FARUKH SHEHZAD

ISLAMABAD, JAN 2021 - Pakistan Agricultural Research Council and University of Agriculture, D.I. Khan has signed Memorandum of Understanding for mutual scientific and technical to strengthen the scientific infrastructure. The signing ceremony was held at PARC HQs, Islamabad in which the representatives of both the organizations signed the agreement on behalf of their respective sides. For the purpose, a delegation from University of Agriculture, D.I. Khan headed by Prof. Dr. Masroor Ellahi Babar, Vice Chancellor visited PARC HQs. Dr. Muhammad Azeem Khan, Chairman PARC and other high officials from PARC welcomed the delegation.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Azeem Khan, Chairman PARC shared that the agreement is aiming to device a program of scientific, technical and academic collaboration for exchange of ideas, skills and techniques on problems of national interests. The other objective of the MoU is to collaborate with the University is to exchange and training of faculty, student’s supervision and technical personnel with no cost for research and academic development.

Under the agreement, internees of UAD may be facilitated at PARC’s laboratories for their internship as well as UAD is to facilitate PARC scientists in research activities at D.I. Khan. Moreover, scientists of PARC, after adopting due protocols would be engaged as co-supervisors for University students in order to create qualified scientists. PARC and UAD will also hold joint conferences, seminars and workshops at national level to create awareness regarding importance using of modern technology to increase per acre yield in agriculture production of the country.

Prof. Dr. Masroor Ellahi Babar, Vice Chancellor, University of Agriculture, D.I. Khan appreciated PARC efforts in agriculture sector and also thanked Dr. Azeem Khan, Chairman PARC who kindly consented to get MoU signed. He also appreciated the efforts of PARC for development of agriculture sector in the Country. On the occasion, Vice Chancellor also added that this agreement would strengthen the goal of the University of providing an enabling environment to all students to fulfill the demand of need based and market driven qualified scientists in the country.

COURTESY dailycountrynews

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ISLAMABAD, JAN 11: The Institute for Political Studies (IPIS), Tehran, Iran, and Center for Global & Strategic Studies (CGSS), Islamabad, Pakistan jointly organized an Online International Conference on, “A Review of the Most Important Developments in the World and the Region in 2020”.

The conference was commenced with the opening remarks of, Kazem Sajjadpour, President, Institute for Political and International Studies, Tehran, Iran. He highlighted the issues of the Arab world and its connectivity with the United States of America, post-Trump America. He also emphasized that the destiny of Afghanistan is also an important aspect to discuss. He mentioned his affiliation with CGSS in various projects and suggested that more contacts and connectivity are important between Iran and Pakistan.

Prof. Dr, Shabir Ahmad Khan, Director, of Area Study Center, (Russia, China & Central Asia), the University of Peshawar in his opening remarks welcomed the esteemed panelists and stated that it is important to highlight the issues regarding security between Iran and Pakistan. The conference was conducted in two sessions, Theme of the first session was, Regional Issues, the West and South Asia. It was moderated by Mr. Majid Ghafelebashi, Vice-President for Research, Institute for Political and International Studies, Tehran, Iran.

Mr. Hassan Ahmadian, Professor, University of Tehran, Iran discussed that during the Trump Administration, they didn’t realize that excluding an important power like Iran can have wide-ranging repercussions. He further emphasized that Pakistan can play an effective role in mediating many regional issues and bring peace in the region. He highlighted that Pakistan and Iran's cooperation is important because both countries are regional powers. Iran acknowledges Pakistan as a regional country that can play an important role in mediating issues and contribute to regional stability. Strategic cooperation between the two countries can strengthen their strategic choices. We need to focus on how to increase bilateral relations. Mentioning a few sectors of cooperation, he discussed the economic side, mediation aspect, and cultural dimensions as well.

Prof. Dr. Muhammad Saleem Mazhar, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, University of Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan mentioned the legacy of Allama Iqbal for Iran and Pakistan. He stated Afghanistan is a key for stability in this region. Discussing peace in the region he highlighted that Indian illegal revocation of the status of Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir has severely affected peace in the region.

Discussing the efforts of China for peace in the region, he stated that when we strengthen relations between countries it facilitates social, cultural, and political relations. Pakistan and Iran should also follow this course and take steps towards regional cooperation and contribution towards peace and mutual development.

