Tue Dec 03 2024, 02:01 PM

Islamic World News ( 6 Oct 2016, NewAgeIslam.Com)

Islamic State Module Busted By NIA Cites Zakir Naik as 'Source of Inspiration'

New Age Islam News Bureau

6 Oct 2016

Osama bin Laden’s (right) son Hamza (left) is now thought to be 25 years old and living in Pakistan but he has not been pictured since he was young

---------

• Pakistan Isolated Because It Gives Freedom to Non-State Actors: Aitzaz

• The United Nations Must Militarily Confront Islamic State and Al-Nusra

• 'You're An Apostate! You're An Infidel': Guests Come to Blows on Egyptian TV

India

• Islamic State Module Busted By NIA Cites Zakir Naik as 'Source of Inspiration'

• India’s Surgical Strikes Cast Shadow on Sale of Pakistan’s Islamic Bonds

• Suspected ISIS Operative Arrested in Tamil Nadu, Was Planning Attacks

• Three Militants Killed After Army Camp Attacked In Kupwara

• Border villages in Ahmedabad get flood of hate-inciting calls from Pakistan

• Terror Foremost Challenge for ASEAN Countries: Manohar Parrikar

• Terror camps thriving in PoK, confirm locals

Pakistan

• Pakistan Isolated Because It Gives Freedom to Non-State Actors: Aitzaz

• Act against Militants or Face International Isolation, Civilians Tell Military

• ‘Sharif warns army not to shield militants amid isolation’

• Sharif’s envoys say US ‘no longer world power; Pak will move towards Russia, China

• Commission arrives in Karachi to investigate boat used in Mumbai attacks

• International community should condemn Indian fabrications about Pakistan: Gen Raheel

• With a video of Syria, Bilawal Bhutto tweets anti-war message to India and Pakistan

North America

• The United Nations Must Militarily Confront Islamic State and Al-Nusra

• Muslim-Americans Put Up Anti-ISIS Billboard in Missouri

• Muslims need to demonstrate tolerance, too

• Discussion on being Muslim in America set for Tuesday at Oklahoma City University

Arab World

• 'You're An Apostate! You're An Infidel': Guests Come to Blows on Egyptian TV

• Faulty Suicide Vest Kills 16, Wounds 16 Islamic State Jihadists in Iraq

• Dozens of Militants Killed in Failed Attacks against Army in Hama

• Army Forces Terrorists to Withdraw from More Aleppo Regions

• ISIS issues fatwa against indoor cat breeding in Iraq

• ISIS recruits ‘more educated than others’: Study

• U.S., Iraqi forces in ‘final rehearsal’ for campaign to retake Mosul from Islamic State

• Islamic State Positions Tracked by U.S. Satellites as a Bonus

• Fatah Al-Sham Terrorists Take Advantage of Aid Corridors to Regroup

• Syrian Army to Reduce Airstrikes in Aleppo to Give Civilians Space to Leave

• Syrian, Russian Bombers Pound Several Terrorists' Strongholds in Aleppo

• US-Led Coalition Fighter Jets Kill Tens of Civilians in Aleppo

• Iraqi parliament’s decision does not represent all Iraqis: Minister

Europe

• UK Urged To Ban Press from Revealing Terrorists Are Muslim

• Al-Qaeda Is Plotting Terror Attacks In Britain And Europe

• Attacks by Muslims Are Driving French Jews to Israel

South Asia

• Bangladesh Siege Recalled in Militant’s Words, and From Beyond the Grave

• Taliban’s Shadow Governor for Kunduz Killed during Clashes

• MoU signed on preservation of historical sites with Aga Khan Trust for Culture

• US hands over 492 Humvee vehicles to Afghan police forces

• Kunduz fight demonstrate importance of training Afghan forces: Stoltenberg

• $15.2 billion pledged to Afghanistan during Brussels conference

• By channeling $1b to Afghanistan, Aga Khan highlights 3 areas in Brussels Conference

• 2 Bangladeshis arrested under ISA in April repatriated

Southeast Asia

• Change Misconceptions about Islam through Transparent Governance, Najib Tells Muslim Leaders

• Islamic Dept Launches App Allowing Public To Report Syariah Offences

• Quran memorization requirement for scholarship in Bandung’s Universitas Padjajaran sparks controversy

• Philippine president apologizes to Jews over Holocaust remarks

• Indonesian Church Closed Down for ‘Lack of Permit’

• Myanmar asked to review disputed terrorism case after law reform

Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau

URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/islamic-state-module-busted-nia/d/108779

-----

Islamic State module busted by NIA cites Zakir Naik as 'source of inspiration'

Oct 6, 2016

NEW DELHI: Manseed alias Omar al-Hindi, the chief of terror group Islamic State module busted by the NIA+ on Sunday, had worked for 12 years as part of the intelligence wing of Popular Front India (PFI), reporting on activities of RSS and its functionaries in Kerala.

The module headed by him was plotting Nice-like attacks on community events, particularly an all-religion gathering in Kochi, and had even been transferred Rs 38,000 from abroad through Western Union to buy a second-hand heavy vehicle to be driven into the crowd, killing and maiming a large number of people, sources said.

