Page 28 - Pakistan Link - October 18, 2019

P28 – PAKISTAN LINK – OCTOBER 18, 2019 PAKISTAN
THREAT FROM P1 for the situation in Kashmir, saying,
The Iranian leadership also said “The position of the United Nations life conservation,” said Kensington saying that a small political com- tive of Pakistan having its ideological
they never wanted war with Saudi on this region is governed by the Palace on Twitter. mittee had been formed “to get in moorings in the Arabian Peninsula.
Arabia. Prime Minister Imran, ac- (UN) Charter…and applicable Secu- The Duke and Duchess of touch” with the JUI-F chief. Ironically, however, Ziaul Haq
cording to Qureshi, took the same rity Council resolutions”. Cambridge arrived in Islamabad on “We are a political party and we was astute enough to steer clear of
message to Saudi Arabia. In view of the grave human Monday night and were received by are fully capable of and willing to de- any partisan role for his country dur-
In Riyadh, Imran, who was also rights violations in occupied Kash- Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood liver a political solution to political ing the currency of Iran-Iraq War,
accompanied by ISI DG Lt General mir, Ambassador Lodhi said, “Paki- Qureshi and his wife Mehriene matters,” he said, stressing the need 1980-1988. That’s a leaf Imran will be
Faiz Hameed and other senior offi- stan fully supports the call by the Qureshi at the Nur Khan Airbase. for finding political solution to con- well advised to borrow.
cials, met Saudi King Salman bin Ab- Office of the High Commissioner for British High Commissioner in Paki- flicts. “Pakistan is now fighting the The bottom line is that Imran
dulaziz and Crown Prince Moham- Human Rights to establish a Com- stan Thomas Drew was also present Kashmir cause at international fora has a very tough call. Donning the
med bin Salman. mission of Inquiry to investigate the on the occasion. so a unified stance must be present- peace-maker’s mantle is the easier
“Pakistan’s main objective was gross and systematic human rights Excitement built up ahead of ed on it.” part of the equation; delivering on
to avert any conflict between the two violations in Jammu and Kashmir”. their arrival, with ‘#RoyalVisitPaki- Qureshi referred to the PTI’s the challenge thrown into his lap will
countries,” Qureshi said, adding that “On its part, Pakistan will re- stan’ trending on Twitter and tele- own sit-in in the federal capital in demand statesmanship skills that he
he could say with confidence that the main fully engaged with the High vision stations airing footage from 2014 and said that such moves rare- doesn’t have by training but, hope-
“threat of an immediate conflict” be- Commissioner in a constructive way historic royal visits, including one by ly meet with success. “If someone fully, will learn in the course of the
tween Saudi Arabia and Iran was now both here at New York and in Ge- Prince William’s grandmother Queen thinks that governments can be sent exercise undertaken by him.
fading away. neva.” Elizabeth in 1961. packing with sit-ins, they are wrong. It’s only an understatement that
The two countries, he went on to Some rickshaw drivers in Lahore We have a 126-day experience of Imran will be walking on eggshells
say, agreed to pursue diplomatic op- ABANDON FROM P1 and Rawalpindi, a garrison city next this. We are not novices,” he said. as ‘facilitator’ in a feud so dee-rooted
tions to resolve their differences. The Shahid Mohyiddin Qadri, secretary to Islamabad, painted their vehicles “It is not that we fear them [the and of such gargantuan proportions.
mode of dialogue was being finalized, Civil Defense and state Disaster with the Pakistani and British flags. JUI-F march participants], I must He will have to move gingerly at ev-
he added. Management Authority, the latest The five-day visit, which will end stress on that,” he added. He urged ery step of the way. There are trap
According to officials familiar ceasefire violations have pushed the on October 18, has been organized at Fazl to come to the negotiating table, doors aplenty to test his ‘freshman’
with the development, Pakistan sug- civilian death toll in the current year the request of the United Kingdom’s assuring that “we are ready to listen skills of a statesman.
gested direct talks between the Saudi to 47. (UK) Foreign and Commonwealth to it [JUI-F’s concerns] and if a rea- But if he can pull it off and pro-
and Iranian authorities. The prime Apart from them, another 236 Office. sonable solution emerges, we will ac- duce a rabbit from his hat the next
minister even proposed Islamabad as civilians sustained injuries in the on- According to a handout from cord that a priority”. Nobel Peace Prize will have Imran’s
the venue for such talks, the officials going year, he said. Kensington Palace, the British royal Fazl rejects talks: The JUI-F name written all over it. - K_K_gho-
added. Qadri said some 50 houses had couple will visit Islamabad, Lahore, chief has categorically rejected any ri@hotmail.com
The ISI DG, who in the last also been destroyed and 369 houses Gilgit-Baltistan and rugged border possibility of holding a dialogue with (The author is a former ambas-
week of September quietly visited and nine shops partially damaged regions to the west. The visit will span the government until the resignation sador and career diplomat)
Iran and Saudi Arabia, is believed to due to Indian shelling. over 1,000 kilometers, and will take of Prime Minister Imran Khan.
