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, Sindh Express, Pk Voices.
AFGHANISTAN
1. Interior Minister, Nisar Ali Khan says terrorists of different factions who have been released, and the Afghanistan based TTP are directly involved in terrorism in Pakistan. TTP leaders are given shelter on Afghanistan soil and they have contacts with the Afghan and Indian secret agencies. Evidence is given to the international community about dozens of Indian consulates that are promoting terrorism in Pakistan. The Afghan government is not taking notice of Pakistan’s reservations. It is true that due to operation Zarb-e-Azb terrorism in Pakistan has come down to almost zero but as indicated by the Interior Minister some areas like Balochistan are the target of terrorists sitting outside the country and handled by the enemies. Nisar has rightly said that Afghanistan is sitting in the lap of Pakistan’s eternal enemy India and is allowing India to sponsor terrorism in Pakistan using its soil. Pakistan wanted friendly relations with Afghanistan but it was due to wrong policies of Afghanistan that Pakistan has to take steps like Border Management and introduce visa system for Afghan National as well. If Afghanistan understand the distinction between friends and foes it would become easier for Pakistan to achieve its goal of eliminating terrorism. (Daily Pak Edit, Nawa-i-Waqt Edit, Khabrain Edit)
2. Afghan Taliban has set up a commission to protect foreign NGOs, doctors and engineers who are working on public projects in Afghanistan. (Ummat)
INDIA
1. Government has failed to complete investigations in Indian Spy Kulbhushan Yadav’s case. The opposition is right that delay in such a critical case would weaken Pakistan’s stand against India. It should be given reply in the same tone though India is not going to change its attitude. (Nawa-i-Waqt Edit)
2. Jang has learnt from Haryana that top officials of Indian Mission in Afghanistan entice young Afghans and get them to India, paying huge remunerations. The IB provides them guerrilla training in Haryana to carry out terrorist activities in Pakistan. Many youth have gone from Balochistan and Karachi also for the training (Jang)
3. Defence analyst, Air Marshal (retd) Shahid Latif has said that Pakistan is much superior to India in defence and nuclear field. In a media interaction, he referred to India’s failure in its 4th missile test, and said India has always copied Pakistan and has failed. He said that when Pakistani engineers began manufacturing tanks, India tried to copy and failed. When in partnership with China, Pakistan made JF Thunder, India began making LCA but again failed. He said that India first test fired nuclear missile and in response in its own defence, Pakistan carried out much powerful and successful missile tests. (Urdupoint)
4. As per Russian news agency, India has sanctioned Rs.3.36 trillion project of Night warfare. India has decided to procure night vision equipment to keep vigil on Pakistani Army during night time up to one kilometre range. (Jang)
5. Former president Pervez Musharraf avers that Pakistan cannot fight India globally because the country is weak internally. Pakistan’s foreign policies are erratic and hence Pakistan cannot match India globally on the Kashmir issue. India too cannot fight Pakistan and therefore it is working on policy of weakening Pakistan internally. India is working hard to distract world’s attention from the Kashmir issue. India keeps killing Kashmiris because India knows how to manage the world. India is now talking about stopping waters to Pakistan. All this is happening because of internal weakness of Pakistan. (Ibrat)
INDIA- WATER
1. Idris Rajput, an eminent water expert, says Indian PM’s threats to block waters to Pakistan are nothing more than a ‘political ploy’. As per the Indus water treaty, India cannot stop water to Pakistan. Pakistan had handed over three rivers to India, (Ravi, Sutlej and Beas) whereas Pakistan held its rights over Indus, Jhelum and Chenab. He said India can draw water from three rivers for drinking purpose and also for irrigating 14 lakh acres of land. Besides it can also build power house on the run of the river apart from doing shipping. But India cannot bring up dams on these three rivers to block water to Pakistan. Indian PM speaks of building canals for the Indus rivers but it is not possible as there big mountains on both sides of Indus in the Kashmir region. It is essential to build a barrage to build canals. In the current situation, India cannot build a barrage or dams on the rivers. He said Pakistan reserves a right to challenge any violation of the Indus Water Treaty in the International Court. (Kawish)
2. Kashmir and water are the main hindrances to reaching normalcy in the ties between India and Pakistan and both issues are intertwined. Water aggression started by India which has to be tackled jointly by the government, military, political parties, religious parties and volunteer organizations. (Ummat Edit)
ARMY/SECURITY FORCES
1. Munir Ahmed Baloch says for the first time, the Army Chief, General Bajwa passed through walk-through gates and security cameras, while entering PM’s house and saluted the PM wearing the army cap. The Army Chief also left his commander stick in his car. It is learnt that soon PM is going to place ISI and MI under the Interior Ministry, which Zardari had failed to do. As per the Charter of Democracy (CoD) signed by Sharif and Benazir Bhutto, both political parties had agreed that in talks with India, Kashmir, Siachen, water and Sir Creek would not be made to cause hindrance. (Roznama Dunya)
TERRORISM & EXTREMISM
