Afghan-Pakistan border. He alleged that India and the US are also behind the scene; both the US and India want to sabotage the CPEC through such conspiracies. (Jasarat)
6. JI Peshawar district Chief and former MP Sabir Hussain Awan has expressed anger over the unprovoked firing by Afghan forces at Torkham border and alleged that the Indian agency RAW is involved in it. RAW is working under the patronage of the US, he alleged. (Ummat)
7. Arif Bahar writes that the people of Pakistan were relaxed and carefree about their Western borders as they had played a role in the Afghan jihad and became hosts to the Afghan refugees. Pakistanis are unaware that beyond Torkham a new India is in the making against Pakistan. In last 15 years NATO, the US and the ISAF have played a role in making the Afghan border more sensitive and dangerous than the borders Pakistan shares with India. This is done to change Pakistan’s perception of the enemy and Afghanistan is pushed forward by the imperialist forces as a new challenge in front of Pakistan. With a well-designed planning the US has converted Afghanistan into a mini India for Pakistan. (Jasarat)
8. Mohammad Ramzan Memon writes on Pakistan-Afghan attacks at the Torkham gate: while Pakistan and China are building the economic corridor, India along with Iran and Afghanistan is making a new route which will take India to Central Asia’s oil and gas deposits. Pakistan and China are unhappy with this joint venture and with the Chabahar port in Iran. Pakistan’s foreign policy which is prepared and implemented by the Army for promoting its vested interests has proved to be unsuccessful in the past as well as now. It is strange that the Pakistani defence minister is making statements that Pakistan will take revenge for the death of its army men who died in the firing at the Torkham border. The defence minister has also stated that the Torkham gate was being built within Afghan side by mistake. Let the people of both countries decide whether Afghanistan did not allow Pakistani customs gate to come up within the Afghan border. (Awami Awaz)
INDIA
1. A source on the condition of anonymity has informed The News that in a letter handed over by an Iranian diplomat to Pakistan, Iran has assured full cooperation to Pakistan on the investigation against Kulbhushan Yadav and the Indian network in Chabahar to destabilize Pakistan. However Iran has rejected some of Pakistan’s claims. (Jang)
2. JuD Chief Hafiz Saeed said that the Indian consulates in Afghanistan are involved in conspiracies against Pakistan. India and the US are creating confusion between Afghanistan and Pakistan under a coordinated effort. Saeed urged all the parties to come under the banner of Difa-e-Pakistan Council for safeguarding national agenda and not political interests. (Daily Pak, Nawa-i-Waqt, Jasarat)
3. The Pakistan Army has found the evidence of the presence of RAW, Mossad and two other foreign agents during the firing by Afghan forces firing at the Pakistani check posts. (Roznama Dunya)
4. Arrested activists of MQM Fahim and Nasir from Karachi have confessed to have taken terror training from RAW. (Nawa-i-Waqt)
5. Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB), Chairman, Siddique Farooq has commented that India should refrain from any conspiracy to create rift in the Sikh Community. Pakistan has always wanted friendly relations with India but the latter is not responding positively. The sacred water i.e. ‘Amrut Jal’ will be provided to Sikhs around the world through a contractor fulfilling all legal formalities. ETPB Chairman stated that the foundation stone for Baba Guru Nanak International University in Nankana Sahib will be laid this year. He urged the Sikh community to come on one platform as per the Nanakshahi Calendar. (Daily Pak)
ARMY/SECURITY FORCES
1. Pakistan Awami Tehreek Chief, Tahir-ul Qadri is wrong in asking for justice from the Chief of Army Staff for model town carnage. He should instead approach the court for justice. It is not wise to drag the Army into every battle and Qadri should allow the democratic process to continue. (Nawa-i-Waqt Edit)
TERRORISM & EXTREMISM
1. Two unidentified Afghan suicide bombers have entered Pakistan via Pakistan-Afghan border at the Khyber agency and have reached Lahore via Sialkot, according to an alert to the Lahore police from the Sensitive Department. They are staying as new tenants, at Amin’s house, who is their facilitator. (Roznama Dunya)
POLITICAL SCENE
1. Former Interior Minister, Rehman Malik said since Afghanistan is not cooperating with Pakistan on the border, its refugees should be sent back. (Nawa-i-Waqt)
