FARUKH SHEHZAD

BAKU, MAY 2021: In the evening of May 17, 2021, National Security Adviser to the President of the United States Jake Sullivan made a telephone call to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, informs the press-service of the Azerbaijani head of state.

During the telephone conversation, the parties expressed satisfaction with bilateral relations. They noted the importance of these relations for both countries, as well as for ensuring peace and security in the region.

Jake Sullivan expressed his concerns over the recent tension on the Azerbaijani-Armenian border and stressed the importance of peaceful resolution of such disagreements. He also underscored the need for constructive discussions between the sides for the demarcation of the international border. Jake Sullivan conveyed the United States' commitment to achieving reconciliation in the region.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev stated that we are committed to ensuring peace and stability in the region. The President positively evaluated the post-conflict situation in the region. The President of the Republic of Azerbaijan noted that the situation in the region, including the Azerbaijani-Armenian border, has been stable for six months since the end of the conflict.

President Ilham Aliyev agreed with the US President's National Security Adviser on the need for commencing talks on the delimitation of the international border between Azerbaijan and Armenia, and emphasised the importance of this process to be conducted in accordance with the trilateral statement dated November 10, 2020.

President Ilham Aliyev noted that Armenia's inadequate response to border tensions and attempts to internationalise the issue could lead to increased tensions in the region, and stressed the importance of peacefully resolving all disputes within the negotiation process.

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COURTESY azeridaily

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What's important when you have big dreams in life?

Exclusive Farukh Shehzad

Editor-In-Chief / Diplomaticnewspk.blog

Today I will be sharing my own experience to make you understand what elements you need to carry with yourself while dreaming big in your life.

Things to achieve in life, they might be difficult, hard and tough but not impossible to get there.

As we all know that when you begin work on any project you face many hurdles and it seems almost impossible to complete that project handsomely in a great fashion initially.

That is exactly what happened to me when I began learning graphic designing because I was super new into this project, did not know anything about graphic design, these were my early days of learning and I had attended 6 classes of graphic design but nothing was going into the mind and things were becoming more difficult and now while learning somewhere at the back of my mind different kinds of thoughts were running, like will I be able to make it or not? No, You understood nothing after attending 6 classes of graphic design so this project is hard for you to learn.

I was feeling super uncomfortable as these negative thoughts were moving into my mind.

What is important when you have big dreams in life?

But one day i visited a Submarine Assembling factory in Korea.

Submarine is the highly important part of Navy Department in any county and it has a huge size with heavy weight and it runs deep inside the ocean.

So, what I witnessed in the Submarine assembling factory in Korea that there were human beings with the height between 5 to 6 feet were preparing different parts of Submarine thru several ways and then and I saw them assembling all huge parts of Submarine, Finally they assembled all of its parts to get ready for the first official drive in the ocean.

So, while witnessing all those human beings were preparing huge parts of Submarine... At that point of time I thought that if these people can prepare the huge parts of Submarine quite easily and efficiently why can not you learn graphic designing with ease.

So, now once again I have started learning graphic designing because that Korea visit inspired me a lot and helped me in making things more easier.

 And now I have been learning graphic designing without any stress and difficulty, which sounds cool.

Concluding Remarks:

When you are looking to achieve big goals and you have big dreams in life so it is highly important that you always keep yourself inspired and motivated.

To always stay motivated keep watching people working on big projects that inspired you a lot, this will help you in achieving big dreams in life.

Now learning graphic designing has become much easier for me.

I hope, this article will help to specially those who feel unmotivated while learning any big project in life.

Always remember, Inspiration is the key to success!!!

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ISLAMABAD, MAY 18: Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa on Monday said that Pakistan desired strong ties with the European Union.

Talking to Ambassador of European Union Androulla Kaminara, who called on him at the General Headquarters, Gen Bajwa, according to the ISPR, said: “Pakistan values its relations with EU and earnestly looks forward to enhance mutually beneficial multi-domain relations based on common interests.”

Anti-France protests in Pakistan last month and calls for expelling the French envoy raised questions about the resilience of Pakistan’s relations with the European Union. Government’s agreements with the group leading the agitation reinforced some of those doubts.

Gen Bajwa’s comments were, therefore, seen as an attempt to clarify some of those concerns.

Regional security situation, including recent developments in the Afghan peace process, had been discussed during the meeting, the ISPR said.

Ms Kaminara, it added, appreciated Pakistan’s efforts for peace and stability in the region, especially for the Afghan peace process.

The EU ambassador also met federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry.

During the meeting, the minister expressed Pakistan’s deep concern and anguish over the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza. He said the international community had an obligation to help normalise the situation and facilitate a just solution.