have played a major role in laying the Aside from the above, 11 cattle place in Pakistan’s rich culture, its di- Addressing a news conference LOCKDOWN FROM P7
ground for de-escalation in the Mid- sheds, four schools, two health facili- verse communities, and its beautiful along with Pashtunkhwa Milli Awa- the preferred policy option of Kash-
dle East. Officials said he would be ties, one mosque and 12 vehicles also landscapes, the handout said. mi Party (PkMAP) chief Mehmood miris in IOK with the options stated
the focal person for future contacts suffered partial damages. Khan Achakzai in the federal capital, in UN resolutions should become a
between Saudi Arabia and Iran. TROOPS FROM P1 Fazl said the ruling party’s tactics to policy priority. This would entail a se-
DUKE FROM P1 Kashmir border. thwart the opposition’s anti-govern- rious study of the text of Article 257
PLIGHT FROM P1 ensemble for the formal receptions. In neighboring India, Lt. Col. ment movement had failed and there of the Pakistan constitution that has
for over two months now, with The royal couple was accom- Devender Anand, an army spokes- would be no talks before the prime the potential to reconcile the Azadi
food and medical supplies running panied by Thomas Drew, the Brit- man, said Pakistan fired at two dozen minister’s resignation. and Pakistan options, especially after
short, a situation made worse by the ish High Commissioner to Pakistan; Indian army posts along the highly “If any state institution tries to Modi’s revocation of Article 370 and
absence of any transport. Simon Case, the Principal Private militarized Poonch sector Mon- create hurdles in the people’s way Article 35-A of the Indian constitu-
Thousands of people, especial Secretary to the Duke; and Christian day and Tuesday. He said Pakistani then it would be assumed that the tion which aims at facilitating the
young ones, have been arrested and Jones, the Communications Sec- troops used mortar and machine- institution is not being used for the “re-engineering” of the communal
transported to cities in India. Also, retary to the Duke and Duchess of guns. state but for someone else,” he added. composition of the population of the
under detention are leaders of main Cambridge. Also Wednesday, Indian police The JUI-F chief also warned valley. Such ‘facilitation’, as well as
political parties. The president commended the officer Parvaiz Ahmed said Indian against the imposition of martial law other measures against the Kashmiri
Thanking High Commissioner visiting dignitaries for their endeav- security forces killed three militants in the country. “Let me be very clear. population, fall within the definition
Bachelet for drawing attention to the ors to raise awareness about mental in an exchange of gunfire in southern If an institution tries to impose mar- of genocide according to the Geno-
growing rights abuses, Ambassador health, climate change, and poverty Kashmir after receiving intelligence tial law, we will turn the direction of cide Convention.
Lodhi said, “Today nowhere is this alleviation, said a press release by the that a group of militants was hiding the ‘Azadi march’ towards it,” he said. The Kashmiri resistance should
grim reality more stark and chilling president’s secretariat. in the Bijbehara town. be encouraged and enabled to es-
than in Indian Occupied Jammu and The Duke of Cambridge thanked Police also said gunmen fatally BRIDGE FROM P4 chew violence as far as possible. This
Kashmir.” the president for the warm welcome shot one brick kiln worker and one The Shiias of Pakistan have seen will not be easy because of Indian
She also welcomed the high and hospitality extended to him and apple trader from the Indian states themselves empowered and embold- atrocities under the cover of dark-
commissioner’s statement at the re- his entourage. The royal couple ap- of Chhattisgarh and Punjab states ened by a Shiia-clergy-led Iran next ness, lockdowns and information
cent session of the Human Rights preciated the initiatives undertaken on Wednesday in Indian-controlled door. Their new-found empower- blackouts. The Kashmiri freedom
Council in Geneva in which Ms by Pakistan’s government to combat Kashmir. ment has made them vocal and de- struggle will need to be sustained
Bachelet expressed deep concern climate change and to alleviate pov- Another trader from Punjab manding, something abhorred by through all legitimate means to mini-
over “the impact of recent actions by erty, added the statement. state was critically wounded after the Wahabis who thought they had mize and eliminate credible accusa-
the Government of India on the hu- Earlier in the day, the couple gunmen sprayed bullets in the south- a lock on Pakistan, especially since tions of “terrorism.”
