Music Video - NA JAANE KYA HUA - DARD - 1981 -

#Afghanistan - Gross Violations - Ignorant Taliban have quickly reinstated some of the harshest policies

A full year has passed since the Taliban’s takeover with human rights violations continuing to erupt at full capacity in Afghanistan even though the media’s attention has shifted elsewhere. Many feared the return of the Taliban after the US withdrew its forces from the country, but a few expected the terrorist organization to take charge of the country so quickly. Despite pledges of moderation and reform when they first assumed power, the Taliban have quickly reinstated some of the harshest policies.

Women have been systematically erased from public spaces and their fundamental liberties taken away, including the right to secondary school education. At the university level, women are constantly harassed, and their every move is surveilled so meticulously that many have decided to quit schooling altogether. Things hit a new low after a fatwa issued by the government last year that forbids women from going out in public without a male companion. As if this wasn’t mortifying enough, child and forced marriages have also experienced a violent surge under the Taliban government due to limited professional prospects for women. Even in areas where women are still allowed to work, such as primary education and healthcare, they are often unable to comply with the government’s oppressive stipulations. Female doctors, for instance, aren’t allowed to interact with male patients.

Religious minorities are also routinely subjected to violence-a recent attack against the Kaaj Educational Centre in September claimed 54 lives, of which 51 were Hazara women. Individuals associated with the National Resistance Front, an anti-Taliban military alliance, are also detained and tortured without prior notice with many pointing towards an increasing trend of “revenge killings” under the regime, with numbers exceeding the hundreds. Ethnic favouritism runs rampant in the government, which consists almost entirely of Pashtuns. When minorities demand more representation and protest, they are met with invasive raids and militarised crackdowns.

After western donors withdrew their billions of aid from the country, the economy completely collapsed; forcing the country into virtual isolation. Currently, Afghanistan is completely cut off from the world and this has emboldened the regime to clamp down on its people with an iron fist. With no one to keep them in check, the Taliban has free reign to do what it wishes. It is essential that governments abroad apply pressure on the Afghan government about its human rights record, so they know someone is watching.

Video Report - د پېښور پوهنتون د استاد سید عرفان اشرف سره مرکه

Video - SA to PM, Information Secretary PPP Faisal Karim Kundi addressing a Press Conference

Video - Chairman PPP & FM Bilawal Bhutto Zardari's press conference at Zardari House, Islamabad

3Pakistan - Bilawal rejects rumours claiming Saudi crown prince’s visit postponed due to PTI’s long march

 Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari Saturday rejected rumors claiming that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s scheduled visit to Pakistan was postponed due to the PTI’s long march and political turmoil in the country.

Addressing a press conference, Bilawal said, “I don’t think Mohammed bin Salman’s visit was postponed due to Imran Khan’s long march.”

Berating PTI Chairman Imran Khan, the foreign minister said that the party’s long march on Islamabad was aimed at making the appointment of the next army chief controversial.

“There is no democratic objective of Imran Khan’s long march,” he said, adding that the former prime minister had offered a lifetime extension offer to the incumbent army chief to avoid the no-confidence motion.

“Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa rejected the offer for the sake of Pakistan,” he added.

The foreign minister maintained that Imran Khan wanted to make the implementation of the constitution controversial.

He held the former prime minister responsible for the economic crisis in the country and said that Khan wanted to sabotage the deal between Pakistan and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The PPP chairman said that his party was against sit-ins since the beginning, adding that they adopted a democratic way to oust Imran Khan’s government

Responding to a question, Bilawal said that the army chief’s appointment is the prerogative of the prime minister. He advised the PTI chairman to let the process for appointing the new chief of army staff be completed and postpone his long march for a few days.

He suggested Imran Khan to not make the appointment of the army chief controversial.

It is the last chance for Imran Khan to fulfil his constitutional responsibility otherwise the president will have to face the consequences, he warned.

https://www.geo.tv/latest/453434-bilawal-rejects-rumours-claiming-saudi-crown-princes-visit-postponed-due-to-ptis-long-march

#Pakistan - FM Bilawal stresses need to review counter-terrorism policy to prevent militancy resurgence

"We won’t take a solo flight on the matter of recognition of the Afghan govt,” FM Bilawal says, urging int'l community to get engaged with interim govt.

Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari Friday said Pakistan would not take a solo flight to recognise the interim government of Afghanistan and stressed reviewing the country’s counter-terrorism policy to prevent the resurgence of militancy.

Addressing a press conference held on the six months of the government’s foreign policy, Bilawal emphasised the need for an “in-camera review” to reform the approach to counter-terrorism in a bid to prevent the factors that gave rise to militancy in the past.

In response to a question regarding the link between peace in Afghanistan and countering the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the foreign minister said it was important to internally review the policy.

“Never think that TTP’s matter is in black and white as either it would be war or negotiations with them,” he said, highlighting that Pakistan in recent years had undergone a successful journey to eliminate terrorism and extremism from its soil.

‘Won’t take a solo flight on recognition of Afghan govt’

Shedding light on the closure of the Chaman border, he said terrorist attacks on Pakistan’s security forces from the Afghan side led to the closure of the border and urged the Afghan government to take measures accordingly.

“When we came to power, we decided to engage with Afghan authorities regardless of our differences for the greater national interest. We won’t take a solo flight on the matter of recognition of the Afghan government,” he maintained.

He said peace in Afghanistan was crucial for Pakistan and the region, requesting the international community to get engaged with the interim government of Afghanistan to avert a humanitarian crisis.

Bilawal also called upon the authorities in Afghanistan to fulfil the pledges, especially related to human rights and women’s education.

‘Nothing wrong in reexamining our approach’

Bilawal said the coalition government had made efforts to restore the foreign policy objectives by holding “meaningful high-level diplomatic” engagements.

The foreign minister mentioned that the country’s foreign policy was on a positive trajectory to help achieve the goals of development by addressing important issues including counter-terrorism and security and economic cooperation.

He, however, said: “I don’t think there’s anything wrong in admitting we were wrong in some things and right in other things and reexamining our approach and recalibrating the way that we deal with this issue in the context of the developments in our region.”

Bilawal accepts terrorist attacks increased in last one year

The foreign minister mentioned that the nation’s whole-hearted support helped end terrorism from the tribal areas including North Waziristan.

However, he pointed out the involvement of a neighbouring country in carrying out nefarious activities of terrorism in Balochistan.

Commenting on the increasing terror attacks in Pakistan, FM Bilawal said: "Terrorist attacks have increased in the last year. The increase will have to be reviewed again."

The foreign minister, while speaking regarding the ongoing skirmishes at the Pakistan and Afghanistan border in Balochistan, said: "A terror incident has occurred at the Pak-Afghan border. An Indian spy was caught in Balochistan. But despite the difficulties, we want peaceful relations."

The minister added that the people of Pakistan kicked terrorists out of their territories.

‘Pakistan-US relations de-hyphenated’

The foreign minister said the government’s focus was to prioritise the national interest and emphasised maintaining a balanced relationship and a positive outreach with all countries including the United States and China.

He said the relations between Pakistan and the US had been “de-hyphenated”.

He mentioned that due to GSP Plus, the country’s export outlook witnessed an exponential growth of 80% in recent times.

The foreign minister emphasised focusing on “trade instead of aid” with other countries to put the country on the path of economic stability.

‘We welcome Imran Khan’s latest U-turn’

Commenting on PTI chief Imran Khan’s “U-turn” on alleged foreign conspiracy, Bilawal said: “We welcome the latest U-turn of Mr. Khan on leaving the American conspiracy behind”.

He stressed that there had never been a conspiracy by the United States as was earlier stated by Khan. “Pakistan and the US enjoyed a historic relationship in the interest of their people,” he maintained.

"Khan sahib's comment about American conspiracy exists. He himself accepts he took a U-turn. There neither was an American conspiracy nor it still is," the foreign minister said.

Terming the current political climate in the country “a storm in the teacup”, he said the discussion around Khan’s narrative about the United States conspiring against him should stop.

https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1011296-fm-bilawal-stresses-need-to-review-counter-terrorism-policy-to-prevent-militancy-resurgence