The EU ambassador said Vice President Borell had called a meeting of the foreign ministers of EU member states on May 18 to discuss the situation. The meeting was convened to coordinate and discuss how the EU could best contribute to end the current violence, she added.

During the meeting, both sides also exchanged views on the Covid-19 pandemic situation in Pakistan.

The minister said the government was undertaking all possible steps to contain the pandemic through timely decisions and effective preventive measures.

Ms Kaminara appreciated the steps taken by the Pakistan government to protect people from the pandemic. She also appreciated the rise in Pakistan’s exports despite the pandemic.

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COURTESY DAWN NEWS

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ISLAMABAD, MAY 17: Foreign Minister of Pakistan Shah Mehmood Qureshi has departed for special diplomatic mission to Turkey as per PM Imran Khan’s directives. He will then be accompanied by Turkish, Sudanese & Palestinians Foreign Ministers to NYC for raising voice against Israel’s atrocities on Palestinians.

Foreign Minister of Pakistan said, Israel’s barbarism has killed upto 200 Palestinians. Pakistan will raise voice for Palestine on each forum. We also hope European Parliamentarians will also raise their voice for protection of human lives in their upcoming EU session.

Earlier FM Qureshi said that Pakistan is ready to join hands with other OIC member states in any move to stop this on-going bloodshed and to restore human dignity & human rights of Palestinian people in occupied territories,”.

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The COVID-19 pandemic took the world by surprise. 

Globally, everything has stopped. Projects have been delayed, workplaces closed and schools shut down. The world seems to have ground to a halt because of the novel coronavirus.

However, students continue their education through online learning and via video calls with their teachers, especially in big cities such as Jakarta. The model is currently the best alternative as keeping schools open poses a safety risk for students.

Globally, many countries have adopted this approach. Schools in New York, the United States, prepared for online learning by distributing gadgets to their students, ensuring they had access to learning materials. As of early April, education authorities distributed around 500,000 laptops and tablets to their students, allowing them to participate in classes online.

When the first two COVID-19 cases were announced in Indonesia in early March, the country was in a panic. On March 14, Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan announced that all schools in Jakarta were to be closed. However, many schools were not ready to apply home learning programs yet. The online classes implemented in Indonesia work differently from those in the US. This is due to a lack of preparation in this country.

As a student participating in the home-learning program, online school was confusing to adjust to as we had not been prepared through simulations or practices beforehand. Students reported the home-learning program to be even more stressful than regular classrooms. Some of the common reasons for this went along the lines of: "Normal classes may have been difficult, but having friends makes it so much more manageable and less stressful. Online classes take out the benefits of having friends to socialize with and being stuck alone with nothing but assignments."

Many students participating in home-learning programs also say that the workload of online classes is larger than that of regular classes. The general consensus is that home-learning programs — although highly beneficial and a good alternative to school as schools are closed — still require some getting used to by students, as it is a novel concept and not many are experienced with them.

However, although the closing of schools does have a silver lining (home-learning programs where students are still able to learn), the true sufferers of the government order of school closings are the students in less fortunate situations and the students who are in schools that are not well-funded.

This is because those students lack the devices and internet access to be able to participate in online classes, and the schools do not have the capacity to teach online. Unlike in New York where devices are distributed to students by schools and private companies, in Indonesia, there is yet to be this kind of effort.

This leaves many students in a bad spot where they are unable to receive an education. Although internet service providers have been giving out free data packages, they are simply not capable of supporting video calls on programs such as Zoom.

To further complicate things, it seems that COVID-19 will last a while in Indonesia. For context, in China, it took months for the transmissions to stabilize — and this was with a fast government response, instant lockdown and people obeying the rules and quarantine policies.

Despite the lack of a nation-wide lockdown, schools remain closed, meaning that students who have no access to a device or internet connection will have a difficult time maintaining their education. Due to these factors, they will be in a very difficult spot educationally until the COVID-19 pandemic dies down in Indonesia. In this situation, the government should make extra efforts to support the education sector and build a sense of solidarity among schools, such as by facilitating networks between international and national/public schools to share experiences and study methodologies for online teaching.

Thankfully, there are now some alternatives to online learning in which students in less fortunate situations could participate. The Education and Culture Ministry recently introduced a Belajar di Rumah (Learning at Home) program through state-owned broadcaster TVRI (for the next three months) and a platform called Guru Berbagi (Teachers Sharing), providing creating learning and teaching materials. To add on to this, however, the government should still have more offline options for students without internet access, such as the distribution of books and learning materials.

Personally, I feel that online classes are a great alternative to normal in-school classes. As a 10th grader participating in online classes right now, I have been able to focus more and perform better.

The presence of COVID-19 will directly and permanently change education in the future, seeing that we must be able to adapt to working and studying online for any kind of reasons and situations. I believe, both TVRI’s Belajar di Rumah program and the Guru Berbagi platform will leave a legacy and should be continued to support class teachings for good.