A link with controversial cleric Zakir Naik+ has also surfaced with all six members of the al-Hindi module speaking of the televangelist as a source of inspiration+ , saying they were motivated by his speeches and social media posts.

Al-Hindi's association with PFI ended after the organisation expelled him for marrying a woman from the Philippines, he revealed to his interrogators. The 30-year-old relocated from Kerala to Qatar around eight years ago and was working as a sales executive in Doha.

Around 12-18 months ago, he started following online jihadi activity and would surf the internet for pro-IS blogs and posts. While interacting with jihad-minded people on social media, he encountered his Afghanistan-based handler Abu Aysha, who helped him put together a Facebook group called 'Ansar-ul-Khilaaf' comprising IS-leaning youth from Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

The group communicated using telegram and Tutanota encryption and would keep changing names to avoid detection. Abu Aysha would regularly send material against RSS and motivate the group to target Sangh workers.

The module's plans included targetting three top RSS members of Kerala, two Kerala high court judges with "progressive views on Sharia law", rationalists and activists of the Muslim community and Jews based in Kodaikanal in Tamil Nadu. The group also planned to procure arms and materials for explosives to execute their terror plans.

The accused revealed that four members of the module travelled to Kodaikanal on September 12 to conduct a recee for a possible attack on Jews there. But they met with an accident en route and aborted the plan and then scheduled the attack for the first week of October.

The NIA, while scanning electronic devices seized from the accused, found material, including details on procuring material for explosives, making explosives from fireworks powder and bomb-making manuals.

Abu Aysha, intelligence sources said, told al-Hindi that he had met some of the 21 Keralites who left India to join IS as they transited through Tehran in July. He claimed all 21 were now based in Nangarhar province of Afghanistan.

The module led by al-Hindi was being tracked by intelligence agencies for almost four to five months. In fact, the accused came on the radar while the NIA was tracking some youths discussing travelling to Turkey for onward journey to Iraq-Syria. As their plan to leave India to join the IS became apparent, the agencies intervened and alerted their parents. Finally, the youths were dissuaded from travelling abroad.

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Islamic-State-module-busted-by-NIA-cites-Zakir-Naik-as-source-of-inspiration/articleshow/54706070.cms

Pakistan Isolated Because It Gives Freedom to Non-State Actors: Aitzaz

Oct 6, 2016

ISLAMABAD: PPP leader Aitzaz Ahsan addressing a joint session of parliament on Thursday said Pakistan is isolated because it gives freedom to non-state actors.

"The government has been completely unsuccessful in imposing restrictions on non-state actors according to the National Action Plan."

He implied that such actors continue carrying out protests, rallies and giving speeches in Islamabad, Lahore, Faisalabad and Karachi.

"I don't want instability in any country, as the blame of that will then fall on us because of these non-state actors," he said.

The PPP senator slammed the cabinet's denial of Pakistani involvement in the Uri attack. Saying we believe Pakistan has no hand in the Uri attack is not a categorical denial, Aitzaz said, adding that the phrase implied "We don't know if our non-state actors are behind it".

Read more: Act against militants or face international isolation, civilians tell military

"When you cannot completely implement NAP and then something like this happens, the blame will fall on Pakistan and we will be isolated. Then Bangladesh and Afghanistan will not speak to you, and Bhutan and Nepal will begin supporting India," he said.

"You have isolated Pakistan," he roared from the benches.

The PPP senator held Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif responsible for Pakistan's diplomatic isolation as the premier is also the foreign minister.

"Pakistan's isolation is Nawaz Sharif's personal failure," he said.

"Nawaz Sharif did not anticipate the Uri attack. Our defence minister said that perhaps India did it themselves to divert attention away from Kashmir."

"I agree, it is possible, but then why is it Pakistan which is isolated now? It is because you have given freedom to non-state actors."

"I have not heard Kulbhushan Jadhav's name from the prime minister's mouth even once," he said.

Full report at:dawn.com/news/1288381/pakistan-isolated-because-it-gives-freedom-to-non-state-actors-aitzaz-tells-joint-session

The United Nations must militarily confront Islamic State and Al-Nusra

06/10/16

Russian UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin’s assumption of the Presidency of the United Nations Security Council for October could have a lightning rod effect on the Security Council finally authorising military action against Islamic State and Al Nusra under article 42 of the UN Charter.

Both terrorist organisations have been the subject of many unanimous Security Council resolutions declaring them to be a threat to world peace and security – but all such resolutions have stopped short of authorising military action.

American-Russian relations are in a precarious and highly volatile situation today due to:

America and Russia engaging in a vitriolic diplomatic war shaming each other for the humanitarian disaster in Aleppo as Russian-backed Government forces and American-backed rebel forces battle for supremacy at horrendous cost to the civilian population caught in the crossfire.

Churkin has been afforded a world stage to justify Russia’s actions in Syria during regular media conferences that will be held by him as President of the Security Council.

Churkin was quick to grab that opportunity on 4 October – as this official UN record reveals:

Both Russia and America have previously expressed their willingness to involve the Security Council in defeating Islamic State and al-Nusra.