Discussing joint academic collaborations between Pakistan and Iran he welcomed student and teacher exchange programs. Furthermore, he highlighted that if we move forward at a good speed, the situation can get better. The suggestions discussed today must be materialized to bring peace, prosperity, and stability in the region.

Mr. Saeed Ghaderi, Senior Research Fellow, Institute for Political and International Studies, Tehran, Iran stated that Iran has always supported peace and stability in Afghanistan and Iran has always advocated as well as welcomed initiatives in this regard. We agree that peace and security in Afghanistan are important for Iran and Afghanistan. Highlighting the role of Pakistan and Iran he highlighted that Pakistan and Iran both have suffered from instability in the region due to regional issues, and now both countries must cooperate and work together to solve issues in Afghanistan.

Prof. Dr. Shabir Ahmad Khan, Director, of Area Study Center, (Russia, China & Central Asia), University of Peshawar, Pakistan discussed the impacts of the presence of Extra Regional Powers on the Escalation of Regional Crises.

He discussed that the world is going through a transformation and a shift. Asia is rising through the revival of Silk roads. Commenting on the layover phenomenon, he stated that it restricts the roles of regional states in maintaining regional security. The layover phenomenon occurs when an extra-regional major power directly intervenes in a region’s security it suppresses the regional politics and regional politics are absorbed by politics at a global level. This complicates the security of a region as global powers have always been competing and conflicting interests.

He concluded by mentioning that the Pak-China friendship may have irked the USA and India but it has never constrained Iran’s regional strategic or economic interests. China’s rise, Iran’s natural resources, and Pakistan’s geo-strategic location all have the potential to bring peace and prosperity to this region through trilateral cooperation. Regional cooperation is the only way to overcome the challenge of security and socio-economic development.

The second session of the conference was based on the theme, International Issues, the new administration of the United States, and COVID-19. It was moderated by Ms. Laraib Fatima Hassan, Communication & Coordination Manager, Center for Global & Strategic Studies (CGSS), Islamabad, Pakistan.

Mr. Kayhan Barzegar, Director, Center for Middle East Strategic Studies, Tehran, Iran highlighted that the US presence is a source of instability in the region. It is expected that there will be a reverse from Trump’s policies under the upcoming Biden administration. He further emphasized that Trump’s policies of fighting China as well as his policies in Afghanistan and Yemen have destabilized the region. Commenting on the new US administration he stated that the US will be busy curtailing COVID-19 hence, revision of Trump’s policies might take some time. According to Mr. Kayhan, it will be better and suitable for both Pakistan and Iran if the Us Administration leaves its policy of interference in this region. He suggested that Pakistan, Iran, and other countries of the region are capable of solving their own internal and diplomatic issues.

Brigadier Akhtar Nawaz Janjua, (Retd), Senior Member Advisory Board, Center for Global & Strategic Studies (CGSS), Islamabad, Pakistan. He discussed the Impacts of the New US administration on the International Issues. He stated that the Trumps “Make America Great Again” policy has resulted in U.S standing alone on more key global issues than ever before. He analyzed few of the policy changes that Biden has announced and stated that, It is expected that the new administration will return to a two-state formula in its approach to Middle East peacemaking. Which will be less ideological and more focused on what might be described as core principles. These principles will involve greater emphasis on human rights.

Furthermore, it will be interesting to see if he stays true to “Revitalizing our national commitment to advancing human rights and democracy around the world,” with reference to India’s actions in occupied and illegally annexed Kashmir.

Mr. Vahid Karimi, Senior Research Fellow, Institute for Political and International Studies, Tehran, Iran highlighted the importance of multilateralism. He explained that the new US administration under Joe Biden will have a strong government in the congress and the White House. He will have no excuse for implementing illogical policies like his predecessors Trump.

He suggested that we must use this pandemic as an opportunity to enhance multilateralism amongst our partner countries. Discussing the cooperation between Pakistan and Iran, he welcomed all suggested initiatives and also suggested trilateral cooperation between Pakistan, Iran, and Turkey for working towards peace, stability, and development in the region.

Prof. Dr. Iram Khalid, Chairperson, Political Science Department, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan discussed the challenges of the new US Administration. She highlighted some major challenges to the new administration like social Legitimacy, Economic security, Human security in the context of health, jobs, and the education sector. She further mentioned that the USA will have to pay the price for withdrawing from various important international organizations and its behavior towards the World Health Organization.

Discussing the new Biden administration, she said that he will try to continue the policies of Democrats and various state departments. He will also be keen to work towards restoring US glory.