Only time will tell whether online classes will be a good substitute for normal classes, and if they are, there will be a rise in online educational programs and online universities. (kes)

Rarkryan is a 10th-grade student at BINUS School Simprug

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COURTESY thejakartapost

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ISLAMABAD, MAY 17: The 24th Winter Olympic Games, also known as the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics will be grandly held from February 4, 2022. Let’s meet in Beijing and together experience the passion and excitement of the Beijing Winter Olympics.

VISION: Joyful rendezvous upon pure ice & snow uniting the passion of hundreds of millions for winter sports.

MISSION: Deliver a fantastic, extraordinary and excellent Beijing 2022 Winter Games, which are green, inclusive, open and clean.

KEY MESSAGES:

Inspire the youth with the Olympic spirit.

Encourage millions to embrace winter sports.

Promote social progress through Winter Games.

Create a harmonious world of better mutual understanding.

The Chinese government attaches great importance to the preparations for the Beijing 2022 Winter Games.

Xi Jinping pointed out in a phone conversation with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach that China is willing to join the IOC and other countries in ensuring safe and smooth hosting of the Tokyo Olympics and the Beijing Winter Olympics, and contributing to an early victory for the international community over the pandemic, recovery of the world economy, and safeguarding the lives and health of the people of all countries.

At present, the construction of venues and infrastructure for the Beijing Winter Olympics has achieved phased progress. The organization of the Games has been carried out in an orderly manner, the service guarantee for the Games is being conducted in an all-round way, publicity and promotion are warming up, in-depth international exchanges and cooperation are unfolding, and sustainable development and heritage work have seen remarkable progress.

China takes the preparation for the Beijing Winter Olympics as an opportunity to promote the popularization and development of winter sports. The Chinese side, with strong support from various parties, will complete all preparation work as scheduled, so as to ensure the Beijing Winter Olympics a complete success. Beijing, the only city in the world that has hosted the Summer and Winter Olympics, will make unique contributions to the international Olympic Movement.

President Thomas Bach reaffirmed that the IOC supports China's concept of hosting a green, inclusive, open and clean Winter Olympics and stands ready to work with China to ensure a successful, splendid and safe Games, which will not only realize the vision of promoting winter sports among 300 million Chinese people, but also strongly advance the development of international Olympic Movement. The IOC stays committed to upholding the Olympic spirit and opposing the politicization of sports and is ready to continue strengthening long-term strategic cooperation with China.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged organisers of the 2022 Winter Olympics to fulfill China’s commitment of hosting a “fantastic, extraordinary and excellent Games” and stresses a “green, inclusive, open and clean Olympic Games.”

GREEN: giving priority to ecological preservation, conserving resources and environmental friendliness in a bid to distinguish the Beijing 2022 Winter Games with Chinese characteristics.

INCLUSIVE: providing opportunities for the public to participate, jointly contribute and share to help the Beijing 2022 Winter Games bring about a productive society.

OPEN: opening up to the world, future and modernisation in an effort to make the Beijing 2022 Winter Games drive China’s opening up.

CLEAN: hosting an economical, clean and efficient Games with the aim to ensure the Beijing 2022 Winter Games is as pure as ice and snow.

Opening on 4 February 2022, the Games will feature 7 sports, 15 disciplines and 109 events. The disciplines include Short Track Speed Skating, Speed Skating, Figure Skat - ing, Ice Hockey, Curling, Bobsleigh, Skeleton, Luge, Biathlon, Nordic Combined, Ski Jumping, Freestyle Skiing, Alpine Skiing, Cross-Country Skiing and Snowboard.

The Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games will comprise of 6 sports, including Para Biathlon, Wheelchair Curling, Para Ice Hockey, Para Alpine Skiing, Para Cross-Country Skiing and Para Snowboard.

The Beijing Zone, with a total of 28 competition and non-competition venues (17 existing, 6 newly-built, 3 temporary and 2 other pending venues), will host the opening and closing ceremonies and 37 events across 7 disciplines (Curling, Ice Hockey, Short Track Speed Skating, Figure Skating, Speed Skating, Snowboard and Freestyle Skiing) of 4 winter sports (Curling, Ice Hockey, Skating and Skiing) during the Olympic Winter Games.

The Yanqing Zone, located 74 kilometres northwest of Central Beijing, and with a total of 5 competition and non-competition venues, will host 21 events across 4 disciplines (Alpine Skiing, Bobsleigh, Skeleton and Luge) of 3 sports (Alpine Skiing, Bobsleigh and Luge) during the Olympic Winter Games.

