Japan govt to implement 7 new Japanese technical cooperation programs in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, JUL 19: The Government of Japan has decided to implement 7 new Japanese technical cooperation programs in Pakistan to cater the social needs and assist capacity building for growing industries at the federal and provincial level.

Including these 7 programs, the Japanese Government will implement a total of 25 technical cooperation programs in Pakistan in fiscal year 2021.

The new Japanese technical cooperation programs, starting in fiscal year 2021, include the projects and dispatch of experts for improvement in health, education, agriculture, gender and information technology sectors and would be implemented by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) over the period of around three years. 

The programs cover areas such as (1) strengthening care for mothers, newborn and child health in KP, (2) dispatching Education Policy Advisor to Sindh, (3) strengthening of community engagement and educational practices for better retention in Sindh, (4) providing technical support for livestock genetic improvement in Sindh, (5) coaching trout farming technology in KP, (6) promoting survivor-centered approach in gender-based violence in Punjab and (7) dispatching Technical Advisor for ICT industry development in Pakistan.

For the effective implementation of these programs, JICA, besides dispatching of Japanese experts for capacity building of counterpart organizations, would conduct online trainings to share Japanese expertise and experience under the restrictions on overseas travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

H.E. Mr. MATSUDA Kuninori, the Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan, citing his optimism on the new Japanese technical cooperation programs, stated that these programs with their successful implementation would greatly benefit the Government and the people of Pakistan at the federal and provincial level.

“Capacity building in health, education, agriculture, gender and ICT sectors are some of the priority areas for Japanese assistance in Pakistan”, said the Ambassador.

The Ambassador hoped that these projects would contribute towards the bright future of Pakistan and further strengthening of Japan-Pakistan relations.

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Afghanistan recalls ambassador from Pakistan over kidnapping incident

KABUL/ISLAMABAD, JUL 18: Afghanistan recalled its ambassador from Pakistan days after the envoy's daughter was abducted and "severely tortured" in the capital Islamabad, Afghan officials said on Sunday.

Waheed Omar, an aide to Afghan President Mohammed Ashraf Ghani, said on Twitter that the Foreign Ministry has been directed to ensure that those responsible for the incident are punished and that the security of the Afghan ambassador and diplomats in Pakistan is guaranteed.

He said Ghani made the decision after the Friday kidnapping of Silsila Alikhel, the daughter of Afghan Ambassador to Islamabad Najibullah Alikhel.

The Afghan Foreign Ministry also said that a delegation is scheduled to visit Pakistan in the near future to investigate and follow the latest case and related issues, which will be discussed in light of the delegation's findings.

The ambassador's daughter was kidnapped and "severely tortured" in the capital Islamabad on Friday afternoon before being thrown out with her hands tied behind her back, according to the local Salam Afghanistan radio.

Afghanistan has demanded Pakistan swiftly identify and bring to justice those responsible for the assault.

Strongly condemning the "heinous act," the Afghan government expressed its deepest concerns over the safety and security of diplomats, their families, and staff members of Afghan political and consular missions in Pakistan.

Relations between Pakistan and its neighbor Afghanistan remain tense, with Kabul accusing Islamabad of arming and supporting the Taliban insurgents.

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Daughter of Afghan envoy kidnapped, tortured in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, JUL 17: The daughter of Afghanistan's ambassador to Pakistan was briefly kidnapped and "severely tortured" in the capital Islamabad, Afghan authorities said on Saturday.

According to the Afghan Foreign Ministry, Silsila Alikhail, the daughter of Ambassador Najib Alikhail, was abducted and tortured by persons unknown on her way home on Friday.

"After being released from the kidnappers' clutches, Alikhail is now under medical care at the hospital," a ministry statement said.

Strongly condemning the "heinous act," the Afghan government expressed its deepest concerns over the safety and security of diplomats, their families, and staff members connected to Afghan political and consular missions in Pakistan.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs calls on the Government of Pakistan to take the necessary and immediate action to ensure the full security of the Afghan Embassy and Consulate and the immunity of the country's diplomats and their families in accordance with international treaties and commitments," the statement said.

Afghanistan also urged Pakistan to swiftly identify and prosecute the perpetrators of the kidnapping.