She suggested that we have to re-establish links between academia by dialogues and activities like the one we are involved in right now.

Various Universities from Pakistan and Iran can be involved as well and by involving those who hold specific positions, trust-building can be done between people of both Iran and Pakistan.

The conference was attended by 30 expert analysts and students from Pakistan and Iran.

COURTESY cgss.com.pk

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ISLAMABAD, JAN 12: Matsuda Kuninori, Ambassador of Japan on Monday praised Pakistan’s decision to launch the first polio vaccination drive of 2021 and reiterated Japan’s commitment to continue its support to eradicate polio from Pakistan and the globe.

During the five-day campaign, around 285,000 polio workers will engage in the vaccination of over 40 million children, wearing masks, using hand sanitizers and maintaining safe distances. Ambassador Matsuda paid tribute to the frontline polio workers for the protection of children from polio in the harsh environment of COVID-19.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of Japan’s anti-polio assistance to Pakistan. Its total assistance has reached US$ 229 million. Ambassador Matsuda added, “I sincerely hope that the year of 2021 marks a great step towards eradicating polio as well as controlling COVID-19.

To that end, Japan will continue to focus on health, water & sanitation and education in terms of its assistance to Pakistan, which are necessary to ensure a healthy and cultural life to all citizens.”

COURTESY THE NATION

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ISLAMABAD, JAN 12: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has decided to accept the two-year Bachelor’s and Masters’s degree programmes till 2022 and students can now get admissions in various undergraduate and graduate programs for the next two years.

Vice-Chancellor, the University of Peshawar while talking to a news channel, said the HEC has agreed to continue the programs for the next two years. 

He said the students would now have no issue with regard to admissions in these programs up till 2022.

Last year in November, the HEC had issued directives to all educational institutions to stop two-year bachelor’s degree programmes as it will not recognise any such programmes undertaken after the academic year 2018.

In this regard, the commission had also written a letter to all public and private sector degree awarding institutions in the country.

“It has been noticed with grave concerns that these programs are still being offered by universities, degree awarding institutes (DAIs), and their affiliated colleges,” read the notification issued by the commission.

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COURTESY whenwherehow

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ISLAMABAD, JAN 12: Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Monday that Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu will arrive in Pakistan for a two-day official visit.

The Turkish Foreign Minister will hold bilateral talks with Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and call on Prime Minister Imran Khan and President Arif Alvi during the visit, the Foreign office said in a handout.

The two officials will review the entire gamut of bilateral relations and exchange views on regional and international issues.

This is the Turkish foreign minister’s third visit in the last two and a half year and it is part of “regular high-level exchanges between the two countries”.

“The fraternal relations between Pakistan and Turkey are deeply embedded in common faith, culture, and history and underpinned by exceptional mutual trust and respect,” said the foreign office.

Pakistan-Turkey bilateral relations have been institutionalised under the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC), which is the highest level decision-making forum, providing strategic direction to further boost the partnership, read the statement

The Strategic Economic Framework (SEF), signed at the sixth HLSCC session, has 71 action points for deeper cooperation between the two countries in diverse fields.

Pakistan and Turkey enjoy close collaboration on issues of mutual interest at multilateral fora such as the UN, OIC, and ECO.

“Turkey is an important member of the OIC Contact Group on Jammu & Kashmir and has been consistently supporting the cause of self-determination of the Kashmiri people,” it said.

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COURTESY whenwherehow

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Head of WhatsApp at Facebook Will Cathcart on Tuesday assured users across the world that the new  terms and service of the messaging service   brings transparency.

"Our policy update describes business communication and adds transparency," tweeted  Cathcart adding that the company is answering common questions  that they have received regarding the new rules.

"It does not impact how people communicate privately with friends or family," assured the head of WhatsApp.

Cathcart also shared a  detailed  link of WhatsApp's FAQ section answering the "common questions".

Details to follow.

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COURTESY THE NEWS

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• • ISPR chief says tea will be offered if PDM leaders come to Rawalpindi • Bajwa, Faiz meet PM, discuss security matters

ISLAMABAD: The Army has rejected opposition’s criticism of meddling in political affairs, saying there is no reason for the opposition alliance — Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) — to march on Rawalpindi, the home to the military headquarters.

“I do not see any reason for them to come to Rawalpindi. If they ever come we will serve them ‘chai-pani’ (tea and water). We will look after them well,” said military spokesman Maj Gen Babar Iftikhar while responding to a question at a presser on Monday.