“He (Churkin) was not aware of plans for further discussions between United States Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Federation Minister for Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov, and did not know the result of discussions between the two countries during the last few hours. The nature of their differences was overdramatized. He hoped cooperation on Syria could be resumed.

"He could not accept unilateral steps such as grounding of airplanes.

"Al-Nusrah had moved to Aleppo and was keeping the civilian population hostage. He wanted as close cooperation with the United States as possible in fighting Al-Nusrah. Had it not been for Russian involvement, [Islamic State] black flags could now be flying over Damascus. There were 3,500 fighters in eastern Aleppo, of which 2,000 were Al-Nusrah, based on Russian intelligence. The rest were scattered in different groups. ISIL was not there.”

White House spokesman – Josh Earnest - reportedly said US policy would continue to give priority to the fight against jihadi groups in Syria.

“With regard to US options, we obviously have been very focused on countering ISIL [Isis] and other extremist groups that are using the chaos in Syria as a safe haven to plot and carry out attacks,”

Both Russia and America have previously expressed their willingness to involve the Security Council in defeating Islamic State and al-Nusra.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov made this clear on 18 November last:

“The Security Council needs to give preferential attention to the task of creating a solid legal foundation for the fight against this evil [Islamic State] and for the mobilization of an actual global coalition in response to this common uncompromising challenge for us all”.

President Obama preached a similar mantra in St Petersburg on 6 September 2013:

“And I respect those who are concerned about setting precedents of action outside of a U.N. Security Council resolution. I would greatly prefer working through multilateral channels and through the United Nations to get this done.”

Given the commonality of the positions of both America and Russia as reflected above – the possibility looms large that during Russia’s October presidency of the Security Council - Russia and America could co-sponsor a draft resolution to the Security Council authorizing military action against Islamic State and al-Nusra.

October could indeed be make or break month for Syria.

Source: israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/19578

'You're an apostate! You're an infidel': Guests come to blows on Egyptian TV

October 5, 2016

If there is anything that unites people around the world, it might be the panel discussions on the nightly news. After all, people love a discussion that descends into some form of violence.

Around this time in 2015, a video showing an astrologer slap self-styled Godman Om Ji Maharaj on a panel discussion on IBN7 had gone viral.

Now, it's the turn of panelists on a television show in Egpyt. The topic under discussion was whether Muslim women should wear headscarves. Sydney imam Mostafa Rashid and Egyptian lawyer Nabih al-Wahsh were the guests on the show.

Al-Wahsh did not appreciate something Rashid said on the issue and the conversation took a turn for the worse, to put it mildly.

Here's how the very apologetic anchor explained what happened. He needed to look at the footage twice, because he was too distraught too understand what happened the first time round.

Source: sabrangindia.in/article/youre-apostate-youre-infidel-guests-come-blows-egyptian-tv-looks-familiar

India

Islamic State module busted by NIA cites Zakir Naik as 'source of inspiration'

Oct 6, 2016

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Islamic-State-module-busted-by-NIA-cites-Zakir-Naik-as-source-of-inspiration/articleshow/54706070.cms

India’s surgical strikes cast shadow on sale of Pakistan’s Islamic bonds

October 6, 2016

Kuala Lumpur/Karachi: Pakistan is tapping the global sukuk market in a $1 billion deal just as violence on its disputed border with India casts a shadow on an improving economic outlook.

The nation is offering the five-year securities at 5.5%, according to a person familiar with the matter who asked not to be identified because the information is private.Yields on its 2019 sovereign sukuk sold two years ago rose 43 basis points to 4.91% after militants killed 19 Indian soldiers in the Kashmiri town of Uri last month and India retaliated last week with strikes on what it called terrorist camps. Pakistan denied involvement in terror and described India’s attacks as a heavy exchange of fire.

“The timing for sukuk doesn’t look too good as the political risk is flashing red right now,” said James Lau, a Kuala Lumpur-based investment director at Pheim Asset Management Sdn. “That said, there would still be buyers for the debt as long as the price reflects the heightened political risk.”

The world’s second-most populous Muslim nation is tapping a global Islamic debt market hungry for higher yields after international sukuk issuance slumped in the third quarter to $2.5 billion from $6.9 billion in the previous three months. The country has averted a balance-of-payments crisis, allowing it to exit a 2013 International Monetary Fund loan program worth $6.6 billion last month. Growth has accelerated, inflation eased and domestic security threats abated.

Pakistan, which is rated the fifth-highest junk grade of B by Fitch Ratings, raised $1 billion through the sale of five-year global Islamic bonds at 6.75% in November 2014, in its first such issuance since 2005. The offering was five times oversubscribed.

“While there are concerns, I don’t think the government will have an issue in meeting their targeted amount,” said Mustafa Pasha, head of investments at Lakson, which manages $250 million. “If you look at the macroeconomic indicators of Pakistan, compared to 2014, we are a lot better off.”

Internal security

Pakistan’s internal security has improved in recent years due to an army push against insurgents after a massacre of more than 100 students in 2014 in the northern city of Peshawar. About 449 people died in terrorist-related attacks last year, the fewest in 10 years, according to the South Asia Terrorism Portal.