2. Jamaat-e-Islami, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and the PML-Q have offered support to the Pakistan Awami Tehreek sit-in. (Roznama Dunya)
3. Senate has given an affirmative response to the recommendations of the House Committee on measures to check sea erosion in Sindh and Balochistan. The Committee in all made 27 recommendations. One of the recommendations calls for inclusion of the issue in the Vision 2025 project. It calls for release of water down Kotri as per 1991 water treaty amongst provinces on water distribution. Another recommendation is for a super highway from Sir Creek to Karachi. (Kawish)
4. Nazir Naji comments that since the Prime Minister has kept many portfolios to himself, he is not able to do justice to any department. His two advisors on foreign policy do not work in tandem. Prime Minister himself is not an expert on foreign affairs. The US support to India for NSG membership has isolated Pakistan. According to India, Iran and Afghanistan, Pakistan is using its soil to support terrorists. Pakistan has failed to bring Taliban to the table which it has promised. The US blamed Pakistan for not taking steps against the Taliban and the Haqqani group and killed Mullah Mansoor in a drone attack in Balochistan. During PM Modi’s visit to the US, the US condemned the terrorist activities in Pakistani Punjab and Kashmir that Islamabad does not control and allowing Hafiz Saeed to lead Friday’s prayers in Islamabad. Along with other neighbours even China is unhappy with Pakistan. It wants that the Pakistan Army should use its influence to end Taliban war in Afghanistan and Balochistan in order to complete Silk route. Pakistan’s failed foreign policy is affecting its domestic politics also. The Prime Minister wants good relations with India, Iran and the US but has failed in that regard. (Roznama Dunya)
BALOCHISTAN
1. Security forces have carried out an operation in Tump. They surrounded the Nazarabad area killing one person and arresting many other suspected terrorists. In a firing incident in Mushke and Mastung five people were killed. Three persons were murdered in Quetta. In Mushke, a gunman was killed. A policeman and three men of Sensitive agencies were wounded in Mastung when terrorists opened fire. (Daily Intekhab)
SINDH
1. Pandemonium broke out in the Sindh Assembly as PPP and MQM members exchanged fiery words and almost came to blows. Trouble broke out when a PPP member mentioned about MQM Chief Altaf Hussain’s money laundering case. Angry MQM members headed for speaker’s podium saying if any reference is made to their party chief then they too will speak against the PPP party chief including Benazir Bhutto. Soon, members from both parties started heading towards speaker’s dais and came to blows. Seniors from PPP and MQM tried to pacify members but without success forcing the Chair adjourn house till Friday. (Awami Awaz)
2. The Sindh government is often seen soft on the federal government but this time on the issue of power cuts, it is taking a firm stand. This is evident from its threats to demonstrate in front of PM’s house and the Parliament to register protests against the long power cuts. One of the major reasons that the Sindh province is being meted out ill-treatment or step-motherly treatment is the fact that the PPP has ruled the Sindh province. The he Sindh government should not let this stance remain only on paper. (Ibrat)
POK/ G-B NEWS
1. Administrators will be appointed in Gilgit and Skardu to develop both as model cities, said CM Hafizur Rahman. (Daily K2)
2. Speaker of the National Assembly Fida Nashad said that unless Gilgit-Baltistan is given a representation in the National Assembly and the Senate nothing can be assured and no one will listen to the grievances of the province. Even though the committee for constitutional rights is in place, nothing will happen until the Azad Jammu Kashmir elections are over. (Daily K2)
3. Renowned religious scholar Shaikh Hasan Jafri has said that date after date is being given for the floating tenders for the construction of Skardu road. It seems the government is not serious about constructing it. If there is little shame in responsible persons, they should not delay the construction any more. How could the Prime Minister inaugurate the project when its tenders are not issued as yet? (K-2)
4. Many big projects are incomplete and not tendered to and hence government should bring about reforms in the General Development Department to complete all pending works in the Gilgit Baltistan region. (Baad-e-Shimal Edit)