PDM chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman had after a meeting of the 10-party alliance at Raiwind on Jan 1 hinted that the planned long march could also be directed to Rawalpindi.

Opposition parties have lately been vocal in their criticism of the army for allegedly bringing Prime Minister Imran Khan to power by manipulating the 2018 general elections and later influencing governance through a façade of civilian rule. They have demanded that PM Khan step down by Jan 31 or else they would hold a long march to push for his ouster.

Maj Gen Iftikhar, who heads the military’s media wing Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said the army saw no substance in opposition’s allegations. “We have stayed the course and will stay on it,” he asserted.

Rejecting the allegation of manipulation of 2018 polls, the ISPR director general said the government had asked the army for supporting the electoral exercise. “We conducted the elections with full responsibility and honesty,” he maintained.

“If anyone has any doubt then national institutions are working, they can be approached and they can decide,” he added.

Regretting the criticism, Maj Gen Iftikhar said: “It’s not a good thing.”

“The army does not need to enter the political fray, nor should it be dragged into it,” he said asking the politicians to keep the military out of their squabbles.

The military sees the allegations as an attempt to draw a wedge between the army and the masses.

The presser was seen in military circles to be containing a ‘powerful message’ that “unity and singleness of purpose was the way forward and reply to enemy’s grand design of creating chaos and wedge between people and institutions.”

Security situation

The spokesman, while giving an overview of the internal security situation, said the capacities of the terrorist groups to operate in the country had been significantly diminished.

“There is [no] organised terrorist infrastructure on the ground now. … The terrorists are on the run. It may look that there is a surge in the terrorism incidents, but as a matter of fact there aren’t high impact incidents anymore. Their capacity to execute high impact incidents has been diminished significantly,” he said.

The reduction in number of terrorism incidents and the resulting casualties is being seen as an indicator of the weakening of the terrorist groups because of relentless counter-terrorism operations.

About Daesh, the DG ISPR acknowledged the existence of its footprint, but said it was very limited in scale. “It’s there. They are trying. There are splinter groups of different organisations, which keep taking their names to gather some mass or achieve credibility,” he said.

Daesh, or the so-called Islamic State, has lately been in focus because of the Jan 3 Mach killing of 11 coal miners.

“We are aware about the capability of this organisation, who is supporting them, where the money is coming from and we are going after them,” he further said alluding to Indian support for the global terror outfit.

“They will not be able to establish any kind of permanent foot print here with the way our (counter-terrorism) operations are going,” Maj Gen Iftikhar said.

The spokesman said that Balochistan was facing threats, but the situation was under control. He expressed the hope for further improvement in near future.

Chief of the Army Staff Gen Qamar Bajwa is scheduled to visit Quetta later this week.

COAS calls on PM

Meanwhile, COAS Gen Bajwa and Director General Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lt Gen Faiz Hameed met Prime Minister Imran Khan for a discussion on national security.

PM’s Office, in a statement, said it was resolved that the perpetrators of Mach incident would be brought to justice.

The continuous human rights violations in India-held Kashmir and the frequent ceasefire violations by Indian forces over the Line of Control also came under discussion.

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COURTESY DAWN NEWS

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UNITED NATIONS, JAN 11: India’s bid to assume the chairmanship of some of the most important subsidiary bodies of the UN Security Council could not muster support from other members of the 15-nation body, according to diplomatic sources. 

The sources said that the Indians pushed for, but failed, to secure the chairmanship of the powerful 1267 Al-Qaeda/Daesh Sanctions Committee and the 1540 Non-proliferation Committee and also to become the custodian of the Afghanistan file in the Security Council.

Aware of India’s narrow bilateral agenda to utilise the Al-Qaeda and Daesh Sanctions Committee for its own purposes, the vast majority of the Council members were opposed to giving India the chairmanship of this key committee. A Council source told this news agency that India tried its utmost, until the very last moment, to get this position, lobbying intensively in New York and in the capitals of the Council’s members, but it failed to convince them.

According to the source, it is no secret that New Delhi’s bid for the post was designed to advance India’s own agenda, mainly against Pakistan. "The work of the Al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee is too important to be given in the hands of the Indians,” an African diplomat remarked.