Tensions with India “will be short-lived,” said Sajjad Anwar, the Karachi-based chief investment officer at NBP Fullerton Asset Management Ltd, which oversees about $640 million. “It’s not in the interest of both the nations to escalate the tensions because both need their economies to improve.”

While Pakistan’s economic outlook has improved, the prospect of an increase in US interest rates will push up yields, said Faizan Saleem, a fund manager at ABL Asset Management Co. in Karachi, which oversees the equivalent of $373 million.

The Asian Development Bank upgraded its growth forecasts for Pakistan last week as record foreign-exchange reserves and a narrowing fiscal deficit brighten the outlook for the $270 billion economy. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is targeting 5.7% expansion in gross domestic product for the year which began July 1, the fastest in a decade.

“Pakistan’s positives were driven by the story of successful reforms with the IMF,” said Fakrizzaki Ghazali, a senior fixed income analyst at Sedco Capital in Jeddah. “Nonetheless, fiscal constraints and geopolitical risks of Pakistan remain a long term challenge which should limit fundamental upside in the near to medium term.”

Source: livemint.com/Money/jqRsrnyY6PxOXNgQBzs0zH/Indias-surgical-strikes-cast-shadow-on-sale-of-Pakistans-I.html

Suspected ISIS Operative Arrested in Tamil Nadu, Was Planning Attacks

October 6, 2016

New Delhi: The NIA has arrested a suspected ISIS operative, who had conspired to carry out terror activities in the country and was planning to collect chemical explosives from cracker manufacturers in Tamil Nadu.

The accused identified as Subahani Haja Moideen, a resident of Tirunelveli in Tamil Nadu, was arrested by the NIA on Wednesday in connection with a case related to activities of the banned ISIS in India.

The accused was radicalised and recruited in ISIS through social media platforms. He had left India for Istanbul from Chennai last year on the pretext of performing ‘Umrah’, the NIA said in a statement on Thursday

After reaching Istanbul, he crossed over along with other people who hailed from Pakistan and Afghanistan to Iraqi territory under control of ISIS.

From there, he was taken to Mosul where he underwent detailed ‘religious training’ followed by combat training, which included a course in automated weapons before being deputed to fight war for almost two weeks.

During the war, he told interrogators that he was paid $100 per month as an allowance by ISIS besides accommodation and food.

However, he told interrogators that he could not withstand the violence and war misery in Mosul and decided to leave especially after he saw two of his friends getting charred.

He was jailed by ISIS and produced before a Islamic judge who sent him to Syria and claimed that he was allowed to cross over to Turkey from where he contacted his family with the help of the Indian consulate at Istanbul.

He arrived in Mumbai after a gap of six months in September last year on an emergency certificate and returned to his ancestral place where he was staying with his wife and managed to get a job at a jewellery shop at Kadayanallur.

“However, once back and settled, he again got in touch with ISIS handlers over Internet and was planning to collect explosives and precursor chemicals from Sivakasi at their instance.

“He had travelled to Chennai, Coimbatore and other places to meet other local contacts in the conspiracy, collect money and procure explosives for terrorist acts as guided and motivated by ISIS handlers,” the NIA said.

Source: siasat.com/news/suspected-isis-operative-arrested-tamil-nadu-planning-attacks-1036099/

Three militants killed after army camp attacked in Kupwara

October 6, 2016

Srinagar: Three militants were today killed in an encounter with security forces after they attacked an army camp in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district, the army said here.

The militants opened fire on an army camp at Langate in Kupwara district at around 5 AM, which was retaliated by the alert jawans, an army official said.

After repulsing the attack, the security forces launched a search operation in the area, during which the militants fired upon them, leading to an encounter.

“Three militants have been killed in the ensuing encounter and three AK 47 rifles have been recovered from the spot,” the official said.

He said the operation was on and further details were awaited.

Source: siasat.com/news/three-militants-killed-army-camp-attacked-kupwara-1036058/

Border villages in Ahmedabad get flood of hate-inciting calls from Pakistan

Oct 6, 2016

AHMEDABAD: These callers from across the border open conversation by saying you've won a jackpot, and then incite listeners against Hindus and India.

Usually, people here disconnect the calls from unknown Pakistani callers and leave it at that. But Abdullah Chaki, 30, a grocery merchant, felt he's had enough, and went ahead to file an application of complaint at the Mankuva police station. PSI of Mankuva police station, V R Sonara, told TOI that the complaint has been transferred to the cyber-cell of Kutch police for further investigation.

Chaki, a resident of Mankuva village near Bhuj, has submitted an audio clip of the conversation to police in which the unknown Pakistani caller can be heard spewing venom against Hindus and India and terming Indian Muslims, who did not hold similar views, as traitors.

When contacted, sources from central intelligence agencies said Chaki is not the only person in Gujarat to have received such calls from Pakistanis.

"Unknown callers from Pakistan are trying to provoke Muslims in border areas of Gujarat. Many are receiving such calls, which start with a communication regarding a lottery win and end up stirring sentiments against Hindus," said a top intelligence bureau official.