Zhangjiakou City is located in the northwest of Hebei Province and about 180 kilometres away from Beijing. The Zhangjiakou Zone, with a total of 10 competition and non-competition venues, will host 51 events across 6 disciplines (Snowboard, Freestyle Skiing, Cross-Country Skiing, Ski Jumping, Nordic Combined and Biathlon) of Skiing and Biathlon during the Olympic Winter Games.

Beijing 2022 Mascot for the Olympic Winter Games

Bing Dwen Dwen

Cheerful Panda as Olympic Mascot

The jovial panda mascot is an ambassador for winter sports. Bing (冰) is the Chinese character for ice, while Dwen Dwen (墩墩) is a common nickname in China for children that implies healthiness, cuteness, and ingenuousness – characteristics also shared with pandas.

Clothed in a full body suit of ice, a symbol of purity and strength, Bing Dwen Dwen wants to emulate the physical and mental power of Olympians, and to help spread the enduring Olympic spirit. The heart shape in its left palm represents the host country’s hospitality, and the mascot is expected to connect and bring joy to people participating and watching the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 from all over the world.

The coloured halo surrounding its face is suggestive of ice and snow tracks, as well as the flowing “ribbons” on the exterior of the National Speed Skating Oval, one of two new competition venues in the Beijing zone that is expected to become a landmark of the Games.

The dynamic lines of the halo also embody the increased connectivity in the era of 5G communications. Resembling an astronaut, Bing Dwen Dwen stands for Beijing 2022’s embrace of new technologies that will bring about a future with infinite possibilities.

Beijing 2022 Mascot for the Paralympic Winter Games

Shuey Rhon Rhon

Glowing Lantern as Paralympic Mascot

Shuey Rhon Rhon (雪容融) is a Chinese lantern child ready to welcome friends from around the world for a big party. Exuding positivity, the glow emanating from its heart symbolises the inspiring warmth, friendship, courage, and perseverance of Para athletes that light up the dreams of millions every day.

The Chinese lantern is a millennia-old cultural symbol associated with harvest, celebration, prosperity, and brightness. Red is the most auspicious and festive colour in the country, and is all the more fitting given that the Games will coincide with Chinese New Year celebrations in February and March 2022.

The overall design on Shuey Rhon Rhon draws from traditional Chinese papercut art and Ruyi ornaments, and features doves, Beijing’s iconic Temple of Heaven, and snow to symbolise peace, friendship, and good fortune.

Shuey has the same pronunciation as 雪, the Chinese character for snow. The first Rhon (容) in the mascot’s Chinese name means “to include, to tolerate”, while the second Rhon (融) means “to melt, to fuse” and “warm”. The name expresses the hope that there would be more inclusion for people with impairments, and more dialogue and understanding between cultures of the world.

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JAKARTA, MAY 17: Indonesia has reiterated its call for international leaders' support to end violence during and ahead of international forums that seek to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

"Indonesia strongly condemns Israel’s attacks, which have resulted in the loss of hundreds of lives, including women and children. Israel's aggression must be put to a stop," President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo said on Twitter on Saturday.

Jokowi has been urging the United Nations Security Council, which was due to meet on Sunday, to take measures against what he described as repeated violations carried out by Israel, saying on Monday that Indonesia would continue to stand with the people of Palestine.

Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi attended an emergency meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Sunday evening, in which she tried to push the OIC to have a stronger stance on ending the violence.

“We are focusing on gaining international support so we can put huge pressure on Israel to stop the violence,” Abdul Kadir Jailani, director general for Asia Pacific and Africa, who accompanied Retno at the OIC meeting, told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.

The tensions between Israel and Palestine drew international outcry after the severe escalation of violence in Gaza and East Jerusalem. Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip killed eight children and demolished a building housing media offices, sparking international outcry.

Before the OIC meeting, Retno reached out to several counterparts, such as the foreign ministers of Egypt, Malaysia and Brunei, regarding this issue.

At the OIC meetings, Indonesia proposed three key points to resolve the conflict, including the need to unite support for Palestinian independence.  Retno also suggested that each country use its influence to encourage a ceasefire and that the OIC has to work harder to restart credible multilateral negotiations. “Together we have to act now. The Palestinian people deserve justice. And I emphasize that Indonesia will continue to support the Palestinian struggle,” she told a press conference on the sidelines of the OIC meeting.

If the UNSC fails to take action, the UN General Assembly must hold an emergency meeting, Retno said, adding that the OIC would urge it to implement international protection to protect Palestinians and the Al Aqsa Mosque area. “The OIC calls on the international community to stop the ongoing Israeli settlement colonization of occupied Palestinian land, and reaffirms its position in supporting Palestinian independence,” Retno told the press. Later on Sunday, in a statement issued after the emergency meeting, the OIC condemned "in the strongest terms Israel's brutal aggression" against the Palestinian people.