Pakistan last year submitted four listings of Indian nationals for supporting Tehreek-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Jamaatul Ahrar (JuA) in Afghanistan. But these listings were blocked by some of India’s friends in the Al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee. More recently, Pakistan also conveyed information on the financing and arming of the TTP and JuA, the two terrorist groups listed on the committee’s terrorism list.

Similarly, India’s bid for the Non-proliferation Committee encountered resistance in the Security Council, diplomats said.

Many Western countries considered that India was not suited to head this important panel since it is not a party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). This raises a serious question mark regarding New Delhi’s nuclear status.

India also wanted to manage the Afghanistan issue in the Security Council but found that even some of its close friends felt that India’s role would not be positive in advancing the Afghan peace process. The Afghan file was given instead to two European countries, which the Council members consider will play a more impartial and constructive role in the present delicate phase of the situation in Afghanistan.

As a sop to India’s wounded pride, it was given the chairmanship of the 1988-Taliban Sanctions Committee, where the proposals for listing and delisting of individuals rests mainly with the US and other permanent members of the Council and the chair’s role is minimal. About the hype created by the Indian UN Mission about assuming the chairmanship of the 1373 Counter Terrorism Committee (CTC), a Western diplomat noted that India has been given only a one-year rather than the normal two-year term as the chair of this currently dormant committee and that too deferred until next year when the incumbent chair leaves the Council. In addition, India will head the Libya sanctions committees which is also lying dormant.

All in all, it’s not been a good start for India’s domestically heralded two-year term on the Security Council, according to UN diplomats.

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COURTESY THE NEWS

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LAHORE, JAN 11: Elon Reeve Musk, world's richest man with US$209 billion (equivalent to Rs33,649 billion Pakistani rupees) in his wallet on Jan 7, 2021, has asked his 29.8 million Twitter followers to start using the California-based ‘Signal’ messaging Application, owned by Facebook, which has over 1.7 billion users globally.

Following Elon Musk's tweet, more than 100,000 users hurriedly installed ‘Signal’ across the app stores of Apple and Google during the last two days, making its application crash, though there is no estimate as to how many people have actually parted ways with Whatsapp and opted for Signal messenger.

Various American media houses have stated that Musk's tweet arrived just hours after WhatsApp had announced a new privacy policy, according to which, it can share user data with Facebook, which has quite an unenviable record on digital privacy.

Some asserted that it was an apparent attempt to discourage people from using WhatsApp, which has given its users a deadline of February 8 to accept the new policy or cease using the wildly-popular app altogether.

The Whatsapp categorically states: "You must register for our Services using accurate data, provide your current mobile phone number, and, if you change it, update this mobile phone number using our in-app change number feature.

You agree to receive text messages and phone calls (from us or our third-party providers) with codes to register for our services. You provide us the phone numbers of WhatsApp users and your other contacts in your mobile phone address book on a regular basis. You confirm you are authorised to provide us such numbers to allow us to provide our services."

It adds: "You are responsible for all carrier data plan and other fees and taxes associated with your use of our services. We may charge you for our services, including applicable taxes. We may refuse or cancel orders. We do not provide refunds for our services, except as required by law. You must use our services according to our terms and posted policies. If we disable your account for a violation of our terms, you will not create another account without our permission.

In order to operate and provide our services, you grant WhatsApp a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, sublicensable, and transferable licence to use, reproduce, distribute, create derivative works of, display, and perform the information (including the content) that you upload, submit, store, send, or receive on or through our services."

Quite a stern and strong-worded ultimatum for millions of people of all ages who tend to take WhatsApp as their best friend in hours of solitude and are not shy confessing it!

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COURTESY THE NEWS

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BAKU, JAN 10: Jeyhun Bayramov Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan deeply saddened by the news on tragic plane crash near Jakarta.

He expressed his most sincere condolences to the families who lost their loved ones in this tragic plane accident .

Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov said, our support and solidarity is with brotherly People of Indonesia!”.

COURTESY azerbaycan24.com

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JAKARTA, JAN 10: As reported earlier, a Sriwijaya Air plane with 62 people on board lost contact after taking off from Indonesia’s capital Jakarta on a domestic flight on Saturday and rescuers said suspected debris had been found in the sea off the city.

The Azerbaijani Embassy in Indonesia tried to get information about the presence of Azerbaijani citizens on the plane by contacting the Indonesian Foreign Ministry.

According to the Embassy, Indonesian Foreign Ministry said that there were no foreigners on the plane. The embassy will be informed in case of new information during the investigation. 

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COURTESY azerbaycan24.com

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