IB is probing several such complaints. "When the callers detect the person on the other end of the call as an Indian Muslim, they try to pitch communal fanaticism. As far as we know, none of the Indian Muslims who received such calls have fallen in their trap," said an IB official. Chaki told police that he was at first shocked to see a Pakistani number displayed on the screen of his cellphone.

"The caller began the conversation by congratulating him on winning Rs 25 lakh in a lottery, before starting on his pitch against Hindus," said a police official."When Chaki took him on saying that he is a Pakistani and should not spoil the good name of Muslims by indulging in such fraudulent activities, the Pakistani caller said they are only targeting Hindus," added the police official.

Chaki then asked him to lay off, insisting that Hindus and Muslims are living in peace in India, but the Pakistani became angry and said they will teach India a lesson. "The Pakistani caller tried to incite him by saying that Muslims in India are mistreated," a police source added. Nevertheless, Chaki confronted him and said that the strength of the Indian Army is equivalent to the total population of Pakistan.

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/Border-villages-in-Ahmedabad-get-flood-of-hate-inciting-calls-from-Pakistan/articleshow/54707115.cms?

Terror Foremost Challenge For ASEAN Countries: Manohar Parrikar

October 6, 2016

NEW DELHI: Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar today called terrorism the “foremost challenge” for the ASEAN member-countries, adding that there is a need to delegitimise it as an instrument of state policy.

Mr Parrikar said: “Terrorism remains foremost challenge to our (Asean) region. We need to oppose terrorism resolutely everywhere, delegitimise it as an instrument of state policy, and cooperate unreservedly to locate and destroy terrorist networks.”

He was speaking at the 20th ASEAN Regional Forum Heads of Defence Universities meet.

“The security frameworks in our (Asean) region still does not give enough attention to terrorism. This must change,” he added.

The comments came amid continued tension along India-Pakistan border following the attack at an Indian Army camp at Uri in Jammu and Kashmir, killing 19 soldiers.

A surgical strike was conducted by the Indian Army in the night between September 28 and 29 on terror launch pads across the Line of Control in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir that further escalated the tension.

A camp of 30 Rashtriya Rifles was attacked by terrorists today as well in Kashmir’s Kupwara district. In the gun battle, three terrorists were killed by the army.

Source: siasat.com/news/terror-foremost-challenge-asean-countries-manohar-parrikar-1035943/

Terror camps thriving in PoK, confirm locals

Oct 6, 2016

MUZAFFARABAD: Terror training camps have been thriving in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) for years, according to people living across the area who have shown resentment to the Pakistan's intelligence agency ISI for having made their region a haven for anti-social elements.

Residents of Muzaffarabad, Kotli, Chinari, Mirpu , Gilgit, Diamer and various parts of the Neelum Valley say their lives has been made a living hell by the terror training camps as the lawless men, who train here, plunder local villages and molest the women of the area.

They say that their region is being used by the ISI to further its proxy war against India.

In various interactions, people and leaders in the region spoke about the daily extortion and harassment caused the terror groups who are located near the Line of Control (LoC).

"If management doesn't end Taliban's terror camps and 'no-go' areas in Diamer, Gilgit, Baseen and others, then we will take action," a local leader of Gilgit was seen as saying.

Residents confirm that the region is being used as nothing more than a staging post for Pakistan's proxy war against India. They say they have no sympathy for the terror groups who are perhaps hated more in PoK than anywhere else.

PoK leaders like Arif Shahid exposed the ISI terror nexus in the region and paid for it with their lives.

Shahid has been found on record saying that the poor people of Pakistan are being exploited by the ISI to wage a Jihad against India in which only the Pakistan Army is interested.

Shahid fought tooth and nail against Pakistan's oppression in PoK before he was shot outside his residence in Rawalpindi on May 14, 2013. He was 62. The investigation into Shahid's murder is still inconclusive, and there is no closure to the cold-blooded murder, so far. The ISI is blamed for conspiring and executing Shahid's murder.

The people of PoK have been demanding the removal of terror camps for years but the state has always turned a deaf ear.

Earlier, PoK witnessed a series of protests by residents against rigged polls that saw Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's party, the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz), coming to power.

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/pakistan/Terror-camps-thriving-in-PoK-confirm-locals/articleshow/54710098.cms

Pakistan

Pakistan Isolated Because It Gives Freedom to Non-State Actors: Aitzaz

Oct 6, 2016

ISLAMABAD: PPP leader Aitzaz Ahsan addressing a joint session of parliament on Thursday said Pakistan is isolated because it gives freedom to non-state actors.

"The government has been completely unsuccessful in imposing restrictions on non-state actors according to the National Action Plan."

He implied that such actors continue carrying out protests, rallies and giving speeches in Islamabad, Lahore, Faisalabad and Karachi.

"I don't want instability in any country, as the blame of that will then fall on us because of these non-state actors," he said.

Read more: Act against militants or face international isolation, civilians tell military

"You have isolated Pakistan," he roared from the benches.

The PPP senator held Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif responsible for Pakistan's diplomatic isolation as the premier is also the foreign minister.

"Pakistan's isolation is Nawaz Sharif's personal failure," he said.