The statement, carried by Saudi state media, called for an immediate halt to the attacks on civilians, saying they were "a violation of international law and the UN resolutions", Reuters reported. Sunday's UNSC meeting is set to take place after Israel ally Washington, which has been criticized for not doing enough to stem the bloodshed, blocked another meeting scheduled for Friday. Several days earlier, Retno also sent out messages to foreign ministers from Vietnam, India and Norway, all of which are UN security council nonpermanent members. “We have been communicating with India, with Norway, and some members of the UNSC. We have conveyed our hopes to the members of the Security Council who have similar concerns,” Kadir said. “We expect the Security Council to take firm action regarding Israeli aggression even though we know this will not be easy."

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres was "dismayed" by civilian casualties in Gaza and "deeply disturbed" by Israel's strike on the tower housing news bureaus, a spokesperson said Saturday as reported by AFP. Guterres "reminds all sides that any indiscriminate targeting of civilian and media structures violates international law and must be avoided at all costs", he said.

The heaviest fighting since 2014 between Israel and Islamist group Hamas, sparked by unrest in Jerusalem, has claimed 174 lives in the crowded coastal enclave of Gaza and killed 10 people in Israel since last Monday. Both Israel and Hamas, the Islamist group that runs the enclave, insisted they would continue their cross-border fire after Israel destroyed a 13-floor building in Gaza City that housed the Qatar-based Al Jazeera and the Associated Press news agency.

US President Joe Biden expressed his "grave concern" over violence in Israel and Gaza in a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Saturday, while separately telling President Mahmoud Abbas that Hamas must "cease firing rockets." Speaking on the sixth day of a paroxysm of Israeli-Palestinian violence that has left scores dead or wounded, Biden expressed his "strong support" for Israel's right to defend itself against rocket attacks by "Hamas and other terrorist groups", in his call with Netanyahu, while also emphasizing his clear concern over the deadly flare-up and casualties on both sides, as well as for the safety of journalists.

In a televised statement late Saturday, Netanyahu thanked Biden for "unequivocal support". Netanyahu told the US that Israel was doing its utmost to safeguard civilians in its Gaza bombing campaign. "The proof is that towers containing terror sites are cleared of uninvolved people prior to being attacked," he said. Balls of flame and a mushroom cloud of debris shot into the sky Saturday afternoon as Israel's air force flattened the Gaza building housing Al Jazeera and AP, after giving a warning to evacuate. Israeli defence officials said the building housed not only news bureaus but offices of Hamas militants.

Both Al Jazeera and AP condemned the attack, with AP asking Israel to put forward evidence, Reuters reported. Hamas began its rocket assault on Monday after weeks of tensions over a court case to evict several Palestinian families in East Jerusalem, and in retaliation for Israeli police clashes with Palestinians near the city's Al Aqsa Mosque, Islam's third-holiest site, during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Hamas, Islamic Jihad and other militant groups have fired more than 2,000 rockets from Gaza since Monday, the Israeli military said on Saturday. Israel has launched more than 1,000 air and artillery strikes into the densely populated coastal strip, saying they were aimed at Hamas and other militant targets.

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COURTESY thejakartapost

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ISLAMABAD, MAY 17: Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed on Monday said that the name of Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif has been added to the exit control list (ECL) after approval from the federal cabinet.

Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry also stated that the PML-N president's name had been added to the no-fly list after approval from the cabinet and completion of legal formalities. "The relevant record has been updated in this regard," he said on Twitter.

The opposition leader's name is already on the provisional national identification list (PNIL) meant to impose a temporary bar on someone to leave the country, according to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) that stopped him at airport from travelling abroad on May 8.

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, the interior minister said that Shehbaz had not submitted any medical documents for travelling abroad or specify the treatment for his illness.

"He was the guarantor for his brother Nawaz. But instead of bringing him back, he was trying to flee without having any sehri. This is the only country in the world where, in the span of a day, a case was accepted for hearing, a decision was announced [...] and a ticket was booked."

All the accused in the case are on the ECL except Shehbaz, he said, adding that under the Constitution all suspects are to be treated the same. He added that the PML-N president also did not submit a request to the court for appointing a representative.

He said that the interior ministry had issued a notification after receiving approval from the cabinet, adding that Shehbaz had 15 days to file a review application with the ministry.

Responding to a question from a reporter, he said: "If Nawaz Sharif did not return then why would Shehbaz? This is a matter of common sense."

Cabinet given proposal to put Shehbaz’s name on ECL

Earlier this month, the Lahore High Court granted Shehbaz permission to travel abroad once for medical treatment.

After obtaining bail, Shehbaz was about to fly to London on May 8 when an FIA team at the airport stopped him from travelling on the grounds that his name had been on the list of persons barred from leaving the country.