man rights of Kashmiris, including kicked off their engagements on the ern Shopian area, a police officer said. their role in the successful Afghan The Kashmiri political parties
restrictions on internet communica- second day of their five-day trip to The police officer blamed mili- Jihad against the Russian invaders of in IOK which oppose Modi’s policies
tions and peaceful assembly, and the Pakistan with a visit to the Islamabad tants fighting against Indian rule for their land. need to come together on a common
detention of local political leaders Model College for Girls, University the killings. He spoke on condition As such, Imran Khan will have platform. The feasibility of a ‘gov-
and activists”. Colony on Tuesday morning, where of anonymity because he was not au- to factor in all these pieces of the ernment in exile’ including repre-
“The high commissioner was they interacted with the staff and stu- thorized to speak with reporters. jigsaw puzzle into his mediation or, sentatives of the opposition parties
right in stressing that it was impor- dents and visited classrooms. Kashmir’s largest indigenous what he may prefer to call, facilita- of IOK needs to be considered. The
tant that ‘the people of Kashmir are The Duke and Duchess of Cam- rebel group, Hizbul Mujahideen, had tion to patch up the plethora of dif- Kashmir cause must largely be advo-
consulted and engaged in any deci- bridge, who are strong advocates warned that it would target Indians ferences between Riyadh and Tehran. cated through authentic and credible
sion-making processes that have an of girls’ education, were greeted by visiting Kashmir if New Delhi re- Imran may be ideally suited to Kashmiri voices. These voices must
impact on their future’,” the Pakistani teachers and children on their arrival voked Kashmir’s special status. play this role, but Pakistan has a lot pass the ‘fact check’ tests about con-
envoy said. at the school. Indian-administered Kashmir of baggage of history to keep forever ditions in IOK in order to retain their
“Madam Bachelet is not alone Clips shared by British media has experienced unrest and sporadic in perspective while their ‘facilitator international credibility. They have
in expressing concern over the dire show one of the schoolgirls telling anti-government protests since New PM’ goes through the paces of his ar- to be professionally competent.
situation in occupied Kashmir,” William that “they were fans” of his Delhi revoked its special status in duous mission. Such initiatives, in the event of
Ambassador Lodhi said, citing UN mother, Diana, Princess of Wales. August. - AP History binds Pakistan more increasing Indian atrocities in IOK
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ “That’s very sweet of you. I was a big closely to Iran than it does to Saudi and diversionary belligerence against
Aug. 8 statement, UN special rap- fan of my mother too,” he replied REJECTS FROM P1 Arabia. Our cultural, linguistic, tra- Pakistan, should enable Pakistan to
porteurs in their joint press release of with a smile. have announced their support for the ditional heritage is tied firmly to argue more persuasively to the in-
22 August, as well as civil society and After their visit to the school, march. Iran; the only other country that can ternational community that unless
human rights organizations and the they arrived at Trail 5, Margalla Hills The prime minister discussed the claim the same status is arch-enemy it presses India to change course no
international media which have re- to attend an event on environmental issue with top party leaders, saying India. This is not to mention that Pakistani government or institu-
peatedly expressed serious concerns protection. Strict security arrange- that the government would listen to Pakistan also shares a thousand-mile tion will be able to prevent the slide
about the continuing cruel lockdown ments were made prior to their ar- the legitimate concerns of the JUI-F long and, in the obtaining ground towards a war that ‘no one can win’.
and curfew in Indian Occupied rival. chief. “In the wake of the challenges reality, highly sensitive land border This alternate view insists that only
Kashmir, where all liberties have “In the Margalla Hills, which – economic and Kashmir situation – with Iran. through such credibly assertive di-
been taken away from the Kashmiri sit in the foothills of the Himala- the country could ill-afford any inter- However, over the past forty- plomacy, including reinforcing po-
people and human rights violations yas, the Duke and Duchess of Cam- nal strife,” he said. odd years our ruling elite has as- litical initiatives and military deploy-
continue with impunity and where bridge joined children from four lo- Addressing a press conference siduously tried to foster a narrative ments, will it be possible to check
tales of torture abound. cal schools, taking part in activities later, Foreign Minister Shah Mah- of Pakistan’s ideological and faith Modi’s path towards genocide and
In his Aug. 8 statement, the sec- designed to educate young people on mood Qureshi confirmed the govern- identity with KSA. The Ziaul Haq era war.
retary-general expressed his concern environmental protection and wild- ment’s decision to engage with Fazl, is credited with inventing this narra-
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