"Nawaz Sharif did not anticipate the Uri attack. Our defence minister said that perhaps India did it themselves to divert attention away from Kashmir."

"I agree, it is possible, but then why is it Pakistan which is isolated now? It is because you have given freedom to non-state actors."

"I have not heard Kulbhushan Jadhav's name from the prime minister's mouth even once," he said.

Full report at:dawn.com/news/1288381/pakistan-isolated-because-it-gives-freedom-to-non-state-actors-aitzaz-tells-joint-session

Act against militants or face international isolation, civilians tell military

Oct 6, 2016

ISLAMABAD: In a blunt, orchestrated and unprecedented warning, the civilian government has informed the military leadership of a growing international isolation of Pakistan and sought consensus on several key actions by the state.

As a result of the most recent meeting, an undisclosed one on the day of the All Parties’ Conference on Monday, at least two sets of actions have been agreed.

First, ISI DG Gen Rizwan Akhtar, accompanied by National Security Adviser Nasser Janjua, is to travel to each of the four provinces with a message for provincial apex committees and ISI sector commanders.

The message: military-led intelligence agencies are not to interfere if law enforcement acts against militant groups that are banned or until now considered off-limits for civilian action. Gen Akhtar’s inter-provincial tour has begun with a visit to Lahore.

Second, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has directed that fresh attempts be made to conclude the Pathankot investigation and restart the stalled Mumbai attacks-related trials in a Rawalpindi antiterrorism court.

Those decisions, taken after an extraordinary verbal confrontation between Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and the ISI DG, appear to indicate a high-stakes new approach by the PML-N government.

The following account is based on conversations with Dawn of individuals present in the crucial meetings this week.

All declined to speak on the record and none of the attributed statements were confirmed by the individuals mentioned.

Foreign secretary’s presentation

On Monday, on the day of the All Parties’ Conference, Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry gave a separate, exclusive presentation in the Prime Minister’s Office to a small group of civil and military officials.

Full report at:dawn.com/news/1288350/exclusive-act-against-militants-or-face-international-isolation-civilians-tell-military

‘Sharif warns army not to shield militants amid isolation’

October 6, 2016

Islamabad:Facing international isolation, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in an unprecedented move has warned the powerful military not to shield banned militant groups and directed authorities to conclude the Pathankot terror attack probe and the 2008 Mumbai attack trials, a leading Pakistani daily reported today.

Sharif’s orders came after a series of meetings between military and civilian leaders, Dawn newspaper said.

The government delivered a “blunt, orchestrated and unprecedented warning” to the military leadership and sought consensus on several key actions, including action against banned militant groups, the paper quoted unnamed individuals, who were involved in the meetings.

At least two sets of actions have been agreed as a result of the most recent meeting, an undisclosed one on the day of the All Parties’ Conference, which took place on Monday.

ISI Director General Rizwan Akhtar, accompanied by National Security Adviser Nasser Janjua, will travel to all provinces with a message that military-led intelligence agencies should not interfere if law enforcement agencies act against militant groups that are banned.

Sharif directed that fresh attempts be made to conclude the Pathankot investigation and restart the stalled Mumbai attacks-related trials in a Rawalpindi anti-terrorism court.

Those decisions, taken after an extraordinary verbal confrontation between Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and the ISI DG, appear to indicate a high-stakes new approach by the PML-N government, the paper said.

Separately, on Monday Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry made an exclusive presentation in the Prime Minister’s Office to a small group of civil and military officials.

The presentation by the Foreign Secretary summarised the results of the recent diplomatic outreach by Pakistan, the crux being that Pakistan faces diplomatic isolation and that the government’s talking points have been met with indifference in major world capitals, the paper said.

On the US, Chaudhry said that relations have deteriorated and will likely further deteriorate because of the American demand that action be taken against the Haqqani network.

On India, Chaudhry said that the completion of the Pathankot investigation and some visible action against Jaish-i-Mohammad, which India says was behind the January 2 attack, were the principal demands.

Chaudhry said while China has reiterated its support for Pakistan, it too has indicated a preference for a change in course by Pakistan.

Specifically, while Chinese authorities have conveyed their willingness to keep putting on technical hold a UN ban on Jaish-i-Mohammad leader Masood Azhar, they have questioned the logic of doing so repeatedly, the report said.

The Foreign Secretary’s unexpectedly blunt conclusions triggered an astonishing and potentially ground-shifting exchange between the ISI DG and several civilian officials, it said.

Source: siasat.com/news/sharif-warns-army-not-shield-militants-amid-isolation-1036125/

Sharif’s envoys say US ‘no longer world power; Pak will move towards Russia,China

October 6, 2016

Washington: America is “no longer a world power” and Pakistan would move towards China and Russia if its views on Kashmir and India are not considered, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s envoys have said in Washington.

“(The) US is no longer a world power. It is a declining power. Forget about it,” Special Kashmir Envoy of Sharif, Mushahid Hussain Syed was heard as saying yesterday after the conclusion of an interaction at the Atlantic Council, one of the top American think-tanks.

Syed and Shazra Mansab, another Kashmir Envoy, are in the US as part of the Pakistani effort to apprise the global community of the current situation in Kashmir and allegations of human rights violations in the Valley.