On May 12, the interior minister announced that a sub-committee of the federal cabinet had recommended that the name of Shehbaz be placed on the ECL, adding that the recommendation was being sent to the cabinet for a final decision.

The recommendation unanimously made by the sub-committee that considered a National Accountability Bureau (NAB) request to this effect was being sent to the cabinet for a final decision, the minister had said while addressing a joint press conference with Adviser to the Prime Minister on Interior and Accountability Barrister Mirza Shahzad Akbar.

He had said that PML-N leaders were trying to escape the country only due to the reopening of Hudaibiya Paper Mills case. “They chose the time of sehri to run away knowing that the [Hudaibiya Paper Mills] case was about to be reopened.”

Speaking at the presser, PM’s aide Shahzad Akbar had said that if Shehbaz had been allowed to go abroad, the proceedings of multiple cases against him would come to a halt.

Barrister Akbar was of the opinion that the HPM case was closed on technical grounds, but factually it did not come to its logical conclusion. He had said any case could be reopened if new evidence surfaced, explaining that the case had never gone to trial, because the Sharifs ‘made a deal’ and fled to Saudi Arabia in 2000.

He had said the LHC decision noted that neither the NAB nor the federal government wanted to pursue the case so it was ‘closed on technical grounds’. “The institution that should have appealed did not do so in time and when it did after years, of course, the Supreme Court said the time had passed. This is why the case was closed. Factually, it has not ended,” he had reiterated.

The PM’s aide had disclosed that other cases related to the Sharifs would also be reopened. “The case was closed but the crime exists. Because that is being opened, their attempts to flee are increasing and the government will take action on that as well,” he had argued.

Barrister Akbar had said the subcommittee had made the recommendation to place Shehbaz’s name on the ECL because his trial before an accountability court in Lahore was under way, while cases such as Ramzan Sugar Mills case, Chaudhry Sugar Mills case and other investigations by the FIA had also been under way.

“If Shehbaz was allowed to leave, all these cases would face delays and would be an infringement on the rights of the co-accused in the cases,” he had said.

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COURTESY DAWN NEWS

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• Underline need for a two-state solution

• Palestinian FM rebukes US, other powers for defending Israel

UNITED NATIONS, MAY 17: All members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), who participated in an emergency meeting on the situation in Palestine on Sunday, urged Israel not to make demographic and territorial changes in the occupied territory and immediately cease its hostilities.

The UNSC members also underlined the need for a two-state solution, with Palestinians having an independent state with internationally recognised borders.

“What has happened proves once again that an enduring settlement can only be achieved on the basis of the two-state solution,” said Foreign Minister Wang Yi of China, which holds the council’s rotating presidency for the month of May.

All members also urged Hamas to immediately stop rocket attacks into Israel, reminding both sides that nothing could justify targeting civilians.

This was the 3rd Security Council meeting on Palestine convened this week. On Wednesday, the United States blocked the council from issuing a statement that expressed “deep concern over the latest situation in Gaza and called for an immediate cessation of hostilities”.

Mr Wang chaired the debate, which showed a growing alarm at the possibility of this conflict turning into an all-out war in the region. “We urge Israel to honestly fulfil its obligations under international law, promptly and fully lift the blockade on and besiege of Gaza and guarantee the security and rights of the civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,” he said.

The Security Council, Mr Wang said, shouldered the primary responsibility for safeguarding international peace and security. But “regrettably, simply because of the obstruction by one country, the council hasn’t been able to speak with one voice”, said the chief Chinese delegate, taking a dig at the US for blocking resolutions condemning Israel.

Reminding the world body that it needs to resolve the Palestinian issues now, Mr Wang said: “Justice is already running late, but it must not be forever absent.”

UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who was the first of nearly two dozen speakers, warned that the latest round of violence “only perpetuates the cycles of death, destruction and despair, and pushes farther to the horizon any hopes of coexistence and peace”.

Appealing to all parties to heed his call for peace, Mr Guterres said: “Fighting must stop. It must stop immediately.”

Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Al Maliki used the meeting to vent his community’s longstanding grievances, reminding the world that Israel has always been allowed to get away excesses and atrocities it committed against the people of Palestine. He implicitly rebuked the United States and other powers for defending Israel, which “further emboldened it to continue murdering entire families in their sleep”.

Gilad Erdan, Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations, who spoke after Mr Maliki, blamed Palestinians for attacking Israeli citizens.

Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US Ambassador to the United Nations, said President Joe Biden had spoken with Israeli and Palestinian leaders, while Secretary of State Antony Blinken had also been engaging with his counterparts in the region. She called on Hamas to stop its rocket-barrage against Israel, expressed concern over inter-communal violence and warned against incitement on both sides.