Pakistan's Foreign Ministry also confirmed the incident, saying that police in Islamabad launched a thorough investigation immediately after it was reported.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and relevant security authorities are closely in contact with the ambassador and his family and extending full support in the matter," said Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri, Foreign Ministry spokesman.

The government has beefed up security for the ambassador and his family, and law enforcement agencies are trying to find and apprehend the culprits to be brought to justice, he added.

Chaudhri reiterated that the safety of diplomatic missions, including the diplomats and their families, is of utmost importance. Such incidents cannot and will not be tolerated, he said.

Relations between Pakistan and its neighbor Afghanistan remain tense, with Kabul accusing Islamabad of arming and supporting Taliban insurgents. Pakistan has denied the charges.

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Ambassador MATSUDA extends his condolences to KPK on bus blast in Upper Kohistan

ISLAMABAD, JUL 14: MATSUDA Kuninori, Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan, on Wednesday expressed grief and sorrow over the loss of precious lives of Pakistanis and foreign nationals in the bus blast which occurred near the Dasu hydropower plant in Upper Kohistan on July 14th, leaving numbers of people dead and injured.

In his condolence message, the Ambassador conveyed his heartfelt grief and sympathies to the bereaved families and wished for a speedy recovery of the injured.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the KPK government and the families of those who have lost their dear ones in the tragic incident. Please accept our deepest condolences, and we wish for a quick recovery of the injured”, said the Ambassador.

The Ambassador prayed for the eternal peace of the departed souls and wished for the bereaving families to bear this irreparable loss with fortitude and equanimity.

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Pakistan should appoint a special envoy on Kashmir: Ambassador (R) Abdul Basit

RAJA FURQAN AHMED

ISLAMABAD, JUL 13: Pakistan’s former High Commissioner to India Ambassador Abdul Basit called for the appointment of a special envoy on Kashmir to project the true spirit of the Kashmir cause internationally. 

Ambassador Abdul Basit, who is also the author of Hostility: A Diplomat’s Diary on Pakistan-India Relations, was speaking at an event organized by the Institute of Regional Studies (IRS). Ambassador Abdul Basit expressed his concern over the state of affairs in which India was portraying its willingness to negotiate with Pakistan as a concession to the latter.

He was firmly of the opinion that India was not interested in the resolution of the Kashmir dispute with Pakistan either under the UNSC resolutions or under any other formula that would change the status quo over Kashmir.

He had little hope about the restoration of the special status of IIOJK under the Indian Constitution as well. Ambassador Abdul Basit stated that Pakistan’s approach towards dialogue with India has historically been aimed at resolving contentious issues like Kashmir while the Indian approach has traditionally been to take up less contentious issues first.

He argued that the composite dialogue between 2004 and 2008 was an amalgamation of the two approaches in which both subjects were negotiated upon in tandem and a bit of progress was also made on some issues related to Kashmir, such as freedom of movement and trade across the LOC.

He added, however, that since then the relationship between the two countries has been one step forward and two steps backwards in which setbacks have tended to outpace progress.

He shared that 2016 was the worst year in the recent diplomatic history of India and Pakistan owing to incidents such as the capture of the Indian spy Kulbhushan Yadav in Balochistan, the militant attack in Pathankot in India, the extrajudicial killing of Kashmiri freedom fighter Burhan Wani, and the militant attack in Uri and its aftermath.

He further shared that in the same year, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi threatened to disrupt the flow of water in his speech on 15 August stating that water and blood could not flow together further worsening the trail of diplomatically unfavourable events.

Ambassador Abdul Basit maintained that India had successfully propagated a narrative about Pakistan’s democracy being weak and the armed freedom struggle of Kashmiris as terrorism.

He was of the view that Kashmiris had all the right to defend themselves against the Indian occupation with whatever means they chose because India is an occupier in Kashmir and international defended the right of the occupied populations to resist occupation.

He urged a long-term policy and patient diplomacy with India. He further called for strengthening the capacity of state institutions in Pakistan as integral foreign policy tools when dealing with India over Kashmir in the current times.

President IRS Ambassador Nadeem Riyaz remarked that foreign policy was a complicated subject requiring specialized knowledge and skill. He cautioned against a diplomatic approach devoid of expert input.

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