1. PM Sharif claims that Al-Qaeda, Taliban Daesh have been wiped out from Pakistan. No doubt terrorism menace has been brought down drastically; the situation in Karachi has improved a lot but neither Taliban or Al-Qaeda have been finished nor the presence of Daesh in Pakistan could be ignored. Sharif’s claim that Pakistan has overcome the problems of energy crisis and inflation, is also not at all true. PM must be talking about some other country and not Pakistan because situation in Pakistan is absolutely opposite to what he has claimed. (Nawa-i-Waqt Edit)
2. Muslims of Burma are facing worst atrocities but dozens of Muslim countries have not shown any courage to provide political and diplomatic support to them. The sad and regrettable thing is that people connected with journalism in Pakistan have termed atrocities of Burmese as a ‘lie’, which is equal to putting salt on the wounds of the victims of Burma and a mockery of journalism. While Human Rights Watch had released satellite images of Muslim villages destroyed by Burmese army, the Amnesty International, said that violence committed by Burmese army against Rohingya Muslims comes under crimes against humanity. The report talked about killings, rape, torture and loot by Burmese army. The UN in November itself said Burma government was committing genocide of Muslims and. So much so the unanswered question is: why Muslim countries cannot provide political and diplomatic help to Burmese Muslims even after UN expressed its concern. (Edit Al Qalam Weekly, 23-29 December)
3. Indian Minister of State for Home, Kiren Rijiju, said that India will issue Interpol Red Corner Notice against JeM Chief Maulana Masood Azhar for his involvement in Pathankot attack. Legality in this regard was being looked into. (Jasarat)
ECONOMY/POWER/WATER
1. Pakistan has decided to increase its trade volume with Iran up to $ 5 billion; the Federal Minister for Trade would visit Tehran on 28th December. (Daily Pak)
2. Due to gas shortage, Gaddu Thermal power plant has tripped, resulting in suspension of electricity to various cities in Baluchistan, Sindh and Punjab. (Jang / Roznama Dunya)
SINDH/BALOCHISTAN/KP/PUNJAB
1. Lahore court has rejected federal government’s appeal seeking two months’ time to give its opinion on whether MQM’s registration as political party can be cancelled. A three-judge bench is hearing a petition by advocate Ahmed that MQM, London is still active in Karachi and that there are many security issues at stake. The petitioner has observed that one traitor (Altaf Hussain) is being given leeway because of political considerations. (Sindh Express)
2. Atam Meghora in his article titled ‘one un-necessary bill’, says recently the Sindh Assembly adopted a legislation against forced conversion of religion. It has triggered a lot of controversy. Instead of bringing bills for protecting interests of the minorities, there should be bills doing away with the very word ‘minority’. Once that is done, non-Muslims will get equal rights. Laws that are in force for stopping kidnappings of Muslim girls, will be made applicable to others too, that is to Hindus and Christians. There are laws already against forced marriages and there are laws against marriages of minor girls. There are laws against kidnappings of girls and boys; there are laws against holding anyone as hostage. When there are already so many laws in force, where is the need for any new law for the protection of minority rights? All sides must be taken into account before enacting any new law. One should be aware about the bitter realities of the society where one lives. It will be foolish to say all is well without giving a thorough look all around. Making any special laws for anyone alienates that section of society all the more. If laws are so made to treat one a part of society separately, then how can society treat minorities equally? Perhaps those who moved this controversial bill in Sindh Assembly were not aware of the criticism and debates that would follow. Non -Muslims in Sindh do not want any such laws which make them all the more unsafe. Who will give protection to Hindu leaders, Khatumal and Nandkumar, who moved this bill? (Sindh Express)
3. Federal Minister for Ports and Shipping, Mir Hasil Bizenjo, has cautioned that if Balochistan locals’ rights are not protected, CPEC project will become controversial. Taking part in the Capital Talk program, he told host Hamid Mir that we totally support CPEC but the locals should get their rights. If their demands are fulfilled then they are ready to leave their place. Construction of educational institutes should also be taken up under CPEC in Balochistan since the province needs 25000 schools. A proper shipyard should be built in Gwadar port. (Jang)
POLITICAL SCENE
1. Mahmood Sham, in his article, ‘Zardari’s return; is same old Zardari returning or is he reformed and changed now’, says there is no doubt that PPP is spread over across Pakistan. If Zardari follows in footsteps of his late father-in-law and his late wife, he can make Pakistan another Dubai and London which he frequents. The only thing needed is Zardari should have that will to make Pakistan another Dubai or London. (Ibrat)
POK/G-B NEWS
1. AJK Prime Minister Raja Mohammad Farooq Haider Khan has said that people of Azad Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan share a common history and heritage. AJK people love their counterparts in Gilgit Baltistan. Progress and development of AJK and GB is our vision. We are working on projects which will benefit both equally. GB people have borne a lot of difficulties due to Kashmir problem. A set up like that of Azad Kashmir is the right of place for the GB people. Both have governments of PML (N), which has brought them further close. Raja was speaking at a meeting with GB Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Chairman Saeed Afzal. GB lawmaker Ashraf Fida was also present at the meeting. (Daily Dharti)