“The human toll of this past week has been devastating,” she said, adding: “It’s time to end the cycle of violence.”

Riad Al Maliki thanked China for convening this meeting, saying: “No words can describe the horrors our people are enduring. Entire families being killed, including children as young as five and pregnant women.” Israel, he said, was working on a deliberate plan to uproot Palestinians from Jerusalem and kill them in Gaza, one family at a time.

He urged the UN members to ponder over two questions: what are Palestinians entitled to do to defend themselves? Should their actions be seen as self-defence, or terrorism?

Mr Maliki also urged the international community to decide how they were going to stop the Israeli aggression: sanctions, military intervention, further talks or by doing nothing. “Israel keeps telling you to put yourselves in their shoes, but they are not wearing shoes, they are wearing military boots,” he said.

Talking about the eviction of Palestinian families from their homes, Mr Maliki asked: “How can real estate agents steal what does not belong to them?”

The Israeli envoy, however, claimed that property dispute in Sheikh Jarrah did not cause the Hamas retaliation, it’s a political design, representing “internal Palestinian political maneuverings. Israel, he said, had decided to “stop the aggression once and for all”.

The Norwegian foreign minister noted that the situation in the region had deteriorated significantly and risked further escalation. “As long as there is no peace, no two-state solution, there will be no lasting peace,” warned the chief Norwegian diplomat.

Ireland also participated in the debate, underlining the need for “proportionality, and accountability for the actions of the Israeli security forces”.

Both Norway and Ireland condemned the Israeli attack on the media tower, calling it an attack on press freedom. Both also called for an end to the expansion of illegal settlements and eviction of Palestinians.

“Unacknowledged grievances for many years are the main source of the frustration of the Palestinian people,” said the Irish envoy.

US ambassador Greenfield told both sides that now was the time to end this “cycle of violence, halt rocket attacks and ongoing inter-communal violence in Israel. She also called for ending evictions, illegal settlements, including from Jerusalem. She said the ongoing violence would hurt the talks for a two-state solution.

Ms Greenfield spoke of a future when Israel and Palestinian states could live “side by side in peace, within internationally recognised borders”. “We need to do everything we can for the day when Israelis and Palestinians can live in peace and dignity.”

The Russian representative said the main cause of this new escalation was the absence of a negotiation process on all fundamental issues. “We condemn attempts to change the historic and territorial status of the region,” he said.

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COURTESY DAWN NEWS

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After two decades of U.S. warfare in Afghanistan, President Joe Biden has announced the date for the withdrawal of U.S. troops and ends the longest war. According to him, the United States wills withdrawal its entire military forces from Afghanistan military bases by 9/11/2021.

Many Afghanistan politicians do not believe that the U.S. withdraws all of its troops because the central government of Afghanistan does not have adequate preparation after the U.S. withdrawal situation. 

However, in this article, I will explore the thinkable scenarios in Afghanistan after the U.S. troop’s withdrawal?  In this study, I will focus on some possible situations in Afghanistan.

First, achieving peace and construction of Afghanistan National Unity Government (ANUG) is the first possible option post-exit of U.S., Now that foreigners have announced they have left the country, there is no reason for conflict. Such a situation will achieve long peace and stability in Afghanistan and the region; this option needs a comprehensive peace, including internal and external players involved in the coming peace process. 

I look forward to how the Afghan government maintains the balance of power between the Taliban and other political parties; this is very crucial because the imbalance drawback to the collapse of government and Afghanistan will plunge into civil war as we experienced during the Najibullah government as well.

In the external arena, the most affirmative scenario is the situation for the regional country will not be worse. The U.S. will continue its support to the Kabul government in the post-exit era. The external stakeholders, particularly China and Russia, are interested in stability and durable peace in Afghanistan through cooperation with the other regional states (Pakistan, India, Iran, and Turkey). The resolution of the Afghanistan issue will guarantee the security of South and Central Asia its vital for China and Russia because of the core threats to China and Russia from Afghanistan terrorist groups activities, its danger for the U.S. as well.

Another significant reason is that Afghanistan is the gateway to the Central Asian States with potentially untapped energy resources. The regional Actors want direct access through Afghanistan to these natural resources to meet their dire energy demands. Because of American military presence in the region, the regional countries, particularly Iran, Pakistan, China, and Russia, felt threatened. They began to oppose and protect their interests connected with Afghanistan’s peace and security. The notion is that, in the prolonged presence of the United States, these states that have economic and security interests in Afghanistan would be in danger.

China and Afghanistan have several ongoing projects underway, and different transnational actors have sabotaged these projects on several occasions. Likewise, Pakistan has a direct border link with Afghanistan, has several stakes in Afghanistan, and needs access to Central Asia. Pakistan also has concerns about the presence of America. It has also made strong connections with China so that mutual interests could be met by joining hands together.