Syed has gone to the extent to warn US that Pakistan would move towards China and Russia if its views on Kashmir and India are not considered.

He was apparently responding to a question from a member in the audience after the conclusion of the 90-minute interaction during which he expressed his frustration over the lack of response to his point of view on Kashmir and India.

The remarks of Syed were not recorded on camera, but were heard prominently by those inside the room.

Thereafter, he was quick to point out China and newly perceived relationship with Russia, which he had mentioned during his interaction at the Atlantic Council.

Syed submitted a dossier of alleged human rights violation in Kashmir to Special US Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, Richard Olson.

With no takers for Pakistan’s Kashmir policy, Syed said China is now an important factor in South Asia and described Beijing as part of what he termed as Greater South Asia.

“There has been slow and steady building of relationship between Moscow and Islamabad,” he said, referring to the joint military exercise between Pakistan and Russia.

Syed said the Putin government has for the first time agreed to sell arms to Pakistan and the US should take note of this changing regional alignment.

“Unfortunately under the Obama administration, there was a drift in American foreign policy towards our region, towards Afghanistan. There was confusion and there was a lot of flip-flops. I think, the Obama administration could not figure out this region Afghanistan and Pakistan and as a consequence this region suffered.

“With policies one step back and one step (forward), announcing surge, announcing a cut off time for exit. Asking sometime Pakistan that please we want to talk to the Taliban and then saying that we want to take on the Taliban and finally they said there would be no American troops and then they end up having 8,500 troops stationed in Afghanistan. It leaves this to the next administration,” he said.

Syed said Pakistan feels that the US should look at the region as a whole.

“Whether it is Pakistan, India, China, Afghanistan and there is plus also, the Iran nuclear deal… because all these countries can contribute to the stability and security of the region.

“And what Pakistan would like to have from the US, I am talking about the incoming administration, because Mr Obama is a guest for the next few months as January 20, 2017 there will be a new administration, that they have to see the region, where they have a more comprehensive perspective, and do not try to compartmentalised peace and security, because that is not possible,” he said.

“When you talk of peace in Kabul, you have to ensure that Kashmir is not burning. The US has a long-term interest in Kashmir. They are a party to the UN resolutions. The US has played a very legitimate role in supporting oppressed people, oppressed Muslims (in) Bosnia, Kosovo and even the Kurds.

“So Kashmiris today should not suffer, just because Kashmir has no oil or Kashmir is not part of Europe or Kashmiris belong to a certain religious denomination, because we cannot have double standards on those issues,” Syed said.

He said Pakistan has a long standing relationship with the US and “we would like that (to continue). But of course, we have options also. With the greater Russian involvement in the region, they are also interested coming into CPEC (China Pakistan Economic Corridor). Iran, Turkey and Saudi Arabia has also expressed interest in joining CPEC”.

He also called for dialogue between India and Pakistan. “Issues cannot be brushed under the carpet. People thought Kashmir issue is suppressed and buried. It has come back with a bang. It is more significant as (former) president (Bill)

Clinton called as a potential nuclear flash point. The two nuclear neighbors should learn to talk to each other.

“We feel that the way forward is that the region calls for statesmanship and what I call a Nixonian transformation of Mr (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi. If he can have that outreach and develop that statesmanship which Richard Nixon demonstrated in 1971 courtesy Pakistan. I think, the options are there, opportunities are there. The ball is in Modi’s court, can he rise to the occasion as a leader of 1.2 billion people to build a better and peaceful tomorrow,” Syed said.

Alleging that US has done a U-turn of its policies on India, which started from the civic nuclear deal, he said the US is loosing sight of the other interests in the region.

“The most important interest of the US is stability of Afghanistan and counter terrorism. And for that they like it not they need Pakistan’s cooperation, which they have been getting and we have been providing and we are also suffering in the process. We see the shift (of US policy from Pakistan to India). And that shift would be detrimental to America’s own security and interest in South Asia,” Syed added.

Source: siasat.com/news/sharifs-envoys-say-us-no-longer-world-power-pak-will-move-towards-russiachina-1035980/

Commission arrives in Karachi to investigate boat used in Mumbai attacks

Oct 6, 2016

ISLAMABAD: A commission comprising Special Prosecutor Misbah-ul-Hasan Qadri and Defence Councel Raja Rizwan Abbasi arrived in Karachi on Thursday to examine a boat, Al-Fouz, believed to have been used in the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Saturday ordered the commission to travel to Karachi to investigate the boat and record the testimony of witnesses from the Federal Investigation Agency, who saw the boat being seized at the Karachi shipyard in 2009.

The order was given after agents from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) argued at the ATC that the boat was too large to be produced in court and that the examination of the witness cannot be completed separate from the production of the boat before the court, hence the commission needed to be permitted to travel to see the boat.

According to sources, the commission is due to lodge its investigative report with the ATC next Wednesday.

Al-Fouz was allegedly used by the suspects in the Mumbai attacks, in which 166 people were killed and more than 300 were injured, to cross into Indian waters.

During an undisclosed meeting on Monday, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif directed that fresh attempts be made to restart the stalled Mumbai attacks-related trials.

The civilian government informed the military leadership of the growing international isolation of Pakistan, on Tuesday and further proposed that ISI DG Gen Rizwan Akhtar, accompanied by National Security Adviser Nasser Janjua, is to travel to each of the four provinces with a message for provincial apex committees and ISI sector commanders.

The message: military-led intelligence agencies are not to interfere if law enforcement acts against militant groups that are banned or until now considered off-limits for civilian action.

National Security Committee, convened by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday to discuss Indian aggression, participants agreed that greater inter-provincial cooridnation on the National Action Plan (NAP) is required to consolidate the gains made so far in NAP.

National Security Advisor (NSA) retired Lt Gen Nasser Janjua, while briefing the committee on the implementation status of NAP stressed the crucial role of provincial governments in the implementation of NAP.

Source: dawn.com/news/1288383/commission-arrives-in-karachi-to-investigate-boat-used-in-mumbai-attacks

International community should condemn Indian fabrications about Pakistan: Gen Raheel

Oct 6, 2016

RISALPUR: The international community should condemn the distortion of facts by India regarding held Kashmir and the LoC, Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif said on Thursday.

"We have recently witnessed an unfortunate display of utter desperation playing out inside occupied Kashmir and along the Line of Control through a litany of falsehood and distortion of facts by India," he said while addressing a passing out parade of PAF cadets.

"We expect the international communtiy to condemn Indian insinuations and fabrications about a nation that has made unparalleled contributions to the global fight against terrorism."

He said the Pakistani armed forces are fully prepared to give the "most befitting response" to any internal or external threats directed at the country.

"Pakistan is a responsible country and remains committed to the policy of friendship with all other countries based on equality and mutual respect."

"Any aggression born out of deliberate intent or even a strategic miscalculation will not be allowed to go unpunished and will be met with a befitting response."

Talking about the internal front, he said Operation Zarb-i-Azb with "full support from Pakistan Air Force" has successfully turned the tide against terrorism.

He said the enemies of Pakistan will make efforts to reverse the gains in the fight against terror. But "their nefarious designs will not be allowed to succeed at any cost".

Soaring tensions

The army chief's comments come as tensions simmer between Pakistan and India over the Kashmir issue

In one of the worst episodes of cross-border firing along the Line of Control, at least two Pakistan Army soldiers were killed as Indian troops opened fire on the first line of defence last month.

India also claimed to have performed a "surgical strike" by crossing the disputed boundary. The Indian claims were rubbished by Pakistan Army.

It later emerged that an Indian soldier was captured by the Pakistan army, while Indian soldiers were also killed in the episode of firing across the LoC. Security sources said at the time that at least eight Indian soldiers were killed in firing by Pakistani troops.

Since then, Pakistani and Indian troops have exchanged fire across the LoC on an almost daily basis.

Source: dawn.com/news/1288372/international-community-should-condemn-indian-fabrications-about-pakistan-gen-raheel

With a video of Syria, Bilawal Bhutto tweets anti-war message to India and Pakistan

October 6, 2016

Islamabad: Pakistan People’s party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari tweeted out a message talked some more sense.

He retweeted a message with the footage of Syrians to get a reality check of the horrors of war.

The bruised child in the video complains he is forced to rummage through garbage for food. “Two days ago I fell down because of hunger.”

“Dear Pakistan and India this is what war looks like,” Bilawal tweeted.

On the other hand, International Business Times said that media reports had Bilawal had criticised Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and had said that there was no military solution to the Kashmir issue.

At the same time, he had also apparently questioned the foreign policy posturing at an all-party meeting convened by the Pakistan PM.

Bilawal was quoted as saying (reportedly) by IBT that his grandfather Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had “retrieved Pakistan’s land from Indian occupation and secured the release of thousands of prisoners of wars… in 1971 through assertive diplomacy and aggressive foreign policy.”

“This is how we can achieve our diplomatic goals,” he is believed to have added.

Meanwhile, India on Wednesday said Sharif’s comments describing Hizbul terrorist Burhan Wani, whose encounter killing by security forces triggered the current unrest in the Valley, as “son of the Kashmiri soil” shows that country’s attachment to terrorism.

“The speech by Sharif at the joint session of Parliament shows Pakistan’s continued attachment to terrorism,” senior government sources said, as per PTI.

Their remarks came after Sharif, while addressing a joint session of Parliament, convened to discuss the security situation in the wake of increasing Indo-Pak tensions, accused India of running away from dialogue and instead creating a war-like environment by blaming Pakistan for the Uri terror attack in which 19 Indian soldiers were killed last month.

Sharif expressed support for Kashmiris and said the issue should be resolved according to the wishes of people of Kashmir and the UN resolutions.

“The Kashmiri youth have taken it upon themselves to carry on the movement of freedom against Indian aggression and atrocities…The death of Burhan Wani, son of the Kashmiri soil, had reminded India to give Kashmiris their right to self- determination,” Sharif said.

Source: siasat.com/news/video-syria-bilawal-bhutto-tweets-anti-war-message-india-pakistan-1035850/