Similarly, Iran and Russia being strategic partnerships have profound political and economic interests in Afghanistan and arch-rivals of the United States. Both countries have to oppose the actions of the United States and a potential threat for both country’s interests in the Afghan mainland and Central Asia. It means the diverging interests in Afghanistan of regional and American interests, politico-military outcomes would in the long term seem not conducive for lasting peace in Afghanistan unless these could have a political consensus on the said diverging interests vis-à-vis Afghanistan internal reconciliation.

If all stakeholders involving in the Istanbul negotiation, they could form an ANUG that all have so far required. Agree, this will be the best option to end the war, and such a government will be bringing peace and stability in Afghanistan and the region.

Second, maintain the status quo: U.S. President announced the date of the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan, reminding that the United States continued its assistance, exceptionally provide large military and financial aid to Afghanistan.

It is unclear whether such a promise will be fulfilled; if the U.S. keeps its support, particularly military and financial assistance to Kabul, the Afghan security forces have enough power to maintain the status quo after the U.S. exit. In this case, if the peace talks in the Istanbul conference fail, the Kabul government will survive. 

The Afghanistan national army will able to fight against the Taliban and other terrorist groups. Let us remember that Dr. Najib’s government was still strong in terms of power, defense. Still, the main reason was led to his government downfall are the imbalance between internal control and ethnic divisions. Regarding imbalance, we can see the role of General Dostum. In the beginning, he was a core ally with Najib when he turned to the North alliance because he did not see himself in the power position.

The ongoing situations in Afghanistan are similar; the statement should focus on the role of warlords and political parties to maintain the inter balance this significant for the central government to survive. On the other hands, the economic and military support for the Afghanistan government crucial because without external support Afghanistan government cannot survive; if the necessary financial resources for security are not available from external donors at the same times in the government of the internal situation have many challenges such as insurgency, terrorist, ethnicity, corruption, and warlords. The current conditions Afghanistan faces the external and internal threat; the Afghanistan government need to deal with it.

In this situation how the Ghani will deal with post-U.S. withdrawal, he has two choices two survive the first; he imbalance with China and Russia because china can help Afghanistan financially and play a significant role to force Pakistan and Taliban as well, this choice very dangerous if he fails cannot survive if he succeeds he will be overcome both threats. The second is to keep its alliance with the U.S. this situation will maintain the status quo but not bring durable peace and stability in Afghanistan.          

Third, the collapse of government and going to civil war:  after two decades of war, the U.S. shortcut way to bring peace in Afghanistan. Washington tries to face save from withdrawal of Afghanistan. The U.S., represent Khalilzad, has provided a draft Afghanistan Peace Agreement to the Kabul government and Taliban. The core idea is to replace the elected Afghan government with a transnational one that may occur, including Taliban and negotiation between the parties for a future permanent system. 

At the same time, president Ghani receives a letter from U.S. Secretary of state Blinken saying it was “urgent” to “accelerate peace talks” and move “quickly toward a settlement.” The letter also has asked Turkey to host a high-level meeting between the Afghan sides “in the coming weeks to finalize a peace agreement.” Suppose the government is to think of independent defense. The Istanbul conference is a good opportunity for the Taliban and Kabul governments to achieve peace; otherwise, the situation will be worse. The current situations are an important opportunity for all different parties, ideologies, groups, and ethnic groups have come together.

The unification and arrangement of these products is a complex and arduous task and requires compassion and sacrifice. On the other hand, if the Kabul government delays the negation to remain in power and the Taliban also holds up to returning to power by force, this condition will disintegrate because the ethnic, linguistic, religious, and other divisions turn into armed conflict. In the worst-case scenario, then the 1990s, conflict and war and killing will be restarted, and Afghanistan situations will be worse than Iraq and Syria. In conclusion, this paper argues the future situations of Afghanistan after the U.S. force withdrawal from Afghanistan.

During the history of Afghanistan’s statement constantly losing in the diplomatic arena in this crucial moment, how the Ghani governments deal with internal and external issues? All Afghanistan people wish the politicians can play a good role and end the forty-year war and move towards prosperity and stability. If the intra-afghan dialog fails, keep the status quo is also good, at least worse government better than no government, for the benefit of the people and the inhabitants of the big cities, as far as it is acceptable.

It is like being delivered in an explosion and suicide attack in these twenty years, and so on. But if we go to the civil war and ethnic conflict and alley to alley, people will forget the previous civil war. I hope that will not happen. People are starving for peace and stability. It would be suitable for political leaders to abandon their interests, focus on the national interest, and move toward a peaceful and prosperous Afghanistan.

Written by: Hameedullah Nasrat, PhD Scholar, School of International and Public Affairs, Jilin University China.

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